Works of Maurus JókaiHungarian Edition

DR. DUMANY'S WIFE

Translated from the Hungarian by F. STEINITZ

New YorkDoubleday, Page & Company1891

PUBLISHERS' NOTE. 

This, the latest story from the pen of Hungary's great man of letters, Maurus Jókai, was translated directly from the manuscript of the authorby Mme. F. Steinitz, who resides in Buda-Pest, and was selected by himfor that purpose. 

Maurus Jókai is now sixty-six years of age, having been born at Komaróm, in 1825. He was intended for the law, that having been his father'sprofession but at twelve years of age the desire to write seized him. Some of his stories fell into the hands of the lawyer in whose office hewas studying, who read them, and was so struck by their originality andtalent that he published them at once at his own expense. The public wasas well pleased with the book as the lawyer had been with themanuscripts, and from that tender age to the present Jókai has devotedhimself to writing, and is the author of several hundred successfulvolumes. At the age of twenty-three he laid down his pen long enough toget married, his bride being Rosa Laborfalvi, the then leading Hungarianactress. At the end of a year he joined the Revolutionists, and buckledon the sword of the patriot. He was taken prisoner and sentenced to beshot, when his bride appeared upon the scene with her pockets full ofthe money she had made by the sale of her jewels, and, bribing theguards, escaped with her husband into the birch woods, where they hid incaves and slept on leaves, all the time in danger of their lives, untilthey finally found their way to Buda-Pest and liberty. This city Jókaihas made his home; in the winter he lives in the heart of the town, inthe summer just far enough outside of it to have a house surrounded bygrounds, where he can sit out of doors in the shade of his own trees. Heis probably the best-known man in Hungary to-day, for he is not only anauthor, but a financier, a statesman, and a journalist as well. 

CONTENTS. 

PART I. 

 I. THE DUMB CHILD II. THE DARK GOD III. THE ENGLISHMAN IV. THE NABOB V. A REPUBLICAN COUNTESS VI. DUMANY KORNEL VII. THE DEAD MAN'S VOTEVIII. MY UNCLE DIOGENES IX. A SLAVONIC KINGDOM X. "DEAD" XI. MY DEAR FRIEND SIEGFRIED XII. THE DEVIL'S HOOFXIII. THE VALKYRS

PART II. 

 I. THE SEA-DOVE II. "WHAT IS THE DEVIL LIKE?" III. THE FOUR-LEAVED CLOVER IV. THE HISTORY OF MY FRIEND V. HOW ROSES ARE INOCULATED VI. MR. PARASITE VII. A BRILLIANT GAMEVIII. A BITING KISS IX. WHO IS THE VISITOR? X. AFTER THE WEDDING XI. MY SCHEME XII. SEEKING FOR DEATHXIII. MY DISCHARGE XIV. HOME! SWEET HOME XV. VOX POPULI XVI. DAME FORTUNEXVII. LIGHT AT LAST

DR. DUMANY'S WIFE. 

Part I. 

I. 

THE DUMB CHILD. 

It was about the close of the year 1876 when, on my road to Paris, Iboarded the St. Gothard railway-train. Travellers coming from Italy hadalready taken possession of the sleeping-car compartments, and I owed itsolely to the virtue of an extraordinarily large tip that I was at lastable to stretch my weary limbs upon the little sofa of a half-coupé. Itwas not a very comfortable resting-place, inasmuch as this carriage wasthe very last in an immensely long train, and one must be indeed fond ofrocking to enjoy the incessant shaking, jostling, and rattling in thisportion of the train. But still it was much preferable to the crowdedcarriages, peopled with old women carrying babies, giggling maidens, snoring or smoking men, and hilarious children; so I made the best ofit, and prepared for a doze. 

The guard came in to look at my ticket, and, pitying my lonelycondition, he opened a conversation. He told me that the son of animmensely wealthy American nabob, with an escort well-nigh princely, was travelling on the same train to Paris. He had with him an attendantphysician, a nursery governess, a little playfellow, a travellingcourier, and a huge negro servant to prepare his baths, besides severalinferior servants. These all occupied the parlour-car and the sleepingcompartments; but the little fellow had a parlour, a bedroom, and adressing-room all to himself. 

I did not pay much attention to the talk of the gossiping guard, and sohe departed, and at last I could sleep. On the road I am like a millerin his mill. So long as the wheel turns, I sleep on; but the moment itis stopped, I start up and am instantly wide awake. We had reached asmaller station where the train usually stops for a few minutes only, when, to my surprise, there was a great deal of pushing and sliding ofthe cars backward and forward, and we halted for an extraordinarily longtime. I was just getting up to learn what was going on, when the guardentered, lantern in hand. 

"I beg your pardon, sir, " he said, "but there is something amiss. Thelinch-pin of the parlour-car has become over-heated, and we had touncouple the car and leave it behind. Now we are obliged to find aconvenient place for the little American, until we reach some mainstation, where another parlour-car can be attached to the train. I amreally sorry for you, sir, but this is the only suitable place we have, and the little fellow and his governess must be your travellingcompanions for a while. "

"Well, when a thing can't be helped, grumbling is unreasonable, sogood-bye sleep and quiet, and let us prepare to pay homage to theillustrious youth and his lady attendant, " said I, smiling at theguard's earnestness. But still he hesitated. 

"And pray, sir, what is your religion?" stammered he; "I have to tellthe governess. "

"Indeed!" My good-humour was rising still, and I continued smiling. "Tell the lady that I am a Swiss Protestant, and I hope she will notobject, as I shall not try to convert her or her charge if they are of adifferent creed. Is there anything else you want to inquire into?"

"Yes, sir. The little gentleman's physician would also like to accompanyhis charge, and stay at his side. "

"But there is only room for three. "

"I know; but, sir, the doctor is a very liberal gentleman, and he toldme that if anybody would be willing to exchange places with him, hewould gladly repay his whole travelling expenses. "

"That's liberal, certainly, and I have no doubt the fireman of theengine will thankfully accept his offer. You can tell him as much. Andnow go!"

The man went out, but right after him came the doctor--a very pleasantand distinguished-looking young man. He apologised for the guard'sbluntness and his misinterpretation of his message. He had not meant tooffend a gentleman, and so forth. He introduced himself as Dr. Mayer, family physician at the house of the so-called "Silver King, " Mr. Dumany, the father of the little "Silver Prince. " After learning that Idid not smoke, and had no objection to children, he inquired mynationality. My astrachan fur cap and coat-collar made him take me for aRussian, but, thanking him for his good opinion, I stated that as yet Iwas merely a Hungarian. He did not object; but asked if we were freefrom small-pox, diphtheritis, croup, measles, scarlet-fever, whooping-cough, and such like maladies in our country at present. AfterI had satisfied him that even the foot-and-mouth disease had by thistime ceased, he finally quitted me, but immediately returned, assistinga lady with both hands full of travelling necessaries to climb up intothe carriage. After the lady came a grand stately-looking negro servant, with gold-braided cap and overcoat of white bear's fur, and on his arm, bundled up in rich velvet and costly fur, he carried a beautifulfive-year-old boy, who looked like some waxen image or big doll. 

The lady seemed very lively and talkative, and had a host of languagesat command. With the doctor she conversed in German; to the guide shespoke French; the negro she questioned in English, and to a maid whobrought in some rugs and air-pillows she spoke Italian. All theselanguages she spoke excellently, and I am certain that if a dozenpersons of different nationalities had been present she could havetalked to them in their various dialects with the same ease and fluency. Of her beauty I could not judge, for she wore a bonnet with a thickveil, which covered her face to the chin. 

Taking her seat at the opposite window, she placed the child betweenus. He was a pale, quiet little boy, with very red, thin, tightly-compressed lips, and great, melancholy dark-blue eyes. As longas the negro was occupied in arranging the rugs and pillows, he lookedwholly unconcerned, and the smiles from the great black shining face didnot impress him at all; but when the swarthy giant caught the two fairlittle hands in his own great black palm and wanted to kiss them, theboy withdrew his hands with a quick gesture and struck the ebonyforehead with his tiny fist. 

At last we were seated. The negro was gone, the guide went out andlocked the door after him. Seeing that the open window was disagreeableto the lady, I volunteered to close it. She accepted gratefully, and atthe same time expressed her regrets that, in consequence of the accidentto the parlour-car, she had been compelled to disturb me. Of course, Ihastened to say that I was not in the least incommoded, and onlyregretted that it was not in my power to make her more comfortable. Shethen told me that she was an American, and pretty well used to railroadaccidents of a more or less serious character. Three times she had beensaved by a miracle in railway collisions at home, and she assured methat in America about 30, 000 persons were every year injured in railwayaccidents, while some 4, 000 were killed outright. 

We conversed in German, and, as the lady became more and morecommunicative, talk turned upon the subject of the child between us. She told me that Master James was deaf and dumb, and could notunderstand a word of our conversation; hence restraint was unnecessary. I asked her if he was born with this defect, and she said, "No; untilthe age of three he could speak very nicely, but at that age he wasthrown out of his little goat-carriage, and in consequence of the shockand concussion lost his power of speech. "

"Then he will possibly recover it, " I said. "I knew a young man who losthis speech in the same manner at the age of five, and could not speak upto his tenth year; then he recovered, and now he has graduated fromcollege as senior wrangler. "

"Yes, " she said. "But Mr. Dumany is impatient, and he has sent the boyto all the deaf-and-dumb boarding-schools in Europe. Even now we arecoming from such an institution in Italy; but none of all thesedifferent masters has been able to teach more than sign-talk, and thatis insufficient. Mr. Dumany wants to give the German Heinicke method atrial. That professes to teach real conversation, based on theobservations of the movements of the lips and tongue. "

Of this method I also knew examples of success. I was acquainted with adeaf and dumb type-setter, who had learned to talk intelligibly andfluently, could read aloud, and take part in conversation, but in apiping voice like that of a bird. 

"Even that would be a great success, " she said. "At any rate, littleJames will be taken to the Zürich Institute, and remain there until heacquires his speech. "

During this whole conversation the little fellow had sat between us, mute, and, to all appearance, wholly indifferent. His little pale facewas dull, and his great eyes half closed. I felt sorry for him, and witha sigh of real compassion I muttered in my own native Hungarian tongue, "Szegény fincska!" ("Poor little boy!") At this I saw a thrill ofsurprise run through the child's little frame; the great blue eyesopened wide in wonder and delight, and the closed cherry lips opened ina smile of joy. 

I was struck with surprise, and did not believe my own eyes. The ladyhad not noticed anything, since she still kept her bonnet on and thethick veil tightly drawn over her face. 

I took pity on her, and offered to go out into the corridor to smoke acigarette, so that she might make herself a little more comfortableuntil we arrived at some large station, where she would enter anotherparlour-car. 

She accepted thankfully, and, to my utter astonishment, the little boyraised his tiny hand, and caressingly stroked the fur collar of my coat. I bent down to kiss him, and he smiled sweetly on me; and when I got upand signed to him that he could now occupy both seats and stretchhimself upon the little sofa, he shook his head, and crept into thecorner which I had quitted. And there, as often as in my walk up anddown the corridor I threw a glance into his corner, I could see thechild's large dark-blue eyes following all my movements with an eagercuriosity; the white little face pressed to the window-pane and the tinyhand never losing hold of the edge of the curtain, which he hadpurposely lifted, for the governess had pulled the curtain down themoment I left, possibly to take off her bonnet. 

Mine was not a very pleasant situation in that corridor. I watched therising and sinking of the moon, which phenomenon repeated itself abouttwice every hour, according to the serpentine windings of the road. Ilooked at the milky mist which surrounded the icy pinnacles of the greatmountains, and grumbled over the intense darkness in the many tunnels, in which the roar and noise of the train is tremendously increased, thundering as if Titans were breaking out of their prisons below MountPelion. 

As if they had not broken through long, long ago! What if the oldGrecian gods should come to life? should leave their marble temples, andgaze about on the world as it is at present? If Pallas Athene were toldof America? If Helios Apollo could listen to Wagner's operas, and ZeusJupiter might look into the great tube of the London Observatory, wondering what had become of that milky way which had been formed out ofthe milk spilled by Amalthea? If we could show him that we had caughtand harnessed his heavenly lightning to draw our vehicles and carry ourmessages, and that, with the help of fire-eyed leviathans, we breakthrough the rocky womb of his great mountains? And yet, how easy itwould be for them, with a simple sneeze of their most illustrious andomnipotent noses, to raise such a tempest that earth and sea would riseand destroy man and his pigmy works at one fell stroke! I wonder if theynever awake? I rather think they sometimes get up and shake their mightyfists at us. These cyclones look very suspicious to me!

