第61章

第61章thegeneralincommandwasafraidthathemightbetoblameforthis,andmadenoanswer.theofficerofhussarsatthatinstantnoticedthefaceofthecaptainwiththerednose,andtherigidlydrawn-instomach,andmimickedhisfaceandattitudeinsuchalife-likemannerthatnesvitskycouldnotrestrainhislaughter.kutuzovturnedround.theofficercouldapparentlydoanythinghelikedwithhisface;attheinstantkutuzovturnedround,theofficerhadtimetogetinagrimacebeforeassumingthemostserious,respectful,andinnocentexpression.

thethirdcompanywasthelast,andkutuzovseemedpondering,asthoughtryingtorecallsomething.princeandreysteppedforwardandsaidsoftlyinfrench：“youtoldmetoremindyouofthedegradedofficer,dolohov,servingintheranksinthisregiment.”

“whereisdolohov？”askedkutuzov.

dolohov,attiredbynowinthegreyovercoatofaprivatesoldier,didnotwaittobecalledup.theslenderfigureofthefair-hairedsoldier,withhisbrightblueeyes,steppedoutoftheline.hewentuptothecommander-in-chiefandpresentedarms.

“acomplainttomake？”kutuzovaskedwithaslightfrown.

“thisisdolohov,”saidprinceandrey.

“ah！”saidkutuzov.“ihopethiswillbealessontoyou,doyourdutythoroughly.theemperorisgracious.andishallnotforgetyou,ifyoudeserveit.”

thebrightblueeyeslookedatthecommander-in-chiefjustasimpudentlyasatthegeneralofhisregiment,asthoughbyhisexpressiontearingdowntheveilofconventionthatremovedthecommander-in-chiefsofarfromthesoldier.

“theonlyfavouribegofyourmosthighexcellency,”hesaidinhisfirm,ringing,deliberatevoice,“istogivemeachancetoatoneformyoffence,andtoprovemydevotiontohismajestytheemperor,andtorussia.”

kutuzovturnedaway.therewasagleaminhiseyesofthesamesmilewithwhichhehadturnedawayfromcaptaintimohin.heturnedawayandfrowned,asthoughtoexpressthatalldolohovhadsaidtohimandallhecouldsay,hehadknownlong,longago,thathewassicktodeathlongagoofit,andthatitwasnotatallwhatwaswanted.heturnedawayandwenttowardsthecoach.

theregimentbrokeintocompaniesandwenttowardsthequartersassignedthematnogreatdistancefrombraunau,wheretheyhopedtofindbootsandclothes,andtorestaftertheirhardmarches.

“youwon’tbearmeagrudge,prohoignatitch？”saidthecommandinggeneral,overtakingthethirdcompanyandridinguptocaptaintimohin,whowaswalkinginfrontofit.thegeneral’sfacebeamedwithadelighthecouldnotsuppressaftertheessfulinspection.“it’sinthetsar’sservice…can’tbehelped…sometimesonehastobealittlesharpatinspection.i’mthefirsttoapologise;youknowme.…hewasverymuchpleased.”andheheldouthishandtothecaptain.

“uponmyword,general,asifi’dmakesobold,”answeredthecaptain,hisnoseflushingredder.hesmiled,andhissmilerevealedthelossoftwofrontteeth,knockedoutbythebutt-endofagunatismail.

“andtelldolohovthatiwon’tforgethim;hecanbeeasyaboutthat.andtellme,please,whatabouthim,how’shebehavinghimself…i’vebeenmeaningtoinquire…”

“he’sveryexactinthedischargeofhisduties,yourexcellency…buthe’sacharacter…”saidtimohin.

“why,whatsortofacharacter？”askedthegeneral.

“it’sdifferentondifferentdays,yourexcellency,”saidthecaptain;“atonetimehe’ssensibleandwell-educatedandgood-natured.andthenhe’llbelikeawildbeast.inpoland,heallbutkilledajew,ifyouplease.…”

“well,well,”saidthegeneral,“stillonemustfeelforayoungmanintrouble.hehasgreatconnections,youknow.…soyou…”

“oh,yes,yourexcellency,”saidtimohin,withasmilethatshowedheunderstoodhissuperiorofficer’swishinthematter.

“verywell,then,verywell.”

thegeneralsoughtoutdolohovintheranksandpulleduphishorse.

“inthefirstactionyoumaywinyourepaulettes,”hesaidtohim.

dolohovlookedroundandsaidnothing.therewasnochangeinthelinesofhisironically-smilingmouth.

“well,that’sallrightthen,”thegeneralwenton.“aglassofbrandytoeverymanfromme,”headded,sothatthesoldierscouldhear.“ithankyouall.godbepraised！”andridingroundthecompany,hegallopedofftoanother.

“well,he’sreallyagoodfellow,onecangetonverywellunderhim,”saidtimohintothesubalternofficerwalkingbesidehim.

“thekingofhearts,that’stheonlywordforhim,”thesubalternsaid,laughing.（thegeneralwasnicknamedthekingofhearts.）

thecheerfulstateofmindoftheofficersaftertheinspectionwassharedbythesoldiers.thecompanieswentalongmerrily.soldiers’voicescouldbeheardonallsideschattingaway.

“why,don’ttheysaykutuzov’sblindinoneeye？”

“tobesureheis.quiteblindofoneeye.”

“nay…lads,he’smoresharp-eyedthanyouare.seehowhelookedatourbootsandthings.”…

“isay,mate,whenhelookedatmylegs…well,thinksi…”

“andtheotherwasanaustrianwithhim,thatlookedasifhe’dbeenchalkedallover.aswhiteasflour.ibettheyrubhimupaswerubupourguns.”