The Doll - Bolesaw Prus [382]
The Prince covered his eyes with both hands: ‘Oh, Mr Wokulski, this … what you say is very right, and very bitter … Very cruel … Less of this, though. I understand your resentment towards us, but surely … There are certain obligations towards the community.’
‘No, I don’t regard getting fifteen per cent annually on my capital as the carrying out of an obligation. And I don’t think I’d be any worse citizen if I drew the line at five per cent.’
‘But we are spending this money,’ retorted the Prince, who was already offended. ‘People live around us …’
‘And I will spend money, too. I shall go to Ostend for the summer, to Paris for the autumn, and to Nice in the winter.’
‘I beg your pardon … People live on us not only abroad … How many local craftsmen …’
‘Have to wait for what they are owed for a year or longer,’ Wokulski caught him up. ‘Both you and I, Prince, know these patrons of Polish industry, we even have them in our company.’
The Prince jumped up. ‘Ah, this is unworthy, Mr Wokulski!’ he said breathlessly. ‘It’s true we have great faults, even sins, but we did not commit any of them towards you. You had our cordiality, our respect …’
‘Respect!’ cried Wokulski, laughing. ‘Do you suppose, Prince, that I didn’t know what it was based on, and what sort of position it assured me among you all? Mr Stawalski, Mr Niwiński, even … Mr Starski, who never did anything and got his money Heaven knows where, stood ten storeys higher than I in your estimation. What am I saying? Any foreign vagabond could get into your drawing-rooms, which I had to conquer with fifteen per cent interest on the capital entrusted to me. It is these people, not I who had your respect. Bah! They even had far wider-reaching privileges … Although each of these respected men is worth less than the doorman in my store, for he does something, and at least doesn’t infect the community.’
‘Mr Wokulski, you do us an injustice. I understand what you mean, and am ashamed, upon my word I am. But after all, we aren’t responsible for the offences of individuals.’
‘On the contrary, you are all responsible, for those individuals have grown up among you and what you, Prince, call “offences”, are only the results of your opinions, of your contempt for all work and all obligations.’
‘Resentment is speaking through you,’ replied the Prince, making to leave. ‘Justified resentment, but perhaps mistakenly aimed … Goodbye, sir. So you are leaving us as sacrifices to the Hebrews?’
‘I hope you will come to a better understanding with them than with us,’ said Wokulski ironically.
The Prince had tears in his eyes. ‘I thought,’ he said, moved, ‘that you would be a golden bridge between us and those who … are increasingly drawing apart from us.’
‘I wanted to be a bridge, but it was sawn away underneath and has collapsed now,’ replied Wokulski, bowing.
‘Let us return, then, to the barricades of the Holy Trinity!’
‘This is not called for, yet … It’s a partnership with the Jews, that’s all.’
‘So that is your view?’ asked the Prince, turning pale. ‘So I … am no longer in the company. Oh, unhappy country …’
He nodded and went out.
Finally the meeting to decide the fate of the company for trading with the Empire took place. First, Wokulski’s committee delivered a report for the past year. It appeared that the turnover had increased the capital tenfold or more, bringing not fifteen but eighteen per cent. On hearing this, the shareholders were excited, and the Prince moved they thank the committee and the absent Wokulski by rising to their feet. Then Wokulski’s lawyer took the floor and stated that his client was resigning on account of ill-health, not only from the committee, but also from the company. Everyone had been prepared in advance for this news, but it made a very depressing effect.
Taking advantage of a pause, the Prince asked for silence and informed those present that he too was resigning from the company as result of Wokulski’s resignation. Having made this statement, he at once left the council room; on going out,