Her
father was already expecting her with great impatience and, before she
left the carriage, shouted a question about the result of the trial.
Panna did not answer immediately, but cautiously descended, gratefully
pressed the hand of the gardener, who had brought her to her own house,
and entered the room with her father. Here she opened her lips for the
first time, uttering only the words: "Six months!"
Her father struck the table furiously with his clenched fist,
shrieking: "Then Hell ought to open its jaws and swallow the whole
band! But wait, I know what to do. Six months will soon be over, and
then I'll make short work with the fine gentleman. I'll be judge and
executioner in one person, and the trial won't last long, that I swear
by all the fiends."
Panna hastily interrupted him: "For Heaven's sake, Father, hush. If
any one should hear it might be bad for you. What induces you to say
such imprudent things? Do you want to be imprisoned for making
dangerous threats? You know that they wouldn't use as much ceremony
with you as with the nobleman.
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