LOKIS

ab Prosper Mérimée

ID KAWU OS PROFESSOR WITTEMBACH

Theodor, iey Poti Professor Wittembach, plais dahte mi tod cadern samt pergamenjilid, ep dwoter
gjia, uper id secretaire ; ne tod, sontern id smulk octavo. Ter ho samghat vasya notes os mien 1866
diar, bariem ta qua se refernt ad Graf Szemioth.

Is professor vohsit sien bril, ed, medsu id profundsto silence, lis quo sehkwt :

LOKIS

samt tod lietuvan proverb ka epigraph :

Miszka su Lokiu,
Abu du tokiu.

Kun paruit in London id presto tarjem iom Saint Scriptures in lietuvan bahsa, publicim, do id
Scientific ed Literar Gazette os Königsberg, un article in-yod sammel laudim ia efforts ios doctios
tulk ed ia zakir intentions ios Biblic Societat, io credih dehlge mehlde oik mulayim rhalts eti
kauihsim od tod version ghohd ses util tik uni part iom lietuvan populations. Moliet ghi prete id
usen dialect im weikers iom dems quer est bahn id jemayt bahsa, yani ios prever hercegdem
Jemaytia, bahsa maghses dar prokwer sanskrit quem uberlietuvan est. Tod observation, nespekent ia
rhaddeb critiques id mi attraxit ud fulan professor suagnoht in id Universitat os Dorpat, exclarit iens
honorable members ios administrationsconcil ios Biblic Societat, ed id ne kung de mi addresse id
flatterant proposen om jusaye ed uperwakhe id redactions ios Euanghelios sekwent Matyah do
jemayt. Eem tun pior besic ob mien studyes de ia transuralsk bahsas yoitkwe io khiek enderghende
un plauter orbat quod habiet compris ia quar Euanghelia. Hoanend-ye ghi mien wehden con Potnika
Getrude Weber, gwahsim Kowno (Kaunas) kwahskwnd quanta linguistic monuments drucken we
handscriben do jemayt bahsa ghehdiem mi procure, aun neglege, weidwos, ia folkspoesis, dainos, ia
narns au legends, pasakos, qua mi dadwient documents pro un jemayt werdskaut, orbat quod
dehlgiet bayad precedde tod os tarjem.

Mi hieb esen dahn un brev pro iom yun graf Michel Szemioth, quos pater, mi eet sigwrn, hiebit
possess id fameus Catechismus Samogiticus os Pater Lawiçki, tem rar quem idspet existence buit
contestet ab iom Dorpater professor ho-yom just allus. In eys bibliotheque wohs, sekwent ia
malumats qua mi hieb esen dahn, un veut collection om dainos, tem quem poesis in id awo prussisk
bahsa. Scribus ad Graf Szemioth kay ei bfwendwane id ziel miens visite, io diek ud iom id
maedwnst invitation ad spende in eyso chateau os Medintiltas id hol wakt naudht ab mien paursken.
Is ensit sien brev saygend-ye mi med id meist graciu weidos od is eet mynder os quasi suabahe
jemayt tem quem sienens nowngmins, ed od esiet norocto de yunges sien efforts mienims pro un
enderghenden is kwit ka megil ed interessant. Ed kam oiks iom richest zamindars Lietuvas, is eet os
protestant agama, quos pastor ho id honor os ses. Io hieb est maunt od is graf ne eet aun sem
pinseingbizarria, sonst meg-ye gostprimav, prient om sciences ed letters, ed besonters dabron pro
qui keule ia. Fortrohcim ghi do Medintiltas.

Ep ia frontstieupens ios château, buim sellgwohmt ab iom intendant ios graf, qui me duxit fauran do
id appartment preparet kay loge me.
 – Is Poti Graf, is mi iey, ouzert de mae ghehde dinner con Poti Professor. Est bolnav ob
khaketha, siuge quod way heiht ops iom. Sei Poti Professor ne eiskwt kem ei buit serven in
eys kamer, is dinnersiet con Poti Doctor Fröber, liek as Potnia Grafin. Dinnersiemos in oin
saat ; ne mutavehsmos. Sei Poti Professor wehlskwt, en id kinkin.

Is oisgwohm pos dientowus.

Id appartment eet vast, suameublen, ornen med specules ed kjins. Id uperspohc ex uter gon un
garden au petis id park ios château, ex alter id grand curt os honor. Nespekent id warnen « ne
mutavehsmos », io credih dehlge ghende ex mien sunduk mien sword vehsmen. Eem in camiss,
expackend mieno smulk bagage, kun un woghblosk attraxit me claus id fenster quod uperspohc id
curt. Un bell calesche hieb just entren. Id mathmounit un sworddun dame, un poti ed un gwen samt
id sam trakh quem ians lietuvanens nowngminas quem buim tentet ad aye iam un desguiset wir. Ia
stigh ex ka prest ; dwo alyas gwens, kwecto tem robust, ja stahr ep ia frontstieupens. Is poti se clih
kyam sworddun dame ed, ye mieno megil surprise, disiep un plaut werwn quod pag iam aysi sedd
in id calesche. Kieusim od id kays tas dame eet meg chapachul, ed od ays alnos ghyant okwi kwohk
aunmov : ia tengicit un woxfigure. Pos leuvs iam, eys sokwi wohkwit iam, samt nidohrjt hat ed
maung respect ; bet ia kwecto dahsit ei neid attention. Tun, is vols kyans slougas pos dahvs iabs uno
mulayim capznayc. Fauran ias tri gwens siz iam sworddun dame ed, speit ays efforts kay antgripes
id calesche, rieb iam kam un ptor ed bohr iam endo id château. Tod scene hieb ka weitwoods plur
slougs ios dom qui kwohk aye to meg ordinar.

Is wir qui hieb duct id operation salgih sien saat ed sprohg an vahsit bihe mox dinnern.

– In un horquardel Poti Doctor, ei buit antwohrdt.

Ne mi molicit tarke io vis Doctor Fröber, ed od ia sworddun dame eet ia grafin. Yeji ays oumer, io
conclus ia eet ia mater os Graf Szemioth, ed kam eet permidto dia iam destull mohld od ays aum eet
alteret.

Oik instants serters, isswo doctor entrit mien kamer.

– Is Poti Graf est bolnav, is mi iey, skeulo meswo presente ad Poti Professor. Som Doctor
Fröber. Maaf de bignohe un mualim quos merit est gnoht ab vasyens qui leis id Scientific ed
Literar Gazette os Königsberg. Vos esiet amat kem vos bihiet servet ?

Io antwohrd bilkull beirst eysims compliments, ed ei sieyg od, sei eet dinnertid, eem parato de
sehkwe iom.

Yant entram id mejeina, un oberkellner nos anac, sekwent id nordswehdos, un argwrnt tepji beklas
med liqueurs ed oik saldic ed meg spissic mets seuwtil appetitt.

- Permitte mi, Poti Professor, mi iey is doctor, vos recommande, ka liek, un glas tos starka, druv
Cognac eau-de-vie, pon quargim yars in id butt. Est id mater iom liqueurs. Eddte ghi un Drontheim
anchova, neid ghehdt kreins ghyane ed prepare id digestive tract, importantst organ... Ed nun, smad
meje ! Ma ne smad bahe deutsch ? Ste ex Königsberg, ego ex Memel ; yed ho studyet in Iena. It
sessiemos leurer, ed i khadims, qui sagve tik polec ed rusk, nient prete nos.

Mejam preter silent ; dind, pos drehnkus un prest glas Madeiravin, io sprohg iom liek an is graf eet
frequent-ye bolnav ob id zayfia quod beghsih nos eys presence.

– Ya ed no, antwohrd is doctor ; to dependt ia excursions is kwehrt.

 – Qua tar ?
– Kun kwehrt itner kye Rosienye, mathalan, is reic' samt khakethe ed gver dumos.
– Ioswo ho gwahn Rosienye aun lik accident.
– To est due, Poti Professor, antwohrd is gleihnd-ye, id fact yu ne ste enliubhen.

Io kwohster mehnend-ye de Potnika Gertrude Weber.

– Iaghi fiancee os Poti Graf weict in Rosienye ? Ieyim.

– Ya, in id atraf. Fiancee ?... Woidim neid de. Un druv kharnika ! Ia leuseihsiet iom eys aum,
kam quo wakyit eysi mater.
– Credeihmghi od Potnia Grafin est... sieug ?
– Ia est foll, dorgv Poti, fol ! Ed ego som is follst, ob gwehmus hetro !
– Smad spehe od vies gohd ilaja ay redahsient sieune.

Is liekar scussit sien capo parchehxend-ye id color uns glas Bordeauvin is dohrj in sien hand.