The huge iron leviathan turns and twists itself like a Gordian knot;disappears and reappears, almost on the same spot, but higher up on themountain, and then glides rapidly on along the brinks of fearfulabysses, over long iron bridges looking like some fanciful filigreework, some giant spider's web, extending across great valleys, chasms, and precipices, over which great mountain rivers splash down, roaringand foaming in gigantic falls. What giant power has cleft the way forthese waters--Vulcan or Neptune? Or was it laid down in Euclid'sadventurous age, when the Titans went into bankruptcy?

The train increases its speed to regain the time lost in uncoupling thedisabled parlour-car, and this increased speed is chiefly felt at thetail of the great iron dragon. I have to cling tightly to the brass rodin front of the windows. We pass the central station without stopping, the locomotive whistles, the lamps of the little watch-houses fly pastlike so many jack-o'-lanterns, and all at once we are enveloped by athick fog rising from beneath, where it had rested above the sea, andwhen the train has twice completed the circle around the valley, thenoxious, dangerous mist surrounds us entirely. 

But once more the creation of human hands conquers the spectre, and, puffing and whistling, the locomotive breaks through the dark haze. Onceagain the iron serpent disappears into the bowels of the rock, and as itemerges it crosses another valley and is greeted by a clear heaven and amultitude of brightly-glistening stars. 

We are on the Rossberg. A devastated tract of the globe it seems. Oureyes rest on barren soil devoid of vegetation. Beneath a large field ofhuge boulders, imbedded in snow and ice, the Alpine vegetation thrives. The whole valley is one immense graveyard, and the great rocks are gianttombstones, encircled by wreaths of white flowers meet for adorninggraves. At the beginning of the present century one of the ridges of theRossberg gave way, and in the landslide four villages were buried. Thishappened at night, when the villagers were all asleep, and not a singleman, women, or child escaped. This valley is their resting-place. Was Inot right to call it a graveyard?

Above this valley of destruction the train glides on. Upon the side ofthe mountain is a little watch-house, built into the rock; a narrowflight of steps hewn in the stone leads up to it like a ladder. Themoon, which had lately seemed fixed to the crest of the mountain, nowplays hide-and-seek among the peaks. A high barricade on the side of theRossberg serves to protect the railroad track against another landslide. 

On the high ridges of the mountain goats were pasturing, and not farfrom them a shepherd's fire was blazing, and the shepherd himself satbeside it. I remember all these accessories as well as if they werestill before my eyes. I can see the white goats climbing up and pullingat the broom-plants. I can see the shepherd's black form, encircled bythe light of the fire, and the white watch-house with its black leadenroof, the high signal-pole in front of it, above which all at once agreat flaming star arises. 

II. 

THE DARK GOD. 

I was gazing at that shining red light, when all at once I felt aconcussion, as if the train had met with some impediment. I heard thejolting of the foremost cars, and had time to prepare for the shockwhich was sure to follow; but when it did come, it was so great that itthrew me to the opposite wall of the corridor. 

Yet the train moved on as before, so that it could not have beendisabled, as I at first thought. I heard the guards run from carriage tocarriage, opening the doors, and I could see great clouds of steam arisefrom the puffing and blowing engines. The friction of the wheels made agrating noise, and I leaned out of the window to ascertain the nature ofthe danger. Was another train approaching, and a collision inevitable? Icould see nothing, but suddenly I beheld the figure of the shepherd, andsaw him raise his staff aloft. I followed the motion of his hand, andwith a thrill of horror I saw a great ledge of rock sliding downwardwith threatening speed, while at the same time a shower of small stonescrashed on the roof of the cars. 

I did not wait for the guards to open my door. I had it open in aninstant. From the other carriages passengers were jumping out at therisk of life and limb, for the train was running at full speed. 

I hastily ran into the coupé to awaken my travelling companions, butfound them up. "Madam, " I said, "I am afraid that we are in danger of aserious accident. Pray come out quickly!"

"Save the child!" she answered; and I caught the little boy, took him inmy arms, and ran out. 

The train was gliding perpetually on, and I bethought myself of therecommendation of one who is jumping from a running vehicle, to leapforward, because in jumping sideways or backward he invariably fallsunder the wheels. So I followed the recommendation and leaped. Fortunately, I reached the ground, although my knees doubled up underme, and I struck the knuckles of my right hand a hard blow. The childhad fainted in my arms, but only from fright; otherwise he had receivedno harm. I laid him on the ground in a safe place, and ran with all mymight after the train to help the lady out. She was standing on thesteps, already prepared for the jump. I extended my hand to her, impatiently crying "Quick!" But instead of taking my proffered hand sheexclaimed, "Oh! I have forgotten my bonnet and veil, " and back she raninto the coupé, never again to come forth. 

At that moment I felt a tremendous shock, as if the earth had quaked andopened beneath me, and this was followed by a deafening uproar, theclashing of stones, the cracking of wood and glass, the grating andcrushing of iron, and the pitiful cries of men, women, and children. The great mass of rock broke through the protecting barricade and rushedright upon the engine. The huge, steam-vomiting leviathan was crushed inan instant, and the copper and steel fragments scattered everywhere. Three of the wheels were shattered, and with that the iron colossus cameto a dead stop, the suddenness of which threw the carriages crashing ontop of each other. This fearful havoc was not all. Through the breachwhich the great rock had made in the barricade, an incessant avalancheof stones, from the size of a cannon-ball to that of a wheelbarrow, descended upon the train, crushing everything beneath into fragments, pushing the unhappy train into the chasm below, into the valley of deathand destruction. Like a huge serpent it slid down, the great glowingfurnace with its feeding coals undermost, and then the whole wreckedmass of carriages tumbled after, atop of each other, while cries ofdespair were heard on every side. Then I saw the rear car--that in whichI had been sitting--stand up erect on top of the others, while on itsroof fell, with thunderous violence, the awful shower of stones. MutelyI gazed on, until a large stone struck the barricade just where I stood, and then I realised that the danger was not over, and ran for shelter. 

The stones were falling fast to left and to right, and I hastened togain the steps which led to the little watch-house. Then I bethought meof the boy. I found him still insensible, but otherwise unharmed, and Itook him up, covering him with a furred coat. I ran up the steps withhim, so fast that not a thought of my asthma and heart diseaseslackened my speed. 

There was nobody in the house but a woman milking a goat. In one cornerof the room stood a bed, in the middle was a table, and on one of thewalls hung a burning coal-oil lamp. 

As I opened the door the woman looked up, and said in a dull piteousmoaning--

"It is none of Jörge's fault. Jörge had shown the red light in goodseason, and yesterday he specially warned the gentlemen, and told themthat a ridge of the Gnippe was crumbling, and would soon break down; butthey did not listen to him, and now that the accident has come, theywill surely visit their own carelessness upon him. It is always the poordependent that is made to suffer for the fault of his superiors. But Iwill not stand it; and if Jörge is discharged and loses his bread, then--"

"All right, madam!" I said, "I saw the red light in time, and I shalltestify for Jörge in case of need. Only keep quiet now, and come here. You must try to restore this child. He has fainted. Give him water orsomething; you will know best what to do. "

In recalling these words to my memory and writing them down, I am notquite certain that I really spoke them; I am not certain of a singleword or action of mine on that fearful night. But I think that I saidthe words I am relating, although I was so confused that it is possibleI did not utter a word. I had come out of the house again, and saw a manrunning up and down on the narrow rocky plateau, like one crazy. It wasJörge the watchman; he was looking for the signal-post, and could notfind it. 

"Here it is, look!" I said, turning his face toward the high pole rightin front of him. He gazed up wistfully, and then all at once heblubbered out--

"See! See, the red light! I gave the warning. They cannot blame me; theydare not punish me for it. It is not my fault!"

Of course, he thought of nothing but himself, and the misfortune of theothers touched him only in so far as he was concerned. 

"Don't blubber now!" I said. "There will be time enough to think ofourselves. Now let us learn what has happened to the others. The wholetrain has been swept down into the abyss below. What has become of thepeople in it?"

"God Almighty have mercy on their souls!"

"Yet perhaps we could save some of them. Come along!"

"I can't go. I dare not leave my post, else they will turn against me. "

"Well then, I shall go alone, " said I, and hastened down the steps. 

I heard no screams, no cries, not a sound of human voices. The poorvictims of the catastrophe were exhausted or frightened out of theirwits, and gave no utterance to the pain they felt. Only thenever-ceasing clatter of the falling stones was heard, nothing else. Awful is the voice of the elements, and dreadful their revenge on theirhuman antagonists! The thundering heavens, the roaring sea, are awfulto behold and to listen to; but most fearful of all is the voice of theearth, when, quivering in wrath, she opens her fiery mouth or hurls herrocky missiles at pigmy men. 

From the wrecked train a great many travellers had jumped like myself;but not all with the same happy result. They had mostly reached theground more or less bruised, but at the moment of escape from the clutchof death we do not much feel our hurts. These unhappy victims, frightened as they were, had managed to creep and hide behind theuntouched portion of the bulwark, and happy to have escaped fromimmediate death, sheltered from the tremendous cataract of stones, theyremained quiet, trembling, awaiting the end of the catastrophe and theultimate rescue. But what had meanwhile become of those who had stayedin the falling carriages?

There came a terrible answer to that question, and out of the old horrorarose a new and still more terrible spectre. A demon with a cloudy head, rising from the darkness below, and with a swift and fearful growth, mounting up to the sky--a demon with a thousand glistening, sparklingeyes and tongues, a smoke-fiend!

The great boiler of the locomotive had gone down first. There it fell, not on the ground, but on a large fragment of rock, which pierced itcompletely, so that the air had free access to the fire. Upon the top ofboth boiler and tender, the coal-van had been turned upside down, andthese had pulled all the carriages one on top of the other in the sameway, so that the whole train stood upright, like some huge steeple. Thisdreadful structure had become a great funeral pile, the altar of a blackpagan idol whose fiery tongues were greedily thrusting upward to devourtheir prey. 

Then, as the smoke became blacker and blacker, a heart-rending, almostmaddening sound of shrieking and crying rang out from that devilishwreck, so loud and piercing that it drowned the clatter of stones, thecrackling of the fast-kindling coals, and the crushing noise of themetals. At the cry for aid of the doomed victims, all who had escapedand hidden behind the bulwark came forth, creeping or running, shriekingand gesticulating, forgetful of their own danger and pitiful condition, thinking only of those dear lost ones there in that abode of hell, andmaddened at the impossibility of rescuing them. It was a wildhurly-burly of voices and of tongues, of despairing yells, hystericalsobs, heart-rending prayers; and as I stumbled over the twisted andbroken rails, that stood upright like bent wires, and stooped over thebulwark, I beheld a spectacle so terrible that every nerve of my body, every heart-string, revolted at it. Even now they quiver at the ghastlyrecollection. 

As the fire lighted up the horrible pile I could see that the firstcarriage atop of the coals was a shattered mass, the second crushedflat, while the third stood with wheels uppermost, and so forth to thetop, and out of all of them human heads, limbs, faces, bodies, werethrust forward. Two small gloved female hands, locked as in prayer, werestretched out of a window, and above them two strong, muscular, masculine arms tried with superhuman force to lift the iron weightabove, to break a way at the top, until the blood flowed from the nails, and even these strong arms dropped down exhausted. Half-seen forms, mutilated, bleeding, were tearing with teeth and nails at their dreadfulprison. Then for a while the smoky cloud involved everything indarkness. A moment after, the red fiery tongues came lapping upward, anda red, glowing halo encircles the fatal wreck. The first and secondcarriages were already burned. How long would it take the flames toreach the top? How many of the sufferers were yet alive? What power inheaven or earth could save them, and how?

The hollow into which the train had fallen was so deep that, in spite ofthe erect position of the ill-fated pile, the topmost car--thatcontaining the poor foolish American governess, who had lost her life inrunning back for her bonnet--was ten mčtres below us, and we had noteven a single rope or cord with which to hazard the experiment ofdescending. A young man, one of those few who had come forth unharmed, ran up and down the embankment, shouting madly for a rope, offering afortune for belts, shawls, and cords. His newly-married bride was in oneof those carriages, and hers were the tiny gloved hands that werestretched out of the window. "A rope!" cried he; "give me anything tomake a rope!" But who heeded him?

