Suddenly he met with an unlooked for resistance, and from a side from which he had least expected it,—from Anusia Borzobogati.
Anusia did not think of going to Prussia. She was comfortable in Taurogi. The advances of confederate “parties” did not alarm her in the least; and if the Billeviches had attacked Taurogi itself, she would have been glad. She understood also that in a strange place, among Germans, she would be at Sakovich’s mercy completely, and that she might the more easily be brought there to obligation, for which she had no desire; therefore she resolved to insist on remaining. Olenka, to whom she explained her reasons, not only confirmed the justness of them, but implored with all her power, with tears in her eyes, to oppose the journey.
“Here,” said she, “salvation may come,—if not to-day, to-morrow; there we should both be lost utterly.”
“But see, you almost abused me because I wanted to conquer the starosta, though I knew of nothing; as I love Princess Griselda, it only came somehow of itself. But now would he regard my resistance were he not in love? What do you think?”
“True, Anusia, true,” responded Olenka.
“Do not trouble yourself, my most beautiful flower! We shall not stir a foot out of Taurogi; besides, I shall annoy Sakovich terribly.”
“God grant you success!”
“Why should I not have it? I shall succeed, first, because he cares for me, and second, as I think he cares for my property. It is easy for him to get angry with me; he can even wound me with his sabre; but then all would be lost.”
And it turned out that she was right. Sakovich came to her joyful and confident; but she greeted him with disdainful mien.
“Is it possible,” asked she, “that you wish to flee to Prussia from dread of the Billeviches?”