Book Three: 1805 - Chapter IX

by Leo Tolstoy

　　The day after the review, Boris, in his best uniform and with hiscomrade Berg's best wishes for success, rode to Olmutz to seeBolkonski, wishing to profit by his friendliness and obtain forhimself the best post he could- preferably that of adjutant to someimportant personage, a position in the army which seemed to him mostattractive. "It is all very well for Rostov, whose father sends himten thousand rubles at a time, to talk about not wishing to cringeto anybody and not be anyone's lackey, but I who have nothing but mybrains have to make a career and must not miss opportunities, but mustavail myself of them!" he reflected.

　　He did not find Prince Andrew in Olmutz that day, but the appearanceof the town where the headquarters and the diplomatic corps werestationed and the two Emperors were living with their suites,households, and courts only strengthened his desire to belong tothat higher world.

　　He knew no one, and despite his smart Guardsman's uniform, all theseexalted personages passing in the streets in their elegant carriageswith their plumes, ribbons, and medals, both courtiers and militarymen, seemed so immeasurably above him, an insignificant officer of theGuards, that they not only did not wish to, but simply could not, beaware of his existence. At the quarters of the commander in chief,Kutuzov, where he inquired for Bolkonski, all the adjutants and eventhe orderlies looked at him as if they wished to impress on him that agreat many officers like him were always coming there and thateverybody was heartily sick of them. In spite of this, or ratherbecause of it, next day, November 15, after dinner he again went toOlmutz and, entering the house occupied by Kutuzov, asked forBolkonski. Prince Andrew was in and Boris was shown into a largehall probably formerly used for dancing, but in which five beds nowstood, and furniture of various kinds: a table, chairs, and aclavichord. One adjutant, nearest the door, was sitting at the tablein a Persian dressing gown, writing. Another, the red, stoutNesvitski, lay on a bed with his arms under his head, laughing with anofficer who had sat down beside him. A third was playing a Viennesewaltz on the clavichord, while a fourth, lying on the clavichord, sangthe tune. Bolkonski was not there. None of these gentlemen changed hisposition on seeing Boris. The one who was writing and whom Borisaddressed turned round crossly and told him Bolkonski was on dutyand that he should go through the door on the left into thereception room if he wished to see him. Boris thanked him and wentto the reception room, where he found some ten officers and generals.

　　When he entered, Prince Andrew, his eyes drooping contemptuously(with that peculiar expression of polite weariness which plainly says,"If it were not my duty I would not talk to you for a moment"), waslistening to an old Russian general with decorations, who stood veryerect, almost on tiptoe, with a soldier's obsequious expression on hispurple face, reporting something.

　　"Very well, then, be so good as to wait," said Prince Andrew tothe general, in Russian, speaking with the French intonation heaffected when he wished to speak contemptuously, and noticing Boris,Prince Andrew, paying no more heed to the general who ran after himimploring him to hear something more, nodded and turned to him witha cheerful smile.

　　At that moment Boris clearly realized what he had before surmised,that in the army, besides the subordination and disciplineprescribed in the military code, which he and the others knew in theregiment, there was another, more important, subordination, which madethis tight-laced, purple-faced general wait respectfully while CaptainPrince Andrew, for his own pleasure, chose to chat with LieutenantDrubetskoy. More than ever was Boris resolved to serve in future notaccording to the written code, but under this unwritten law. He feltnow that merely by having been recommended to Prince Andrew he hadalready risen above the general who at the front had the power toannihilate him, a lieutenant of the Guards. Prince Andrew came up tohim and took his hand.

　　"I am very sorry you did not find me in yesterday. I was fussingabout with Germans all day. We went with Weyrother to survey thedispositions. When Germans start being accurate, there's no end toit!"

　　Boris smiled, as if he understood what Prince Andrew was alluding toas something generally known. But it the first time he had heardWeyrother's name, or even the term "dispositions."

　　"Well, my dear fellow, so you still want to be an adjutant? I havebeen thinking about you."