A young mother sat on the tracks, fondly hugging a plaid shawl in herarms. Her babe was there in that burning pyre, but horror hadoverpowered her reason. There she sat, caressing the woollen bundle, andin a low voice singing her "Eia Popeia" to the child of her fantasy. 

An aged Polish Jew lay across the barricade wall. His two hands werestretched downward, and there he muttered the prayers and invocations ofhis ancient liturgy, which no one there understood but himself and hisGod. The ritual prayer-bands were upon his thumbs and wrists, andencircling his forehead. His forked beard and greasy side-locks dangledas he chanted his hymns, while his eyes, starting almost out of theirsockets, were fixed upon one of the carriages. What did that carcontain? His wife? His children? Or his worldly goods, the fortunehoarded up through a life-time of cunning and privation? Who knows?Forth he chants his prayers, loudly yelling, or muttering low, as theghastly scene before him vanishes in smoke and darkness, or glows outagain in fearful distinctness. 

Every one shrieks, cries, prays, swears, raves. 

No; not every one! There, on the barricade, his logs doubled upTurk-fashion, sits a young painter with Mephisto beard and grey eyes. His sketch-book is open, and he is making a vivid sketch of thesensational scene. The illustrated papers are grateful customers, andwill rejoice at receiving the sketch. 

But this young draughtsman is not the only sensible person in theplace. There is another, a long-legged Englishman, standing with watchin hand, reckoning up the time lost by the accident, and eyeing thescene complacently. 

Some noisy dispute attracts my attention, and, turning, I behold a man, trying with all his might to overcome a woman, who attacks him withteeth and nails, biting his hands and tearing at his flesh, as he dragsher close to him. At last he succeeds in joining both of her handsbehind her back, she foaming, writhing, and cursing. I ask indignantly, "What do you want with the woman? Let her alone!"

"Oh, sir!" he said, showing me a sorrowful and tear-stained face, "forHeaven's sake, help me! I cannot bear with her any more. She wants toleap down and kill herself. Pray help me to tie her hands, and carry heroff from here!"

By his speech I knew him for a Pole, and the woman's exclamations werealso uttered in the Polish language. She was his wife; her children werethere in that infernal pile, and she wanted to die with them. 

"Quick! quick!" gasped the man. "Take my necktie and fasten her handsbehind her. " I obeyed; and as I wound the silken strip tight around theunhappy woman's wrist, her despairing gaze fixed itself in deadly hateupon my face, and her foaming lips cursed me for keeping her away fromher children. As her husband carried her away, her curses pierced theair; and although I could not understand the words, I understood thatshe spoke of the "Czrny Bog, " or, as the Russians say, "Cserny Boh, " the"Black God" of the Slavs--Death. 

By this time the horrible tower was burning brightly, and the night wasall aglow with the glaring light, and still those terrible shrieks fromhuman voices resounded to and fro. 

The young artist had a picturesque scene for his pencil, and kept makingsketch after sketch. The burning wreck, the flying cinders, the red mistaround the black pine woods on the rocky wall of the mountain, and thatsmall span of star-lit heaven above; all those frightened, maddened, running, crouching, creeping men and women around, with the chantingJew, in his long silken _caftan_ and dangling locks, in the midst ofthem, made a picture of terrible sublimity. 

But still the god of destruction was unsatisfied, and his fiery mawopened for more victims. The unhappy young husband had succeeded intearing up his clothes and knotting the strips together. A compassionatewoman had given him a shawl, which he fastened to the bushes. On this hedescended into that mouth of hell. The perilous attempt succeeded so farthat, with one mad leap, he landed on the top of the uppermost car withits pile of stones, and then, with cat-like dexterity and desperatedaring, he scrambled downward to the third carriage. Quickly he reachedthe spot, and the poor little gloved hands of his darling were thrown inecstasy around his neck. Someone had drawn up the cord on which he hadlet himself down, fastened a stout iron rod to it, and suspended itcarefully. Happily it reached him, and with its aid he made a good-sizedbreach, widening the opening of the window; he worked with desperatestrength, and we gazed breathlessly on. Now we saw him drop the rodagain. The tender arms of his bride were around his neck, a fair headwas thrust out, the whole form was emerging, when with a tremendouscrash, and a hissing, spluttering, crackling noise, the whole fabricshook and trembled, and husband and wife were united in death. 

The great boiler had burst; the explosion had changed the scene again, and the young painter might draw still another sketch. 

III. 

THE ENGLISHMAN. 

That long-legged son of Albion whom I had previously observed, strolledup to my side and asked--

"Do you understand German, sir?"

"Yes, sir, I do. "

"Then call for that shepherd. I want him. "

I obeyed, and the shepherd, who had complacently eyed the scene assomething that was of no consequence to him, came slowly and wonderinglyup. 

He was in no hurry, and my coaxing "Dear friend" and "Good friend" didnot impress him at all; but when the Englishman showed him a handful ofgold coins he came on quickly enough. 

"Tell him, " said the Englishman, "to run to the next railway station, give notice of the accident, and return with a relief train for succour. Tell him to be quick, and when he returns I will give him two hundredfrancs. "

"Yes, " said the man; "but who will take care of my goats meanwhile?"

"How many goats have you?"

"Six. "

"And what is the average price of a goat?"

"Fifteen francs. "

"Well, here is the price of your goats in cash. I give you one hundredfrancs--ten more than your goats are worth. Now run! How far is it?"

"A good running distance, not very far. " The man pocketed his money andturned, when an idea struck him. "Could you not take care of my goatsanyhow, till I return?" he asked. 

Smart fellow! He kept the money for his goats, and tried to keep thegoats into the bargain. 

"All right, " said the Englishman, "I will take care of them. Never fear. Go!"

"But you must take my stick and my horn; the goats will get astray whenthey do not hear the horn. "

"Then give it to me, and I will blow it, " said the Englishman, withadmirable patience, and, taking the shepherd's crook and horn, he gavethe man his red shawl to use as a signal-flag. 

As the shepherd at length trotted on and disappeared, that unique, long-legged example of phlegm and good sense sat down by the shepherd'sfire, on exactly the same spot where the shepherd had sat, and beganwatching the goats. 

I returned to the mournful scene which I had quitted when the Englishmancame up to me. It was a terrible one, and no marvel that even thepainter had closed his sketch-book to gaze upon it in silent awe. Theentire valley below showed like a giant furnace, or some flaming oceanof hell. Huge fiery serpents came hissing and snarling up to thebarricade, and great flakes of fire were flying about everywhere, scorching and kindling as they fell. The chill, keen, mountain air hadbecome heavy and warm in spite of the winter, and a loathsome, penetrating odour arose and drove us away from the horrible place. Noone remained but the Polish Jew. He did not move away. He had risen tohis knees on the barricade wall, and his hands, with their prayer-bands, were uplifted to heaven. Louder and louder he chanted his hymns, raisinghis voice above the thundering roar of the crackling fire, the rollingstones, and the last despairing cries of the doomed ones. The fur on hiscap, his forked beard and dangling locks were singed by the fallingcinders, and his skin scorched and blistered, yet still he chanted on. But when at last he saw that his prayer was in vain, all at once hesprang up, and seemed to strike at the flames with both palms; then, spitting into the fire "pchi!" he fell down senseless. 

By this time the heat was so oppressive that it was dangerous to standanywhere near the barricade, and even for the sake of saving a man'slife from such a horrid fate, it was impossible to venture among thefalling cinders and rolling stones. All that the few of us who hadescaped with sound limbs and bodies could do was to carry our lessfortunate, wounded or maimed fellow-travellers up into the littlewatch-house. 

This we did, and then came those seemingly endless minutes in which wewaited for the relief train. Once the Englishman blew the horn for thegoats, and we thought it was the whistling of the expected train. Howterribly that disappointment was felt! and what sinful, subtle, andsophistical thoughts crowded into our heads, burdened our hearts, andoppressed our spirits in those awful minutes!

What terrible thing had these poor victims done to deserve such fearfulpunishment? What heinous crime had they committed to be sentenced todeath and destruction by such a painful, torturing process? Whose sinwas visited on the guileless heads of little infants and innocentchildren who had perished in those flames? Could not they have beenspared? or that loving and beautiful young couple, just on the brink oflife and happiness, and now sent to eternity together by such a fearfulroad, into the mouth of hell when they had thought themselves before theopen gate of Paradise? What had that unhappy mother done? or all theseold and young men and women, in full health and spirits, enjoying lifeand happiness, surrounded by happy relatives, full of happy plans andhopes? What had they done to deserve this fate, those poor servants ofthe public convenience, the guards, the engineer, and the otherofficials, who could have saved their own lives easily, and in goodtime, if they had abandoned their fatal posts, and had not preferred todie in doing their duty? Why had not these been saved for the sake oftheir wives and children, now widows and orphans, abandoned to thecharities of a merciless world? Who and where is that awful Deity intowhose altar-fire that conjuring Jew had spat, because He would notlisten to his invocations? What dreadful Power is it which has pusheddown that rock-colossus to destroy so many human lives? Is it the CzrnyBog of the Samaritans, the Lord of Darkness and Doer of Mischief, whosemight is great in harm, whose joy is human despair, and who is adoredwith oaths and curses?

But if such a power exists--if there is a Czrny Bog, indeed--then hisdeeds are befitting his name--dark and black. But why should I, who amhuman myself, and have a heart for my brethren and a sense of theirwrongs, why should I in this fatal instant, although full of pity andcommiseration, yet inwardly rejoice that this misfortune has fallen uponothers and not upon me? Why should I feel that although others haveperished, all is well as long as I am safe?

Is this not shameful? Is it not an everlasting stain and disgrace uponmy inner self? What right have I to think myself the chosen ward of someguardian angel or tutelary spirit? In what am I different from thoselost ones? In what better, worthier than they? And if not, why had Ibeen saved and not they? Here! Here was the Czrny Bog, the dark god, inmy own breast. 

At last day was dawning, and, in the grey morning light, the horriblepicture looked ghastlier still, when, to our intense relief, thelong-expected train came, and physicians with their assistants, firemenwith their manifold implements, police, and all kinds of labourers, arrived upon it. The train stopped at a safe distance, and then the workof rescue began. Wounds were dressed, the insensible restored, watchmenand travellers were interrogated by officials. Ropes and rope-ladderswere fastened and suspended, and brave men, magnanimously forgetful ofthe threatening danger, went down into the flames, although the hope ofsuccess was small. True, the two or three uppermost cars had not as yetcaught fire; but who could breathe amid that suffocating smoke, thatlurid loathsome atmosphere, and yet live?

The labourers set to work at the breaches of the barricade and the lineof rails. The engineers discussed the best way in which a protectingbarrier ought to be built so as to shut out every possibility of such anaccident; and from the plateau before the watch-house some men wereincessantly calling for a "Monsieur d'Astrachan. "

At last one of the labourers called my attention to these repeatedshouts, and, turning in their direction, I observed that this title wasintended for me. The watchman's wife, not knowing my name, had describedme as wearing an astrachan cap and coat-collar, and accordingly I wascalled "Monsieur d'Astrachan. " Now for the first time I remembered thechild I had carried thither. I had completely forgotten it, and theoccurrence seemed such an age away that I should not have been surprisedto hear that the boy had grown to be a man. 

I hastened up the steps, and observed that some official personage inshowy uniform was expecting me quite impatiently. "Come up, sir, " hesaid; "we cannot converse with your little boy. "

"To be sure you can't!" said I, smiling, in spite of the dreadfulsituation. "Neither can I, for the boy is deaf and dumb; but I have tocorrect you, sir. The boy is not my own, although I took him out of thecarriage. "

"That boy deaf and dumb? About as much as we are, I judge. Why, he istalking incessantly, only we can't make anything out of his prattle, aswe do not understand the language, " said the officer. 

"Well, that's certainly a miracle!" I exclaimed, "and it bears witnessto the truth of the old proverb, 'It is an ill wind that blows nobodyany good. ' Assuredly, the shock of the accident restored his power ofspeech. What is he saying?"

"I told you we can't make it out. It's a language that none of usunderstand. "

"Then I hardly suppose that I shall be cleverer than all of you. "

"Whose child is it, if not yours?"

