“You did not see anything of this sort in Petersburg, I fancy; but these surprises often take place here,” said the battery commander.
“Look out, Vlang, and see where it burst.”
Vlang looked, and reported that it had burst on the square, and then there was nothing more said about the bomb.
Just before the end of the dinner, an old man, the clerk of the battery, entered the room, with three sealed envelopes, and handed them to the commander.
“This is very important; a messenger has this moment brought these from the chief of the artillery.”
All the officers gazed, with impatient curiosity, at the commander's practised fingers as they broke the seal of the envelope and drew forth the very important paper. “What can it be?” each one asked himself.
It might be that they were to march out of Sevastopol for a rest, it might be an order for the whole battery to betake themselves to the bastions.
“Again!” said the commander, flinging the paper angrily on the table.
“What's it about, Apollon Sergiéitch?” inquired the eldest officer.