It was so unobtrusive that I
myself had not, during these last weeks, noticed it. To-day I saw
Nikolai glance many times at Trenchard. His eyes were anxious and
inquiring; he looked at him rather as a dog may look at his master,
although there was here no dumb submission, nor any sentimental
weakness.... I should rather say that Nikolai looked at Trenchard as
one free man may look at another. "What is the matter with you?" his
eyes seemed to say. "But I know ... a terrible thing has happened to
you. At any rate I am here to be of any use that I can."
"Nikolai," I said, "why is there no one here?"
"_Ne mogoo znat_, your Honour."
"Well, the first soldier you see you must ask."
"_Tak totchno._"
"Who said you were to drive us?"
"Vladimir Stepanovitch, your Honour."
"Are you going to remain with us?"
"_Tak totchno._"
His eyes rested for a moment on Trenchard, then he turned to his
horses.
We were entering the town now and it did, indeed, present to us a
scene of desperate desolation.
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