The wife of the headsman sits on the table opposite the two commanders-in-chief with a mocking smile upon her lips, and her huge muscular arms crossed over her bosom. From time to time she utters a scornful laugh and grunts disapprovingly. "Do what you like," she said at last, "neither of you knows anything about it. The buffalo-catcher would proceed cautiously and the cripple would run like a 'bull' at the gate." "And what would you do, I should like to know," snarled Ivan. "I know something, and I know how to keep it to myself. When you two have made a mess of it, then I shall come forward." The commanders began to be jealous of her influence. The first success always wins the heart of the mob, they must make sure of that anyhow. "Call in the Leather-bell," cried Ivan to the doorkeepers. The old fellow was shoved in. "The castle watch-dogs know you, don't they?" he was asked. "Know me? of course they do," replied the worthy man. "Why, I brought up Tiszá and Farkas myself. I give them bread every day. Why, they sniff my pockets even now whenever I go along there." "They know you still better, you knacker you, I'll be bound," said Dame Zudár to Ivan derisively. Ivan caught up a knife from the table and would have stuck the woman with it had not Thomas Bodza stayed his hand. He did not like these squabbles at all. "This is not the time for wrangling," said he. Only very reluctantly did Ivan allow himself to be pacified and induced to continue the conversation. "Here in this handkerchief are some pieces of meat, do you think you can get the dogs to take them with soft words?" "Why not? I have only to call them by name, and they will come to the doors of their kennels and eat it out of my very hands." "Then look sharp and set about it." The Leather-bell was such a good fellow that he was never able to resist the slightest command. He accepted the commission, although he knew very well that the dogs would be poisoned. He consoled himself with the reflection, however, that nobody had told him so beforehand. "But look here, gentlemen, you don't want to do his honour, the squire, any harm?" he inquired of Ivan, with a foolishly smiling face. "No, old 'un, no." "Nor the young squire either?" "No, nor him either, not for all the world." "Nor the heyduke? He is my godson, you know." "No, nor him either, old 'un, but do look sharp." "You only want to find out whether there is poison in the castle or not, don't you?" "Yes, yes. Devil take the fellow! Be off, or I'll knock some of your teeth down your throat." And the poor Leather-bell scuttled off. "And now bring Mekipiros hither!" They dragged the poor half-idiotic creature into the room. His thick, bristly hair hung right over his eyes. He was grinning and evidently in a good humour. But he could speak no longer, of course, since he had lost his tongue; whatever they said to him he could only reply: "Hamamama!"