"They say? Who says so? Is it Peti, the gipsy?"
"I have not seen Peti since he went to Dustbury; but the smith who pursued you told me so."
"Whoever says so is mad, and the smith more than any. He'd not live to boast of his boldness if he'd dared to run after me. I'd like to know what he pretends to have known me by? not my bunda, I hope. Curse me if it's dirtier than any body else's! Good bye; it's time for me to be off!" And the robber turned into the road which led to Garatsh. As Susi looked after him, a carriage passed her with Mr. Catspaw, who was on his way to the same place. He overtook Tzifra; the carriage stopped, and after a short conversation, the robber jumped on the back seat, and the carriage drove off.
Susi was greatly astonished. She walked as fast as she could; but still darkness began to set in when she reached the Tanya, where she found the Gulyash and Peti.
"Have you seen any thing of Tzifra?" asked the gipsy.
"Yes, I have."
Susi told them of her meeting with the robber. Peti listened with deep anxiety, and his features expressed the greatest despair when she told him that Mr. Catspaw had taken the robber with him to Garatsh.
"He's dished!" cried he at length. "He's done for! If I don't come in time, they'll nab him!"
"For God's sake, what is the matter?" said Susi, trembling.