Pagina 250 de 788

A silence followed, and then voices in the throng:-

"How clean our house? What do you mean by that? We will do

everything for you, we are ready for anything; only, my dear

Father, pray explain yourself more clearly."

The Monk glanced out of the window, interrupting the

conversation; he noticed something peculiar, and put his head out

of the window. In a moment he said, rising:-

"To-day we have no time, later we will talk together more at

length. To-morrow I shall be in the district town on business,

and on the way I will call on you gentlemen to gather alms."

"Then call at Niehrymow to spend the night," said the Steward;

"the Ensign will be glad to see you, sir. An old Lithuanian

proverb says: 'As lucky a man as an alms-gatherer in Niehrymow.'

"

"And be good enough to visit us," said Zubkowski. "You will get a

half-piece of linen, a firkin of butter, a sheep or a cow.

Remember these words, sir: 'A man is lucky if he strikes it as

rich as a monk in Zubkow.' "