the foreigner-第7章
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ntry； but there will be master and slaves here； too。〃
It was a sore spot to the men； for the mastery of Rosenblatt was no imagination； but a grim reality。 It was with difficulty that any man could get a good job unless by Rosenblatt's agency。 It was Rosenblatt who contracted for the Galician labour。 One might hate Rosenblatt； or despise him； but it was impossible to ignore him。
〃What say you； my brothers；〃 said the stranger； 〃shall we attend this feast？〃
The men were eager to go。 Why should Rosenblatt stand in their way？ Were they not good friends of Jacob and Anka？ Was not every home in the colony open to a stranger； and especially a stranger of rank？ Simon swallowed his pride and led the way to Paulina's house。
There was no need of a guide to the house where the feasting was in progress。 The shouting and singing of the revellers hailed them from afar； and as they drew near； the crowd about the door indicated the house of mirth。 Joseph and Simon were welcomed with overflowing hospitality and mugs of beer。 But when they turned to introduce the stranger； they found that he had disappeared； nor could they discover him anywhere in the crowd。 In their search for him； they came upon Rosenblatt； who at once assailed them。
〃How come you Slovaks here？〃 he cried contemptuously。
〃Where the trough is； there the pigs will come；〃 laughed one of his satellites。
〃I come to do honour to my friend； Jacob Wassyl；〃 said Simon in a loud voice。
〃Of course；〃 cried a number of friendly voices。 〃And why not？ That is quite right〃
〃Jacob Wassyl wants none of you here；〃 shouted Rosenblatt over the crowd。
〃Who speaks for Jacob Wassyl？〃 cried a voice。 It was Jacob himself； standing in the door； wet with sweat； flushed with dancing and exhilarated with the beer and with all the ardours of his wedding day。 For that day at least； Jacob owned the world。 〃What？〃 he cried； 〃is it my friend Simon Ketzel and my friend Joseph Pinkas？〃
〃We were not invited to come to your wedding； Jacob Wassyl；〃 replied Simon； 〃but we desired to honour your bride and yourself。〃
〃Aye； and so you shall。 You are welcome； Simon Ketzel。 You are welcome； Joseph Pinkas。 Who says you are not？〃 he continued； turning defiantly to Rosenblatt。
Rosenblatt hesitated； and then grunted out something that sounded like 〃Slovak swine！〃
〃Slovak！〃 cried Jacob with generous enthusiasm。 〃We are all Slovak。 We are all Polak。 We are all Galician。 We are all brothers。 Any man who says no； is no friend of Jacob Wassyl。〃
Shouts of approval rose from the excited crowd。
〃Come； brothers；〃 shouted Jacob to Simon and Joseph； 〃come in。 There is abundant eating。 Make way for my friends！〃 He crowded back through the door； taking especial delight in honouring the men despised of Rosenblatt。
The room was packed with steaming； swaying； roaring dancers； both men and women； all reeking with sweat and garlic。 Upon a platform in a corner between two violins； sat Arnud before his cymbal； resplendent in frilled shirt and embroidered vest； thundering on his instrument the favourite songs of the dancers； shouting now and then in unison with the melody that pattered out in metallic rain from the instrument before him。 For four hours and more； with intervals sufficient only to quench their thirst； the players had kept up their interminable accompaniment to dance and song。 It was clearly no place for hungry men。 Jacob pushed his way toward the inner room。
〃Ho！ Paulina！〃 he shouted； 〃two plates for men who have not eaten。〃
〃Have not eaten！〃 The startling statement quickened Paulina's slow movements almost to a run。 〃Here； here；〃 she said； 〃bring them to the window at the back。〃
Another struggle and Jacob with his guests were receiving through the window two basins filled with luscious steaming stew。
As they turned away with their generous host； a man with a heavy black beard appeared at the window。
〃Another hungry man； Paulina；〃 he said quietly in the Galician tongue。
