"I will warn him of that and something else, if I can only meet him."
"Since he visited the ladies, he may come to see me. We had, while riding together from Jastrzeb, a discussion which he has not forgiven me."
"If he comes here, do you give me carte blanche?"
"I would not think of it. Previously I had propounded to you the question whether if, as a result of a personal encounter with you, he was arrested you could take upon your soul his destruction, and you answered 'No.' Now I will ask you differently: If Laskowicz, tracked and pursued as a wild animal, hid in your house, would you not endeavor to hide him or assist him in escaping?"
To this Krzycki replied in anger, but without hesitation:
"I would help him--the dog's blood."
"Ah, you see!" observed Gronski. "You curse, but admit. If they come to me for a contribution--it is all the same whether with or without Laskowicz--I will tell them that I will give for people destitute of bread but will not give for bombs, dynamite, and strike propaganda. I will tell them more: that in collecting contributions for a revolution from people who do not want to give and who give only from fear, they degrade their own citizens."
"Perhaps that is of import to them. The more the higher strata become cowardly, the easier it will be for them."
"That may be, but in such case they are the full brethren of all those who purposely and of old have debased the community."
And Krzycki pondered and said: