"No, gentlemen, no...youmustn'tthink...'rewrongtothinkthatofme...I...forme...forthehonoroftheregimentI'd...Ahwell, I'llshowthatinaction, andformethehonoroftheflag...Well, nevermind, it'strueI'mtoblame, , whatelsedoyouwant?..."
"Come, that'sright, Count!" criedthestaffcaptain, turningroundandclappingRostovontheshoulderwithhisbighand.
"Itellyou," shoutedDenisov, "he'safinefellow."
"That'sbetter, Count," saidthestaffcaptain, beginningtoaddressRostovbyhistitle, asifinrecognitionofhisconfession."Goandapologize, , go!"
"Gentlemen, I'," saidRostovinanimploringvoice, "butIcan'tapologize, byGodIcan't, dowhatyouwill! HowcanIgoandapologizelikealittleboyaskingforgiveness?"
Denisovbegantolaugh.
"It''llpayforyourobstinacy," saidKirsten.
"No, onmywordit'snotobstinacy! Ican''t..."
"Well, it'sasyoulike," saidthestaffcaptain."Andwhathasbecomeofthatscoundrel?" heaskedDenisov.
"Hehasweportedhimselfsick, he'stobestwuckoffthelisttomowwow," mutteredDenisov.
"Itisanillness, there'snootherwayofexplainingit," saidthestaffcaptain.
"Illnessornot, he'dbetternotcwossmypath.I'dkillhim!" shoutedDenisovinabloodthirstytone.
JustthenZherkoventeredtheroom.
"Whatbringsyouhere?" criedtheofficersturningtothenewcomer.
"We'retogointoaction, gentlemen! Mackhassurrenderedwithhiswholearmy."
"It'snottrue!"
"I'veseenhimmyself!"
"What? SawtherealMack? Withhandsandfeet?"
"Intoaction! Intoaction! Bringhimabottleforsuchnews! Buthowdidyoucomehere?"
"I'vebeensentbacktotheregimentallonaccountofthatdevil, 'sarrival...What'sthematter, Rostov? Youlookasifyou'djustcomeoutofahotbath."
"Oh, mydearfellow, we'reinsuchastewheretheselasttwodays."
.
"We'regoingintoaction, gentlemen!"
"Well, thankGod! We'vebeensittingheretoolong!"
