Pan Stanislav looked into his eyes and answered, "Listen, Mashko: against my uncle I have said everything that could hit him; but it does not follow, therefore, that I am to listen patiently if another attacks Plavitski, especially a man who has made profit by him. As to Panna Marynia, she is sorry, I know, for Kremen; but this proves that she is not an empty puppet, or a manikin, but a woman with a heart; dost understand me?" A moment of silence followed. Mashko understood perfectly whom Pan Stanislav had in mind when he mentioned the empty doll and manikin; hence the freckles on his face became brick-colored, and his lips began to quiver. But he restrained himself. He was in no sense a coward; but even the man who is most daring has usually some one with whom he has no wish to quarrel, and for Mashko Polanyetski was such a one. Therefore, shrugging his shoulders, he said,-- "Why art thou angry? If that is unpleasing to thee--" But Pan Stanislav interrupted, "I am not angry; but I advise thee to remember my words." And he looked him in the eyes again. Mashko thought, "If thou wilt have an adventure anyhow, thou canst have it." "Thy words," said he, "I can remember; only do thou take counsel also from me. Permit not thyself to speak in that tone to me, else I might forget myself also, and call thee to reckoning." "What the deuce--?" began Bukatski. "What is the matter with thee?" But Pan Stanislav, in whom irritation against Mashko has been gathering for a long time, would beyond doubt have pushed matters to extremes had not Pani Emilia's servant rushed into the room at that moment. "I beg," said he, with a panting voice; "the little lady is dying!" Pan Stanislav grew pale, and, seizing his hat, sprang to the door. A long, dull silence followed, which Mashko interrupted at last. "I forgot," said he, "that everything should be forgiven him at present." Vaskovski, covering his eyes with his hands, began to pray. At length he raised his head and said,-- "God alone has bridled death, and has power to restrain it." A quarter of an hour later, Bigiel received a note from his wife with the words, "The attack has passed." CHAPTER XVIII. Pan Stanislav hurried to Pani Emilia's, fearing that he would not find Litka living; for the servant told him on the way that the little lady was in convulsions, and dying. But when he arrived, Pani Emilia ran to meet him, and from the depth of her breast threw out in one breath the words, "Better! better!" "Is the doctor here?" "He is." "But the little one?" "Is sleeping."