l through the window on the table, trembling like a spirit in
Purgatory; from the vaults beneath rats leapt out through holes, like the
souls of the damned; they gnawed and drank; at times in a corner a
forgotten champagne bottle would pop as a toast to the spirits.

But on the second story, in the room that was still called the mirror
room, though the mirrors were gone, stood the Count on the balcony facing
the gate. He was cooling himself in the breeze; he had put his long coat
on only one arm, folding the other sleeve and the skirts about his neck
and draping his breast with the coat as with a cloak. Gerwazy was walking
with long steps through the apartment; both were deep in thought, and were
talking together.

"Pistols," said the Count, "or, if they prefer, sabres."

"The castle," said the Warden, "and the village, both are ours."

"Challenge the uncle, the nephew," exclaimed the Count, "the whole
family!"

"Seize the castle," exclaimed the Warden, "the village and the lands!"--As
he said this he turned to the Count.--"If you wish to have peace, take
possession of the whole. Of what use is the lawsuit, my boy! The affair is
plain as day: the castle has been in the hands of the Horeszkos for four
hundred years; a part of the estate was torn from it in the time of the
Targowica confederacy, and, as you know, given into the possession of the
Soplica. You ought to take from them not only that part, but the whole,
for the costs of the suit, and as punishment for their plundering. I have
always said to you, let lawsuits alone; I have always said to you, raid
them, make a foray97 on them. That was the ancient custom: whoever once
possessed an estate was the heir thereof; win in the field and you will
win in the court too. As for our ancient quarrels with the Soplicas, for
them I have a little penknife that is better than a lawsuit; and, if
Maciej gives me the aid of his switch, then we two together will chop
those Soplicas into fodder."

"Bravo!" said the Count, "your plan, of Gothico-Sarmatian stamp, pleases
me better than the wrangling of advocates. See here! Through all Lithuania
we will make a stir by an expedition such as has not been heard of for
many a long day. And we shall enjoy it ourselves. For two years have I
been abiding here, and what fighting have I ever seen? With boors over a
boundary line! Our expedition, however, promises bloodshed; in one such I
took part during my travels. When I tarried in Sici