Neon lamp - new light sources. Neon lamp When was the neon lamp invented?

Neon is a gas. Until the end of the 19th century, he calmly fulfilled the honorable duty of being part of the earth's atmosphere. But then it was discovered by the English chemist William Ramsay. And the quiet life came to an end. Resourceful engineers invented neon lamps, and in the 20s of the 20th century, neon advertising conquered the whole world.

True neon color

When we think of neon, we imagine store and restaurant names lit up in different colors. In fact, neon glows with a bright, red-orange light. A rich range of colors is achieved by introducing mercury and sodium vapor into the lamp gas. In Las Vegas, the streets are brightly lit with curved gas pipes, inviting tourists to gamble in the casino or listen to Wayne Newton sing.

How is neon mined?

Neon is contained in the atmosphere, so maybe at this very moment you are inhaling a little bit of neon. Don't worry, there's so little neon in one liter of air that there isn't enough to fill a kernel of popcorn. To separate neon from air, the air has to be liquefied. Just like water turns from a vapor to a liquid when it cools, air turns into a liquid when its temperature drops. Only with water this happens at 100 degrees Celsius, and with neon at minus 246 degrees Celsius - this is exactly the boiling point of neon. Liquid neon is separated from other components of the air. When liquefied, neon is obtained in a mixture with nitrogen and helium.

Related materials:

Why aren't ozone holes filled manually?

By increasing the temperature and pressure of the mixture, chemists remove nitrogen from it. Helium is removed through a process called adsorption. In this case, gas molecules are deposited on solid substances. Neon molecules adhere better to the surface of activated carbon than helium molecules. This property is used to separate mixtures. To get one kilogram of neon, you need to process 88,000 kilograms of air.

If you pour cold liquid neon into a glass, you will see that it is transparent and colorless - in any case, there is no hint of a bright red color. Why then does neon glow brightly in different colors in advertising? Neon pumped into tubes consists of billions and billions of atoms. Each neon atom has ten electrons in orbit around the nucleus. Both ends of the neon tube are connected to an electrical circuit.

When the current is turned on, it flows along the tube: electrons jump from atom to atom, as they should when current passes. Neon atoms get excited when they collide with electrons, just like a person being roughly pushed in a crowd. Electrons in a neon atom are not prone to wandering, therefore, after excitation, the atom calms down and the electron returns to its place. As a result, the atom emits a photon of light. The energy of these photons lies in the red part of the visible light spectrum.

Specifications

The lamp light has low inertia and allows brightness modulation with a frequency of up to 20 kHz. The lamps are connected to the power source through a current-limiting resistor so that the current through the lamp is no more than 1 milliampere (a typical value for miniature lamps), however, lowering the current to 0.1...0.2 mA significantly extends the life of the lamp. Some lamps have a resistor built into the base. Using a lamp without a resistor extremely dangerous, since it can lead to the escalation of the discharge into an arc, with an increase in the current through it to a value limited only by the internal resistance of the power source and supply wires, and, as a consequence, a short circuit and (or) rupture of the lamp cylinder.

The lamp ignition voltage is usually no more than 100 volts, the extinction voltage is about 40-65 volts. Service life - 80,000 hours or more (limited by gas absorption by the glass of the bulb and darkening of the bulb from sprayed electrodes; there is simply nothing to “burn out” in the lamp).

