"No, you did not understand him at all. My father is not at all concerned about me; he is only concerned over the fact that the whole neighborhood must be speaking about my departure and my joining the theater. . . . Surely, Krenska must have left no stone unturned. . . . He is concerned only about the gossip that is circulating. He feels disgraced through me. He would like to see me broken and begging forgiveness at his feet. That is what he is anxious about!" "You do not know him! Such hearts . . ." Janina hastily interrupted him: "Let us not speak of hearts where on one side they do not at all enter into the question, where they are entirely lacking and there is only an insane . . ." "So then? . . ." he asked rising, for he was choking with a spasm of anger. The bell in the hall rang sharply, evidently pulled violently by someone. "I will never return," said Janina with final determination. "Janina . . . have mercy . . ." "I do not understand that word," she answered with emphasis, "and I repeat: never! unless it be . . . after I am dead." "Don't say that, for . . ." He did not finish for the door suddenly swung wide open and Mimi with Wawrzecki came rushing in. "Well, are you coming? Hurry and dress yourself, for we start immediately! . . . Ah, I beg your pardon, I did not know you had a visitor," cried Mimi, observing Grzesikiewicz who took his hat, bowed automatically, and, without looking at anyone, whispered. "Good-bye." And without more ado he left. Janina sprang up as though she wished to detain him, but Kotlicki and Topolski were just then entering and greeted her jocularly. After them came some third person. "What sort of broad gentleman was that? As I live, it is the first time that I saw such a mass of meat in a surtout!" cried that third comer. "This is Mr. Glogowski. In a week we are to present his play and in a month he will be famous throughout Europe!" said Wawrzecki, introducing him. "And in three months my fame will reach Mars with all its appurtenances! . . . If you are going to bluff, at least let it be a good bluff" laughed Glogowski. Janina greeted them all, and in a subdued voice answered Mimi who was asking her about Grzesikiewicz: "An old friend of mine and former neighbor, a very honest man . . ." "He must be flushed with money, that youth . . . he looks it!" exclaimed Glogowski. "Yes, he is wealthy. His family owns the largest sheep-growing ranch in Congressional Poland . . ." "A shepherd! . . . he rather looks as though he were a keeper of elephants! . . ." jested Wawrzecki. Kotlicki only smiled and discreetly observed Janina. "Something must have happened here . . . for her voice shows she is deeply moved," he thought. "Perhaps that was her former lover? . . ." "Come, hurry, for Mela is waiting downstairs in a hack," cried Mimi impatiently. Janina dressed hastily and they all went out together. They rode to the bank of the Wisla and from there took a boat to Bielany.