“I have directed my assistant. It is ready, and needs only the signatures.”
In fact, the contract was signed a quarter of an hour later. Pan Stanislav, who spent the evening of that day at Bigiel’s, was in such anger as he had never been before; Pani Bigiel could not hide her vexation; and Bigiel, thinking the whole over carefully said, toward the end of the evening, with his usual balance and deliberation,—
“That Mashko has a plan is beyond doubt. The question is merely whether he is deceiving thee by saying that he has no plan, or is deceiving himself!”
“God preserve her from Mashko!” answered Pani Bigiel. “We all saw that she pleased him greatly.”
“I supposed,” said Bigiel, “that a man like Mashko would look for property, but I may be mistaken. It may be also that he wants to find a wife of good stock, strengthen thereby his social position, become related to numerous families, and at last take into his hands the business of a certain whole sphere of society. That also is not badly calculated, especially since, if he uses his credit, which will be increased by Kremen, it may with his cleverness clear him in time.”
“And as you say,” remarked Pan Stanislav, “Panna Plavitski pleases him really. I remember now that Plavitski said something too on this subject.”
“What then?” asked Pani Bigiel; “what will happen then?”
“Panna Plavitski will marry Pan Mashko if she wishes,” said Pan Stanislav.
“But you?”
“Oh I am going to Reichenhall straightway.”