Page 803 sur 3800

It might easily happen," thought Rostov, "that the Emperor will

meet me and give me an order as he would to any other officer;

he'll say: 'Go and find out what's there.' There are many stories

of his getting to know an officer in just such a chance way and

attaching him to himself! What if he gave me a place near him?

Oh, how I would guard him, how I would tell him the truth, how I

would unmask his deceivers!" And in order to realize vividly his

love devotion to the sovereign, Rostov pictured to himself an

enemy or a deceitful German, whom he would not only kill with

pleasure but whom he would slap in the face before the Emperor.

Suddenly a distant shout aroused him. He started and opened his

eyes.