"You see, your grace, how it is! This is the best proof that war is certain. The bishop wants a splendid light cavalry regiment--well, Pan Prylubski came to these parts because he has heard of us somewhat." "Ho! ho! Your glory has gone far through the world. Are you going?" "Of course!" "All of you?" "Why should we not all go? It is a good thing during war to have a friend at one's side, and still better a brother." "Well, and Pan Stanislav?" "He and Pan Yatsek will serve in one regiment." Pan Gideon glanced quickly at the young lady sitting in front; a sudden flame rushed over her cheeks, and he inquired further,-- "Are they so intimate already? Under whom will they serve?" "Under Pan Zbierhovski." "Of course in the dragoons?" "In God's name, what are you saying? That is the hussar regiment of Prince Alexander." "Is it possible! Is it possible! That is no common regiment--" "Pan Yatsek is no common man." Pan Gideon had it on his lips to say that such a stripling in the hussars would be a soldier, not an officer, but he held back the remark, fearing it might seem that his letter was not so polite, or his help so considerable as he had told Anulka, so he frowned and said,-- "I have heard of the mortgage of Vyrambki; how much was given on it?" "More than you would have given," answered Marek, dryly. Pan Gideon's eyes glittered for a moment with savage anger, but he restrained himself a second time, for it occurred to him that further conversation might serve his purpose. "All the better," said he, "the cavalier must be satisfied." The Bukoyemskis, though slow-witted by nature, began to exaggerate, one more than the other, just to show Pan Gideon how little Tachevski cared for him and all in his mansion. "Of course!" called out Lukash, "when he went away he was almost wild from delight. He sang so that the candles at the inn toppled over. It is true, that we had drunk some at parting." Pan Gideon looked again at Panna Sieninski, and saw that her rosy face full of youth and life had become as it were petrified. Her hood had fallen off entirely, her eyes were closed as in sleep; only from the movement of her nostrils and the slight quivering of her chin could it be known that she was not sleeping, but listening, and listening intently. It was painful to look at her, but the merciless noble thought,-- "If there is a splinter in thy heart yet will I pluck it out of thee!" And he said aloud,-- "Just as I expected--" "What did you expect?" "That you gentlemen would be drunk at the parting, and that Pan Tachevski would go away singing. Of course, he who is seeking fortune must hurry, and if it smiles on him, perhaps he may catch it--" "Of course!" exclaimed Lukash.