Month to year. Defense of Sevastopol. 1853—1855. Eastern War. Love and death do not know barriers
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The German, with difficulty opened his eyes, but the glass bravely moved forward, not fearing the consequences.
“I appreciate it, I didn’t abandon my comrades.
And Golitsyn circled the whole room with barely seeing eyes. Tokmakov Alexey, Nikolai Leskov and Grigory Loparev lay on the couch. Repnin rode on a chair around the table, as if he was Menshikov, chasing the Swedes near Poltava. True, Zalepsky sat opposite, and also watched Nikita’s races.
The next day began with a difficult awakening, then it became easier. On horseback, accompanied by Yakim, Michel reached the officers’ apartments of the life squadron.
Zalepsky dismounted, Yakim held a horse under the bridle, cornet, now the cornet approached one of the houses, where the non-combatant, apparently a batman, was preparing a samovar.
– Listen, brother, – the young man began politely, – where is Nikolai Karlovich Tol lodging? I have to introduce myself to the squadron chief.
– Good afternoon, master, – answered the dozen well done, – this is how he lodges here. As you go, the first door is on the left.
– Thanks.
And Michelle walked hard to the house, ran up the stairs, and a little worried, knocked.
– Come in.
– I need Captain Count Tol.
– I’m listening to you, Cornet.
“I must introduce myself, your ladyship. Cornet Mikhail Dmitrievich Zalepsky, assigned to your squadron for further service.
– Glad, you cornet, glad. I expect service from my officers, and not a desire to find a warm place at court, – he began his speech in a very stern voice, – but you have excellent recommendations, and the victory in the competition of shooters was flattering to the entire regiment. Our squadron is special, even for our regiment, a half-platoon accompanies the sovereign every time as part of the retinue, therefore… You will be included in the squadron lists in August, while delving into the service. Simply, – and he shook his head, – the Grand Dukes grew up, and the three lieutenants of the squadron became adjutants. By the way, – and Nikolai Karlovich did absolutely nothing expressing his face, – Do you know that the squadron in mid-August accompanies the sovereign to Moscow along the St. Petersburg Railway?
– Aware, your ladyship!
– You are a smart young man, Mikhail Dmitrievich, and do not say too much. Commendably, this is very important with us. An order for the regiment will be issued on enrollment and it will be endorsed personally by the sovereign… All the best, and see you!
Zalepsky snapped his heels, saluted, and left the location.
– Good afternoon, – the officer greeted him, their regiment also roots, – already to us? Mr. Zalepsky?
– Good afternoon, the cornet of the Cavalier Guard regiment Mikhail Dmitrievich Zalepsky.
– Evgeny Dmitrievich Kornet Shevkunov, – the new acquaintance called himself, – did you take the shooting prize?
Michel’s interlocutor was shorter than him, with brown hair and brown eyes, also in combat uniform. Officers, unlike soldiers, do not had to be only brunettes, height was also important, but basically, the soldiers were much taller than the officers. Brunetov was waiting for the Horse Guards Regiment. Cornet Shevkunov kept growing sideburns and mustaches, but so far they were very small.
“I was surprised myself, to be honest.
– True, they say that you are a great shooter and hunter.
“It’s hard at our estate. It’s time, sorry, to your seventh squadron.
– See you, Dmitry Mikhailovich! – the cordial Shevkunov said goodbye
– see you soon! There will be many more shows in the summer!
Zalepsky came out, just jumped into the saddle, and stepped, and then trotted into the location.
Horse racing
Golitsyn walked around many thousands of stallions. like a bear around a tub of honey, and could not come off and choose one of three.
– Michelle, advise, there is no strength…
– And you, Serge, harness them three,” Repnin joked.
– You just don’t have a heart… Oh, how good bay Polyphemus is! The color is very dark, legs, chest…
– You forgot about the eyes, and about the lips too… Nikita did not let up.
– As for this, the theater will come to Tsarskoye Selo… I will walk alone behind the scenes, visit enchanting odalisks. You brothers, this is not allowed, you have ladies of your heart…
– Prince, you distracted from horses, – Zalepsky reminded him.
– You are Michelle, devoid of romanticism.. Okay, let’s make it easier. Pull straws. – said Golitsyn, – here are three straws, I cut them off – and one is the longest, the other is shorter, the third is very short. The longest is Polyphemus, a little shorter is Rentgold, the shortest is Fire. Let Yakim hold straws, I trust him.
