Complete Works of Henryk Sienkiewicz

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  DRAGOMIR (clasping his hands). Permit me to speak. In life I have been a thoughtless fellow; but I followed the voice of my heart, and with my heart I divined your sadness. From that moment a shadow fell on my joyousness; but I conquered it. Tears once shed never return; but a friendly hand may arrest a tear on the way to the eye. I overcame myself, so as not to let tears go to your eyes. If I have erred, if I have chosen the wrong road, I beg forgiveness. Your life will be arranged like a bouquet of flowers, so be joyous, be gladsome.

  STELLA (gives him her hand, with emotion). I shall be in your company. I am a capricious girl, petted, and a little ill. Often I do not know myself what the trouble is. I am happy, really happy. Those are passing moments; I promise amendment. We shall spend more than one moment joyously yet.

  DRAGOMIR. In that case what do we care, as Pani Cheski says. Let us try to overcome ourselves; we will laugh, run in the garden, play tricks on Mamma Milishevski and her son.

  STELLA. I divine the secret of your gladsomeness and happiness, — it is honesty of heart and kindness.

  DRAGOMIR. No, I am very heedless. But so far I have lived peacefully enough; real happiness, however, does not lie in peace.

  STELLA. Sometimes I think that it does not exist in the world at all.

  DRAGOMIR. Reason cannot seize it, and cannot fly after that winged vision. Sometimes, perhaps, it flits past near us; but before a man looks around, before he stretches out a hand, he is too late.

  STELLA. What torturing words, — too late.

  SCENE VIII.

  The same, DOCTOR YOZVOVICH.

  DOCTOR (comes in laughing). Ha! ha! do you know what has happened?

  STELLA. IS it something amusing, doctor?

  DOCTOR. Something awful, tragic, terrible, but above all ridiculous! Milishevski wanted to challenge Yerzy.

  STELLA. My God!

  DOCTOR. Laugh with me, Princess. If this were something dangerous, I should not have frightened you.

  DRAGOMIR. HOW did it end?

  DOCTOR. DO you know that I went so far as to be angry with Yerzy. Imagine that he took the matter seriously.

  DRAGOMIR. But I pray you, what had he to do?

  DOCTOR. But for a man like Yerzy, it would be a shame to have a pistol duel with such a pitiful person!

  STELLA. The doctor is right. I cannot understand Pan Yerzy.

  DOCTOR. Let not our Princess be angry, I reconciled them. But Yerzy did not penetrate the heart of the question; his native impulsiveness carried him away. Now, however, he has halted, and when I explained the whole affair to him, he agreed that it would have been at least ridiculous. He has much judgment.

  DRAGOMIR. What did Milishevski do?

  DOCTOR. I sent him to his mamma. He is a good fellow also.

  STELLA. But I shall open a storm on Pan Yerzy.

  DRAGOMIR. Only be not too severe.

  STELLA. YOU are laughing, gentlemen; but to me it is painful that there was need to explain this to Pan Yerzy. In truth he shall have a storm right away. — [Goes out.

  SCENE IX.

  DRAGOMIR, DOCTOR YOZVOVICH.

  DRAGOMIR. What an angel that Princess is!

  DOCTOR. True, there is not one taint in her crystalline nature.

  DRAGOMIR. It must be so, since even you, doctor, a sceptic, speak of her with such warmth.

  DOCTOR. Six years have passed since I came here. When I arrived the first time, she ran out to me in a short dress, and with her hair in papers, — such a little thing. Since then she has grown up before me. Six years have their rights; it would have been difficult not to grow attached to her.

  DRAGOMIR. I believe that. (After a moment of thought.) You people of work have wonderful hearts though.

  DOCTOR. Why?

  DRAGOMIR. I know what you might say of her social position; but that has no meaning, hearts are equal, hence how has it happened that, being so near the Princess, you have been able to master yourself and not — and not —

  DOCTOR (interrupting him). What is that?

  DRAGOMIR. It is difficult for me to find the expression.

  DOCTOR. I have found it. You ask me why I have not fallen in love with her?

  DRAGOMIR. I hesitated before the over-bold question.

  DOCTOR. In truth, if you are lacking in decision, I will help you out and inquire: — But you?

  DRAGOMIR. Doctor!

  DOCTOR. What lyric chord has groaned?

  DRAGOMIR. Let ns finish this conversation.

  DOCTOR. AS may please you, though I can talk calmly yet, and so to change the conversation I would ask you, Will she be happy with Yerzy?

