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"Look! Look there!" one soldier was saying to another, pointing

to a Russian musketeer who had gone up to the picket line with an

officer and was rapidly and excitedly talking to a French

grenadier. "Hark to him jabbering! Fine, isn't it? It's all the

Frenchy can do to keep up with him. There now, Sidorov!"

"Wait a bit and listen. It's fine!" answered Sidorov, who was

considered an adept at French.

The soldier to whom the laughers referred was Dolokhov. Prince

Andrew recognized him and stopped to listen to what he was

saying. Dolokhov had come from the left flank where their

regiment was stationed, with his captain.

"Now then, go on, go on!" incited the officer, bending forward

and trying not to lose a word of the speech which was

incomprehensible to him. "More, please: more! What's he saying?"