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proper measures to remove the same。〃 A deputation to that effect
visited X； who treated them to excellent wines； but absolutely
refused his ear to their remonstrances。 As to the proposals for
arbitration he simply laughed at them； yet the whole province
must have been aware that fourteen years before； when he married
the widow； all his visible fortune consisted （apart from his
social qualities） in a smart four…horse turn…out with two
servants； with whom he went about visiting from house to house；
and as to any funds he might have possessed at that time their
existence could only be inferred from the fact that he was very
punctual in settling his modest losses at cards。 But by the
magic power of stubborn and constant assertion； there were found
presently； here and there； people who mumbled that surely 〃there
must be something in it。〃 However； on his next name…day （which
he used to celebrate by a great three…days' shooting…party）； of
all the invited crowd only two guests turned up； distant
neighbours of no importance； one notoriously a fool； and the
other a very pious and honest person but such a passionate lover
of the gun that on his own confession he could not have refused
an invitation to a shooting…party from the devil himself。 X met
this manifestation of public opinion with the serenity of an
unstained conscience。 He refused to be crushed。 Yet he must
have been a man of deep feeling； because； when his wife took
openly the part of her children； he lost his beautiful
tranquillity； proclaimed himself heart…broken and drove her out
of the house； neglecting in his grief to give her enough time to
pack her trunks。
This was the beginning of a lawsuit； an abominable marvel of
chicane； which by the use of every legal subterfuge was made to
last for many years。 It was also the occasion for a display of
much kindness and sympathy。 All the neighbouring houses flew
open for the reception of the homeless。 Neither legal aid nor
material assistance in the prosecution of the suit was ever
wanting。 X； on his side； went about shedding tears publicly over
his stepchildren's ingratitude and his wife's blind infatuation；
but as at the same time he displayed great cleverness in the art
of concealing material documents （he was even suspected of having
burnt a lot of historically interesting family papers）； this
scandalous litigation had to be ended by a compromise lest worse
should befall。 It was settled finally by a surrender； out of the
disputed estate； in full satisfaction of all claims； of two
villages with the names of which I do not intend to trouble my
readers。 After this lame and impotent conclusion neither the
wife nor the stepsons had anything to say to the man who had
presented the world with such a successful example of self…help
based on character； determination and industry； and my great…
grandmother； her health completely broken down； died a couple of
years later in Carlsbad。 Legally secured by a decree in the
possession of his plunder； X regained his wonted serenity and
went on living in the neighbourhood in a comfortable style and in
apparent peace of mind。 His big shoots were fairly well attended
again。 He was never tired of assuring people that he bore no
grudge for what was past； he protested loudly of his constant
affection for his wife and stepchildren。 It was true he said
that they had tried their best to strip him as naked as a Turkish
saint in the decline of his days； and because he had defended
himself from spoliation； as anybody else in his place would have
done； they had abandoned him now to the horrors of a solitary old
age。 Nevertheless； his love for them survived these cruel blows。
And there might have been some truth in his protestations。 Very
soon he began to make overtures of friendship to his eldest
stepson； my maternal grandfather； and when these were
peremptorily rejected he went on renewing them again and again
with characteristic obstinacy。 For years he persisted in his
efforts at reconciliation； promising my grandfather to execute a
will in his favour if he only would be friends again to the
extent of calling now and then （it was fairly close neighbourhood
for these parts； forty miles or so）； or even of putting in an
appearance for the great shoot on the name…day。 My grandfather
was an ardent lover of every sport。 His temperament was as free
from hardness and animosity as can be imagined。 Pupil of the
liberal…minded Benedictines who directed the only public school
of some standing then in the south； he had also read deeply the
authors of the eighteenth century。 In him Christian charity was
joined to a philosophical indulgence for the failings of human
nature。 But the memory of these miserably anxious early years；
his young man's years robbed of all generous illusions by the
cynicism of the sordid lawsuit； stood in the way of forgiveness。
He never succumbed to the fascination of the great shoot； and X；
his heart set to the last on reconciliation with the draft of the
will ready for signature kept by his bedside； died intestate。
The fortune thus acquired and augmented by a wise and careful
management passed to some distant relatives whom he had never
seen and who even did not bear his name。
Meantime the blessing of general peace descended upon Europe。
Mr。 Nicholas B。； bidding good…bye to his hospitable relative； the
〃fearless〃 Austrian officer； departed from Galicia； and without
going near his native place； where the odious lawsuit was still
going on； proceeded straight to Warsaw and entered the army of
the newly constituted Polish kingdom under the sceptre of
Alexander I。； Autocrat of all the Russias。
This kingdom； created by the Vienna Congress as an acknowledgment
to a nation of its former independent existence； included only
the central provinces of the old Polish patrimony。 A brother of
the Emperor； the Grand Duke Constantine （Pavlovitch）； its Viceroy
and Commander…in…Chief； married morganatically to a Polish lady
to whom he was fiercely attached； extended this affection to what
he called 〃My Poles〃 in a capricious and savage manner。 Sallow
in complexion； with a Tartar physiognomy and fierce little eyes；
he walked with his fists clenched； his body bent forward； darting
suspicious glances from under an enormous cocked hat。 His
intelligence was limited and his sanity itself was doubtful。 The
hereditary taint expressed itself； in his case； not by mystic
leanings as in his two brothers； Alexander and Nicholas （in their
various ways； for one