战争与和平(上)-第39章

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his　weighty　responsibility；　for　me　personally　would　be　a　relief。　But　circumstances　are　too　strong　for　us；　general。”　And　Kutuzov　smiled　with　an　expression　that　seemed　to　say：　“You　are　perfectly　at　liberty　not　to　believe　me；　and　indeed　it’s　a　matter　of　perfect　indifference　to　me　whether　you　believe　me　or　not；　but　you　have　no　grounds　for　saying　so。　And　that’s　the　whole　point。”　The　Austrian　general　looked　dissatisfied；　but　he　had　no　choice　but　to　answer　Kutuzov　in　the　same　tone。
“On　the　contrary；”　he　said　in　a　querulous　and　irritated　voice；　that　contrasted　with　the　flattering　intention　of　the　words　he　uttered；　“On　the　contrary；　the　participation　of　your　most　high　excellency　in　common　action　is　highly　appreciated　by　his　majesty。　But　we　imagine　that　the　present　delay　robs　the　gallant　Russian　troops　and　their　commander…in…chief　of　the　laurels　they　are　accustomed　to　winning　in　action；”　he　concluded　a　phrase　he　had　evidently　prepared　beforehand。
Kutuzov　bowed；　still　with　the　same　smile。
“But　I　am　convinced　of　this；　and　relying　on　the　last　letter　with　which　his　Highness　the　Archduke　Ferdinand　has　honoured　me；　I　imagine　that　the　Austrian　troops　under　the　command　of　so　talented　a　leader　as　General　Mack；　have　by　now　gained　a　decisive　victory　and　have　no　longer　need　of　our　aid；”　said　Kutuzov。
The　general　frowned。　Though　there　was　no　positive　news　of　the　defeat　of　the　Austrians；　there　were　too　many　circumstances　in　confirmation　of　the　unfavourable　reports；　and　so　Kutuzov’s　supposition　in　regard　to　an　Austrian　victory　sounded　very　much　like　a　sneer。　But　Kutuzov　smiled　blandly；　still　with　the　same　expression；　which　seemed　to　say　that　he　had　a　right　to　suppose　so。　And　in　fact　the　last　letter　he　had　received　from　the　army　of　General　Mack　had　given　him　news　of　victory；　and　of　the　most　favourable　strategical　position　of　the　army。
“Give　me　that　letter；”　said　Kutuzov；　addressing　Prince　Andrey。　“Here；　if　you　will　kindly　look”—and　Kutuzov；　with　an　ironical　smile　about　the　corners　of　his　mouth；　read　in　German　the　following　passage　from　the　letter　of　the　Archduke　Ferdinand：
“We　have　a　force；　perfectly　kept　together；　of　nearly　70；000　men；　in　order　to　attack　and　defeat　the　enemy　if　they　should　pass　the　Lech。　As　we　are　masters　of　Ulm；　we　cannot　lose　the　advantage　of　remaining　masters　also　of　both　sides　of　the　Danube；　and　moreover　able；　should　the　enemy　not　cross　the　Lech；　to　pass　over　the　Danube　at　any　moment；　throw　ourselves　upon　their　line　of　communications；　recross　the　Danube　lower　down；　and　entirely　resist　the　enemy’s　aim　if　they　should　attempt　to　turn　their　whole　force　upon　our　faithful　ally。　In　this　way　we　shall　await　courageously　the　moment　when　the　Imperial　Russian　is　ready；　and　shall　then；　in　conjunction；　easily　find　a　possibility　of　preparing　for　the　foe　that　fate　which　he　so　richly　deserves。”
Kutuzov　concluded　this　period　with　a　heavy　sigh　and　looked　intently　and　genially　at　the　member　of　the　Hofkriegsrath。
“But　you　know；　your　excellency；　the　sage　precept　to　prepare　for　the　worst；”　said　the　Austrian　general；　obviously　wishing　to　have　done　with　jests　and　to　come　to　business。　He　could　not　help　glancing　round　at　the　adjutant。
“Excuse　me；　general；”　Kutuzov　interrupted　him；　and　he；　too；　turned　to　Prince　Andrey。　“Here；　my　dear　boy；　get　all　the　reports　from　our　scouts　from　Kozlovsky。　Here　are　two　letters　from　Count　Nostits；　here　is　a　letter　from　his　Highness　the　Archduke　Ferdinand；　here　is　another；”　he　said；　giving　him　several　papers。　“And　of　all　this　make　out　clearly　in　French　a　memorandum　showing　all　the　information　we　have　had　of　the　movements　of　the　Austrian　Army。　Well；　do　so；　and　then　show　it　to　his　excellency。”
Prince　Andrey　bowed　in　token　of　understanding　from　the　first　word　not　merely　what　had　been　said；　but　also　what　Kutuzov　would　have　liked　to　have　said　to　him。　He　gathered　up　the　papers；　and　making　a　comprehensive　bow；　stepped　softly　over　the　carpet　and　went　out　into　the　reception…room。
