BRUNO SCHULZ
77
and Mecha ni ca l Weavers) in person , but there was little ev idence fo r it.
and my mo th er did no t subscr ibe to thi s theory. There was no doubt
though tha t the man must have been a powerful demon , one o f the
pill a rs of th e County Credito rs' Uni on . A black, carefull y tr immed
bea rd surrounded hi s fa t, shin y and most di gnified face. With Fa ther's
ann a round him, h e proceeded, bowing, towa rd the des k.
Unable to understand th e conversa tion whi ch was in a fo reign
language , we no neth(' less listened to it with respect, and wa tched the
smi les, th e cl os in g o f th e eyes, the delica te and tender mutua l self–
w ng-ra tul a ti on s. After the exchange o f p relimina ry courtesies, th e
gentlemen proceeded
to
the crux o f the ma tter. Ledgers and papers
were spread out on the des k, a bo ttl e o f white wine was un corked . With
strong ciga rs in the co rners of their mo uth s, with faces fo lded into
gri maces of g ruff contentment , the gentl emen exchanged sho rt one–
syll abl e code wo rds, spasmodi call y pointing their fin gers a t an appro–
priate entry in th e ledgers with a humo urou s flash of vill a in y in their
eyes. Slowl y th e di scu ss ion became mo re hea ted , one could perce ive a
mountin g , ba rel y su ppressed, excitement. They bittheir lips, the ciga rs
hung down , now biller and cold , from mouth s suddenl y di sappo inted
and hos tile. They were trcmbling with inner irrita tio n. My fa ther was
brea thing throu gh the nose, red flu shes under hi s eyes, hi s ha ir
bristlin g o ver hi s perspiring brow. Th e situa ti on became inflamma ble.
A momcnt camc wh en bo th men go t up from their cha irs and stood
almos t blind with anger, brea thing heavil y and g la rin g from under
their spectacl es . Mo ther, fri ghtcned , began to pa t Fa ther impl o ring ly
on hi s back, wanting to prevcnt a ca tas trophe. At the sight of a lad y,
bo th gentlemen came to the ir scnses. reca ll ed the rul es of etiqueu e,
bowed , smilin g. to o ne ano ther, and sa t down to a furth er spell of
work .
At abo ut two o' cl ock in the mo rning , Fa ther banged shut th e
heavy cover o f the main ledger. We looked anxi o usly into th e faces of
both men to discern who had won the ba ttl e. My fa ther's apparent good
humo r seemed to be a rtificia l and forced, whil e the bl ack-bea rded man
was leaning back in thi s armcha ir, with legs crossed , and brea thing
kindn ess and optimi sm. With ostenta tio us generosity. he began to
di stribute gratuiti es.
Havin g tidi ed up the papers and invo ices, the gentl emen now rose
from behind th e des k. Winking to the shop ass istants with impli ed
anti cipa ti on . they sil entl y i11lima ted tha t they were now ready fo r new
initiati ves. Th ey sugges ted behind Mo ther's back tha t the time had
come for a little celebrati on . T hi s was empty ta lk , and the shop