〃Holy Virgin！ Where have these hungry men been？〃 cried Paulina； hurrying with another basin to the window。
The man fumbled and hesitated as he took the dish。
〃I have been far away；〃 he said； speaking now in the Russian tongue； in a low and tense voice。
Paulina started。 The man caught her by the wrist。
〃Quiet！〃 he said。 〃Speak no word； Paulina。〃
The woman paled beneath the dirt and tan upon her face。
〃Who is it？〃 she whispered with parched lips。
〃You know it is Michael Kalmar； your husband。 Come forth。 I wait behind yon hut。 No word to any man。〃
〃You mean to kill me；〃 she said； her fat body shaking as if with palsy。
〃Bah！ You Sow！ Who would kill a sow？ Come forth； I say。 Delay not。〃
He disappeared at once behind the neighbouring shack。 Paulina； trembling so that her fingers could hardly pin the shawl she put over her head； made her way through the crowd。 A few moments she stood before her door； as if uncertain which way to turn； her limbs trembling； her breath coming like sobs。 In this plight Rosenblatt came upon her。
〃What is the matter with you； Paulina？〃 he cried。 〃What is your business here？〃
A swift change came over her。
〃I am no dog of yours；〃 she said； her sullen face flaming with passion。
〃What do you mean？〃 cried Rosenblatt。 〃Get into your house； cat！〃
〃Yes！ cat！〃 cried the woman； rushing at him with fingers extended。
One swift swoop she made at his face； bringing skin and hair on her nails。 Rosenblatt turned； and crying； 〃She is mad！ She is mad！〃 made for the shelter of the cellar； followed by the shouts and jeers of the men standing about。
Raging； at the door Paulina sought entrance； crying； 〃I was a good woman。 He made me bad。〃 Then turning away； she walked slowly to the back of her house and passed behind the neighbouring shack where the man stood waiting her。
With dragging steps she approached； till within touch of him； when； falling down upon her knees in the snow； she put her head upon his feet。
〃Get up； fool；〃 he cried harshly。
She rose and stood with her chin upon her breast。
〃My children！〃 said the man。 〃Where are my children？〃
She pointed towards the house of her neighbour； Mrs。 Fitzpatrick。 〃With a neighbour woman；〃 she said； and turned herself toward him again with head bowed down。
〃And yours？〃 he hissed。
She shuddered violently。
〃Speak；〃 he said in a voice low； calm and terrible。 〃Do you wish me to kill you where you stand？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； throwing her shawl over her face； 〃kill me！ Kill me now！ It will be good to die！〃
With a curse； his hand went to his side。 He stood looking at her quietly for a few moments as if deliberating。
〃No；〃 he said at length； 〃it is not worth while。 You are no wife of mine。 Do you hear？〃
She gave no sign。
〃You are Rosenblatt's swine。 Let him use you。〃
Another shudder shook her。
〃Oh； my lord！〃 she moaned； 〃kill me。 Let me die！〃
〃Bah！〃 He spat on the snow。 〃Die； when I have done with you； perhaps。 Take me where we can be alone。 Go。〃
She glanced about at the shacks standing black and without sign of life。
〃Come；〃 she said； leading the way。
He followed her to a shack which stood on the outskirts of the colony。 She pushed open the door and stood back。
〃Go in；〃 he said savagely。 〃Now a light。〃
He struck a match。 Paulina found a candle which he lit and placed on a box that stood in the corner。
〃Cover that window；〃 he commanded。
She took a quilt from the bed and pinned it up。 For a long time he stood motionless in the centre of the room； while she knelt at his feet。 Then he spoke with some deliberation。
〃It is possible I shall kill you to…night； so speak truly to me in the name of God and of the Holy Virgin。 I ask you of my children。 My girl is eleven years old。 Have you protected her？ Or is she like you？〃
She threw off her shawl； pulled up her sleeves。
〃See；〃 she cried； 〃my back is like that。 Your daughter is safe。〃
Livid bars of purple striped her arms。 The man gazed down at her。
〃You swear this by the Holy Cross？〃 he said solemnly。
She pulled a little iron cross from her breast and kissed it； then looked up at him with dog's eyes of entreaty。
〃Oh； my l
