He took him aside and talked very earnestly with him in French for a quarter of an hour, gesticulating with his hands, and explaining something, while the Major nodded his old grizzled head from time to time.
Il le prit à part, causa en français avec lui, d'un air très sérieux, pendant un quart d'heure, gesticulant des mains, donnant des explications, pendant que le major hochait de temps à autre sa vieille tête grisonnante.