War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy [862]
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*646Visits of condolence.
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*647Though a foreigner, Russian in heart and soul.
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†648Our most gracious sovereign…the flames of which lighted his way.
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*649Do you bring me sad news, Colonel?
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†650Very sad, Sire…the abandoning of Moscow.
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‡651Could they have given up my ancient capital without a fight?
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§652Is the enemy in the city?
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#653Yes, Sire, and it is in ashes by now. I left it all in flames.
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**654I see, Colonel, by all that is happening to us…that Providence demands great sacrifices from us…I am ready to submit to all of its whims; but tell me, Michaud, how was the army when you left it, seeing my ancient capital abandoned like this without striking a blow? Did you notice any discouragement?
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††655Sire, will you allow me to speak frankly as a loyal soldier?
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*656Colonel, I always demand that…Conceal nothing from me, I absolutely want to know how it is.
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†657Sire!…play on words. Sire! I left the entire army, from the leaders down to the least soldier, without exception, in the most appalling, dreadful fear…
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‡658What’s that?…My Russians let themselves be cast down by misfortune…Never!…
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§659Sire…they fear only that Your Majesty, in the goodness of his heart, will let himself be persuaded to make peace. They are burning to fight…and to prove how devoted they are to Your Majesty by the sacrifice of their lives…
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#660Ah!…You set me at ease, Colonel.
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**661Well, go back to the army…and tell our brave men, tell all my good subjects wherever you may go, that when I have no soldiers left, I will personally put myself at the head of my dear nobility, of my good peasants, and will thus use every last resource of my empire. It offers me much more than my enemies think…But if ever it were written in the decrees of divine Providence…that my dynasty must cease to reign on the throne of my ancestors, then, after exhausting all the means in my power, I will let my beard grow to here…and I will go to eat potatoes with the least of my peasants, rather than put my signature to the shame of my country and of my dear people, whose sacrifices I know how to appreciate!…
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*662Colonel Michaud, do not forget what I say to you here; perhaps one day we will recall it with pleasure…Napoleon or me…We can no longer reign together. I have learned to know him, he will not deceive me again…
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†663Filled with enthusiasm by all he had just heard.
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‡664Sire!…Your Majesty is putting his signature at this moment to the glory of the people and the salvation of Europe.
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*665Better late than never.
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*666Bad manners.
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*667My aunt.
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*668Among others. You are being too attentive to the other one, the blonde.
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*669There are ways and ways.
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*670That he had saved from the flames.
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*671He who does not divulge his name.
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*672Who are you?
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†673General, you cannot know me, I have never seen you…
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‡674He’s a Russian spy.
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*675No, My Lord…No, My Lord, you could not have known me. I am a militia officer, and I have not left Moscow.
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†676Your name?
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‡677What will prove to me that you are not lying?
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§678How will you prove to me the truth of what you say?
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#679You are not what you say.
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*680Yes, undoubtedly.
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*681Riflemen of the 86 th, forward!
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*682That’ll teach them to set fires.
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*683My child!…I love you and have known you for a long time.
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*684Thank you, dear friend, for coming.
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*685Monsieur le prince Koutouzov, I am sending you one of my adjutant generals to discuss several interesting subjects