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Next day he woke late. Recalling his recent impressions, the
first thought that came into his mind was that today he had to
be presented to the Emperor Francis; he remembered the Minister
of War, the polite Austrian adjutant, Bilibin, and last night's
conversation. Having dressed for his attendance at court in full
parade uniform, which he had not worn for a long time, he went
into Bilibin's study fresh, animated, and handsome, with his hand
bandaged. In the study were four gentlemen of the diplomatic corps.
With Prince Hippolyte Kuragin, who was a secretary to the embassy,
Bolkonski was already acquainted. Bilibin introduced him to the
others.
The gentlemen assembled at Bilibin's were young, wealthy,
gay society men, who here, as in Vienna, formed a special set
which Bilibin, their leader, called les notres.* This set, consisting
almost exclusively of diplomats, evidently had its own interests
which had nothing to do with war or politics but related to high
society, to certain women, and to the official side of the service.
These gentlemen received Prince Andrew as one of themselves, an
honor they did not extend to many. From politeness and to start
conversation, they asked him a few questions about the army and
the battle, and then the talk went off into merry jests and gossip.
*Ours.
"But the best of it was," said one, telling of the
misfortune of a fellow diplomat, "that the Chancellor told
him flatly that his appointment to London was a promotion and
that he was so to regard it. Can you fancy the figure he cut?..."
"But the worst of it, gentlemen- I am giving Kuragin
away to you- is that that man suffers, and this Don Juan, wicked
fellow, is taking advantage of it!"
Prince Hippolyte was lolling in a lounge chair with his legs
over its arm. He began to laugh.
"Tell me about that!" he said.
"Oh, you Don Juan! You serpent!" cried several voices.
"You, Bolkonski, don't know," said Bilibin turning
to Prince Andrew, "that all the atrocities of the French
army (I nearly said of the Russian army) are nothing compared
to what this man has been doing among the women!"
"La femme est la compagne de l'homme,"* announced
Prince Hippolyte, and began looking through a lorgnette at his
elevated legs.
*"Woman is man's companion."
Bilibin and the rest of "ours" burst out laughing
in Hippolyte's face, and Prince Andrew saw that Hippolyte, of
whom- he had to admit- he had almost been jealous on his wife's
account, was the butt of this set.
"Oh, I must give you a treat," Bilibin whispered
to Bolkonski. "Kuragin is exquisite when he discusses politics-
you should see his gravity!"
He sat down beside Hippolyte and wrinkling his forehead began
talking to him about politics. Prince Andrew and the others gathered
round these two.
"The Berlin cabinet cannot express a feeling of alliance,"
began Hippolyte gazing round with importance at the others, "without
expressing... as in its last note... you understand... Besides,
unless His Majesty the Emperor derogates from the principle of
our alliance...
"Wait, I have not finished..." he said to Prince
Andrew, seizing him by the arm, "I believe that intervention
will be stronger than nonintervention. And..." he paused.
"Finally one cannot impute the nonreceipt of our dispatch
of November 18. That is how it will end." And he released
Bolkonski's arm to indicate that he had now quite finished.
"Demosthenes, I know thee by the pebble thou secretest
in thy golden mouth!" said Bilibin, and the mop of hair on
his head moved with satisfaction.
Everybody laughed, and Hippolyte louder than anyone. He was
evidently distressed, and breathed painfully, but could not restrain
the wild laughter that convulsed his usually impassive features.
"Well now, gentlemen," said Bilibin, "Bolkonski
is my guest in this house and in Brunn itself. I want to entertain
him as far as I can, with all the pleasures of life here. If we
were in Vienna it would be easy, but here, in this wretched Moravian
hole, it is more difficult, and I beg you all to help me. Brunn's
attractions must be shown him. You can undertake the theater,
I society, and you, Hippolyte, of course the women."
"We must let him see Amelie, she's exquisite!" said
one of "ours," kissing his finger tips.
"In general we must turn this bloodthirsty soldier to
more humane interests," said Bilibin.
"I shall scarcely be able to avail myself of your hospitality,
gentlemen, it is already time for me to go," replied Prince
Andrew looking at his watch.
"Where to?"
"To the Emperor."
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" Well, au revoir, Bolkonski! Au revoir,
Prince! Come back early to dinner," cried several voices.
"We'll take you in hand."
"When speaking to the Emperor, try as far as you can
to praise the way that provisions are supplied and the routes
indicated," said Bilibin, accompanying him to the hall.
"I should like to speak well of them, but as far as I
the facts, I can't," replied Bolkonski, smiling.
"Well, talk as much as you can, anyway. He has a passion
for giving audiences, but he does not like talking himself and
can't do it, as you will see."
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