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Chapter 26

           Likeamonkeywhichputsitspawintothenarrowneckofajug,andhavingseizedahandfulofnutswillnotopenitsfistforfearoflosingwhatitholds,andthereforeperishes,theFrenchwhentheyleftMoscowhadinevitablytoperishbecausetheycarriedtheirlootwiththem,yettoabandonwhattheyhadstolenwasasimpossibleforthemasitisforthemonkeytoopenitspawandletgoofitsnuts.TenminutesaftereachregimenthadenteredaMoscowdistrict,notasoldierorofficerwasleft.MeninmilitaryuniformsandHessianbootscouldbeseenthroughthewindows,laughingandwalkingthroughtherooms.Incellarsandstoreroomssimilarmenwerebusyamongtheprovisions,andintheyardsunlockingorbreakingopencoachhouseandstabledoors,lightingfiresinkitchensandkneadingandbakingbreadwithrolled-upsleeves,andcooking;orfrightening,amusing,orcaressingwomenandchildren.Thereweremanysuchmenbothintheshopsandhouses—buttherewasnoarmy.

           OrderafterorderwasissuedbytheFrenchcommandersthatdayforbiddingthementodisperseaboutthetown,sternlyforbiddinganyviolencetotheinhabitantsoranylooting,andannouncingarollcallforthatveryevening.Butdespiteallthesemeasuresthemen,whohadtillthenconstitutedanarmy,flowedalloverthewealthy,desertedcitywithitscomfortsandplentifulsupplies.Asahungryherdofcattlekeepswelltogetherwhencrossingabarrenfield,butgetsoutofhandandatoncedispersesuncontrollablyassoonasitreachesrichpastures,sodidthearmydispersealloverthewealthycity.

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