, without either shouting or giving counsel,
but from his air they perceived that he was plotting something evil: so
they drew their blades, and at the shout of "Down with him" he retreated,
and defended himself; he was already wounded and leaning on the fence,
when Zan and the three Czechots sprang to his aid. After this the men were
separated, but in that scuffle two had been wounded in the hand, and one
had got cut over the ear. The rest were mounting their horses.

The Count and Gerwazy marshalled them and distributed arms and orders. At
last, all started at a gallop down the long street of the hamlet, crying,
"Down with the Soplica!"

BOOK VIII.--THE FORAY

ARGUMENT

The Seneschal's astronomy--The Chamberlain's remarks on
comets--Mysterious scene in the Judge's room--Thaddeus, wishing to
extricate himself dexterously, gets into serious trouble--A new
Dido--The foray--The last protest by an Apparitor--The Count conquers
Soplicowo--Storm and massacre--Gerwazy as butler--The banquet after
the foray.

BEFORE a thunderstorm there is a quiet, sullen moment, when the cloud that
has gathered over men's heads stops and with threatening countenance
checks the breath of the winds; it is silent, but surveys the earth with
the eyes of the lightnings, marking the spots where soon it will cast bolt
after bolt: such a moment of calm rested over the house at Soplicowo. You
would have thought that a presentiment of unusual events had closed all
lips, and had borne off the spirits of all into the land of dreams.

After supper the Judge and his guests went out into the yard to enjoy the
evening, and seated themselves on benches of turf built along the house
wall. The whole company, in gloomy, quiet attitudes, gazed at the sky,
which seemed to grow lower and narrower, and to approach the earth nearer
and nearer, until both, hiding beneath a dark veil, like lovers, began a
mysterious discourse, interpreting their feelings in the stifled sighs,
whispers, murmurs, and half-uttered words, of which the marvellous music
of the evening is composed.

The owl began it, hooting from beneath the house roof; the bats rustled
with flimsy wings, and flew towards the house, where shone the panes of
the windows and human faces; but nearer, the little sisters of the bats,
the moths, hovered in a swarm, attracted by the white garments of the