‘Prince Kutuzov’s adjutant has brought me a letter in which he ask me to furnish police-officers to escort the army to the Ryazan road He says that he is regretfully abandoning Moscow. Sire! Kutuzov’ action decides the fate of that capital and of your empire. Russia wil shudder to learn of the abandonment of the city, where the greatness o Russia is centred, where are the ashes of our forefathers. I am followin' the army. I have had everything carried away; all that is left me is t weep over the fate of my country.’
On receiving this communication, the Tsar sent Prince Volkonsk; with the following rescript to Kutuzov:
‘Prince Mihail Ilarionovitch! I have received no communication from >u since the 29th of August. Meanwhile I have received, by way of aroslavl, from the governor of Moscow the melancholy intelligence at you have decided with the army to abandon Moscow. You can oagine the effect this news has had upon me, and your silence re- oubles my astonishment. I am sending herewith Staff-General Prince olkonsky, to ascertain from you the positior of the army and of the ■ .uses that have led you to so melancholy a decision.’
Ill
ine days after the abandonment of Moscow, a courier from Kutuzov ached Petersburg with the official news of the surrender of Moscow, his courier was a Frenchman, Michaud, who did not know Russian, yet as, ‘though a foreigner, Russian in heart and soul,’ as he used to say ' himself.
The Tsar at once received the messenger in his study in the palace of amenny island. Michaud, who had never seen Moscow before the cam- aign, and did not know a word of Russian, yet felt deeply moved when fe came before ‘notre tres gracieux sonverain’ (as he wrote) with the Avs of the burning of Moscow, whose flames illumined his route. Though the source of M. Michaud’s sorrow must indeed have been dif- rent from that to which the grief of Russian people was due, Michaud id such a melancholy face when he was shown into the Tsar’s study tat the Tsar asked him at once:
‘Do you bring me sad news, colonel?’
‘Very sad, sire, the surrender of Moscow,’ answered Michaud, casting ts eyes down with a sigh.
‘Can they have surrendered my ancient capital without a battle?’ the sar asked quickly, suddenly Hushing.
Michaud respectfully gave the message he had been commanded to ve from Kutuzov, that is, that there was no possibility of fighting be- ire Moscow, and that seeing there was no chance but either to lose the my and Moscow or to lose Moscow alone, the commander-in-chief had ;en obliged to choose the latter.
The Tsar listened without a word, not looking at Michaud.
‘Has the enemy entered the city?’ he asked.
‘Yes, sire, and by now the city is in ashes. I left it all in flames,’ said lichaud resolutely; but glancing at the Tsar, Michaud was horrified at hat he had done. The Tsar was breathing hard and rapidly, his lower ) was twitching, and his fine blue eyes were for a moment wet with
ars.
But that lasted only a moment. The Tsar suddenly frowned, as though :xed with himself for his own weakness; and raising his head, he ad- •essed Michaud in a firm voice:
‘I see, colonel, from all that is happening to us that Providence re-
884 WAR AND PEACE
quires great sacrifices of us. I am ready to submit to His will in ever thing; but tell me, Michaud, how did you leave the army, seeing n ancient capital thus abandoned without striking a blow? Did you n perceive discouragement?’
Seeing that his most gracious sovereign had regained his composui Michaud too regained his; but to the Tsar’s direct question of a matt of fact which called for a direct answer, he had not yet an answer read
‘Sire, will you permit me to speak frankly, as a loyal soldier?’ A said, to gain time.
‘Colonel, I always expect it,’ said the Tsar. ‘Hide nothing from me; want to know absolutely how it is.’
‘Sire!’ said Michaud, with a delicate, scarcely perceptible smile < his lips, as he had now had time to prepare his answer in the form of light and respectful play of words. ‘Sire! I left the whole army, fro the commanders to the lowest soldier without exception, in extreme, desperate terror.’
‘How so?’ the Tsar interrupted, frowning sternly. ‘My Russians 1 themselves be cast down by misfortune? . . . Never . .
This was just what Michaud was waiting for to get in his phrases, i
‘Sire,’ he said, with a respectful playfulness of expression, ‘they fe, only that your Majesty through goodness of heart may let yourself l 1 persuaded to make peace. They burn to fight,’ said the plenipotentiai of the Russian people, ‘and to prove to your Majesty by the sacrifii of their lives how devoted they are . . .’
‘Ah!’ said the Tsar, reassured, slapping Michaud on the shoulde 1 with a friendly light in his eyes. ‘You tranquillise me, colonel . . .’ I
