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The two taverns bent forward from either side of the road,

threatening each other with their windows like enemies. The old

one rightfully belonged to the owner of the castle; the new one

Judge Soplica had built to spite the castle. In the former, as in

his own inheritance, Gerwazy ruled supreme; in the latter Protazy

occupied the highest place at the table.

The new tavern was not peculiar in its appearance. The old one

was built according to an ancient model, which was invented by

Tyrian carpenters, and later spread abroad over the world by the

Jews; a style of architecture completely unknown to foreign

builders: we inherit it from the Jews.