Pagina 337 van 788

Meanwhile Gerwazy, exposed to the blows of stools and bottles,

was already tottering; already the servants, doubling up their

fists, were rushing on him from all sides in a crowd, when,

fortunately, Zosia, seeing the assault, leapt up, and, filled

with pity, sheltered the old man by extending her arms like a

cross. They checked themselves; Gerwazy slowly retired and

vanished from sight; they looked to see where he had hidden

himself beneath the table, when suddenly he came out on the other

side as if from under the earth, and, raising aloft a bench in

his strong arms, whirled round like a windmill and cleared half

the hall. He seized the Count, and thus both, sheltered by the

bench, retired towards the little door; when they were already

almost at the threshold, Gerwazy stopped, once more eyed his

foes, and deliberated for an instant, whether to retire under

arms, or with new weapons to seek fortune in war.