The Doll - Bolesaw Prus [301]
I was privately amazed at this flattery. For although I know Staś is very handsome, yet all the same, he’s not as handsome as all that …-Still, I’m not a woman!
When I bade my ladies goodnight at ten, Mrs Stawska was altered and mournful, and complained that her head ached. Oh, that donkey, Staś! The woman has fallen in love with him at first sight, and he, the madman, is running after Miss Łęcka. Is there order in this world? If I were the Lord God … But why chatter on in vain?
People are talking about laying drains in Warsaw. The Prince even called on us, and invited Staś to a meeting on the subject. When he finished his conversation about drains, he questioned him about the apartment house. I was present, and well remember every word: ‘Is it true (forgive me for asking about such matters) — is it true, Mr Wokulski, that you’re asking a hundred and twenty thousand from the Baroness Krzeszowska for your house?’
‘No, it isn’t,’ Staś replied, ‘I am asking a hundred thousand, and not a penny less will I take.’
‘The Baroness is eccentric, hysterical but … she’s also an unhappy woman,’ said the Prince. ‘She wants to buy that house because her beloved daughter died there, and also in order to protect the rest of her savings from her husband, who loves squandering money … Perhaps you, sir, will make her some concessions? It’s a fine thing to do good to unhappy people,’ the Prince concluded with a sigh.
I admit that although I am only a shop-assistant, this charity at someone else’s expense surprised me. Staś felt this even more strongly, for he replied in a firm manner: ‘Am I to lose several thousand roubles just because the Baron squanders money and his wife would like to have my house? Why, pray?’
‘Well, don’t be offended, my dear sir,’ said the Prince, pressing Wokulski’s hand, ‘you know we all live with people: they help us attain our ends, so we too have certain obligations.’
‘No one helps me, indeed — many interfere,’ Staś replied. They parted very coldly. I noticed that the Prince was displeased.
What extraordinary people! Not only did Wokulski form a trading company with the Empire and give them the opportunity to make fifteen per cent on their capital, but now they want him to bestow several thousand roubles on the Baroness, at their request! What a mischief-maker she is, though, and there’s nowhere she won’t worm her way into … For there was even some priest came to see Staś, with a religious exhortation that he should sell his house to the Baroness for ninety-five thousand. And because Staś declined, we shall soon hear, no doubt, that he is an atheist.
Now comes the main incident, which I shall relate post-haste.
When I called again one evening on Mrs Stawska (the day when the Emperor Wilhelm took power after the incident with Nobiling), my goddess, that excellent woman, was in splendid fettle and full of admiration for — the Baroness!
‘Just think,’ said she, ‘what an excellent woman the Baroness Krzeszowska is, despite her eccentricities. She noticed I was unhappy without little Helena, and she asked me outright to take Helena with me to her apartment for the few hours.’
‘Those six hours for two roubles?’ I interrupted.
‘Not six — four, at most … Helena plays there very nicely, although she is not allowed to touch anything, but all the same, how she gazes at the late child’s dolls!’
‘Are they such pretty toys?’ I asked, privately making a certain plan.
‘Perfectly lovely!’ said Mrs Stawska, animatedly, ‘especially one enormous doll with dark hair, and when you press her … here, under the bodice,’ she added, blushing.
‘Don’t you mean on the stomach? … forgive me, madam,’ I inquired.
‘Yes,’ she said hastily, ‘then the doll moves its eyes and cries “Mama!” How charming it is, I’d like