　　"Yes, I was thinking"- for some reason Boris could not helpblushing- "of asking the commander in chief. He has had a letterfrom Prince Kuragin about me. I only wanted to ask because I fearthe Guards won't be in action," he added as if in apology.

　　"All right, all right. We'll talk it over," replied Prince Andrew."Only let me report this gentleman's business, and I shall be atyour disposal."

　　While Prince Andrew went to report about the purple-faced general,that gentleman- evidently not sharing Boris' conception of theadvantages of the unwritten code of subordination- looked so fixedlyat the presumptuous lieutenant who had prevented his finishing what hehad to say to the adjutant that Boris felt uncomfortable. He turnedaway and waited impatiently for Prince Andrew's return from thecommander in chief's room.

　　"You see, my dear fellow, I have been thinking about you," saidPrince Andrew when they had gone into the large room where theclavichord was. "It's no use your going to the commander in chief.He would say a lot of pleasant things, ask you to dinner" ("That wouldnot be bad as regards the unwritten code," thought Boris), "butnothing more would come of it. There will soon be a battalion of usaides-de-camp and adjutants! But this is what we'll do: I have agood friend, an adjutant general and an excellent fellow, PrinceDolgorukov; and though you may not know it, the fact is that nowKutuzov with his staff and all of us count for nothing. Everythingis now centered round the Emperor. So we will go to Dolgorukov; I haveto go there anyhow and I have already spoken to him about you. Weshall see whether he cannot attach you to himself or find a placefor you somewhere nearer the sun."

　　Prince Andrew always became specially keen when he had to guide ayoung man and help him to worldly success. Under cover of obtaininghelp of this kind for another, which from pride he would neveraccept for himself, he kept in touch with the circle which conferssuccess and which attracted him. He very readily took up Boris'cause and went with him to Dolgorukov.

　　It was late in the evening when they entered the palace at Olmutzoccupied by the Emperors and their retinues.

　　That same day a council of war had been held in which all themembers of the Hofkriegsrath and both Emperors took part. At thatcouncil, contrary to the views of the old generals Kutuzov andPrince Schwartzenberg, it had been decided to advance immediatelyand give battle to Bonaparte. The council of war was just over whenPrince Andrew accompanied by Boris arrived at the palace to findDolgorukov. Everyone at headquarters was still under the spell ofthe day's council, at which the party of the young had triumphed.The voices of those who counseled delay and advised waiting forsomething else before advancing had been so completely silenced andtheir arguments confuted by such conclusive evidence of the advantagesof attacking that what had been discussed at the council- the comingbattle and the victory that would certainly result from it- nolonger seemed to be in the future but in the past. All theadvantages were on our side. Our enormous forces, undoubtedly superiorto Napoleon's, were concentrated in one place, the troops inspiredby the Emperors' presence were eager for action. The strategicposition where the operations would take place was familiar in all itsdetails to the Austrian General Weyrother: a lucky accident hadordained that the Austrian army should maneuver the previous year onthe very fields where the French had now to be fought; the adjacentlocality was known and shown in every detail on the maps, andBonaparte, evidently weakened, was undertaking nothing.

　　Dolgorukov, one of the warmest advocates of an attack, had justreturned from the council, tired and exhausted but eager and proudof the victory that had been gained. Prince Andrew introduced hisprotege, but Prince Dolgorukov politely and firmly pressing his handsaid nothing to Boris and, evidently unable to suppress the thoughtswhich were uppermost in his mind at that moment, addressed PrinceAndrew in French.

　　"Ah, my dear fellow, what a battle we have gained! God grant thatthe one that will result from it will be as victorious! However,dear fellow," he said abruptly and eagerly, "I must confess tohaving been unjust to the Austrians and especially to Weyrother.What exactitude, what minuteness, what knowledge of the locality, whatforesight for every eventuality, every possibility even to thesmallest detail! No, my dear fellow, no conditions better than ourpresent ones could have been devised. This combination of Austrianprecision with Russian valor- what more could be wished for?"

