战争与和平(上)-第133章

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rescued。　Rostov　took　the　jest　as　an　insult；　and　firing　up；　said　such　unpleasant　things　to　the　officer；　that　Denisov　had　much　ado　to　prevent　a　duel。　When　the　officer　had　gone　away；　and　Denisov；　who　knew　nothing　himself　of　Rostov’s　relations　with　the　Polish　woman；　began　to　scold　him　for　his　hastiness；　Rostov　said　to　him：　“Say　what　you　like。…　She　was　like　a　sister　to　me；　and　I　can’t　tell　you　how　sick　it　made　me　…　because　…　well；　just　because　…”
Denisov　slapped　him　on　the　shoulder；　and　fell　to　walking　rapidly　up　and　down　the　room　not　looking　at　Rostov；　which　was　what　he　always　did　at　moments　of　emotional　excitement。　“What　a　jolly　lot　of　fools　all　you　Rostovs　are；”　he　said；　and　Rostov　saw　tears　in　Denisov’s　eyes。


Chapter　16
IN　APRIL　the　army　was　excited　by　the　news　of　the　arrival　of　the　Tsar。　Rostov　did　not　succeed　in　being　present　at　the　review　the　Tsar　held　at　Bartenstein；　the　Pavlograd　hussars　were　at　the　advance　posts；　a　long　way　in　front　of　Bartenstein。
They　were　bivouacking。　Denisov　and　Rostov　were　living　in　a　mud　hut　dug　out　by　the　soldiers　for　them；　and　roofed　with　branches　and　turf。　The　hut　was　made　after　a　pattern　that　had　just　come　into　fashion　among　the　soldiers。　A　trench　was　dug　out　an　ell　and　a　half　in　breadth；　two　ells　in　depth；　and　three　and　a　half　in　length。　At　one　end　of　the　trench　steps　were　scooped　out；　and　these　formed　the　entrance　and　the　approach。　The　trench　itself　was　the　room；　and　in　it　the　lucky　officers；　such　as　the　captain；　had　a　plank　lying　on　piles　at　the　further　end　away　from　the　steps—this　was　the　table。　On　both　sides　of　the　trench　the　earth　had　been　thrown　up；　and　these　mounds　made　the　two　beds　and　the　sofa。　The　roof　was　so　constructed　that　one　could　stand　upright　in　the　middle；　and　on　the　beds　it　was　possible　to　sit；　if　one　moved　up　close　to　the　table。　Denisov；　who　always　fared　luxuriously；　because　the　soldiers　of　his　squadron　were　fond　of　him；　had　a　board　nailed　up　in　the　front　part　of　the　roof；　and　in　the　board　a　broken　but　cemented　window　pane。　When　it　was　very　cold；　they　used　to　bring　red…hot　embers　from　the　soldiers’　camp…fires　in　a　bent　sheet　of　iron　and　set　them　near　the　steps　（in　the　drawing…room；　as　Denisov　called　that　part　of　the　hut）；　and　this　made　it　so　warm　that　the　officers；　of　whom　there　were　always　a　number　with　Denisov　and　Rostov；　used　to　sit　with　nothing　but　their　shirts　on。
In　April　Rostov　had　been　on　duty。　At　eight　o’clock　in　the　morning；　on　coming　home　after　a　sleepless　night；　he　sent　for　hot　embers；　changed　his　rain…soaked　underclothes；　said　his　prayers；　drank　some　tea；　warmed　himself；　put　things　tidy　in　his　corner　and　on　the　table；　and　with　a　wind…beaten；　heated　face；　and　with　only　his　shirt　on；　lay　down　on　his　back；　folding　his　hands　behind　his　head。　He　was　engaged　in　agreeable　meditations；　reflecting　that　he　would　be　sure　to　be　promoted　for　the　last　reconnoitring　expedition；　and　was　expecting　Denisov　to　come　in。　He　wanted　to　talk　to　him。
Behind　the　hut　he　heard　the　resounding　roar　of　Denisov；　unmistakably　irritated。　Rostov　moved　to　the　window　to　see　to　whom　he　was　speaking；　and　saw　the　quartermaster；　Toptcheenko。
“I　told　you　not　to　let　them　stuff　themselves　with　that　root—Mary’s　what　do　you　call　it！”　Denisov　was　roaring。　“Why；　I　saw　it　myself；　Lazartchuk　was　pulling　it　up　in　the　field。”
“I　did　give　the　order；　your　honour；　they　won’t　heed　it；”　answered　the　quartermaster。
Rostov　lay　down　again　on　his　bed；　and　thought　contentedly：　“Let　him　see　to　things　now；　he’s　fussing　about　while　I　have　done　my　work；　and　I　am　lying　here—it’s　splendid！”　Through　the　wall　he　could　hear　now　some　one　besides　the　quartermaster　speaking。　Lavrushka；　Denisov’s　smart　rogue　of　a　valet；　was　telling　him　something　about　some　transports；　biscuits　and　oxen；　he　had　seen；　while　on　the　look…out　for　provisions。
Again　he　heard　Denisov’s　shout　from　further　away；　and　the　words：　“Saddle！　second　platoon！”
“Where　are　they　off　to？”　thought　Rostov。
