"Your husband has had a slight accident, so we brought him home."
"Jesus!" she cried, and ran up to the stretcher. "Oh, Kazio, what has happened to you?"
"Don't wake the children," whispered her husband.
"What a lot of blood—Mother of Mercy!"
"Be quiet!" murmured the wounded man. "My hand has been torn off, but that is nothing; send for the doctor."
The woman trembled and began to sob. Two workmen took her by the arms and led her into the room; others carried the wounded man inside. His face was distorted with pain, and he bit his lips to suppress the groans that might have waked the children.
In the morning Adler was informed of the accident. He listened in silence, and asked:
"Has the doctor been?"
"We sent for the doctor and for the bone-setter, but they were both out, attending to other patients."
"Fetch another doctor. Telegraph to Warsaw for a locksmith in Gosławski's place."