Strona 237 z 788

Jankiel had made a fortune; sated with gain and glory, he had

hung his nine-stringed dulcimer upon the wall, and settling down

with his children in the tavern he had taken up liquor-selling.

Besides this he was the under-rabbi in the neighbouring town, and

always a welcome guest in every quarter, and a household

counsellor: he had a good knowledge of the grain trade on the

river barges;72 such knowledge is needful in a village. He had

also the reputation of being a patriotic Pole.73

He was the first to bring to an end the quarrels between the two

taverns, which had often led even to bloodshed, by leasing them

both. He was equally respected by the old partisans of the

Horeszkos and by the servants of Judge Soplica. He alone knew how

to keep an ascendancy over the terrible Warden of the Horeszkos

and the quarrelsome Apparitor; in Jankiel's presence both Gerwazy

terrible of hand and Protazy terrible of tongue stifled their

ancient wrongs.