So runs the world Author:Henryk Sienkiewicz Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: part Ubfrb. WHOSE FAULT? A Dramatic Picture in One Act. Characters: Jadwiga Karlowiecka. Leon—A Painter. A Servant. In the House of Jadwiga Karlowie... more »cka. Scene I. Servant.—The lady will be here in a minute. Leon (alone).—I cannot overcome my emotion nor can I tranquillize the throbbing of my heart. Three times have I touched the bell and three times have I wished to retreat. I am troubled. Why does she wish to see me! (Takes out a letter). " Be so kind as to cometo see me on a very important matter. In spite of all that has happened I hope you will not refuse to grant the request of—a woman. Jadwiga Karlowiecka." Perhaps it would have been better and more honest to have left this letter without an answer. But I see that I have cheated myself in thinking that nothing will happen, and that it would be brutal of me not to come. The soul — poor moth—flies toward the light which may burn, but can neither warm nor light it. What has attracted me here ? Is it love ? Can I answer the question as to whether I still love this woman—so unlike my pure sweetheart of former years— this half lioness, whose reputation has been torn to shreds by human tongues ? No! It is rather some painful curiosity which has attracted me here. It is the unmeasurable grief which in two years I have been unable to appease, that desire for a full explanation: "Why?" has been repeated over and overduring my sleepless nights. And then let her see this emaciated face—let her look from nearby on that broken life. I could not resist. Such vengeance is my right. I shall be proud enough to set my teeth to stifle all groans. What is done cannot be undone, and I swear to myself that it shall never be done again. Scene II. Jadwiga (entering).—You must excuse me for keeping you waiting. Leon.—It ...« less