"Panna Marynia."
"If from a distance, then I will tell," she replied reluctantly. "The little lady is to play for the starving working people and at noon goes to the rehearsals."
"Alone?"
"No, with Pani Otocka or with my mistress; but sometimes with one of us servants."
"Thank you."
"But only from a distance--do you understand, sir,--for otherwise you will fare badly."
And after these words, which sounded like a menace, she left him. The next moment Laskowicz heard through the door Swidwicki's voice and laughter, after which something resembling a scuffle, a suppressed scream, and--the sound of hasty footsteps on the stairs; finally Swidwicki stumbled into the room, drunk.
"What were you doing here?" he asked.
"Nothing," answered Laskowicz.
And he began to scan the room, evidently desiring to satisfy himself whether he could not detect some signs of disorder, and repeated: