第538章

第538章havinginwardlyresolvedthatuntiltheexecutionofhisdesign，heoughttodisguisehisstationandhisknowledgeoffrench，pierrestoodatthehalf-opendoorintothecorridor，intendingtoconcealhimselfatonceassoonasthefrenchentered.butthefrenchentered，andpierredidnotleavethedoor；andirresistiblecuriositykepthimthere.

thereweretwoofthem.one—anofficer，atall，handsomemanofgallantbearing；theother，obviouslyasoldierorofficer’sservant，asquat，thin，sunburntman，withhollowcheeksandadullexpression.theofficerwalkedfirst，limpingandleaningonastick.afteradvancingafewsteps，theofficerapparentlymakinguphismindthatthesewouldbegoodquarters，stopped，turnedroundandshoutedinaloud，peremptoryvoicetothesoldiersstandinginthedoorwaytoputupthehorses.havingdonethistheofficer，withajauntygesture，crookinghiselbowhighintheair，strokedhismoustachesandputhishandtohishat.

“bonjour，lacompagnie！”hesaidgaily，smilingandlookingabouthim.

noonemadeanyreply.

“vousêteslebourgeois？”theofficerasked，addressinggerasim.

gerasimlookedbackwithscaredinquiryattheofficer.

“quartire，quartire，logement，”saidtheofficer，lookingdownwithacondescendingandgood-humouredsmileatthelittleman.“thefrencharegoodlads.don’tletusbecross，oldfellow，”hewentoninfrench，clappingthescaredandmutegerasimontheshoulder.“isay，doesnoonespeakfrenchinthisestablishment？”headded，lookingroundandmeetingpierre’seyes.pierrewithdrewfromthedoor.

theofficerturnedagaintogerasim.heaskedhimtoshowhimoverthehouse.

“masternothere—nounderstand…meyou…”saidgerasim，tryingtomakehiswordsmorecomprehensiblebysayingtheminreverseorder.

thefrenchofficer，smiling，wavedhishandsinfrontofgerasim’snose，togivehimtounderstandthathetoofailedtounderstandhim，andwalkedwithalimptowardsthedoorwherepierrewasstanding.pierrewasabouttoretreattoconcealhimselffromhim，butatthatverysecondhecaughtsightofmakaralexyevitchpeepingoutoftheopenkitchendoorwithapistolinhishand.withamadman’scunning，makaralexyevitcheyedthefrenchmen，andliftingthepistol，tookaim.“runthemdown！！！”yelledthedrunkard，pressingtheer.thefrenchofficerturnedroundatthescream，andatthesameinstantpierredashedatthedrunkenman.justaspierresnatchedatthepistolandjerkeditup，makaralexyevitcheededatlastinpressingtheer，andadeafeningshotrangout，wrappingeveryoneinacloudofsmoke.thefrenchmanturnedpaleandrushedbacktothedoor.

forgettinghisintentionofconcealinghisknowledgeoffrench，pierrepulledawaythepistol，andthrowingitontheground，rantotheofficerandaddressedhiminfrench.“youarenotwounded？”hesaid.