"Wostov! Petya!" exclaimedDenisov, havingrunthroughthedispatch."Whydidn'tyousaywhoyouwere?" andturningwithasmileheheldouthishandtothelad.
TheofficerwasPetyaRostov.
AllthewayPetyahadbeenpreparinghimselftobehavewithDenisovasbefittedagrownupmanandanofficer—, blushedwithpleasure, forgottheofficialmannerhehadbeenrehearsing, andbegantellinghimhowhehadalreadybeeninabattlenearVyazmaandhowacertainhussarhaddistinguishedhimselfthere.
"Well, Iamgladtoseeyou," Denisovinterruptedhim, andhisfaceagainassumeditsanxiousexpression.
"MichaelFeoklitych," saidhetotheesaul, "thisisagainfwomthatGerman, "—heindicatedPetya—"isservingunderhim."
AndDenisovtoldtheesaulthatthedispatchjustdeliveredwasarepetitionoftheGermangeneral'sdemandthatheshouldjoinforceswithhimforanattackonthetransport.
"Ifwedon'ttakeittomowwow, he'llsnatchitfwomunderournoses," headded.
WhileDenisovwastalkingtotheesaul, Petya—abashedbyDenisov'scoldtoneandsupposingthatitwasduetotheconditionofhistrousers—furtivelytriedtopullthemdownunderhisgreatcoatsothatnooneshouldnoticeit, whilemaintainingasmartialanairaspossible.
"Willtherebeanyorders, yourhonor?" heaskedDenisov, holdinghishandatthesaluteandresumingthegameofadjutantandgeneralforwhichhehadpreparedhimself, "orshallIremainwithyourhonor?"
"Orders?" Denisovrepeatedthoughtfully."Butcanyoustaytilltomowwow?"
"Oh, please...MayIstaywithyou?" criedPetya.
"But, justwhatdidthegenewaltellyou? Toweturnatonce?" askedDenisov.
Petyablushed.
"?" hereturned, inquiringly.
"Well, allwight," saidDenisov.
Andturningtohismenhedirectedapartytogoontothehaltingplacearrangednearthewatchman'shutintheforest, andtoldtheofficerontheKirghizhorse (whoperformedthedutiesofanadjutant) , tohavealookatthepartoftheFrenchbivouactheyweretoattacknextday.
"Well, oldfellow," saidhetothepeasantguide, "leadustoShamshevo."
Denisov, Petya, andtheesaul, accompaniedbysomeCossacksandthehussarwhohadtheprisoner, rodetotheleftacrossaravinetotheedgeoftheforest.
[1]AcaptainofCossacks.
