Whether by chance or a trick of the young lady is unknown to us; it
suffices, however, that the four Bukoyemskis received a large chamber
in an outbuilding, and Pan Stanislav with Yatsek a smaller one near it.
This confused the two men no little, and then, so as not to speak to
each other, they began straightway the litany and continued it longer
than was usual. But when they had finished there followed a silence
which annoyed both of them, for though their feelings toward each other
were unfriendly, they felt that they might not betray them, and that
they should for a time, and especially at the house of Pan Gideon, show
politeness.
Yatsek ungirded his sabre, drew it out of the scabbard, looked at the
edge by the light of the chimney, and fell to rubbing the blade with
his handkerchief.
"After frost," said he half to himself, half to Stanislav, "a sabre
sweats in a warm chamber, and rust appears on it straightway."
"And last night it must have frozen solidly," said Stanislav.
He spoke without evil intention, and only because it occurred to him
that Tachevski had been in a splitting frost all the night previous;
but Yatsek placed the point of his blade on the floor, and looked
quickly into the eyes of the other man.
"Are you referring to this,--that I sat on a pine tree?"
"Yes," replied Stanislav, with simplicity; "of course there was no
stove there."
"But what would you have done in my position?"
Stanislav wished to answer "the same that you did," but the question
was put to him sharply, so he answered,--
"Why break my head over that, since I was not in it?"
Anger flashed for an instant on the face of Pan Yatsek, but to restrain
himself he began to blow on the sabre and rub the blade with still
greater industry. At last he returned it to the scabbard, and added,--
"God sends adventures and accidents."
And his eyes, which one moment earlier had been gleaming, were covered
again with the usual sadness, for just then he remembered his one
friend, the horse, which those wolves had torn to pieces.
Meanwhile the door opened and the four Bukoyemskis walked into the
chamber.
"The frost has weakened, and the snow sends up steam," said Mateush.
"There will be fog," added Yan.
And then they took note of Yatsek, whom they had not seen the first
moment.
"Oh art thou in such company?" asked Lukash, as he turned to Stanislav.
All four brothers put their hands on their hips and cast challenging
glances at Yatsek.
Yatsek seized a chair and, pushing it to the middle of the chamber,
turned to the Bukoyemskis with a sudden movement; then he sat astride
of the chair, as on horseback, rested his elbows on the back of it,
raised his head, and answered with equally challenging glances. Thus
were they opposed then; he, with feet stretching widely apart in his
Swedish boots, they, shoulder to shoulder, quarrelsome, threatening,
enormous.
Stanislav saw that it was coming to a quarrel, but he wished to laugh
at the same time. Thinking that he could hinder a collision at any
instant he let them gaze at one another.
"Eh, what a bold fellow," thought he of Yatsek, "nothing confuses him."
The silence continued, at once unendurable and ridiculous. Yatsek
himself felt this, also, for he was the first man to break it.
"Sit down, young sirs," said he, "not only do I invite, but I beg you."
The Bukoyemskis looked at one another with astonishment, this new turn
confused them.
"How is this? What is it? Of what is he thinking?"
"I beg you, I beg you," repeated Yatsek, and he pointed to benches.
"We stay as we are, for it pleases us, dost understand?"
"Too much ceremony."
"What ceremony?" cried Lukash. "Dost thou claim to be a senator, or a
bishop, thou--thou Pompeius!"
Yatsek did not move from the chair, but his back began to quiver as if
from sudden laughter.
"But why call me Pompeius?" inquired he.
"Because the name fits thee."
"But it may be because thou art a fool," replied Yatsek.
"Strike, whoso believes in God!" shouted Yan.
Evidently Yatsek had had talk enough also, for something seemed to
snatch him from the chair on a sudden, and he sprang like a cat toward
the brothers.
"Listen, ye road-blockers," said he with a voice cold as steel, "what
do ye want of me?"
"Blood!" cried Mateush.
