Chapter 16

           

           Itwasawarm,dark,autumnnight.Ithadbeenrainingforfourdays.Havingchangedhorsestwiceandgallopedtwentymilesinanhourandahalfoverasticky,muddyroad,BolkhovítinovreachedLitashëvkaafteroneo’clockatnight.Dismountingatacottageonwhosewattlefencehungasignboard,GENERALSTAFF,andthrowingdownhisreins,heenteredadarkpassage.

           “Thegeneralonduty,quick!It’sveryimportant!”saidhetosomeonewhohadrisenandwassniffinginthedarkpassage.

           “Hehasbeenveryunwellsincetheeveningandthisisthethirdnighthehasnotslept,”saidtheorderlypleadinglyinawhisper.“Youshouldwakethecaptainfirst.”

           “Butthisisveryimportant,fromGeneralDokhtúrov,”saidBolkhovítinov,enteringtheopendoorwhichhehadfoundbyfeelinginthedark.

           Theorderlyhadgoneinbeforehimandbeganwakingsomebody.

           “Yourhonor,yourhonor!Acourier.”

           “What?What’sthat?Fromwhom?”cameasleepyvoice.

           “FromDokhtúrovandfromAlexéyPetróvich.NapoleonisatFormínsk,”saidBolkhovítinov,unabletoseeinthedarkwhowasspeakingbutguessingbythevoicethatitwasnotKonovnítsyn.

           Themanwhohadwakenedyawnedandstretchedhimself.

           “Idon’tlikewakinghim,”hesaid,fumblingforsomething.“Heisveryill.Perhapsthisisonlyarumor.”

           “Hereisthedispatch,”saidBolkhovítinov.“Myordersaretogiveitatoncetothegeneralonduty.”

           “Waitamoment,I’lllightacandle.Youdamnedrascal,wheredoyoualwayshideit?”saidthevoiceofthemanwhowasstretchinghimself,totheorderly.

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