,BOOK #i1 ,*APT] #f 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,?\< ,BALA%EV WAS US$ TO IMP]IAL POMP1 HE WAS AMAZ$ AT ! LUXURY & 
 MAGNIFIC5CE ( ,NAPOLEON'S C\RT4 

,! ,COMTE DE ,TUR5NE %[$ HIM 9TO A BIG RECEPTION ROOM :]E MANY 
 G5]ALS1 G5TLEM5-9-WAIT+1 & ,POLI% MAGNATES--SEV]AL ( :OM 
 ,BALA%EV HAD SE5 AT ! C\RT ( ! ,EMP]OR ( ,RUSSIA--W]E 
 WAIT+4 ,DUROC SAID ?AT ,NAPOLEON W\LD RECEIVE ! ,RUSSIAN G5]AL BE=E 
 GO+ = HIS RIDE4 

,AFT] SOME M9UTES1 ! G5TLEMAN-9-WAIT+ :O WAS ON DUTY CAME 9TO ! 
 GREAT RECEPTION ROOM &1 B[+ POLITELY1 ASK$ ,BALA%EV TO FOLL[ HIM4 

,BALA%EV W5T 9TO A SMALL RECEPTION ROOM1 ONE DOOR ( :I* L$ 9TO A 
 /UDY1 ! V]Y ONE FROM :I* ! ,RUSSIAN ,EMP]OR HAD DISPAT*$ HIM ON 
 HIS MISSION4 ,HE /OOD A M9UTE OR TWO1 WAIT+4 ,HE HE>D HURRI$ FOOT/EPS 
 BEYOND ! DOOR1 BO? HALVES ( IT W]E OP5$ RAPIDLY2 ALL WAS SIL5T & 
 !N FROM ! /UDY ! S\ND WAS HE>D ( O!R /EPS1 FIRM & RESOLUTE--!Y 
 W]E ?OSE ( ,NAPOLEON4 ,HE HAD JU/ F9I%$ DRESS+ = HIS RIDE1 & 
 WORE A BLUE UNI=M1 OP5+ 9 FRONT OV] A :ITE WAI/COAT SO LONG ?AT 
 IT COV]$ HIS ROTUND /OMA*1 :ITE LEA!R BREE*ES TI<TLY FITT+ ! 
 FAT ?I<S ( HIS %ORT LEGS1 & ,HESSIAN BOOTS4 ,HIS %ORT HAIR HAD 
 EVID5TLY JU/ BE5 BRU%$1 BUT ONE LOCK HUNG D[N 9 ! MIDDLE ( HIS 
 BROAD =EHEAD4 ,HIS PLUMP :ITE NECK /OOD \T %>PLY ABOVE ! BLACK 
 COLL> ( HIS UNI=M1 & HE SMELL$ ( ,EAU DE ,COLOGNE4 ,HIS FULL FACE1 
 RA!R Y\NG-LOOK+1 ) ITS PROM95T *91 WORE A GRACI\S & 
 MAJE/IC EXPRESSION ( IMP]IAL WELCOME4 

,HE 5T]$ BRISKLY1 ) A J]K AT EV]Y /EP & HIS HEAD SLI<TLY ?R[N 
 BACK4 ,HIS :OLE %ORT CORPUL5T FIGURE ) BROAD ?ICK %\LD]S1 & 
 *E/ & /OMA* 9VOLUNT>ILY PROTRUD+1 HAD ?AT IMPOS+ & /ATELY 
 APPE>ANCE ONE SEES 9 M5 ( =TY :O LIVE 9 COM=T4 ,IT WAS EVID5T1 
 TOO1 ?AT HE WAS 9 ! BE/ ( SPIRITS ?AT DAY4 

,HE NODD$ 9 ANSW] TO ,BALA%EV'S L[ & RESPECTFUL B[1 & COM+ UP TO 
 HIM AT ONCE BEGAN SPEAK+ LIKE A MAN :O VALUES EV]Y MOM5T ( HIS TIME 
 & DOES NOT CONDESC5D TO PREP>E :AT HE HAS TO SAY BUT IS SURE HE WILL 
 ALWAYS SAY ! RI<T ?+ & SAY IT WELL4 

