The Doll - Bolesaw Prus [177]
‘The boss being formal!’ exclaimed Mr Ignacy, bitterly, ‘here’s a letter from … from them, from the Łęckis.’
Wokulski glanced at the superscription, feverishly tore open the envelope and pored over the letter — once, twice, thrice he read it. Rzecki upset something on the desk, then noticing that his friend had finished reading and was thoughtfully resting his head on one hand, said drily: ‘Are you going to Paris with Suzin today?’
‘Certainly not.’
‘I hear it’s an important deal … fifty thousand roubles.’
Wokulski did not say a word.
‘So you’ll be going tomorrow or the next day, for apparently Suzin is prepared to wait for you a day or two?’
‘I don’t know whether I’ll be going at all.’
‘That’s too bad, Staś. Fifty thousand roubles is a fortune, a pity to let it slip. If people hear you have let such an opportunity go by …’
‘They will say I’ve gone mad,’ Wokulski interrupted.
Again he fell silent, then suddenly exclaimed: ‘Suppose I have a more important duty to fulfil than making fifty thousand roubles?’
‘Is it politics?’ Rzecki asked quietly, with alarm in his eyes and a smile on his lips.
Wokulski handed him the letter: ‘Read this,’ he said, ‘you will see there are better things than politics.’
Ignacy took the letter with some hesitation, but on Wokulski’s renewed command, read it:
‘The wreath is perfectly beautiful and I thank you in Rossi’s name for this gift. Placing emeralds between the golden leaves was incomparably tasteful. You simply must come to us for dinner tomorrow so we may discuss Rossi’s farewell performance, and our trip to Paris too. Papa told me yesterday we shall be leaving within a week at the latest. We shall of course travel together, since without the pleasure of your company the journey would lose half its charm for me. Au revoir. Izabela Łęcka.’
‘I don’t understand,’ said Ignacy, indifferently casting the letter to the table, ‘no one throws fifty thousand roubles — if not more — into the mud for the pleasure of travelling to Paris with Miss Łęcka and even talking about presents for her … her admirers.’
Wokulski rose and, leaning both hands on the table, asked: ‘What if it suited me to throw my entire fortune in the mud for her sake — what then?’
The veins stood out on his forehead, his shirt-front heaved feverishly. The same sparks which Rzecki had noticed during the duel with the Baron glittered and died away in his eyes.
‘What then?’ Wokulski repeated.
‘Then — nothing,’ Rzecki replied calmly, ‘I’d merely admit that I was mistaken for I don’t know how often in my life …’
‘What about?’
‘About you. I thought that a man who had risked death … and gossip to acquire a fortune would have some higher aim …’
‘Don’t mention higher aims to me,’ Wokulski cried, banging the table, ‘I know what I have done for those higher aims, but what have they done for me? Is there no end to the demands of the oppressed who allow no rights to me? I want for the first time to do something for myself … My head’s full to overflowing with clichés that no one ever puts into action … Personal happiness — that’s my obligation now … otherwise I’d shoot myself, if I didn’t see something for myself ahead, other than monstrous burdens. Thousand of people are idle, but one man has his “duty” towards them … Did you ever hear anything more abominable?’
‘Wasn’t the ovation for Rossi a burden?’ Mr Ignacy asked.
‘I didn’t do it for Rossi …’
‘Merely to please a woman, I know. Of all savings banks, a woman is the least secure,’ Rzecki replied.
‘Mind what you say!’ Wokulski hissed.
What I have said, rather … You seem to think you have only just invented love. I know about it, too — hm! A few years back, I, like a half-wit, fell in love, and yet my Heloise was carrying on all the time with other men. My God! How much all those glances tortured me as I saw them exchanged … In the end embraces were exchanged in my presence, even … Believe me, Staś, I am not as naive as some people think. I have seen a great deal in my life, and have come to