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"He shouldn't have taken so many men," said the officer of the

suite.

"True enough," answered Nesvitski; "two smart fellows could have

done the job just as well."

"Ah, your excellency," put in Zherkov, his eyes fixed on the

hussars, but still with that naive air that made it impossible to

know whether he was speaking in jest or in earnest. "Ah, your

excellency! How you look at things! Send two men? And who then

would give us the Vladimir medal and ribbon? But now, even if

they do get peppered, the squadron may be recommended for honors

and he may get a ribbon. Our Bogdanich knows how things are

done."

"There now!" said the officer of the suite, "that's grapeshot."

He pointed to the French guns, the limbers of which were being

detached and hurriedly removed.