"Some rich nabob's. I can't at the moment recall his name, although thegoverness told me, poor soul! We were thrown together by chance, and thepoor woman perished in the flames. Has no one of his many attendants andservants escaped?"

"It seems not. But pray come in and listen to him; perhaps you willunderstand him. "

I went in, and found my practical Englishman beside the child, butincapable of arriving at a mutual understanding. The injured travellersand the hysterical women passengers were already snugly stowed away inthe ambulance carriages and well taken care of. The goats were againunder the protection of their legitimate shepherd, and that temporaryofficial, the long-legged son of Albion, was addressing all kinds ofquestions in English to an obstinate little boy. 

As I entered, and the child caught sight of me, the little face lit upat once. He extended both his little arms in joy. "Please come, " hesaid; "I will be a good boy. I will speak!"

It is marvellous enough when a dumb child speaks; but what was mysurprise when I recognised these words, uttered in my own nativeHungarian tongue! Just imagine the five-year-old son of a wealthyAmerican, whose entire _cortčge_ had been German, French, Italian, andEnglish, speaking Hungarian!

I took the little fellow up in my arms, and he put both his little armsaround my neck, and, leaning his soft cheek on my bearded face, he saidagain, "I will be good, very good; but please take me to my papa. I amafraid!"

"Who is your father, my child?" I asked. "What is his name?"

As I uttered these questions in Hungarian, he clapped his hands ingladness, and then, after a little meditation, he answered--

"My father is called the 'Silver King, ' and his name is Mr. Dumany. Doyou know him?"

"Oh!" said the Englishman, as he heard the name, "Mr. Kornel Dumany, theSilver King; I know him very well. He is an American, and very rich. Helives mostly in Paris. If it is more convenient for you to get rid ofthe child, I can take care of him and bring him to his father. "

"No, no!" protested the little one, clinging tightly to me. "Please, donot give me to him! I want to stay with you; I want to go with you to mypapa!"

So he knew English well enough, since he understood every word of theEnglishman's. In this case he could not have been deaf at all, butobstinate, hearing and refusing to talk. Was not such unheard-ofobstinacy in a child of such tender age some malady of the mind or soul?

"I wonder how this child comes to speak Hungarian?" said I, turning tothe Englishman. "Ours is not a language generally spoken by foreigners, least of all by the young children of American nabobs. "

"I never wonder at anything, " said he, coolly. "At any rate, I shouldadvise you at the first station to telegraph to Mr. Dumany; I will giveyou his address. So you will be expected when you arrive in Paris, andhave no further trouble. Since you are the only person able to talk tothe boy, it will be certainly the best thing for him to remain with you. Now I think it is time for us to take our seats in the carriage, or elsethe train will start and leave us behind. Come on, gentlemen!"

IV. 

THE NABOB. 

The train from Zürich arrived at the Eastern Railway Station at seveno'clock in the morning. In Paris the day has at that early hour not yetbegun, and but very few persons, mostly travelling foreigners andlabourers, are seen on the streets. Since it has become the fashion touse the moving train for suicidal purposes, the perron is locked, andonly those travellers admitted whose luggage is undergoing examinationby the customs officials. 

I was lucky enough to have sent my luggage one day ahead of me to Paris, and so it had not been lost in the accident. I had nothing with me but asmall satchel, which I had saved, but which contained nothing tointerest the custom-house officers, and so, taking my little charge inhand, I stepped out into the hall. I had hardly gone two paces, when thechild dropped my hand, and crying, "Papa! dear, darling papa!" ran to agentleman who, with a lady at his side, stood by the turnstile. 

I had never before seen the lady, yet I recognised her at once as themother of my little charge, so striking was the resemblance betweenthem. She had the same large, dark-blue eyes, the same dimpled chin, aquiline nose, and pretty, shell-shaped, little mouth as he, and shecould hardly have been more than four-and-twenty, so young and girlishdid she look. The husband was a large-made, well-shaped, anddistinguished-looking gentleman. His bronze complexion had a healthyflush, and he wore side whiskers, but no moustache. His head was coveredwith a round soft beaver, and a long, rich fur coat was thrown lightlyover his shoulder. In his scarf I saw a large solitaire. The lady at hisside was very plainly attired in black, and wore no jewellery at all. The age of the gentleman was, according to my judgment, about forty. 

As the child ran toward him, with both his little arms stretched out, and crying, in Hungarian, "Apám! Drágo édes apám!" ("Papa! dear darlingpapa!") the gentleman hastened to meet him, caught the boy up in hisarms, and covered the little face, hands, eyes, and hair with a showerof kisses. The father sobbed in his joy, while the child laughed, caressed his father's cheeks, and called him "Édes jo apám!" ("My good, sweet father!") in Hungarian, and the father called him, crying andlaughing, "My dear little fool"--in English. 

Then I saw the father whisper something to the child, and in an instantthe whole little face became rigid and dull, all child-like mirth andsweetness had vanished. He looked around, and then clung tightly to hisfather, as if in dread of something, and I saw his lips move in appeal. The father kissed him again and carried him to the lady, who all thewhile had given no sign of animation or interest, but had looked on, cool and indifferent. 

"Look, my pet, here is your mama!" said the gentleman to the boy, approaching the lady and holding the boy toward her. Now, according tothe law of nature, according to all human sentiment and experience, weshould expect a mother who receives back her own offspring, saved from afate too horrible even to contemplate, her own child who had gone fromher mute and comes back to her speaking, I say we should think itnatural in such a mother to seize this child, and, in the ecstasy of herlove and joy, half suffocate it with her kisses and caresses. Not sohere. I could see no glad tear in the lady's eye, no smile of welcome onher face. Her hands were snugly stowed away in a costly little muff, andshe did not think it necessary to extend them to her child. She breatheda cold, lifeless kiss upon the boy's pale forehead, and the tiny hand ofthe child caressed the fur trimming on her jacket, just as he had donewith the astrachan lapel of my coat. What a strange behaviour in motherand child after such a reunion!

I had watched this family scene out of a strange curiosity, which waswholly involuntary. Presently I recollected the situation, and turned toleave the perron. Perhaps, if I had saved some honest cockney's son froma like danger, I should not have avoided him, but, with a friendlypressure of the hand, expressed my pleasure at having been able to be ofservice to him. Then we should have parted good friends. But tointroduce myself to an American nabob as the rescuer of his child wasimpossible! Why, the man was capable of offering me a remuneration!

No, I would have nothing to do with aristocrats like these. They havetheir child; it is safe; and so good-bye to them!

However, as I turned to leave, I was surprised to hear some onepronounce my name, and, to my astonishment, I found that it was Mr. Dumany. He still held the child on his arm, and, coming toward me, hesaid in French, "Oh, sir! you do not mean to run away from us, surely?"

"Indeed I must!" said I, bowing. "But, pray, how is it that you know myname? You cannot know me personally?"

"Well, that is a question which must remain to be answered later on. Atpresent it is sufficient to tell you that the telegraph service has beenvery full and exact, even in personal description. However, I beg you torevoke that 'I must, ' for indeed I cannot allow you to depart. To thegreat favour you have done me, you must add the additional favour ofbeing my guest for the time of your sojourn in Paris. Promise me toaccept of my hospitality--nay, to regard my house as your own. I shallbe ever so happy! Come, pray, do not hesitate, and give me leave tointroduce you to my wife!"

With that he took my arm, and holding it tight, as if in fear I mightbreak loose and run off, he led me to the turnstile, where the lady wasstanding as quiet and composed as before. He introduced me to her by myproper name and title, naming even the district which I represented inthe Hungarian Parliament; and all these he pronounced perfectly andcorrectly, as I never heard them pronounced by a foreigner before. Howcould he know all that? True, I had shown my passport to the frontierofficials; but were these also subject to the Silver King?

The lady bowed politely as her husband said, "This gentleman has savedour little James from being consumed by the flames at the Rossbergcatastrophe"; and for a moment I felt the slight pressure of a littlegloved hand in mine. It was a very slight pressure, the faintestpossible acknowledgment of a duty, and if I had saved her little petmonkey or dog, instead of her child, she might well have afforded me awarmer recognition. Indeed, I had seen women go into raptures on accountof such animals before this, but never before had I seen a mother valuethe life of her own child so cheap. She did not hold it worthy of asingle expression of gratitude; she had not a word to spare for him orme. Was this woman a human monstrosity and void of all natural feeling?or else was it part of the American etiquette to suppress all outwardsigns of emotion?

What puzzled me most was the boy. He was so different from the happy, talkative little fellow he had been with me and with his father someminutes ago, and he looked just as dull and inanimate as when I had seenhim first on the railway. Was it because he could only speak Hungarian?But then, how could he speak to his father? Who had taught the boy tospeak that peculiar language, dear to me and my compatriots, but whollyunintelligible and of very little use or advantage to the world atlarge?

I observed that Mr. Dumany held a short conversation with a tallliveried footman behind him, and I understood that he ordered him totake out my luggage. I protested and tried to escape. I like hospitalityat home; but when I come into a foreign country, I prefer the simplestinn or the obscurest hotel to the most magnificent apartments of apalace of a prince of the Bourse, because independence goes with theformer, and of all slavery I fear that of etiquette the worst. 

But Mr. Dumany did not mean to give way to my polite protestations. "Just surrender nicely, pray!" he said, smilingly. "It saves youtrouble. Look! If you insist upon going to some hotel, I promise youthat all the reporters of every paper we have, daily and weekly, will besure to pester you day and night with interviews, besides the reportersof foreign papers here, of which we also have an abundance. Every wordyou speak will by each reporter be turned into a different meaning, andby to-morrow the papers will be full of your intimations, although youdo not say anything at all. And then the photographers: how will youescape them? Don't you know that every penny paper will appear with yourpicture in front to-morrow, and, wherever you go, it will be thrustbefore your eyes? You will hear your name pronounced in all languages, and in every way, and you will not know how to escape this unsought-forand unwelcome notoriety. But if you accept my invitation, nobody will beable to stare at you or interrogate you, and you shall live as quietlyand peacefully as if you were in some herdsman's hovel in Hortobágy athome. "

I stared at him quite stunned. How, in the name of all that waswonderful, could he have learned of the existence of a herdsman's hovelin Hortobágy? How could he know that it was my favourite spot? And howhe pronounced that Hortobágy! Just as I myself! He smiled at myastonishment, but offered no explanation. But now he had caught me in myweak point--a writer's curiosity--and I gave in, willingly enough. 

Mr. Dumany ordered the carriages. In one magnificent landau Mrs. Dumanywas to go with little James, in the other Mr. Dumany and myself. But thechild obstinately refused to leave his father's arms, and clung to himmore tightly than ever. So the lady was obliged to go alone, and we twomen took the boy with us. 

I confess that the gentleman puzzled and interested me very much. Notbecause people had given him the name of "Silver King. " I do not covet, and I do not admire wealth alone, pure and simple. I know how todescribe a vine-embowered cottage, or even a thatch-roofed hut, with agarland of gourd blossoms around its small windows, and I can appreciatethe beauties of a picturesque church or castle. But all my descriptivefaculties desert me before the marble and gold luxury of a modernpalace, and its gorgeous splendour has no charm for me. The interest Ifelt was due to the man himself, and, most of all, to the connectionexisting between him and my own home. How came this American Croesus tobe acquainted with the nomenclature, customs, and topography of my owncountry and language? How came the latter upon the lips of hisfive-year-old boy? In my childhood I had known a five-year-old boy, theson of a count, who could speak only Latin, and not a word except Latin. But, then, Latin is taught throughout the world, and no education isconsidered as finished without a more or less perfect knowledge ofLatin. But where in a foreign country is the professor who teaches theUgro-Finnish tongue, even if there were some whimsical parent who wishedthat his son should learn to speak it?

During the drive Mr. Dumany acquainted me with some particularsregarding the customs of his house. He told me that the hour forbreakfast was nine, and that for lunch one o'clock. Dinner wasinvariably served at six, and I was entirely at liberty to put in myappearance or stay away. They would not wait for me, but my place at thetable would be kept reserved; and if I was late, I should be servedafresh. The cook should be entirely at my disposal. If the excitementand fatigue of the journey should make me wish for a day's rest, I wasfree to retire to my rooms at once, and should not be disturbed byanybody. 