0,GOOD DAY1 ,G5]AL60 SAID HE4 0,I HAVE RECEIV$ ! LETT] Y\ BR\<T FROM 
 ! ,EMP]OR ,ALEX&] & AM V]Y GLAD TO SEE Y\40 ,HE GLANC$ ) HIS 
 L>GE EYES 9TO ,BALA%EV'S FACE & IMM$IATELY LOOK$ PA/ HIM4 

,IT WAS PLA9 ?AT ,BALA%EV'S P]SONALITY DID NOT 9T]E/ HIM AT ALL4 
 ,EVID5TLY ONLY :AT TOOK PLACE )9 HIS [N M9D 9T]E/$ HIM4 ,NO?+ 
 \TSIDE HIMSELF HAD ANY SIGNIFICANCE = HIM1 BECAUSE EV]Y?+ 9 ! 
 WORLD1 IT SEEM$ TO HIM1 DEP5D$ 5TIRELY ON HIS WILL4 

0,I DO NOT1 & DID NOT1 DESIRE W>10 HE CONT9U$1 0BUT IT HAS 
 BE5 =C$ ON ME4 ,EV5 N[0 7HE EMPHASIZ$ ! WORD7 0,I AM 
 READY TO RECEIVE ANY EXPLANATIONS Y\ CAN GIVE ME40 

,& HE BEGAN CLE>LY & CONCISELY TO EXPLA9 HIS REASONS = 
 DISSATISFACTION ) ! ,RUSSIAN GOV]NM5T4 ,JUDG+ BY ! CALMLY 
 MOD]ATE & AMICABLE TONE 9 :I* ! ,FR5* ,EMP]OR SPOKE1 ,BALA%EV WAS 
 FIRMLY P]SUAD$ ?AT HE WI%$ = PEACE & 9T5D$ TO 5T] 9TO 
 NEGOTIATIONS4 

,:5 ,NAPOLEON1 HAV+ F9I%$ SPEAK+1 LOOK$ 9QUIR+LY AT ! ,RUSSIAN 
 5VOY1 ,BALA%EV BEGAN A SPEE* HE HAD PREP>$ LONG BE=E3 0,SIRE6 ,! 
 ,EMP]OR1 MY MA/]4440 BUT ! SI<T ( ! ,EMP]OR'S EYES B5T ON HIM 
 CONFUS$ HIM4 0,Y\ >E FLURRI$--COMPOSE Y\RSELF60 ,NAPOLEON SEEM$ 
 TO SAY1 AS ) A SC>CELY P]CEPTIBLE SMILE HE LOOK$ AT ,BALA%EV'S 
 UNI=M & SWORD4 

,BALA%EV RECOV]$ HIMSELF & BEGAN TO SPEAK4 ,HE SAID ?AT ! ,EMP]OR 
 ,ALEX&] DID NOT CONSID] ,KURAK9'S DEM& = HIS PASSPORTS A SUFFICI5T 
 CAUSE = W>2 ?AT ,KURAK9 HAD ACT$ ON HIS [N 9ITIATIVE & )\T 
 HIS SOV]EIGN'S ASS5T1 ?AT ! ,EMP]OR ,ALEX&] DID NOT DESIRE W>1 & 
 HAD NO RELATIONS ) ,5GL&4 

0,NOT YET60 9T]POS$ ,NAPOLEON1 &1 AS IF FE>+ TO GIVE V5T TO HIS 
 FEEL+S1 HE FR[N$ & NODD$ SLI<TLY AS A SIGN ?AT ,BALA%EV MI<T 
 PROCE$4 

,AFT] SAY+ ALL HE HAD BE5 9/RUCT$ TO SAY1 ,BALA%EV ADD$ ?AT ! 
 ,EMP]OR ,ALEX&] WI%$ = PEACE1 BUT W\LD NOT 5T] 9TO NEGOTIATIONS 
 EXCEPT ON CONDITION ?AT444 ,H]E ,BALA%EV HESITAT$3 HE REMEMB]$ ! 
 WORDS ! ,EMP]OR ,ALEX&] HAD NOT WRITT5 9 HIS LETT]1 BUT HAD 
 SPECIALLY 9S]T$ 9 ! RESCRIPT TO ,SALTYKOV & HAD TOLD ,BALA%EV TO 
 REPEAT TO ,NAPOLEON4 ,BALA%EV REMEMB]$ !SE WORDS1 0,SO LONG AS A S+LE 
 >M$ FOE REMA9S ON ,RUSSIAN SOIL10 BUT SOME COMPLEX FEEL+ RE/RA9$ 
 HIM4 ,HE C\LD NOT UTT] !M1 ?\< HE WI%$ TO DO SO4 ,HE GREW CONFUS$ 
 & SAID3 0,ON CONDITION ?AT ! ,FR5* >MY RETIRES BEYOND ! ,NIEM540 

