第144页 / 共788页

Thaddeus and Telimena, standing on the threshold in the doorway

between the rooms, were talking together; no great distance

divided them from hearers, so they whispered. Thaddeus now

learned that Aunt Telimena was a rich lady, that they were not so

near of kin as to be separated by the canons of the Church; that

it was not even certain that Aunt Telimena was any blood relation

of her nephew, although his uncle called her sister, because

their common kindred had once so styled them despite the

difference of their years; that later, during her long residence

in the capital, she had rendered inestimable services to the

Judge; for which reason the Judge greatly respected her, and in

society liked, perhaps as a mere whim, to call himself her

brother, which Telimena, for friendship's sake, did not forbid

him. These confessions lightened the heart of Thaddeus. They also

informed each other of other things; and all this happened in one

short, brief moment.