"Monster! Villain!" shoutedthewomanangrily, suddenlyceasingtoweep."Youhavenoheart, youdon'tfeelforyourownchild! ! You, honoredsir, areanobleman," shewenton, addressingPierrerapidlybetweenhersobs."Thefirebrokeoutalongside, andblewourway, themaidcalledout 'Fire!' ....Thisiswhatwehavebroughtaway....Theicons, andmydowrybed, ! Ooh! OLord!..." andagainshebegantosob."Mychild, mydearone! Burned, burned!"
"Butwherewassheleft?" askedPierre.
Fromtheexpressionofhisanimatedfacethewomansawthatthismanmighthelpher.
"Oh, dearsir!" shecried, seizinghimbythelegs."Mybenefactor, setmyheartatease....Aniska, go, youhorridgirl, showhimtheway!" shecriedtothemaid, angrilyopeninghermouthandstillfartherexposingherlongteeth.
"Showmetheway, showme, I...I'lldoit," gaspedPierrerapidly.
Thedirtymaidservantsteppedfrombehindthetrunk, putupherplait, sighed, andwentonhershort, , hiseyesshonewiththelightoflife, andwithswiftstepshefollowedthemaid, overtookher, , accompaniedbythemaid, wasadvancingtothespotwherethegeneralstood, buttheFrenchsoldiersstoppedhim.
"Onnepassepas!" [1] criedavoice.
"Thisway, uncle," criedthegirl."We'llpassthroughthesidestreet, bytheNikulins'!"
Pierreturnedback, , turneddownasidestreettotheleft, and, passingthreehouses, turnedintoayardontheright.
"It'shere, closeby," saidsheand, runningacrosstheyard, openedagateinawoodenfenceand, stopping, pointedouttohimasmallwoodenwingofthehouse, , anotherwasonfire, andbrightflamesissuedfromtheopeningsofthewindowsandfromundertheroof.
