"I do not dream of Mademoiselle Wtorkowska."
"There have been rumours"--
"These rumours have no foundation."
"The presence of your mother in your apartments will shock many people."
"So much the worse for them. I do not intend to offer my mother as a holocaust."
"Has she brought any more of the family?"
"I believe that she is alone. Poor old woman! to see me she has undertaken a long and wearisome journey."
"She had better have sent for you to come to her, instead of suddenly appearing at Warsaw."
Then Mathilde's father returned to the salon, saluted the old woman politely, and took his leave.
On the first floor of the house the news of the arrival of a Jewess in the ancient national costume was circulated from mouth to mouth. Jacob's servant had no secrets from the Wtorkowska's maid, and he soon told her all about it; she carried the news to madame, who, inspired by Paul de Kock, her favourite author, arranged the story in her own fashion and went to relate it to Muse.