Pagina 683 di 788

He advanced as if running the gauntlet, amid whispers and banter,

feeling as ashamed of his dress coat as of a dishonourable deed;

at last he met the eyes of Maciek, and trembled with fright.

Maciej had hitherto lived on very friendly terms with the Notary;

but now he turned on him so sharp and furious a glance that the

Notary grew pale and began to button his coat, thinking that

Maciej would tear it off him with his glance. Dobrzynski merely

repeated twice over in a loud voice, "Idiot!" and was so

fearfully disgusted with the Notary's change of garb that he at

once rose from the table; slipping out without saying good-bye,

he mounted his horse and returned to the hamlet.