War And Peace: Book 9 - CHAPTER VII

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AFTER ALL NAPOLEON had said to him, after those outbursts of wrath, and after

the last frigidly uttered words, “I will not detain you, general; you shall

receive my letter,” Balashov felt certain that Napoleon would not care to see

him again, would avoid indeed seeing again the envoy who had been treated by him

with contumely, and had been the eyewitness of his undignified outburst of fury.

But to his surprise Balashov received through Duroc an invitation to dine that

day at the Emperor's table.

There were present at dinner, Bessières, Caulaincourt, and Berthier.

Napoleon met Balashov with a good-humoured and friendly air. He had not the

slightest appearance of embarrassment or regret for his outbreak in the morning.

On the contrary he seemed trying to encourage Balashov. It was evident that it

had long been Napoleon's conviction that no possibility existed of his making

mistakes. To his mind all he did was good, not because it was in harmony with

any preconceived notion of good or bad, but simply because it was he who

did it.

The Emperor was in excellent spirits after his ride about Vilna, greeted and

followed with acclamations by crowds of the inhabitants. From every window in

the streets through which he had passed draperies and flags with his monogram

had been hanging, and Polish ladies had been waving handkerchiefs to welcome

him.

At dinner he sat Balashov beside him, and addressed him affably. He addressed

him indeed as though he regarded Balashov as one of his own courtiers, as one of

the people, who would sympathise with his plans and be sure to rejoice at his

successes. He talked, among other things, of Moscow, and began asking Balashov

questions about the ancient Russian capital, not simply as a traveller of

inquiring mind asks about a new place he intends to visit, but apparently with

the conviction that Balashov as a Russian must be flattered at his interest in

it.

“How many inhabitants are there in Moscow, how many horses? Is it true that

Moscow is called the holy city? How many churches are there in Moscow?” he

asked.

And when he was told there were over two hundred churches, he said: “Why is

there such a great number of churches?”

“The Russians are very religious,” replied Balashov.

“A great number, however, of monasteries and churches is always a sign of the

backwardness of a people,” said Napoleon, looking at Caulaincourt for

appreciation of this remark.

Balashov ventured respectfully to differ from the opinion of the French

Emperor.

“Every country has its customs,” he observed.

“But there's nothing like that anywhere else in Europe,” said Napoleon.

“I beg your majesty's pardon,” said Balashov; “besides Russia, there is

Spain, where there is also a great number of churches and monasteries.”

This reply of Balashov's, which suggested a covert allusion to the recent

discomfiture of the French in Spain, was highly appreciated when Balashov

repeated it at the court of the Emperor Alexander, though at the time at

Napoleon's dinner-table it was very little appreciated and passed indeed

unnoticed.

From the indifferent and perplexed faces of the marshals present it was

obvious that they were puzzled to discover wherein lay the point of the retort,

suggested by Balashov's intonation. “If there were a point, we fail to catch it,

or the remark was perhaps really pointless,” their expression seemed to say. So

little effect had this retort that Napoleon indeed certainly saw nothing in it;

and he na

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1. Ebooks list page : 83
2. War And Peace: Book 4 - CHAPTER V
3. War And Peace: Book 2 - CHAPTER III
4. War And Peace: Book 2 - CHAPTER II
5. War And Peace: Book 2 - CHAPTER I
6. War And Peace: Book 2 - CHAPTER IV
7. War And Peace: Book 3 - CHAPTER XIX
8. War And Peace: Book 3 - CHAPTER XVI
9. War And Peace: Book 3 - CHAPTER XV
10. War And Peace: Book 3 - CHAPTER XIV
11. War And Peace: Book 2 - CHAPTER V
12. War And Peace: Book 2 - CHAPTER VI
13. War And Peace: Book 2 - CHAPTER XIX
14. War And Peace: Book 2 - CHAPTER XVI
15. War And Peace: Book 2 - CHAPTER XIV
16. War And Peace: Book 2 - CHAPTER XV