– Ego quom yu vidte, Poti Professor, eem chirug-major in id Kaluga regiment. In Sevastopoli
eems ex aghyern do vesper segend brakhs ed jambs ; ne udwekwno ia bombes qua gwohm
kam muschi kyun skohnen ekwem ; yed, dusloget, duspiut, kam eem tun, ne me plictissim
kam her, quer io meje ed drehnko id leckerst, quem som loget kam un peurst, samt un salair
os hofliek... Ah, lure, dorgv Poti ! Fikert ghi od ob tam diablin neti ho un moment pro me !
– Est ia betrusen pondiu viesi experience ?
– Minter quem dwo yars ; bet est foll pon lytst-ye dwogimsept, yant pre id gnahsa ios graf. To
ne vos narren in Rosienye ni in Kowno ? Kleute ghi, ob est un fall de-yod scripskwo sem
dien un article in id Medical Journal os Saint Petersburg. Ia bihsit foll ob paur...
– Ob paur ? Quosmed est to possible ?
– Ex un paur ia subih. Ia est ex id familia os Kestutis... Oh ! In cid dom, ne dusghament.
Descendent ex Gediminas... Also, Poti Professor, tri diens... au dwo diens pos sien wehden,
quod muss in cid chateau quer dinnerms (prosit!)... is graf, pater cios, abgwaht saysum. Nies
lietuvan potnias sont amazones, kam yu woid. Iaschi grafin gwaht saysum... Ia man' caudi
we udreidt iens venors... Io ne woid quoter... Gohd ! Stayg vidt is graf arrive rusches argist
iom smulk kosak ias grafin, un dwodemat au quardemat magv.
– « Mayster », is sayct, « Un urx rapt iam Potnia ! »
– « Quetro tar ? » sayct is graf.
– « Tetro ! » deict is smulk kosak.
– Id hol partie reidt quetro is kyeust ; nia grafin ! Ye uter gon ays strangulen ekwis, ye alter
ays kyurk in kentha. Biht paursc', biht venet bachimien. Bad scriet un venor : « Her gwehmt
el urx ! » Elghi urx tohr un lawc, dar sehlkend iam grafin, aundwoi kay gwahe praessum iam
samt comfort in un tegut, tighi animals sont gourmetes. Dinnernt gairn in pridem, kam ies
munks. Sesneubmen pon dwo diens, is graf eet baygh rittersk, is uperfiellskwt iom urx,
dagaghesor ; bet, dorgv Poti, un lietuvan urx ne sint leuds transbaure iom kam un kerv.
Noroc-ye, is seise ios graf, un destull khiter goil, tem makhmour ye tod dien quem is khiek
enderkwites un diork ud un cuincule, strehl' med sien carabine unte meis quem cen' stieups
dalg, aun kaure de woide an id glonce heihiet iom gver au iam gwen...
– Ed is gvohn iom urx ?
– Yaghi. Tik drehnkniks ghehde strehle lika. Sontschi predestinet glonces, Poti Professor.
Hams her brukhs quoy pehrne sems po prabh pris... Ia grafin eet baygh grobosvurnt,
bayaldisset, way naturelika, uter jamb brohgen. Biht tobohrn, ia disbayaldisset ; bet aum
hieb slit. Biht wohghen do Saint Petersburg. Megil consultations, quar lieks adornen med
vasya ordens. Saygent : « Potnia Grafin kyuheiht, ays orneuwen siet shayad bestehme un
ryowkhowo crise. Ke biht gwupen in sell air ruri, samt tenkel, codeine... » Ielgi bihn' dahn
 centen rublyen. Nev munts poskwo, ia grafin gehnt un wal pwarn ; bet id ryowkhowo crise ?
Ah ya !.... Id rage redoublet. Id graf ay deict ays son. To semper effect... in romans. « Neicte
iom ! Neicte iom gver ! » scriet ia ; ia vahsit brehge eys coll ! Tuntos, alternations om stupid
follia au furieus mania. Skeulmos diehnes iam kay bringhes iam dworis. Tehrbmos tri
kreptic slougas kay dare iam. Lakin, Poti Professor, plais notet tod fact : quando neti woidim
quod kwehre kay ia me obedeiht, iam tehrgo de sege ays kays. Prevst, suppono, id eet meg
bell. Kharenmenos ! Eno sens' mensckhisses hat aptermant. Kwe ne goil ? Sei ghehdiem
instrumente to kamlibt, kad kaylsiem iam.
– Quosmed tar ?
– Plagelnd-ye iam. Ho kaylt it dwogim nowngminas in un weik quer hieb udbrohct tod
furieus rusk follia, id gaheulos ; oin gwen heult, ays sokwnia naheult. Pos tri dens, id hol
weik heult. Pelu plagelvs ians, ho uperwohndt ians (Emte ghi un yerub, son' melsk). Is graf
hat naiwo vol' ke peitiem.
– Kam tar ? Volte yu ke consentiet vies abominable ilaj ?
– Oh ! Is hat tem pau gnohn sien mater, eti est pro eys brungos ; yed, saycte mi Poti Professor,
habiete yu aiwo crediht od paur ghehdiet leusihes aum ?
– Id situation ias grafin eet gargic... Pehde inter ia noghs talgios gver !
– Yed ays son ne samkwehct iam. Minter quem oin yar prever hat is wohsen exact-ye in id
sam lyoga ed, dank sien chienjwakow, hat is nohs' daumos-ye.
– Ex ia noghs uns urx ?
– Uns urxias, ed ias bulandstias diutos vis. Is graf hat uperfallskwn iam dorughesor. Fu ! Med
un revers, ia arct id doru, empunc' Poti Graf ed xeubht iom ghomtro tem facil-ye quem
volveihiem tod botel. Is, haraf, simulet mohrt... Ia urx hat nust, nust iom, poskwo, instet
xehne iom, linct iom. Is hieb akel de ne move, ed ia hat abstohmpt.
– Ia urx hat credihn is eet mortu. Hoghi klun ti gvers ne praedde cadavers.
– Zaruri est credihes to ed abstehme experience to personal-ye ; bet dayir paur, sinte me vos
narre un storia ex Sevastopoli. Eems penk au six ambh un potire bir quod nos hieb esen just
brighen apter id ambulance ios fameus nastion adadh 5. Is straj criet : « Un bombe ! » Wey
quanti skandmos ghom brous ; no, ne quanti : Officier... oh, est inutil sayge eys nam... un
yun officier qui hieb just arriven bayna nos nastahsit, just kun id bombe explos. Id spranct id
cap miens orm driug Andrei Speranski, un brav pwarn, ed brohg id potire ; noroc-ye, eet
edvas tuich. Quando stahsam tsay pos id blast, vidmos medsu id sword dum nies prien' qui
sorpsit id sens' slung siens bir, kamsei neid habiet wakyen. Iom credihsam un heroy. Posdini,
io incontre Hetman Ghedeonov, qui sielg id hospital. Is mi sayct : « Io dinner con vosmee
hoyd, ed kay celebre mien reiken, paygho id champagne. » Seddmos claus meja. Is yun
officier ios bir eet ter. Un botel biht aunstuppen prokwem iom... Paf ! Id stupper heiht eys
temper. Is emitt un crie ed kheiss' newal. Credeihte od mien heroy hieb haben ifrat paur ye
preter ker ed od, sei is hieb drohnken sien bir instet skande brous, est ob is hieb lust sien
aum, ed ob ei etilkwit tik oin machinal mov quod is ne conscicit. Elghi mensc est un
machine, Poti Professor...
– Poti Doctor, iey un khadim entrevs id sall, ia Jdanova sayct od Potnia Grafin ne eddskwt.
– Kem is diabel todreibht iam ! Grumel is liek. Dehlgo tetro. Quando habsiem eddihn mien
diablin, Poti Professor, kwe maghiemos, sei vos esiet amat, lyt likes préférence au
duratschki ?

Io express ei samt regrets io ne siegv, ed, kun is hieb abgwahn kye sien sieugu, io stigh do mien
kamer ed scripsim do Potnika Gertrude.
 II

Id noct eet warm, ed io hieb likwn ghyant id fenster quod uperspohc id park. Scribus mien brev, nel-
ye swehpskwnd, io vichohx ia lietuvan irregular verbs ed pieursk in sanskrit ia causes iren different
sonterkweits. Medsu tod orbat quod absorpsit me, un dru destull nieber miens fenster buit gvaltic-ye
sroht. Io ieur turs ozda cracke ed mi kwohk od semis meg-ye gwaur animal pit glehme tetro. Dar
meg beswurghen ab ia urxenstorias is liek mi hieb narren, stahsim ub, ne aun un certain
apprehension, ed oik peds dalg ud mien fenster, in id brem ios dru, io dyohrc uno mensccap, alnos
beluct ab mien lampe. Id prehpen durit tik unte oin instant, bet id aunsam arg iom okwis qua
incontreer mien spect ubfiell me meis quem sagviem sayge. Mien corpos involuntar-ye movit retro,
dind io curs kyid fenster ed, med un strehng ton, io sprohg iom intrus quo is volit. Lakin, is oistighit
ghom in hol hast ed, seizend un taungh ozd med sien hands, is se sis hange, dind skande ghomtro,
ed fauran disprohp. Io swohn ; un khadim entrit. Ei narrim quo hieb just wakyet.

– Aundwoi proe-rhalt Poti Professor.

– Som yakin de quo saygo, gwut io. Baym est un fur in id park.
– Impossible, Poti.
– Tun, est semquis ios dom ?

Is khadim disstier aun mi antwehrde. Is visprohg me an iter wohlskwim iom. Io sieyg ei clude id
fenster ed lyohgim do crovat.

Io meg suaswohp, aun drehme de urxens ni de furs. Ye id aghyern, eem zalavend me, kun mien
dwer buit oistuden. Io ghyien ed wohs face uno meg buland ed bell yuwen, in bukharo khalat, ed
dehrjend in sien hand un long tyrk pipe.

– Gwehmo ad prehge ke me pardonte, Poti Professor, de tem duspreimus un gost kam vos.
Som Graf Szemioth.

Io spohd ad antwehrde od io dohlg, bilax, danke iom humil-ye de eyso schungjin gostprimieve, ed
io sprohg iom an eys khakethe hieb likwn iom.

– Edvas ya, iey is. Tiel un nov crise, gwut is sat un trist wajkho. Ste yu tolerable-ye her? Plais
mehmte od ste bim barbars. Anghen ne tehrpt ses difficil in Jemaytia.

Ei sigwrim io khiss daumost-ye. Sammel quem eem wehkwnd iom, io khiek mi stambhes dyies iom
med un curiositat ioswo pohndim nedohbro. Eyso spect hieb semjecto stragno quod mehmih me
protievol tod ios wir quom perdini io hieb viden glehme id dru...

– Bet ma tar, io sieyg in me, od Poti Graf Szemioth glehmti drus nocts !

Eyso chol eet hog ed sunder quayque lyt angh. Eys traits eent unios megil regularitat ; tik, eys okwi
eent pior prokwem mutu, ed mi kwohk od, ex uter dakrughelgh do alter, ne tehlpiet oin ok, kam
naudht ab id canon iom hellen sculptors. Eyso spect eet nafiz. Nies okwi incontreer mutu plurs
protievol, ed weybo diswohrt ia samt un certain embarasse. Fauran, is ilaynd graf scricit :

– Yu me habte recogniht !
– Recogniht ?
– Ya, yu me habte surpris ghes, menxu io hieb glewos.
– Oh, Poti Graf !
 – Io hieb passet id hol dien meg bolnav, kyalbohnden in mien maktab. Ye id vesper, kheissend
waler, ho spasseren in id garden. Ho vis luce in vies kamer, ed ho cess ad curiositat...
Habiem dohbhen dahe mien nam ed me presente, bet id situation eet tem joking... Ho
aygven ed mwaungsoun... Siete yu pardone me ob steurbus vos medsu vies orbat ?

To hol eet sayct med un ton quod iskwit ses elangver; bet is erudh ed eet okwivid-ye bfuyow. Io
kwohr quanto depensit me kay persuade iom io hieb gwupt neid ghyalir pondos tos prest incontren,
ed kay bragvye tod topic, io sprohg iom an is druv-ye possess id jemayt Catechisme os Pater
Lawiçki.

