The Doll - Bolesaw Prus [260]
He coughed so hard that his eyes became bloodshot. After a rest, he went on: ‘I don’t often cough, but today I’ve caught a slight cold …. I’m not prone to catching a cold, except in autumn and New Year. Well, it will pass, for just yesterday I had Chalubinski and Baranowski in for a consultation, and they told me that if I take care of myself, I shall keep well … I also asked them (this is between you and me) what they thought of my marriage. But they said that marriage is such a personal thing … I pointed out to them that Berlin doctors told me long ago to marry. This made them think, and one of them immediately said: “It’s a pity you didn’t carry out their advice at once.” So I may tell you, sir, that I’ve now decided to do it before Advent.’
He had another fit of coughing. He rested, then suddenly asked Wokulski, in altered voice: ‘Do you believe in a future life?’
‘Why?’
‘You see, sir, faith in that protects a man from despair. I, for instance, understand that I myself shall not be as happy I might once have been, nor can I give her complete happiness. The only consolation I have is the thought that we shall meet in another, better world, where we shall both be young. For she,’ he added, thoughtfully, ‘will belong to me there too, since Holy Writ teaches us that what binds two people on earth will bind them in Heaven. Perhaps you, like Ochocki, don’t believe this? But you must admit that … sometimes you do, and you won’t give your word that it won’t be so.’
A clock in the next room struck midnight: the Baron jumped up in agitation, and bade Wokulski goodnight. A few minutes later his mounting cough could be heard at the far end of the wing. Wokulski opened the window. Calcutta hens were loudly crowing near the kitchen, in the park an owl hooted: one star broke from the sky and fell somewhere behind the tree. The Baron went on coughing.
‘Is everyone in love as blind as he?’ Wokulski thought, ‘for it’s clear to me, and probably to everyone else, that this young woman doesn’t love him at all. Perhaps she’s in love with Starski … I don’t understand the situation,’ he went on, ‘but mostly probably it is like this: that young woman is marrying for money, and Starski is encouraging her in this with his theories. Perhaps he’s in love with her himself? Not likely … Rather, he’s already bored by her, and is forcing her into the marriage … Unless — but no, that would be monstrous. Only street women have lovers who trade in them. What a stupid notion! Starski may well be her friend, and is advising her what he himself believes. After all, he openly says that he himself will only marry a rich woman. That principle is as good as any other, as Ochocki would say. The Duchess rightly said that today’s young people have strong heads and cold hearts. Our example has put them off sentimentality, so they believe in the power of money, which, moreover, is proof of sound sense. No, Starski is witty, perhaps something of a spendthrift, an idler, but he doesn’t lack spirit.
‘Though I wonder why Mrs Wąsowska is so set against him? She may have a weakness for him, and since she also has money, they’ll end by marrying. But what concern is it of mine?
‘I wonder why the Duchess didn’t mention Izabela today? Well, I won’t inquire. They’d immediately start talking about us.’
He fell asleep, and dreamed he was the Baron in love, with Starski playing the part of the friend of the family. He woke up, and smiled. ‘That would cure me at once,’ he murmured.
In the morning he went fishing again with Felicja and Ochocki. When everyone gathered for lunch at one o’clock, Mrs