"Where are the Plavitskis at present?" "In Warsaw. They are living in the Hotel Rome. The young woman is not at all ugly. I called on them as a cousin, and talked about thee." "Thou mightst have chosen a more agreeable subject for them." "Plavitski, who is glad of what has happened, told me that thou hadst done them a service, without wishing it certainly, but thou hadst done it. I asked the young lady how it was that she saw thee in Kremen for the first time. She answered that during her visit in Warsaw thou must have been in foreign countries." "In fact, I was gone then on business of the firm to Berlin, and I remained there some time." "Indeed, I did not observe that they were offended at thee. I heard so much, however, of the young lady's love of country life, that she must, I admit, be a little angry at thee for having taken Kremen from her. In every case, she does not show any anger." "Perhaps she will show it only to me; and the opportunity will not be lacking, for I shall visit them immediately after my return." "In that case do me one little service: marry the lady, for of two evils I prefer to be thy cousin rather than Mashko's." "Very well," replied Pan Stanislav, curtly. CHAPTER IX. After his return to Warsaw, Pan Stanislav went first of all to Bigiel, who told him minutely the conditions on which Kremen was sold. Those conditions were very profitable for Mashko. He bound himself to pay at the end of a year thirty-five thousand rubles, which were to come from the parcelling of Magyerovka, and besides to pay three thousand yearly till the death of Pan Plavitski. To Pan Stanislav the bargain did not seem at first too unfavorable for Plavitski; but Bigiel was of another opinion. "I do not judge people too hastily," said he; "but Plavitski is an incurable old egotist who has sacrificed the future of his child to his own comfort, and, besides, he is frivolous. In this case the annuity is placed as it were on Kremen; but Kremen, as a ruined estate, on which there is need to spend money, has a fictitious value. If Mashko puts it in order, very well; if not, in the most favorable event he will fall behind in payment, and Plavitski may not see a copper for years. What will he do then? He will take Kremen back. But before that time Mashko will contract new debts, even to pay the old ones; and, in case of his bankruptcy, God knows how many creditors will stretch their hands after Kremen. Finally, all depends on the honesty of Mashko, who may be a correct man, but he is carrying on business riskily; if he takes one false step, it may ruin him. Who knows if this very purchase of Kremen be not such a step?--for, wishing to bring the estate into order, he must draw on his credit to the utmost. I have seen men who succeeded a long time until they turned to buying great estates." "The ready money for Magyerovka will remain with the Plavitskis always," said Pan Stanislav, as if wishing to quiet his own fears for their future.