"Good-evening, my lord merchant," began Chwedko.
"Good-evening," answered Szmula, half turning round, and muttering a few words through his beard.
"Well, what shall we do? Shall we take a drink of brandy?" continued Chwedko.
"For my part, I rarely drink; but to keep you company--Pour out something for us to drink, Marysia."
"You are going to the fair," resumed the first speaker; "you must strengthen yourself for the journey."
"Ah! so you are going to the fair, are you?" interrupted Szmula. "Perhaps you have something to sell. I shall be glad to buy it from you."
"No, I am going for another purpose."
"And what is it?" said the Jew. "This is the way all of you peasants do,--as soon as you have any business to transact, you run to the town. Are you thinking of buying anything?"
"See here, my lord merchant," answered Chwedko, interrupting, "my neighbour wants a cow; he is lonely, and for company's sake is willing to take on himself one more bother."
"But why get a cow?" asked the Jew, in a scornful tone.