occasion will ever again return for
entertaining at Soplicowo such dignitaries. I see, General, that you are
an expert at banquets; pray accept this book: it will be of use to you
some day when you are giving a feast for a company of foreign monarchs, or
perhaps one even for Napoleon himself. But permit me, before I tender the
book to you, to relate by what chance it fell into my hands."

Suddenly a murmur arose outside the door, and many voices shouted in
unison, "Long live Cock-on-the-Steeple!" A throng pushed into the hall,
with Maciej at their head. The Judge led the guest by the hand to the
table and gave him a high seat among the leaders, saying:--

"Pan Maciej, unkind neighbour, you come very late, when dinner is almost
over."

"I eat early," replied Dobrzynski; "I did not come here for food, but only
because I was overpowered by curiosity to see close at hand our national
army. Of this much might be said; it is neither fish, flesh, nor fowl.
These gentlemen caught sight of me and brought me here by force; and you,
sir, are compelling me to seat myself at your table--I thank you,
neighbour."

With these words he turned his plate bottom upwards, as a sign that he
would not eat, and relapsed into glum silence.

"Pan Dobrzynski," said General Dombrowski to him, "are you that famous
swordsman of the Kosciuszko times, that Maciej, called Switch! Your fame
has reached me. And pray tell me, is it possible that you are still so
hale, so vigorous! How many years have gone by! See, I have grown old;
see, Kniaziewicz too has grizzled hair; but you might still enter the
lists against young men. And your switch doubtless blooms as it did long
ago; I have heard that recently you birched the Muscovites. But where are
your brethren? I should beyond measure like to see those penknives and
razors of yours, the last relics of ancient Lithuania."

"After that victory, General," said the Judge, "almost all the Dobrzynskis
took refuge in the Grand Duchy, and must have entered one or other of the
legions."

"Why certainly," answered a young squadron commander, "I have in the
second company a mustachioed scarecrow, Sergeant-Major Dobrzynski, who
calls himself Sprinkler, but whom the Masovians call the Lithuanian bear.
If you bid me, General, we will have him brought in."

"There are several other natives of Lithuania here," said a lieutenant.
"One such soldier is known under the name of Razor; another carries a
blunderbuss and