“But dost thou think that the loan would be lost?”
“Perhaps so, perhaps not,” answered Pan Stanislav. Then with a certain boastfulness: “I can refuse. Bigiel has a softer heart.”
“But don’t say that. Thou art so kind. The best proof is this, that the present matter is so disagreeable to thee.”
“Naturally it cannot be agreeable to think that a man, though a stranger, is squirming like a snake because of a few thousand rubles. I know what the question is. Mashko has given to-morrow as the last day of payment. Hitherto he has sought money everywhere, but sought guardedly, not wishing to make a noise and alarm his creditors; and in straits he relied on me. So thou seest, he will not pay to-morrow. I will suppose that in a few days he will find money as much as he needs; but meanwhile the opinion of his accuracy will be shaken, and in the position in which he is anything may be ruin for him.”
Marynia looked at her husband; at last she said with a certain timidity,—
“And would this be really difficult for thee?”
“If thou wish the truth, not at all. I have even a check-book here with me; I took it to give earnest-money, if I found a place to buy. Oh, interest in a former adorer and sympathy for him give me something to think of,” said he, laughing.
Marynia laughed too, for she was glad that she had brightened her husband’s face; but, shaking her charming head, she said,—
“No! not sympathy for an adorer, but vile egotism, for I think to myself, are the two thousand rubles worth the sorrow of my husband?”
Pan Stanislav began to smooth her hair with his hand.