Katarynka

V.

The present case was confusing. Mr. Tomasz, the more he read the papers, the more he lit up. A lawyer woke up in retirement. He did not leave the apartment anymore, did not check the dust in the salons, but, locked in his office, read documents and took notes.In the evening, the patron's old butler came with a daily report. He reported that the doctor had gone with the children to a summer apartment, that the water supply had broken down, that the doorman, Kazimierz, had made a fuss with a stand-up man and that he went to the goat for a week. Finally he asked: Would you like to see the newly hired guardian? ...But the patron, leaning over the papers, smoked a cigar, made smoke rings, and did not even look at the faithful servant.The next day, Mr. Tomasz was still sitting over the files; around two o'clock he had dinner and sat again. His ruddy face and grayish favorites against the sapphire backdrop of the room upholstery were reminiscent of "studying from nature." The mother of the blind girl and her partner making stockings on the typewriter admired the patron and said that he looked like a stale widower who had a habit of napping over his desk from morning to evening.Meanwhile, the attorney, although he would close his eyes, did not nap at all, but pondered the matter.Citizen X in 1872 bequeathed the farm to his nephew, and in 1875- nephew's tenement house. The nephew claimed that Citizen X was a madman in 1872, and the nephew proved that X went mad only in 1875. The husband of the deceased's own sister gave unquestionable testimony that X acted as a madman in 1872 and in 1875, and all his he bequeathed the property to his sister in 1869, that is, in the era of full consciousness.Mr. Tomasz was asked to investigate when X was really crazy, and then to reconcile three serious parties, neither of which would hear about concessions.While this attorney was immersed in complicated combinations, a strange, hard-to-understand accident happened.In the yard, right by the window of Mr. Tomasz, an organ grinder spoke! ...If the deceased X rose from the grave, regained consciousness and entered the office to help the attorney in solving difficult issues, surely Mr. Tomasz would not have had the feeling he did now, when he heard the organ grinder! ...And if it was at least an Italian organ grinder, with pleasant flute tones, well-built, playing nice pieces! Where there! As if the organ was broken for more harassment, it played falsely ordinary waltzes and polkas, and so loud that the windows trembled. To make matters worse, the proboscis, which spoke from time to time, roared like a rabid animal.The impression was powerful. The attorney was stunned. He didn't know what to think or what to do. At times he was ready to suppose that when reading the posthumous dispositions of Citizen X, he had become confused and that he had been hallucinating.But no, these weren't hallucinations. It was a real organ, with broken oneswith pipes and a very loud trumpet!In the heart of the patron, this understanding, this gentle man, wild instincts were awakened. He felt a grudge against nature for not having made him a Dahomey king who had the right to kill his subjects, and thought what a delight it would be to lay the organ grinder dead at this moment!And since in people of the same temperament as Mr. Tomasz, it is very easy to move from audacious projects to the most terrible deeds in an angry elation, so the patron jumped like a tiger at the window and decided to berate the organ grinder with the worst words.He already leaned out and opened his mouth to scream: "You ... some idler! ..." - when he heard a child's voice.He looked opposite.The little blind girl danced around the room, clapping her hands. Her pale face flushed, her lips laughed, yet tears flowed from her frozen eyes like hail.Poor thing, she has not experienced so many impressions in this peaceful home for a long time! What a beautiful phenomenon her fake organ grinder tones seemed to be! How wonderful was the roar of the trumpet, which made the patron almost apoplexy.On top of that, the organ grinder, seeing the child's joy, began to tapping the pavement with his big heel and from time to time whistling like a locomotive before the trains meet.God! How he whistled beautifully ...A faithful butler burst into the attorney's office, dragging the watchman behind him and shouting:"I told this rag, my lord, to banish him immediately."organ grinder(kataryniarz)! I said that you would get a salary from your Lord, that we have a contract ... But that boor! A week ago he came from the village and does not know our customs.- Well, now listen - shouted the valet, tugging the shoulder of the bewildered guardian - listen to what your lord patron himself will tell you!The organ grinder was already playing the third trick as falsely and loudly as the first two.The blind girl was intoxicated.The attorney turned to the janitor and said with his usual phlegm, though a little pale:- Listen well, lover ... And what's your name? ...- Paweł, my lord.- Well, my Paweł, I will pay you ten zlotys a month, but you know for what? ...- For never letting the organ grinders out in the yard! Interrupted the valet hurriedly.- No - said Mr. Tomasz. - For having to play the organ grinders every day for a while. Understand?"What are you saying?" Cried the servant, suddenly enraged by this incomprehensible command.- So that, until I talk to him, he would let go of the organ grinders to the yard every day - repeated the patron, putting his hands in his pockets."I don't understand you!" Said the servant with signs of insulting surprise.