"Tell me, cousin, who was that mythological person that could not resist the Siren?"
"Nobody resisted, ma cousine, except Ulysses; and he only because he was tied to the mast."
"And why have you not taken these precautions?"
I saw some covert smiles lurking in the faces of those who witnessed the attack, and I retorted,—
"Sometimes even that is of no use. You know that love sunders the strongest ties."
In spite of all her self-possession, Pani Korytzka grew confused, and I gained one of those tiny victories which are comprised in the proverb, "The scythe hit upon a stone," or in plain English, "The biter bit."
Whether people repeat to each other that I am going to marry Clara or not, does not trouble me in the least; in fact, for the above stated reason I do not mind it at all; but I did not expect that this visit would turn out so unpleasant, and Clara herself be the cause of it. When all the people had left, and only Sniatynski and I remained, she sat down to the piano, and played her new concerto,—played it so magnificently that we could not find words to express our admiration; repeating at our request the finale, she said, suddenly,—
"This is my farewell, because everything comes to a finale."
"Surely you are not thinking of leaving us?" asked Sniatynski.
"Yes, in ten days at the furthest I must be at Frankfurt," replied
Clara.