"Thou wilt not squirm away from us this time!" shouted Marek. "Come out
at once," said he, grasping toward his side for a sabre.
But Stanislav pushed in quickly between them.
"I will not permit," cried he. "This is another man's dwelling."
"True," added Yatsek, "this is another man's dwelling, and I will not
injure Pan Gideon. I will not cut you up under his roof, but I will
find you to-morrow."
"We will find thee to-morrow!" roared Mateush.
"Ye have sought conflicts and raised pretexts all day, why, I cannot
tell, for I have not known you, nor have ye known me, but ye must
answer for this, and because ye have insulted me I would meet not four
men but ten like you."
"Oho! oho! One will suffice thee. It is clear," cried out Yan, "that
thou hast not heard of the Bukoyemskis."
"I have spoken of four," said Yatsek, turning on a sudden to Stanislav,
"but perhaps you will join with these cavaliers?"
Stanislav bowed politely.
"Since you make the inquiry--"
"But we first, and according to seniority," said the Bukoyemskis. "We
will not withdraw from that. We have settled it, and will cut down any
man who interferes with us."
Yatsek looked quickly at the brothers, and in one moment divined, as he
thought, the arrangement, and he paled somewhat.
"So that is it!" said he again to Stanislav; "thou hast hirelings, and
art standing behind them. By my faith the method seems certain, and
very safe, but whether it is noble and knightly is another point. In
what a company do I find myself?"
On hearing this opinion which disgraced him, Stanislav, though he had a
mild spirit by nature, felt the blood rush to his visage. The veins
swelled on his forehead, lightning flashed from his eyes, his teeth
were gritting terribly, and he grasped the hilt of his sabre.
"Come out! Come out this instant!" cried he in a voice choked with
anger.
Sabres flashed; it was bright in the chamber, for light fell on the
steel blades from a torch in the chimney. But three of the Bukoyemskis
sprang between the opponents and stood in a line there, the fourth
caught Stanislav by the shoulders.
"By the dear God, restrain thyself, Stashko! We are ahead of thee!"
"We are ahead of thee!" cried the three others.
"Unhand me!" screamed Stanislav, hoarsely.
"We are ahead!"
"Unhand me!"
"Hold Stashko, ye, and I will settle with this man while ye are holding
him," shouted Mateush; and seizing Yatsek he dragged him aside to begin
at him straightway, but Yatsek with presence of mind pulled himself
free of Mateush, and sheathed his sword, saying,--
"I choose the man who is to fight first and the time. So I tell you
to-morrow, and in Vyrambki, not here."
"Oh thou wilt not sneak away from us! Now! now!"
But Yatsek crossed his arms on his breast. "Ha, if ye wish without
fighting to kill me under the roof of our host, let me know it."
At this rage seized the brothers; they stamped the floor with their
boot-heels, pulled their mustaches, and panted like wild bears. But
since they feared infamy no man of them had the daring to rush at
Tachevski.
"To-morrow, I tell you! Say to Pan Gideon that ye are going to visit
me, and inquire for the road to Vyrambki. Beyond the brook stands a
crucifix since the time of the pestilence. There I will wait for you at
midday to-morrow, and there, with God's help I will finish you!"
He uttered the last words as if with sorrow, then he opened the door
and walked out of the chamber. In the yard the dogs ran around Yatsek,
and knowing him well, fondled up to him. He turned without thinking
toward the posts near the windows, as if looking for his horse there;
then, remembering that that horse was no longer alive, he sighed, and,
feeling the cool breath of air, repeated in spirit,--
"The wind is blowing always in the eyes of the poor man. I will walk
home."
Meanwhile, Stanislav was wringing his hands from fierce pain and anger,
while saying to the Bukoyemskis, with terrible bitterness,--
"Who asked you to do this? My worst enemy could not have hurt me more
than have you with your service."
They pitied him immensely, and fell to embracing him, one after the
other.
"Stashko," said Mateush. "They sent us a decanter for the night; give
thyself comfort for God's sake."