He felt as if his feet were being held to the ground, but he spat at it. 'Much I have to be thankful to you for! Barren land, far from everybody so that thieves may profit!' He would not look back.
On the way he met two German farm-labourers, who had come to spend the night in the stable; as he passed them, they laughed.
'Catch me spending the winter with you scoundrels! I'm off directly the wife is well and the boy out of jail.'
A black shadow detached itself from the gate when he reached the settlement, 'Is that you, schoolmaster?'
'Yes. So you have consented after all to sell your land?'
Slimak was silent.
'Perhaps it's the best thing you can do. If you can't make much of it yourself, at least you can save others.' He looked round and lowered his voice. 'But mind you bargain well, for you are doing them a good turn. Miller Knap will pay cash down as soon as the contract has been signed and give his daughter to Wilhelm. Otherwise Hirschgold will turn the Hamers out at midsummer and sell the land to Gryb. They have a heavy contract with the Jew.'
'What? Gryb would buy the settlement?'
'Indeed he would. He is anxious to settle his son too, and Josel has been sniffing round for a month past. So there's your chance, bargain well.'
'Why, damn it,' said Slimak, 'I would rather have a hundred Germans than that old Judas.'