“Your excellency, the superintendent of the lunatic asylum has come: what are your commands?”
“My commands? Let them go away, that’s all. … And let the lunatics out into the town. When lunatics command our armies God evidently means these other madmen to be free.”
In reply to an inquiry about the convicts in the prison, Count Rostopchín shouted angrily at the governor:
“Do you expect me to give you two battalions—which we have not got—for a convoy? Release them, that’s all about it!”
“Your excellency, there are some political prisoners, Meshkóv, Vereshchágin …”
“Vereshchágin! Hasn’t he been hanged yet?” shouted Rostopchín. “Bring him to me!”
XXV
Toward nine o’clock in the morning, when the troops were already moving through Moscow, nobody came to the count any more for instructions. Those who were able to get away were going of their own accord, those who remained behind decided for themselves what they must do.
The count ordered his carriage that he might drive