"Art thou acquainted with her long?"
"This is the second year. I was a witness and best man at Potkanski's wedding." Gustav smiled bitterly. "Since his death I see her daily."
"Vasilkevich says that thou hast given her aid and protection."
"I have, and I have not; some one had to attend to that, and I occupied myself with it; but such protection as mine—Do what is possible, work, fly, run—misery upon misery! so that sometimes despair seizes hold of a man."
"But the family?"
"What family?"
"His."
"They injure her!" cried Gustav, with violence.
"But they are rich, are they not?"
"Aristocrats! Hypocrites! They and I have not finished yet. They will remember long the injustice done to this dove. Listen to me, Yosef. Were a little child of that family to beg a morsel of bread of me from hunger, I would rather throw the bread to a dog."