Taras standing behind him. And the very first thing of all, which struck the Jew full in the face, was the recollection of the two thousand ducats offered for his head; but he was ashamed of his avarice, and tried to stifle within him the eternal thought of gold, which twines like a worm about the soul of a Jew.
"Hearken to me, Yankel!" said Taras to the Jew, who began to bow low before him, and he shut the door so that they might not be seen. "I saved your life: the Zaporozhtzi were ready to tear you in pieces, like a dog. Now it's your turn to do me a service."
The Jew's face contracted a bit.
"What service? If it's a service I can render, why not render it?"
"Don't give me any talk! Take me to Warsaw."
"To Warsaw? Why to Warsaw?" said the Jew, and his brows and shoulders rose in amazement.
"Don't answer back. Take me to Warsaw. I must see him once more, at any cost, and say at least one word to him."
"Say a word to whom?"
"To him—to Ostap—to my son."
"Has not the noble lord heard that already—"
