Part 10 (2/2)
At this the foremost of them said: ”We do not understand that language, worthy brother.”
”Then what sort of monks are ye? To what confession do ye belong? Are ye Greeks?”
”We are not Greeks.”
”Then are you Armenians?”
”We are not Armenians.”
”Arians, then?”
”Neither are we Arians.”
”Are you Patarenes?”
”No, we are not.”
”Then _in gloriam aeterni_ to what order do you belong?”
”We are robbers,” thereupon exclaimed the one interrogated, throwing aside the fold of his cloak, beneath which could be seen a belt crammed with daggers and pistols. ”My name is Feri Kokenyesdi,” said he, striking his breast.
Magyari thereupon leaped from his chair, which he immediately converted into a weapon; it at once occurred to him that he had an only daughter to defend, and he was ready to fight the robbers on behalf of her. But the father pulled him by the ca.s.sock and whispered: ”Pray be quiet, your Reverence,” and then with an infinitely placid face he turned towards the robbers. ”So that is the order to which you belong,” said he.
”Still, if you have come as guests, sit down and eat what you desire.”
”But that is not sufficient. Outside this monastery there are 1700 of us, and all of them want to eat and drink, for it is only the ancient prophets who, when hungry, were content with the meat of the Word.”
”Let them also satisfy their desires.”
”However, the main thing is this: in your Reverence's chapel is a whole lot of very nice gold and silver saints, who certainly befriend those who sigh after them, and as we cannot come running to them here every day in order to entreat their aid, we had better take them along with us, that they may be helpful to us on the road.”
”Thou hast a pretty mother-wit, frater! Who could refuse thee anything?”
”It is also no secret to us, Father Gregory, that your Reverence's cellar is crammed with kegs full of good money, silver and gold. May we be allowed to relieve your Reverence of a little of this burden?”
”He is quite welcome to it,” thought the father, well aware that there was absolutely nothing at all.
”Do not imagine, your Reverence,” continued the robber, ”that we cannot extort a confession, if it should occur to your Reverence to conceal anything. It would be just as well, therefore, if your Reverence were to reveal everything before we cut up your back with sharp thongs.”
The brother smiled as good-humouredly as if he were listening to some pleasing anecdote.
”Have you any other desires, my sons?”
”Yes, a good many. There is a great crowd of women collected together in your Reverence's courtyard. We have taken no vows of celibacy, therefore we should like to choose from among them what would suit us.”
<script>