Kogoútek's terror increased, and his eyes glanced round in agitation; he realised how foolish he had been not to hide the grindstone from his master's eyes.
'Whose is the grindstone, psia krew?'[4] cried the magnate angrily.
'Mine, most illustrious Pan,' answered Kogoútek, trembling with fear.
'How dare you, you rascal, when I myself haven't such a grindstone, the steward says?'
'I earned it, please your honour,' stammered Kogoútek faintly.
'Earned it.... What next!' exclaimed Pan Podliásski, amazed at the peasant's insolence, and reddening with anger. 'How dare you say that, when you yourself are my property, not only all your work; do you hear, you dog? Take it up to the manor, and give this scoundrel a good lesson,' he added, turning to the steward.
The unfortunate peasant knew what a 'good lesson' meant, and flung himself, with a piteous cry, at the feet of his master's horse. But the magnate shook the reins and galloped off with his followers.
The next morning the grindstone was transferred to the manor yard, and the wretched Kogoútek was flogged in the manor stables.
Humiliated, crushed under the sense of injustice and lacerated with the whip, the unhappy peasant crept home and sank down on a bench with a groan.
'What is the matter with our master?' asked the young cock, Scarlet-Comb, of his mother, as they strolled about the yard with the white hen Top-knot and the old cock.