Ráby looked up, and saw from the roof two chains hanging, through the links of which two poles were thrust, and on these hung the great bucket in which every evening the prisoners had to carry the water needed in the kitchen of the Assembly House above.
They showed him how Pápis got up. One of the prisoners seized the little gipsy by the legs and hauled him up to the roof, after which, Pápis took the cover off the bucket, crawled inside, and disappeared from sight.
Ráby was still more astonished.
"But how can the man sleep in that pail?" he asked, puzzled.
Everyone laughed, but quickly suppressed it, and all looked again rather sheepish.
Tsajkos patted Ráby's cheek patronisingly with his greasy hand, and cried,
"Bless my stars! what a simple greenhorn it is; Pápis will sleep sounder to-night, thanks to you, on a comfortable bed."
"How may that be?"
"I'll whisper it in your ear. He will leave this place this evening on your account."
"On my account, how can that be?" cried Ráby astounded.