Page:Three stories by Vítězslav Hálek (1886).pdf/227

 tore the key out of her hand, and said “Take it, my good gossip, the Mayor!”

“Well, then, you may see about the funeral as well, good gossip, the Mayor,” said the peasant woman, and burst into tears. They were tears of anger, of impotence, and of little mindedness.

“I will see about it, my good gossip, I will see about it,” said the Mayor; went to the corpse, took its measure, then took Frank by the hand, gave him this measure, and said “Go, little son of mine, to the gravedigger, that he may delve a grave for thy grandfather according to this measure.”

Frank took the measure, and sped like the foam, and the Mayor and his witnesses discharged their duties with respect to Loyka’s personalty.