In answer to all this I said that I had no habits whatever; that I wasable to eat, drink, and sleep at will; was never fatigued, and wouldwith pleasure put in my appearance at his breakfast-table that verymorning. 

"That will be nice, indeed!" he said. "But I must beg your pardon inadvance for my wife. On ordinary days she is up and presides atbreakfast; but to-day she bade me apologise. She has been up all nightfrom excitement, and now I have told her to lie down and rest a fewhours. After that she usually spends some time in the nursery, superintending the children's ablutions, prayers, and breakfast, andonly when all these matters are accomplished is she ready for her dutiesas hostess and mistress of the household. "

"So little James is not your only child?" I ventured to ask. 

"Not by many; we have two more boys and two beautiful littlegirls--quite a houseful. "

"But the lady looks almost too young to be the mother of so manychildren. Little James is the eldest, of course?"

"Yes, he is her first-born, and she is not yet twenty-four. We have beenmarried six years, so christening has been an annual event with us. "

Well, I was more puzzled than ever. I had met with a good many Englishand American gentlemen before, but all had been rather reserved inspeech and manner, quite different from this Croesus; and, regarding thelady, I was altogether at a loss, as all my conjectures were entirely atfault. She was not without feeling; she was apparently a good mother, and little James was her own child and not a stepson, as I had guessed. Her behaviour at the station was still an enigma to me. 

At last we arrived at the Silver King's residence--a large, well-built, and rather comfortable than brilliant mansion, filled with a host ofservants, of whom each knew and fulfilled his particular duty. A _valetde chambre_ showed me into a very splendid and comfortable suite ofrooms, consisting of a reception-room, sitting-room, work-room, bed-, dressing-, and bathroom, all furnished in the choicest and mostpractical way, and I was delighted to see that, although all was richand costly, none of the offensive and pretentious pomp of the ordinarymillionaire's house met my eye. 

The valet, an Alsacian, who talked to me in German--perhaps with thenotion of paying me a compliment--informed me that he was entirely at myown service. He showed me a beautiful escritoire in the work-room, witheverything ready for writing purposes, and told me that, in thereading-room attached, I should find an assortment of newspapers. Hethen quickly and skilfully prepared me a bath, unpacked and arranged mythings, and helped me to dress. He was altogether a wonderfully nicefellow. 

When the valet left me, I went into the reading-room, and looked at thenewspapers. I found quite a number of them--French, English, Italian, and one German; but still I was a little disappointed. I had halfexpected to find a Hungarian paper, and there was none. 

The library contained a choice collection of books; works of science, philosophy, history, poetry, and fiction--of the latter, only a smalland select number. Here also was no Hungarian author to be found; noteven the translation of a Hungarian book could I detect, although Ilooked into every one--French, German, English, and Italian, and evensome Spanish and Danish ones. 

From the reading-room opened the billiard-room, a handsome apartment. Its walls were covered with beautiful frescoes, betraying the Frenchschool of art in the delicate colours, and in the Norman, Basque, Breton, and Kabyle scenes and types represented. Of Hungary I could seenothing. The Hortobágy herdsman's hovel, of which my host had spoken, was not to be found. 

In another room I found a sort of ethnographical museum, full of relicsand rarities from all countries except Hungary; and yet, if that man hadever been in my country, he would certainly have brought some token ofremembrance with him. Hungary is more rich in curiosities than a goodmany of the countries represented here. 

Mr. Dumany came in to see if I was ready for breakfast, and I followedhim into the tea-room, passing a little, semi-circular, ship-cabin-likeapartment, with small, round windows, between which, inbeautifully-sculptured, round frames, of the size of the windows, hungvery handsome landscapes, apparently American. 

In the breakfast-room I recognised a tiny Meissonier, in a gold frame oftwice its size, and an Alma Tadema. Mr. Dumany, observing my interest inthe pictures, informed me that these two were there only temporarily, pending their shipment to New York. There, in Mr. Dumany's real home, was his picture gallery, containing works of art of the higheststandard. 

I ventured to observe that we Scythians, barbarians as we were held tobe, had also some painters worthy the interest of a Mćcenas, and notwithout fame, too. 

"I should think so, " he said, smiling. "And in my New York gallery youwill find Munkácsy _genres_, Zichy _aquarelles_, a Benczur, and someother equally fine Hungarian pictures. Here I keep only French andGerman pictures of lesser value. "

Our conversation turned to art in general, and Mr. Dumany surprised meagain by an allusion to the Hungarian witticism that when we speak ofHungarian art we cannot omit Liszt (for the name of the great musicianis also the Hungarian word for _flour_); and Mr. Dumany remarked thatAmericans travelling abroad have learned to appreciate both theHungarian specialties. The great artist, and the product of the soil andmill converted into fine cake, are equally esteemed by them. 

We talked about commerce and exports, and he observed that althoughAmerican wheat was sure to inundate the European market, yet Hungarianflour was unrivalled in quality, and would increase in consumptionthroughout the world. Then we spoke of financial matters, and here Mr. Dumany was completely at home. The Hungarian rente had at that time justbeen introduced into the market, and Mr. Dumany predicted for it a fairsuccess. He prophesied the rente conversion scheme and the four percent. Bonds, and from this topic we diverged to politics. He was a veryfair politician, and I was pleasantly impressed by the apparent interestwhich he took in Hungary. He admired Andrássy, and spoke well of hisBosnian policy. Of Tisza he entertained great hopes, and he felt sorryfor Apponyi, because he had allied his great talents with theOpposition. He spoke of Kossuth, and said it was a pity to see the grandold man's name misused by the extreme faction. I tried to turn theconversation to Hungarian literature, but on this point I met with butlittle interest. Still, I noticed that he knew more about us thanforeigners in general do. He did not think the Gypsies the ruling racein Hungary, and he did not believe us to be a sort of chivalrousbrigands, as some foreigners consider us; but he did not show anyparticular sympathy with either the country or the people, and certainlyused no flattery on the subject of our special virtues. 

Our conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Mr. Dumany's valet, who handed his master two letters. "Will you give me leave to read themat once?" he asked, turning to me. "They are of some importance, beinganswers to two dinner invitations I sent out this morning. "

"Certainly, " I answered; "pray do as you wish. "

He opened and read the letters, and, replacing them again on the silversalver upon which the servant had brought them, he ordered him to handthem over to the chambermaid so that Mrs. Dumany might receive and readthem. 

After the valet had left, Mr. Dumany said to me--

"I have invited these two gentlemen to meet you at dinner. One of themis secretary of the Department of the Interior, the other an oldCatholic priest, the parson of St. Germain l'Auxerrois. It is very niceand pleasant that both of them accepted, and so I hope you will notobject to make the acquaintance of two whole-souled and intelligentgentlemen. "

"Quite the contrary, " I hastened to say; "I shall be very happy to meetthem. "

Just then the valet returned, and, deferentially bowing, he said to me--

"Madame la Comtesse begs to inform monsieur that she would be gratefulif monsieur would be kind enough to see madame in her apartments. "

V. 

A REPUBLICAN COUNTESS. 

"Madame la Comtesse!" A Peruvian or Argentine countess? Or have theseplutocrats of the great republic some special distinguishing titles, such as "Silver King, " "Railway Prince, " etc. , and was this exoticcountess the daughter of some such lord of the money market? At anyrate, I had to obey her polite commands, so, throwing away my cigar, Ibowed to Mr. Dumany and followed the lead of the valet. 

In crossing a long suite of tastefully-furnished rooms, I noticed theentire absence of family pictures. They had no ancestors, or did notboast of them. No farthingaled, white-wigged ladies in hooped skirts andtrailing brocade robes; no mail-clad, chivalrous-looking gentlemen, withmarshals' staffs, keys, and like emblems of rank and high station; orelse these, too, had gone over to New York to subdue with their haughtygrandeur the eyes of less high-born mortals. 

There was something else I missed in these beautiful chambers--the usualobtrusive, caressed and pampered pet animal of a great lady. Noparoquet, no monkey, no little, silken-haired lap-dog, no St. Bernard orNewfoundland dog, no cat, not even a little canary bird, was to be metwith; and not a single flower, real or artificial, greeted the eye. 

At last we came to a room with beautiful heavy brocaded draperies, evidently veiling the entrance into some other apartment. As the servantstepped up and drew the hanging aside, I could not suppress anexclamation of admiration and surprise; and for a moment I stoodtransfixed at the lovely and exquisite scene, deeming that fairyland hadopened to me, and that Queen Mab was expecting me in her own enchantingbower. 

The room which I now entered resembled to some extent the Blue Grotto ofCapri. It was flooded with a magic blue light. Just opposite to theentrance was some kind of bower, with honeysuckle, woodbine, and otherblooming and fragrant vines intertwined. This bower was prolonged in therear into a spacious and seemingly endless tropical garden, withwonderful blooming exotic plants and trees; and in this East Indianparadise, gaily-plumed, sweet-voiced birds of different size and colourwere chirping, hopping, and hovering above their nests, among evergreenbushes and glorious flowers. The whole winter-garden received its lightfrom above, and this light, falling through large panes of blue glass, threw that peculiar, fairy, grotto-like hue over the little boudoir infront. 

To prevent the luscious odour of the winter-garden from pervading theair of the boudoir and becoming oppressive, a fine, translucent filmseparated the bower from the garden. But this film was not of glass orany other transparent but solid substance; it consisted of a beautiful, clear waterfall, transparent as a veil, and noiseless as a fine summerrain. At the touch of a spring, this softly-pouring waterfall might beshut off and the entrance into the winter-garden thrown wide. 

In the little boudoir, at the opening of the bower, stood a couch, andopposite this a little settee and two small gilded and embroideredchairs; while two large sculptured frames, one containing a splendidmirror, the other a life-size portrait of Mr. Dumany, completed theappointments. 

Mrs. Dumany, or, as she was called, the countess, wore a loosemorning-dress of raw silk, with rich embroidery. Her rich, dark hair wasuncovered and wound around her head in three thick coils, like a tiara. 

Her graceful figure was as slender as that of a girl, and she looked soyoung and childlike that no living man would have supposed her to be themother of five children. 

In the peculiar blue light of the boudoir her naturally fair faceappeared so white that I was almost startled. It was just as though somemarble or alabaster statue had moved, looked at me with those largedark-blue eyes, spoken to me with those finely-chiselled, ruby-colouredlips. 

"Pray pardon me for troubling you to call on me, " she said, in fluentand precise French, although with a somewhat foreign accent and mannerof speech; "I should not have done it were you not the only trustworthyperson from whom I can learn the necessary particulars of the terribleRossberg accident. My husband, as perhaps you already know, has invitedtwo gentlemen to dine with us. One is a government officer of high rank, the other a kind and benevolent priest. My husband's intention is tospend a considerable sum of money for distribution among those who wereinjured in the Rossberg catastrophe, or their destitute relatives. Theyshall at least not suffer actual want, and although I daresay that moneyis a poor compensation for a lost or crippled husband and father, or sonand brother, still it is the only possible consolation we can offerthem, and in providing for their own future and that of theirdependents, we at least relieve their hearts of one burden. Of this myhusband wants to talk to the government official. The priest was invitedby me, and I want him to hold a requiem for the souls of those whoperished, and to superintend the erection of a memorial chapel at theplace of the terrible accident. Mr. Dumany is ungrudging in his charity, and ready for any sacrifice of money; but, you see, we know reallynothing about the particulars. How many were lost, and how many diedafterward in consequence of their injuries? Who were they? Of whatnation, faith, quality, and circumstances? How many were saved, and inwhat condition? Have they somebody to attend to them, to support them incase of need? And then those belonging to ourselves, our dutifulservants, I might call them our true and faithful friends, has not oneof them escaped? Have they all perished together? You can tell me best, and therefore I made bold to call you to me. Do not hesitate, pray, buttell me all that happened, and in what manner it happened, from thedreadful beginning to the pitiful end--the whole catastrophe, with allthe particulars you can recall to memory. "

"Madam, " said I, "pray do not wish that. These particulars are much toodreadful to relate--much too horrible for the ear of a lady. It requiresstrong nerves and an iron heart to listen to such a tale as that. "

"And what that?" she replied. "True, my nerves are not a bit lesssensitive than those of any other woman, but I have learned to suppressthem--to hold them down. Never fear me! Never spare me! If the scourgehurts me, I shall think it a penance. Go on! You hold thescourge--strike! Go on, I say!"

There was an impatient, almost fierce resolution in her voice, and Iobeyed. 

