The Mantle and Other Stories

t that he had a guest with him, the brandy-distiller. The latter had been sent to superintend the building of a distillery for the lords of the manor, who possessed sm

the idea of taking a little recreation, and had now settled itself comfortably at the headman's table. Close under his nose bristled his short, thick moustache, which in the dim, smoky atmosphere resembled a mouse which the distiller had caught and held in his mouth, usurping the functions of a dining-room cat. The headman sat

to the distiller and putting his hand before his g

figure eight with his feet on his way home." So saying, the distiller laughed so heartily that his small eyes disa

ow, thank heaven, the number of distilleries is increasing a little; but in the old d

the infernal Germans have invented? They say they will no longer use wood for fuel in the distilleries, but devilish steam." At these wo

s of dogs a good thrashing. Whoever heard of cooking with steam? At this rate one

r-in-law, who was sitting by the stove; "will y

If she were only pa

n?" asked the headman w

face as full of wrinkles as an empty purse," s

t removing his cap, and remained standing in an absent-minded way in the middle of the room, wit

etch. I went on and on, and there was no end. My legs are quite broken. Woman, bring me my fur blanket to lie down on. There it is in the corner; b

ut an invincible power f

omes into a strange house, and behaves as though

his kind, our distillery would get on grandly...." For the rest, it was not good-nature which inspired these words. The distille

runk, but no, I am not! Why should I lie? I am ready to tell the headman to his face! Who is the headman anyw

, breaking a window-pane to pieces, fell at his feet. The headman remained standing. "If I knew," he said, "what jail-bird has thrown it, I would give him

the distiller, looking pale. "God keep you in thi

his defender! M

't know what happened to

other-i

All at once a stranger entered-heaven knows whence!-and asked to be allowed to share their meal. They could not refuse to feed a hungry man, and gave him also a wooden fork. But the guest made as short work with the dumplings as a cow with hay. Before the family had each of them finished his or her dumpling and reached out their forks again for another, the dish had been swept as clean as the floor of a nobleman's drawing-room. M

ight, the cur

ouse. He then sits astride the chimney, the scoundrel, holding a dumpling between his teeth. During the day it is quite quiet-one hears a

end! I heard something

trings of a guitar were being struck gently, to the accompaniment of a voice. Then the guitar was play

little on one side, to the headman who was almost petrified

is a pity that they

way a crafty cat often allows an inexperienced mouse to play about her tail, while she is quickly devising a plan to cut it off from the mouse-hole. The headman's one eye was still fastened on the window, and his hand, after he had given the village councillor a sign, wa

dragging someone muffled up in a sheepskin c

at the face of this disturber of the peace; but he starte

med the headman again as he dragg

, and followed him as quietly as

will throw him in there! Then we will awake the clerk, call the village counci

n the darkness of the vestibule, the prisoner made a d

xclaimed the headman, holding

" a half-stifled voi

imitating a woman, but you won't get round me." So saying, he thrust the prisoner

betook himself to the clerk's; they were followed by the distiller,

a cry and started back in consequence of coming into collision with three other men, who on their side shouted with

coming to yo

n my way to

range goings-

ey are, yo

m then?" asked the

guage. They are abusing your honour in a way-in a word, it is a

nd yeast-coloured waistcoat, kept on stretching

rating, but while I was putting on my breeches and vest, they all ran away. But the ringleader has not escaped; for the present he is shut up in the h

does he wear

black sheepskin coat turne

? The same good-for-nothing is now shut

he long bow a little yourself, and

e will take a loo

oor was opened, and the headman groaned for sheer amaz

up in the dark room? It is a mercy I did not break my head against the iron door hinge. Didn't I shout out that it was I? Then he seized me, the cursed bear,

!" said the headman, who had s

nd a scoundrel, Mr C

ainly, you

oose fellows a lesson, that they may at

high time, y

that? It sounded like my sister-in-law's voice. The bl

cannot keep these cursed dates in my memory, if I was to be killed for it. Well, never mind when it was, the Commissary Ledatcho was commanded to choo

served the imperial favour. But confess now that I was right: you made a mistak

r? Then we will tackle the other fellows. I don't forget how the scamps drove a whole herd of swine into my garden, which ate up all the cabbages and cucumbers; I don't fo

whole conversation had been as full of smoke as a siege-cannon, and wh

d a key and tried to turn the lock, but it did not fit; it was the key of his trunk. The impatience of the onlookers increased. He plunged his hand int

man turned as white as a sheet. The distiller felt a shiver run down his spine, and his hair stood on end. Terror and apprehension were stamped on the no

but recovered herself somewhat, and m

irs, Satan is behind this!" he continued. "Bring fire quickly! Never mind the

; no ordinary fire will burn a witch. Only the fire of a pipe can do it. I will manage it all right." S

woman courage; she began to

is really no witch!" said the notary. "If the person sitting in there declares h

nued the notary, speaking at a chink in the door. "

or was

man, looking round him for a safe pl

in-law cros

is really you,

d you into this hole, fr

shed her through a large window into the hut, on which they had closed the shutters. The notary looked and found that t

u were glad of an opportunity to get me shut up in order to run after that petticoat, so that no one could see the grey-haired sinner making a fool of himself. You think I don't know how you tal

her fist, and ran away swiftly, le

hing to do with it!" he tho

med the two village counc

you?" asked

l in the

seizing the prisoner by the arm. "Are

rascals were rushing about in the narrow side-streets, dancing and behaving like idiots-th

an, "I issue the order to seize these robbers and other young vagabonds which

y see the hideous faces they had; may heaven punish us if ever anyone has seen such miscr

h them! You mutineers! What is the meaning of that? What? You abet robbery and murder! You

rsed in differ