Book Twelve: 1812 - Chapter II

by Leo Tolstoy

　　Anna Pavlovna's presentiment was in fact fulfilled. Next dayduring the service at the palace church in honor of the Emperor'sbirthday, Prince Volkonski was called out of the church and received adispatch from Prince Kutuzov. It was Kutuzov's report, written fromTatarinova on the day of the battle. Kutuzov wrote that the Russianshad not retreated a step, that the French losses were much heavierthan ours, and that he was writing in haste from the field of battlebefore collecting full information. It followed that there must havebeen a victory. And at once, without leaving the church, thanks wererendered to the Creator for His help and for the victory.

　　Anna Pavlovna's presentiment was justified, and all that morning ajoyously festive mood reigned in the city. Everyone believed thevictory to have been complete, and some even spoke of Napoleon'shaving been captured, of his deposition, and of the choice of a newruler for France.

　　It is very difficult for events to be reflected in their realstrength and completeness amid the conditions of court life and farfrom the scene of action. General events involuntarily groupthemselves around some particular incident. So now the courtiers'pleasure was based as much on the fact that the news had arrived onthe Emperor's birthday as on the fact of the victory itself. It waslike a successfully arranged surprise. Mention was made in Kutuzov'sreport of the Russian losses, among which figured the names ofTuchkov, Bagration, and Kutaysov. In the Petersburg world this sadside of the affair again involuntarily centered round a singleincident: Kutaysov's death. Everybody knew him, the Emperor liked him,and he was young and interesting. That day everyone met with thewords:

　　"What a wonderful coincidence! Just during the service. But what aloss Kutaysov is! How sorry I am!"

　　"What did I tell about Kutuzov?" Prince Vasili now said with aprophet's pride. "I always said he was the only man capable ofdefeating Napoleon."

　　But next day no news arrived from the army and the public moodgrew anxious. The courtiers suffered because of the suffering thesuspense occasioned the Emperor.

　　"Fancy the Emperor's position!" said they, and instead ofextolling Kutuzov as they had done the day before, they condemnedhim as the cause of the Emperor's anxiety. That day Prince Vasili nolonger boasted of his protege Kutuzov, but remained silent when thecommander in chief was mentioned. Moreover, toward evening, as ifeverything conspired to make Petersburg society anxious and uneasy,a terrible piece of news was added. Countess Helene Bezukhova hadsuddenly died of that terrible malady it had been so agreeable tomention. Officially, at large gatherings, everyone said thatCountess Bezukhova had died of a terrible attack of angina pectoris,but in intimate circles details were mentioned of how the privatephysician of the Queen of Spain had prescribed small doses of acertain drug to produce a certain effect; but Helene, tortured bythe fact that the old count suspected her and that her husband to whomshe had written (that wretched, profligate Pierre) had not replied,had suddenly taken a very large dose of the drug, and had died inagony before assistance could be rendered her. It was said that PrinceVasili and the old count had turned upon the Italian, but the latterhad produced such letters from the unfortunate deceased that theyhad immediately let the matter drop.

　　Talk in general centered round three melancholy facts: the Emperor'slack of news, the loss of Kutuzov, and the death of Helene.

　　On the third day after Kutuzov's report a country gentlemanarrived from Moscow, and news of the surrender of Moscow to the Frenchspread through the whole town. This was terrible! What a positionfor the Emperor to be in! Kutuzov was a traitor, and Prince Vasiliduring the visits of condolence paid to him on the occasion of hisdaughter's death said of Kutuzov, whom he had formerly praised (it wasexcusable for him in his grief to forget what he had said), that itwas impossible to expect anything else from a blind and depraved oldman.

　　"I only wonder that the fate of Russia could have been entrustedto such a man."

　　As long as this news remained unofficial it was possible to doubtit, but the next day the following communication was received fromCount Rostopchin:

　　Prince Kutuzov's adjutant has brought me a letter in which hedemands police officers to guide the army to the Ryazan road. Hewrites that he is regretfully abandoning Moscow. Sire! Kutuzov'saction decides the fate of the capital and of your empire! Russia willshudder to learn of the abandonment of the city in which her greatnessis centered and in which lie the ashes of your ancestors! I shallfollow the army. I have had everything removed, and it only remainsfor me to weep over the fate of my fatherland.

　　On receiving this dispatch the Emperor sent Prince Volkonski toKutuzov with the following rescript:

　　Prince Michael Ilarionovich! Since the twenty-ninth of August I havereceived no communication from you, yet on the first of September Ireceived from the commander in chief of Moscow, via Yaroslavl, the sadnews that you, with the army, have decided to abandon Moscow. Youcan yourself imagine the effect this news has had on me, and yoursilence increases my astonishment. I am sending this byAdjutant-General Prince Volkonski, to hear from you the situation ofthe army and the reasons that have induced you to take this melancholydecision.