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m。 The Tsar was not dancing； he was standing in the doorway； stopping one person after the other with the gracious words he alone knew how to utter。
At the beginning of the mazurka； Boris saw that a general of the staff； Balashov； one of the persons in closest attendance on the Tsar； went up to him； and； regardless of court etiquette； stopped close to him； while he conversed with a Polish lady。 After saying a few words to the lady； the Tsar glanced inquiringly at Balashov； and apparently seeing that he was behaving like this only because he had weighty reasons for doing so； he gave the lady a slight nod and turned to Balashov。 The Tsar’s countenance betrayed amazement； as soon as Balashov had begun to speak。 He took Balashov’s arm and walked across the room with him； unconsciously clearing a space of three yards on each side of him as people hastily drew back。 Boris noticed the excited face of Araktcheev as the Tsar walked up the room with Balashov。 Araktcheev； looking from under his brows at the Tsar； and sniffing with his red nose； moved forward out of the crowd as though expecting the Tsar to apply to him。 （Boris saw that Araktcheev envied Balashov and was displeased at any important news having reached the Tsar not through him。） But the Tsar and Balashov walked out by the door into the lighted garden； without noticing Araktcheev。 Araktcheev； holding his sword and looking wrathfully about him； followed twenty paces behind them。
Boris went on performing the figures of the mazurka； but he was all the while fretted by wondering what the news could be that Balashov had brought； and in what way he could find it out before other people。 In the figure in which he had to choose a lady； he whispered to Ellen that he wanted to choose Countess Pototsky； who had； he thought； gone out on to the balcony； and gliding over the parquet； he flew to the door that opened into the garden； and seeing the Tsar and Balashov coming into the verandah； he stood still there。 The Tsar and Balashov moved towards the door。 Boris； with a show of haste； as though he had not time to move away； squeezed respectfully up to the doorpost and bowed his head。 The Tsar in the tone of a man resenting a personal insult was saying：
“To enter Russia with no declaration of war！ I will consent to conciliation only when not a single enemy under arms is left in my country；” he said。
It seemed to Boris that the Tsar liked uttering these words： he was pleased with the form in which he had expressed his feelings； but displeased at Boris overhearing them。
“Let nobody know of it！” the Tsar added； frowning。
Boris saw that this was aimed at him； and closing his eyes； inclined his head a little。 The Tsar went back to the ballroom； and remained there another half hour。
Boris was the first person to learn the news that the French troops had crossed the Niemen； and； thanks to that fact； was enabled to prove to various persons of great consequence； that much that was hidden from others was commonly known to him； and was thereby enabled to rise even higher than before in the opinion of those persons。
The astounding news of the French having crossed the Niemen seemed particularly unexpected from coming after a month’s uninterrupted expectation of it； and arriving at a ball！ At the first moment of amazement and resentment on getting the news； Alexander hit on the declaration that has since become famous—a declaration which pleased him and fully expressed his feelings。 On returning home after the ball at two o’clock in the night； the Tsar sent for his secretary； Shishkov； and told him to write a decree to the army and a rescript to Field…Marshal Prince Saltykov； and he insisted on the words being inserted that he would never make peace as long as one Frenchman under arms remained in Russia。
The next day the following letter was written to Napoleon：
MONSIEUR MON FRèRE；—I learnt yesterday that in spite of the loyalty with which I have kept my engagements with your Majesty； your troops have crossed the frontiers of Russia； and I have this moment received from Petersburg the note in which Count Lauriston informs me as cause of this invasion that your majesty considers us to be in hostile relations ever since Prince Kurakin asked for his passport。 The causes on which the Duc de Bassano based his refusal to give these passports would never have led me to suppose that the action of my ambassador could serve as a ground for invasion。 And； indeed； he received no authorisation from me in his action； as has been made known by him； and as soon as I heard of it I immediately expressed my displeasure to Prince Kurakin； commanding him to perform the duties entrusted to him as before。 If your majesty is not inclined to shed the blood of your subjects for such a misunderstanding； and if you consent to withdraw your troops from Russian territory； I will pass over the whole incident unnoticed； and agreement between us will be possible。 In the opposite case； I shall be forced to repel an invasion which has been in no way provoked on my side。 Your Majesty has it in your power to preserve humanity from the disasters of another war。—I am； etc。；
（Signed） ALEXANDER。
Chapter 4
AT TWO O’CLOCK in the night of the 13th of June； the Tsar sent for Balashov； and； reading him his letter to Napoleon； commanded him to go in person and give the letter to the French Emperor。 As he dismissed Balashov； he repeated to him his declaration that he would never make peace as long as a single enemy under arms remained on Russian soil； and told him to be sure to repeat those words to Napoleon。 The Tsar had not inserted them in his letter to Napoleon； because； with his characteristic tact； he felt those words would be inappropriate at the moment when the last efforts were being made for conciliation； but he expressly charged Balashov to repeat that message by word of mouth to Napoleon。
Balashov rode out on the night between the 13th and the 14th； accompanied by a trumpeter and two Cossacks； and at dawn he reached the French outposts at the village of Rykonty on the Russian side of the Niemen。 He was stopped by the sentinels of the French cavalry。
