“It seems to have been a case of necessity, and I do not see how any one can be blamed for it.  Yet there are no obstacles which cannot be overcome where there is a will and adequate means.  Sometimes it has happened that a sale has been invalidated in law from some omission of formality.”

By the bye, this was not strictly true; but I saw it was balm to Pani Celina’s sore heart.  I had also stood up for Kromitzki, without mentioning his name, which neither of the others had done in my presence.

To say the truth it was not generosity which prompted me, but rather a desire to conciliate Aniela, and show myself before her in the light of goodness and nobility.

And Aniela was grateful; for, when we had left the room, she came out to me, and, stretching out her hand, said,—­

“Thank you for being so good to mamma.”

For all answer I raised her hand to my lips.

My aunt too seemed touched by my goodness.  I left her and, lighting a cigar, went into the park for a quiet stroll to collect my thoughts and impressions; but I met there the young doctor who was taking his morning constitutional.  As I wished to conciliate every one at Ploszow, I went up to him, and asked him, with the special regard due to science and authority, what he thought about Pani Celina’s chances of regaining her health.  I saw that this flattered him a little, and gradually he began to lose some of his democratic stiffness, and enlarged upon the theme of Pani Celina’s illness with the ready eagerness of a young scientist who has had no time yet to doubt his powers.  In speaking, he used every now and then Latin expressions, as if addressing a colleague.  His strong, healthy frame, a certain power of speech and eye impressed me favorably.  I saw in him a type of that new generation Sniatynski at one time had spoken of to me.  Walking along the avenues, we had one of the so-called intellectual conversations, which consist a great deal in quoting names of books and authors.  Chwastowski is thoroughly acquainted with certain subjects; but I have read more, and this seemed to astonish him not a little.  At moments he looked almost vexed, as if he considered it an encroachment upon his own territory that I, an aristocrat, should know so much about certain books and authors.  But then again I won his approbation by the liberality of my opinions.  My liberality consists merely in a kind of tolerance for other people’s views, and looking upon them without party feeling; and that from a man of my position and wealth was sufficient to win over the young radical.  At the end of our conversation we felt towards each other as men do who have understood each other, and agreed on many points.

Most likely I shall be the exception of the rule as regards Doctor Chwastowski.  As in my country every nobleman has his particular Jew in whom he believes,—­though he dislikes the race in general,—­so every democrat has his aristocrat for whom he feels a special weakness.