\"He？That’satradesman，thatistosay，he’stherestaurantkeeper，Vereshchagin。Perhapsyouhaveheardofthataffairwiththeproclamation。\"
\"Oh，sothatisVereshchagin！\"saidPierre，lookingatthefirm，calmfaceoftheoldmanandseekinganyindicationofhisbeingatraitor。
\"That’snothehimself，that’sthefatherofthefellowwhowrotetheproclamation，\"saidtheadjutant。\"TheyoungmanisinprisonandIexpectitwillgohardwithhim。\"
Anoldgentlemanwearingastarandanotherofficial，aGermanwearingacrossroundhisneck，approachedthespeaker。
\"It’sacomplicatedstory，youknow，\"saidtheadjutant。\"Thatproclamationappearedabouttwomonthsago。Thecountwasinformedofit。Hegaveorderstoinvestigatethematter。GabrielIvanovichheremadetheinquiries。Theproclamationhadpassedthroughexactlysixty—threehands。Heaskedone，’Fromwhomdidyougetit？’’Fromso—and—so。’Hewenttothenextone。’Fromwhomdidyougetit？’andsoontillhereachedVereshchagin，ahalfeducatedtradesman，youknow，’apetofatrader，’\"saidtheadjutantsmiling。\"Theyaskedhim，’Whogaveityou？’Andthepointisthatweknewwhomhehaditfrom。HecouldonlyhavehaditfromthePostmaster。Butevidentlytheyhadcometosomeunderstanding。Hereplied：’Fromnoone；I