“What crowds! Just look at the crowds!⁠ ⁠… They’ve loaded goods even on the cannon! Look there, those are furs!” they exclaimed. “Just see what the blackguards have looted.⁠ ⁠… There! See what that one has behind in the cart.⁠ ⁠… Why, those are settings taken from some icons, by heaven!⁠ ⁠… Oh, the rascals!⁠ ⁠… See how that fellow has loaded himself up, he can hardly walk! Good lord, they’ve even grabbed those chaises!⁠ ⁠… See that fellow there sitting on the trunks.⁠ ⁠… Heavens! They’re fighting.”

“That’s right, hit him on the snout⁠—on his snout! Like this, we shan’t get away before evening. Look, look there.⁠ ⁠… Why, that must be Napoleon’s own. See what horses! And the monograms with a crown! It’s like a portable house.⁠ ⁠… That fellow’s dropped his sack and doesn’t see it. Fighting again⁠ ⁠… A woman with a baby, and not bad-looking either! Yes, I dare say, that’s the way they’ll let you pass.⁠ ⁠… Just look, there’s no end to it. Russian wenches, by heaven, so they are! In carriages⁠—see how comfortably they’ve settled themselves!”