An indescribable uproar began. Pan Stanislav’s vivacity permitted him to become a child sometimes. He offered such a stubborn resistance to Cortez that Cortez fell to denying him the right to such resistance, exclaiming, not without historic justice, that since Montezuma was beaten, he must let himself be beaten. To which Montezuma answered that he cared little for that; and he fought on. In this way the amusement continued a good while. And Pani Bigiel, unable to wait for the end, asked her husband at last,—
“How was the visit to Kremen?”
“He did what he is doing now,” answered Bigiel, phlegmatically: “he overturned all the chairs, and went away.”
“Did he tell thee that?”
“I had no time to ask him about the young lady; but he parted with Plavitski in a way that could not be worse. He wants to sell his claim; this will cause evidently a complete severance of relations.”
“That is a pity,” answered Pani Bigiel.
At tea, when the children had gone to bed, she questioned Pan Stanislav plainly concerning Marynia.
“I do not know,” said he; “perhaps she is pretty, perhaps she is not. I did not linger long over the question.”
“That is not true,” said Pani Bigiel.
“Then it is not true; and she is lovable and pretty, and whatever you like. It is possible to fall in love with her, and to marry her; but a foot of mine will never be in their house again. I know perfectly why you sent me there; but it would have been better to tell me what sort of a man her father is, for she must be like him in character, and if that be true, then thanks for the humiliation.”