Officious hands, Russian and French, immediately seized the cross and fastened it to the uniform.

Lazarev glanced morosely at the little man with white hands who was doing something to him and, still standing motionless presenting arms, looked again straight into Alexander's eyes, as if asking whether he should stand there, or go away, or do something else.

But receiving no orders, he remained for some time in that rigid position.

The Emperors remounted and rode away.