Part 15 (2/2)

Despair gave the unfortunate woman courage; she began to implore them in a loud voice.

”Stop a moment, brother! Perhaps we are incurring guilt needlessly.

Perhaps she is really no witch!” said the notary. ”If the person sitting in there declares herself ready to make the sign of the cross, then she is not a child of the devil.”

The proposal was accepted. ”Look out, Satan!” continued the notary, speaking at a c.h.i.n.k in the door. ”If you promise not to move, we will open the door.”

The door was opened.

”Cross yourself!” exclaimed the headman, looking round him for a safe place of retreat in case of necessity.

His sister-in-law crossed herself.

”The deuce! It is really you, sister-in-law!”

”What evil spirit dragged you into this hole, friend?” asked the notary.

The headman's sister related amid sobs how the rioters had seized her on the street, and in spite of her resistance, pushed her through a large window into the hut, on which they had closed the shutters. The notary looked and found that the bolt of the shutter had been wrenched off, and that it was held in its place by a wooden bar placed across it outside.

”You are a nice fellow, you one-eyed Satan!” she now exclaimed, advancing towards the headman, who stepped backwards and continued to contemplate her from head to foot. ”I know your thoughts; you were glad of an opportunity to get me shut up in order to run after that petticoat, so that no one could see the grey-haired sinner making a fool of himself. You think I don't know how you talked this evening with Hanna. Oh, I know everything. You must get up earlier if you want to make a fool of me, you great stupid! I have endured for a long time, but at last don't take it ill if----”

She made a threatening gesture with her fist, and ran away swiftly, leaving the headman quite taken aback.

”The devil really has something to do with it!” he thought, rubbing his bald head.

”We have him!” now exclaimed the two village councillors as they approached.

”Whom have you?” asked the headman.

”The devil in the sheepskin.”

”Bring him here!” cried the headman, seizing the prisoner by the arm.

”Are you mad? This is the drunken Kalenik!”

”It is witchcraft! He was in our hands, your honour!” replied the village councillors. ”The rascals were rus.h.i.+ng about in the narrow side-streets, dancing and behaving like idiots--the devil take them! How it was we got hold of this fellow instead of him, heaven only knows!”

”In virtue of my authority, and that of the village a.s.sembly,” said the headman, ”I issue the order to seize these robbers and other young vagabonds which may be met with in the streets, and to bring them before me to be dealt with.”

”Excuse us, your honour,” answered the village councillors, bowing low.

”If you could only see the hideous faces they had; may heaven punish us if ever anyone has seen such miscreations since he was born and baptised. These devils might frighten one into an illness.”

”I'll teach you to be afraid! You won't obey then? You are certainly in the conspiracy with them! You mutineers! What is the meaning of that?

What? You abet robbery and murder! You!--I will inform the Commissary.

Go at once, do you hear; fly like birds. I shall--you will----”

They all dispersed in different directions.

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