“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.”
Prev.
Back
Top