A French subaltern of hussars； in a crimson uniform and a fur cap； shouted to Balashov to stop。 Balashov did not immediately obey； but went on advancing along the road at a walking pace。
The subaltern； with scowls and muttered abuse； swooped down upon Balashov； drew his sword； and shouted rudely to the Russian general： “Was he deaf that he did not hear when he was spoken to？” Balashov gave him his name。 The subaltern sent a soldier to his superior officer。
Paying no further attention to Balashov； the subaltern began talking with his comrades about regimental matters； without looking at the Russian general。 It was an exceedingly strange sensation for Balashov； who was used at all times to the dignities of his position； was always in contact with the highest power and authority； and only three hours before had been conversing with the Tsar； to be brought here on Russian soil into collision with this hostile； and still more； disrespectful display of brute force。
The sun was only beginning to rise behind storm…clouds； the air was fresh and dewy。 A herd of cattle was being driven along the road from the village。 Larks sprang up trilling one after another in the fields； like bubbles rising to the surface of water。
Balashov looked about him； awaiting the arrival of the officer from the village。 The Russian Cossacks and trumpeter and the French hussars looked at one another now and then in silence。
A French colonel of hussars； evidently only just out of bed； came riding out of the village on a handsome； sleek； grey horse； accompanied by two hussars。 The officers； the soldiers； and the horses all looked smart and well satisfied。
In this early stage of the campaign the troops were well in a state of good discipline； in good； almost parade； order； and engaged in peaceful pursuits； with a shade of martial swagger in their dress； and a shade of gaiety and spirit of adventure in their temper that always accompanies the commencement of a war。
The French colonel had much ado to suppress his yawns； but was courteous in his manner； and evidently understood all the importance of Balashov’s position。 He led him past the line of outposts； and informed him that his desire to be presented to the Emperor would in all probability immediately be satisfied； as the Emperor’s quarters were； he believed； not far off。
They rode through the village of Rykonty； past French picket ropes； sentinels； and soldiers； who saluted their colonel and stared with curiosity at the Russian uniform。 They came out on the other side of the village； and the colonel told Balashov that they were only two kilometres from the commander of the division； who would receive him and conduct him to his destination。
The sun had by now fully risen and was shining cheerfully on the bright green fields。
They had just passed an inn and were riding uphill when a party of horsemen came riding downhill towards them。 The foremost figure was a tall man； in a hat with plumes； mounted on a raven horse； with trappings glittering in the sun。 He had a scarlet cloak； and curly black hair； that floated on his shoulders； and he rode in the French fashion； with his long legs thrust out in front。 This personage galloped towards Balashov； with his jewels and gold lace and feathers all fluttering and glittering in the bright June sun。
Balashov was some ten yards from this majestically theatrical figure in bracelets； feathers； necklaces； and gold； when Julner； the French colonel； whispered to him reverentially； “The King of Naples！” It was in fact Murat； who was now styled the “King of Naples。” Though it was utterly incomprehensible that he should be the King of Naples； he was addressed by that title； and was himself persuaded of his royal position； and consequently behaved with an air of greater solemnity and dignity than heretofore。 So firmly did he believe that he really was the King of Naples； that when； just before leaving Naples； he was greeted by some Italians with shouts of “Long live the King！” when walking in the streets with his wife； he turned to her with a pensive smile and said； “Poor fellows； they don’t know I am quitting them to…morrow。”
But though he believed so implicitly that he was King of Naples； and sympathised with his subjects’ grief at losing him； after he had been commanded to return to the service； and especially after his interview with Napoleon at Danzig； when his most august brother…in…law had said； “I have made you king that you may rule in my way； and not in your own；” he had cheerfully resumed his familiar duties； and； like a well…fed； but not over…fed stallion feeling himself in harness； prancing in the shafts； and decked out in all possible motley magnificence； he went galloping along the roads of Poland； with no notion where or why he was going。
On seeing the Russian general he made a royal； majestic motion of his head with his floating curls； and looked inquiringly at the French colonel。 The colonel deferentially informed his majesty of the mission of Balashov； whose name he could not pronounce。 “De Bal…macheve！” said the King； resolutely attacking and vanquishing the colonel’s difficulty。 “Charmed to make your acquaintance； general；” he added； with a gesture of royal condescension。 As soon as the King spoke loudly and rapidly； all his royal dignity instantly deserted him； and； without himself being aware of it； he passed into the tone of good…humoured familiarity natural to him。 He laid his hand on the forelock of Balashov’s horse。 “Well； general； everything looks like war；” he said； as it were regretting a circumstance on which he could not offer an opinion。 “Your majesty；” answered Balashov； “the Emperor； my master； does not desire war； and as your majesty sees。” Balashov declined “your majesty” in all its cases； using the title with an affectation inevitable in addressing a personage for whom such a title was a novelty。
Murat’s face beamed with foolish satisfaction as he listened to “Monsieur de Balacheff。” But royalty has its obligations。 He felt it incumbent on him to converse with Alexander’s envoy on affairs of state as a king and an ally。 He dismounted； and taking Balashov