ridge
box!" In very truth it was the young Count. He was a soldier of no long
standing, but since he had a large income and had fitted out a whole troop
of cavalry at his own expense, and had borne himself admirably in the very
first battle, the Emperor had to-day just appointed him a colonel. So the
Judge greeted the Count and congratulated him on his promotion, but the
Count paid no attention, and continued to draw diligently.

In the meantime a second betrothed pair had entered. The Assessor, once in
the service of the Tsar, had entered that of Napoleon; he had a company of
gendarmes under his command, and, although he had been in office hardly
twelve hours, he had already donned a dark blue uniform with Polish
facings, and dragged behind him a curved sabre, and clinked his spurs. By
his side, with dignified steps, walked his beloved, dressed with great
magnificence, Tekla Hreczecha: for the Assessor had long ago abandoned
Telimena, and, the more deeply to wound that coquette, he had turned his
heart's devotion to the Seneschal's daughter. The bride was not over
young, she had perhaps already seen half a century go by; but she was a
good housekeeper and a dignified and well-to-do person, for, aside from
her ancestral village, her dowry had been increased by a little sum
presented to her by the Judge.

For the third pair they waited vainly, a long time. The Judge grew
impatient and sent servants; they returned and reported that the third
bridegroom, the Notary, when looking for the rabbit, had lost his wedding
ring, and was now looking for it in the meadow; meanwhile the Notary's
lady was still at her dressing-table, and, though she was herself hurrying
and was being aided by the serving women, she had been absolutely unable
to finish her toilet: she would scarcely be ready by four o'clock.

BOOK XII.--LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER!

ARGUMENT

The last old-Polish banquet--The state centrepiece--Explanation of
its figures--Its transformations--Dombrowski receives a present--More
of Penknife--Kniaziewicz receives a present--The first official act
of Thaddeus on receiving his inheritance--Remarks of Gerwazy--The
concert of concerts--The polonaise--Let us love one another!

FINALLY with a crash the doors of the hall were thrown wide open, and the
Seneschal entered, wearing a cap, and with his head held high; he did not
greet the company nor take his pla