Five　minutes　later　Denisov　came　into　the　hut；　clambered　with　muddy　feet　on　the　bed；　angrily　lighted　his　pipe；　scattered　about　all　his　belongings；　put　on　his　riding…whip　and　sword；　and　was　going　out　of　the　hut。　In　reply　to　Rostov’s　question；　where　was　he　going？　he　answered　angrily　and　vaguely　that　he　had　business　to　see　after。
“God　be　my　judge；　then；　and　our　gracious　Emperor！”　said　Denisov；　as　he　went　out。　Outside　the　hut　Rostov　heard　the　hoofs　of　several　horses　splashing　through　the　mud。　Rostov　did　not　even　trouble　himself　to　find　out　where　Denisov　was　going。　Getting　warm　through　in　his　corner；　he　fell　asleep；　and　it　was　only　towards　evening　that　he　came　out　of　the　hut。　Denisov　had　not　yet　come　back。　The　weather　had　cleared；　near　the　next　hut　two　officers　were　playing　quoits；　with　a　laugh　sticking　big　radishes　for　pegs　in　the　soft　muddy　earth。　Rostov　joined　them。　In　the　middle　of　a　game　the　officers　saw　transport　waggons　driving　up　to　them；　some　fifteen　hussars　on　lean　horses　rode　behind　them。　The　transport　waggons；　escorted　by　the　hussars；　drove　up　to　the　picket　ropes；　and　a　crowd　of　hussars　surrounded　them。
“There；　look！　Denisov　was　always　fretting　about　it；”　said　Rostov；　“here　are　provisions　come　at　last。”
“High　time；　too！”　said　the　officers。　“Won’t　the　soldiers　be　pleased！”
A　little　behind　the　hussars　rode　Denisov；　accompanied　by　two　infantry　officers；　with　whom　he　was　in　conversation。　Rostov　went　to　meet　them。
“I　warn　you；　captain；”　one　of　the　officers　was　saying；　a　thin；　little　man；　visibly　wrathful。
“Well；　I　have　told　you；　I　won’t　give　them　up；”　answered　Denisov。
“You　will　have　to　answer　for　it；　captain。　It’s　mutiny—carrying　off　transports　from　your　own　army！　Our　men　have　had　no　food　for　two　days。”
“Mine　have　had　nothing　for　a　fortnight；”　answered　Denisov。
“It’s　brigandage；　you　will　answer　for　it；　sir！”　repeated　the　infantry　officer；　raising　his　voice。
“But　why　do　you　keep　pestering　me？　Eh？”　roared　Denisov；　suddenly　getting　furious。　“It’s　I　will　have　to　answer　for　it；　and　not　you；　and　you’d　better　not　cry　out　till　you’re　hurt。　Be　off！”　he　shouted　at　the　officers。
“All　right！”　the　little　officer　responded；　not　the　least　intimidated；　and　not　moving　away。　“It’s　robbery；　so　I　tell　you。…”
“Go　to　the　devil；　quick　march；　while　you’re　safe　and　sound。”　And　Denisov　moved　towards　the　officer。
“All　right；　all　right；”　said　the　officer　threateningly；　and　he　turned　his　horse　and　trotted　away；　swaying　in　the　saddle。
“A　dog　astride　a　fence；　a　dog　astride　a　fence　to　the　life！”　Denisov　called　after　him—the　bitterest　insult　a　cavalry　man　can　pay　an　infantry　man　on　horseback；　and　riding　up　to　Rostov　he　broke　into　a　guffaw。
“Carried　off　the　transports；　carried　them　off　from　the　infantry　by　force！”　he　said。　“Why；　am　I　to　let　the　men　die　of　hunger？”
The　stores　carried　off　by　the　hussars　had　been　intended　for　an　infantry　regiment；　but　learning　from　Lavrushka　that　the　transport　was　unescorted；　Denisov　and　his　hussars　had　carried　off　the　stores　by　force。　Biscuits　were　dealt　out　freely　to　the　soldiers；　they　even　shared　them　with　the　other　squadrons。
Next　day　the　colonel　sent　for　Denisov；　and　putting　his　fingers　held　apart　before　his　eyes；　he　said　to　him：　“I　look　at　the　matter　like　this；　see；　I　know　nothing；　and　will　take　no　steps；　but　I　advise　you　to　ride　over　to　the　staff；　and　there；　in　the　commissariat　department；　to　smooth　the　thing　over；　and　if　possible　give　a　receipt　for　so　much　stores。　If　not；　and　a　claim　is　entered　for　the　infantry　regiments；　there　will　be　a　fuss；　and　it　may　end　unpleasantly。”
Denisov　went　straight　from　the　colonel　to　the　staff　with　a　sincere　desire　to　follow　his　advice。
In　the　evening　he　came　back　to　his　hut　in　a　condition　such　as　Rostov　had　never　seen　his　friend　in　before。　Denisov　could　not　speak；　and　was　gasping　for　breath。　When　Rostov　asked　him　what　was　wrong　with　him；　he　could　only　in　a　faint　and　husky　voice　utter　incoherent　oaths　and　threats。
Alarmed　at　Denisov’s　condition；　Rostov　suggested　he　should　undress；　drink　some　water；　and　sent　for　the　doctor。
“Me　to　be　court…martialled　for　brigandage—oh！　some　more　water！—Let　them　court…martial　me；　I　will；　I　always　will；　beat　blackguards；　and　I’ll　tell　the　Emperor。—Ice；”　he　kept　saying。
The　regimental