Jadlowker had been sitting in Kapturak’s house for several weeks now. He could not stand it, so he made an excursion. He thought that on a market day in Zlotogrod he would not encounter any acquaintances, not even in Litwak’s inn. Would you believe it! Along came the new gendarme and his old enemy, Eibenschütz. It was thoughtless, even careless, to attract attention by spitting.

He took a very roundabout way to get back to Kapturak’s house from the forest into which he had fled. The frost was severe; fortunately one could risk walking over the bogs. He waited in the forest until night had completely set in. Then he marched southwards, along the whole length of the curve which the marshes formed round the little town. The frost was certainly a blessing but he was horribly cold. His whole body felt stung and scourged. In the short fur coat Jadlowker was wearing he froze just as much as if he had been dressed only in a shirt.

It was already far into the night when he reached Kapturak’s house. Now the fear which he had suppressed with all his might on the way began to fill him with redoubled strength: namely, the fear that the gendarme might already be there, waiting for him. He decided to tap very softly on the window shutter. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Kapturak step outside. Kapturak beckoned him in. A new fear gripped him: could one trust even Kapturak? – But whom else? he presently said to himself, and he came closer.

They went in. Kapturak sent his wife out into the kitchen. ‘Sit down, Jadlowker,’ said Kapturak. ‘What are you up to? Do you want to destroy yourself and me as well? Are you a grown man? Are you a youth? Are you playing pranks? Schoolboy pranks?’

‘I couldn’t help myself,’ said Jadlowker.

‘You were probably recognized,’ said Kapturak. ‘I heard all about it afterwards from Litwak. I knew at once it was you. Naturally, I didn’t show any sign. What are you going to do now?’

The half-frozen and perplexed Jadlowker – his ears burned like red lamps on both sides – said: ‘I don’t know!’

‘I’ve decided,’ declared Kapturak, ‘to shut you up. You’ll be better off here with me than in Zloczow jail.’

Where does one hide an endangered guest? Inexperienced people hide him in the cellar. And that is a mistake. If there’s a house search, the first place the gendarmes go to is the cellar. No one can escape from a cellar. Experienced people, on the other hand, shut up an endangered guest in the attic. That is where the gendarmes go last of all. Besides, it is easier to hear what is going on from up there. Thirdly, there is a skylight. One has fresh air and one can make a quick getaway.