“From Uistsie? So you saw a terrible disgrace. We know already what has happened.”
“It is just because such a thing happened that I have come, hoping that nothing like it will happen in this place.”
“You may be certain of that; Radzivill is not Opalinski.”
“We said the same at Upita yesterday.”
“I greet you, gentlemen, most joyfully in my own name and that of the prince. The prince will be glad to see such knights, for he needs them much. Come with me to the barracks, where my quarters are. You will need, of course, to change clothes and eat breakfast. I will go with you, for I have finished the drill.”
Pan Kharlamp hurried again to the line, and commanded in a quick, clear voice: “To the left! face—to the rear!”
Hoofs sounded on the pavement. The line broke into two; the halves broke again till there were four parts, which began to recede with slow step in the direction of the barracks.
“Good soldiers,” said Skshetuski, looking with skilled eye at the regular movements of the dragoons.
“Those are petty nobles and attendant boyars who serve in that arm,” answered Volodyovski.
“Oh, you could tell in a moment that they are not militia,” cried Pan Stanislav.