"This is what I have to say to my brother and why I am riding to him. There is to be some kind of an assembly there, so I will say this, in other words, publicly."
"If you would only go as quickly as possible," exclaimed the notary.
"But as I have yet time, I will first attend Panna Marynia's concert."
"By all means," said Gronski, "ride, sir. Poland is not only being cut from the outside by inimical scissors, but she is beginning to be rent asunder internally. Ride, sir, and tell them that publicly. Perhaps some may be found who will be frightened at their amenableness to the future."
"I think that such will be found. For, in the main, I assume that they, or at least a majority of them, thus far feel in the old way, and only speak as they do in order to loosen, even though for a moment, the noose which presses on their throats. But in this they are mistaken. The result will be that they will be despised and trampled upon, both from above and below."
"The assembly meets in about ten days, so I actually will stay here about a week, for I have various matters to attend to in Warsaw. In the meantime, I will visit my acquaintances, and among others Pani Otocka, and the Krzyckis. How is Krzycki?"
"As well as a fish--and he is going to marry."
"Well, well. I will wager that it is with that beautiful Englishwoman? A pure flower!"
"Yes. But it seems that this is not an English flower, only genuinely Polish, from a village meadow."
"For the Lord's sake. What are you saying?"
"That is no longer any secret. Her name is Hanka Skibianka."
Here Gronski related the whole history of Miss Anney, omitting only that Ladislaus knew her while she was Hanka.
And they listened with astonishment, while the doctor slapped his knees with his palms and cried:
"Ah! If I had known that; ah, if I had known that!"
"Well, what would have happened? asked the notary testily.
"What would have happened? I would have been in love with her not only under the ears but above. As it was, I only missed by a hair being in love with her. Ah, lucky but undeserving Krzycki! But such is my ill-luck. Let only one catch my fancy--lackaday! either some one takes her, or she is in love with somebody else. But it cannot be helped! I must see Miss Anney and tender her my best wishes. For after all Krzycki is a good boy. Such as he will not rebuild Poland, but a good boy, nevertheless. And such a comely rascal, that he ravishes the eye. I would like to see them together. That will be a couple--what!"