'Not for seventy-five roubles?'
'No.'
'And I tell you, you will sell it,' cried the younger man, drawing his father away. They went towards the bridge, talking German loudly.
The peasant rested his chin on his hand and looked after them; then his eyes fell on the manor-house, and he returned to the cottage at full speed. 'Jagna,' he cried, 'do you know that the squire has sold his estate?' The gospodyni crossed herself with a spoon.
'In the name of the Father…Are you mad, Josef? Who told you so?'
'Two Germans spoke to me just now; they told me. And, Jagna, they want to buy our land, our own land!'
'You are off your head altogether!' cried the woman. 'Jendrek, go and see if there are any Germans about; your father is talking nonsense.'
Jendrek returned with the information that he had seen two men in blue overcoats the other side of the bridge.
Slimak sat on the bench, his head drooping, his hands resting limply on his knees. The morning light had turned grey, and made men and objects look dull. The gospodyni suddenly looked attentively at her husband.
'Why are you so pale?' she asked. 'What is the matter?'