Pagina 792 di 3800

Next to Weyrother sat Count Langeron who, with a subtle smile

that never left his typically southern French face during the

whole time of the reading, gazed at his delicate fingers which

rapidly twirled by its corners a gold snuffbox on which was a

portrait. In the middle of one of the longest sentences, he

stopped the rotary motion of the snuffbox, raised his head, and

with inimical politeness lurking in the corners of his thin lips

interrupted Weyrother, wishing to say something. But the Austrian

general, continuing to read, frowned angrily and jerked his

elbows, as if to say: "You can tell me your views later, but now

be so good as to look at the map and listen." Langeron lifted his

eyes with an expression of perplexity, turned round to

Miloradovich as if seeking an explanation, but meeting the

latter's impressive but meaningless gaze drooped his eyes sadly

and again took to twirling his snuffbox.

"A geography lesson!" he muttered as if to himself, but loud

enough to be heard.