“What can he say? Tra-di-ri-di-ra and so on⁠ ⁠… merely to gain time. I tell you he is in our hands, that’s certain! But what was most amusing,” he continued, with a sudden, good-natured laugh, “was that we could not think how to address the reply! If not as ‘Consul’ and of course not as ‘Emperor,’ it seemed to me it should be to ‘General Buonaparte.’ ”

“But between not recognizing him as Emperor and calling him General Buonaparte, there is a difference,” remarked Bolkónski.

“That’s just it,” interrupted Dolgorúkov quickly, laughing. “You know Bilíbin⁠—he’s a very clever fellow. He suggested addressing him as ‘Usurper and Enemy of Mankind.’ ”

Dolgorúkov laughed merrily.

“Only that?” said Bolkónski.

“All the same, it was Bilíbin who found a suitable form for the address. He is a wise and clever fellow.”