Pagina 396 di 788

If Moscow picks a bone with Bonaparte, then he will make a war

that will be no joke: he is the foremost hero in the world, and

has armies unnumbered! Hey, what think you, Maciej, our Father

Bunny?"

He concluded. All awaited the verdict of Maciej. Maciej did not

move his head or raise his eyes, but only struck himself several

times on the side, as though he were feeling for his sabre.

(Since the partition of the country he had worn no sabre;

however, from old habit, at the mention of a Muscovite he always

clapped his hand to his left side; he was evidently groping for

his switch; and hence everybody called him Hand-on-Hip.) Now he

raised his head, and they listened in deep silence. Maciej

disappointed the general expectation; he only frowned and again

dropped his head on his breast. Finally he spoke out, pronouncing

every word slowly and with emphasis, and nodding his head in time

with them:-