"It is true," added Yatsek, "that I have tugged at the chain, and have broken it. So it is not Pan Gideon who pursues me!" "I know what I should do," said Lukash, on a sudden. "Tell, do not hide!" cried the other two. "Do ye know what the hare said?" "What hare? Art thou drunk?" "Why that hare at the boundary ridge." And, evidently encouraged, he stood up, put his hand on his hip and began to sing: "A hare was just sitting for pleasure, Just sitting at the boundary ridge. But the hunters did not see him, Did not know That he was sitting lamenting And making his will At the boundary ridge." Here he turned to his brothers and asked them,-- "Do ye know the will made by that hare at the boundary ridge?" "We know, but it is pleasant to hear it repeated." "Then listen. "Kiss me all ye horsemen and hunters, Kiss me at the boundary ridge. "This is what I would write to all at Belchantska if I were in Yatsek's position; and if he does not write it, may the first Janissary disembowel me if I do not write it in my own name and yours to Pan Gideon." "Oh, as God is dear to me, that is a capital idea!" cried Yan, much delighted. "It is to the point and full of fancy!" "Let Yatsek write that!" "No," said the priest, made impatient by the talk of the brothers. "I am writing, not Yatsek, and it would not become me to take your words." Here he turned to Pan Serafin and Stanislav and Yatsek. "The task was difficult, for I had to twist the horns of his malice and not abandon politeness, and also to show him that we understood whence the sting came. Listen, therefore, and if any one of you gentlemen has made a nice judgment I beg you to criticise this letter." And he began,-- "Great mighty benefactor, and to me very dear Sir and Brother." Here he struck the letter with the back of his hand, and said,-- "You will observe, gentlemen, that I do not call him 'my very gracious,' but 'my very dear.'" "He will have enough!" said Pan Serafin, "read on, my benefactor." "Then listen: 'It is known to all citizens of our Commonwealth that only those people know how to observe due politeness in every position who have lived from youth upward among polite people, or who, coming of great blood, have brought politeness into the world with them. Neither the one nor the other has come to your grace as a portion, while on the contrary the Mighty Lord Pan Yatsek Tachevski inherited from renowned ancestors both blood and a lordly spirit. He forgives you your peasant expressions and sends back your peasant gifts. Rustics keep inns in cities and also eating-houses on country roads for the entertainment of people. If you will send to the great Lord Pan Yatsek Tachevski the bill for such entertainment as he received at your house he will pay it, and add such gratuity as seems proper to his generous nature.'"