第365页 / 共788页

"Blessed be the lips that bring these tidings!" said the Judge,

raising his hands on high. "You shall not regret your mission,

Robak; your monastery shall not regret it; two hundred choice

sheep I give to your monastery. Monk, yesterday you expressed a

desire for my chestnut and praised my bay; to-day the two shall

at once be harnessed to the waggon in which you gather alms.

To-day ask me for what you wish, for whatever pleases you, and I

will not refuse! But as to all that business with the Count, let

me alone; he has wronged me, I have already summoned him to

court-is it fitting that I should propose an accommodation?"

The astonished Monk wrung his hands. Fixing his eyes upon the

Judge and shrugging his shoulders, he said:-

"So, when Napoleon is bringing liberty to Lithuania, when all the

world trembles, then you are thinking of your lawsuit? And after

all that I have told you will you sit calmly, folding your hands,

when one must act?"

"Act? How?" asked the Judge.