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One evening old Sobieska turned up again. She was suffering from rheumatism, and required treatment with a 'thimbleful' of vodka which loosened her tongue. 'It was like this, she began: 'Gryb and Lukasiak went with Grochowski, all three dressed as for a Corpus Christi procession. The squire received them in the bailiff's office, and Gryb cleared his throat and went for it.
Josef, he said, turning to Slimak, 'your wife told you to drive a good bargain? 'Certainly, sir, what is true is true. 'Do you know what Lukasiak pays me yearly? 'They say ten roubles. 'Then you ought to pay twenty roubles for the two acres. 'If you will be lenient, sir, began Slimak. ... and let me off three roubles, completed the squire. Slimak looked confused.
He and his wife consulted for the rest of the day what would be the best thing to do under the circumstances. Towards evening he put on his new sukmana lined with sheepskin and went to the inn. Gryb and Lukasiak were sitting at the table. By the light of the two tallow candles they looked like two huge boundary-stones in their grey clothes.
The two gospodarze exchanged glances with Josel, who smiled. After a pause Lukasiak replied: 'Oh, we are talking of it for want of something better to do, but who would have the money for such a big undertaking? 'You two between you could buy it! 'Perhaps we may, but it would be for ourselves and those living in the village. 'What about me?
Seeing that Slimak was getting pale with anger, Lukasiak took Gryb by the arm. 'Let us go home, neighbour, he said. 'What is the good of talking about things that may never come off? Come along. Gryb looked at Josel and got up. 'So you are going to buy without me? asked Slimak. 'You bought without us last summer. They shook hands with the innkeeper and took no notice of Slimak.
I tell you,'Sobieska continued, 'he talked for an hour, like the priest in the pulpit; at last Lukasiak got stiff in the back, and they all burst out crying. Then they embraced the squire's feet, and he took their heads between his hands and... 'Well, and are they buying? Slimak interrupted impatiently. 'Why shouldn't they buy? Certainly they are buying.
Let the squire take it into his head not to employ me, or not to sell me fodder, what then? I should have to drive the cattle to market and die of hunger. 'I am not as well off as Gryb or Lukasiak or Sarnecki. They live like gentlemen. One drives to church with his wife, the other wears a cap like a burgher, and the third would like to turn out the Wojt and wear the chain himself.
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