– Maghses ; bet kay sayge vos druve, ne pior gnohm id bibliotheque miens pater. Is kiem veut
buks ed rartats. Ego tik leiso moderne wehrgs ; bet siemos paurske, Poti Professor. Yughi
volte ke leismos id Euanghelium in jemayt ?
– Ne mehnte yu, Poti Graf, od un tarjem iom Scriptures do id bahsa tos land esiet meg
eiskwet ?
– Sigwra ; yed, sei yu acceptet mi permitte un smulk observation, vos saycsiem od, bayna i
leuds qui ne sagve alyo bahsa quem jemayt, ne est oin quel sagv' lises.
– Maghses ; bet prehgo Vies Excellence ke poitto kauihes iom od id megs' difficultat kay uces
lises est id mank buken. Quan id jemayt gaivia habsiet un drucken texte, eiskwsient lises id,
ed eucsient lises id... To hat ja wakyen ad pelu yeambans... aun kwitskwes it i weikers tos
land... Eti, gwut io, kwe ne est un deplorable ject od un bahsa disprehpt aun linkwes traces ?
Pon trigimtia yaren, id prussisk est neid meis quem un mortu bahsa. Ia senst anghen qua
siegv kernewic mohr nuper...
– Trist ! Interrup is graf. Alexander von Humboldt narrit mieni pater is hieb gnohn in America
un papagall quel saul wois oik werds ios bahsa uns teut nundiens alnos destruct ab dow.
Permittiete yu ke chay biht bright hetro ?

Menxu pohsam chay, tolkam de id jemayt bahsa. Is graf blami kam i Deutschi hant drucken
lietuvan, ed is sieyg prabh.

– Vies alphabet, iey is, ne dehbh' nies bahsa. Yu habte neter nies J, ni nies L, ni nies Y, ni nies
E. Ho un collection om dainos publien peruti in Königsberg, ed mi alnos moliet skwites ia
werds, tantghi stragn-ye sont orthographt.
– Vies Excellence tolct aundwoi de Lessners dainos ?
– Ya, est meg fade poesis, kwe ne ?
– Kad habiet kreins trohft. Samstehmo od, kam id est, tod kitab hat un pur-ye philologic
interesse ; bet credeihm od sei biht suapaursct, ghehdiemos kwahe swader flors bayna vies
folkspoesis.
– Way ! Meg dwoim de, nespekent mien hol patriotisme.
– Oik hevds prever, mi buit dahn in Wilno un druve-ye bell doina, eti historic... Ids poesis est
skaun... Mi permittiete yu ke vos id leiso ? Ho id in mien portfeuyl.
– Meg libter.

Is sess deub do sien foteuyl pos sib udprehgus ud me id permission os dumes.

– Comprehendo poesis tik deumend-ye, iey is.

– Ids titule est Ies Tri Sunus os Budrys.
– Ies Tri Sunus os Budrys ? Scricit is graf samt un surprise mov.
– Ya. Budrys, Vies Excellence woid to kreins quem ego, est un historic person.

Is graf stier ad me med sien aunsam spect. Semject indefinible, sammel timid ed lyut, quod dugh un
quasi muschkil pondos, quando anghen ne hieb viswohdt to. Io spohd ad bilises kay skape to.

IES TRI SUNUS OS BUDRYS

In id ghehrd siens castell, veut Budrys kalt sien tri sunus, tri druv Lietuvans kam is. Iens wehkwt  :
«  Purts, foddert vies maurks, paratte voster seddels ; kwehnte voster sabers ed javelins. Inwert
Wilno biht weir declaret contra ia tri wangwls ios mund. Algirdas siet marche contra iens Ruskens ;
Skirgayla contra nies nieber Polecs ; Kestutis uperfallsiet id Deutsch Orden. Ste yun, nert, serbese,
gwahte weightum : ke Lietuvas divs vos protege  ! Hoyar, niem campagne, yed vos dahskwo un
radh. Ste tri, tri itners ghyahnt ant vos.

Oin ex vos hamrahtu Algirdas do Russ, ana lac Ilmen, pod Novgorods murs. Kormentwacs,
broschgodwehbs, lyehgent ter plukwid. Bi iens tajirs tant rublyes quem yegils in id fluv.

Is dwot sehkwtu Kestutis in eys reiden. Kaydtu id cruceit woghlo ! Ginter, ter, est ir marsand ; ira
draps, per ir lampertat ed ir colors, sont aunegal. Sont rubins in ia povestis iren prystern.

Is trit uperreidt id Niemen con Skirgayla. Ocolo, trehfsiet vil aralats. Punor, maghsiet chuses gohd
lances, nert schilds, ed mi bringhsiet tetos unu snus.

Ias piegs Polskas, purts, sont ias bellstas niesen kapts. Frolic kam catas, kwit kam smantan ! Sub ir
sworda brovs, ir okwi bleige kam dwo stars. Quan eem yun, un pwolsecule prever, ho brighto tsay
ex Poslka un bell kaptu qua buit mien esor. Diuper mohrit, bet khako spehce kye tod gon ios hem
aun mehne de iam !  »

Blaght iens yuwens, quoy ja sont armen ed ep seddel. Fortrehcent : osyern gwehmt, dind ghim... Ne
reikent. Ja veut Budrys iens ayt mortus.

Gwehmt uno sneigvstorm ; un reider reuscht proscher, tegend med sien sword burka sem precieus
behrmen.

– Est un sack, ayt Burdys. Pehldt med Novgorods rublyes ?...

– No, pater. Vos bringho unu snus ex Polska.

Medsu uno sneigvstorm, gwehmt un reider proscher ed eys burka oidt ep sem precieus behrmen.

– Quod est tod, purt ? Ginter ex Deutschland ?

– No, pater. Vos bringho unu snus ex Polska.

Sneigvo fallt in firtinas ; un reider gwehmt prosch kehlend sub sien burka sem precieus behrmen...
Bet, pre is hat dict sien lwon, Budrys hat kwayso sien prients uni trit nuptia.

– Tabrick ! Poti Professor, scricit is graf : yu pronuncet jemayt daumos-ye ; bet quel vos hat
communiet tod jamile daina ?
– Un potnika quam ho habt id honor os bignohe in Wilno, bay peurstin Katazyna Paç.
– Ed yu kalte iam ?
– Panna Iwinska.
– Potnika Iulka ! Scricit is graf. Ia smulk foll ! Habiem sollt tarke iam ! Mien dorgv professor,
yu sagvte jemayt ed vasya alim bahsas, yu habte list vasya awa buks ; bet yu vos habte sist
mystifie ab un smulk pieg qua hat lisen tik romans. Ia vos hat tarjen, do un meis au minter
correct jemayt, oin iom jamile doinas os Micliewicz, quod yu ne habte list, ob ne est veuter
 quem ego. Sei yu eiskwte, vahm vos dikes id in polec, we, sei yu preferte un excellent rusk
tarjem, vos dahsiem Puschkin.

Itirafo io remien alnos hayran. Quod un joy pro iom Dorpater professor, sei habiem publien ka
genuin id daina iom sunus os Budrys !

Instet habe glewos de mien embarasse, is graf, samt nafassat politesse, spohd ad diswehrte id
conversation.

– Also, iey is, yu gnohte Potnika Iulka ?

– Ho habt id honor os bihe presentet ay.
– Ed quod mehnte yu de, ste frank.
– Est un baygh maedwn potnika.
– Yaghi !
– Ia est meg jamile.
– Oh !
– Quod tar ? Kwe ne hat ia bellst okwi tienxia ?
– Ya...
– Un cuit os druve-ye extraordinar kweitos ?... Mehmo un parsi rhasal quer un maaschouk
celebret id fayntat ios cuit siens parika. « Quan ia drehnct rudhvin, ayt is, biht viden srues
unte ays gurgule ». Panna Iulka me mehneiht de ta parsi stiches.
– Kad porc' Potnika Iulka tod phenomen ; yed ne pior woidim an hat sehrg in sien veines... Ia
hat neid kerd... Es' kwit kam sneigv ed srig kam id !

Is oistahsit ub ed gigwahsit semwakt unte id kamer aun bahe ed kwecto kay kehle sien emotion ;
dind, fauran stahndo still :

– Pardon, iey is ; eems tolkend, credeihm, de folkspoesis...

– Yaghi, Poti Graf.
– Zaruri es' samstehme od ia hat meg jamile-ye tarj' Mickiewicz.... « Frolic kam un cata,...
kwit kam smantan,.... ays okwi bleige kam dwo stars... » Est ays portrait. Ne pehndte yu ?
– Kheptenn, Poti Graf.
– Dayir tod joc... aundwoi meg exterdohbro.... ia orm magv se plictisset bi un veut tante... Ia
act un conventsgwit.
– Ee-salct in Wilno. Ho vis iam in un bal dahn pro iens officiers ios regiment os....
– Ah ya, yun officiers, en id societat qua dehbht iam ! Glihes con oin, churlise con alter,
kwehre iam kharen face quantens.... Vidskwte yu id bibliotheque miens pater, Poti
Professor ?

Iom sohkwim tiel uno mier galerie quer eent maung buks samt gohd jilids, yed rar-ye ghyanen, kam
ghohd bihe kohnsen yeji id duil quod stohg ir papiergons. Kam megil buit mien joy kun oino iom
presten jasamats quod traxim ex un schkafs wohs id Catechismus Samogiticus  ! Io khiek mi
stambhes emitte un plaisure crie. Sigwra bunct uno mysterieus attraction sien influence newissab
nos... Is graf ghens id buk ed, pos un pichen perleisus id neglect-ye, scripsit ep id prepage : Pro Poti
Professor Wittembach, schohnken ab Michel Szemioth. Khako expremes her id augos os mien
scharikia, ed io spons in ment od pos mieno mohrt tod precieus buk bihiet id ornement ios
bibliotheque ios universitat quer brugim graduation.

– Plais ayte tod bibliotheque ka maktab, mi iey is graf, yu naiwo sessiete ter sturben.
 III

Posdini, pos obedd, is graf mi proposit spassere. Lit de visite un kapas (it i Lietuvans kale ia
kurgans) meg maschour in land, ob xiawngja poets ed brukhs, quoy eent sams, samghieteer ter unte
sem solenn waurmens.

– Ho, iey is, un meg mliak ekwum ad schehnke vos ; regreto mae ghehde wehghe vos in
calesche ; in druve, id wegh quetro vahms rides est nel-ye andhet ab woghs.

Habiem milen mane in id bibliotheque kay eme notes, bet io credih ne poitte expremes alyo desire
quem tod os mien genereus mejban, ed acceptim. I ekwi skohpt nos pod ia frontstieupens ; in id
ghehrd, un ambikwol dier un kwaun in lein. Is graf stopit unte oin instant ed, volgend kye me :

– Poti Professor, connaisste yu kwauns ?

– Meg pau, Vies Excellence.
– Is starost os Zorany, quer ho araszi, mi yeist tom epagneul, de quom sayc' daumos. Permitte
yu mi ke iom vido ?

Is kiel iom ambikwol, qui ei brigh iom kwaun. Eet uno meg bell biest. Ja familiariset con tom wir, is
kwaun skans vessel-ye ed kwohk pehlde med gwis ; yed, oika stieups dalg ud iom graf, dehsit sien
swayp inter sien jambs, gvohmb retro ed buit kwecto hiht ab sem fujato terror. Is graf bruk iom, quo
heulih iom lamentable-ye, ed, pos dyeivs iom unte sem wakt med id ok uns connaisseur, sieygit :

– Credeihm sessiet gohd. Bihtu kaurn de iom.

