Pagina 247 de 788

"But the taratatka has fringe," shouted Mickiewicz, "and the

other is entirely plain."

Thereupon there arose disputes over the various forms of the

taratatka and the czamara.

The ingenious Robak, seeing that the conversation was thus

becoming scattered, undertook again to gather it to a focus-to

his snuffbox: he treated them, they sneezed and wished one

another good health; he continued his speech:- "When the Emperor

Napoleon in an engagement takes snuff time after time, it is a

sure sign that he is winning the battle. For example, at

Austerlitz: the French just stood beside their cannon, and on

them charged a host of Muscovites. The Emperor gazed and held his

peace; whenever the French shot, the Muscovites were simply mowed

down by regiments like grass. Regiment after regiment galloped on

and fell from the saddle; whenever a regiment fell, the Emperor

took a pinch of snuff, until finally Alexander with his little

brother Constantine and the German Emperor Francis fled from the

field. So the Emperor, seeing that the fight was over, gazed at

them, laughed, and dusted his fingers.