We were both silent for a time, and then Polnivski went on:
"Once we missed her. She did not appear at the window all day.
"She must be ill, we thought.
"That evening the husband came in—the yellow creature—and asked for a remedy.
"'What sort?'
"'I don't know,' he said; 'a remedy.'
"'For whom?'
"'You want to know that, too? For my wife.'
"'What is wrong with her?'
"'I'm sure I don't know. She says, her heart hurts her.'