"Is it possible?"
"Therefore, if it comes to a struggle with Parma Anulka it will not be before any tribunal."
"What art thou working out?"
"To divine is not difficult. Is this not my opportunity? Or wilt thou find another such girl in this region?"
Martsian threw his head up and looked in the eyes of his father. The father looked at him, too, with a glance of inquiry, chewed with his gums, and then asked,--
"How is it, pray tell me."
"Why not tell? Since yesterday it is circling through my head."
"Hm! Why not? Because she is as needy as Lazarus."
"But I will come into Belchantska with songs, and unhindered. She is indigent, but the girl is of great blood. And remember the words of Pan Gideon, that if one were to look through the papers of the Sieninskis, it would be possible to drive from their land one-half of the inhabitants of a province. The Sobieskis grew great from them, hence there should be royal protection. The king himself ought to think of a provision. And the girl has pleased my eye this long time, for she is a dainty morsel--dainty! oh dainty!"
And he sprang about on his short legs, licking his mustache as he did so; wherewith he looked so revolting that old Krepetski remarked to him,--