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"Gentlemen, I'll do anything. No one shall hear a word from me,"

said Rostov in an imploring voice, "but I can't apologize, by God

I can't, do what you will! How can I go and apologize like a

little boy asking forgiveness?"

Denisov began to laugh.

"It'll be worse for you. Bogdanich is vindictive and you'll pay

for your obstinacy," said Kirsten.

"No, on my word it's not obstinacy! I can't describe the feeling.

I can't..."

"Well, it's as you like," said the staff captain. "And what has

become of that scoundrel?" he asked Denisov.

"He has weported himself sick, he's to be stwuck off the list

tomowwow," muttered Denisov.

"It is an illness, there's no other way of explaining it," said

the staff captain.

"Illness or not, he'd better not cwoss my path. I'd kill him!"

shouted Denisov in a bloodthirsty tone.

Just then Zherkov entered the room.

"What brings you here?" cried the officers turning to the

newcomer.

"We're to go into action, gentlemen! Mack has surrendered with

his whole army."

"It's not true!"