"Coffee! coffee! From the rise of the sun I drank only two glasses of water and I am as hungry as a wolf."
"Was that a cure? Did you have a fever?" asked Dolhanski.
"Perhaps I did have a fever, but nevertheless I had a horseback ride to Rzeslewo and transacted a thousand matters."
"How is it in 'rustic-angelic' Rzeslewo," interrupted Dolhanski.
"There is nothing further that is disturbing. Those trouble makers whom I wished to look at, in the eyes, are gone. But now above all things, I want coffee and will not answer any more questions."
Marynia, as the substitute of Pani Krzycki, who remained in bed owing to rheumatism, poured out the coffee for him, and he also kissed the hand of his young cousin; whereat she was pleased as she fancied that it added to her dignity.
"That is due me as a vice-hostess," she said, shaking her head.
"And especially taking age into consideration," added Dolhanski.
She did not show him her tongue only because she was too well-bred.
But Dolhanski, who suffered from catarrh of the stomach, gazed enviously at Ladislaus, eating with such relish, and said: