Pagina 342 di 3800

"You won't bear me a grudge, Prokhor Ignatych?" said the

regimental commander, overtaking the third company on its way to

its quarters and riding up to Captain Timokhin who was walking in

front. (The regimental commander's face now that the inspection

was happily over beamed with irrepressible delight.) "It's in the

Emperor's service... it can't be helped... one is sometimes a bit

hasty on parade... I am the first to apologize, you know me!...

He was very pleased!" And he held out his hand to the captain.

"Don't mention it, General, as if I'd be so bold!" replied the

captain, his nose growing redder as he gave a smile which showed

where two front teeth were missing that had been knocked out by

the butt end of a gun at Ismail.

"And tell Mr. Dolokhov that I won't forget him-he may be quite

easy. And tell me, please-I've been meaning to ask-how is he

behaving himself, and in general..."

"As far as the service goes he is quite punctilious, your

excellency; but his character..." said Timokhin.