Chapter 20 Chapter Twenty

Rostov came to Tilsit on the day of the difficult intercession for Denisov.Since he came to Tilsit in a tuxedo without the permission of his superiors, he himself could not go to see the general on duty; even if Boris wanted to, he could not have done it the next day after Rostov's arrival, six On the twenty-seventh day of the month, the initial terms of the peace treaty were signed.The two emperors exchanged medals: Alexander was awarded the Legion of Honor, Napoleon was awarded the Order of Saint-André 1st Class, and that day the Battalion of the French Guards hosted a banquet for the Preobrazhensky Battalion.Both kings were required to attend this grand banquet.

Rostov felt embarrassed and uncomfortable when he was with Boris, and Boris stopped by to see him after dinner, and he pretended to be asleep, and early the next morning, trying not to see him, he left the house.Wearing a tuxedo and a top hat, Nicholas wandered around the city, carefully observing the French and their uniforms, carefully observing the streets and the buildings where the Russian and French emperors lived.In the square he saw a table set and ready for a feast.On the street he saw hanging curtains and Russian and French flags in different colors and large monograms A (the first letter of Alexander) and N (the first letter of Napoleon).There are also two national flags and Chinese characters hanging on the windows of every household.

"Boris doesn't want to help me, and I don't want to have anything to do with him. The case is settled," thought Nikolai. "It's over between us, but if it's not settled I can do it for Denisov." I must not go away from here until I have delivered the papers to the King, the King! . . . He is here!" Just as Rostov could not help walking again to the building occupied by Alexander , thought. Several horses for riding were parked at the door of the building, and the attendants were gathering, apparently in preparation for the king's tour. "I could see him at any moment," thought Rostov, "if I could just forward the papers directly to him and tell the whole story... Will I be arrested just for the tailcoat? That's impossible! He will know whose side is justice. He knows everything, knows everything. Who is more just and magnanimous than he? It will not be bad luck if I am arrested because I stay here!" thought, looking at the officer who entered the building occupied by the King. "Couldn't it be possible to go in. Well, it's all nonsense. I'll go and hand over this paper to the king myself. It would be worse for Drubetskoy, but he's the one who brought me to this point." Suddenly Rostov The husband touched the report in his pocket, unexpectedly set off resolutely, and walked straight to the building occupied by the king.

"No, I can't miss this opportunity now as I did after Ostercoats," thought he, always looking forward to meeting the King, and feeling his blood rush at the thought. "I knelt at the king's feet and begged him for mercy. He lifted me up, listened to me, and thanked me." happiness." Rostov imagined in Rostov's mind that the king was going to say these words to him.He then passed those who watched him curiously, and mounted the steps of the king's temporary residence. A wide staircase leads from the hallway to the upper floor, a closed door can be seen on the right, and a door below the stairs leading to the ground floor of the building.

"Who are you looking for?" someone asked. "Pass the letter and letter to His Majesty." Nicholas said in a trembling voice. "Report—please bring it to Duty (someone pointed him to the downstairs door), but they won't accept it." When Rostov heard this cold voice, he was afraid of what he was doing, and the idea of ​​meeting the king at every moment was so tempting that he was so frightened that he tried to run away, but the man who met him The chamberlain opened the door to the watch-room for him, and Rostov went in. A short, fat man in his thirties, wearing a pair of white underpants, a pair of high leather boots, and a linen shirt that seemed to have just been put on, stood in this room The servant was fastening behind him a very beautiful new suspenders embroidered with silk thread, and Rostov somehow noticed his new suspenders.This person is talking to someone in another room.

"Bienfaiteetlabeautedudiable," said the man, who, seeing Rostov, stopped talking and frowned. -------- ①French: Delicate in appearance and charming in figure. "What do you want? Submission? . . . " "Qu'estcequec'est?" asked someone in another room. "Encore unpetitionnaire"②.The man with the braces answered. -------- ①French: What is it? ② French: Another petitioner. "Please tell him to come later. He is going out at once, and is about to start." "Later, later, tomorrow. It's too late..." Rostov turned around and was about to go out, but the man in the suspenders stopped him.

"Who are you from? Who are you?" "I'm from Major Denisov," answered Rostov. "Officer, who are you?" "Lieutenant, Count Rostov." "What a bold move! It has to be handed over by the superior. You go, go..." He began to put on the uniform handed to him by the servant. Rostov went again to the outer room and saw that there were many officers and generals standing at the foot of the steps in full parade uniform, and Rostov should walk away from them. Rostov scolded himself for his recklessness, and when he thought that at any moment he might meet the king, lose face in his presence, and be arrested, he almost held his breath, knowing full well that his behavior was dishonorable, Feeling annoyed, he lowered his eyes and came out of the building. A large group of gorgeously dressed attendants stood around the building. At this moment, an acquaintance called him, and the man's hand stopped him.

"My God, what are you doing here in a tuxedo?" the man with the bass voice asked him. This was a general of the cavalry who had won the King's special favor in this campaign, and who had been a division commander when Rostov had served in his division. Rostov was taken aback and began to defend himself, but seeing the general's kindly mocking face, he stepped aside, turned to the general in an excited voice, and begged the general to explain the case to the general whom he knew well. Nisov complained.The general shook his head gravely at what Rostov had said. "I'm sorry for this handsome young man, I'm sorry, please give me the letter."

No sooner had Rostov handed over the letter, describing all Denisov's case, than the sound of quick steps and spurs came from the landing, and the general walked away from him into the porch.The gentlemen of the king's chamberlain ran down the stairs to the horses.Heine, the horse trainer who had participated in the Battle of Austerlitz, brought the king's horse, and there was light footsteps on the stairs, and Rostov recognized the footsteps at once.Rostov, forgetting that he was in danger of being recognized, followed some curious inhabitants up the steps; and after two years he saw again the figure, the face, the glance, the way of walking which he adored. , he saw the combination of greatness and meekness again... Rostov's heart revived the same strong joy and love for the king as before.The king, in the uniform of the Preobrazhensky regiment—white moose-skin trousers and high boots, and with an order unfamiliar to Rostov (it was the legion d'lhonneur)—went up the steps, With a top hat under his arm, he put on gloves.He had stopped, looked around, and illuminated everything around him with his gaze.He said a few words to a certain general.He also recognized Rostov's former division commander, smiled at him, and called him to his side.

-------- ①French: Medal of the Legion of Honor. The attendants took a step back, and Rostov saw the general talking to the king for a long time. The king said a few words to him, and took a step before the horse.A group of attendants and the crowd in the street (Rostov was among them) approached the king again.The king stood by the horse, held the saddle with his hands, and turned his face to the general of the cavalry, speaking in a loud voice, evidently wishing to be heard. "General, I can't, I can't deal with this, because the law is stronger than I am," said the King, putting his foot in the stirrup.The general bowed his head very respectfully.The king mounted his horse.Run down the street.Rostov got carried away and ran after him with the crowd.