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And when you leap into your place, you rest on that soft down as

comfortably as in a bed; and when you start to gallop"-here the

Notary Bolesta, who, as is well known, was extremely fond of

gestures, spread out his legs as though he were leaping on a

horse, and then, imitating a gallop, he swayed slowly to and

fro-"and when you start to gallop, then light flashes from the

housing as though gold were dripping from your charger, for the

side bands are thickly set with gold and the broad silver

stirrups are gilded; on the straps of the bit and on the bridle

glitter buttons of mother of pearl, and from the breastplate

hangs a crescent shaped like Leliwa,201 that is, like the new

moon. This whole splendid outfit was captured, as rumour reports,

in the battle of Podhajce,202 from a certain Turkish noble of

very high station. Accept it, Assessor, as a proof of my esteem."

Happy in his gift, the Assessor replied:-