Application

Thanks to the very low current consumption, the neon lamp is a simple, economical and reliable indicator of the inclusion of 220 volt mains voltage.
There are relatively large neon decorative lamps designed for installation in a standard E14 or E27 socket and operating on a voltage of 220 V. In the USSR, such lamps were usually sold only in sets with night lights, and the electrodes had a relatively large area and could be shaped - for example, in the form of a curved candle flame. Currently, lamps of this type continue to be produced in China. Decorative lamps contain a built-in ballast resistor, which allows them to be connected directly to the lighting network.
The minimum current required to ignite low-pressure neon lamps is so small that even the capacity of the human body can provide it, that is, such lamps are very sensitive. This is used in indicator probes, which make it possible to detect the presence of alternating voltage on the phase wire of a lighting electrical network or on device housings. Such a probe should without fail contain a resistor with a nominal value of about 1 MOhm, connected in series with the neon lamp, to prevent the possibility of electric shock to a person.
Like almost all gas-discharge lamps, a neon lamp can light up without direct electrical power - from exposure to an electromagnetic field, for example, from a transmitting HF antenna, plasma lamp or Tesla transformer. An example of such a lamp is the Balizor lamp, used to illuminate high-voltage power line wires.
A neon lamp is used in a stroboscopic device for controlling the rotation speed of an electrophone disk.
A neon lamp can be used not only as an indication element. Due to the presence of negative dynamic resistance, it can also act as an active element, although here it is somewhat inferior in versatility to the glow discharge thyratron. It is most often used in this capacity in relaxation generators, and is also used as a threshold element. It can also be used in more complex circuits: for example, counters can be made using neon lamps.

A neon lamp can also be used as a protection element against short-term overvoltages in signal circuits of the corresponding voltage (if the permissible voltage of the protected circuit is below its ignition threshold, and voltage surges reach it), for example, in telephone lines (in the input circuits of telephone sets).

Neon lamps produced in the USSR and Russia are represented by a wide range of devices, including special application having different dimensions, characteristics, shape of electrodes: VMN-1, VMN-2, IN-3, IN-3A, IN-25, IN-28, IN-29, INS-1, IF-1, MN-3, MN-4, MN-6, MN-7, MN-11, MN-15, 95SG-9, TN-0.2-2, TN-0.3, TN-0.3-3, TN-0, 5, TN-0.9, TN-1, TN-20, TN-30, TN-30-1, TN-30-2M, TNI-1.5D, TMN-2, TNU-2, UVN (TNUV) , as well as a large family of phosphor lamps of the TL series.

Among the lamps for special applications, the following should be noted:

VMN-1, VMN-2 - wave-measuring neon lamps.
IN-3 is a side glow lamp with the direction of the light flux in one direction.
IN-6 - controlled three-electrode neon lamp. It is not a thyratron; it has a slightly different principle of operation. The discharge in it is constantly lit, but, depending on the control voltage, it jumps either to the indicator cathode or to the auxiliary cathode. Such a lamp is controlled by a negative voltage of several V applied to the indicator cathode. The lamp electrodes are located in such a way that when the discharge is lit on the indicator cathode, it is clearly visible to the operator, when on the auxiliary cathode it is not.
IN-21 is a lamp that can withstand high temperatures without negative consequences, and therefore is used in electric stoves, in particular, the Electra-1001 model. It has electrodes made in the shape of semicircles and is highly aesthetic.
IN-25 is a neon lamp with a reduced ratio of the diameter of the cylinder to the diameter of the luminous spot, for matrix displays with improved ergonomic characteristics.
IN-28 - three-electrode neon lamps with flexible leads, having a service life of at least 5000 hours, despite the significant discharge current (up to 15.6 mA). They are used in the subway as single elements of over-tunnel displays of the ESIC system.
IF-1 is an ultraviolet radiation indicator, in particular for flame sensors. The principle of operation is unknown, apparently, the lamp is supplied with a voltage slightly below the ignition voltage, and in the presence of radiation it lights up.
MH-3 - lamp with reduced combustion voltage (about 40 V). Electrodes are made of pure iron, molybdenum, nickel. The cathodes are coated with a thin film of barium, calcium or cesium to reduce combustion voltage. An additional ionizing factor is a tablet of radioactive material attached to the external electrode.
UVN (according to new system designations - ТНУВ, and the name UVN was transferred to the device in which it is used) - a lamp with a narrowing in the middle of the bulb to increase the ignition and combustion voltages, intended for high voltage indicators.

The designations of domestic phosphor neon lamps consist of the letters TL, a letter indicating the color of the glow (O - orange, G - blue, Z - green, Zh - yellow), a number characterizing the rated discharge current in mA, and a number characterizing the ignition voltage in hundreds volt. For example, TLO-1-1 is an orange lamp with a current of 1 mA with an ignition voltage of 100 V. According to another version, the first digit indicates the standard size: 1 - small diameter cylinder, E10 or Ba9s base, 3 - large diameter cylinder, base Ba15s, and the second is the ignition voltage code: 1 - 145 V, 2 - 185 V, the rated current is the same in all cases and is 1.3 mA. The durability of these lamps at rated current is less than that of lamps without phosphor: 2000 hours; their service life can be extended in the same way as for conventional neon lamps - by reducing the current.

