Pagina 453 de 3800

Besides, suppose you did gain a brilliant victory, if even the

Archduke Karl gained a victory, what effect would that have on

the general course of events? It's too late now when Vienna is

occupied by the French army!"

"What? Occupied? Vienna occupied?"

"Not only occupied, but Bonaparte is at Schonbrunn, and the

count, our dear Count Vrbna, goes to him for orders."

After the fatigues and impressions of the journey, his reception,

and especially after having dined, Bolkonski felt that he could

not take in the full significance of the words he heard.

"Count Lichtenfels was here this morning," Bilibin continued,

"and showed me a letter in which the parade of the French in

Vienna was fully described: Prince Murat et tout le

tremblement... You see that your victory is not a matter for

great rejoicing and that you can't be received as a savior."