The Doll - Bolesaw Prus [353]
He called on Mr Łęcki twice a day, or at least went into society where he was likely to find Izabela, to gaze at her and exchange a few words. At present this sufficed him, but he dared not think of the future. ‘It seems to me I’ll die at her feet,’ he told himself, ‘well, and what of it? I’ll die gazing at her, and will perhaps be able to see her for all eternity. Who knows whether the life to come doesn’t close in a man’s last feeling?’ And he recited Mickiewicz:
And after many days or many years,
When I am summoned to abandon my tomb,
You will remember your sleeping friend
And journey down from heaven to revive him.
Once more will I be drawn to your white breast,
Once more will your dear arm encircle me;
I will awake—as from a moment’s sleep,
Kissing your cheeks, gazing into your eyes.
A few days later, Baron Krzeszowski called on him. ‘I’ve been here twice,’ he cried, fidgeting with his eye-glasses which were apparently his only care in life.
‘Have you?’ asked Wokulski. Suddenly he recollected Rzecki’s tale, and that he’d found two of the Baron’s visiting cards on the table only the day before.
‘Can you guess why I’m here, sir?’ said the Baron. ‘Mr Wokulski, am I to apologise to you for an involuntary injustice?’
‘Say no more, Baron,’ Wokulski interrupted, embracing him, ‘it’s nothing. In any case, even if I made two hundred roubles by bargaining over your mare, would I need to hide the fact?’
‘That’s so!’ replied the Baron, clutching his forehead, ‘fancy my not thinking of that earlier…Apropos profit, couldn’t you show me some way to get rich fast? I urgently need a hundred thousand roubles within a year.’
Wokulski smiled.
‘You smile, cousin (I suppose I may begin to call you that?)—you smile, yet you yourself have made millions in the course of two years, and honestly too.’
‘Not quite so much,’ Wokulski added, ‘but in any case, that fortune was not worked for—it was won. I won a dozen or more times by doubling my stakes each time like a card-player, and my only virtue was that I played with unmarked cards.’
‘Luck again!’ cried the Baron, plucking off his eye-glasses. ‘I, cousin, don’t have a pennyworth of luck. I gambled away half my fortune, ladies of easy virtue devoured the other half—there’s nothing left but to put a bullet through my brains. No, I definitely have no luck! Look, now…I thought Maruszewicz would seduce the Baroness. Then I might have had some peace and quiet at home. How tolerant she would be towards my own little misdemeanours! But what happened? The Baroness wouldn’t dream of deceiving me, while a prison cell awaits that fool. Pray ensure that he’s locked up, for his rascally ways are beginning to bore even me. So,’ he concluded, ‘we’re in agreement. I’d only add that I have visited all my acquaintances whom those incautious remarks of mine about the mare may have reached, and have explained the matter in the utmost detail…Let Maruszewicz go to prison; it’s the most appropriate place for him, and his absence will mean a few thousand roubles a year to me…I also visited Mr Tomasz and Miss Izabela, and explained our misunderstanding to them. It’s dreadful, the way that scoundrel could squeeze money out of me! Although I haven’t had a penny for a year, he was always borrowing from me. A scoundrel with genius! I feel that if they don’t put him to hard labour, I’ll never rid myself of him. Au revoir, cousin!’
Less than ten minutes had elapsed after the Baron’s departure when the servant announced to Wokulski some gentleman who wished urgently to see him, but refused to give his name. ‘Can it be Maruszewicz?’ Wokulski thought.
In fact Maruszewicz entered, pale, with glittering eyes. ‘Sir!’ he said in a gloomy voice, closing the study door, ‘you see before you a man who has made up his mind…’
‘What have you decided?’
‘To end it all. This is a difficult moment, but there’s no help for it. My honour…’ he paused, then went on indignantly, ‘I could kill you first, of course, as you are the cause of my misfortunes.’
‘Well, don’t stand on ceremony,’ said Wokulski.
‘You joke, but I really