Dind is sess ep seddel.

– Poti Professor, mi iey is graf, yant buam in id avenue ios chateau, yu habte jus' vis id paur
tos kwaun. Ho volt yu buat weitwodd per vosswo... Ka mualim, yu dehlcte explie enigmas...
Ma me baynt animals ?
– In druve, Poti Graf, yu mi kwehrte id honor os me aye un Oedipus. Som tik un orm
professor os comparative linguistique. Kad...
– Kaute, interrup is, od naiwo bato ekwens ni kwauns. Mien kerd aghnuiet sei beichiem un
orm biest quel hat committen un scharara aun woie. Yed, yu ne sagviete credihes id aversion
io inspire ekwims ed kwaunims. Kay swehdihes i me, tehrbo dwis meis jakhd ed wak' quem
alyis neudiet. Mathalan, is ekwo yu reidte, ho tohrben diu pre demnehe iom ; nun es' mliak
kam un owo.
– Credeihm, Poti Graf, od animals recogneihn' firasat, ed od aunstehge fauran an un anghen
quel vident ye id prest ker hat we ne gus' dia i. Suspeco yu kamte tik animals ob vos
servicent ; bilax, oik leuds hant un natural kamen pro certain biestens, qui bedyehrce to
fauran. Mathalan, ho pon miegve un instinctive predilection pro cats. Rar-ye mwaungsoun'
quando gwehmo proscher kay brukes i ; naiwo me hat un cat noght.
– To es' meg possible, iey is graf. Neghi ho quo est kalen gus' dia animals... Ne ghehldent pau
meis quem mensci... Vos duco, Poti Professor, do un forest quer, ye tod saat, dleht id
biestenwaldh, id matecznik, id magno matrix, id grand fabric im sesen. Ya, sekwen' nies
national traditions, nimen hat sonden ids anun, nimen hat ghohden nake id centre tos
shienrlin ed tom jauzaeks, ploisko, weidwos, Potis Poets ed Brukhs, quoy penetren'
quantloc. Ter gwive in respublic i animals... au sub un constitutional gouvernement, ne
woidiem sayge quoter. Lions, urxi, eleins, jubri, son' nies urus, suabeiden' mutu. El
mammwt, quel hat-se conserven ter, est meg ayt. Est, credeihm, marschal ios majlis. Hant
 un meg strehng police, ed, quan trehvent sem eak biest, judcent ed exilent el. El pehdt tun ex
feber do chaldagh. El skeul' venture do menscenland. Pauks nehse.
– Meg curieus legend, scricim ; bet, Poti Graf, yu tolcte del urus ; tel noble animal quel Ceasar
hat describen in De Bello Gallico, ed quel meroveching roys sieyd in id forest os
Compiegne, kam ho klun ?
– Sigwra. Mienswo pater hat gvohnen un jubr, samt permission ios gouvernement, weidwos.
Yu habte ghoden vide eys cap in id kielken. Ego ho naiwo viden oin, credeihm od jubri son'
meg rar. Punor, wolfs ed urxi gwive her plukwid. Pro un possible incontren con oin tom
potis ho brighen tod instrument (is dik un cherkess chekhol is bohr omskingen), ed kata id
arkwn os mien seise hanct un dwostrehl carabine.

Biridam do id forest. Mox, id meg angh paund quod sohkwam iti disprohp. Ye cada moment, wey
skul tournes ambh enorma drus, quom ghem ozda kyimeer nies upergumt. Oiks, mohrn ob geros ed
supihn, nos anaceer kam un wall cronen med un ligne om cheval-de-frises impossible ad uperrides.
Alyer, incontram deuba pouls tegen med nilufars ed wedlinses. Dalger, wey vis lawcs quom graso
schimmrit kam smaragds ; bet way ad quel venturiet etro, todghi riche ed drughavo vegetation
kehlti daydey mudhtehoms quer ekwis ed ekwot sehnkient proaiwo... Ia difficultats ios itner hieb
interrupt nies conversation. Io alnos kieur de sehkwe iom graf, ed admirim id imperturbable zirekia
quosmed se guidit aun compass, ed retrohv semper id dohbro direction kyid kapas. Okwivid-ye hieb
is diu says in ta wild foresta.

Dyohrcam bad id kurgan in id centre uns plaut lawc. Eet meg alt, perambhen med un dar suavisible
grov nespekent vraghs ed klep. Idwert hieb ja bihto dohlft. Atopp, kieusim ia etiloikwa uns imara ex
petra, ex qua oiks eent calcinet. Un notable wakel os bur blanden ad ghiul ed cer ed ter ostrecs om
grouba poteries schahideer od sem ogwn hieb esen posdohrjen unte muhim wakt. Sei fid eet daht ad
folkstraditions, menscenmauls habient esen celebren xiawngja ep ia kapas ; bet ne eet druve-ye sem
sesgwesmen religion hieb-yei est anadeht ta abominable rites, ed dwoim an ghehdiet bihe justifiet
lik opinion dia i awens Lietuvans med historic weitwoddias.

Stigham ghom id kurgan, is graf ed ego, kay retrehve nies ekwens, quens hiebam likwn ocolo id
grov, kun wey vis gwehme kyant nos un anua kneigvend ep un gazd ed dehrjend un corbh in ays
hand.

– Mien sell swamens, ieyit ia nos proscher, plais dahte mi charitat pro id liubh ios sell Div.
Dahte mi kafi kay mi kaupo un glas eau-de-vie kay warme mien orm corpos.

Is graf lancit kyam oin sildbwr ed sprohg iam quo ia kwohr in id bosc, tem dalg ud quodkwe
weikmen. Ka antwehrd, ia ei dik sien kist, quod pohld med baungs. Quayque miena gnohsas de
botanique sonti meg begrancet, mi kwohk od plurs tom baungs bieygheer iadic gensa.

– Sell gwen, ay ieyim, yu ne eddskwte ta, spehm ?

– Mien sell swamen, antwohrd ia anua med un tristo smeih, pauper leuds edde quantum is sell
Div dahsit.
– Yu ne gnohte nies lietuvan stomaks, gwut is graf ; hant un jersten khastar. Nies nowngmins
edde quanta baungs i trehvent, eti leite waler.
– Bariem stambhte ay guses agaricus necator, quod vido in ays kist, scricim.

Ed rexim mien hand kay ghende oino iom iadicst baungs ; bet ia anua retrotraxit onu sien kist.

– War, ieyit ia med un dekhschatston ; sont guarden... Pirkuns ! Pirkuns !

Pirkuns, ke prisaygo, est id jemayt nam ios divtat i Ruski kale Perun  ; is Dieupter tonans im Slavs.
Buim men surpris ab aure iam anua invoque un pagan div, buim de meis ab vide ia baungs lyehge
ub. Id sword cap es un serpent sielg tois ed lud unte lytst-ye oin ped ex id kist. Io skiend retro, ed is
grap spiusit uper sien omso sekwent id superstitieus adet im Slavs, qui credeihnt ithan diswehrte
malefices, swod i awens Romans. Ia anua pos id kist ghomtro, hockit nieb ; dind, samt hand regen
kyel serpent, ia swohr oik nepretable werds qua swohn kam un soitos. El serpent remien still unte
oino minute ; dind, slehnkend ambh id lagaro brakh ias anua, abrep do id armel os ays owin
yinpingia quod con un khako camiss kwecto compos id hol trakh tas lietuvan Kirka. Ia anua spohc
nos samt un lytil triumphgleimen, kam una muschabad qua habiet just parkwohrt un difficil janter.
Eet in ays firasat tod mix om fayntat ed stupiditat quod ne est rar bim pretens brukhs, pleistims
sammel dupe ed birbant.

– En, mi sieyg is graf in deutsch, un mustra os local color ; un yasa qua charment un serpent,
pod un kapas, in presence uns alim professor ed uns ignoran' lietuvan arel. To esiet un jamile
subject os jorpineg pro voster samlandan Knauss... Wehnte yu ke vos ramalt ? Yu habte her
un bell waurmen.

Io ei antwohrd io preferim behrge me ud lik praxis.

– Meiliem, gwutim, sprehge iam an ia woid sem detayl de id curieus tradition de quod mi
tolkat.
Sell gwen, ieyim ay anua, ne has tu klun de un deil tos forest quer gvers gwive in koim,
ignorend menscenwaldh ?

Ia anua nuk ed, samt sien pwolbelog, pwolharaf lytil gleimen :

– Gwehmo tetos, ieyit ia. I gvers hant lust ir roy. Noble, is lion hat mohrn ; i gvers vahnt elege
alyo roy. Gwadi tetro, kad sessies roy.
– Quod es tu saygend, mater ? Scricit is ilaynd graf. Suawoidst tu quom wehkws ? Neghi
woidst od Poti est... (kam iblis sayct anghen « professor » in jemayt ?) Poti est un megil
mualim, un sage, un waidelote.

Ia anua spohc iom samt attention.

– Saygo ghaw, ieyit ia ; tuge dehlcs gwahe tetro. Sessies ir roy, ne is ; es buland, es nert, has
noghs ed dents...
– Quod maynte yu de ia epigrammes ia nos abyeist ? Mi iey is graf.
Woidst id ieun, lytil mater ? Sprohg is iam.

Ia dik ei med sien hand un part ios forest.

– Yaghi ? Gwut is graf, ed id muraisch, quosmed pliehcs tu tehre id ?

Yu woidsiete, Poti Professor, od ye id gon ia deict iti lyehct un aunupergum' muraisch, un
lac ex liquid mudh covohr' med glend gras. Peruti, un kerv vurnt ab me hat-se xubh' do tod
jauzaek. Ho viden iom sehnke lent-ye, lent-ye... Pos dwo minutes, io vis neid meis quem eys
brent ; mox hol disprohp, ed dwo mienen kwauns con iom.
– Bet ego ne som gwaur, ieyit ia anua cakhinend-ye.
– Credeihm ne tib moliet tehre id jauzaek, ep un firschastolg.

Un grassabsblix luc in ia okwi ias anua.

– Sell swamen, ieyit ia emend-ye tsay id obsequieus ed naselant ton im taskars, ne habies tu
 un pipe tabak ad dahe uni pauper gwen ?
Tib esiet seller, gwut ia med khafi voc, paurske id id upergumt ios muraisch, quem gwahe
Dowghielly.
– Dowghielly ! Scricit is ereudhend graf. Quod mayns tu ?

Io khiek mi stambhes kaue tod werdo dieugh ep iom un aunsam effect. Is eet okwivid-ye
embarasset ; is clih sien cap ed, kay kehle sien trouble, emsit maung wakt pro ghyane sien kissat,
hangend kata id hamand siens daga.

– No, mae gwahas Dowghielly, gwut ia anua. Ia smulk kwit columbh ne te bayght.
Kwe ne Pirkuns ?

