Война и мир

Chapter 4

           

           Afterlivingattheseatofthehighestauthorityandpower,afterconversingwiththeEmperorlessthanthreehoursbefore,andingeneralbeingaccustomedtotherespectduetohisrankintheservice,BalashëvfounditverystrangehereonRussiansoiltoencounterthishostile,andstillmorethisdisrespectful,applicationofbruteforcetohimself.

           Thesunwasonlyjustappearingfrombehindtheclouds,theairwasfreshanddewy.Aherdofcattlewasbeingdrivenalongtheroadfromthevillage,andoverthefieldsthelarksrosetrilling,oneafteranother,likebubblesrisinginwater.

           Balashëvlookedaroundhim,awaitingthearrivalofanofficerfromthevillage.TheRussianCossacksandbuglerandtheFrenchhussarslookedsilentlyatoneanotherfromtimetotime.

           AFrenchcolonelofhussars,whohadevidentlyjustlefthisbed,cameridingfromthevillageonahandsomesleekgrayhorse,accompaniedbytwohussars.Theofficer,thesoldiers,andtheirhorsesalllookedsmartandwellkept.

           Itwasthatfirstperiodofacampaignwhentroopsarestillinfulltrim,almostlikethatofpeacetimemaneuvers,butwithashadeofmartialswaggerintheirclothes,andatouchofthegaietyandspiritofenterprisewhichalwaysaccompanytheopeningofacampaign.

           TheFrenchcolonelwithdifficultyrepressedayawn,butwaspoliteandevidentlyunderstoodBalashëv’simportance.HeledhimpasthissoldiersandbehindtheoutpostsandtoldhimthathiswishtobepresentedtotheEmperorwouldmostlikelybesatisfiedimmediately,astheEmperor’squarterswere,hebelieved,notfaroff.

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