Neon lamps produced in other countries

In other countries, indicator and decorative neon lamps of various designs and dimensions were produced in the past. Currently, only a limited assortment of decorative figured neon lamps is produced, and of the indicator models in mass production, there is essentially only one left - the subminiature NE-2, the design of which has not undergone any significant changes in over 50 years. However, this lamp is now available in several sizes. The high brightness lamp is designated NE-2H, where H stands for "high". In addition to conventional lamps of this type, phosphor lamps are also produced: green (NE-2G), blue (NE-2B), white (NE-2W) and others. Moreover, of the phosphor varieties of this lamp, only green is widely used, and models of other colors are scarce. It is also advisable for all NE-2 lamps, especially phosphor lamps, to extend their service life by reducing the current.

Foreign neon lamps with bases, in particular Ba9s, are currently made mainly on the basis of NE-2 lamps, adding bases, resistors (not in all cases) and external bulbs, often plastic.

Specifications

The lamp light has low inertia and allows brightness modulation with a frequency of up to 20 kHz. The lamps are connected to the power source through a current-limiting resistor so that the current through the lamp is no more than 1 milliampere (a typical value for miniature lamps), however, lowering the current to 0.1...0.2 mA significantly extends the life of the lamp. Some lamps have a resistor built into the base. Using a lamp without a resistor extremely dangerous, since it can lead to overgrowth of the discharge in the arc, accompanied by an increase in the current through it to a value limited only by the internal resistance of the power source and supply wires, and, as a consequence, a short circuit and (or) rupture of the lamp cylinder.

Decorative neon lamp

Decorative neon lamp, electrodes covered with phosphor.

Domestic neon lamps

Domestic neon lamps are represented by a wide range of devices, including special ones, having different dimensions, characteristics, and electrode shapes: VMN-1, VMN-2, IN-3, IN-3A, IN-25, IN-28, IN-29 , INS-1, IF-1, MN-3, MN-4, MN-6, MN-7, MN-11, MN-15, 95SG-9, TN-0.2-2, TN-0.3 , TN-0.3-3, TN-0.5, TN-0.9, TN-1, TN-20, TN-30, TN-30-1, TN-30-2M, TNI-1.5D , TMN-2, TNU-2, as well as a large family of phosphor lamps of the TL series.

Among the lamps for special applications, the following should be noted:

VMN-1, VMN-2 - wave-measuring neon lamps.
IN-6 - controlled three-electrode neon lamp. It is not a thyratron; it has a slightly different principle of operation. The discharge in it is constantly lit, but, depending on the control voltage, it jumps either to the indicator cathode or to the auxiliary cathode. Such a lamp is controlled by a negative voltage of several V applied to the indicator cathode. The lamp electrodes are located in such a way that when the discharge is lit on the indicator cathode, it is clearly visible to the operator, when on the auxiliary cathode it is not.
IN-21 is a lamp that can withstand high temperatures without negative consequences, and therefore is used in electric stoves, in particular, the Electra-1001 model. It has electrodes made in the shape of semicircles and is highly aesthetic.
IN-25 is a neon lamp with a reduced ratio of the diameter of the cylinder to the diameter of the luminous spot, for matrix displays with improved ergonomic characteristics.
IN-28 - three-electrode neon lamps with flexible leads, having a service life of at least 5000 hours, despite the significant discharge current (up to 15.6 mA). They are used in the subway as single elements of over-tunnel displays of the ESIC system.
IF-1 is an ultraviolet radiation indicator, in particular for flame sensors. The principle of operation is unknown, apparently, the lamp is supplied with a voltage slightly below the ignition voltage, and in the presence of radiation it lights up.
MH-3 - lamp with reduced combustion voltage (about 40 V). The electrodes are made of pure iron, molybdenum, nickel. The cathodes are coated with a thin film of barium, calcium or cesium to reduce combustion voltage.

