Pierre, havingdecidedthatuntilhehadcarriedouthisdesignhewoulddiscloseneitherhisidentitynorhisknowledgeofFrench, stoodatthehalf-opendoorofthecorridor, —anirresistiblecuriositykepthimthere.
—atall, soldierly, handsomeman—theotherevidentlyaprivateoranorderly, sunburned, short, andthin, , , havingapparentlydecidedthattheseweregoodquarters, turnedroundtothesoldiersstandingattheentrance, , theofficer, liftinghiselbowwithasmartgesture, strokedhismustacheandlightlytouchedhishat.
"Bonjour, lacompagnie!" [1] saidhegaily, smilingandlookingabouthim.
Noonegaveanyreply.
"Vouseteslebourgeois?" [2] theofficeraskedGerasim.
Gerasimgazedattheofficerwithanalarmedandinquiringlook.
"Quartier, quartier, logement!" saidtheofficer, lookingdownatthelittlemanwithacondescendingandgood-naturedsmile."! Voyons! Nenousfachonspas, monvieux!" [3] addedhe, clappingthescaredandsilentGerasimontheshoulder."Well, doesnoonespeakFrenchinthisestablishment?" heaskedagaininFrench, lookingaroundandmeetingPierre'.
AgaintheofficerturnedtoGerasimandaskedhimtoshowhimtheroomsinthehouse.
"Master, nothere—don'tunderstand...me, you..." saidGerasim, tryingtorenderhiswordsmorecomprehensiblebycontortingthem.
Stillsmiling, theFrenchofficerspreadouthishandsbeforeGerasim'snose, intimatingthathedidnotunderstandhimeither, andmoved, limping, , 'scunning, MakarAlexeevicheyedtheFrenchman, raisedhispistol, andtookaim.
"Boardthem!" yelledthetipsyman, , , therewasadeafeningreport, .
