第11章

"Two young lasses mounted on a white horse, and an old fellow with a big moustache.But the cleaver?--my beasts are hungry and so am I--the cleaver!"

"Do you know where they have lodged these travellers?"

"The host took them to the far end of the court-yard."

"The building, which overlooks the fields?"

"Yes, master--but the cleaver--"

A burst of frightful roaring shook the loft, and interrupted Goliath.

"Hark to them!" he exclaimed; "hunger has driven the beasts wild.If I could roar, I should do as they do.I have never seen Judas and Cain as they are to-night; they leap in their cages as if they'd knock all to pieces.As for Death, her eyes shine more than usual like candles--poor Death!"

"So these girls are lodged in the building at the end of the court-yard,"

resumed Morok, without attending to the observations of Goliath.

"Yes, yes--but in the devil's name, where is the cleaver? Since Karl went away I have to do all the work, and that makes our meals very late."

"Did the old man remain with the young girls?" asked Morok.

Goliath, amazed that, notwithstanding his importunities, his master should still appear to neglect the animals' supper, regarded the Prophet with an increase of stupid astonishment.

"Answer, you brute!"

"If I am a brute, I have a brute's strength," said Goliath, in a surly tone, "and brute against brute, I have not always come the worst off."

"I ask if the old man remained with the girls," repeated Morok.

"Well, then--no!" returned the giant."The old man, after leading his horse to the stable, asked for a tub and some water, took his stand under the porch--and there--by the light of a lantern--he is washing out clothes.A man with a gray moustache!--paddling in soap-suds like a washerwoman--it's as if I were to feed canaries!" added Goliath, shrugging his shoulders with disdain."But now I've answered you, master, let me attend to the beasts' supper,"--and, looking round for something, he added, "where is the cleaver?"

After a moment of thoughtful silence, the Prophet said to Goliath, "You will give no food to the beasts this evening."

At first the giant could not understand these words, the idea was so incomprehensible to him.

"What is your pleasure, master?" said he.

"I forbid you to give any food to the beasts this evening."

Goliath did not answer, but he opened wide his squinting eyes, folded his hands, and drew back a couple of steps.

"Well, dost hear me?" said Morok, with impatience."Is it plain enough?"

"Not feed? when our meat is there, and supper is already three hours after time!" cried Goliath, with ever-increasing amazement.

"Obey, and hold your tongue."

"You must wish something bad to happen this evening.Hunger makes the beasts furious--and me also."

"So much the better!"

"It'll drive 'em mad."

"So much the better!"

"How, so much the better?--But--"

"It is enough!"

"But, devil take me, I am as hungry as the beasts!"

"Eat then--who prevents it? Your supper is ready, as you devour it raw."

"I never eat without my beasts, nor they without me."

"I tell you again, that, if you dare give any food to the beasts--I will turn you away."

Goliath uttered a low growl as hoarse as a bear's, and looked at the Prophet with a mixture of anger and stupefaction.

Morok, having given his orders, walked up and down the loft, appearing to reflect.Then, addressing himself to Goliath, who was still plunged in deep perplexity, he said to him.

"Do you remember the burgomaster's, where I went to get my passport signed?--To-day his wife bought some books and a chaplet."

"Yes," answered the giant shortly.

"Go and ask his servant if I may be sure to find the burgomaster early to-morrow morning."

"What for?"

"I may, perhaps, have something important to communicate; at all events, say that I beg him not to leave home without seeing me."

"Good! but may I feed the beasts before I go to the burgomaster's?--only the panther, who is most hungry? Come, master; only poor Death? just a little morsel to satisfy her; Cain and I and Judas can wait."

"It is the panther, above all, that I forbid you to feed.Yes, her, above all the rest."

"By the horns of the devil!" cried Goliath, "what is the matter with you to-day? I can make nothing of it.It is a pity that Karl's not here;

he, being cunning, would help me to understand why you prevent the beasts from eating when they are hungry."

"You have no need to understand it."

"Will not Karl soon come back?"

"He has already come back."

"Where is he, then?"

"Off again."

"What can be going on here? There is something in the wind.Karl goes, and returns, and goes again, and--"

"We are not talking of Karl, but of you; though hungry as a wolf you are cunning as a fox, and, when it suits you, as cunning as Karl." And, changing on the sudden his tone and manner, Morok slapped the giant cordially on the shoulder.

"What! am I cunning?"

"The proof is, that there are ten florins to earn to-night--and you will be keen enough to earn them, I am sure."

"Why, on those terms, yes--I am awake," said the giant, smiling with a stupid, self-satisfied air."What must I do for ten florins?"

"You shall see."

"Is it hard work?"

"You shall see.Begin by going to the burgomaster's--but first light the fire in that stove." He pointed to it with his finger.

"Yes, master," said Goliath, somewhat consoled for the delay of his supper by the hope of gaining ten florins.

"Put that iron bar in the stove," added the Prophet, "to make it red-hot."

"Yes, master."

"You will leave it there; go to the burgomaster's, and return here to wait for me."

"Yes, master.

"You will keep the fire up in the stove."

"Yes, master."

Morok took a step away, but recollecting himself, he resumed: "You say the old man is busy washing under the porch?"

"Yes, master."

"Forget nothing: the iron bar in the fire--the burgomaster--and return here to wait my orders." So saying, Morok descended by the trap-door and disappeared.