Book Twelve: 1812 - Chapter III

by Leo Tolstoy

　　Nine days after the abandonment of Moscow, a messenger fromKutuzov reached Petersburg with the official announcement of thatevent. This messenger was Michaud, a Frenchman who did not knowRussian, but who was quoique etranger, russe de coeur et d'ame,* as hesaid of himself.

　　*Though a foreigner, Russian in heart and soul.

　　The Emperor at once received this messenger in his study at thepalace on Stone Island. Michaud, who had never seen Moscow beforethe campaign and who did not know Russian, yet felt deeply moved (ashe wrote) when he appeared before notre tres gracieux souverain*with the news of the burning of Moscow, dont les flammes eclairaientsa route.*[2]

　　*Our most gracious sovereign.

　　*[2] Whose flames illumined his route.

　　Though the source of M. Michaud's chagrin must have been differentfrom that which caused Russians to grieve, he had such a sad face whenshown into the Emperor's study that the latter at once asked:

　　"Have you brought me sad news, Colonel?"

　　"Very sad, sire," replied Michaud, lowering his eyes with a sigh."The abandonment of Moscow."

　　"Have they surrendered my ancient capital without a battle?" askedthe Emperor quickly, his face suddenly flushing.

　　Michaud respectfully delivered the message Kutuzov had entrustedto him, which was that it had been impossible to fight beforeMoscow, and that as the only remaining choice was between losing thearmy as well as Moscow, or losing Moscow alone, the field marshalhad to choose the latter.

　　The Emperor listened in silence, not looking at Michaud.

　　"Has the enemy entered the city?" he asked.

　　"Yes, sire, and Moscow is now in ashes. I left it all in flames,"replied Michaud in a decided tone, but glancing at the Emperor hewas frightened by what he had done.

　　The Emperor began to breathe heavily and rapidly, his lower liptrembled, and tears instantly appeared in his fine blue eyes.

　　But this lasted only a moment. He suddenly frowned, as if blaminghimself for his weakness, and raising his head addressed Michaud ina firm voice:

　　"I see, Colonel, from all that is happening, that Providencerequires great sacrifices of us... I am ready to submit myself inall things to His will; but tell me, Michaud, how did you leave thearmy when it saw my ancient capital abandoned without a battle? Didyou not notice discouragement?..."

　　Seeing that his most gracious ruler was calm once more, Michaud alsogrew calm, but was not immediately ready to reply to the Emperor'sdirect and relevant question which required a direct answer.

　　"Sire, will you allow me to speak frankly as befits a loyalsoldier?" he asked to gain time.

　　"Colonel, I always require it," replied the Emperor. "Concealnothing from me, I wish to know absolutely how things are."

　　"Sire!" said Michaud with a subtle, scarcely perceptible smile onhis lips, having now prepared a well-phrased reply, "sire, I leftthe whole army, from its chiefs to the lowest soldier, withoutexception in desperate and agonized terror..."

　　"How is that?" the Emperor interrupted him, frowning sternly. "Wouldmisfortune make my Russians lose heart?... Never!"

　　Michaud had only waited for this to bring out the phrase he hadprepared.

　　"Sire," he said, with respectful playfulness, "they are onlyafraid lest Your Majesty, in the goodness of your heart, shouldallow yourself to be persuaded to make peace. They are burning for thecombat," declared this representative of the Russian nation, "and toprove to Your Majesty by the sacrifice of their lives how devoted theyare...."

　　"Ah!" said the Emperor reassured, and with a kindly gleam in hiseyes, he patted Michaud on the shoulder. "You set me at ease,Colonel."

　　He bent his head and was silent for some time.

　　"Well, then, go back to the army," he said, drawing himself up tohis full height and addressing Michaud with a gracious and majesticgesture, "and tell our brave men and all my good subjects wherever yougo that when I have not a soldier left I shall put myself at thehead of my beloved nobility and my good peasants and so use the lastresources of my empire. It still offers me more than my enemiessuppose," said the Emperor growing more and more animated; "but shouldit ever be ordained by Divine Providence," he continued, raising toheaven his fine eyes shining with emotion, "that my dynasty shouldcease to reign on the throne of my ancestors, then after exhaustingall the means at my command, I shall let my beard grow to here" (hepointed halfway down his chest) "and go and eat potatoes with themeanest of my peasants, rather than sign the disgrace of my countryand of my beloved people whose sacrifices I know how to appreciate."

　　Having uttered these words in an agitated voice the Emperor suddenlyturned away as if to hide from Michaud the tears that rose to hiseyes, and went to the further end of his study. Having stood there afew moments, he strode back to Michaud and pressed his arm below theelbow with a vigorous movement. The Emperor's mild and handsome facewas flushed and his eyes gleamed with resolution and anger.

　　"Colonel Michaud, do not forget what I say to you here, perhaps wemay recall it with pleasure someday... Napoleon or I," said theEmperor, touching his breast. "We can no longer both reign together. Ihave learned to know him, and he will not deceive me any more...."

　　And the Emperor paused, with a frown.

　　When he heard these words and saw the expression of firmresolution in the Emperor's eyes, Michaud- quoique etranger, russede coeur et d'ame- at that solemn moment felt himself enraptured byall that he had heard (as he used afterwards to say), and gaveexpression to his own feelings and those of the Russian people whoserepresentative he considered himself to be, in the following words:

　　"Sire!" said he, "Your Majesty is at this moment signing the gloryof the nation and the salvation of Europe!"

　　With an inclination of the head the Emperor dismissed him.