Although　so　short　a　time　had　passed　since　Prince　Andrey　had　left　Russia；　he　had　changed　greatly　during　that　time。　In　the　expression　of　his　face；　in　his　gestures；　in　his　gait；　there　was　scarcely　a　trace　to　be　seen　now　of　his　former　affectation；　ennui；　and　indolence。　He　had　the　air　of　a　man　who　has　not　time　to　think　of　the　impression　he　is　making　on　others；　and　is　absorbed　in　work；　both　agreeable　and　interesting。　His　face　showed　more　satisfaction　with　himself　and　those　around　him。　His　smile　and　his　glance　were　more　light…hearted　and　attractive。
Kutuzov；　whom　he　had　overtaken　in　Poland；　had　received　him　very　cordially；　had　promised　not　to　forget　him；　had　marked　him　out　among　the　other　adjutants；　had　taken　him　with　him　to　Vienna　and　given　him　the　more　serious　commissions。　From　Vienna；　Kutuzov　had　written　to　his　old　comrade；　Prince　Andrey’s　father。
“Your　son；”　he　wrote；　“gives　promise　of　becoming　an　officer；　who　will　make　his　name　by　his　industry；　firmness；　and　conscientiousness。　I　consider　myself　lucky　to　have　such　an　assistant　at　hand。”
On　Kutuzov’s　staff；　among　his　fellow…officers；　and　in　the　army　generally；　Prince　Andrey　had；　as　he　had　had　in　Petersburg　society；　two　quite　opposite　reputations。　Some；　the　minority；　regarded　Prince　Andrey　as　a　being　different　from　themselves　and　from　all　other　men；　expected　great　things　of　him；　listened　to　him；　were　enthusiastic　in　his　praise；　and　imitated　him；　and　with　such　people　Prince　Andrey　was　frank　and　agreeable。　Others；　the　majority；　did　not　like　Prince　Andrey；　and　regarded　him　as　a　sulky；　cold；　and　disagreeable　person。　But　with　the　latter　class；　too；　Prince　Andrey　knew　how　to　behave　so　that　he　was　respected　and　even　feared　by　them。
Coming　out　of　Kutuzov’s　room　into　the　reception…room；　Prince　Andrey　went　in　with　his　papers　to　his　comrade；　the　adjutant　on　duty；　Kozlovsky；　who　was　sitting　in　the　window　with　a　book。
“What　is　it；　prince？”　queried　Kozlovsky。
“I　am　told　to　make　a　note　of　the　reason　why　we　are　not　moving　forward。”
“And　why　aren’t　we？”
Prince　Andrey　shrugged　his　shoulders
“No　news　from　Mack？”　asked　Kozlovsky。
“No。”
“If　it　were　true　that　he　had　been　beaten；　news　would　have　come。”
“Most　likely；”　said　Prince　Andrey；　and　he　moved　towards　the　door　to　go　out。　But　he　was　met　on　the　way　by　a　tall　man　who　at　that　instant　walked　into　the　reception…room；　slamming　the　door。　The　stranger；　who　had　obviously　just　arrived；　was　an　Austrian　general　in　a　long　coat；　with　a　black　kerchief　tied　round　his　head；　and　the　order　of　Maria　Theresa　on　his　neck。　Prince　Andrey　stopped　short。
“Commander…in…chief　Kutuzov？”　the　general　asked　quickly；　speaking　with　a　harsh　German　accent。　He　looked　about　him　on　both　sides；　and　without　a　pause　walked　to　the　door　of　the　private　room。
“The　commander…in…chief　is　engaged；”　said　Kozlovsky；　hurriedly　going　up　to　the　unknown　general　and　barring　his　way　to　the　door。　“Whom　am　I　to　announce？”
The　unknown　general　looked　disdainfully　down　at　the　short　figure　of　Kozlovsky；　as　though　surprised　that　they　could　be　ignorant　of　his　identity。
“The　commander…in…chief　is　engaged；”　Kozlovsky　repeated　tranquilly。
The　general’s　face　contracted；　his　lips　twitched　and　quivered。　He　took　out　a　notebook；　hurriedly　scribbled　something　in　pencil；　tore　out　the　leaf；　handed　it　to　Kozlovsky；　and　with　rapid　steps　walked　to　the　window；　dropped　on　to　a　chair　and　looked　round　at　the　persons　in　the　room；　as　though　asking　what　they　were　looking　at　him　for。　Then　the　general　lifted　his　head；　craned　his　neck　forward　as　though　intending　to　say　something；　but　immediately；　as　though　carelessly　beginning　to　hum　to　himself；　uttered　a　strange　sound　which　broke　off　at　once。　The　door　of　the　private　room　opened；　and　Kutuzov　appeared　in　the　doorway。
The　general　with　the　bandaged　head；　bent　forward　as　though　fleeing　from　danger；　strode　towards　Kutuzov；　his　thin　legs　moving　swiftly。
“You　see　the　unfortunate　Mack；”　he　articulated　in　French　in　a　breaking　voice。
The　face　of　Kutuzov；　as　he　stood　in　the　doorway；　remained　for　several　instants　perfectly　unmoved。　Then　a　frown　seemed　to　run　over　his　face；　like　a　wave；　leaving　his　forehead　smooth　again；　he　bowed　his　head　respectfully；　closed　his　eyes；　ushered　Mack　in　before　him　without　a　word；　and　closed　the　door　behind　him。
The　re