Page 437 - war-and-peace

much of in Russia, Poland, and abroad. They spoke of the
sayings and doings of their commander, the Grand Duke,
and told stories of his kindness and irascibility. Berg, as
usual, kept silent when the subject did not relate to him-
self, but in connection with the stories of the Grand Duke’s
quick temper he related with gusto how in Galicia he had
managed to deal with the Grand Duke when the latter made
a tour of the regiments and was annoyed at the irregular-
ity of a movement. With a pleasant smile Berg related how
the Grand Duke had ridden up to him in a violent passion,
shouting: ‘Arnauts!’ (“Arnauts’ was the Tsarevich’s favorite
expression when he was in a rage) and called for the com-
pany commander.
‘Would you believe it, Count, I was not at all alarmed,
because I knew I was right. Without boasting, you know,
I may say that I know the Army Orders by heart and know
the Regulations as well as I do the Lord’s Prayer. So, Count,
there never is any negligence in my company, and so my con-
science was at ease. I came forward....’ (Berg stood up and
showed how he presented himself, with his hand to his cap,
and really it would have been difficult for a face to express
greater respect and self-complacency than his did.) ‘Well,
he stormed at me, as the saying is, stormed and stormed
and stormed! It was not a matter of life but rather of death,
as the saying is. ‘Albanians!’ and ‘devils!’ and ‘To Siberia!’’
said Berg with a sagacious smile. ‘I knew I was in the right
so I kept silent; was not that best, Count?... ‘Hey, are you
dumb?’ he shouted. Still I remained silent. And what do
you think, Count? The next day it was not even mentioned

437