  DRAGOMIR. What a question! Yerzy loves her beyond everything.

  DOCTOR. NO doubt, but their natures are not in accord. Her thoughts and feelings are as subtle as spiderwebs, and Yerzy? Have you seen how it pricked her, that he accepted the challenge?

  DRAGOMIR. Why did you mention the affair to her?

  DOCTOR. I did wrong. But Yerzy —

  DRAGOMIR. HOW happy he will be with her!

  DOCTOR. Any man would be happy with her, and to every man one might give the advice, find one like her. Yes, Count, find one like her. — [He goes out.

  SCENE X.

  COUNT DRAGOMIR, alone.

  DRAGOMIR (to himself). Find one like her. But if she is found — too late. (He sits with his face covered with his hand.)

  SCENE XI.

  STELLA, DRAGOMIR.

  STELLA (seeing DRAGOMIR, looks at him in silence for a while). What is the matter, Count?

  DRAGOMIR. Are you here? (A moment of silence.)

  STELLA (confused). I am looking for papa — I beg your pardon, I must go.

  DRAGOMIR. GO, Princess.

  [STELLA goes, stops on the threshold for a moment, and vanishes.

  DRAGOMIR. I must leave here as soon as possible!

  SCENE XII.

  DRAGOMIR, PRINCE, at the end, the DOCTOR.

  PRINCE (rushing in panting). Till this moment she has tormented me. O Jesus, Mary! And is that thou, Dragomir?

  DRAGOMIR. I, Prince.

  PRINCE. She tormented the life out of me!

  DRAGOMIR. Who?

  PRINCE. Countess Milishevski. My dear man, how is he to be a deputy when he is a fool?

  DRAGOMIR. True, Prince.

  PRINCE. And, seest thou! after that, when the mother made a proposal to me for Stella, I was just terrified. Besides, she is betrothed, but they did not know it. O Jesus!

  DRAGOMIR. HOW did you get off?

  PRINCE. The doctor got me off. When he is absent the Countess does not leave a dry thread on him; but when he is here, she is like a mouse in a corner. That’s a head, that Yozvovich! He has more sense than all of us.

  DRAGOMIR. That is certain.

  PRINCE. But thou hast sense also, Dragomir, hast thou not?

  DRAGOMIR. HOW contradict or agree in this case? The doctor has another kind of mind, Prince.

  PRINCE. But that is it! — another kind. I cannot endure him, I fear him, and I like him; but I say to thee that I could not live without him. Dost hear?

  DRAGOMIR. He is a shrewd and honest man.

  PRINCE. Honest? That is well; but thou art better, for thou art not a democrat. I love thee, Dragomir! Stella, I love him. But she is not here.

  DRAGOMIR (kissing him on the shoulder). Thank you, Prince.

  PRINCE. AS God lives, if I had another daughter, I would give her to thee.

  DRAGOMIR. Oh, do not say that, Prince. (Aside) I must be off!

  PRINCE. Come for a cigar. We will call those people and talk a little. Hei, Yozvovich! Pretvits!

  DOCTOR (entering). What do you command, Prince?

  PRINCE. Come for a cigar, Robespierre! I thank thee, my boy, for having freed me from that Countess.

  DOCTOR. GO on, gentlemen, I will send for Pretvits, and we will come right away. (He rings, a SERVANT appears; the PRINCE and DRAGOMIR go out.) Ask Pan Pretvits to come! (The SERVANTES.) (Alone.) Antoni was right! I am helping the logic
. But it is disagreeable for me to undermine, I am accustomed to smash.

  SCENE XIII.

  YERZY, YOZVOVICH.

  YERZY. I was looking for you.

  DOCTOR. The Prince asks us to a cigar.

  YERZY. Wait a little. In the name of God, tell me what all this means? Stella changes before one’s eyes; there is something oppressive in the air. What does it mean?

  DOCTOR. Melancholy. Melancholy is in fashion.

  YERZY. Thou art jesting with me?

  DOCTOR. I know nothing.

  YERZY. Pardon me. Somehow the blood is rushing to my head in a wonderful way; some storm is above me. I thought that thou wouldst find a calming word for me; I thought thee friendly to me.

  DOCTOR. Dost doubt it?

  YERZY. Give me thy hand, and then some word of explanation or advice.

  DOCTOR. Advice? Art thou ill, then?

  YERZY (with an effort). Indeed, thou art playing with me, as a cat with a mouse.

