Yosef was silent; Augustinovich continued: "I say: Pelski is a young man and wealthy, she pleases him very much, and she may not look at the statue; she pleases him,—that is the main thing."
"Let us suppose that she will not consider the statue, what further?"
"In that case Lula will become Countess Pelski."
"Will she consent? What sayst thou?"
Yosef's eyes flashed.
"Listen, old man, I say this: I know not the good of this conversation. Perhaps she might not consent to-day, but in half a year or a year she will consent. If thou wert there thou mightest contend with him; otherwise, I repeat, she will consent."
"On what dost thou rest that judgment?"
"On what? A certain evening when I saw Pelski I was listening, and he asked, 'Of what family is Shvarts?' and she answered, 'I know not, really.' Thou seest! But when I said that thou art the son of a blacksmith, she was in flames, and almost burst into weeping from anger at me. There it is for thee!"
Yosef also felt at that moment as it were a wish to weep from anger.
"Seest thou," continued Augustinovich,
