Meanwhile the service was concluded in splendor. From the cemetery were fired cannon given by the Kohanovskis for important occasions. In the tower the swinging bells thundered. The tame bear in the choir pumped the organ with such vigor that the tin pipes almost flew from their settings. The church was filled with smoke from censers, and trembled from the voices of people. Mass was celebrated by the prelate Tvorkovski, from Radom,--a learned man, full of sentences, quotations, examples, and proverbs; at the same time he was gladsome, and knew the world thoroughly. For these reasons, men went to him for counsel in every question; and so did Pan Gideon, who went the more readily, as the prelate was a friend of his. On the eve of the festival, Pan Gideon was with him at confession; but when, besides the confession, he began to acknowledge his intentions, the object of which was Panna Anulka, the prelate deferred that to a later and special meeting, saying that he had barely time to hear the sins of common people. "On the way back from the festival," said he to Pan Gideon, "you can send home the women and stay with me at Radom, where, _procul negotiis_ (far from business), I can listen to you in freedom." And thus did they manage. Hence, a day later they sat down before a decanter of worthy Hungarian and a plate of roast almonds, which the prelate took with wine very willingly. "I am silent," said he; "and attentive--speak on!" Pan Gideon took a draught from the glass and looked from his iron eyes with some discontent at the prelate, because the latter had not eased his conversation by a proper beginning. "Hm! somehow it is not easy; I see that it is more difficult than I imagined." "Then I will help you. Did you wish to speak of some holy thing?" "Of a holy thing?" "Yes; which has two heads and four feet." "What sort of holy thing is that?" asked Pan Gideon, astonished. "I mention a riddle. Guess it." "My dear prelate, whoso has important affairs in his head has no time for riddles." "Pshaw! Think a while!" "Some holy thing with two heads and four feet?" "Yes." "As God lives, I know not." "It is holy matrimony. Is that not so?" "True, as God is dear to me! Yes, yes, precisely on that subject do I wish to talk with you." "Then it is a question of Anulka Sieninski?"