　　"So the attack is definitely resolved on?" asked Bolkonski.

　　"And do you know, my dear fellow, it seems to me that Bonapartehas decidedly lost bearings, you know that a letter was receivedfrom him today for the Emperor." Dolgorukov smiled significantly.

　　"Is that so? And what did he say?" inquired Bolkonski.

　　"What can he say? Tra-di-ri-di-ra and so on... merely to gaintime. I tell you he is in our hands, that's certain! But what was mostamusing," he continued, with a sudden, good-natured laugh, "was thatwe could not think how to address the reply! If not as 'Consul' and ofcourse not as 'Emperor,' it seemed to me it should be to 'GeneralBonaparte.'"

　　"But between not recognizing him as Emperor and calling himGeneral Bonaparte, there is a difference," remarked Bolkonski.

　　"That's just it," interrupted Dolgorukov quickly, laughing. "Youknow Bilibin- he's a very clever fellow. He suggested addressing himas 'Usurper and Enemy of Mankind.'"

　　Dolgorukov laughed merrily.

　　"Only that?" said Bolkonski.

　　"All the same, it was Bilibin who found a suitable form for theaddress. He is a wise and clever fellow."

　　"What was it?"

　　"To the Head of the French Government... Au chef du gouvernementfrancais," said Dolgorukov, with grave satisfaction. "Good, wasn'tit?"

　　"Yes, but he will dislike it extremely," said Bolkonski.

　　"Oh yes, very much! My brother knows him, he's dined with him- thepresent Emperor- more than once in Paris, and tells me he never meta more cunning or subtle diplomatist- you know, a combination ofFrench adroitness and Italian play-acting! Do you know the taleabout him and Count Markov? Count Markov was the only man who knew howto handle him. You know the story of the handkerchief? It isdelightful!"

　　And the talkative Dolgorukov, turning now to Boris, now to PrinceAndrew, told how Bonaparte wishing to test Markov, our ambassador,purposely dropped a handkerchief in front of him and stood lookingat Markov, probably expecting Markov to pick it up for him, and howMarkov immediately dropped his own beside it and picked it upwithout touching Bonaparte's.

　　"Delightful!" said Bolkonski. "But I have come to you, Prince, asa petitioner on behalf of this young man. You see..." but beforePrince Andrew could finish, an aide-de-camp came in to summonDolgorukov to the Emperor.

　　"Oh, what a nuisance," said Dolgorukov, getting up hurriedly andpressing the hands of Prince Andrew and Boris. "You know I should bevery glad to do all in my power both for you and for this dear youngman." Again he pressed the hand of the latter with an expression ofgood-natured, sincere, and animated levity. "But you see... anothertime!"

　　Boris was excited by the thought of being so close to the higherpowers as he felt himself to be at that moment. He was consciousthat here he was in contact with the springs that set in motion theenormous movements of the mass of which in his regiment he felthimself a tiny, obedient, and insignificant atom. They followed PrinceDolgorukov out into the corridor and met- coming out of the door ofthe Emperor's room by which Dolgorukov had entered- a short man incivilian clothes with a clever face and sharply projecting jawwhich, without spoiling his face, gave him a peculiar vivacity andshiftiness of expression. This short man nodded to Dolgorukov as to anintimate friend and stared at Prince Andrew with cool intensity,walking straight toward him and evidently expecting him to bow or tostep out of his way. Prince Andrew did neither: a look of animosityappeared on his face and the other turned away and went down theside of the corridor.

　　"Who was that?" asked Boris.

　　"He is one of the most remarkable, but to me most unpleasant of men-the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Adam Czartoryski.... It issuch men as he who decide the fate of nations," added Bolkonski with asigh he could not suppress, as they passed out of the palace.

　　Next day, the army began its campaign, and up to the very battleof Austerlitz, Boris was unable to see either Prince Andrew orDolgorukov again and remained for a while with the Ismaylov regiment.