Page 736 - the-idiot

in the Emperor’s study together—just those two and my-
self—I was unobserved—and they argued, and the Emperor
seemed to be agreeing to something under protest. Sudden-
ly his eye fell on me and an idea seemed to flash across him.
‘Child,’ he said, abruptly. ‘If I were to recognize the Rus-
sian orthodox religion and emancipate the serfs, do you
think Russia would come over to me?’’
‘Never!’ I cried, indignantly.’
‘The Emperor was much struck.’
‘In the flashing eyes of this patriotic child I read and
accept the fiat of the Russian people. Enough, Davoust, it
is mere phantasy on our part. Come, let’s hear your other
project.’’
‘Yes, but that was a great idea,’ said the prince, clearly in-
terested. ‘You ascribe it to Davoust, do you?’
‘Well, at all events, they were consulting together at the
time. Of course it was the idea of an eagle, and must have
originated with Napoleon; but the other project was good
too—it was the ‘Conseil du lion!’ as Napoleon called it. This
project consisted in a proposal to occupy the Kremlin with
the whole army; to arm and fortify it scientifically, to kill as
many horses as could be got, and salt their flesh, and spend
the winter there; and in spring to fight their way out. Na-
poleon liked the idea—it attracted him. We rode round the
Kremlin walls every day, and Napoleon used to give orders
where they were to be patched, where built up, where pulled
down and so on. All was decided at last. They were alone to-
gether—those two and myself.
‘Napoleon was walking up and down with folded arms.