American library books Β» Other Β» War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (ebook reader for pc TXT) πŸ“•

Read book online Β«War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (ebook reader for pc TXT) πŸ“•Β».   Author   -   Leo Tolstoy



1 ... 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 ... 556
Go to page:
weakened as he approached the door of the minister’s room. He felt offended, and without his noticing it the feeling of offense immediately turned into one of disdain which was quite uncalled for. His fertile mind instantly suggested to him a point of view which gave him a right to despise the adjutant and the minister. β€œAway from the smell of powder, they probably think it easy to gain victories!” he thought. His eyes narrowed disdainfully, he entered the room of the Minister of War with peculiarly deliberate steps. This feeling of disdain was heightened when he saw the minister seated at a large table reading some papers and making pencil notes on them, and for the first two or three minutes taking no notice of his arrival. A wax candle stood at each side of the minister’s bent bald head with its gray temples. He went on reading to the end, without raising his eyes at the opening of the door and the sound of footsteps.

β€œTake this and deliver it,” said he to his adjutant, handing him the papers and still taking no notice of the special messenger.

Prince AndrΓ©y felt that either the actions of KutΓΊzov’s army interested the Minister of War less than any of the other matters he was concerned with, or he wanted to give the Russian special messenger that impression. β€œBut that is a matter of perfect indifference to me,” he thought. The minister drew the remaining papers together, arranged them evenly, and then raised his head. He had an intellectual and distinctive head, but the instant he turned to Prince AndrΓ©y the firm, intelligent expression on his face changed in a way evidently deliberate and habitual to him. His face took on the stupid artificial smile (which does not even attempt to hide its artificiality) of a man who is continually receiving many petitioners one after another.

β€œFrom General Field Marshal KutΓΊzov?” he asked. β€œI hope it is good news? There has been an encounter with Mortier? A victory? It was high time!”

He took the dispatch which was addressed to him and began to read it with a mournful expression.

β€œOh, my God! My God! Schmidt!” he exclaimed in German. β€œWhat a calamity! What a calamity!”

Having glanced through the dispatch he laid it on the table and looked at Prince AndrΓ©y, evidently considering something.

β€œAh what a calamity! You say the affair was decisive? But Mortier is not captured.” Again he pondered. β€œI am very glad you have brought good news, though Schmidt’s death is a heavy price to pay for the victory. His Majesty will no doubt wish to see you, but not today. I thank you! You must have a rest. Be at the levee tomorrow after the parade. However, I will let you know.”

The stupid smile, which had left his face while he was speaking, reappeared.

β€œAu revoir! Thank you very much. His Majesty will probably desire to see you,” he added, bowing his head.

When Prince AndrΓ©y left the palace he felt that all the interest and happiness the victory had afforded him had been now left in the indifferent hands of the Minister of War and the polite adjutant. The whole tenor of his thoughts instantaneously changed; the battle seemed the memory of a remote event long past.

X

Prince AndrΓ©y stayed at BrΓΌnn with BilΓ­bin, a Russian acquaintance of his in the diplomatic service.

β€œAh, my dear prince! I could not have a more welcome visitor,” said BilΓ­bin as he came out to meet Prince AndrΓ©y. β€œFranz, put the prince’s things in my bedroom,” said he to the servant who was ushering BolkΓ³nski in. β€œSo you’re a messenger of victory, eh? Splendid! And I am sitting here ill, as you see.”

After washing and dressing, Prince AndrΓ©y came into the diplomat’s luxurious study and sat down to the dinner prepared for him. BilΓ­bin settled down comfortably beside the fire.

After his journey and the campaign during which he had been deprived of all the comforts of cleanliness and all the refinements of life, Prince AndrΓ©y felt a pleasant sense of repose among luxurious surroundings such as he had been accustomed to from childhood. Besides it was pleasant, after his reception by the Austrians, to speak if not in Russian (for they were speaking French) at least with a Russian who would, he supposed, share the general Russian antipathy to the Austrians which was then particularly strong.

BilΓ­bin was a man of thirty-five, a bachelor, and of the same circle as Prince AndrΓ©y. They had known each other previously in Petersburg, but had become more intimate when Prince AndrΓ©y was in Vienna with KutΓΊzov. Just as Prince AndrΓ©y was a young man who gave promise of rising high in the military profession, so to an even greater extent BilΓ­bin gave promise of rising in his diplomatic career. He was still a young man but no longer a young diplomat, as he had entered the service at the age of sixteen, had been in Paris and Copenhagen, and now held a rather important post in Vienna. Both the foreign minister and our ambassador in Vienna knew him and valued him. He was not one of those many diplomats who are esteemed because they have certain negative qualities, avoid doing certain things, and speak French. He was one of those, who, liking work, knew how to do it, and despite his indolence would sometimes spend a whole night at his writing table. He worked well whatever the import of his work. It was not the question β€œWhat for?” but the question β€œHow?” that interested him. What the diplomatic matter might be he did not care, but it gave him great pleasure to prepare a circular, memorandum, or report, skillfully, pointedly, and elegantly. BilΓ­bin’s services were valued not only for what he wrote, but also for his skill in dealing and conversing with those in the highest spheres.

BilΓ­bin liked conversation as he liked work, only when it could be made elegantly witty. In society he always awaited an opportunity

1 ... 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 ... 556
Go to page:

Free e-book: Β«War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (ebook reader for pc TXT) πŸ“•Β»   -   read online now on website american library books (americanlibrarybooks.com)

Comments (0)

There are no comments yet. You can be the first!
Add a comment