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"A book," said the Major, "that is better than all your statutes,

and in it every other word is halter, Siberia, the knout; the

book of martial law, now proclaimed throughout all Lithuania:

your tribunals are now on the shelf. According to martial law,

for such pranks you will at the very least be sent to hard labour

in Siberia."

"I appeal to the Governor," said the Judge.

"Appeal to the Emperor if you want to," said Plut. "You know that

when the Emperor confirms decrees, he often by his grace doubles

the penalty. Appeal, and perhaps in case of need, my dear Judge,

I shall get a good hold on you too. Jankiel, a spy whom the

government has long been tracking, is a frequenter of your house

and the tenant of your tavern. I may now put every one of you

under arrest at once."

"Arrest me?" said the Judge. "How do you dare without orders?"

And the dispute was becoming more and more lively, when a new

guest rode into the farmyard.