CHAPTER XXI.
Some mornings later, before Pan Stanislav had gone to his office, Mashko appeared.
“I come to thee on two affairs,” said he, “but I will begin with money, so as to leave thee freedom of action; shall I, or not?”
“My dear friend, I attend to money questions in my office, so begin with the other.”
“The money matter is not a question of thy house, but a private one; for this reason I prefer to speak of it privately. I am going to marry, as thou knowest; I need money. I have to make payments as numerous as the hairs on my head, and the wherewithal does not correspond. The term is near to pay the first instalment of my debt to thee for the claim on Kremen; canst thou extend the time another quarter?”
“I will be frank,” replied Pan Stanislav; “I can, but I am unwilling to do so.”
“Well, I will be equally sincere, and ask what thou wilt do in case I fail to pay.”
“The like happens in the world,” answered Pan Stanislav; “but this time thou art looking on me as simpler than I am, for I know that thou wilt pay.”
“Whence is that certainty?”
“Thou art going to marry, and marry a fortune; how expose thyself to the evil fame of bankruptcy? Thou wilt squeeze money from under the earth, perhaps, but thou wilt pay.”