Page:Three stories by Vítězslav Hálek (1886).pdf/403

 “I am sent for you, pantata, and I have to conduct you wherever you please—to the pension house or the farmhouse; but our good old mistress is in the farmhouse, and, therefore, I might perhaps have conducted you to the farmhouse.”

“Ha! then, lead me to the farmhouse, said Loyka, and he said it just as though he had by this confirmed his own death warrant, which it was impossible now to avoid. And, even as the wretch condemned to die, just before his death, dares to implore some favour for himself, so old Loyka implored—“You hear, Vena, I am going into the farmhouse; but, first, lead me yonder, to the chambers by the coach-house, that I may gaze upon those spirits who there await my spirit.”

And he hung on Vena’s arm, and Vena led him to the spot. When they caught sight of him a flourish of trumpets rang forth. Then the family of the kalounkar came out upon the doorstep, the cloth pedlar, several tinkers, and in a word, all whoever just then were lodging under that roof, and all said, “We welcome you pantata; we have already been expecting you.” And when old Loyka hardly recognised those figures by the scanty light of a candle, his head went round, so that he scarcely attended to what they were saying.

“Vena, let me not stay here any longer. Good lad, now I have seen it, now lead me to the farmhouse.