“Excuse the question, but I cannot understand why a man so fond of domestic life has not taken to himself a companion.  Neither your studio, your assistants, nor your dogs can give you the feeling of a home you are missing, as a wife would.”

Lukomski smiled, and pointing to the ring on his finger, said,—­

“I am going to be married shortly.  We are only waiting because the young lady is in mourning for her father; I am to join her in two months.”

“At Sierpiec?”

“No, she comes from Wilkomierz.”

“What took you to Wilkomierz?”

“I have never been there.  I met her by accident on the Corso in Rome.”

“That was a fortunate accident, was it not?”

“The most fortunate in my life.”

“Was it during the Carnival?”

“No.  It happened in this way:  I was on my way to the studio when, in the Via Condotto, I saw two fair-haired women inquiring in very bad Italian the way to the Capitol.  They were saying:  ’Capitolio, Capitole, Capitol,’ and nobody seemed to know what they wanted, because here, as you know, they call it ‘Campidolio.’  I could not have been mistaken,—­they were Poles, evidently mother and daughter.  They were overjoyed when I addressed them in Polish; I was very glad too, and so I not only showed them the way but went there with them.”

“You have no idea how this interests me; and so you went together?”

“Yes, we went together.  On the way I looked at the younger lady; a figure like a young poplar, graceful, pretty, a small head, ears a perfect model, the face full of expression, and eyelashes pure gold, such as, you find only at home; there is nothing of that kind here, unless now and then at Venice.  She pleased me very much too because of that thoughtfulness for her mother, who was in grief, having lost her husband; I thought she must have a good heart.  For about a week I went with them everywhere, and then asked for the young lady’s hand.”

“After a week’s acquaintance; is it possible?”

“Yes, because the ladies were going back to Florence.”

“At any rate you are not one of those who take a long time to make up their minds.”

“At home it would have taken much longer; but here, sir, the very thought they were my countrywomen made me long to kiss their hands.”

“Yes, but marriage is such an important step.”

“That is true; but three or four weeks more would not help me to a clearer view of it.  I had certain scruples, I confess; I feel a little reluctant to speak of it.  In our family there is hereditary deafness.  My grandfather at an advanced age became quite deaf.  My father was deaf at forty.  One can live with that, but it is a great drawback, because deaf people as a rule are irritable.  I debated within myself whether it was right for a young girl to marry a man threatened with such a defect, and who in course of time might become a burden to her.”