,NAPOLEON NOTIC$ ,BALA%EV'S EMB>RASSM5T :5 UTT]+ !SE LA/ WORDS2 
 HIS FACE TWIT*$ & ! CALF ( HIS LEFT LEG BEGAN TO QUIV] 
 RHY?MICALLY4 ,)\T MOV+ FROM :]E HE /OOD HE BEGAN SPEAK+ 9 A 
 L\D] TONE & MORE HURRI$LY ?AN BE=E4 ,DUR+ ! SPEE* ?AT 
 FOLL[$1 ,BALA%EV1 :O MORE ?AN ONCE L[]$ HIS EYES1 9VOLUNT>ILY 
 NOTIC$ ! QUIV]+ ( ,NAPOLEON'S LEFT LEG :I* 9CREAS$ ! MORE 
 ,NAPOLEON RAIS$ HIS VOICE4 

0,I DESIRE PEACE1 NO LESS ?AN ! ,EMP]OR ,ALEX&]10 HE BEGAN4 0,HAVE ,I 
 NOT = EI<TE5 MON?S BE5 DO+ EV]Y?+ TO OBTA9 IT8 ,I HAVE WAIT$ 
 EI<TE5 MON?S = EXPLANATIONS4 ,BUT 9 ORD] TO BEG9 NEGOTIATIONS1 :AT 
 IS DEM&$ ( ME80 HE SAID1 FR[N+ & MAK+ AN 5]GETIC GE/URE ( 
 9QUIRY ) HIS SMALL :ITE PLUMP H&4 

0,! )DRAWAL ( Y\R >MY BEYOND ! ,NIEM51 SIRE10 REPLI$ ,BALA%EV4 

0,! ,NIEM580 REPEAT$ ,NAPOLEON4 0,SO N[ Y\ WANT ME TO RETIRE BEYOND ! 
 ,NIEM5--ONLY ! ,NIEM580 REPEAT$ ,NAPOLEON1 LOOK+ /RAI<T AT 
 ,BALA%EV4 

,! LATT] B[$ HIS HEAD RESPECTFULLY4 

,9/EAD ( ! DEM& ( F\R MON?S E>LI] TO )DRAW FROM ,POM]ANIA1 
 ONLY A )DRAWAL BEYOND ! ,NIEM5 WAS N[ DEM&$4 ,NAPOLEON TURN$ 
 QUICKLY & BEGAN TO PACE ! ROOM4 

0,Y\ SAY ! DEM& N[ IS ?AT ,I AM TO )DRAW BEYOND ! ,NIEM5 BE=E 
 COMM5C+ NEGOTIATIONS1 BUT 9 JU/ ! SAME WAY TWO MON?S AGO ! 
 DEM& WAS ?AT ,I %\LD )DRAW BEYOND ! ,VI/ULA & ! ,OD]1 & YET 
 Y\ >E WILL+ TO NEGOTIATE40 

,HE W5T 9 SIL5CE FROM ONE CORN] ( ! ROOM TO ! O!R & AGA9 
 /OPP$ 9 FRONT ( ,BALA%EV4 ,BALA%EV NOTIC$ ?AT HIS LEFT LEG WAS 
 QUIV]+ FA/] ?AN BE=E & HIS FACE SEEM$ PETRIFI$ 9 ITS /]N 
 EXPRESSION4 ,?IS QUIV]+ ( HIS LEFT LEG WAS A ?+ ,NAPOLEON WAS 
 CONSCI\S (4 0,! VIBRATION ( MY LEFT CALF IS A GREAT SIGN ) ME10 HE 
 REM>K$ AT A LAT] DATE4 

