第539章

第539章“ithinknot,”answeredtheofficer,feelinghimself;“butihavehadanarrowescapethistime,”headded,pointingtothebrokenplasterinthewall.

“whoisthisman？”heasked,lookingsternlyatpierre.

“oh,iamreallyindespairatwhathashappened,”saidpierrequickly,quiteforgettinghispart.“itisamadman,anunhappycreature,whodidnotknowwhathewasdoing.”

theofficerwentuptomakaralexyevitchandtookhimbythecollar.

makaralexyevitchpoutingouthislips,nodded,asheleanedagainstthewall,asthoughdroppingasleep.

“brigand,youshallpayforit,”saidthefrenchman,lettinggoofhim.“weareclementaftervictory,butwedonotpardontraitors,”headded,withgloomydignityinhisface,andafine,vigorousgesture.

pierretriedinfrenchtopersuadetheofficernottobeseverewiththisdrunkenimbecile.thefrenchmanlistenedinsilence,withthesamegloomyair,andthensuddenlyturnedwithasmiletopierre.forseveralsecondshegazedathimmutely.hishandsomefaceassumedanexpressionofmelodramaticfeeling,andheheldouthishand.

“youhavesavedmylife.youarefrench,”hesaid.forafrenchman,thedeductionfollowedindubitably.anheroicactioncouldonlybeperformedbyafrenchman,andtosavethelifeofhim,m.ramballe,captainofthe13thlightbrigade,wasundoubtedlyamostheroicaction.

buthoweverindubitablethislogic,andwellgroundedtheconvictiontheofficerbasedonit,pierrethoughtwelltodisillusionhimonthesubject.

“iamrussian,”hesaidquickly.

“tellthattoothers,”saidthefrenchman,smilingandwavinghisfingerbeforehisnose.“youshalltellmeallaboutitdirectly,”hesaid.“charmedtomeetacompatriot.well,whatarewetodowiththisman？”headded,applyingtopierrenowasthoughtoacomrade.ifpierrewereindeednotafrenchman,hewouldhardlyonreceivingthatappellation—themosthonourableintheworld—caretodisavowit,waswhattheexpressionandtoneofthefrenchofficerested.tohislastquestionpierreexplainedoncemorewhomakaralexyevitchwas.heexplainedthatjustbeforehisarrivalthedrunkenimbecilehadcarriedoffaloadedpistol,whichtheyhadnoteededingettingfromhim,andheedhimtolethisactiongounpunished.thefrenchmanarchedhischest,andmadeamajesticgesturewithhishand.

“youhavesavedmylife！youareafrenchman.youaskmetopardonhim.igrantyouhispardon.letthismanbereleased,”thefrenchofficerpronouncedwithrapidityandenergy,andtakingthearmofpierre—promotedtobeafrenchmanforsavinghislife—hewaswalkingwithhimintotheroom.

thesoldiersintheyard,hearingtheshot,hadcomeintothevestibuletoaskwhathadhappened,andtooffertheirservicesinpunishingtheoffender;buttheofficersternlycheckedthem.

“youwillbesentforwhenyouarewanted,”hesaid.thesoldierswithdrew.theorderly,whohadmeanwhilebeeninthekitchen,cameintotheofficer.

“captain,theyhavesoupandalegofmuttoninthekitchen,”hesaid.“shallibringitup？”

“yes,andthewine,”saidthecaptain.