Part 32 (1/2)

”A guest at whom the dogs howl is nothing to us,” said he.

”Wine!” called Pan Gideon.

But the gla.s.ses were full, hence there was no need to pour at that moment. Old Krepetski, father of Martsian, rose from his chair somewhat heavily, wis.h.i.+ng to speak, as seemed evident. All turned their eyes to him. Old men began to surround their ears with their hands to hear better, but he only moved his lips after long waiting, his chin almost meeting his nose, for he was toothless.

Meanwhile, notwithstanding the fact that the earth was soft from thawing, there came from the other side of the house, as it were, a dull clatter and it was heard rather long, long enough to go twice round the courtyard. Hence old Krepetski, who had raised his gla.s.s, held it a while, looked at the door, and then put the gla.s.s down again; other guests acted in like manner.

”See who has come!” said Pan Gideon to his attendant.

The youth rushed out, returned straightway, and answered,--

”There is no one.”

”That is strange,” said the prelate. ”The sound was heard clearly.”

”We all heard it,” said one of the twin Sulgostovskis.

”And the dogs have stopped howling,” said others.

Then the door of the entrance, badly fastened by the servant, as was evident, opened of itself, and a new draught of air entered with such violence that it quenched from ten to twenty candles.

”What is that?” ”Shut the door!” ”The candles are dying!” said a number of voices.

But with the wind had rushed into the hall, as it were, some unknown terror. Pani Vinnitski, who was superst.i.tious and timid, began then to cross herself audibly.

”In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost--”

”Woman! be silent!” commanded Pan Gideon.

Then turning to Panna Sieninski he kissed her hand.

”A quenched candle cannot trouble my gladness,” said he, ”and G.o.d grant me to be as happy to the end of my days as I am at this moment. Is that not right, my Anulka?”

”Yes, guardian,” said she, bending toward his hand.

”Amen!” ended the prelate, who rose to address them.

”Gracious ladies and gentlemen, since that unexpected sound stopped, as is evident, Pan Krepetski's ideas let me be the earliest expounder of those feelings with which our hearts are warmed toward the future wife and her husband. Hence, ere we cry out _O Hymen, O Hymenaios_, before we, in Roman fas.h.i.+on, begin to call Thala.s.sius, the beautiful youth who G.o.d grant may appear at the earliest, let us raise _ex imo_ this first toast to their prosperity and coming happiness: _Vivant, crescant, floreant_” (may they live, increase, flourish).

”_Vivant! Vivant!_” thundered all guests.

The Radom orchestra was heard that moment, and outside the windows the drivers fell to cracking their whips.

Long did the shouts last, with the stamping of feet, the sounding of horns and the cracking of whips. The servants, too, raised a shout throughout the whole mansion, and in the dining-hall, amid endless cheers, rose great sounds of wine-gulping.

”_Vivant, crescant, floreant!_”

Silence came only when Pan Gideon stood up, raised his gla.s.s, and said in a loud voice,--