  DOCTOR. I know nothing of forebodings.

  YERZY. Didst thou tell me that she was not ill?

  DOCTOR. She is bored.

  YERZY. Thou sayest that strangely, as though not knowing what pain that word causes me.

  DOCTOR. Distract her.

  YERZY. HOW? HOW?

  DOCTOR. Not as a wolf a lamb, but, for example, as Count Dragomir does.

  YERZY. Does she like his society?

  DOCTOR. And he hers. Such poetic souls come to each other mutually.

  YERZY. What dost thou mean by that?

  DOCTOR (sharply). And how dost thou take my words?

  YERZY (rising). Not another syllable, dost understand me, I am not always able to forgive!

  DOCTOR (rises too, approaches YERZY, and looks him in the eyes). I judge that it is thy wish to frighten me? Besides this, what dost thou wish?

  YERZY (after a moment of struggle with himself). Ask what I have wished, for now I wish nothing. Thou knowest her longer than I; so I came to thee as to her friend and mine. Thou hast answered with jests. In thy eyes glitters hatred for me, though I have done thee no harm, and I was the first man to greet thee as a former comrade. Judge thyself! I should have more right to ask what thou wishest of me were it not for this (with pride), that all is one to me. — [Goes out.

  DOCTOR. We shall see.

  SCENE XIV.

  DOCTOR YOZVOVICH, the SERVANT.

  SERVANT. A special messenger from Pan Antoni has brought a letter.

  DOCTOR. Give it. (The SERVANT goes out. The DOCTOR, looking at the door through which YERZY went out.) Oh! neither can I master my hatred any longer. I will crush thee in the dust; now I will hesitate before nothing. (Breaks the seal hastily.) A curse! I must go there to-day!

  SCENE XV.

  DOCTOR YOZVOVICH, PANI CHESKI.

  PANI CHESKI (coming in quickly). Doctor, I am looking for you through the whole house.

  DOCTOR. What has happened?

  PANI CHESKI. Stella is ill. I found her in her chamber in tears.

  DOCTOR (aside). Poor girl! (Aloud.) I hasten this minute. — [They go.

  END OF THIRD ACT.

  ACT IV.

  The same drawing-room.

  SCENE I.

  YOZVOVICH, DRAGOMIR. The DOCTOR, sitting at a small table, is noting in a catalogue; DRAGOMIR enters.

  DRAGOMIR. I come to take farewell, doctor.

  DOCTOR (rises suddenly). Ah! are you going away?

  DRAGOMIR. I am.

  DOCTOR. A sudden decision. And for a long time?

  DRAGOMIR. I start this evening for Svetlenitse, to see Yerzy, to-morrow I go abroad.

  DOCTOR. One word more. Have you told any one of this plan?

  DRAGOMIR. SO far no one knows of it. My intention became a decision only a couple of hours ago.

  DOCTOR. IS it irrevocable?

  DRAGOMIR. Irrevocable.

  DOCTOR. Then not even Yerzy knows of it yet?

  DRAGOMIR. Not even Yerzy. Why do you ask?

  DOCTOR (aside). It has come. There is need to act quickly, else all will be lost. (Aloud.) Count, I cannot speak in this moment at length with you, for Antoni is coming with an affair on which my whole future depends. But hear me, I implore you in the name of the peace and health of the Princess not to mention to any one that you are going away, neither to her, nor to Yerzy, nor to the Prince.

  DRAGOMIR. I do not understand you.

  DOCTOR. YOU will understand me. At this moment I cannot say more. I beg for a little time. Half an hour hence, give me a moment’s conversation, I pray. You will understand me, I assure you. But here is Antoni. You see, Count, that at present I cannot —

  DRAGOMIR. Then till we meet again.

  SCENE II.

  ANTONI, DOCTOR YOZVOVICH.

  ANTONI. To-morrow the result will be known. It is a hot affair. Is the address ready?

  DOCTOR. Here it is. And how are things going?

  ANTONI. SO far, everything goes well; but I tell thee that it is a hot affair. If thou hadst not come the last time, thou wouldst have been lost; for Milishevski has withdrawn, and now his partisans are on Husarski’s side. Thy speech in the city hall was brilliant. May a thunderbolt split thee! To-day we will give thee an ovation. Even thy enemies do justice to thy programme. Oh, at last we shall come to have a voice! These three days I sleep not, neither do I eat, I only work, and I have time, for they have dismissed me from office.

  DOCTOR. Have they driven thee out of office?

