According to their statements, never before had there existed in the world such a master of his business.

"He gives no one a chance to carry off trusses of brushwood, no matter what the hour may be; even at midnight, he drops down like snow on one's head, and you need not think of offering resistance--he's as strong and as crafty as the Devil....

And it's impossible to catch him by any means; neither with liquor nor with money; he won't yield to any allurement.

More than once good men have made preparations to put him out of the world, but no, he doesn't give them a chance." That was the way the neighboring peasants expressed themselves about The Wolf.
"So thou art The Wolf," I repeated.

"I've heard of you, brother.