0,SU* DEM&S AS TO RETREAT BEYOND ! ,VI/ULA & ,OD] MAY BE MADE TO A 
 ,PR9CE ( ,BAD51 BUT NOT TO ME60 ,NAPOLEON ALMO/ SCREAM$1 QUITE TO HIS 
 [N SURPRISE4 0,IF Y\ GAVE ME ,PET]SBURG & ,MOSC[ ,I C\LD NOT ACCEPT 
 SU* CONDITIONS4 ,Y\ SAY ,I HAVE BEGUN ?IS W>6 ,BUT :O FIR/ JO9$ HIS 
 >MY8 ,! ,EMP]OR ,ALEX&]1 NOT ,I6 ,& Y\ (F] ME NEGOTIATIONS :5 ,I 
 HAVE EXP5D$ MILLIONS1 :5 Y\ >E 9 ALLIANCE ) ,5GL&1 & :5 
 Y\R POSITION IS A BAD ONE4 ,Y\ (F] ME NEGOTIATIONS6 ,BUT :AT IS ! AIM 
 ( Y\R ALLIANCE ) ,5GL&8 ,:AT HAS %E GIV5 Y\80 HE CONT9U$ 
 HURRI$LY1 EVID5TLY NO LONG] TRY+ TO %[ ! ADVANTAGES ( PEACE & 
 DISCUSS ITS POSSIBILITY1 BUT ONLY TO PROVE HIS [N RECTITUDE & P[] & 
 ,ALEX&]'S ]RORS & DUPLICITY4 

,! COMM5CEM5T ( HIS SPEE* HAD OBVI\SLY BE5 MADE ) ! 9T5TION 
 ( DEMON/RAT+ ! ADVANTAGES ( HIS POSITION & %[+ ?AT HE WAS 
 NEV]!LESS WILL+ TO NEGOTIATE4 ,BUT HE HAD BEGUN TALK+1 & ! MORE 
 HE TALK$ ! LESS C\LD HE CONTROL HIS WORDS4 

,! :OLE PURPORT ( HIS REM>KS N[ WAS EVID5TLY TO EXALT HIMSELF & 
 9SULT ,ALEX&]--JU/ :AT HE HAD LEA/ DESIR$ AT ! COMM5CEM5T 
 ( ! 9T]VIEW4 

0,I HE> Y\ HAVE MADE PEACE ) ,TURKEY80 

,BALA%EV B[$ HIS HEAD AFFIRMATIVELY4 

0,PEACE HAS BE5 CONCLUD$4440 HE BEGAN4 

,BUT ,NAPOLEON DID NOT LET HIM SPEAK4 ,HE EVID5TLY WANT$ TO DO ALL ! 
 TALK+ HIMSELF1 & CONT9U$ TO TALK ) ! SORT ( ELOQU5CE & 
 UNRE/RA9$ IRRITABILITY TO :I* SPOIL$ PEOPLE >E SO PRONE4 

0,YES1 ,I KN[ Y\ HAVE MADE PEACE ) ! ,TURKS )\T OBTA9+ ,MOLDAVIA 
 & ,WALLA*IA2 ,I W\LD HAVE GIV5 Y\R SOV]EIGN ?OSE PROV9CES AS ,I GAVE 
 HIM ,F9L&4 ,YES10 HE W5T ON1 0,I PROMIS$ & W\LD HAVE GIV5 ! 
 ,EMP]OR ,ALEX&] ,MOLDAVIA & ,WALLA*IA1 & N[ HE WON'T HAVE ?OSE 
 SPL5DID PROV9CES4 ,YET HE MI<T HAVE UNIT$ !M TO HIS EMPIRE & 9 A 
 S+LE REIGN W\LD HAVE EXT5D$ ,RUSSIA FROM ! ,GULF ( ,BO?NIA TO ! 
 M\?S ( ! ,DANUBE4 ,CA!R9E ! ,GREAT C\LD NOT HAVE DONE MORE10 SAID 
 ,NAPOLEON1 GR[+ MORE & MORE EXCIT$ AS HE PAC$ UP & D[N ! ROOM1 
 REPEAT+ TO ,BALA%EV ALMO/ ! V]Y WORDS HE HAD US$ TO ,ALEX&] 
 HIMSELF AT ,TILSIT4 0,ALL ?AT1 HE W\LD HAVE [$ TO MY FRI5D%IP4 ,OH1 
 :AT A SPL5DID REIGN60 HE REPEAT$ SEV]AL TIMES1 !N PAUS$1 DREW FROM 
 HIS POCKET A GOLD SNUFFBOX1 LIFT$ IT TO HIS NOSE1 & GRE$ILY SNIFF$ AT 
 IT4 

