"He does not belong to the poor class. Once he was very wealthy; later he lost a greater portion of his fortune. But in the end the late Otocki who was a most upright man, and very practical besides, seeing what was taking place, took the matter in his own hands, saved considerable and changed the capital into an annuity. From this Swidwicki receives a few thousand roubles annually, and though he spends more than he ought to, he has something to live upon. If he did not drink, he would have a sufficiency: one passion he does not possess, namely, cards. He says that for cards one must have the intellect of a negro. From just that arose the encounter with Dolhanski. But after all, they could not bear each other of old. Both, as some one had said, are commercial travellers, dealing in cynicism and competing with each other." "Between the two, I, however, prefer Dolhanski," said Krzycki. "Because he amuses you, and Swidwicki has not thus far had the opportunity. Eternally, it is the same Polish weakness," answered Gronski. After a while he added: "In Dolhanski it is easier to see the bottom." "And at that bottom, Panna Kajetana." "At present it may, in truth, be so. Do you know that Dolhanski brought those ladies with him on the train which followed ours? He told me also that they would at once pay a visit to your mother and Pani Otocka." "You will really call upon them to-day?" "Yes, I call there daily. But as you are not permitted to go out, I will invite the ladies to come here to-morrow afternoon for tea." "I thank you most heartily. I am not allowed to go out but I could drive over." "My servant told me that by order of the Party a strike of the hackdrivers will begin to-morrow morning." "Then how can those ladies ride over here to-morrow?" "In the private carriages. Unless they are forbidden to ride in private.--" "In that case Mother will be unable to see me." "If it is quiet upon the streets, I will conduct her here and escort her home. At times it is so that one day the streets are turbulent as the sea, and the next, still and deserted. In reality it is a relative security; for whoever goes out to-day in the city cannot feel certain that he will return. If not these then the others may stick in your side a knife or a bayonet. But for women it is comparatively safe." "Under these circumstances, it would be better if my mother did not visit me at all. I prefer to stay out those three days which Szremski has imposed upon me, to exposing her or any of those ladies to peril. Please postpone that 'five o'clock.'" "Perhaps it will be necessary to do that. But your mother will not consent to not seeing you for three days. Maybe some one else will importune me that I should not defer the party." Ladislaus' face glowed with deep and tender joy. "Tell Mother that worry about her may harm me and cause a fever, and tell that other one that I kiss the hem of her dress." "No. Such things you must say yourself."