Page:Three stories by Vítězslav Hálek (1886).pdf/311

 And then one day in the presence of Frank was enacted between the old folks and the young one of those scenes which were already of as frequent occurrence at the farm as the Lord’s prayer in the Church Service. For, one day, the kalounkar came to the Loykas’, not to be received there as a guest, but only that he might look once more for old acquaintance sake upon his old friend. And on this occasion Frank saw that old Loyka wept and that the kalounkar also wept. Then old Loyka invited the kalounkar to stay with him in the two chambers at least for the night. The kalounkar excused himself, till at last Loyka drew him almost by force across the courtyard. But when he wished to open the door there was no key, and when he asked for the key he was told that the young hospodar had it and, so they said, had locked the two chambers in order that Frank should not introduce into them any of the servants who had once been dismissed from the house.

On this old Loyka commanded that the key should be brought, but no one could find it. And after he had thus waited a long time and had joked freely in order that the kalounkar might not perceive that he was no longer master on his estate, and when still no one brought the key, Loyka turned, caught up a cleaver from somewhere in the yard and battered in the doors of the two chambers. When they crackled, it seemed as if the whole build-