Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The soldiers surrounded us, and we followed Iwán Ignatiitch who brought us along in triumph, walking with a military step, with majestic gravity. We entered the Commandant's house. Iwán Ignatiitch threw the door wide open, and exclaimed, emphatically "They are taken!" Vassilissa Igorofna ran to meet us. "What does all this mean? Plotting assassination in our very fort!
I took him aside and told him about my interview with Iwán Ignatiitch. "Why any seconds?" he said to me, dryly. "We shall do very well without them." We decided to fight on the morrow behind the haystacks, at six o'clock in the morning. Seeing us talking in such a friendly manner, Iwán Ignatiitch, full of joy, nearly betrayed us.
I was frightened, and I begged Iwán Ignatiitch not to say anything to the Commandant. With great difficulty I managed to quiet him, and at last made him promise to hold his tongue, when I left him in peace. As usual I passed the evening at the Commandant's. I tried to appear lively and unconcerned in order not to awaken any suspicions, and avoid any too curious questions.
Chvabrine came to the rescue. "Iwán Ignatiitch," said he, "approves of the compact we have made." "And with whom, my little father, did you quarrel?" "Why, with Petr' Andréjïtch, to be sure, and we even got to high words." "What for?" "About a mere trifle, over a little song." "Fine thing to quarrel over a little song! How did it happen?" "Thus.
Astride on the crossbeam, sat the disfigured Bashkir who had been cross-examined on the preceding evening; he held a rope in his hand, and I saw the next moment poor Iván Kouzmitch swinging in the air. Then Iwán Ignatiitch was brought before Pugatchéf. "Swear fidelity," Pugatchéf said to him, "to the Emperor, Petr' Fédorovitch!"
Iwán Ignatiitch went off to seek the Bashkir, who was under lock and key in the Commandant's barn, and a few minutes later he was brought into the ante-room. The Commandant ordered him to be brought before him. The Bashkir crossed the sill with difficulty, owing to the wooden shackles he had on his feet. I glanced at him and involuntarily shuddered.
"You should have done that long ago," he said to me, with a face of satisfaction. "Better a hollow peace than an open quarrel." "What is that you say, Iwán Ignatiitch?" said the Commandant's wife, who was playing patience in a corner. "I did not exactly catch what you said." Iwán Ignatiitch, who saw my face darken, recollected his promise, became confused, and did not know what to say.
Word Of The Day