"There is nothing now. Everything is all right," he said on the way, to pacify the affrighted Marynia. "From home we will send a message that there will be no rehearsal to-day, and with that it will end. It is nothing, nothing."
And he began to press her hand; after a while, he asked:
"But who was that and what did he want?"
"Pan Laskowicz," answered Marynia. "I did not recognize him at first, but he told me who he was."
Gronski became distressed when he heard the name of the student, for it occurred to him that if the encounter with Ladislaus ended with the police, then the consequences for Laskowicz might prove fatal directly. But not desiring to betray his uneasiness before Marynia, and at the same time wishing to better quiet her, he spoke to her half jokingly:
"So that was Laskowicz? Then I already know what he wanted. Ah! Ah!--Some one begins to play not only on the violin but on the soul.--Only why did you allow yourself to be so frightened?"
"For he also threatened," answered Marynia. "He threatened all terribly--"
"Such bugbears only children fear."
"True! Especially as I am to play for the hungry; they will not do any wrong to me or any of us."
"Assuredly not," confirmed Gronski.