The designations of domestic phosphor neon lamps consist of the letters TL, a letter indicating the color of the glow (O - orange, G - blue, Z - green), a number characterizing the rated discharge current in mA, and a number characterizing the ignition voltage in hundreds of volts. For example, TLO-1-1 is an orange lamp with a current of 1 mA and an ignition voltage of 100 V.

Foreign neon lamps

NE-2 in different colors

In the past, indicator and decorative neon lamps of various designs and dimensions were produced abroad. Currently, only a limited assortment of decorative figured neon lamps is produced, and of the indicator models in mass production, there is essentially only one left - the subminiature NE-2, the design of which has not undergone any significant changes in over 50 years. However, this lamp is now available in several sizes. In addition to conventional lamps of this type, phosphor lamps are also produced: green (NE-2G), blue (NE-2B), white (NE-2W) and others. Moreover, of the phosphor varieties of this lamp, only green is widely used, and models of other colors are scarce.

Literature

Genis A. A., Gornshtein I. L., Pugach A. B. Glow discharge devices. Kyiv, Tekhnika, 1970.
Zgursky V. S., Lisitsyn B. L. Indication elements. M.: Energy, 1980. - 304 p., ill.
Gurlev D.S. Handbook of electronic devices. Kyiv, 1974.

Notes


Incandescent	Incandescent lamp Halogen lamp
Fluorescent

Thanks to development modern technologies Our life becomes more interesting and brighter every year. And “brighter” in the literal sense. So, in terms of lighting your home, today you can use a wide variety of lighting devices, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.
In today's article we will talk about what a glow discharge lamp is or what they are called in Everyday life– neon lamps.

These representatives of lamps today provide the brightest luminous flux, which opens up wide areas of application for them. But in order to use them correctly, you need to have a good understanding of the product.

What it is?

Neon lamps are bright modern representatives of lighting devices on the market, which are distinguished by their reliability and durability. Thanks to this, they are used in a wide variety of areas, from building lighting to interior lighting of apartment rooms.
A neon lamp looks like a glass tube that is filled with a small amount of gas. Gas is driven into neon lamps at low pressure.

Note! Not just any gas is used here. A neon lamp contains neon as an inert gas. This is where its name actually came from. But other inert gases can also be released into neon lamps.

Lamp design

A characteristic feature that all such light bulbs have is that any atom in them has a completely filled electron shell. As a result, neon atoms never interact with other atoms to capture new electrons. Moreover, in order to tear off at least one electron from them, a lot of energy will be required.
The glass tube, which is the basis for such a light bulb, has an electrode at each end.
A neon lamp can be powered by AC or DC power. But if neon light sources are connected to DC current, neon light will only be observed around the electrodes. Because of this, most often the neon lamp is connected to an alternating current source.

Lamp glow

Note! These bulbs are often connected to high voltage (about 15,000 volts). This voltage is sufficient to remove an electron from the outer orbit of an atom. At low voltages there will be no effect.

The entire operating principle of lamps is based on the properties of inert gases.
Neon lamps work as follows:

when electricity is passed through gas atoms, they lose electrons and acquire a positive charge;
then such atoms begin to be attracted to the electrode, which is negatively charged;
the released electrodes are in turn attracted to the positively charged electrode.

Note! All gas particles that have a charge are called plasma. With their help, the electrical circuit is closed.

As a result of this process, neon light of a very bright spectrum is formed. Therefore, lighting organized using such light bulbs is used to illuminate buildings and apartments. Often a neon lamp replaces an LED strip as a light source. Such lighting will be no worse than LED lighting, but neon light sometimes looks even more impressive. At the same time, both the LED strip and the neon lamp can be easily installed with your own hands.

How light is produced

Neon light that people like so much appearance, is formed as a result of special directed processes occurring inside the lamp. The atoms that are inside the tube are in constant movement, causing them to collide with each other. As a result of such a collision, they transfer energy to each other with the release of heat, i.e. they are excited, thereby increasing the energy level. When emitting heat, the electrode can drop to a lower threshold. The excess energy is emitted into the space of the tube in the form of a photon (particle of light). As a result, neon light is formed.
It is worth noting that a neon lamp can glow in different colors.

Lamp color options

Neon light depends on how much the transferred excitation energy differs from the original one. This parameter, like the energy level of the electron, has a certain interval. As a result, it turns out that each excited electron has its own unique wavelength of light. This means that the non-new light gives a unique glow. If the fixtures are filled with neon, they will produce a reddish-orange neon light.
But such lighting (be it for apartments or entire buildings) today comes in an unimaginable variety of colors. To get a different neon light, there are two methods:

a neon lamp must contain a different gas. To make the backlight have a different neon light, even gas mixtures are used. Such lighting can be used both inside the house (analogue - LED strip) and for buildings outside;

Note! Each gas has its own glow. For example, helium glows pink, argon glows blue, krypton glows green. When mixed in different proportions, intermediate colors and different neon lights are obtained.

The second method involves applying phosphors (various chemicals) to the glass of the lamp tube. Such a neon lamp will produce different colors due to the effect of plasma energy on the phosphors.

Despite the fact that direct competitors - fluorescent lamps are quite popular today, neon models continue to hold their position in the light source market.

Flexible option

Flexible neon

You should know that neon devices are represented not only by light bulbs, but also by strips (flexible neon). This strip is an LED garland that is sealed in a PVC tube.

Such products can be multi-colored or monotonous. The tapes are made from transparent or matte high-quality PVC tube. Single-color models are made from matte tubes.
Tape, compared to light bulbs, has many more advantages:

there is no risk of causing mechanical damage. Glass lamps break quite often, which makes them quite dangerous, especially if the lighting is planned in a nursery. But the tape is devoid of such negativity;
waterproofing;
the ability to use RGB technology.
The tape is flexible, which allows it to be installed anywhere in the house or outside buildings. As a result, the lighting becomes more mobile and versatile;
the strip costs less compared to LED analogues. LED strip is not always a better purchase.

LED neon strip is particularly popular today, gradually displacing some other light sources from use. Having a wide light range, the tape is widely used in a wide variety of applications. This LED lighting will look great anywhere (both outside and inside buildings).

Scope of application

Lamps and cords, which contain inert gases, are used everywhere today. They are used for:

decorative decoration of rooms;
creating hidden lighting;
design of external lighting of buildings, architectural structures, monuments, etc.;

External lighting of buildings

outdoor advertising lighting;
runway lighting at airports;
designing unique interiors in residential premises, retail spaces, etc.

The fairly wide scope of application of this type of product is explained by a number of advantages, among which the quality and beauty of the light flux stand out. Only LED strip can compete with them.
By installing neon lamps in your home, you will receive an excellent tool that will help you create a festive or romantic atmosphere in any room. Moreover, thanks to its qualities, the tape can also be used outdoors. It will make your evening picnic unforgettable!

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The lamp light has low inertia and allows brightness modulation with a frequency of up to 20 kHz. The lamps are connected to the power source through a current-limiting resistor so that the current through the lamp is no more than 1 milliampere (a typical value for miniature lamps), however, lowering the current to 0.1...0.2 mA significantly extends the life of the lamp. Some lamps have a resistor built into the base. Using a lamp without a resistor extremely dangerous, since it can lead to the discharge developing into an arc, with the current through it increasing to a value limited only by the internal resistance of the power source and supply wires, and, as a consequence, a short circuit and (or) rupture of the lamp cylinder.

Application

Neon lamps produced in the USSR and Russia are represented by a wide range of devices, including special applications, having different dimensions, characteristics, and electrode shapes: VMN-1, VMN-2, IN-3, IN-3A, IN-25, IN-28, IN-29, INS-1, IF-1, MN-3, MN-4, MN-6, MN-7, MN-11, MN-15, 95SG-9, TN-0.2-2, TN- 0.3, TN-0.3-3, TN-0.5, TN-0.9, TN-1, TN-20, TN-30, TN-30-1, TN-30-2M, TNI- 1.5D, TMN-2, TNU-2, as well as a large family of fluorescent lamps of the TL series.

Among the lamps for special applications, the following should be noted:

VMN-1, VMN-2 - wave-measuring neon lamps.
IN-6 - controlled three-electrode neon lamp. It is not a thyratron; it has a slightly different principle of operation. The discharge in it is constantly lit, but, depending on the control voltage, it jumps either to the indicator cathode or to the auxiliary cathode. Such a lamp is controlled by a negative voltage of several V applied to the indicator cathode. The lamp electrodes are located in such a way that when the discharge is lit on the indicator cathode, it is clearly visible to the operator, when on the auxiliary cathode it is not.
IN-21 is a lamp that can withstand high temperatures without negative consequences, and therefore is used in electric stoves, in particular, the Electra-1001 model. It has electrodes made in the shape of semicircles and is highly aesthetic.
IN-25 is a neon lamp with a reduced ratio of the diameter of the cylinder to the diameter of the luminous spot, for matrix displays with improved ergonomic characteristics.
IN-28 - three-electrode neon lamps with flexible leads, having a service life of at least 5000 hours, despite the significant discharge current (up to 15.6 mA). They are used in the subway as single elements of over-tunnel displays of the ESIC system.
IF-1 is an ultraviolet radiation indicator, in particular for flame sensors. The principle of operation is unknown, apparently, the lamp is supplied with a voltage slightly below the ignition voltage, and in the presence of radiation it lights up.
MH-3 - lamp with reduced combustion voltage (about 40 V). The electrodes are made of pure iron, molybdenum, nickel. The cathodes are coated with a thin film of barium, calcium or cesium to reduce combustion voltage. An additional ionizing factor is a tablet of radioactive material attached to the external electrode.

Neon lamps produced in other countries

In other countries, indicator and decorative neon lamps of various designs and dimensions were produced in the past. Currently, only a limited assortment of decorative figured neon lamps is produced, and of the indicator models in mass production, there is essentially only one left - the subminiature NE-2, the design of which has not undergone any significant changes in over 50 years. However, this lamp is now available in several sizes. In addition to conventional lamps of this type, phosphor lamps are also produced: green (NE-2G), blue (NE-2B), white (NE-2W) and others. Moreover, of the phosphor varieties of this lamp, only green is widely used, and models of other colors are scarce.

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Literature

Genis A. A., Gornshtein I. L., Pugach A. B. Glow discharge devices. Kyiv, Tekhnika, 1970.
Zgursky V. S., Lisitsyn B. L. Indication elements. M.: Energy, 1980. - 304 p., ill.
Gurlev D.S. Handbook of electronic devices. Kyiv, 1974.

Notes

This article or section contains or external references, but the sources of individual statements remain unclear due to the lack of footnotes.

Statements not made may be questioned and removed. You can improve the article by providing more accurate citations to your sources.



Incandescent

Fluorescent

Gas discharge

Electric arc

On combustion

Semiconductor

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Types of luminescence

Lighting decor

An excerpt characterizing a neon lamp

“Well, come to us in the evening, you’ll pawn the Pharaoh,” said Zherkov.
– Or do you have a lot of money?
- Come.
- It is forbidden. I made a vow. I don’t drink or gamble until they make it.
- Well, on to the first thing...
- We'll see there.
Again they were silent.
“You come in if you need anything, everyone at headquarters will help...” said Zherkov.
Dolokhov grinned.
- You better not worry. I won’t ask for anything I need, I’ll take it myself.
- Well, I’m so...
- Well, so am I.
- Goodbye.
- Be healthy…
... and high and far,
On the home side...
Zherkov touched his spurs to the horse, which, getting excited, kicked three times, not knowing which one to start with, managed and galloped off, overtaking the company and catching up with the carriage, also to the beat of the song.

Returning from the review, Kutuzov, accompanied by the Austrian general, went into his office and, calling the adjutant, ordered to be given some papers related to the state of the arriving troops, and letters received from Archduke Ferdinand, who commanded the advanced army. Prince Andrei Bolkonsky entered the commander-in-chief's office with the required papers. Kutuzov and an Austrian member of the Gofkriegsrat sat in front of the plan laid out on the table.
“Ah...” said Kutuzov, looking back at Bolkonsky, as if with this word he was inviting the adjutant to wait, and continued the conversation he had started in French.
“I’m just saying one thing, General,” Kutuzov said with a pleasant grace of expression and intonation, which forced you to listen carefully to every leisurely spoken word. It was clear that Kutuzov himself enjoyed listening to himself. “I only say one thing, General, that if the matter depended on my personal desire, then the will of His Majesty Emperor Franz would have been fulfilled long ago.” I would have joined the Archduke long ago. And believe my honor that for me personally to transfer the highest command of the army to a more knowledgeable and skilled general than me, of which Austria is so abundant, and to relinquish all this heavy responsibility would be a joy for me personally. But circumstances are stronger than us, General.
And Kutuzov smiled with an expression as if he was saying: “You have every right not to believe me, and even I don’t care at all whether you believe me or not, but you have no reason to tell me this. And that’s the whole point.”
The Austrian general looked dissatisfied, but could not help but respond to Kutuzov in the same tone.
“On the contrary,” he said in a grumpy and angry tone, so contrary to the flattering meaning of the words he was saying, “on the contrary, your Excellency’s participation in the common cause is highly valued by His Majesty; but we believe that the present slowdown deprives the glorious Russian troops and their commanders-in-chief of the laurels that they are accustomed to reaping in battles,” he finished his apparently prepared phrase.
Kutuzov bowed without changing his smile.
“And I am so convinced and, based on the last letter with which His Highness Archduke Ferdinand honored me, I assume that the Austrian troops, under the command of such a skillful assistant as General Mack, have now won a decisive victory and no longer need our help,” said Kutuzov.
The general frowned. Although there was no positive news about the defeat of the Austrians, there were too many circumstances that confirmed the general unfavorable rumors; and therefore Kutuzov’s assumption about the victory of the Austrians was very similar to ridicule. But Kutuzov smiled meekly, still with the same expression, which said that he had the right to assume this. Indeed, the last letter he received from Mac's army informed him of the victory and the most advantageous strategic position of the army.
“Give me this letter here,” said Kutuzov, turning to Prince Andrei. - If you please see. - And Kutuzov, with a mocking smile at the ends of his lips, read in German to the Austrian general the following passage from a letter from Archduke Ferdinand: “Wir haben vollkommen zusammengehaltene Krafte, nahe an 70,000 Mann, um den Feind, wenn er den Lech passirte, angreifen und schlagen zu konnen. Wir konnen, da wir Meister von Ulm sind, den Vortheil, auch von beiden Uferien der Donau Meister zu bleiben, nicht verlieren; mithin auch jeden Augenblick, wenn der Feind den Lech nicht passirte, die Donau ubersetzen, uns auf seine Communikations Linie werfen, die Donau unterhalb repassiren und dem Feinde, wenn er sich gegen unsere treue Allirte mit ganzer Macht wenden wollte, seine Absicht alabald vereitelien. Wir werden auf solche Weise den Zeitpunkt, wo die Kaiserlich Ruseische Armee ausgerustet sein wird, muthig entgegenharren, und sodann leicht gemeinschaftlich die Moglichkeit finden, dem Feinde das Schicksal zuzubereiten, so er verdient.” [We have quite concentrated forces, about 70,000 people, so that we can attack and defeat the enemy if he crosses Lech. Since we already own Ulm, we can retain the benefit of command of both banks of the Danube, therefore, every minute, if the enemy does not cross the Lech, cross the Danube, rush to his communication line, and below cross the Danube back to the enemy, if he decides to turn all his power on our faithful allies, prevent his intention from being fulfilled. In this way we will cheerfully await the time when the imperial Russian army will be completely prepared, and then together we will easily find the opportunity to prepare for the enemy the fate he deserves.”]
Kutuzov sighed heavily, ending this period, and looked attentively and affectionately at the member of the Gofkriegsrat.
- But you know, Your Excellency, wise rule“, which instructs us to assume the worst,” said the Austrian general, apparently wanting to end the jokes and get down to business.
He involuntarily looked back at the adjutant.