0,:AT A SPL5DID REIGN ! ,EMP]OR ,ALEX&]'S MI<T HAVE BE560 

,HE LOOK$ COMPASSIONATELY AT ,BALA%EV1 & AS SOON AS ! LATT] TRI$ TO 
 MAKE SOME REJO9D] HA/ILY 9T]RUPT$ HIM4 

0,:AT C\LD HE WI% OR LOOK = ?AT HE W\LD NOT HAVE OBTA9$ ?R\< MY 
 FRI5D%IP80 DEM&$ ,NAPOLEON1 %RUGG+ HIS %\LD]S 9 P]PLEXITY4 
 0,BUT NO1 HE HAS PREF]R$ TO SURR\ND HIMSELF ) MY 5EMIES1 & ) 
 :OM8 ,) ,/E9S1 ,>MFELDTS1 ,B5NIGS5S1 & ,W9TZ+]ODES6 ,/E91 A 
 TRAITOR EXPELL$ FROM HIS [N C\NTRY2 ,>MFELDT1 A RAKE & AN 9TRIGU]2 
 ,W9TZ+]ODE1 A FUGITIVE ,FR5* SUBJECT2 ,B5NIGS51 RA!R MORE ( A 
 SOLDI] ?AN ! O!RS1 BUT ALL ! SAME AN 9COMPET5T :O WAS UNABLE TO 
 DO ANY?+ 9 #ahg & :O %\LD AWAK5 T]RIBLE MEMORIES 9 ! ,EMP]OR 
 ,ALEX&]'S M9D4444 ,GRANT$ ?AT W]E !Y COMPET5T !Y MI<T BE MADE 
 USE (10 CONT9U$ ,NAPOLEON--H>DLY ABLE TO KEEP PACE 9 WORDS ) 
 ! RU% ( ?\<TS ?AT 9CESSANTLY SPRANG UP1 PROV+ H[ RI<T & 
 /RONG HE WAS 79 HIS P]CEPTION ! TWO W]E ONE & ! SAME7--0BUT 
 !Y >E NOT EV5 ?AT6 ,!Y >E NEI!R FIT = W> NOR PEACE6 ,B>CLAY IS 
 SAID TO BE ! MO/ CAPABLE ( !M ALL1 BUT ,I CANNOT SAY SO1 JUDG+ BY 
 HIS FIR/ MOVEM5TS4 ,& :AT >E !Y DO+1 ALL !SE C\RTI]S8 ,PFUEL 
 PROPOSES1 ,>MFELDT DISPUTES1 ,B5NIGS5 CONSID]S1 & ,B>CLAY1 CALL$ ON 
 TO ACT1 DOES NOT KN[ :AT TO DECIDE ON1 & TIME PASSES BR++ NO 
 RESULT4 ,BAGRATION ALONE IS A MILIT>Y MAN4 ,HE'S /UPID1 BUT HE HAS 
 EXP]I5CE1 A QUICK EYE1 & RESOLUTION4444 ,& :AT ROLE IS Y\R Y\NG 
 MON>* PLAY+ 9 ?AT MON/R\S CR[D8 ,!Y COMPROMISE HIM & ?R[ ON 
 HIM ! RESPONSIBILITY = ALL ?AT HAPP5S4 ,A SOV]EIGN %\LD NOT BE 
 ) ! >MY UNLESS HE IS A G5]AL60 SAID ,NAPOLEON1 EVID5TLY UTT]+ 
 !SE WORDS AS A DIRECT *ALL5GE TO ! ,EMP]OR4 ,HE KNEW H[ ,ALEX&] 
 DESIR$ TO BE A MILIT>Y COMM&]4 

0,! CAMPAIGN BEGAN ONLY A WEEK AGO1 & Y\ HAV5'T EV5 BE5 ABLE TO 
 DEF5D ,VILNA4 ,Y\ >E CUT 9 TWO & HAVE BE5 DRIV5 \T ( ! ,POLI% 
 PROV9CES4 ,Y\R >MY IS GRUMBL+40 

0,ON ! CONTR>Y1 ,Y\R ,MAJE/Y10 SAID ,BALA%EV1 H>DLY ABLE TO REMEMB] 
 :AT HAD BE5 SAID TO HIM & FOLL[+ !SE V]BAL FIREWORKS ) 
 DIFFICULTY1 0! TROOPS >E BURN+ ) EAG]NESS4440 

