Still smiling, the French officer spread out his hands beforeGerasim's nose, intimating that he did not understand him either,and moved, limping, to the door at which Pierre was standing. Pierrewished to go away and conceal himself, but at that moment he saw MakarAlexeevich appearing at the open kitchen door with the pistol in hishand. With a madman's cunning, Makar Alexeevich eyed the Frenchman,raised his pistol, and took aim.

　　"Board them!" yelled the tipsy man, trying to press the trigger.Hearing the yell the officer turned round, and at the same momentPierre threw himself on the drunkard. Just when Pierre snatched at andstruck up the pistol Makar Alexeevich at last got his fingers on thetrigger, there was a deafening report, and all were enveloped in acloud of smoke. The Frenchman turned pale and rushed to the door.

　　Forgetting his intention of concealing his knowledge of French,Pierre, snatching away the pistol and throwing it down, ran up tothe officer and addressed him in French.

　　"You are not wounded?" he asked.

　　"I think not," answered the Frenchman, feeling himself over. "ButI have had a lucky escape this time," he added, pointing to thedamaged plaster of the wall. "Who is that man?" said he, lookingsternly at Pierre.

　　"Oh, I am really in despair at what has occurred," said Pierrerapidly, quite forgetting the part he had intended to play. "He isan unfortunate madman who did not know what he was doing."

　　The officer went up to Makar Alexeevich and took him by the collar.

　　Makar Alexeevich was standing with parted lips, swaying, as if aboutto fall asleep, as he leaned against the wall.

　　"Brigand! You shall pay for this," said the Frenchman, letting go ofhim. "We French are merciful after victory, but we do not pardontraitors," he added, with a look of gloomy dignity and a fineenergetic gesture.

　　Pierre continued, in French, to persuade the officer not to holdthat drunken imbecile to account. The Frenchman listened in silencewith the same gloomy expression, but suddenly turned to Pierre witha smile. For a few seconds he looked at him in silence. His handsomeface assumed a melodramatically gentle expression and he held outhis hand.