The Argonauts | Page 6

understand at once. This sum offered you is not a friendly
service, but a simple commercial transaction. To begin with, I insist
that for the future you cut short all relations with my son Maryan."
Kranitski stepped back a number of paces.
"With Maryan!" exclaimed he, as if not wishing to believe his own ears.
"I break all relations with him! Is it possible? Why? How can that be?
But you yourself--"
"That is true, I myself began this. I wished that my family, which,
during my frequent absences, resided here permanently, should move in
that social sphere which I considered most desirable, and I asked you to
be the link between my family and that sphere--"
"I did what you desired," interrupted Kranitski in turn, and raising his
head.
Darvid, looking firmly into his face, said in a low voice, slowly, but the
ice of his tones seemed at moments to break from the boiling of passion
confined beneath them.

"Yes, but you, sir, have demoralized my son. Of himself he would
never have gone to such a degree of corruption and idleness. You drew
him from study, you led him into all kinds of sport, you took him to all
places of amusement, from the highest to the lowest. On returning, after
three years' absence, I found Maryan withered morally. Luckily he is a
child yet, twenty-three years of age, it is possible to save him. The
process of salvation I begin by forbidding you to have any further
relations whatever with my son."
Darvid grew terrible during his remaining words. His fingers were
sinking into the table, on which he rested his hand. The cluster of
wrinkles between his brows became deeper, his eyes had the flash of
steel in them; he was all hatred, anger, contempt. But Kranitski, who at
first listened to him as if unable to move from astonishment, boiled up
also with anger.
"What do you say?" cried he. "Does not my hearing deceive me? You
reproach me! Me, who during your ceaseless occupations and absences
have been for many years, one may say, the only guardian of your
family, and director of your son. Well! Then do you not remember our
former intimacy, and this, that it was I who made you acquainted with
the highest families of this city, and all this country? Do you not
remember your confidential statements to me that you wished to give
your daughters in marriage within those circles to which my
connections might be a convenient bridge for you? Do you not
remember your requests that I should introduce Maryan into the best
society, and teach him the manners prevailing there? Very well! You
were making your millions in peace, going after them to the ends of the
earth, while I did everything that you wished, and now I meet with
reproaches, which, at the very least, are expressed without
delicacy--des reproches, des grossieretes--Mais ca n'a pas de nom! c'est
inoui! This demands the satisfaction of honor."
His indignation was genuine and heartfelt; it brought out a deep flush
on his still shapely face. A stony amazement fell on Darvid. True, true,
that man spoke the truth.
He, Darvid, had used him for his purposes; he had liked the man,

almost loved him; he had given him great confidence. He had not
looked into his character; he had not tried to know him, though he had
found time to analyze and know men who took no part in his business.
But the fact in this case was, that whatever had happened, had
happened with his own will. From the depth of his bosom, from out
their mysterious den, came a coil of snakes, and a repulsive coldness
and slime rose toward his throat, still he reared his head.
"There is much truth in what you say; still my decisive and repeated
wish is that you cease to appear in my house."
Kranitski's forehead was flushed with blood, and the words were
hissing on his lips when he cried:
"In view of such feelings of yours toward me, how am I to explain the
service rendered just now?"
"As pay for service which you have rendered me, or my family. I pay,
we are at quits, and part forever." "You are not the only power in this
world!" cried Kranitski; "not your will alone can open or close the
doors of this house to me."
Darvid, so pale that even his thin lips did not seem to possess a drop of
blood, took from a letter-case and showed Kranitski, between two
fingers, a letter in a small elegant envelope, bearing the address of Pani
Malvina Darvid.
The dark flush vanished from Kranitski without a trace; he became very
pale and rested his hand on the arm of the