0,I KN[ EV]Y?+60 ,NAPOLEON 9T]RUPT$ HIM4 0,I KN[ EV]Y?+4 ,I KN[ 
 ! NUMB] ( Y\R BATTALIONS AS EXACTLY AS ,I KN[ MY [N4 ,Y\ HAVE NOT 
 TWO HUNDR$ ?\S& M51 & ,I HAVE ?REE TIMES ?AT NUMB]4 ,I GIVE Y\ 
 MY WORD ( HONOR10 SAID ,NAPOLEON1 =GETT+ ?AT HIS WORD ( HONOR C\LD 
 C>RY NO WEI<T--0,I GIVE Y\ MY WORD ( HONOR ?AT ,I HAVE FIVE 
 HUNDR$ & ?IRTY ?\S& M5 ?IS SIDE ( ! ,VI/ULA4 ,! ,TURKS WILL 
 BE ( NO USE TO Y\2 !Y >E WOR? NO?+ & HAVE %[N IT BY MAK+ 
 PEACE ) Y\4 ,AS = ! ,SW$ES--IT IS !IR FATE TO BE GOV]N$ BY 
 MAD K+S4 ,!IR K+ WAS 9SANE & !Y *ANG$ HIM = ANO!R--,B]NADOTTE1 
 :O PROMPTLY W5T MAD--= NO ,SW$E W\LD ALLY HIMSELF ) ,RUSSIA 
 UNLESS HE W]E MAD40 

,NAPOLEON GR9N$ MALICI\SLY & AGA9 RAIS$ HIS SNUFFBOX TO HIS NOSE4 

,BALA%EV KNEW H[ TO REPLY TO EA* ( ,NAPOLEON'S REM>KS1 & W\LD HAVE 
 DONE SO2 HE CONT9UALLY MADE ! GE/URE ( A MAN WI%+ TO SAY 
 SOME?+1 BUT ,NAPOLEON ALWAYS 9T]RUPT$ HIM4 ,TO ! ALLEG$ 9SANITY ( 
 ! ,SW$ES1 ,BALA%EV WI%$ TO REPLY ?AT :5 ,RUSSIA IS ON H] SIDE 
 ,SW$5 IS PRACTICALLY AN ISL&3 BUT ,NAPOLEON GAVE AN ANGRY EXCLAMATION TO 
 DR[N HIS VOICE4 ,NAPOLEON WAS 9 ?AT /ATE ( IRRITABILITY 9 :I* A MAN 
 HAS TO TALK1 TALK1 & TALK1 M]ELY TO CONV9CE HIMSELF ?AT HE IS 9 ! 
 RI<T4 ,BALA%EV BEGAN TO FEEL UNCOM=TABLE3 AS 5VOY HE FE>$ TO DEMEAN 
 HIS DIGNITY & FELT ! NECESSITY ( REPLY+2 BUT1 AS A MAN1 HE %RANK 
 BE=E ! TRANSPORT ( GR\NDLESS WRA? ?AT HAD EVID5TLY SEIZ$ 
 ,NAPOLEON4 ,HE KNEW ?AT NONE ( ! WORDS N[ UTT]$ BY ,NAPOLEON HAD ANY 
 SIGNIFICANCE1 & ?AT ,NAPOLEON HIMSELF W\LD BE A%AM$ ( !M :5 HE 
 CAME TO HIS S5SES4 ,BALA%EV /OOD ) D[NCA/ EYES1 LOOK+ AT ! 
 MOVEM5TS ( ,NAPOLEON'S /\T LEGS & TRY+ TO AVOID MEET+ HIS EYES4 

0,BUT :AT DO ,I C>E AB\T Y\R ALLIES80 SAID ,NAPOLEON4 0,I HAVE ALLIES--! 
 ,POLES4 ,!RE >E EI<TY ?\S& ( !M & !Y FI<T LIKE LIONS4 ,& 
 !RE WILL BE TWO HUNDR$ ?\S& ( !M40 

,& PROBABLY /ILL MORE P]TURB$ BY ! FACT ?AT HE HAD UTT]$ ?IS 
 OBVI\S FALSEHOOD1 & ?AT ,BALA%EV /ILL /OOD SIL5TLY BE=E HIM 9 
 ! SAME ATTITUDE ( SUBMISSION TO FATE1 ,NAPOLEON ABRUPTLY TURN$ R\ND1 
 DREW CLOSE TO ,BALA%EV'S FACE1 &1 GE/ICULAT+ RAPIDLY & 
 5]GETICALLY ) HIS :ITE H&S1 ALMO/ %\T$3 

