"Tell her the truth, tell her that I am going to marry another." "Ei, old man, I will tell her something else." "Why?" asked Yosef, looking him in the eyes. "Oh, so!" "Speak clearly." "She seems to love thee." Yosef's face flushed; he knew Lula's feeling, but that information from the lips of another startled him. It filled his breast with sweetness and as it were with despair together with the sweetness. "Who told thee that?" asked he. "Malinka; she tells me everything." "Then tell Lula that I marry another from inclination and duty." "Amen!" concluded Augustinovich. * * * * * In the evening he went to Pani Visberg's; Malinka opened the door to him. "Oh, is this you?" said she, with a blush. Augustinovich seized her hands and kissed them repeatedly. "Oh, Pan Adam! that is not permitted, not permitted," insisted the blushing girl. "It is, it is!" answered he, in a tone of deep conviction. "But--but," continued he, removing his overcoat and buttoning his gloves (he was dressed with uncommon elegance), "was some young man here this afternoon?" "He was; he will come in the evening." "So much the better." Augustinovich went into the drawing-room with Malinka. The drawing-room had somehow a look of importance, as if for the reception of a notable guest. On the table a double lamp was burning, the piano was open. "Why did Pan Yosef not come with you?" "The same question from the countess will meet me. In every case permit me to defer my answer till she asks." The countess did not keep them waiting long. She entered, dressed in black, with simply a few pearls in her hair. "But Pan Yosef?" asked she at once. "He is not coming." "Why?" "He is occupied. Building his future." The countess was wounded by the thought that Yosef would not come. "But do you not help him in that labor?" asked she. "May my guardian angel keep me from such work." "It must be very difficult." "Like every new building." "Why does he work so?" "Duty." "I believe that Pan Yosef builds everything on that foundation." "This time it will be more difficult for him than ever before. But somebody is coming--that is your cousin. What a splendid man!" Pan Pelski entered the drawing-room; soon after came Pani Visberg also. After the greetings conversation began to circle about in the ocean of commonplace. Augustinovich took little part in it. He sat in an armchair, partly closed his eyes with an expression of indifference toward everything. He had the habit of closing his eyes while making observations, when nothing escaped his notice. Count Pelski (we had forgotten to state that he had that title) sat near Lula, twirling in his fingers the string of his eyeglasses, and conversing with her vivaciously. "Till I came to Kieff," said he, "I knew nothing of the misfortune which had met our whole family, but especially you, through the death of your esteemed father." "Did you know my father?" asked Lula, with a sigh.