  ANTONI. For agitation, and for the affair with Husarski.

  DOCTOR. Hast found means against him?

  ANTONI. I have scratched off a little article. I will give it to thee — here it is. He has brought a suit against me, and will win. They will put me in prison; but the action will end only after election, while the article will hurt him before election.

  DOCTOR. Well!

  ANTONI. But when I shall be sitting in prison, think of my wife and children. I love my little boys immensely. I have a few too many of them; but nature is a hard law.

  DOCTOR. Be at rest.

  ANTONI. Thou wouldst not believe, but I am almost happy. At times it seems to me that our province is a cabin with foul air, and that I open the window and let in a fresh breeze. We will work, even if we have to wear off our arms to the elbows. I believe in thee, for thou art a monster made of iron. As God is true, thou hadst taken possession of us before we saw it.

  DOCTOR. I shall die, or gain two victories.

  ANTONI. TWO?

  DOCTOR. Yes, and the other even here to-day. Events have anticipated me in some measure. Facts turned against me. I had to frame my plan of action quickly, a moment ago.

  ANTONI. Ei! if we can only win there. Knowest thou, lord leader of our party, I would rather thou threw the other victory to the deuce.

  DOCTOR. In this thou art mistaken, Antoni.

  ANTONI. Thou grievest; thou sufferest; thou hast grown thin. Look in the mirror! What a face!

  DOCTOR. That is no harm; when I spring the mine here I shall be calmer, and the mine is now ready.

  ANTONI. But it will cost thee something.

  DOCTOR. Still I shall not go back.

  ANTONI. Deuce take it! But do not blacken thy hands too much with the powder.

  SCENE III.

  The same, STELLA.

  STELLA (entering, sees ANTONI). Ah, I beg pardon!

  DOCTOR. Pan Antoni Juk, my friend. (ANTONI lows.) What do you command, Princess?

  STELLA. YOU prescribed the bed; but it is so hard to lie down. Pani Cheski went to the chapel, so I fled. Do you permit?

  DOCTOR. What am I to do, Princess, though I might have the wish to scold a disobedient child. Not long since some one else interceded for you.

  STELLA. Who was that?

  DOCTOR. Count Dragomir; and he begged so that I promised to let you rise in an hour. He wishes to talk with you to-day, I believe, even later, as he cannot —

  STELLA (aside). What does this mean?

  DOCTOR. About five, that is an
hour from now, he will be here.

  STELLA. Very well.

  DOCTOR. NOW I beg that you will return to your own room, for you are lightly dressed. — [She goes out.

  SCENE IV.

  DOCTOR YOZVOVICH, ANTONI.

  ANTONI. Ah, that is the Princess then. I saw her for the first time.

  DOCTOR. Yes, that is she.

  ANTONI. Very shapely. But somehow as if made of mist. I prefer women like my wife. Prom the Princess thou wilt not get sturdy democrats.

  DOCTOR. Enough of this.

  ANTONI. SO I weigh anchor and sail. I will scatter thy address to-day, and at the same time another stiff article on Husarski. If they are to put me in prison, let people know why. Be well!

  DOCTOR. And when thou shalt meet the servant, tell him that I am waiting for Count Dragomir.

  SCENE V.

  DOCTOR YOZVOVICH, later, DRAGOMIR.

  DOCTOR. Then let this golden-haired page go away, but let him take farewell of her. That farewell will be a red rag for the bull. (DRAGOMIR enters.) I am waiting for you. Is Pretvits here?

  DRAGOMIR. He is with the Prince.

  DOCTOR. Sit down, Count; let us talk.

  DRAGOMIR (unquietly). I listen.

  DOCTOR. DO you love the Princess?

  DRAGOMIR. Pan Yozvovich! —

  DOCTOR. On your honor, — yes or no.

  DRAGOMIR. God might have the right to ask me a question which I dare not ask myself.

  DOCTOR. And your conscience.

  DRAGOMIR. And no one else.

  DOCTOR. Then in another way! And she loves you.

  DRAGOMIR. Be silent! — O great God!

  DOCTOR. Pride is broken! You knew of this?

  DRAGOMIR. No, I did not wish to know.

  DOCTOR. YOU know now.

  DRAGOMIR. I am going away forever.

  DOCTOR. TOO late, Count! You have involved her life, and now you are leaving her.

  DRAGOMIR. But what am I to do? In God’s name!

  DOCTOR. GO away, but not for good, and not without taking leave.