Pagina 416 van 788

I have known him since we were in the primary school; as a lad he

was honest, and to-day he is the same; he loves Poland above

everything, he keeps up Polish customs, he will not yield to

Muscovite fashions. Whenever I return from Prussia, and want to

wash off the German taint, I drop in at Soplicowo, as the centre

of Polish ways; there a man drinks and breathes his Country! In

God's name, brothers Dobrzynski; I am one of you, but I will not

let the Judge be wronged; nothing will come of that. It was not

thus in Great Poland, brothers: what a spirit! what harmony! It

is pleasant to remember it! There no one dared to interrupt our

counsels with such a trifle."

"It is no trifle to hang scoundrels!" shouted the Warden.