Balashëv is invited to have dinner with Napoleon, who is a little friendlier than in the morning.
Summary:
Balashëv is asked to dine with Napoleon. This surprises Balashëv given the way Napoleon had spoken with him that morning. At dinner, Napoleon met Balashëv cheerfully. He placed Balashëv beside him. It seemed to Napoleon that everyone at the table adored him, including Balashëv! Napoleon seemed to have forgotten the hostile way he had spoken with Balashëv earlier that day. Now, he chatted about Russia in a friendly way. Any comments made by Balashëv, when he tried to diplomatically stand up for Russia, were ignored. After dinner, Napoleon’s mood for some reason turned him back to his morning’s anger, which was still fresh in him. For the remainder of the dinner, Napoleon spoke somewhat harshly to Balashëv about the war. Then Napoleon said goodbye to Balashëv and, offering him good horses for his journey, sent him back to Alexander. The letter taken by Balashëv was the last Napoleon sent to Alexander. Every detail of the interview was communicated to the Russian monarch, and the war began.
quote from the chapter:
Yes. Four days ago in this room, Wintzingerode and Stein were deliberating, continued Napoleon with the same derisive and self-confident smile. What I can’t understand, he went on, is that the Emperor Alexander has surrounded himself with my personal enemies. That I do not… understand. Has he not thought that I may do the same? and he turned inquiringly to Balashëv, and evidently this thought turned him back on to the track of his morning’s anger, which was still fresh in him.
And let him know that I will do so! said Napoleon, rising and pushing his cup away with his hand. I’ll drive all his Württemberg, Baden, and Weimar relations out of Germany…. Yes. I’ll drive them out. Let him prepare an asylum for them in Russia!
Book 9, Chapter 7
Balashëv is invited to have dinner with Napoleon, who is a little friendlier than in the morning.
Summary:
Balashëv is asked to dine with Napoleon. This surprises Balashëv given the way Napoleon had spoken with him that morning. At dinner, Napoleon met Balashëv cheerfully. He placed Balashëv beside him. It seemed to Napoleon that everyone at the table adored him, including Balashëv! Napoleon seemed to have forgotten the hostile way he had spoken with Balashëv earlier that day. Now, he chatted about Russia in a friendly way. Any comments made by Balashëv, when he tried to diplomatically stand up for Russia, were ignored. After dinner, Napoleon’s mood for some reason turned him back to his morning’s anger, which was still fresh in him. For the remainder of the dinner, Napoleon spoke somewhat harshly to Balashëv about the war. Then Napoleon said goodbye to Balashëv and, offering him good horses for his journey, sent him back to Alexander. The letter taken by Balashëv was the last Napoleon sent to Alexander. Every detail of the interview was communicated to the Russian monarch, and the war began.
quote from the chapter:
Yes. Four days ago in this room, Wintzingerode and Stein were deliberating, continued Napoleon with the same derisive and self-confident smile. What I can’t understand, he went on, is that the Emperor Alexander has surrounded himself with my personal enemies. That I do not… understand. Has he not thought that I may do the same? and he turned inquiringly to Balashëv, and evidently this thought turned him back on to the track of his morning’s anger, which was still fresh in him.
And let him know that I will do so! said Napoleon, rising and pushing his cup away with his hand. I’ll drive all his Württemberg, Baden, and Weimar relations out of Germany…. Yes. I’ll drive them out. Let him prepare an asylum for them in Russia!
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