Ye tod moment, id cap ios serpent sielg per id colnier ios veut yinpingia ed is oistrohc tiel id aur
siens potnia. Is reptil, aundwoi dohmt pro tod tamsil, sroht sien ghyanus kamsei is bahiet.

– Is sayc' bahm prabh, gwut ia anua.

Is graf dehsit do ays hand un quat os tabak.

– Me gnohs ? Sprohg is iam.

– No sell swamen.
– Som is zamindar os Medintiltas. Gwehm ad vide me semdien. Tib dahsiem tabak ed eau-de-
vie.

Ia anua kuss ays hand, dind abgress. Unte oin instant buit ia extervid. Is graf remien pensive,
nodend ed disnodend ia spartaks os sien sack, aun pior woide quo is kwohr.

– Poti Professor, mi iey is pos un destull-ye long silence, yu vahte goile me. Sa veut skelma
me gnoht kreins quem ia pretendt, ed id itner ia mi hat jus' dict... Pos hol, es' neid meg
stauneihnd in to hol. Som maschour in id land. Ia skelma me hat vis meis quem oins untitner
kyid chauteau Dowghielly... Est ter un wehdtu potnika : ia hat concluden som enliubh' de...
Dind filan jamile pwarn proe-smeurt ays pam kay mi mehldiet sem sinister aventure... To
hol est evident : yed, speit meswo, ays wekwos me emove. Som quasi dekhschaten ab id...
Yu gleihte ed acte prabh... Id vertat est od hiebim plan' gwahe prehge ke dineriem in chateau
Dowghielly, ed nun io hesite... Som un megil foll ! Vedim, Poti Professor, decidte per
vosswo. Kwe gwahsiemos ?
– Inkaro habe sem mayn, io antwohrd ei, gleihnd-ye. De gham naiwo dahm radh.

Hiebam jointo nies ekwens. Is graf skans dexios kyep seddel, ed, sinend ia oulers falle, is oiscricit :

– Is ekwo siet chuses pro nos !

Is ekwo ne kung ; is entrit fauran uno smulk paund quod, pos plur detours, joinit un strad, duxit-yod
do Dowghielly. Pos oin pwolhor eems ant ia frontstieupens ios chateau.

Ob id blosk niesen ekwen, un jamile blond cap prohp apter un fenster inter dwo cortins. Io recognih
iam lughav tarjmantin os Mickiewicz.

– Ste sellgwohmen ! Ieyit ia. Yu ne miegh gwehme meis waurmen-ye, graf Szemioth. Ho jus'
recepen un rogv ex Paris. Yu niete recognihes me, tantghi bell sessiem.
Ia cortins zaghyahr. Steighend ub ia frontstieupens, is graf sieyg inter sien dents :

– Sigwra, ia ne probirit tod rogv pro me.

Is mi presentit ad Potnia Dowghiello, iam tante as panna Iwinska, qua me prim con sellsto namos
ed mi tolkit de mien akhir articles in id Scientific ed Literar Gazette os Königsberg.

– Poti Professor, iey is graf, gwehmt ad schikaye ad vos de Potnika Julienne, qua ei hat
infligen un renk.
– Ia est un magv, Poti Professor. Ia tehrp' bihe pardonen. Yu ops me desperet med sien follias.
Sixdemat eem io kemaller quem ia ka dwogimat ; bet ia remant fundamental-ye un sell pieg,
ed hat vasya solid qualitats. Ia es' meg gohd musician, pinc' divin-ye ia flors, ed suabaht
kathalika franceois, deutsch, italian... Ia altiet...
– Ed ia kwehrt jemayt stiches ! Gwut is gleihnd graf.
– Ia khact ! Scricit Potnia Dowghiello, quay tohrbit bihe explien id birbantia aysias neptia.

Potnia Dowghiello eet doct ed gnohsit ia antiquitats os sien land. Ays conversationo me plaisit
aunsam-ye. Ia maung lis nies deutsch revues, ed hieb meg sauna notions de linguistique. Itirafo ne
bedyohrc id wakto quod Potnika Iwinska tohrb kay due ; bet id kwohk long ad graf Szemioth, qui
stahsit ub, sess tsay, spohc per id fenster ed stiempit med sien finghers ia schibs kam un wir qui
leust patience.

Bad, pos tri horquardels prohp, sohkwn ab sien franceois gouvernante, Potnika Julienne, vehsend
samt grace ed myndert un rogvo quos descriptiono naudhiet competences meg superior mienims.

– Ne som io bell ? Sprohg ia iom graf revolvend-ye lent-ye kay is ghohd vide iam bachimien.

Ia spohc neter iom graf ni me, ia spohc sien rogv.

– Kamtar, iey Potnia Dowghiello, ne sellamats Poti Professor, qui schikayt de te ?
– Ah ! Poti Professor ! Scricit ia samt un lytil charmanto mu, quod tar ho io kwohrn ? Vahte
yu punihes me ?
– Puneihiemos nosswo, Potnika, ay antwohrdim, sei beghasciemos vies presence. Som dalg ud
schikaye ; io me gratule, bilax, de manthus, dank vos, od ia lietuvan mauntaia regnaht
brillianter quem aiwo.

Ia clih sien cap ed, dehnd sien hands ant sien lige, kaurnd-ye mae sturbes sien kays :

– Indeulcte mi, niemeti ! Ieyit ia med id ton unias magvias qua hat just klohpten murabbas.
– Vos indeulcsiem, dorgv Pani, ieyim ay, bad kun yu habsiete parkwohrn sem promiss yu mi
kassiem in Wilno, bay peurstin Katazyna Paç.
– Quod promiss ? Ieyit ia, spehcend-ye ub gleihnd-ye.
– Yu habte ja myohrst id ? Yu mi hieb promitten od, sei samghatiemos in Jemaytia, yu mi
skauiete sem landsdans de quod yu sieyg daumos.
– Oh ! Ia russalka ! Ter som nraveihnd, ed en wir-on tehrbo.

Ia curs kyun table quer lyohg musiccaderns, uperspohc id samt precipitation, dehsit id ep id pult uns
piano, ed, wehkwnd sien gouvernante :

– Hayte, dorgv atmen, allegro presto.

Ed iaswo kien, aun sedde, id ritornell kay dikes id movment.

– Gwehmte perodh hetro, graf Michel ; ste pior Lietuvan kay ne suadanse russalka ; … yed
danste kam un nowngmin, kwe ne ?

Potnia Dowghiello pit interproteste in vain. Is graf ed ego insistam. Is hieb sien sababs, eys rol in
tod dans eet amatst, kam vidsiemos mox. Ia gouvernante, pos oik peitens, sieyg ia credih ghehde
kane tod genis valz, kam stragn id buit, ed Potnika Iwinska, ardehvs oik stols ed un table qua
habient ghohden kyimes iam, ghens eys partner per id colnier os eys roube ed brigh iom medsu id
salon.

– Yu woidsiete, Poti Professor, od som un russalka, servus.

Ia kwohr uno megil ikhtiram.

– Un russalka est un wedornymphe. Est oin in ta quan' pouls plen med sword wed qua ornen'
nies foresta. Mae gwehmte prosch iam ! Ia russalka salct, dar jamiler quem ego, sei to est
possible ; ia dreibh' vos do id budmen quer, sekwent hol apparence, vos praeddt...
– Un druv sirene ! Scricim.
– Isge, gwut Potnika Iwinska deikend-ye graf Szemioth, est un yun peisker, meg belog, qui se
exdeht mienims noghs, ed ego, kay durihes id plaisure, vahm fascine iom dansend-ye lyt
ambh iom... Ah ! Bet, kay suakwehre, tehrbiem un sarafan. Sayang !... Plais excuset tod
rogv, aun caracter, aun local color... Oh ! Ed vehso schous ! Impossible danse russalka samt
schous ! … ed dar khaker samt takouns !

Ia ieyrit sien rogv ed, scuttend med maung grace un jamile lytil ped, riskend dikes lyt sien jamb, ia
yisit sien schou do id bud ios salon. Alter sohkwit preter, ed ia mien ep id pelp samt sien silken
choraps.

– Hol est parat, ieyit ia ay gouvernante.

Ed id dans inkiep.

Ia russalka tournt ed retournt ambh sien partner. Is rect sie brakhs kay sizes iam, ia snehct subter
iom ed skapt iom. To est meg-ye gracieus, ed id music hat movment ed originalitat. Id figure endt
kun, iom reider credeihnd sizes iam russalka kay dahe ay un kuss, ia klaupt, plact eys oms, ed is
fallt pod iam kam mortu... Bet is graf improvisit un variante, quod buit oistringes iam birbant in sien
brakhs ed druve-ye kunes iam. Potnika Iwinska emiss uno smulko crie, erudh maung ed gwahsit
falle ep un sofa samt un gomric protiokwo, schikaynd-ye od is habiet sohrt iam kam is urx is eet. Io
vis id comparationo ne plaisit iom graf, idghi mehmih iom un familia bieda ; eyso chol dusk. Ego
dienk akster-ye Potnika Iwinska, ed laudim ays dans, qua mi kwohk habe uno meg antique kweit,
memmnend ia iser dansa im Hellens. Buim interrupen ab un khadim mehldend iom general ed iam
peurstin Veliaminov. Potnika Iwinska klieup ex id sofa kye sien schous, dub hast-ye tetro siena
smulk peds ed curs kyant iam peurstin, quay ia kwohr unte oin schtoss dwo ghem ikhtirams.
Kieusim od ieters ia slah ub handug-ye id gonwehbh os sien schou. Is general brigh dwo aide-de-
camps ed, kam wey, gwohm ad budes waurmen-ye uni chifan. In ceter lando mehno od un
demspotnia habiet esen semkam embarasset de primes sammel six inexspectet ed pitulasni gostens ;
bet tem sont id abundance ed id gostprimieve iom lietuvan doms, quem id dinner ne buit chitayt,
kehnso, unte meis quem un pwolhor. Yed eent piora chald ed srig pateits.
 IV

Id dinner buit meg vessel. Is general nos dahsit meg interessanta detayls de ia linguas bahn in id
Cavcase, ed ex qua uters sont arya ed alters turani, quayque inter ia different irks est un skaun
conformitat om mores ed swohds. Ioswo skul tolke de mien safers, ob, Graf Szemioth me gratulevs
de mien ekwotkerdos, ed mi saygus is hieb naiw incontren sakerdot ni professor quel ghehdiet rides
tem dexios quem quo hiebam kwohrt, io dohlg ei explie od, esus maimour ab id Biblic Societat med
un orbato de id bahsa im Charruas, hiebim spens pwolquart yars in id respublic Uruguay, quasi
semper reidend ed gwivend in ia pampas, bayna i Indians. It buim io ducen ad narre od me forreidus
unte tri diens in ta aunend aykwsa, ni habend spieja ni jlampohn, io hieb skulen kwehre kam iens
gauchos con me, yani sehrgihes mien ekw ed pohe eys cruor.

