|
|
WALKING STICKS CANES : prolonged and general silence followed. There was a frown on every face walking sticks canes only Kutuzov's angry grunts and occasional walking sticks canes broke the silence. All eyes were gazing at him. Malasha too looked at "Granddad." walking sticks canes was nearest to him and saw how his face puckered; he seemed about to cry, but this did not last long. "Russia's ancient and sacred capital!" he suddenly said, repeating Bennigsen's words in an angry voice and thereby drawing attention walking sticks canes the false note in them. "Allow me to tell you, your excellency, that that question has no meaning walking sticks canes a Russian." (He lurched his heavy body forward.) "Such a question cannot be put; it is senseless! The question I have asked these gentlemen to meet to discuss is a military one. The question is that of saving Russia. Is it better to give up
WALKING STICKS CANES : Moscow without a battle, walking sticks canes by accepting battle to walking sticks canes losing the army as well as Moscow? That is the question on which I want your opinion," and he sank back in his chair. The discussion began. Bennigsen did not yet consider his game lost. walking sticks canes the view of Barclay and others that a defensive battle at Fili was impossible, but imbued with Russian patriotism and the love of Moscow, he proposed to move troops from the right to the left flank during the night and attack the French right flank the following day. walking sticks canes walking sticks canes divided, and arguments were advanced for and against that project. Ermolov, Dokhturov, and Raevski agreed with Bennigsen. Whether feeling it necessary to make a sacrifice before abandoning the capital or guided by other, personal considerations, these generals seemed not to understand that this council
WALKING STICKS CANES : could not alter the inevitable course of events and that Moscow was in effect already abandoned. The other walking sticks canes however, understood it walking sticks canes leaving aside the question of Moscow, of the direction the army walking sticks canes take in its retreat. Malasha, who kept her eyes fixed on what was going on before her, understood the meaning of the council differently. It seemed to her that it was only a personal walking sticks canes between "Granddad" and "Long-coat" as she termed Bennigsen. She saw that they grew spiteful when they spoke to one another, and in her heart she sided with "Granddad." In the midst of the conversation she noticed "Granddad" give Bennigsen a quick, subtle glance, and then to her joys he saw that "Granddad" said something to "Long-coat" which settled him. Bennigsen suddenly reddened and walking sticks canes angrily up and down the room.
WALKING STICKS CANES : What so affected him was Kutuzov's calm and quiet comment on walking sticks canes advantage or disadvantage of Bennigsen's proposal to move troops by night from the right to the left flank to walking sticks canes the French right wing. "Gentlemen," said Kutuzov, "I cannot approve of the count's plan. Moving troops in close proximity to an enemy is always dangerous, and military history supports that view. For instance..." Kutuzov seemed to walking sticks canes searching for an example, then with walking sticks canes clear, naive look at Bennigsen he added: "Oh yes; take the battle of Friedland, which I think the count well remembers, and which was... not fully successful, only because our troops were rearranged too near the enemy..." There followed a momentary pause, which walking sticks canes very long to them all. The discussion recommenced, but pauses frequently occurred and they all felt that there was no
WALKING STICKS CANES : more to be said. During one of these pauses Kutuzov heaved a deep sigh as if preparing to speak. They all looked at him. "Well, gentlemen, I see that it is I who will walking sticks canes to pay walking sticks canes the broken crockery," said he, and rising slowly he moved to the table. "Gentlemen, I have heard your views. Some of you will not agree with me. But I," he paused, "by the authority entrusted to me by my Sovereign and country, walking sticks canes a retreat." After that the generals began to disperse with the solemnity and circumspect silence of people who are leaving, after a funeral. Some of the generals, in low tones and in a strain very different from the way they had spoken during the council, communicated something to their commander walking sticks canes chief. Malasha, who walking sticks canes long been expected for
|
|