If this woman regarded the act of listening to the dreadful tale I hadto tell as a penance, then, indeed, she allowed it to become a torture. I was obliged to recount the smallest incident of the ghastly event, andshe drank in every word, shuddering as at some deadly poison. Again andagain she questioned me with the skill and zeal of a professionalcross-examiner. Nor would she let me omit a syllable. And when at themost fearful and heartrending point, her soft, dimpled chin sunk down onher breast, and her fair, babyish hand knocked at the tender bosom "_Meaculpa_! Oh, _mea culpa_!"

When she heard that the uncoupling of the parlour car had caused adelay, she groaned. "Then all this terrible mishap is due to our ownvanity?" she cried. "A consequence of our own presumptuous pride! If ourdependents had sat with the boy in a common carriage with other decenttravellers, the train would have passed the fatal spot long before thelandslide was in motion! But, of course, the Silver King's son is fartoo precious a creature to breathe the same air with other creatures ofGod's making. He must needs have a separate parlour to himself! And thissinful, detestable vanity of ours must cost the lives of so many good, brave, happy, and useful persons. Oh, hell itself must mock at ourfolly!"

Now this commination, unexpected as it was from a lady of wealth andposition, was not altogether unwarranted, and so I went on. 

As I drew near to the catastrophe I could hear the beating of her heart, and her breath came short and gasping. When I related how I had caughthold of the governess's hand, she was trembling, and an almost deadlypallor overspread her white face. "Alice! oh, Alice!" she cried; andwhen I told her how the lady ran back to the coupé for her bonnet, justat the last moment for escaping, she broke out into a painful hystericallaugh. "Just like her! Her bonnet! Yes; ha! ha! She would have come downto dinner in her bonnet, the foolish pride! She was so afraid to showher bare ears to a man! Oh! oh! Alice!"

At last the tears came to her relief, and she sobbed pitifully. "If youhad only known her goodness, " she cried, "her self-sacrificing devotion, her pure, kind heart! She was the best friend I ever had, and how sheloved that unhappy boy! She was more his mother than I, for she gave himall a mother's love and all a mother's care and attention. Why did I lether go with him? Why did I not keep her back from him?"

I told her how the poor woman's first thought had been the safety of thechild. 

"And you have not seen her again? You do not know what has become ofher?"

I denied having seen her again. I could not describe to her the horridspectacle of the poor woman as I had seen her last, when taken by thebrave firemen from that infernal pile; for, strong as she forced herselfto appear, this would have been more than she could bear; so I told herthat the relief train started with the rescued before we could learnanything of the rest; but of the certainty of their death there couldnot be the slightest doubt. 

"What a misfortune!" she sighed, wringing her hands. "Why, that boy hadan escort with him like a prince royal! The honest Dr. Mayer, such arefined, generous young man; and Tom, the negro, my best servant, andthe truest! He saved me from an alligator once, and killed him with aniron bar. He was severely wounded by the ferocious reptile, yet helaughed at his pains. "

I remembered the grin on his broad black face in the moment of death, as I had seen him at the carriage window. He had laughed then also. 

"And poor little Georgie?" she asked again, "James's playfellow andfoster-brother? Georgie's mother was James's nurse. How she begged of meto take care of her darling, to bring him up well, to make a priest ofhim! And how well I have kept that promise! I have made more of him thana priest: he is a saint, and a martyr. Oh, _mea culpa_! _mea culpa_!"

When I had explained to her the circumstances which had made allattempts at rescue impossible for us, and afterward futile, she nodded. "I know it, " she said. "On that evening I had not said my prayers. Wedined out late, and spent the evening there. I could not come home topray with my children, and I could not say my prayers there. I felt theheavy load on my heart, and once for a moment, when I was not observedby anybody, I heaved a sigh and said, 'God bless us!' It must have beenat the moment of the catastrophe, for my heart ached with some vague andgloomy presentiment. Oh, me! our neglected prayer, and such a fearfulchastisement! Tell me! Who is that terrible being that watches us sorelentlessly, and if he catches us napping but once, hurls down those welove into death and destruction?"

Her marble-white face, her large wide-open eyes, gave her the look of aspirit. 

"Perhaps, " said I, "the single blessing you asked saved the life ofyour dear child. Let this thought comfort you. "

"James?" she said. "This child of sin and misfortune? Why, it wasbecause he was on that train that all those pure and good people had todie! Oh, accursed was the hour of his birth! No, no; he is not accursed. I--I, his mother, that gave birth to him, I am guilty! He is innocent;he could not help it. Oh, _mea culpa_! _mea culpa_!"

She was beating her breast, and rocking herself to and fro, uttering herincessant "_Mea culpa_!" "Tell me more, " she said again, presently;"show me more dreadful sights, that I may suffer more. I yearn for it;it will do my soul good--it is like purgatory. Go on!"

I took good care not to feed this religious frenzy further. On thecontrary, I spoke of the practical Englishman and his performances, andof the artist who had sat there among all the terrible havoc and haddrawn sketch after sketch. 

"That picture we must secure, at whatever cost, " she said, eagerly. "Itshall be the altar-piece of the chapel which we are about to raise inmemory of the tragic event and of the souls of the slain. "

I had formed my own opinion of Mrs Dumany's state of mind. No doubt shewas mentally deranged, and her special craze was religious monomania. From this arose the deep melancholy which held her own innocent baberesponsible for the misfortune of others. This made the child repugnantto the mother, and, no doubt, this was at the bottom of that remarkablemutual estrangement between mother and child. 

I tried to quiet her. I told her that in a very short period a greatmany serious catastrophes, such as frequent earthquakes, greatinundations, and similar unfortunate and most terrible events, hadshocked the world and buried whole cities, destroyed the lives andfortunes of thousands upon thousands of happy and innocent persons. Eventhis Rossberg catastrophe had been preceded by another at the same spot, about the beginning of the present century. Such catastrophes were by nomeans to be considered as a punishment from God Almighty, Who is far toomagnanimous to visit the sins of the guilty upon the heads of theinnocent, but simply as the outcome of geological and meteorologicalphases of our globe, depending upon natural laws. If anybody was reallyto be blamed for the present misfortune, it must be the engineer who hadplanned and erected that insufficient barrier instead of a strongbastion. 

Mr. Dumany's entrance interrupted our painful conversation. He came onthe pretence that letters and newspapers had arrived for me, and withthat he handed me a copy of the _Hon_. 

"But I had them addressed to the Hôtel d'Espagne, " I said. 

"They have been already informed that you are here, " he answered; andthen, turning to his wife, he said--

"Have you drunk deep enough of the bitter cup? or do you thirst formore of its contents?"

His voice was soft and tender, and the wife threw both her arms aroundthe husband's neck, and, burying her face on his breast, she weptbitterly. 

I took my journal, and, without making my excuses to the lady, Isilently stole out of the room. 

VI. 

DUMANY KORNEL. 

At dinner I was punctual, but nevertheless the two gentlemen of whom Mr. Dumany and his wife had spoken were already present and discussing thequestion of Mr. Dumany's munificent offer. After a hurried introductionI was soon informed of all that had been agreed on. The Secretary ofState had received bonds for 1, 000, 000 francs, to be taken by the twoGovernments, the French and the Swiss, for distribution among theinjured or maimed of the Rossberg catastrophe and the poor dependents ofthe slain. The old railroad watchman, who had been discharged by thecompany, and the canny shepherd, who both sold and kept his goats whenhe ran for the relief train, each received 10, 000 francs, and aconsiderable sum went to the officials of the relief train as aremuneration for their services. The rest of the million francs was setaside for a memorial chapel on the site of the accident, and for thecelebration of masses and a grand requiem in the church of St Germainl'Auxerrois on the following day--a ceremony which was to be repeatedannually. 

I have forgotten to mention that although the dinner was sumptuous, andthe dishes and wines were excellent, yet it was as stately, solemn, andunsociable a meal as a funeral banquet, and Mrs. Dumany presided indeep mourning. The only jewel she wore was a large cross studded withdark-blue diamonds, only recognisable as such by the rays of blue, yellow, red, and green light which darted from them. This cross wassuspended on a chain of black beads resembling a rosary, and giving tothe black-robed figure the appearance of an abbess. The Spanish lacemantilla which she had thrown over her beautiful hair served as theveil, and made the resemblance perfect. 

At nine o'clock the government official and the priest took their leave, and Mrs. Dumany retired, to put her babes to bed, as she said--a dutywhich she always fulfilled herself, saying her prayers with them, andwatching them until they slept. After the lady had retired, Mr. Dumanytold me that even when he and his wife dined out, or were going to theopera, my lady invariably went home at nine o'clock to put her childrento bed--a duty which she never omitted; but on the evening of thecatastrophe she had been compelled to stay by the company present, andthis had given rise to her self-accusations. She was nowhere happy butin the company of her children, who afforded her the greatest delightand amusement. I sighed, and, yes--I think I was actually guilty of theremark that Hungarian ladies of quality were equally good and dutifulmothers. 

We went over to Mr. Dumany's bedroom for a cup of tea and a cigar. Itwas a grand room, lofty and spacious as a church, and if I had been aChauvinist, I should have said that the rays of light in this roomcomposed a tricolour of the same hues as the Hungarian flag. Thebeautiful hanging-lamp shed a green light, the glowing coals in thegrate threw a reddish tint over the surrounding objects, and the large, richly-sculptured bed-canopy was all ablaze with white electric lights, arranged like a chain of diamonds above the heavy purple velvet hangingswhich encircled the couch and gave it a cosy and well-shaded effect. 

We had hardly finished our first cigar, when Mrs. Dumany, or, as Ishould call her, the countess, came in. She wore a white wrapper, covered with costly lace and leaving her beautiful arms bare below theloose lace-trimmed sleeves. She led little James into the room, and, turning to her husband, she said--"This boy obstinately refuses to sleepanywhere but with his father, just as before we sent him to theInstitute. "

The little fellow was simpering, and tottered drowsily to and fro. Hewas evidently very sleepy. Mr. Dumany took him up on his lap, unbuttonedhis little boots, and pulled off the tiny socks. The mother stood there, looking on unconcerned, and presently she said, "Good-night!" and wentout of the room. 

The father undressed the child, and put him to bed; then he drew thecurtains aside; the child knelt in bed, folded his little hands, andevidently said his prayers, for I saw his lips move; but I could nothear a word. After he had finished, his father kissed him tenderly, covered him up with the angora rug, and, letting down the curtains, returned to me. 

He had hardly sat down, when the bed-curtains moved, and the cherubiclittle head peeped out. "Papa! Papa!" said the child. 

"What is it, darling?" his father asked, going back to him. 

"I want you to kiss me again, " he said, with a little mischievous smile. 

After the boy had had his wish, he crept below the covering, and wassoon fast asleep. Mr. Dumany observed that my cigar had expired, andthat I looked rather drowsy. "You are tired, " he said; "let me lead youto your room. "

"I have not slept for the last two nights, " I replied; "but I shall nottrouble you, as I can find my room easily, or else I can ask the valet. Pray stay and rest yourself. "

"Well then, good-night and sleep well!"

But however sleepy I had been the moment before, these few words wereenough to drive sleep from my eyes for ten nights to come, and to raisemy curiosity to the highest pitch, for they were spoken in clear, well-pronounced Hungarian. 

I gazed at him in utter astonishment, and he smiled. "You did notrecognise me, " he said, "but I knew you at once. I knew you very well, too--at one time: we have been colleagues once. "

"Indeed? And how is that possible? Pray where was that?"

"In Budapest, in the Sándor Uteza Palace, the House of Commons. "

"You have been a member of the Hungarian Parliament? When? And whatname did you then bear?"

"The name I bear now, which is my own. Only I used to write it inHungarian, Dumany Kornel. "

"Still I don't remember. Neither your name, nor yet your face isfamiliar to me. "

"Naturally enough. I was in Parliament for only one day; the next daythey conducted me out again. "

"Ah, now I know you! You were the dead man's candidate. "

"Yes, you have hit it; I was the man. "

Well, this was indeed a surprise. All the drowsiness had entirely gonefrom me, and, turning back into the room, I asked, eagerly--

"Sir, have I some claim on your generosity?"