“Excuse me, General,” Kutuzov interrupted him and also turned to Prince Andrei. - That's it, my dear, take all the reports from our spies from Kozlovsky. Here are two letters from Count Nostitz, here is a letter from His Highness Archduke Ferdinand, here is another,” he said, handing him several papers. - And from all this, purely, on French, draw up a memorandum, a note, for the visibility of all the news that we have about the actions Austrian army had. Well, then, introduce him to his Excellency.
Prince Andrei bowed his head as a sign that he understood from the first words not only what was said, but also what Kutuzov wanted to tell him. He collected the papers, and, making a general bow, quietly walking along the carpet, went out into the reception room.
Despite the fact that not much time has passed since Prince Andrei left Russia, he has changed a lot during this time. In the expression of his face, in his movements, in his gait, the former pretense, fatigue and laziness were almost not noticeable; he had the appearance of a man who does not have time to think about the impression he makes on others, and is busy doing something pleasant and interesting. His face expressed more satisfaction with himself and those around him; his smile and gaze were more cheerful and attractive.
Kutuzov, whom he caught up with in Poland, received him very kindly, promised him not to forget him, distinguished him from other adjutants, took him with him to Vienna and gave him more serious assignments. From Vienna, Kutuzov wrote to his old comrade, the father of Prince Andrei:
“Your son,” he wrote, “shows hope of becoming an officer, out of the ordinary in his studies, firmness and diligence. I consider myself lucky to have such a subordinate at hand.”
At Kutuzov's headquarters, among his comrades and colleagues, and in the army in general, Prince Andrei, as well as in St. Petersburg society, had two completely opposite reputations.
Some, a minority, recognized Prince Andrei as something special from themselves and from all other people, expected great success from him, listened to him, admired him and imitated him; and with these people Prince Andrei was simple and pleasant. Others, the majority, did not like Prince Andrei, considered him a pompous, cold and unpleasant person. But with these people, Prince Andrei knew how to position himself in such a way that he was respected and even feared.
Coming out of Kutuzov’s office into the reception area, Prince Andrei with papers approached his comrade, the adjutant on duty Kozlovsky, who was sitting by the window with a book.
- Well, what, prince? – asked Kozlovsky.
“We were ordered to write a note explaining why we shouldn’t go ahead.”
- And why?
Prince Andrey shrugged his shoulders.
- No news from Mac? – asked Kozlovsky.
- No.
“If it were true that he was defeated, then the news would come.”
“Probably,” said Prince Andrei and headed towards the exit door; but at the same time, a tall, obviously visiting, Austrian general in a frock coat, with a black scarf tied around his head and with the Order of Maria Theresa around his neck, quickly entered the reception room, slamming the door. Prince Andrei stopped.
- General Chief Kutuzov? - the visiting general quickly said with a sharp German accent, looking around on both sides and walking without stopping to the office door.
“The general in chief is busy,” said Kozlovsky, hastily approaching the unknown general and blocking his path from the door. - How would you like to report?
The unknown general looked contemptuously down at the short Kozlovsky, as if surprised that he might not be known.
“The general in chief is busy,” Kozlovsky repeated calmly.
The general's face frowned, his lips twitched and trembled. He took out a notebook, quickly drew something with a pencil, tore out a piece of paper, gave it to him, walked quickly to the window, threw his body on a chair and looked around at those in the room, as if asking: why are they looking at him? Then the general raised his head, craned his neck, as if intending to say something, but immediately, as if casually starting to hum to himself, he made a strange sound, which immediately stopped. The door to the office opened, and Kutuzov appeared on the threshold. The general with his head bandaged, as if running away from danger, bent down and approached Kutuzov with large, fast steps of his thin legs.
“Vous voyez le malheureux Mack, [You see the unfortunate Mack.],” he said in a broken voice.
The face of Kutuzov, standing in the doorway of the office, remained completely motionless for several moments. Then, like a wave, a wrinkle ran across his face, his forehead smoothed out; He bowed his head respectfully, closed his eyes, silently let Mac pass by him and closed the door behind himself.
The rumor, already spread before, about the defeat of the Austrians and the surrender of the entire army at Ulm, turned out to be true. Half an hour later, adjutants were sent in different directions with orders proving that soon the Russian troops, which had hitherto been inactive, would have to meet the enemy.