Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/261

Rh longer had his last lock, which, although very greasy, had fallen in rings from beneath his felt cap. It was evident that he wished to say something, but he began by uttering such nonsense that Taras understood nothing of it. And Yankel himself put his hand very often to his mouth, as though suffering from a cold.

"O, dear noble sir!" said Yankel, "it is utterly impossible now! God is my witness, it is impossible! Such vile people, that one can only spit on their heads in disgust! And Mardokhai here will tell you the same. Mardokhai has done what no man in the world ever did, but it was not God's will that it should be so. Three thousand of the troops are stationed here, and to-morrow all the men are to be executed."

Taras looked the Jew straight in the eye, but no longer with impatience or anger.

"But if the noble lord wishes to see him, then it must be very early in the morning, before sunrise. The sentinels have agreed, and one jailer has promised. But may they have no happiness in the world, woe is me! What greedy people! Even among us there are none such: I had to give fifty ducats to each one, and to the jailer…"

"Good. Take me to him!" exclaimed Taras with decision, and all the firmness returned to his spirit. He agreed to Yankel's proposal that he