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He might... not only might but should, have gone up to the

sovereign. It was a unique chance to show his devotion to the

Emperor and he had not made use of it.... "What have I done?"

thought he. And he turned round and galloped back to the place

where he had seen the Emperor, but there was no one beyond the

ditch now. Only some carts and carriages were passing by. From

one of the drivers he learned that Kutuzov's staff were not far

off, in the village the vehicles were going to. Rostov followed

them. In front of him walked Kutuzov's groom leading horses in

horsecloths. Then came a cart, and behind that walked an old,

bandy-legged domestic serf in a peaked cap and sheepskin coat.

"Tit! I say, Tit!" said the groom.

"What?" answered the old man absent-mindedly.

"Go, Tit! Thresh a bit!"

"Oh, you fool!" said the old man, spitting angrily. Some time

passed in silence, and then the same joke was repeated.