A large group was soon attracted by her words; and then she burst forth with her tale. “I was going back to the cross by the forest-path, when Gulbas, scared to death, came running to me, telling of dead folk that lay in the juniper-bushes hard by. I thought it were well to look at them, at any rate. We went, and I saw from afar two people lying as dead. Filipka pulled my sleeve to drag me away, and Gregory’s wife was pattering her prayers, and I too felt creepy all over.... But I crossed myself, went up to them, and looked—and what do I see? My lord the Voyt, lying, with his coat off, and beside him Yagna Borynova: both sleeping very deep.... And how they reeked of vodka!... And she, unclad in such guise that I shame to say.... It was as bad as Sodom! I am old, but such a scandal I never yet heard of.—So the Soltys came up, and Yagna ran off; but his Lordship the Voyt was hard to get into the cart.—Drunk as a pig!” A voice was heard: “Merciful Lord! this is a new thing in Lipka!” “If it had been only a farm-hand with a wench!—But a husbandman, a father, and our Voyt!” “Boryna lies close to death, with no one to give him to drink; and she!...” “I would escort her with tapers out of the place, the harlot! Nay, I’d beat her with rods before the church!” Kozlova shouted once more. “And where is Dominikova?” “They left her in town; she was in their way.” “Oh, the sin, the scandal of it! And the shame extends to us all.” “That Yagna—so careless of honour—ready to do the same again to-morrow!” In their huts, they went on complaining, full of horror and indignation, some of the kinder-hearted women also weeping, in fear of God’s judgment upon all of them; and all the village was full of talk and lamentation. Some young fellows took Gulbas aside to question him about particulars. “A famous fellow with women, that Voyt of ours,” said Adam Vahnik. “He’ll have to pay for this: his wife will tear his hair out!” “And hold aloof from him for six months.” “Oh, he will not care so much for that now!” “Yes, one might do any folly for such a lass as Yagna!” “Surely. Among the Manor damsels, none more fair than she, and when she but looks at any man, she sends a thrill through him!” “So honey-sweet!—No wonder if Antek Boryna....” “Hold your tongues, men! Gulbas is a liar; so is Kozlova: all this they say out of spite, and we do not know the truth as yet,” Matthew interfered, in tones of great concern; but he was interrupted by Gregory the Voyt’s brother’s arrival. “Well? Is Peter still asleep?” they asked him. He answered: “That man was my own brother; but after what he has done, he’s no more to me than a dog!—But,” he added with a burst of fury, “that carrion is the cause of all!” “’Tis a lie!” vociferated Pete, the farm-servant at Boryna’s, pushing forward towards Gregory; “and he that utters it is a yelping cur!” They all were amazed at this unexpected explosion; and he went on, with clenched trembling fists: