He drank and drank, holding the glass greedily when the butler tried to remove it from his mouth. At last he drank all, and fell backward. "It may be too much," said the butler, "but you had become very weak when I gave it." Though Martsian wished to say something, he merely hissed in the air, like a man who has burnt his mouth with too hot a liquid. "Eh," said the butler, "you owe me a good gift, for I have shown no petty service. God preserve us, if anything is done--in such an affair it is the axe and the executioner, not to mention this, that misfortune might happen here any minute. The people love that young lady beyond measure. And it will be difficult to hide what has been done from the prelate, though I will tell all to be silent. How do you feel?" Martsian looked at him with staring eyes and open mouth as he panted. Once and a second time he tried to say something, then hiccoughing seized him, his eyes grew expressionless, he closed his lids on a sudden, and then began a rattling in his throat as if the man were dying. "Sleep, or die, dirty dog!" growled the butler as he looked at him. And he went from the room to the outbuildings. Half an hour later he returned and knocked at the young lady's chamber. Finding the two sisters with her he said to them,-- "Ladies, perhaps you would look in a moment at the chancellery, for the young lord has grown very feeble. But if he sleeps it is better not to wake him." Then when alone with Panna Anulka he inclined to her knees, and said,-- "Young lady, there is need to flee from this mansion. All is ready." And she, though broken and barely able to stand on her feet, sprang up in one instant. "It is well, and I am ready! Save me!" "I will conduct you to a wagon which is waiting beyond the river. To-night I will bring your clothing. Pan Krepetski is as drunk as Bela, and will lie like a dead man till morning. Only take a cloak, and let us go. No one will stop us; have no fear on that point." "God reward! God reward!" repeated she, feverishly. They went out through the garden to that gate by which Yatsek used to enter from Vyrambki. On the way the butler said to her,-- "Long ago Vilchopolski arranged with the servants that if an attack upon you were attempted, they would set fire to the granary. Pan Krepetski would be forced to the fire, and you would have time to escape through the garden to a place beyond the river, where a man was to wait with a wagon. But it is better not to burn anything. To set fire is a crime, no matter what happens. Krepetski will be like a stone until morning, so no pursuit threatens you." "Where are we going?"