Page:Nalkowska - Kobiety (Women).djvu/277

Rh he smuggles those he has enslaved to his will, never to go out free into the world again. The knowledge of this would spoil his reputation in society as an estimable man.

"Do you know, Stephen, you look like a man who has a bit of a tragedy upon his conscience, and is concealing it."

He laughed. "Since when has Janka begun to grow romantic?"

"Since I fell in love, of course!"

"You!!" Astounded, he stared at me.

"My dear friend, what can there be to surprise you in that?"

"I really &hellip; no, really I do not know. I was. only taken aback. Certainly, on your side, it is but a natural thing. Don't you see? I had grown so accustomed to look on you as belonging to a third sex."

"There now, how unjust you have been! I on my own part have always looked on you as a man."

"But come, tell me with whom you are in love, and whether your bliss is all that fancy painted it."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Bliss! It is you who are romantic now,