"May my guardian angel keep me from such work."
"It must be very difficult."
"Like every new building."
"Why does he work so?"
"Duty."
"I believe that Pan Yosef builds everything on that foundation."
"This time it will be more difficult for him than ever before. But somebody is coming—that is your cousin. What a splendid man!"
Pan Pelski entered the drawing-room; soon after came Pani Visberg also.
After the greetings conversation began to circle about in the ocean of commonplace.
Augustinovich took little part in it. He sat in an armchair, partly closed his eyes with an expression of indifference toward everything. He had the habit of closing his eyes while making observations, when nothing escaped his notice.
Count Pelski (we had forgotten to state that he had that title) sat near Lula, twirling in his ringers the string of his eyeglasses, and conversing with her vivaciously.
"Till I came to Kieff," said he, "I knew nothing of the misfortune which had met our