Vasyas dames emiss un horrorcrie. Is general gwut i Kalmuks kwohr id sam in lik extreme
situations. Is graf sprohg me kam lecker hieb io pohndt tod scharab.

– Moral-ye, antwohrd io, mi buit meg kados ; bet, physic-ye, io lit meg wal dank id, dank tod
ho io id honor os dinner her hoyd. Maung Europays, mayno blanks, qui han' diu gwiwt con
Indians viswehde id eti vipreihnt id. Mien excellen' prient, don Fructuoso Rivero, president
ios respublic, leust rar-ye id waurmen os satisface tod gust. Mehmo od sem dien, gwahnd id
congress in grand uniform, is rid pri un rancho quer un jabak bihsit sehrgiht. Is oistopit,
stighit ghom ex seddel kay sib udprehge un chupon, un seugen ; poskwo swohr is oin om
siena meist eloquent logsa.
– Vies president est un keapay monster ! Scricit Potnia Iwinska.
– Pardonte me, dorgv Pani, ieyim ay, est un meg mumtase wir, os un superior ment. Is baht
daumos-ye plur meg difficil indian bahsas, bilhassa id charrua, ob ia aunnumer formes
emen ab id verb, sekwent ids direct au indirect regime, eti ia social sibias inter i tolkend
leuds.

Vahsim dahe oik kafi curieus detayls de id mecanisme ios charrua verb, bet is graf me interrup kay
sprehge me quer tohrbeer bihe sehrgiht ekwi quando anghen pohskwit iro cruor.

– Bihakkillah, dorgv professor, scricit Potnika Iwinska samt un protiokw os comic dekhschat,
mae saycte to ei. So wir neiciet sien hol grajd, ed eddiet nosswo quando neti habsiet
ekwens !

Pos tod mleusa, ias dames likw id meja gleihnd-ye, kay gwahe prepare chay ed cofie, menxu
deumiemos. Pos oin horquardel, Poti General buit mandet do id salon. Wey quanti sohkwskwam
iom ; bet nos buit sayct od tas dames voleer tik oin wir unte ein ker. Mox, ieuram ex id salon honar
ilays ed handclacks.

– Potnika Iulka kwehrt jocs, iey is Graf.

Is-pet buit mandet ; nov gleimens, nov applausa. Buit mien roig pos iom. Quan entrim id salon,
vasya enokwa simuleer gravitat quod ne eet meg-ye kjigiau. Exspectim sem kapan.

– Poti Professor, mi iey is general samt sien officialst wajkho, tas dames sigwrnt od nos hams
fordrohnken do ir champagne, ed sient nos admittskwe bi ians bad pos un ordeil. Leit de
gwahe perodh samt vidbohndt okwi ex medsu id salon do tod wall, ed touche id med id
fingher. Yu vidte id re est simple, tik zaruri ghange seid. Ste yu in stand os respecte un seid
ligne ?
– Mehno ya, Poti General.
Fauran, Potnika Iwinska nodit un handchirk ant mien okwi ed sohr id kreptic-ye aptos.

– Yu stahte medsu id salon, ieyit ia, recte vies hand... Gohd ! Vato yu niete touche id wall.
– Marchet... perodh ! Iey is general.

Tik penk au six stieups eent kwehrtu. Io stohmb meg lent-ye, persuaden od incontriem sem seil au
tabourett, gaddar-ye placen ep mien itner kay me kwehlpihes. Io ieur stupt gleimens qua ieug mien
embarasse. Bad, io credih ses alnos prokwem id mur kun mien fingher, quod rexim perodh, entrit
fauran semject srig ed viskeus.Io fried ed skiend retro, quod ilayih vasyens prispehcers. Io rohv
mien rica, ed dyohrcim prokwem me Potnika Iwinska qua dohrj un pot os mielt quetro io hieb
snigen mien fingher, credeihndo touche id wall. Mien consolation buit vide bo aide-de-camps
subihes id sam ordeil, ed ne performe kreins quem me.

Unte id rest ios epoin, Potnika Iwinska ne stopit sien frolic dumos. Semper goilav, semper birbant,
ia nud auter oin au alter ka ziel sienen scherzen. Io kieu lakin ia wohkw opsst-ye iom graf qui,
dehlgo sayge, naiwo se vexit, eti kwecto prihsit aysa jocs. Bilax, quan ia usit uter aide-de-camp, is
brovit, ed io vis eys ok bliges med tod sombre jar quod druve-ye hieb semjecto dekhschatic.
« Frolic kam catas ed kwit kam smantan » : mi kwohk od scribus tod stiche hieb Mickiewicz
portraitskwn panna Iwinska.

Wey sgwohm kafi sert. In maunga mier lietuvan doms, se vide un schungjin bestehgs,bell meubles,
precieus Pars kelims, ed ne sont, kam in nies dorgv Deutschland, gohda ptorcrovats propontu uni
straki gosti. Riche au pauper, arel au nowngmin, un Slav sagvt meg suaswehpe ep un plank. Id
chateau Dowghielly ne est un exception tei prabhil. In id kamer quetro buam, is graf ed ego, duct,
eent tik dwo sakhtiancovohrt sofas. To pau me dekhschiet, ar, in mien safers, io hieb lyohgen ops ep
bare ardh, ed lyt goilim ia exclamations ios graf de id mank os civilisation eysen samlandans. Un
khadim gwohm ad disuwnihes nos nies bauts ed nos dahsit pantoffels ed khalats. Is graf, pos oisdus
sien povesti, gigwahsit silent unte sem wakt ; dind, stopend ant id sofa quer ja io lyohg :

– Quod mehnte yu, is mi iey, de Iulka ?

– Iam pehndo charmant.
– Ya, bet tem kharen !... Credeihte yu ia hat druve-ye gus' pro tom lytil blond hetman ?
– Iom aide-de-camp ?... Quosmed ghehdiem io woide ?
– Est un menach !... Isghi soll' plaise gwens.
– Io nege tod conclusion, Poti Graf. Volte yu ke vos saygo id druve ? Potnika Iwinska mehn'
meg meis de plaise Graf Szemioth quem vasyens aide-de-camps ios armee.

Is erudh aun mi antwehrde ; bet mi kwohk mien wekwos hieb ei dahn un sensible plaisure. Is
etighieng unte sem wakt aun bahe ; dind, spehcus sien saat :

– Yallah, iey is, nos esiet sislew swehpe, ob est sert.

Is ghensit sien bunduk ed sien kardi, qua hiebam sklas do nies kamer, ed dehsit do un schkaf quos
cleich is oistraxit.

– Volte yu gwupes id ? Mi iey is mi uperdehnd-ye id ye mieno megil surprise ; maghiem

myehrse id. Sigwra, yu habte meis memoria quem ego.
 – Id gohdst wassila mae myehrse vies armes, ieyim ei, esiet dehe ia ep tod table, prokwem
vies sofa.
– No... Druve-ye, ne kamo habe armes prokwem me quando swehpo... En id sabab. Quando io
drieukht bi iens hussars os Grodno, io swohp semdien con un driug, mien pistols lyohg ep
un stol bi me. Unte id noct, bihm protiebuden ab un udstohna. Io hieb un pistol in hand ; io
hieb strohlen, ed id glonce hieb pluct ye dwo incha pri id cap miens driug... Ho naiwo
mohmt id drehm io hieb haben.

Tod anecdote lyt me troublit. Eem nun assuren de mae dake un glonce do mien cap ; bet, quando
dyisim id buliende, id heraklei pletwos os mien sokwi, eys nerveus brakhs qua un sword wong tohg,
io khiek mi stambhes recognihes od is eet perfect-ye in stand os me strangule med sien hands, sei
habiet un khiter drehm. Yed, io me bohrg ud ei dikes id lytsto sweurgh ; lakin placim un luce ep un
stol bi mien sofa, ed io bilis Lawickis Catechisme, quod hiebim brighen con me. Is graf mi vienschit
sellnoct, se ster ep sien sofa, volvit ter penkwens au sixens ; bad, is kwecto biswohp, quayque is
comglauwern kam Horaces cofferbohndto maaschouko qui touchet sien cap med sien bughta
genus :

Turpi clausus in arca, contractum genibus tangas caput...

Ex tid do tod kwohster is gwis-ye, we aurihsit un genos os nerveus kharkhar quod anadehsim ei
stragni position is hieb widt kay swehpe. Kad oin hor passit katha. Ioswo biswohpskwim. Io clus
mien buk, ed me arrangim bilkull beirst ep mien couch, kun un guway cakhin os mieno nieber me
trehsih. Io spohc iom graf. Eys okwi eent cluden, eys hol corpos krus, ed ex eys enderghyanen lipps
oiskiep oik payn articulen werds.

– Meg fresch !... meg kwit !... Is professor ne woid quo is sayc'... Ekwo ghehld' neid... Quod
un lecker schtuk !

Dind is bidohnkit med hol ghyanu id culcin quer lyohg eys cap, ed sammel, is emiss un genos os
tem honar baub quem is protiebud-se.

Ego mien still ep mien sofa ed simulim swehpe. Yed observim iom. Is sess ub, ghnih sien okwi,
kwohster trist-ye ed remien unte quasi oin hor aun mithes darmen, kwecto absorpto do sien
reflexions. Eem lakin baygh bfuyow, ed spons in me naiweti swehpe nieb Poti Graf. Unte id duren,
yed, strieke uperwohnd anxietat, ed, kun anghen entrit nies kamer ye aghyern, weybo swohp deub.

VI

Pos obedd, wey rik Medintiltas. Ter, trehvus Doctor Fröber saul, io sieyg ei credihsim od is graf eet
sieug, od is hieb keapay drehms, kad eet swehpghanger, ed od is ghohd ses dangereus in tod stand.

– Ho bedyohrct to hol, mi iey is liek. Speit sien athletic organisation, es' nerveus kam un
jamile gwen. Kad hat is heritet to ud sien mater... Ia buit iblis peigher todeghern.. Ne maung
credeihm in storias om paurs ed wehnsa am kyuheihnd gwen ; bet quo est yakin, est od ia
grafin es' maniak, ed mania est transmissible per aserng...
– Bet is graf, gwut io, est perfect-ye kemall ; eys ment es' prabh, es' doct, maung meis quem
quo habiem crediht, vos itirafo ; is leis' gairn...
– Tamam, tamam, dorgv poti ; bet est ops bizarre. Is kyalbehndt-se oiks unte plur diens ; ops
aluet is nocts ; leist incredible buks..., deutsch metaphysique..., physiologia, quod woidim !
Iter ghes ei hat arriven un kwehlk tos ex Leipzig. Kwe smad bahe frank ? Un Herakleus
 want un Hebe. Sont her meg jamile nowngminas... Sabd vesper, pos nigviesa, kwehken' kam
princesses... Ne est oin qua ne esiet mynder de distrage Swamen. Sei habiem eys oumer... is
Diabel me raptu !... No, is hat niam parika, ne wehdt, is ac' ghaw. Is tehrbiet un derivative.

