Page:Korolenko - Makar's Dream and Other Stories.djvu/259

Rh "Swear!"

"All right, then, I swear it's me. How could I not be myself? And jet you want me to swear it! There's a marvel for you!"

Even then the miller wouldn't believe him. He went upstairs and peeped out of a window over the door, and there beneath him stood Gavrilo. The miller was much relieved and went down to open the door.

Gavrilo was actually staggered when the miller appeared in the doorway.

"Why, master, what has happened to you?"

"What's the matter?"

"Why on earth have you smeared your face all over with flour? You're as white as chalk!"

"Didn't you come across the river?"

"I did."

"And didn't you look up?"

"Perhaps."

"And didn't you see some one?"

"Who?"

"Who? Fool! The creature that nabbed Yankel the inn-keeper."

"Who the devil nabbed him?"

"Who, indeed? Why, the Jewish devil, Khapun. Don't you know what day this has been?"

Gavrilo looked at the miller with troubled eyes and asked:

"Have you been to the village this evening?"

"Yes."