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By Root 3657 0

the indifferent and puzzled faces of the gentlemen marshals, one could see that they were puzzled by exactly what constituted the wittiness here, which Balashov’s intonation implied. “If there was any, we didn’t understand it, or else it wasn’t witty at all,” said the expressions of the marshals’ faces. So little was this reply appreciated that Napoleon even decidedly failed to notice it and naïvely asked Balashov through what towns the direct route from there to Moscow passed. Balashov, who was on the alert all through dinner, replied that comme tout chemin mène à Rome, tout chemin mène à Moscou,*413 that there were many roads, and that among those various roads was the road through Poltawa, which had been chosen by Charles XII, said Balashov, involuntarily blushing with pleasure at the happy response.18 Balashov had not managed to finish saying the final word, “Poltawa,” before Caulaincourt began talking about the inconvenience of the road from Petersburg to Moscow and about his Petersburg memories.

After dinner they went to have coffee in Napoleon’s study, which four days earlier had been the study of the emperor Alexander. Napoleon sat down, sipped his coffee from a Sèvres cup, and motioned Balashov to the chair beside him.

There exists in men a certain after-dinner state of mind which, more strongly than any reasonable causes, makes a man feel content with himself and consider everyone his friend. Napoleon was in that state of mind. It seemed to him that he was surrounded by people who adored him. He was convinced that after his dinner Balashov, too, was his friend and adorer. Napoleon addressed him with a pleasant and slightly mocking smile.

“This is the same room, I’ve been told, in which the emperor Alexander lived. Strange, isn’t it, General?” he said, obviously not doubting that this remark could be anything but pleasing to his interlocutor, as it proved his, Napoleon’s, superiority to Alexander.

Balashov could make no reply to that and silently bowed his head.

“Yes, in this room, four days ago, Wintzingerode and Stein conferred,” Napoleon went on with the same mocking, confident smile. “What I can’t understand,” he said, “is that the emperor Alexander made all these personal enemies of mine his intimates. That I don’t…understand. Didn’t he reflect that I might do the same?” He turned to Balashov with this question, and the recollection evidently pushed him back onto the track of his morning’s wrath, which was still fresh in him.

“And let him know that I will do it!” said Napoleon, getting up and shoving his cup away with his hand. “I’ll throw all his relatives out of Germany, all these Württembergs, Badens, Weimars…19 Yes, I’ll throw them out. Let him prepare a refuge for them in Russia!”

Balashov inclined his head, showing by his look that he would have liked to bow out, and was listening only because he could not help listening to what was said to him. Napoleon did not notice that expression; he addressed Balashov not as his enemy’s envoy, but as a man who was now entirely devoted to him and was supposed to be glad of his former master’s humiliation.

“And why has the emperor Alexander taken charge of the army? What for? War is my trade, and his business is to rule, not to command troops. Why has he taken such responsibility upon himself?”

Napoleon took out his snuffbox again, silently paced the room several times, and suddenly went up to Balashov unexpectedly, and with a slight smile, as confidently, quickly, and simply as if he was doing something not only important but pleasant to Balashov, raised his hand to the face of the forty-year-old Russian general and, taking him by the ear, pulled it slightly, smiling with his lips only.

Avoir l’oreille tirée par l’Empereur*414 was considered the greatest honor and favor at the French court.

“Eh bien, vous ne dites rien, admirateur et courtisan de l’Empereur Alexandre?”†415 he said, as if it was ridiculous in his presence to be anyone else’s courtisan and admirateur than his, Napoleon’s.

“Are the horses ready for the general?” he added, inclining his head