简介：SuspiciousRaphaelVojnar,aMoravianvillagejudge,makeshisyoungwifeBarbarawitnessthepublichumiliationofanunfaithfulwifewhoisboundwithropestoawoodenhalf-cross.HetellsBarbarathatifheevercatchesherwithanothermanhewillkillher.Thisisacertainindicatorthattheplotisabouttothickenandthepotisabouttoboil.Thenextday,Barbarameetsheroldbeau,Quirin,whoisintowntohelphisolduncleSimawiththeharvest.VojnarrecognizesQuirinasamanhehadarrestedyearsearlier.Vojnar,stirringthepot,makesanovernighttripoutoftown,andQuirinboldlybreaksintoBarbara'sbedroom,where,tothesurpriseofnone,heiswarmlyreceived.ThesurprisecomesthenextdaywhenolduncleSimaisfoundstabbedtodeath.QuirincannotaccountforhiswhereaboutswithoutcompromisingBarbaraand,evenworse,hehaslosthispearl-handledknifeandcan'tproveitwasn'tthemurderweapon.Thejudgehimselffindstheknifeinhisgardenandquicklyputstwoandtwotogether,butBarbarahasbribedthedim-wittedmaid,Anushka,tosayitwasshethatQuirinwasvisiting.…