Ignát Herrmann

“ He, too, could not work. He was doubtless angry at the good-for-nothing clerk who stole wafers in order to bake them up with shreds of fat, for a Christmas dinner for his children. He twisted for a while in his chair, rose finally and approached the door. The clerk shivered anew. Now he was to hear his fate.
The attorney stepped a little closer to the transgressor, and not looking at Konopásek, ordered, “Take your coat and hat and go to the market. Buy a carp, a good big one and take it home to the wife at once, you understand? So that she’d have time to get it ready. ”

“ Now at last the attorney comprehended that the clerk had taken them, but why-for what possible purpose! And curiosity overpowering his obligatory official wrath, the counsellor impatiently exploded.
“What did you intend to do with them, Konopásek?”
“Supper an evening meal, your bonor!” stuttered Konopásek. “It is Christmas day. I haven’t even a sixpence. I promised my wife I’d bring some wafers she wanted to bake them with shreds of fat. I have six children and I must make some sort of Christmas for them. They haven’t eaten all day-there was nothing in the house—.” ”

“ Then buy the children nuts and apples and for your wife get a bottle of punch or tea or whatever you want to drink after supper. Here, take this and get out!”
At the concluding words, he drew from his pocket a wallet, opened it, took out a bit of paper and laid it on the table. ”