"Ah, the skin on thee trembles as soon as thou seest them. It is the same every day. Learn to keep down thy inborn appetite, for thou hast good food at all seasons and sufferest no hunger. Where did I stop?" Here he closed his eyes as if waiting for an answer, and since he did not have it he began at the first words: "_Pater noster, qui es in coelis, sanctificetur nomen Tuum, adveniat regnum Tuum_."
"Ah, thou art squirming," said he, putting his hand on the back of the she fox. "There is such a vile nature in thee, that not only must thou eat, but commit murder also. Catch her, Filus, by the tail, and bite her if she does any injury--_Adveniat regnum Tuum_--Oh such a daughter! Thou wouldst say, I know, that men are glad too, to eat partridges; but know this, that a man gives them peace during fast days, while in thee the soul of that vile Luther is sitting, for thou wouldst eat meat on good Friday--_Fiat voluntas Tua_--_Trus! trus! trus!_--_sicut in coelo_--here are both one with the other!--_et in terra_." And thus speaking he threw the cabbage and then the grain, scolding the doves somewhat that, though spring was not near yet, they walked around one another frequently, cooing and strutting.
At last, when he had emptied the bag he rose, raised the lantern, and was preparing to go, when Yatsek appeared on the threshold.
"Ah, Yatsus!" cried the priest, "art thou here--what art thou doing so early?"
Yatsek kissed the priest's hand, and answered,--
"I have come to confession, my benefactor, and at early mass I should like to approach the Lord's table."
"To confession? That is well, but what has so urged thee? Tell, but right off, for this is not without reason."
"I will tell truly. I must fight a duel this day, and since in fighting with five men an accident is more likely than with one, I should like to clear my soul of offences."
"With five men? God's wounds! But what didst thou do to them?"
"It is just this: that I did nothing. They sought a quarrel, and they have challenged me."
"The Bukoyemskis, who are foresters, and Tsyprianovitch from Yedlinka."
"I know them. Come to the house and tell how it happened."
They went out of the granary, but when half-way to the house the priest stopped on a sudden, looked into Tachevski's eyes quickly, and said,--