"If Martsian dies," said he at length, "then woe to the Bukoyemskis, but if, as I think, he squirms out of it, I suppose that they will take private vengeance and not raise a lawsuit."
"Why so?"
"Because it is unpleasant to be ridiculed by the country. At the same time his conduct toward Panna Anulka would be discovered. That would give him no enviable reputation. His life is not laudable, hence he should avoid the chance of letting witnesses tell in public what they know of him."
"That may be true," said Pan Serafin, "but it is difficult to forgive the Bukoyemskis tricks of such a character."
The priest waved his hand.
"The Bukoyemskis are the Bukoyemskis."
"How?" asked Pan Serafin, with astonishment. "I thought that your grace would be more offended."
"My gracious sir," said the old man, "you have served in the army, but I have served longer, and have seen so many soldiers' tricks during my time that nothing common can surprise me. It is bad that such things happen. I blame the Bukoyemskis, but I have seen worse things, especially as in this case the question was of an orphan. I will go still farther and say sincerely, that I should grieve more if Martsian's deeds had gone unpunished. Think, we are old, but if we were young our hearts too would boil up over deeds such as his are. That is why I cannot blame the Bukoyemskis altogether."
"True, true, but still Martsian may not live until morning."
"That is in the hands of God; but you say he is not wounded?"