Pagina 358 di 788

"Judge, we shall have trouble with that aunt, with that

giddy-pated coquette, Telimena. When Zosia was left alone, a

child and poor, Jacek gave her to Telimena to be brought up,

hearing that she was a good sort of woman and knew the world; but

I notice that she is stirring things up for us here; she is

intriguing and seems to be flirting with Thaddeus. I have my eye

on her. Or perhaps she is aiming at the Count, perhaps at both at

once. So let us think over how to get rid of her, for from her

actions may arise gossip, a bad example, and quarrels among the

youngsters, which may be a hindrance to your legal negotiations."

"Negotiations?" cried the Judge with unusual warmth, "I'm done

with negotiations; I've finished with them, broken them off."

"What's this?" interrupted Robak, "where's your sense, where's

your head? What nonsense are you telling me? What new row has

come up?"