Page:Meir Ezofovitch a novel, from the Polish of Eliza Orzeszko.djvu/277

Rh me," said the nobleman gayly, and turning towards Meir, he asked,—

"Tell me what is the misfortune which threatens me; if you tell me the truth, you will be doing a good deed and I shall be grateful for it."

"You ask me a very difficult thing, Gracious Pan, I thought you would understand from a few words, it is hard for me to speak more clearly."

And he passed his hand over his brow which was moist with perspiration.

"Promise me, Gracious Pan, that if I speak out, my words will fall like a stone in the water. Promise me to make use of my information, but not to go with it to law.”

The nobleman looked amused yet curious.

"I give you my word of honor that your secret will be safe with me."

Meir’s burning eyes turned towards Jankiel, his whole frame shook, he opened his mouth, but the words refused tocome. Jankiel seeing this emotion, which momentarily deprived him of his tongue suddenly grasped him by the waist and dragging toward the door shouted,—

"Why do you enter my house and disturb my honored guest by your foolish talk. The Gracious Pan is my guest, has known me for years, there, off with you at once."

Meir tried to get out of Jankiel’s hands, and though he was taller and stronger, Jankiel was nimbler, and despair redoubled his energy. Struggling and panting both in a confused mass rolled towards the door, and the young gentleman looked at the struggle with an amused expression: