Chapter 3
Old Nikolai gets distracted by his will, which includes his magnum opus, to be delivered to the Tsar upon old Nikolai's death. He also spends some time fussing about where he's going to sleep tonight, and we learn that he moves around a lot because he thinks such depressing thoughts when he lies down to sleep and doesn't want to be reminded of them. Tonight, he briefly remembers the letter, but dismisses it with memories of himself as a young general, which was a much better time.
I would like to humbly suggest that, if he weren't such a mean, miserable old bastard, he might have even happier memories to draw on.
Chapter 4
Dessalles - young Nikolai's tutor - advises Mary to write a letter directly to the Governor of Smolensk to find out how much danger they're in, since old Nikolai seems totally disinterested. Bald Hills is forty miles from Smolensk and only two miles outside of Moscow, so they're right in the firing line. Alpatych, the estate manager, sets off with the letter, after spending some time being prepared by his family. They're also eager to hear the news. On the fourth of August, Alpatych reaches Smolensk, specifically, the home of Ferapontov. Alpatych gave Ferapontov some business advice thirty years ago - before Alpatych became entirely absorbed with Bald Hills - and Ferapontov is now quite successful. Ferapontov tells Alpatych that everyone has been leaving town, which the latter dismisses as "women's fuss". Ferapontov agress, but felt honour-bond to tell him. Alpatych "hears without heeding" and everyone retires to bed. The next day, firing is heard from quite early on, with cannons added from around 8am. Lots of people are leaving town, but business is still going on as normal - all the shops are open and so on, though everyone is using them to gossip about the war. Alpatych sets off to see the governor, only to find a crowd of people complaining about how the soldiers have brought them all to ruins. Eventually, Alpatych gets in to see the governor, Baron Asch, who officially says nothing but advises that "as the prince is unwell" he recommends a retreat to Moscow, for absolutely no other reason, you understand, and nothing to do with the war.
Meanwhile, the firing grows louder, and everyone turns panicked looks on Alpatych as he exists the Governor's room. Alpatych has also been handed a copy of the instructions from Barclay de Tolly to the Baron, with a properly cited reference in the text and everything. They may be legit. Basically, Barclay de Tolly swears that Smolensk is absolutely safe. The people of Smolensk do not agree, and continue trying to leave town with the entire contents of their homes on their backs.
Btw, this is a really long chapter. All the others have a reading time of 1-2 minutes, according to my kindle. This one started at 8.
Alpatych goes back to Ferapontov, who says he can't possibly leave town right now, business being what it is. They have tea together while Alpatych's horses are saddled, and the battle noises seem to die down. Ferapontov is confident that the French has been driven off. I disagree. So do the French - they begin bombarding the town directly. People are still worried, but no one seems to be dying right this second and things are almost normal. That is, until one lands right next to Alpatych and Ferapontov and the whole street is shrouded in smoke. Not long after, the cook - who took a cannonball directly to the thigh - has been carried off, and Alpatych, Ferapontov's family, and a few others are all hiding in Ferapontov's cellar. Some soldiers run through, with one shouting that the town is being abandoned. Lots of things are on fire. Ferapontov makes it to his shop, which is being looted by soldiers. Upon realising they're Russian soldiers, he encourages them to leave nothing for the French.
The roads are so busy with people that Alpatych has to wait for nightfall to leave, along with Ferapontov's family. Even when they can move, they're stuck in a traffic jam pretty quickly, with nothing but dying fires to look at. Alpatych wanders around for a bit, looking at the soldiers, and recognises one of them as Prince Andrew Bolkonski. Surprised to see his father's estate manager, Andrew asks what he's doing here, but he has to shout it from across the street because of all the soldiers still in the way. Alpatych eventually reaches him, and Andrew writes a note, stating that Smolensk will be abandoned, Bald Hills will be occupied within in the week and the Bald Hills household should set off for Moscow ASAP. Despite being in the army, he did not say 'ASAP' because it hadn't been invented yet, and also he speaks Russian and French, not English. Berg - Vera Rostova's husband, so Nikolai and Natasha's brother-in-law - comes up to Andrew and demands to know why he's wasting time speaking to a civilian, but Andrew ignores him.
Andrew also writes in his note that they should tell him when they set off. He tells Alptych that he will wait until the tenth, and if he hears nothing, will come to Bald Hills himself.
He'll be there by my birthday!
Berg realises who Prince Andrew is, apologises, and blames it on following orders, perhaps setting a precedent that will last at least 97 years. Andrew continues to ignore him as a house nearby collapses from the fire. Then he rides off dramatically.
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