different prices and all are genuine Parisian goods! . . ." she
chattered on rapidly, spreading the contents of her box on the
table, while her little black eyes with heavy red lids, like the
eyes of a hawk, wandered about the room and took stock of
everything.

Janina kept silent.

"It won't harm you to look at them . . ." insisted the Jewess. "I
have cheap things and pretty things! Perhaps you will have some
ribbons, or laces, or stockings? . . . or will you have some of
these silk handkerchiefs? . . ."

Janina began to examine the collection spread out on the table and
selected a few yards of some ribbon.

"Perhaps your mother will also buy something? . . ." ventured the
Jewess, looking at her intently.

"I am alone."

"Alone?" she drawled, with an inquisitive contraction of her
eyebrows.

"Yes, but I don't intend to live here," explained Janina, as though
justifying herself.

"Perhaps I might recommend a boarding house to you? . . . I know a
certain widow who . . ."

"Very well," interrupted the girl, "you might find me a room with
some private family on Nowy Swiat, near the theater . . ."

"You belong to the theater, miss? . . . ah! . . ."

"Yes."

"Perhaps you need something else? . . . I have beautiful things for
the theater."

"No, I have all I want."

"I will sell them cheap . . . as I'm an honest woman . . . cheap!
They are just what you want for the theater."

"I don't need anything."

"May I die, if they are not dirt cheap! . . . These are such hard
times."

She replaced all her wares in the box and drew closer to Janina.

"Perhaps you will give me a chance to make something? . . ."

"I won't buy anything else, for I don't need it!" answered Jane,
growing impatient.

"I don't mean that!"

The old woman began to whisper hurriedly "I know nice young
men . . . do you understand, miss? . . . rich young men! . . . That
is not my business, but they asked me to . . . They'll come to see
you themselves . . . Nice, rich, young men."

"What? . . . What?" cried Janina.

"Why are you so excited, Miss?"

"Get out of here, or I'll call the servant!" shouted Janina.

"Goodness, what a temper! . . . I knew at least ten ladies, who were
the same as you in the beginning and afterwards they were ready to
kiss my hands, if only I would introduce them to some gentleman . . ."

She did not finish, for Janina opened the door, and pushed her out.

At the theater she met Sowinska on the verand