Id ralise materialisme ios liek me schockend hogst-ye, io ens brusk-ye id intertolk ei saygend-ye io
wohgv od Graf Szemioth trehviet un esor wirtic pro se. Ne aun surprise, itirafo, hieb io matht ud
iom liek tos gust ios graf pro philosophic studyes. So hussarenofficier, so appassionat sayad leisend
deutsch metaphysique ed besic med physiologia, to volvih mien dayis. Is liek hieb yed saygen
prabh, ed yant id sam dien diek io pruv de to.

– Quosmed expliete yu, Poti Professor, mi iey is brusk-ye circum id end ios dinner, quosmed
expliete yu id dualitat au id duplicitat nosters buhsa ?...

Ed, dat is bedyohrc od ne perfect-ye pretim iom, is gwut :

– Ne habte yu aiwo stahn atopp un tor au ana un precipice, habend sammel id tentation os vos
elane do kenos ed un mutlak witer khisses os terror ?...
– To magh' bihe explien med alnos physic causes, iey is liek ; preter, id strieke spruven pos un
steighen determinet un sehrgadstrohm do id kers, quod...
– Smad linkwes ter id shrg, Doctor, scricit is graf impatient-ye, ed smad eme alyum exempel.
Yu dehrjte un chargen gvond. Vies gohds' prient est ter. Vos enfallt loge un glonce do eys
cap. Un assassinat vos est megs' kados, yed yu mehnte de id. Credeihm, Potis, od, sei quanto
nos enfallt unte oin hor...., credeihm od sei vies quantum enfall' vos, Poti Professor, quom
aym un sage, esient script, kad skeipent un in-folio jasamat, ob-yod esiet neis fiscal qui
pleidiet success-ye vies ban, neis judce qui ne vos makhkoueihiet do prison au do un
follenasyle.
– So judce, Poti Graf, sigwra ne me makhkoumeihiet ob paurskus todeghern, unte meis quem
oin hor, id mysterieus loy yeji-yod slav verbs eme un future maynen se combinend-ye con
un preposition ; bet sei kjiawxieng habiem habt sem alyo bren, quod pruv trage tetos
adversus me ? Ne som meis poti mienen brens quem iom extos accidents qua suggeste ia mi.
Yod un bren surrect in me, khac' bihe concluden tetos un inkapem os dostriction, ni hatta
sem gwaukania. Naiwo mi hat enfall' nices anghen ; bet sei un maurdhbren mi enfalliet, kwe
ne est mien aum her kay arke id ?
– Yu tolcte aisic-ye de aum ; bet est id semper ter, kam yu saycte, kay direge nos ? Kay aum
baht ed biht obedihn, tehrbmos reflexion, yani wakt ed chienjwakow. Hams wey semper
bo ? Unte un katu, sei vido arrive kye me un antskandu ghioulee, disvolgo ed aunbehrgo
mien prient, pro quom habiem dahn mien gwit, sei habiem haben wak' kay mehne...

Io pit ei tolke de nies dohlgs em mensc ed christian, de id naudh quer smos de imite iom wigh ios
Scripture, semper parat pro combat ; bad, ei skieusiem od jijidalend-ye protie nies passions,
hassilems nova forces kay slaberihes ed waldhe ia. Io kamyieb, ego baym, tik taycihes iom, ed is ne
kwohkit convict.

Io mukiem unte dar decen dienen in id chateau. Iter faungmoenim do Dowghielly, bet wey nel-ye
pernox ter. Kam ye preter ker, Potnika Iwinska suloukit kam un birbant ed forwohnen magv. Ia bug
ep iom graf un sorte os fascination, ed ne dwoim an is buit meg enliubhto de iam. Lakin, is
suagnohsit ays defects ed ne se formohn do illusions. Is woisit ia eet kharen, frolic, indifferent dia
quanto ne eet pro iam un glewos. Ops io bedyohrc is pieytt in se de gnohe ia eet tem pau kemall ;
bet, yant ia ei skeirsmih, is myohrs hol, eys enokwo kwiter med joy. Is me gwehmihskwit ye un
senst ker do Dowghielly ye id predien miens asimat, maghses ob natolkim con iam tante menxu is
abspasserit do id garden con iam neptia ; bet io hieb maung ad orbate, ed io dohlg ouzer, kamkwe
baygh is insistit. Is rikit kay dinner, quayque is nos hieb sayct mae intizare iom. Is sess claus id
meja, ed khiek edde. Unte id hol chifan buit is sombre ed os khak dumos. Ex tid do tid, eys brovs
vrink prosch mutu ed eys okwi gohn un buxianxu wajkho. Kun is liek sielgit kay gwahe bay grafin,
is graf sohkwit me do mien kamer, ed mi sieygit hol ob-yod eys kerd aghnuit.

– Meg pischmano, scricit is, de vos linkwus kay visite tam lytil foll, qua goilt me ed kamt tik
nov liges ; bet, noroc-ye, hol est khatem inter nos, to me marz' profund-ye, ed naiwo
revidsiem iam...

Is gigwahsit ye sien adet, dind is gwut :

– Kad habte yu credihn eem enliubh' de iam ? To mehnt so imbecile liek. No, ho naiwo
liubhen iam. Ays glihav protiokwo mi dahsit glewos. Ays kwit cuit eet un plaisure visu... En
quantum es' gohd in iam... Bilhassa id cuit. Neid mazgh. Naiwo ho io vis in iam alyo jec'
quem jamile pupp, khauris ad spehce quando ho plictis ed neid nov buk... Aundwoi magh'
bihe saygen ia est un beauteit... Ays beauteit es' daumost !... Poti Professor, id sehrg quod
sreut ender tod cuit sollt ses meis lecker quem tod uns ekwios ?... Quod maynte yu de ?

Ed is iliey, bet tod gleimen mi eet kados aurtu.

Io sriens ud iom posdini kay continue mien explorations in id nordo tos gaivia.

VII

Dureer circa dwo munts, ed magho sayge od sont pauk weiks in Jemaytia quer ne ho halten ed
kwahn oik documents. Mi bihtu mohghen tod waurmen kay danke i weikers tos province, ed
besonters iens Potis ios Cler, pro id druve-ye hirsic imdadh hant ijapt mieni paursken ed ia excellent
contributions quommed hant richerihno mien dictionar.

Pos oin hevd mukam in Szawle, gwahskwim stighes do nauk in Klaypeda (port quod kalmos
Memel) kay rikes hem, kun io diek ud Graf Szemioth id sehkwnd brev, brighen ab oin eysen
seisen :

Poti Professor,

Permitte ke scribo vos in Deutsch. Committiem dar plus solecismes, sei scribiem vos in jemayt, ed
yu leusiete quodkwe consideration dia me. Ne woidim an yu ja habte maung dia me, ed kad id
khabar quod tehrbo vos communie niet auge id. Aun meis preface, wehdo, ed yu sigwra tarcte
quam. Dieupter goilti ia khisses im lieubhern. It act Pirkuns, noster jemayto Dieupter. Nu-wehdo
Potnika Julienne Iwinska dien 8 ios sehkwndios munt. Yu sessiete is maedwnst wir sei yu gwahiete
prispehce id ceremonia. Vasyi nowngmins os Medintiltas ed iom perixiht locs gwehmsient do mien
hem kay edde oik auxens ed aunnumer swins ed, quando sessient makhmour, sient danse ep tod
lung, dexter quem id avenue yu gnohte. Yu vidsiete trakhs ed trakhs wirtic pro vies observation. Yu
dahsiete id megst plaisure mi edschi ad Julienne. Gwuntsiem vies refuse nos pehdeihiet do id megst
embarasse. Woidat baygho id protestant agama, tem quem miena novsta ; api, noster sakerdot, qui
baytelt ye trigimtia leuken dalg, est gikhtsieug, ed ho dursto spehe yu acceptiete celebre vice iom.
Con sellsto namos

Michel Szemioth.
In id bund ios brev, ka post-scriptum, un destull jamile ster hand hieb gwuten in jemayt :

Ego, mauntia Lietuvas, scribo in jemayt. Michel est insolent de dwoie de vies approbation. Ego
mon som kafi foll pro vole un pwarn kam iom. Yu vidsiete, Poti Professor, dien 8 ios niebst mund,
un lyt chic novstu. Tod werd ne esti jemayt, sontern franceois. Mae ste bariem distract unte id
ceremonia.

Neter id brev, ni id post-scriptum plaiseer me. Io pohnd i futur conjugs bevis un neindeulget legvos
unte un tem solenn waurmen. Lakin, kam inkare ? Dar itirafiem id mohldt spectacle me eetitentet.
Sekwent quodkwe apparence, in id pohltos om arels quoy samghatient in chateau Medintiltas,
sigwra trehviem doct leuds quoy mi dadwient util istikhbaras. Mien jemayt glossar eet meg riche ;
yed id maynen os un certaino numer werden ucen ex id stohm grouben nowngmins dar-ye remien
pro me samt relative obscuritat. Ta quant samghaten considerations hieb kafi force pro mi dwinghes
consente id eiskwen ios graf, ed io antwohrd ei od, ye id aghyern ios 8, esiem in Medintiltas.

Kam maung dohlg io pischmane de to !

VIII

Entrevs id avenue ios chateau, io dyohrc uno mier numer em potnias ed potis in aghyernvehsmen
jamiyet, ep ia frontstieupens au kwehlend in ia parkallees. Id ghehrd pohld med mingal-ye dut
nowngmins. Id chateau hieb un hava os fest ; quantloc flors, sregs, flags ed festons. Is intendanto
me duxit ei kamer quod mi hieb esen preparen ye id grundetage, prehgend-ye me ke pardonim ob is
khiek mi schehnke un beller ; yed eent tant leuds in id chateau, quem hieb est impossible mi
conserve id appartment quer io hieb wict unte mien preter mukam, ed quod eet destinen pro iam
esor ios marschal ios noblesse ; mien nov kamer eet eti meg dohbro, uperspehcend id park, ed ender
id appartment ios graf. Duim hast-ye pro id ceremonia, vohs mien robe ; bet neter is graf ni eys
novsta prohp. Is graf eet vanend iam do Dowghielly. Diuper habient i sollt arrive ; bet id tesedin
unias novstias ne eet un simple re, ed is liek wiern i gostens od, id obedd muttend bad pos id dyinst,
ia pior impatient appetitts poittient prekaure claus bufete-on samt gateaus ed vasyalga liqueurs. Io
kieu ye tod waurmen kam maung intizar isnahti churli ; dwo maters am jamile potnikas inviten do
id fest eebibahnt epigrammes protie iam novstu.

