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 stamped his feet—and finally did something which he had never done before. He swore and cursed the Felsenburks, declared that they were descendants of thieves, traitors and murderers who lived and fattened by the crimes of hangmen; that through him they had obtained estates and wealth, and that their greatness sprang from the blood of the Hlohovskys, whom they had murdered.

Andrew, pale as wax, with trembling lips in vain begged his father to go to the tower with him, urging that it was late, and necessary for him to go to rest; the old man, who had always worshiped his son, now obstinately resisted, continued his terrible cursing, and finally hit Andrew in the face.

Those who had thoughtlessly provoked his passion now stopped laughing and began to soothe him, but in vain. The old man was too excited to control himself; his confused mind had wholly deserted him. His veins swelled, his eyes became bloodshot, and his mouth foamed. In wild exclamations he called down God’s judgments upon the false,