Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/249

Rh "I know, I know all: they offer two thousand ducats for my head. They know its value, the fools! I'll give you five thousand. Here are two thousand on the spot" (Bulba poured out two thousand ducats from a leather bag), "and the rest you shall have when I return."

The Jew instantly seized a towel and concealed the ducats under it. "Aï, glorious money! Aï, good money!" he said, twirling one of the gold pieces in his hand, and testing it with his teeth. "I don't believe the man from whom the noble lord stole these fine gold pieces remained in the world an hour longer; he went straight to the river and drowned himself after the loss of such magnificent pieces.

"I wouldn't have asked you; I might, possibly, have found my own way to Warsaw, but some one might recognise me, and then the cursed Lyakhs would capture me, for I'm not clever at making up plausible stories; but that's just what you Jews are created for. You'd deceive the very Devil: you know all the tricks; that's why I have come to you! And, besides, I couldn't accomplish anything in Warsaw by myself. Harness up your cart instantly, and drive me to Warsaw."

"And does the noble lord think that I can take the mare so, out of hand, and harness her,