Nesvitski could hardly keep from laughter provoked by a swarthy hussar officer who walked beside him.

This hussar, with a grave face and without a smile or a change in the expression of his fixed eyes, watched the regimental commander's back and mimicked his every movement.

Each time the commander started and bent forward, the hussar started and bent forward in exactly the same manner.

Nesvitski laughed and nudged the others to make them look at the wag.

Kutuzov walked slowly and languidly past thousands of eyes which were starting from their sockets to watch their chief.