"Oh! . . . a clever man."
Mathilde, her face all flushed, tore open the envelope, while
Barlasch, breathing on his fingers, watched with twinkling eye and
busy lips.
The letter was a long one. Colonel de Casimir was an adept at
explanation. There was, no doubt, much to explain. Mathilde read
the letter carefully. It was the first she had ever had--a love-
letter in its guise--with explanations in it. Love and explanation
in the same breath. Assuredly De Casimir was a daring lover.
"He says that Dantzig will be taken by storm," she said at length,
"and that the Cossacks will spare no one."
"Does it signify," inquired Sebastian in his smoothest voice, "what
Colonel de Casimir may say?"
His grand manner had come back to him. He made a gesture with his
hand almost suggestive of a ruffle at the wrist, and clearly
insulting to Colonel de Casimir.
"He urges us to quit the city before it is too late," continued
Mathilde, in her measured voice, and awaited her father's reply. He
took snuff with a cold smile.
"You will not do so?" she asked. And by way of reply, Sebastian
laughed as he dusted the snuff from his coat with his pocket-
handkerchief.
"He asks me to go to Cracow with the Grafin, and marry him," said
Mathilde finally. And Sebastian only shrugged his shoulders. The
suggestion was beneath contempt.
"And . . . ?" he inquired with raised eyebrows.
"I shall do it," replied Mathilde, defiance shining in her eyes.
Pages:
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238