But the engine-man was still preoccupied, and scarcely replied. He only knew that cartridges would be distributed to the soldiers who were guarding the pit; and the nervous restlessness of his fingers over his knees increased to such an extent that, at last, he became conscious of what was lacking--the soft and soothing fur of the tame rabbit.
Mais le machineur, retombé dans sa préoccupation, répondait a peine, savait seulement qu'on devait distribuer des cartouches aux soldats qui gardaient la fosse; et l'inquiétude nerveuse de ses doigts sur ses genoux s'aggravait a un tel point, qu'il finit par avoir conscience de ce qui leur manquait, le poil doux et calmant du lapin familier.