"Oh sir! my dear friend!" he cried, extending both hands to me, "I amyour most grateful and obedient servant for ever. I hand you a blanksheet, and, whatever you may be pleased to write upon it, I shall mostwillingly subscribe to. "

"Then tell me how the right honourable Dumany Kornel, a member of theHungarian landed gentry, and also of the medical profession, if Irightly remember, a rather fast-living bachelor, and rejected Commoner, has been metamorphosed into Cornelius Dumany, the Silver King, the SouthAmerican nabob, the matador of the Bourse, husband of a beautifulcountess, and father of five children, within such a short period. Tellme this, for it is the only gratification I shall accept. "

"And let me tell you, dear friend, it is the highest I could give, " washis reply. "In fact, you have presented me such a draft that, in spiteof all my wealth, I am unable to pay it at sight. I have to ask mywife's permission first. The story you want me to tell is but one halfmy own, the other half belongs to my wife, and you must allow me to askher leave;" and, bowing to me, he left the room. 

I was alone. No, not alone. From behind the bed-curtains issued a heavygroaning, as if the little sleeper were troubled with bad dreams. I wentto him and lifted the hangings. The glare of the light awakened him, andhe cried out, "Apa!" ("Papa!")

"Papa will come presently, my little one, " I said in Hungarian, and hesmiled happily. 

"Oh, the Hungarian uncle!" he said, "that's nice;" and, taking hold ofmy hand, he caressingly laid his little, soft cheek on it. 

"Have you been troubled in your sleep?" I asked. 

"Yes, " he said; "I was dumb again, although I wanted to speak and triedvery hard. A snake was coiled around my neck, and choked me. There is nosnake in this room? Or is there?"

"No. Don't be afraid of anything. Try to sleep again. "

"You will stay with me?"

"Yes, until your papa comes back. "

"Stay always. Papa would like it. He always used to say, 'Speak to me, my boy, only to me! I have nobody but thee to speak to me in our ownHungarian;' and now he has you also. How glad he must be of it! You willstay?--promise!"

I promised him to stay a long time, and, holding fast to my hand, hefell asleep again. 

When Mr. Du Many, or rather Dumany, returned to me, I was sitting beforethe grate, musing over what the child's innocent prattle had revealed tome--the tender, loving recollection this man had of his home and thesweet sounds of our beloved mother tongue. 

He came in with an animated face. "My wife has consented, " he said. "Shetold me that it was confession-time. To-morrow she will confess toFather Augustin, and this evening I shall make you my confessor. Nowthat I have made up my mind to it, I really think that, even from apractical point of view, it would be much better if the truth should beknown about us, rather than those wild, fanciful stories reported bygossiping American newspapers. "

With that he rang the bell for the servant, and gave his orders for thenight. Tea with mandarin liqueur at once, at twelve o'clock punch andfruits, at two in the morning coffee _ŕ la Turque_, and at five o'clocka cold woodcock and champagne, were to be served. 

"I hope you will be able to stand being up all night?" he asked. 

"I think so. I am chief of the campaign committee at home. "

"I beg your pardon. Then I know your quality. But it will possiblyinterest you to learn that the bill of fare I have issued consistsentirely of products of my own raising. The tea comes from my own gardenin Hong Kong. The mandarin is decocted from the crop of oranges grown inmy Borneo orchard. The coffee comes from my Cuban plantation, as well asthe 'gizr' spirit, obtained from the coffee bean. The woodcock is frommy own park; and it is only the flour for the cakes that I have to buy, for that comes from Hungary, and there I own nothing. "

"How is that? If I remember rightly, you had a handsome property there. "

"Have you not heard that it was sold to pay my debts?"

"And you consented to that?"

"Well, first hear my story. However, I have told you an untruth. I amyet a landed proprietor at home; I own a cabbage-garden in the rear ofmy former castle. That garden is the only bit of soil I kept, and inthis garden fine cabbages grow. Year after year the whole crop is slicedup, put into great barrels, and converted into sauer-kraut. This theysend after me, wherever I happen to be--whether at New York, Rio deJaneiro, Palermo, or Paris--and from this, after a sleepless night, mywife prepares me a delicious 'Korhely-leves'" (a broth made from thejuice, and some slices of cabbage, with sour cream and fresh and smokedham, and sausages. This broth is in Hungary frequently served after anight of dissipation; hence its name, "Korhely-leves, " which means"Scamp's-broth"). 

"And the countess understands how to prepare the old-fashioned Hungariandelicacy?" I asked. 

He laughed. "Ha-ha-ha! Why, she is as good a Hungarian as you or I. Ifshe speaks French, she only imitates our ladies at home, who thinkthemselves so much more refined when they speak bad French instead ofgood Hungarian. "

This was another revelation, and upset the other half of my fictitiouscombination. I had imagined that my countryman had won the love of someSouth American magnate's daughter, and in this way had become thepossessor of his innumerable millions. Mr. Dumany might have read mythoughts in my face, for he smiled and said--

"You will presently understand that I did not rob, did not cheat, anddid not marry for money, and yet I did not acquire my present greatwealth by my own good sense and management, either. I'll show you bywhat road I have reached it, as a warning to others. May no other manever do as I did! But I do not believe that such events are ever likelyto happen again. I do not believe that there can ever be born anothersuch a pair of thick-skinned, iron-nerved human beings as the heroes ofthis story, or two other persons able to endure what we endured. I willventure to say that the worldly wealth I have won is not worth the priceI paid for it; but I have gained another prize, whose value can never beexpressed in figures. "

Thereupon we sat down at the little tea-table. Mr. Dumany threw a fewlogs of odorous cedar wood upon the fire and began his tale. So, fromthis point, the present romance is not written by me, but by him. 

MR DUMANY'S STORY. 

VII. 

THE DEAD MAN'S VOTE. 

I do not think it necessary to particularly describe the borough forwhich I was nominated as a candidate for Parliament. If you know one, you know all. There were factions, of course, ranged into parties, oneof which drank deep, while the other drank deeper still. There are agood many nationalities in this particular district, and they aredistinguished by the liquor they prefer. The Slavs drink whiskey; theSuabians or Germans, beer; the Ugro-Fins or Hungarians, wine; and themore intelligent and cultivated of all the races show their agreement inmatters of taste by drinking, alternately, wine, beer, or whiskey, withequal relish. Jehovah's own chosen people, considering it much moreprudent and hospitable to serve the liquid to others than to drink itthemselves, furnish all parties with the wished-for fluid, according toindividual taste, and find the transaction even more satisfactory andprofitable than drinking in itself. 

If Dante had visited Hungary, and had seen my particular borough inelection-time, he would not have omitted it in his description of hell. 

Yet the highly respectable voters expect a substantial confirmation oftheir patriotic convictions, and some of them are not fully persuadeduntil four or five angels (golden, of course) come to enlighten theirminds. Others refuse to listen even to the sweet voices of these angels, and wait obstinately for the mightier spirits, emblazoned on fifty andone hundred florin bank-bills. Others, again, are to be had only _enbloc_--that is, in company with their friends and connections, and onlyjust at the last moment, when the bidding is highest; and so tender istheir conscience that they listen to the persuasions of all parties withequal earnestness, and it takes much to convince and win them over. 

It is a matter of course that the nominated candidate of each party isfar above such negotiations, and, although he owns that it has come tohis knowledge that his antagonist actually stooped to bribery in orderto defend his weak cause, yet he himself will never condescend to meetthe man on that ground. If his own moral integrity, the lofty standingof his party, and his party's principles, will not secure the victoryfor him, why, then there is no honesty and patriotism in this decayedage, and the patriotic cause is lost!

At every election, as you well know, are a number of kind, disinterested, active, and zealous party members, indefatigably busy insecuring and collecting votes, or, what is more essential, trying to winover the votes of the enemy. These very useful and highly respectablegentlemen are leaders or drum-majors, and they have a number ofsubalterns, not less useful, painstaking, and persuasive, only a littleless gentlemanlike and less scrupulous, and perhaps not whollydisinterested as regards pecuniary gain. These are the electiondrummers, plain and simple. 

Now at the election of which I am speaking there were two factions. I, as the champion of the Clerical-National-Conservative party, stood inopposition to the champion of the Panslavonic-Liberal-Reform party, andyou may believe that we did all that was possible to defeat the opposingfaction. My own party emblem was the red feather, that of my adversarythe green feather; the national cockade we sported in common. 

At six o'clock p. M. The green feathers were one vote ahead of us. "Thisis not to be endured!" shouted my head drummers, and "This is not to beendured!" was the war-cry of the subordinate drummers. But how couldthey help it? The lists were scrutinised again, and it was found thatTóth János, the potter, had not voted. "Where is Tóth János, the potter?and why did he not vote?" added my chief drummer. "Beg pardon, " said oneof the subalterns, "but the man was buried the other day. "

"Well, that was a calamity. Is there no other Tóth János in the village?The name is rather a common one. "

"There is indeed, and he happens to live in the same house with thedeceased, only he is not a voter, as he does not pay taxes; he is only apoor poultry-dealer. Still he is on the list as a carter, and the thingcould be managed. "

Tóth János, the poultry-dealer, was sent for, but his voting in his ownright was out of the question. So the drummers talked with him a longtime, and they had glib tongues, and the aid of the ever-welcome angels. Tóth János the poultry-dealer, who could not vote in his own name, votedas Tóth János, the potter, but he had a great sacrifice to make. Thedeceased potter was nick-named the "gap-toothed, " because he had losthis front teeth in a brawl. Now the poultry-dealer's front teeth were assound as ivory, yet so great and effective were the persuasions of the"angels" that, in half an hour's time, Tóth János, the poultry-dealer, so closely resembled Tóth János, the potter, in outward appearance thatno question concerning his identity was raised, and his vote wasrecorded. 

Still, this was insufficient. True, we were now even with the foe, butwe were compelled to show a majority, even if it consisted only of asingle vote. If Richard III could offer "a kingdom for a horse, " whyshould not we offer "1, 000 florins for a vote?"

Somebody made the discovery that on the outskirts of the village, in anold tumble-down shanty of his own, lived a poor Jew with a lot ofhalf-starved, forlorn-looking children, and a half-crazed, careworn, hard-working wife. The husband and father had been laid up withconsumption for the last few months, and was daily expected to die. Thispoor wretch, who never in all his life had been the owner of an entiresuit of decent clothes--for when he had a hat, he invariably lackedshoes, or when in possession of a coat, he was in sore want of a pair oftrousers--this poor fellow had yet a fortune at his call, for he couldbequeath to his family the 1, 000 florins which we were willing to payfor his vote. All his life he had been as honest as he was poor, earninga miserable livelihood by setting glass panes in the village windows. Nobody had ever thought of getting his vote, still less had he himselfthought of attaching any importance to the right he possessed as ataxpayer. Our drummers found the poor fellow just in the act of takingleave of this vale of care and sorrow; but they would not have been thesmart fellows they were if they had not succeeded in defeating Deathhimself, and robbing him of his prey for as long as they needed. Thedying man stared vacantly into their faces when they offered him thisenormous sum of ready money, while his wife and children broke into ahowl of despair that the offer had not come earlier, for how could adying man leave his bed to vote? But my drummers were not to be beaten. They caught up the bedstead with the sufferer on it, and hastened withit to the tent where the votes were collected. The dying man had beenmade to understand that the bill of 1, 000 florins which he saw would begiven to his wife, if he would only pronounce my name when asked to whomhe gave his vote, and he hold tight to his wife's hand, and met herappealing glance with something like assurance. Happily, he was stillalive when brought to the urn, and the drummers announced that "the poorman was troubled in his conscience, and could not die unless theopportunity of fulfilling his patriotic duty was afforded him, so thathe had begged them to bring him to the tent and allow him to vote. " Thistouching little piece of news was received in the spirit in which it hadbeen given, and just as the poor fellow in his agony was asked the nameof his chosen candidate, Death came to claim his own. With a last lookof sorrow and affection at his wife he sighed with his dying breath, "Dumein liebel"[1] ("Thou, my love!"), and expired. 

[Footnote 1: The Jews in Hungary usually speak German among themselves. ]

"'Nelly Dumany! Dumany Nelly!' he said, " cried my drummers--"Nelly"being an abbreviation of Kornel, my Christian name--and since the "Dumeine" really sounded like "Dumany" and not at all like "Belacsek, " thecandidate of the other party, and since the dead man could not be madeto repeat his vote, whereas my drummers were ready to take their oath ofthe correctness of their assertion, the vote was credited to me, and Iwas declared elected by a majority of one vote, my suffrages being 1, 501in number, whereas my adversary had received only 1, 500. 