– I agree,” Nikita nodded.
– Agreed, agreed Michel.
– Yakim, come!
Denshik put polished boots on the floor, adjusted his hair, smoothing it with a comb, and slowly stood in front of the barn.
– Yes, master?
– You will be the hand of fate today. Turn away from us, and so that straws stick out of your palm. Got that? – said, smiling, Zalepsky.
– Sure as eggs are eggs! nodded the denshik, and turned away.
Golitsyn received Polyphemus, Repnin-Rentgold, and Michel had to burn himself on the Fire.
***
The distance was small, but, and I must say, there were many spectators. Guards officers, on beautiful horses attracted many to this action, and especially the ladies, who were the majority, reacted very vividly to the competitors.
So, the signal began! Not that these races would be like Pelops’ competitions for Hippodamia, but he simply squeezed everyone’s excitement in his arms! Previously, Michelle did not try to send the horse to the gallop – now all the horses went so allure! Coney are also gambling creatures, and some have tried to bite someone else’s sedan or his horse!
The wind beat in the face, blowing a hot face, the left hand held the reins, the rider in the saddle was like a cast. He was able to bypass many, but saw that Golitsyn and Repnin were ahead. Go and go! The breed horse beat off the beat with hooves on the ground covered with low grass. He saw that several people fell, colliding on a turn and holding the Fire, bypassing the victims.
And again, go! He was just overwhelmed by the tension of horse racing! His stallion seemed to be on fire, and was a real flame. One thing is bad, the sun now shone in the eyes. There was very little left to the finish line, and now, an obstacle hidden by mowed bushes.
Only then, falling to the ground, he realized that the beam of light had confused him, and at the command of the rider, Fire jumped earlier. Zalepsky ran aside so as not to fall under the hooves of other riders, caught his stallion snoring plaintively, looked at his feet, and sat down again in the saddle. You cannot immediately send a horse to a quarry, and he is far behind.
But here, and the horse racing final. He was met by smiling friends – Serge Golitsyn and Nikita Repnin Michel dismounted, and the cavalry guards hugged him in turn. Nikita examined his uniform, saw traces of greenery on his knees and elbows.
– Nothing, until… Ugh you.,. Everything will be fine, hands and feet are intact. The sun?
– Exactly. Wrong in distance.
– Here the habit is needed, – Golitsyn noted, inspecting the Fire, – the horse is intact, everything is fine. Repnin, let’s go, now they will reward.
Now Zalepsky was a spectator. Horses were held by the reins Yakim, Prokhor and the batman Golitsyn, Fedor. Not all races ended well, two were carried away by orderlies to doctors’ tents.
Happy and not so participants surrounded relatives and friends. The young ladies only oohed, listening to stories about the competition. Michel brushed with a denter, tried to clean his uniform, and bent down, seeing only his boots.
– Michelle, what have you lost? ‘the gentle voice sounded.
“Not your handkerchief,” Michelle answered Olga who came up.
Dress – Amazon, cream color, went to her unusually, but she was not alone. Nearby stood Ksenia Lopukhina in a similar outfit, only dark blue and a young lady unfamiliar to him in a burgundy dress closed to the throat with a lace collar and a summer hat.
– Ladies, – the young officer greeted, – Cornet of the Cavalier Guard regiment Mikhail Zalepsky!
– Natalya Rtishcheva, – an unfamiliar young lady introduced herself, – do you know my friends?
– undoubtedly.
– Where’s Nikita? Lopukhina asked impatiently.
– Awarded. Him and Golitsyna.
– I will come soon, – and Lopukhina hastily left.
Mademoiselle Rtishcheva, however, remained, but stood ten steps away from Michel, not wanting to interfere.
– You still finished racing, you can’t win everything, – said, consoling Pleshcheyev.
– As a rider, Golitsyn, of course, is better than me, – the cornet shook his head, – but I am glad that he is the first.
– Repnin’s second. Ksenia is just happy. Now the sovereign congratulates them.
“I’m assigned to the Life Squadron,” Michel boasted, “and the epaulettes of the cornet!”
– I’m glad. Here are our friends!
Golitsyn and Repnin approached, holding Lopukhin’s hand. Serge approached Zalepsky, nodded Pleshcheeva.
