第132章

  Rostov looked intently into Boris’s face once more and he sighed. Berg came back， and over the bottle the conversation between the three officers became livelier. The guardsmen told Rostov about their march and how they had been fêted in Russia， in Poland， and abroad. They talked of the sayings and doings of their commander， the Grand Duke， and told anecdotes of his kind-heartedness and his irascibility. Berg was silent， as he always was， when the subject did not concern him personally， but à propos of the irascibility of the Grand Duke he related with gusto how he had had some words with the Grand Duke in Galicia， when his Highness had inspected the regiments and had flown into a rage over some irregularity in their movements. With a bland smile on his face he described how the Grand Duke had ridden up to him in a violent rage， shouting “Arnauts！” （“Arnauts” was the Tsarevitch’s favourite term of abuse when he was in a passion）， and how he had asked for the captain. “Would you believe me， count， I wasn’t in the least alarmed， because I knew I was right. Without boasting， you know， count， I may say I know all the regimental drill-book by heart， and the standing orders， too， I know as I know ‘Our Father that art in Heaven.’ And so that’s how it is， count， there’s never the slightest detail neglected in my company. So my conscience was at ease. I came forward.” （Berg stood up and mimicked how he had come forward with his hand to the beak of his cap. It would certainly have been difficult to imagine more respectfulness and more self-complacency in a face.） “Well， he scolded， and scolded， and rated at me， and shouted his ‘Arnauts，’ and damns， and ‘to Siberia，’ ” said Berg， with a subtle smile. “I knew I was right， and so I didn’t speak； how could I， count？ ‘Why are you dumb？’ he shouted. Still I held my tongue， and what do you think， count？ Next day there was nothing about it in the orders of the day； that’s what comes of keeping one’s head. Yes， indeed， count，” said Berg， pulling at his pipe and letting off rings of smoke.
  (本章完)