Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 5.djvu/43

25 " In the midst of the snowstorm another horseman appeared. His bourka was also dis- tended with a precious burden. What have you, my child ; yellow amber from Germany?' "'No, father. I bring you a daughter-in-law from Poland.'

" The snow fell in squalls. A horseman advanced hiding a precious burden under his bourka. . . . But before he had shown his spoil Boudrys had invited his friends to a third wedding."

"Bravo! Professor," cried the Count; "you pronounce Jmoudic to perfection. But who told you this pretty ddina ? "

"A young lady whose acquaintance I had the honour to make at Wilno, at the house of Princess Katazyna Paç."

" What is her name? "

"The panna Iwinska."

"Mlle. Ioulka!" exclaimed the Count. "The little madcap! I might have guessed it. My dear Professor, you know Jmoudic and all the learned tongues; you have read every old book, but you have let yourself be taken in by a young girl who has only read novels. She has translated to you, more or less correctly, in