27
The almost unearthly weeping again resounded in the air.
All heads were lifted, all eyes directed to the place from whence it came. A sound of rattling iron was heard. And suddenly on the surface of the roof appeared a bent crouched figure. It hung for a moment moaning… after that was heard a pitiful complaint, after that snoring… and finally a short, heavy stroke, filling the heart with dread.
By main force I pushed through the mob, and leaving the court-yard I heard behind me the cries of triumph, and the joyful roars of the enraged mob.
“Ah! ah!”
“Ah! a——a!”
At last they had reached him.
In the street the crowd smashed chairs and tables to pieces, emptied chests of drawers, and laughing madly here and there flung different garments in all
