The thought of his field crossed Slimak's mind and made his blood run cold, but he answered calmly: 'Gossip!'
'Gossip?' the old woman hiccoughed, 'I tell you, it's gospel truth, and
I'll tell you more: the richer gospodarze are settling with Josel and
Gryb to buy the whole estate and the whole village from the squire, so
help me God!'
'How can they settle that without me?'
'Because they want to keep you out. They say you will be better off as it is, because you will be nearer to the station, and that you have already made a lot of money by spoiling other people's business.'
She drained another glass and would have said more, but was suddenly overcome, and had to be carried out of the room by Slimak.
He and his wife consulted for the rest of the day what would be the best thing to do under the circumstances. Towards evening he put on his new sukmana lined with sheepskin and went to the inn.
Gryb and Lukasiak were sitting at the table. By the light of the two tallow candles they looked like two huge boundary-stones in their grey clothes. Josel stood behind the bar in a dirty jersey with black stripes. He had a sharp nose, pointed beard, pointed curls, and wore a peaked cap; there was something pointed also in his look.
'The Lord be praised,' said Slimak.
'In Eternity,' Josel answered indifferently.
'What are the gospodarze drinking?'