HavingreturnedtotheregimentandtoldthecommanderthestateofDenisov'saffairs, RostovrodetoTilsitwiththelettertotheEmperor.
, toincludehiminthesuiteappointedforthestayatTilsit.
"Ishouldliketoseethegreatman," hesaid, alludingtoNapoleon, whomhithertohe, likeeveryoneelse, hadalwayscalledBuonaparte.
"YouarespeakingofBuonaparte?" askedthegeneral, smiling.
Borislookedathisgeneralinquiringlyandimmediatelysawthathewasbeingtested.
"Iamspeaking, Prince, oftheEmperorNapoleon," , withasmile.
"Youwillgofar," hesaid, andtookhimtoTilsitwithhim.
, decoratedwithmonograms, sawNapoleonpassbeforetheFrenchGuardsonthefartherbankoftheriver, sawthepensivefaceoftheEmperorAlexanderashesatinsilenceinatavernonthebankoftheNiemenawaitingNapoleon'sarrival, sawbothEmperorsgetintoboats, andsawhowNapoleon—reachingtheraftfirst—steppedquicklyforwardtomeetAlexanderandheldouthishandtohim, , , , 'ssuitewasaverysmallone, itwasamatterofgreatimportance, foramanwhovaluedhissuccessintheservice, tobeatTilsitontheoccasionofthisinterviewbetweenthetwoEmperors, andhavingsucceededinthis, , , sothatthelatterknewhisface, andallthoseatcourt, farfromcold-shoulderinghimasatfirstwhentheyconsideredhimanewcomer, wouldnowhavebeensurprisedhadhebeenabsent.
Borislodgedwithanotheradjutant, , aPolebroughtupinParis, wasrich, andpassionatelyfondoftheFrench, andalmosteverydayofthestayatTilsit, FrenchofficersoftheGuardandfromFrenchheadquarterswerediningandlunchingwithhimandBoris.
