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Cornet, be so good as to return to your post, said the general, and he motioned me imperiously to the door. I bowed and went out. But seeing that in reality I had no post anywhere, I remained at no great distance from the general's house. Two minutes later Girshel made his appearance, conducted by Siliavka and three soldiers.
Siliavka went quickly up to him and laid his heavy paw on his shoulder. Girshel seemed to shrink into himself. He shook like a leaf and uttered a feeble cry, like a hare's. Siliavka addressed him threateningly, and seized him by the collar. I could not hear their conversation, but from the despairing gestures of the Jew, and his supplicating appearance, I began to guess what it was.
And you... he motioned the soldiers to the Jew... 'quickly. Siliavka went up to the Jew. 'Of course. Certainly. The unhappy girl was scarcely conscious. Girshel was muttering something to her in Yiddish.... The soldiers with difficulty freed Sara from her father's arms, and carefully carried her twenty steps away.
'That is not probable, however. You were how is it said in Russian? taken on the fact, that is, in the very facts! 'Hear me, your Excellency; I am not guilty. 'You drew the plan? you are a spy of the enemy? 'It wasn't me! Girshel shrieked suddenly; 'not I, your Excellency! The general looked at Siliavka. 'Why, he's raving, your Excellency.
The Jew twice flung himself at the sergeant's feet, put his hand in his pocket, pulled out a torn check handkerchief, untied a knot, and took out gold coins.... Siliavka took his offering with great dignity, but did not leave off dragging the Jew by the collar. Girshel made a sudden bound and rushed away; the sergeant sped after him in pursuit.
The Jew ran exceedingly well; his legs, clad in blue stockings, flashed by, really very rapidly; but Siliavka after a short run caught the crouching Jew, made him stand up, and carried him in his arms straight to the camp. I got up and went to meet him. 'Ah! your honour! bawled Siliavka, 'it's a spy I'm bringing you a spy!... The sturdy Little-Russian was streaming with perspiration.
'His Excellency will decide about that, said Siliavka. 'Come along. 'Your honour! the Jew shrieked after me 'tell him! have mercy! His shriek tortured me; I hastened my pace. Our general was a man of German extraction, honest and good-hearted, but strict in his adherence to military discipline.
I set spurs to my horse and galloped up. In the yard of the little house an ugly and tattered Jewess was trying to tear out of the hands of my long sergeant, Siliavka, three hens and a duck. He was holding his booty above his head, laughing; the hens clucked and the duck quacked.... Two other cuirassiers were loading their horses with hay, straw, and sacks of flour.
I had at first meant to give Girshel a good fright, and to tell Siliavka to hold his tongue, but now the affair had become public, and could not escape 'the cognisance of the authorities. 'Take him to the general, I said to the sergeant. 'Your honour, your honour! the Jew shrieked in a voice of despair. 'I am not guilty... not guilty.... Tell him to let me go, tell him...
At last, the Jew squatted down on the grass, took off his slipper, and stuffed the paper in it; but he had not time to regain his legs, when suddenly, ten steps from him, there appeared from behind the slope of an earthwork the whiskered countenance of the sergeant Siliavka, and gradually the whole of his long clumsy figure rose up from the ground. The Jew stood with his back to him.
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