The appearance of the doctor ended the conversations. Krzycki, after introducing him to the ladies, together with them began to inquire about the health of the patient, but the doctor was evidently disinclined to speak at any length, for he answered in a few words and in accordance with his habit spoke so loudly that Dolhanski, in his surprise, placed the monocle on his eye. "Nothing serious! Monsummano! Monsummano! or something like that! I will prescribe everything! Nothing serious! Nothing!" "But what is Monsummano?" asked Ladislaus. "That is a warm hole in Italy in which rheumatism is boiled out. A kind of purgatory after which salvation follows! Besides Italy, a delightful journey! I will prescribe everything in detail." Gronski, who often had travelled over Italy, also knew this place and began to describe it to the curious ladies. In the meantime Ladislaus talked about his mother's health with the doctor, who, however, listened to him inattentively, repeating, "I will prescribe everything," shaking his head, and looking about him, as if with curiosity, at each of the ladies in rotation. Suddenly he slapped his hand on his knee with a thwack which could be heard all over the room and exclaimed: "What marvellous faces there are in Jastrzeb and what skulls! Ha!" Dolhanski dropped his monocle, the ladies looked amazed, but Krzycki began to laugh. "The doctor has a habit of thinking aloud," he said. "And bawling out yet more loudly," grumbled the notary. "How is your flute?" the doctor replied, laughingly. But at that moment the servant announced that dinner was ready. Hearing this, Pani Otocka turned with a peculiar smile to her sister and said: "Marynia, your hair is all disheveled. Look at yourself in a glass." The young lady raised her hands to her head, but as there were no mirrors in the salon, she, a little confused, said: "Beg pardon, I will return immediately." She hastened to her room, but soon returned still more confused with blushes and with a radiant countenance. "A ladies' saddle!" she began to cry, "a most beautiful ladies' saddle!" And passing her eyes over those present, she pointed at Gronski: "Was it you?" "I confess," said Gronski, spreading out his hands and bowing his head. She, on her part, had such a desire to kiss his hand that if the doctor and the notary had not been present, she certainly would have done so. In the meanwhile she began to thank him with effusive and perfectly childish glee. "I see, Panna Marynia, that you are fond of horseback riding," said Szremski. "I am fond of everything." "There you have it," cried the amused doctor. "Only secure a gentle horse; otherwise it will not be hard to meet with accidents," observed the notary.