Page:Selected Czech tales - 1925.djvu/92

 mere sight of a pistol frightened her out of her wits.

Old Matous nodded approval, and repeated that if Martinka gave up, he too would retire from business and not care what became of it. He told her she need not take the contraband farther than her home; a linen-draper from Reichenau would send for it, and deliver it to the customer who wanted the silks for her daughter’s trousseau.

Old Matou$ had hardly said this, when he disappeared suddenly, as if the rock on which he stood had swallowed him. Vendulka again shook from head to foot; his unexpected disappearance, his rough speech and uncouth gestures and his wild laughter had quite unnerved her. Oh Lukas, Lukas! What had he made of her! This was her reward for the confidence with which she had meant to lay the destiny of her whole life in his hands, and would not believe that happiness could come through any other man! Who could have thought that he would make her so unhappy? And she had been near to losing her life through his fault as well! Would he have been touched by the news of her death? Would he have come to the funeral? Would she have forgiven him in