12. Conversation and Music

“Come here, little witch!” exclaimed a large officer.

And showing a kopeck to Maroussia: “It is for your father, come and get it.”

The little girl did not move, she was in a dream called forth by the song of her friend: How good the song was which he sang, and who would have expected it? How well he sang!

“Will you come, little savage?” another called to her. “Will you come, little duck?” “You must thank these brave gentlemen, my daughter,” said the old man, “go and give them your hand.”

Maroussia trembled; but he had ordered, she obeyed. How her little hand shook in receiving these offerings! This money of the enemy burned her fingers.

“This little girl isn’t ugly,” said one.

“She has a pair of eyes that you might take for a pair of stars,” said another.

“When you are grown up, little girl, I will come to marry you.”

“It is agreed, is it not?” said a third.

But the old man’s théorbe was heard again, and with a new accent. They forgot the little girl and listened to it.

This is in substance what the song of the old singer said this time: “Wild bird of the steppe, don’t make your nest near the waters of the Desna, for the river is rising every day and its implacable waters will swallow up your little ones.” While listening to the account of the death of these poor birds, and the heartrending complaints of the father and mother powerless to save them, several grave, bronzed soldiers began to sob.

The day before, they had plundered everything, massacred everybody without hesitation. They had been the flood, but did not suspect it.

A young officer, handsome as a picture, self-satisfied, quick, with decided manners, had come out of his tent at the sound of the first note.

His face softened gradually, his self-consciousness disappeared, he had let his pipe go out, and he became very thoughtful. The old man’s song recalled to him that he had been created in the image of God, before he had made himself in the image of his general. He had been about to forget it.

After this second song they asked for another. The old singer allowed himself to be urged a little.