Война и мир

Chapter 8

           

           “Colonel,”hesaid,addressingRostóv’senemywithanairofgloomygravityandglancingroundathiscomrades,“thereisanordertostopandfirethebridge.”

           “Anordertowho?”askedthecolonelmorosely.

           “Idon’tmyselfknow‘towho,’”repliedthecornetinaserioustone,“buttheprincetoldmeto‘goandtellthecolonelthatthehussarsmustreturnquicklyandfirethebridge.’”

           Zherkóvwasfollowedbyanofficerofthesuitewhorodeuptothecolonelofhussarswiththesameorder.AfterhimthestoutNesvítskicamegallopinguponaCossackhorsethatcouldscarcelycarryhisweight.

           “How’sthis,Colonel?”heshoutedasheapproached.“Itoldyoutofirethebridge,andnowsomeonehasgoneandblundered;theyareallbesidethemselvesoverthereandonecan’tmakeanythingout.”

           ThecoloneldeliberatelystoppedtheregimentandturnedtoNesvítski.

           “Youspoketomeofinflammablematerial,”saidhe,“butyousaidnothingaboutfiringit.”

           “But,mydearsir,”saidNesvítskiashedrewup,takingoffhiscapandsmoothinghishairwetwithperspirationwithhisplumphand,“wasn’tItellingyoutofirethebridge,wheninflammablematerialhadbeenputinposition?”

           “Iamnotyour‘dearsir,’Mr.StaffOfficer,andyoudidnottellmetoburnthebridge!Iknowtheservice,anditismyhabitordersstrictlytoobey.Yousaidthebridgewouldbeburned,butwhowouldburnit,Icouldnotknowbytheholyspirit!”

           “Ah,that’salwaystheway!”saidNesvítskiwithawaveofthehand.

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