Pagina 337 di 3800

Nesvitski could hardly keep from laughter provoked by a swarthy

hussar officer who walked beside him. This hussar, with a grave

face and without a smile or a change in the expression of his

fixed eyes, watched the regimental commander's back and mimicked

his every movement. Each time the commander started and bent

forward, the hussar started and bent forward in exactly the same

manner. Nesvitski laughed and nudged the others to make them look

at the wag.

Kutuzov walked slowly and languidly past thousands of eyes which

were starting from their sockets to watch their chief. On

reaching the third company he suddenly stopped. His suite, not

having expected this, involuntarily came closer to him.

"Ah, Timokhin!" said he, recognizing the red-nosed captain who

had been reprimanded on account of the blue greatcoat.