Kozioł

Kozioł is a briefly mentioned villager whose significance lies in the uncertainty surrounding him: his wife appears in a passing village scene, and the Voyt privately suggests that Kozioł might be responsible for an unspecified incident. The narrative does not establish what Kozioł did, or whether he did anything at all.

Presence in the village

Kozioł’s wife is seen standing by the pond among the women when Rocho approaches her. The scene offers no direct account of Kozioł himself and does not say what his wife knows or tells Rocho. Nearby, Bylica looks toward the fertile fields and imagines the possibility of a new village, but that speculation is not presented as Kozioł’s plan or as information about his household.

Suspicion during the inquiry

In a separate scene, the Voyt arrives with the Soltys to inspect matters and question Józka of the Boryna Household. The Voyt whispers that, if Kozioł were not inside, he would suspect him of the incident under examination. The remark establishes that Kozioł is present in the house and regarded as a possible suspect, not that he is responsible. The scene ends with the observation that the intruders took nothing and must have been frightened off.

What remains unresolved

Kozioł’s role is left deliberately narrow in the available episodes: other villagers’ brief remarks place him within the community, but the inquiry supplies no confirmation, explanation, or account of his response. His characterization therefore rests on an unresolved suspicion rather than a demonstrated action; the distinction between being considered capable of wrongdoing and being shown to have committed it remains intact.