I embrace Antek; I congratulate him from my whole heart; he begins to relate how it happened,—
"I sit here after your departure, till some gentleman comes and asks if I am Svyatetski. I answer, 'I am curious to know why I should not be Svyatetski!' Then he says, 'I saw your picture and I want to buy it.' I say, 'You are free to do so; but permit me to say that a man must be an idiot to buy a wretched picture!' 'I am not an idiot,' says he; 'but I have a fancy to buy pictures painted by idiots.' 'If that is so, very well,' I answer. He asks the price. I say, 'What is that to me?' 'I will give you so much and so much?' 'That is well! if you will give that price, then give it.' He gave it, and went away. He left his card with the name Byalkovski, M. D. I am a low usurer, and that's the end of the matter!"
"Long life to the corpses! Antek, get married."
"I would rather hang myself; I am a low usurer, nothing more."
CHAPTER XV.
IN the evening I am at the Suslovskis; Kazia and I are in the niche in which there is a small sofa. Pani Suslovski is sitting at a table lighted by a lamp, and is sewing on something for Kazia's trousseau. Pan Suslovski sits at a table reading, with dignity, the evening number of "The Kite."
Somehow I am not myself; I wish to dissipate that feeling by pushing up very near Kazia.
In the salon silence is supreme; it is interrupted only by Kazia's whisper. I beg to embrace her; she whispers,—
"Vladek, papa will see us."