The Doll - Bolesaw Prus [184]
‘Straight from England, whence he’d gone from China. As handsome as ever, and now he’s going to his grandmama’s — she, apparently, is to leave him her fortune.’
‘Doesn’t she live in your neighbourhood?’
‘That is precisely what I want to talk to you about. He asked a great deal about you, and I, being sure you have been cured of some of your whims, have advised him to call on you tomorrow.’
‘Oh, delightful!’ Izabela exclaimed, gratified.
‘There, you see,’ said the Countess, kissing her, ‘your aunt is always thinking of you. He is an excellent match for you, and it will be all the easier to bring it off now that Tomasz has some capital, which ought to suffice him, and Kazio has heard something of Aunt Hortensja’s will in your favour. Well, I daresay Starski is somewhat in debt. But in any case, what will be left him of his grandmother’s fortune plus what you may get from Hortensja, ought to suffice you both for some time. Later — we will see. He still has an uncle; you have me, so your children will not be poor.’
Izabela kissed her aunt’s hands in silence. At this moment she was so beautiful that the Countess, embracing her, drew her to a mirror and said, with a smile: ‘Well, mind you look like this tomorrow and you’ll see that the wounds in Kazio’s heart will re-open … Though it is a pity you turned him down that time … You would have had a hundred or a hundred and fifty thousand roubles more today … I imagine that the poor boy must have spent a great deal of money in his despair … But …’ the Countess added, ‘is it true that you and your father want to go to Paris?’
‘We intend to.’
‘Please, Bela,’ her aunt begged, ‘do not go. I particularly want to suggest that you spend the rest of the summer with me. And you must, even if only for Starski’s sake. You know, the young fellow will be bored in the country, he’ll dream … You can meet every day and under such circumstances it will be the easiest thing in the world to attach him to you, even obligate him …’
Izabela blushed more than before and bowed her beautiful head: ‘Aunt!’ she whispered.
‘Come, my child, don’t play the diplomatist with me. A young lady of your age ought to marry — and whatever you do, avoid repeating your past mistakes. Kazio is a splendid parti; you won’t tire of him quickly, and if he … if he does, then at least he will be your husband and will have to be tolerant about many things, just as you will. Where’s your father?’
‘My father is rather unwell …’
‘Good Heavens! I daresay his unexpected good fortune has upset him …’
‘He was ill with rage at that Jew …’
‘Him and his illusions!’ the Countess replied, rising, ‘I’ll drop in on him for a moment to talk about your holiday. As for you, Bela, I expect you will be able to take advantage of the time.’
After half an hour’s intimate talk with Tomasz, the Countess said goodbye to her niece, reminding her once again of Starski.
At about nine, Tomasz, quite contrary to his habits, went to bed, while Izabela summoned her cousin Flora to her room for a talk: ‘You know, Flora,’ she said, reclining in the chaise-longue, ‘that Kazio Starski is back and is to call on us tomorrow …’
‘Ah …’ Flora breathed, as if this event were already known to her, ‘so he is not angry?’ she asked, emphasising the last word.
‘Surely not … At least, I don’t know,’ Izabela smiled, ‘aunt says he is very handsome …’
‘And in debt. But there is no harm in that. Who isn’t nowadays?’
‘What would you say, Flora, if I were to …’
‘Marry him? I’d congratulate you both, of course. But what would the Baron say, not to mention the marshal, Ochocki and above all — Wokulski?’
Izabela rose hastily: ‘My dear, what on earth puts Wokulski into your head?’
‘Nothing …’ Flora replied, plucking at the tape of her bodice, ‘only I recall that in April you told me … that that man had been pursuing you with looks for a twelve-month, that he was surrounding you on all sides …’
Izabela burst out laughing: ‘Ah, I remember! Of course, that was how it seemed … But today, now that I know him better, I can see he does not belong