0,KN[ ?AT IF Y\ /IR UP ,PRUSSIA AGA9/ ME1 ,I'LL WIPE IT (F ! MAP ( 
 ,EUROPE60 HE DECL>$1 HIS FACE PALE & DI/ORT$ BY ANG]1 & HE /RUCK 
 ONE ( HIS SMALL H&S 5]GETICALLY ) ! O!R4 0,YES1 ,I WILL ?R[ 
 Y\ BACK BEYOND ! ,DV9A & BEYOND ! ,DNIEP]1 & WILL RE]ECT 
 AGA9/ Y\ ?AT B>RI] :I* IT WAS CRIM9AL & BL9D ( ,EUROPE TO 
 ALL[ TO BE DE/ROY$4 ,YES1 ?AT IS :AT WILL HAPP5 TO Y\4 ,?AT IS :AT 
 Y\ HAVE GA9$ BY ALI5AT+ ME60 ,& HE WALK$ SIL5TLY SEV]AL TIMES UP 
 & D[N ! ROOM1 HIS FAT %\LD]S TWIT*+4 

,HE PUT HIS SNUFFBOX 9TO HIS WAI/COAT POCKET1 TOOK IT \T AGA91 LIFT$ 
 IT SEV]AL TIMES TO HIS NOSE1 & /OPP$ 9 FRONT ( ,BALA%EV4 ,HE PAUS$1 
 LOOK$ IRONICALLY /RAI<T 9TO ,BALA%EV'S EYES1 & SAID 9 A QUIET 
 VOICE3 

0,& YET :AT A SPL5DID REIGN Y\R MA/] MI<T HAVE HAD60 

,BALA%EV1 FEEL+ IT 9CUMB5T ON HIM TO REPLY1 SAID ?AT FROM ! ,RUSSIAN 
 SIDE ?+S DID NOT APPE> 9 SO GLOOMY A LI<T4 ,NAPOLEON WAS SIL5T1 
 /ILL LOOK+ D]ISIVELY AT HIM & EVID5TLY NOT LI/5+ TO HIM4 
 ,BALA%EV SAID ?AT 9 ,RUSSIA ! BE/ RESULTS W]E EXPECT$ FROM ! W>4 
 ,NAPOLEON NODD$ CONDESC5D+LY1 AS IF TO SAY1 0,I KN[ IT'S Y\R DUTY TO 
 SAY ?AT1 BUT Y\ DON'T BELIEVE IT Y\RSELF4 ,I HAVE CONV9C$ Y\40 

,:5 ,BALA%EV HAD 5D$1 ,NAPOLEON AGA9 TOOK \T HIS SNUFFBOX1 SNIFF$ AT 
 IT1 & /AMP$ HIS FOOT TWICE ON ! FLOOR AS A SIGNAL4 ,! DOOR OP5$1 
 A G5TLEMAN-9-WAIT+1 B5D+ RESPECTFULLY1 H&$ ! ,EMP]OR HIS HAT 
 & GLOVES2 ANO!R BR\<T HIM A POCKET H&K]*IEF4 ,NAPOLEON1 )\T 
 GIV+ !M A GLANCE1 TURN$ TO ,BALA%EV3 

0,ASSURE ! ,EMP]OR ,ALEX&] FROM ME10 SAID HE1 TAK+ HIS HAT1 0?AT ,I 
 AM AS DEVOT$ TO HIM AS BE=E3 ,I KN[ HIM ?OR\<LY & V]Y HI<LY 
 E/EEM HIS L(TY QUALITIES4 ,I WILL DETA9 Y\ NO LONG]1 ,G5]AL2 Y\ 
 %ALL RECEIVE MY LETT] TO ! ,EMP]OR40 

,& ,NAPOLEON W5T QUICKLY TO ! DOOR4 ,EV]YONE 9 ! RECEPTION ROOM 
 RU%$ =W>D & DESC5D$ ! /AIRCASE4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfh 3 ,BOOK #i1 ,*APT] #f -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,FEBRU>Y #a#a1 #bag 3 ,BOOK #i1 ,*APT] #f -- ,ADD$4 

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