“Madame,” he said, “Michelle, we probably continue to serve together!” We have a label squadron and epaulettes of the regiment’s cornets with Repnin!
– Just great! Zalepsky was delighted.
– Sergey Nikolaevich, I wanted to introduce you to Mademoiselle Natalia Ivanovna Rtishcheva, – Olga introduced her friend.
– Very glad, – the ardent horse bowed, – are you fond of horses? – asked Golitsyn Natalia, taking her arm, – let you show my horses?
The couple retired to the leash, Serge enthusiastically told the girl about the exterior of the prize horses, and she generously pretended that she was unusually interested.
Life Squadron and Summer Theater
Service in the life squadron is not easy and is always associated with the Palace of the Emperor. In turn, a platoon stood out from among the soldiers of the squadron to escort Nikolai Pavlovich. And now Zalepsky followed the staff captain Zhelyabov, and with them was the squadron commander Evsyukov with the junior non-commissioned officer Ivanov. In the squadron, the soldiers were like a selection – tall in the tops, blond barbel on gnei horses. Michel got used to cuirass and hard hat, even in the heat of the former unchanged companions of cuirassier. True, in a round suitcase, the saddle had interchangeable shirts, but it was not always possible to change. I got used to the boots, which were also worn on guard in the palace along with a red uniform.
They walked along the corridor of the palace, in ceremonial vestments, rattling their spurs on the floor, the servants of the palace looked back at the prigozhny officers. Golitsyn smiled, and with one eye pointed to Pleshcheyeva walking past next to the state lady. Olga smiled, not hiding, to Michel, the cornet was only able to see the woman through her eyes.
– Well done, Zalepsky, – whispered Serge, – say something in the evening…
But the senior officer guard led them to the emperor’s chambers, saluted with a broadsword, and the change took place. There were four hours of service.
The emperor rose early, and now, past them, the servants brought tables with breakfast for members of Nikolai’s family to the chambers. An hour later, couriers passed, and they were met by an officer on duty. Without him, no one could go to the chambers.
Two more hours passed, and an officer came forward, followed by Nikolai Pavlovich himself, and with him Alexandra Fedorovna. Cavalier guards saluted the sovereign with broadswords and took “On guard.”
– Well done, – the emperor praised the officers, – you see, Alexandra Fedorovna, those same cornets. One best shooter, and Golitsyn is the best rider.
– Nikolai Pavlovich, Golitsyn – famous horses.
– I am pleased that you are in the regiment, gentlemen, – Nikolai Pavlovich added, and went along the corridor.
A little further, the Tsarevich and his wife joined him from their chambers. An hour later they were replaced, and taken to the officer’s dining room. We rested for another three hours, and again the attendant took them to the duty station.
In the evening, maids of honor came out of the chambers, and among them Pleshcheyev. Michel could not come up, even say a word, but Olga quickly pushed the letter into his wide bell of the glove, so that he felt a sharp piece of paper with his palm. But you can’t, endure… I barely waited until my comrades changed. He and Golitsyn drank tea, and Michelle quickly ran his eyes through a short note:
We’ll meet soon. I missed you.
– Tomorrow and meet, in the evening after the service, – reassured comrade Golitsyn.
“Absolutely, Serge.
Dates were frequent, at least twice a week Yakim brought Michel to Pleshcheeva’s apartment.
***
But now the squadron received an order to prepare for a march to Tsarskoye Selo Station. On August 14, wagons for horses, gangways, wagons for soldiers and officers were ready at the station. Privates had already been taught to place horses in wagons, and it did not take very long. Nearby loaded and horse guards. Each of the two squadrons required two trains.
Zalepsky never traveled on trains, did not see locomotives. It’s a pity, there was no time to examine this curiosity, blowing clouds of black smoke into the sky. He went into the officer’s car and sat down.
– Didn’t you go to the cast iron before? Repnin asked him. Michelle only shook his head in response. Suddenly the car shook, forward, then backward, the locomotive sounded, and the train started.
“Father wouldn’t believe it,” the cornet marveled.
– The road from St. Petersburg to Moscow was built, Nikolai Pavlovich goes to open personally, – said Lieutenant Khlodin, – and we accompany sovereign. And two more battalions, from the Preobrazhensky regiment and from Semenovsky. Soon we will be in the capital in less than an hour.
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