Chapter 7 Chapter VII

After Napoleon had said all that to him, after that outburst of rage and finally the following words coldly: "Jenevousretiensplus, general, vousrecevrezmalettre" (I shall not delay you, General, you will take To my reply to your emperor—translator), Balashov believes that Napoleon not only does not want to see him anymore, but will try to avoid him - an insulted messenger, and more importantly, he is Napoleon A witness to unseemly impulsive behaviour.But to his surprise, on the same day he received an invitation to the emperor's banquet from Jurok. Also present at the banquet were Becher, Colincourt, and Berthier.

Napoleon greeted Balashev with a cheerful and gentle countenance.Instead of showing any shyness or guilt over his morning tantrum, he did his best to encourage Balashev.Evidently, Napoleon had long believed that he could do no wrong at all, that in his mind everything he did was good, not because it fit the concept of right and wrong, but only because it was his. made. The emperor rode around the city of Vilna, feeling very happy in his heart, and the crowd of the city welcomed and saw the emperor with great joy.Every street he walked, blankets, flags, and the emperor's name were hung from the windows of every house, and Polish women waved handkerchiefs to him to send activists, philosophers, historians, and literary critics.Founded by the Communist Party of Germany, respect.

He seated Balashov at his side during the feast, and treated him not only with affection, but as one of his courtiers who approved of his plans and rejoiced in his achievements.He mentioned Moscow in the conversation, and asked him about the Russian capital, and he not only inquired about a new place he was going to, like a traveler, driven by curiosity, but also with a tone of conviction, It is believed that Balashov, as a Russian, must be proud of his thirst for knowledge. "How many inhabitants and dwellings are there in Moscow? Is it true that Moscow is called Moseoulasainte? How many churches are there in Moscow?" he asked.

-------- ①French: French: St. Moscow. He said after hearing the responses from more than two hundred churches there. "Why so many churches?" "The Russians believe in God," replied Balashov. "But many monasteries and churches have always characterized the backwardness of the Russian people," said Napoleon, turning to Colincourt in the hope that he would appreciate this point of view. Balashov respectfully stated that he could not agree with the French emperor. "Each country has its own customs," he said. "But that is not the case in Europe," said Napoleon.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty," said Balashov. "In addition to Russia, there are also a large number of churches and monasteries in Spain." Balashov's answer, implying the defeat of the French army in Spain not long ago, was, according to Balashov's later account, highly regarded at the court of Alexander, but it is not very popular at the banquet given by Napoleon at present. The compliment passed without any reaction. From the bewildered looks of the marshals it was clear that none of them understood the meaning of that witty remark, which Balashov's tone revealed to be sarcasm. "Even if it is a witty statement, we don't understand it after hearing it. Maybe there is no witty word at all." The faces of the marshals said this.This answer was so unappreciated that Napoleon Sosin ignored it, but childishly asked Balashov which cities the shortest way from here to Moscow would pass.Balashov, who had been vigilant during the dinner, replied: CommetoutcheminmeneaRome, toutcheminmeneaMoscou, ①There are many roads, and in the middle of all the different roads, there is a road leading to Poltava chosen by Charles XII. Balashov said that at this witty answer, he couldn't help but smile and blushed.Before Balashev could utter the last words "Poltava", Kolancourt was talking about the difficulty of the road from Petersburg to Moscow, and recalling his experience in Petersburg. scene.

-------- ①French: Just as all avenues lead to Rome, so all avenues lead to Moscow. After lunch, everyone drank coffee and tea in Napoleon's study, which had been the study of Emperor Alexander four days earlier.Napoleon sat down, stroked the Sevres coffee cup, and made Balashov sit on the chair beside him. Men have a well-known after-dinner mood which puts them at ease more than any reasonable cause, and which regards everyone as their friend.Napoleon was in this mood.He seemed to feel that everyone around him was an admirer of him.He was convinced that after lunch Balashov had become his friend and admirer too.Napoleon turned to him with a cheerful and somewhat ironic smile on his face.

"I heard that the Emperor Alexander lived in this room. That's strange, is it true, General?" he said, and it seemed that he had no doubt that what he said could not please the other party, because what he said could prove that he was more Napoleon than Alexander. clever. Balashov bowed his head silently and did not answer him. "Yes, four days ago Wenzengerode and Stein had a meeting in this room," Napoleon went on, still smiling ironically and confidently. "What I can't understand is why the Emperor Alexander insisted on recruiting my personal enemies to him, which... I don't understand. Didn't he expect that I would do the same?" He offered He turned his face to Balashov suspiciously, and this recollection evidently revived his lingering morning sullenness.

"Let him know what I do," said Napoleon, standing up and pushing the coffee cup away with his hand, "I will send all his relatives, the relatives of Württemberg, the relatives of Patton, the relatives of Weimar Deportation from Germany... Yes, I am going to deport them. Let him prepare them a refuge in Russia!" Balashov bowed his head in a manner that showed that he wanted to say good-bye to Napoleon, and that he only listened to what was being said to him.Napoleon did not see in his expression that he was addressing Balashov not as an envoy from an enemy state, but as a man who was completely loyal to him and who rejoiced in the humiliation of his old Lord.

"Why did Emperor Alexander command the army? What is the use of it? It is my job to fight wars, and his job is to be emperor, not command the army. Why should he take this responsibility?" Napoleon took out his snuff-box again, walked up and down several times in silence, and then suddenly and unexpectedly walked up to Balashov, smiling a little, still confident, quick and confident. Simple, as if he were doing something not only important but also pleasing to Balashov, he put his hand across the face of the forty-year-old Russian general, grabbed his ear, pulled it lightly, Curling his lips, he smiled.

At the French court, the anoir, l'oreilletire parl'em Bpereur①, considered it the most honorable favor. "Ehbien, Vousneditesrien, admireuretcourtisandel'empeurAlexandre?" he said, as if it were absurd to be his courtisan and admirer before him, and to be any other's admirer and courtier. -------- ①French: Ears pulled by the emperor. ②French: Hey, why are you silent, worshiper and courtier of Emperor Alexander. ③ French: admirers and courtiers. "Have you got the horse ready for the general?" he added, answering Balashov's bow with a slight nod.

"Give him my horses, he's going a long way..." The letter Balashov sent back was Napoleon's last letter to Emperor Alexander.He relayed the details of all the conversations to the Tsar, and thus the war began.