Page:Leskov - The Sentry and other Stories.djvu/221

 Rh "Very well," I answered," take the matter up in a military way."

And he did so. The first order he gave was: that the prayers were not to be read but sung in chorus, so as to avoid all mischievous tricks, and that the singing should be led by him. When he entered, all were silent and remained without uttering a sound until he gave the order, "prayer!" and began to sing. But all this he did in a manner that was almost too military. He would give the order, "pray-er!" Then the seminarists began singing: "Our eyes, O Lord, are turned to Thee." In the middle of a word he would shout "Stop," and call one of them to him.

"Frolov, come here!"

He approached.

"You are Bagréev?"

"No, sir, I am Frolov."

"Ah, ah! so you are Frolov? Why did I think that you were Bagréev?"

Then there was again laughter, and again complaints were made to me. No, I saw—this military system did not answer, and at last after much difficulty I found a civilian who, though not so tyrannical, acted with more wisdom: before the scholars he pretended to be the weakest of good-natured fellows, but always calumniated me, and related everywhere the horrors of my