"I give you my word that I prefer one of her fingers or the ray of her hair to all the women in the world. I never had a conception that one could thus surrender himself. At times I do not know what is happening to me or what will occur, for only think: I have Jastrzeb, the estate, the Rzeslewo affairs, Mother's departure, and here I cannot think of anything but her--but her--and to nothing else can I apply my mind. I regret every moment in which I do not gaze upon her. To-day, for instance, I received a summons from the Directory to come in reference to the will and Rzeslewo, and I postpone the matter until tomorrow. I cannot--plainly--I cannot! I would go at night were it not that the Directory is closed for the night." "Remember, however, the death sentence." "May the devil take them with their sentence, or let them finally shoot me in the head. I would still be thinking of her, especially after what you have told me. But how do you know that Pani Otocka is in my favor? Those are honest, golden hearts, both of those cousins! How did you say it? That they are not my enemies? Thank God, even for that! For, why should they hate me? But please speak with Pani Otocka again. I am not concerned about her betraying any secret but only that, knowing Miss Anney, she should say something one way or the other--you know what I want--certainty--even though a morsel--" "Certainly," said Gronski, laughing, "I will seek an opportunity to-day." "Thank you! Thank you!" In fact an opportunity was easily found, as Pani Otocka also had some news which she desired to impart to Gronski, and with this object she sent her maid to him with an invitation to meet her on the yoked elm walk, near the pond. When they met there she gave him, just as Ladislaus had done a while before, a letter which arrived in the same morning's mail and said: "Please read it and advise me what to do with it." It was a letter from Laskowicz to Marynia and its tenor was as follows: "A great idea is like a gigantic bird: her wings cast a shadow over the earth, while she hovers in the sun. "Whoever does not fly upwards with her is surrounded by darkness. "And darkness is death. "In that darkness, I behold Thee, like an alabaster statuette. This night the sounds of thy music reach me. "And lo, in my lonely chamber I think of Thee and grieve for Thee. "For Thou couldst be a beam-feather in the wings of this gigantic bird idea and inhale the pure air of the dizzy heights and play in glory to the legions of the living; and Thou breathest the air of tombs and playest to a life which is moribund and to souls that wither; and not to people but to ghosts. "I grieve for Thee, my silvery one. "And my thoughts fly to Thee like eagles. "For heretofore there was imbedded in my strength a part of human happiness but there was not in it my own happiness.