"Ah, thou art squirming," said he, putting his hand on the back of the she fox. "There is such a vile nature in thee, that not only must thou eat, but commit murder also. Catch her, Filus, by the tail, and bite her if she does any injury--_Adveniat regnum Tuum_--Oh such a daughter! Thou wouldst say, I know, that men are glad too, to eat partridges; but know this, that a man gives them peace during fast days, while in thee the soul of that vile Luther is sitting, for thou wouldst eat meat on good Friday--_Fiat voluntas Tua_--_Trus! trus! trus!_--_sicut in coelo_--here are both one with the other!--_et in terra_." And thus speaking he threw the cabbage and then the grain, scolding the doves somewhat that, though spring was not near yet, they walked around one another frequently, cooing and strutting. At last, when he had emptied the bag he rose, raised the lantern, and was preparing to go, when Yatsek appeared on the threshold. "Ah, Yatsus!" cried the priest, "art thou here--what art thou doing so early?" Yatsek kissed the priest's hand, and answered,-- "I have come to confession, my benefactor, and at early mass I should like to approach the Lord's table." "To confession? That is well, but what has so urged thee? Tell, but right off, for this is not without reason." "I will tell truly. I must fight a duel this day, and since in fighting with five men an accident is more likely than with one, I should like to clear my soul of offences." "With five men? God's wounds! But what didst thou do to them?" "It is just this: that I did nothing. They sought a quarrel, and they have challenged me." "Who are they?" "The Bukoyemskis, who are foresters, and Tsyprianovitch from Yedlinka." "I know them. Come to the house and tell how it happened." They went out of the granary, but when half-way to the house the priest stopped on a sudden, looked into Tachevski's eyes quickly, and said,-- "Hear me, Yatsek, there is a woman in this quarrel." The other smiled; with some melancholy. "There is, and there is not," said he, "for really, she is the question, but she is innocent." "Ah, ha! innocent! they are all innocent. But dost thou know what Ecclesiastes says of women?" "I do not remember, benefactor." "Neither do I remember all, but what I have forgotten I will read in the house to thee. '_Inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quae laqueus_ (says he) _venatorum est et sagena cor ejus_.' (I have found woman more bitter than death. Her heart is a trap and a snare). And farther on he adds something, but at the end he says: '_Qui placet Deo, effugiet illam, qui autem peccator est, capietur ab illa_.' (Whoso is pleasing to God will escape her, but whoso is a sinner will be caught by her.) I have warned thee not one time but ten not to loiter in that mansion and now the blow strikes thee." "Eh, it is easier for you to warn than for me not to visit," answered Yatsek, with a sigh. "Nothing good will meet thee in that house."