Eet pos schawngwo quan un gastrohl om tamburs ed bunduks mohld ir arriven, ed, mox poskwo, un
gala calesche entrit id avenue, tract ab quar schungjin ekwens. Dat id spoim quod oistexit ir perkyu,
eet facil vide ir chitay ne eet due i. Sess in id calesche tik ia novsta, Potnia Dowghiello ed is graf. Is
oistigh ex ed dohrj id hand as Potnia Dowghiello. Potnika Iwinska, med uno mov pleno med grace
ed magvisk kharentat, simulit tupskwes sub sien schal kay skape ia curieusa spects qua periembh
iam bachimien. Yed, ia stahsit ub in id calesche, ed vahsit dehrje id hand ios graf, quan i ekwi ios
khalimagios, maghses dekhschaten ab id florenseuy i nowngmins xubh kyam novstu, maghses
yaschi spreuvend tod stragno terror quod graf Szemioth inspirit im animals, fohr ed pnohs ; un roto
stus id deik pod ia frontstieupens, ed miegh bihe credihn unte oin instant od un accident vahsit
mutte. Potnika Iwinska sis ludes un lytil crie... Buam mox rassuret. Is graf, seizend-ye iam do sien
brakhs, tobohr iam tiel ub ia frontstieupens tem facil-ye quem sei is habiet bohrn tik un columbh.
Wey quanti applaus face eys dexia ed rittersk galanterie. I nowngmins emiss athime vivats, ia
novsta, alnos eroudh, glihsit ed tremblit sammel. Is graf, qui nel-ye spohd ad abdehe sien khauris
behrmen ud se, kwohk triumphe deikend-ye iam ei menegh perambh...
Stayg, un buland, pall, maigher gwen, samt chapachul povestis, dispars kays, ed vasya traits
compagus ob paur, prohp ub ia frontstieupens, aun od anghen ghohd woide quetos ia.

– Urx ! Cricit ia med un acut voc ; urx ! Bunduks !.... Tobehrt un gwen ! Gvehnte iom !
Strehlte ! Strehlte !

Eet ia grafin. Id arriven ias novstias hieb attragen ielganghen kya frontstieupens, do id ghehrd, au
claus ia fensters ios chateau. Iaspet gwens quas uperwiekht iam orm foll hieb myohrst ir bereulens ;
ia hieb antsals ed, observet ab nimen, hieb arrivet tiel medsu nos. Buit uno meg muschkil scene. Ia
tohrb bihe abducen nespekent sien cries ed resistence. Maungi gosti ne gnohr ayso siuge.
Explications tohrb im bihe daht. Bihsit diu susurt ye khafi voc. Vasya liges eent betraurn.
« Omen ! » iey superstitieus leuds ; ed ir numer est mier in Lietuva.

Lakin, Potnika Iwinska sib udprohg penkwe minutes kay due sien tesedin ed setara, operation quod
durit unte un wassime hor. Eet meis quem tohrpt kay i leuds qui ne gnohr de id siuge ias grafinias
math tos cause ed detayls.

Bad, ia novsta reprohp, schungjin-ye ornet ed oistect med diamants. Ays tante presentit iam vasyims
gostims, ed kun hieb gwohmt id moment os uperghange do id capelle, ye mieno megil surprise, in
id presence ios hol umum, Potnia Dowghiello schamier id gian sienias neptias, kafi gvaltic-ye pro
volgihes hatta i distracts. Tod schamar buit daken samt id prefectsto resignation, ed nimen kwecto
stieun ; tik, un sworddun wiro scripsit semject ep un papier is hiebit bright ed oik prispehcers
protiedehr tetro ir signature samt megst indifference. Bad ab-kap ios ceremonia mi buit tod enigma
explien. Sei habiem tarken, ne habiem prilipsen diwides med id hol force miens iser blaghmonium
contra tod odieus praxis, bezielt-yod panges un divorce fall simulend-ye od id wehden tik mussit
sekwos physic violence adversus uter contragend partie.

Pos id dyinst, io credih skules lyt wehkwe id yun couple, pliehgend dehe ant ir okwi id gravitat ed
id saintitat ios homologhia quod hieb just uniet i, ed, dat mien kerdo dar aghnuit de id exterdohbro
post-scriptum as Potnika Iwinska, io mehmih iam od ia entrit un nov gwit, neti samt yunisk glewsa
ed joys, sontern pleno med serieus dohlgs ed grave ordeils. Mi kwohk od tod part miens khutba
dugh maung effect ep iam novstu, kam ep vasyens leuds qui preteer deutsch.

Gvondgastrohls ed joycries prim id cortege kun id sielg id capelle, dind wey uperghieng do id
mejeina. Id chifan eet schungjin, ia appetitts meg acut, ed preter buit aurt neid alyo blosko quem tod
om knivs ed ghabels ; yed mox, dank ia vins ex Champagne ed Magyaria, buit bitolct, bigliht eti
bicriet. Prosit buit vanschen enthusiaste-ye ay novsti. Payn-ye hiebam wey sesso tsay, kun un veut
albhmoustache pane stahsit ub ed, med un athime voc :

– Vido gvol-ye, iey is, od nies awa swohda bihnt formohmen. Naiwo habien' nies paters
bohden tod toast med cristallglasa. Wey drohnk ex id schou ias novstias, eti ex ays baut ;
yeghi mien zaman, ias dames vohs bauts ex rudh sakhtian. Smad dikes, prients, od dar smos
druv Lietuvans. - Ed tu, potnia, plais dah mi tien schou.

Ia novsta ei antwohrd ereudhend-ye, unte un lytil stupt gleimen :

– Gwehm ad ghende id, poti... ; yed niem te beprabhe de bauts.

Is pane nieudh neid idafi gleimen :

Is galant-ye gnenuit, giowit uno smulk schou ex kwit satin samt rudho takoun, plehsit id med
Champagne vin ed drohnk tem oku ed tem handug-ye, quem ne meis quem idso dwidel srusit ep eys
povestis. Id schou passit ex hand do hand, ed vasyi wirs drohnk ex id, bet ne aun molos. Is veut
sakwn kup id schou ka precieus reliquia, ed Potnia Dowghiello maunihsit un bays ke gwohm ad
sarce id disaurdhen ios tesedin aysias neptias.

Tod toast buit sohkwn ab maung alya, ed mox bihr i nadimes tem honar quem neti mi kwohk
dohbro mane bayna i. Io skiep apo id meja aun od anghen mi dahsit attenrion, ed gwahsim
inannmes id air exter id chateau ; bet, terschi io trohv un pau olgh spectacle. I khadims ed
nowngmins, qui hieb habto bir ed eau-de-vie quaytlibt, eent ja pleist makhmour. Hieb est disputes
ed brohgen caps. Cer ed ter, ep id lung, drehnkniks forlyohg-se inconscient, ed id general aspect ios
fest eet bilhassa tod uns walu. Habiem habt sem curiositato de vide prokwtos ia folksdansa ; bet
pleista eent ducen ab deurseck ciganas, ed io ne credih an habiet est bunki venture do tod draug.
Rikim ghi mien kamer, lis unte sem wakt, poskwo sduim ed mox nierc.

Kun io sbud, id horloge ios chateau swohn tri saat. Id noct eet clar, quayque id meun buit lyt
kohldert ab uno mulayim mighel. Io pit swohpye bet khiek. Sekwent mien swohd in lik waurmen,
volim ghende un buk ed oistudye, yed ne ghohdim trehve ia kibrits ye prayghest. Stahsim ub ed
ambtastim in mien kamer, quan un opac, meg tanghu corpos pristurd mien fenster, ed fiell samt un
stupo blosk do id garden. Mien prest pondos buit od eet un wir, ed credihsim od oino niesen
drehnkniks hiebit pohdt per id fenster. Io ghieyn mienum ed spohc ; io vis neid. Io diegh bad un kier
ed, lyohgyevs do crovat, io parlis mien glossar tiel kun mien chay mi buit bright.

Circum oindem saat, gwahsim id salon, quer io trohv maunga gramur okwi ed strak protiokwa ;
ioghi math od id meja hieb esen likwno meg sert. Neter is graf ni ia yun grafin hiebeer bad prohpen.
Ye oindem saat trigim, pos pelu peigher scherza, bihsit bimurmuren, preter meg khafi, mox destull
honar. Doctor Fröber emsit id initiative os yises iom ambikwol ios graf ad oistundes id dwer os eys
poti. Pos oin horquardel, so wir stighit ghom tsay, ed, lyt emot, reportit ad Doctor Fröber is hieb
stus meis quem douzens, aun hassilevs response. Potnia Dowghiello, is liek ed ego comriedh. Id
anxietat ios ambikwol me hieb lambhen. Wey tri stigham con iom. Ant id dwer, wey trohv iam
baysu ias yun grafinias meg-ye consternat, sigwrnd od sem bieda sollit wakyevs, idghi fenster as
Potnia eet alnos ghyant. Io mohm samt dekhschat tod gwaurod corpos fallt pri mien fenster. Wey
stus gvaltic-ye. Neid response. Bad, is ambikwol brigh un isern stangh, ed wey vrohn id dwer... No !
Aum courage pro describe tod spectacle porgen ad nies okwis. Ia yun grafi lyohg mortu ep sien
crovat, sien enokwo horrible-ye raghen, sien gurgule dvohrn ed cruorlahn. Is graf hieb disprohpen,
ed nimen hat tuntos dact novs de iom.

Is liek dyisit id horrible vurnos ias gwenak.

– Neid stalmiech, scricit is, hat infligen tod arus... sontern un dehnken !

Is professor clusit sien buk, ed spohc id ogwn pensive-ye.

– Ed id storia est khatem ? Sprohg Adelheid.

– Khatem ! Antwohrd is professor med uno matam voc.
– Bet, nabahsit ia, ma habte yu kalen id Lokis ? Est id nam nal person.
– Ne est un menscnam, iey is professor.
– Vedim, Theodor, pretet yu quo mayn' Lokis ?
– Kheptenn.
– Sei yu maysteriete id transformationsloy ex sanskrit do lietuvan, yu habiete recogniht in
lokis id sanskrit arksha wa riksha. Est kalen lokis in lietuvan, el animal i Hellens han' namen
αρκτος, i Latins ursus ed i Deutschi Bär.
 Yu pretet nu mien epigraph :

Miszku su Lokiu,
Abu du tokiu.

Yu woid od, in id Roman de Renart, id nam ios urx est damp Brun. Bim Slavs, es' nam'
Michel, Miszka in lietuvan, ed tod lakab quasi semper tayt id generic nam, lokis. It hant i
Franceois myohrsen ir neolatin nam goupil wa gorpil kay tei substitue tod os renard. Vos
udwekwnsiem pelu alya exempels...

Bet Adelheid kieusit eet sert, ed likweer mutu.