"Quite sure of that; but neither am I! When shall I look for an answer?"
"To-morrow at noon. Shall we have another bottle now on the strength of the prospects?"
"No, not now; go and make sure of the prospects. Good evening to you."
Bazanski gazed after the retreating figure with positive awe. "Ugh!" he said at length, with a deep breath of admiration, "they were not far wrong this morning. What a villain! what an incomparable villain!" And, having thus unburdened his mind, he hastened away to the Villa Antoniewicz....
At noon punctually the following day he presented himself again to Mr. Hajek. "I have come to congratulate you!" he cried on the threshold.
"Well, has your patron accepted my conditions?"
"Entirely--excepting only Drinkowce. He is very sorry, but his little grandson----"
"Very well, that settles it. Excuse me, but I am busy, intending to start to-night."
"Start! whereto?"
"To--anywhere, so long as it is far enough from here."