The case was afterward contested, and some witnesses endeavoured toprove that the dying man had not said, "Dumány Nelly, " but "Du meinliebe"; yet there was the sworn statement of my drummers to thecontrary, as well as the evidence of his wife and children that the manhad been a devout and religious Jew, incapable of offending Jehovah byuttering German words with his last breath. He had simply pronounced myname in Jewish fashion, and eased his patriotic heart by voting for me. Itzig Maikäfer's vote was as sound as a nut and could not be rejected. 

Not quite so sound, however, was the other dead man's vote--that of TóthJános, the potter. We had sent his substitute, the poultry-dealer, witha cartload of odds and ends to Galicia, just to have him out of the way. We managed to make it difficult to prove which of the two men named TóthJános had been buried two days before election-day by providing for thedead man's family, and sending them off to a remote place; and as thepoultry-dealer (who was a widower without any family) did not returnfrom Galicia for many weeks to come, everything seemed secure. But wehad reckoned without our host, and did not take into consideration apossible treachery. The barber, a miserable wretch, whom we thought tobe a true red-feather man, and who had been more than liberally paid forextracting the poultry-dealer's front teeth, and trimming his hair andbeard into the semblance of those of the dead potter, went and blabbedof his work. A strict examination followed, the body of the potter wasexhumed, and his identity proved to a certainty. Of course, no one daredto accuse me of foul play, but a new election was found necessary, andthe day after I had first taken my seat as a member of the HungarianParliament, I was politely but firmly given to understand that I had nolegal right to its possession, and had better go. This is the story ofhow I became to be called "the dead man's representative, " and how I wasa colleague of yours for a single day. 

Yet this story I have told you cannot give anyone a fair or trueestimate of me, or my character, or ability. Anybody who heard or readthis story would suppose me to have been a vain, good-for-nothing sortof fellow, who had missed his degree at college and lacked the abilityto fill any decent position, and therefore plunged into politics to makehis living, or perhaps to squander the inheritance he had received fromhis ancestors. But, in reality, I had already, at the age ofsix-and-twenty, occupied the position of a well-qualified assistantphysician, and at two-and-thirty the newspapers spoke of me as a famousspecialist and a great light of the profession. As I was established inVienna, where the competition is great, and Hungarians are pushed intothe rear if possible, my reputation could not have been without somefoundation at least. I was respectable and respected, very much in lovewith my profession, and did not care a straw for politics. So, in orderto make you understand the change--nay, the entire revolution--which myoutward and inward man, my entire existence, had experienced, I mustacquaint you with a portion of my family troubles and domesticrelations, and I shall have to speak of my Uncle Diogenes. 

VIII. 

MY UNCLE DIOGENES. 

First of all, I must inform you that my father was a very zealouspatriot, and mingled largely in state and political affairs. Of course, in the great insurrection of the year 1848 he took an active share, andafter the catastrophe of Világos he was seized and imprisoned at Olmütz. At that time I was a lean, overgrown youngster of sixteen. I wascompelled to take charge of the household, and behave as head of thefamily, for which dignity I had no inclination and but little talent. Study was the great object of my life. After my father's release fromprison I was just of an age to decide as to my future career; but that, at the time, was rather a difficult thing for a Hungarian youth, alloffices and positions being filled by Germans and Bohemians. I did notwish to follow in my father's footsteps, for I saw that what with hisneglect of business matters, what with his liberality in furnishing allpatriotic enterprises out of his own pocket with the necessary means, and in extending a wide hospitality to all political refugees, our owncircumstances were getting worse and worse, and we were deeply in debt. 

So one day I took courage to speak to my father upon the subject, andtold him that I thought it was time for me to select a profession. 

"Oh! you are going to hunt for some paltry office in the districtcourts?" he said, with a snarl. 

"No! I am going to study as a physician, " I replied. 

"What? Do you want to be a barber or a veterinary surgeon, or one ofthose curs who pretend to look after the wounded so that they themselvesmay keep out of danger when their betters fight? Imagine a scion of theDumanys, and the last one, too, wanting to be a sick nurse instead of aman! I have a notion to shoot you on the spot!"

"That you can't, for our present ingenious Government takes preciousgood care that such dangerous persons as my father shall not be left inpossession of a rifle or any other shooting-iron; and surely you willnot butcher me? Come, father, be reasonable! You know well what I meanto become, and that the calling I have selected is honourable andrespected. "

"It is not fit for the son of a gentleman and a Dumany. If you dare tofollow such an insane course, you may be sure of my malediction, and, besides that, I'll discard you--disinherit you!"

"I am very much afraid, papa, that if our present course lasts awhilelonger, there will not be much left to bequeath to your heirs. So I amnot afraid of that threat; and as to maledictions, you are much too kindand good-natured to utter such stuff; and, besides, curses are just asharmless and useless as blessings. The Frauenhofer lines tell us all thesecrets of hell, and so I am not at all afraid of them. But I amterribly afraid, dear father, that the road which you have pursued willlead us to ruin in a very short time. "

I had taken precise accounts of all that we possessed and all that weowed. I had computed these accurately, and showed him the result, whichwas rather alarming; but he waved the document away with his hands, andsaid, "Don't be foolish; don't worry about these little inconveniences, which can't be helped, and will soon cease to trouble us. Why, there isyour uncle Dion, with eighty-seven winters on his head (may God resthim!) and not a soul to leave his large fortune to, but you, his onlynephew! Bless my soul! what a nuisance is this boy! Instead of going tothis paragon of an uncle, and trying to get into his good graces, as hisnext of blood and kin, he talks of becoming an apothecary, smearingplasters, mixing poisons, and setting sprained joints. Go to thy uncle, I say, like a dutiful nephew, and doctor him, if doctor you must!"

"I have been to him already, and have told him of my intentions. "

"'Pon my word! And then?"

"He gave me the money to pay my preliminary expenses, and I hope to getalong afterward by myself. "

"Well, to think of Dion giving away anything but advice! It's a treat!And what did he say?"

"That I was right and sensible in providing against the future; for heknows of your difficulties. "

"Stuff and nonsense! He can't last for ever, and then where is the needfor your troubling yourself about my difficulties or studying for aprofession?"

"You are mistaken: he will not leave us a penny; neither do I care forhis money. All I wanted of him I have got, and there is an end of it. "

"Then don't say that I am an unnatural or unfeeling father. I'll giveyou thir--no, twenty florins!" But he never said whether these twentyflorins were meant to be given monthly, or only once for good and all. However, as I did not ask for them, I never got a penny, and soonlearned to do without my father's money by giving lessons, coaching lessdiligent and capable fellow-students, and contriving to live upon almostnothing. 

But I wanted to speak to you of my Uncle Diogenes, as he was generallycalled, although his Christian name was Dion. He was my father'sbrother, but by no means like him. Rather an odd sort of a fellow, andas keen as a razor. He went even beyond the old classical types; he wasmore cynical and more of a philosopher than they. Not the oldestinhabitant remembered the time when the cloak that covered his stoopingshoulders on the street was new. Daily he went to church, never intochurch. There, on the sacred threshold, among the beggars and outcasts, he paid his homage to his Maker, and then returned to his desolate home. There was a large public well in the village. To this he himself wentwith a large pitcher for his drinking-water. This water he poured into alarge boiler, boiled and strained it, and then drank it, because thenhe was sure of the bacilli. He kept no attendant or housekeeper, forfear of being murdered; and he was so much in dread of poison that henever ate cooked food or anything made of flour, not even bread. Helived on baked potatoes, nuts, honey, raw fresh eggs, and all sorts offruits and vegetables which might be eaten raw, and which grew in hisown orchard and garden. Out of his large herd of cattle he selected acow for his stall. This cow he attended to with his own hand, carefullyexamining each stalk or haulm she ate, in order that no poisonous weedmight be consumed by her, and thus poison the milk. Each morning andevening his own hands milked her, and he churned all his butter, andmade all his cheese himself. He never ate anything but what I havementioned, and he never went out without two loaded double-barrelledpistols in his boots. He never read any other newspaper than theSlavonic _Narodne Novine_, which he got from the village parson; but, before reading it, he held it over a charcoal fire, on which he hadthrown some juniper berries, to kill possible malarial germs. His landwas all farmed out, and the rent had to be paid to him in gold orsilver, which he locked away in a great old iron chest. Occasionally, through auctioning off some poor debtor's effects, he came intopossession of bank bills, 50, 100, 1, 000 florin notes. These he rolledup separately, and pushed one by one into a hollow reed. Of thosestuffed reeds he made bundles, which he stowed away in a corner of hisroom. He never lent a penny of his money; he never put a penny into anysavings-bank, for he called them all humbugs; and he never gave a pennyfor charity or friendship. Such was my Uncle Diogenes or Dion; and now Iwill tell you what he had given me. You remember I told my father thatmy Uncle Dion had furnished me with the means of paying my preliminaryexpenses. That was true, but I had earned the money, little as it was, in ciphering, writing, and riding about to my uncle's tenants at a timewhen he was ill with a cold, and would have been obliged to pay astranger for the work which I did for him. I said it was little he gaveme. I have not told the whole truth, for he gave me his advice, and puthis own example before me, and that made a small sum go a long way. 

Well, to make a long story short, let me tell you that I was anestablished physician when my father died, and immediately after hisdeath his estate was seized in bankruptcy proceedings. 

I did not care. I was satisfied with my position in Vienna, and as I hadno mother nor sisters or dependent younger brothers, and had long agorelinquished the hope of coming into possession of our family estate, Itried to forget my former home and live only for my profession. 

After my efforts had made me a name as a clever and skilful specialist, I was occasionally called to visit some wealthy patient in Hungary, andthen the papers gave accounts of the diagnosis I had given, andmentioned the generous fee I had received. I did not approve of thissort of advertisement, but I found that it could not be checked, and sogrew indifferent to it. One day I received a registered lettercontaining money. It was stamped all over with the cheapest kind ofsealing-wax, and, on opening the envelope, I was surprised to find aletter from my Uncle Dion, with an old, crumpled hundred-florin bill, ofa kind that had long gone out of circulation, and which showed everymark of having issued from one of the hollow reeds. The letter ran aboutas follows:--

 "MY DEAR NEPHEW, DR. DUMANY, --Knowing well that physicians will not move a step without being well paid, I send you the enclosed bank-bill, and pray you to take the trouble to visit me for a few days here in my house. 

 "DUMANY DION. "

I took the bank-bill, put it into a fresh envelope, and wrote thefollowing lines:--

 "MY DEAR UNCLE, --One hundred florins will not induce me to leave my patients, and so I return the bill; but if you are really in need of a physician, and want me in that capacity, then please let me know, without enclosing money, for I should consider it my duty as a near blood-relation to give you my professional assistance without delay. --Yours, "DUMANY KORNEL. "

By return of post came the answer--"Yes, I want you immediately. "

I went at once. It was ten years since I had seen him last. He waseighty-seven then; he must be ninety-seven now. A rare age, indeed!When last I saw him, his long and thick white hair had reached to themiddle of his back, and his long untrimmed beard flowed down to hisgirdle, and was the colour of hemp. His eyes were as sharp as those ofany young man, and he did his reading and writing without an eye-glass. Even his grafting he did without an artificial help to his vision. Iremembered well the old custom for guests arriving at his house: coachand servants had to be left at the inn, and dinner had to be orderedthere. Whoever came to visit the lord of the château, quite amagnificent old-fashioned country seat, had to enter through a narrowgarden-gate, just wide enough to admit a single person. The great gatewas never opened, no vehicle of any kind was admitted to pass throughit, and a thick growth of horse-sorrel, both without and within thegreat oaken wings, bore witness to the fact. There was a turnkey at thelittle gate, and an old man--the only servant my uncle ever kept, whoserved for porter, gardener, and all other purposes--opened the door. 

There was yet one tender spot in my uncle's heart, one sprinkle ofpoetry in his nature. He adored flowers, especially roses, and he didnot even grudge money to secure rare specimens. His flower-garden was areal fairy bower, and the old man, with the flowing snow-white hair andbeard, pruning and grafting continually, resembled some sorcerer who, with a single touch of his withered hands, could create or destroy allthe beauty around him. 

I found him there among his roses when I came. He recognised me atonce, although the last ten years had considerably changed myappearance. He was looking just the same as he did ten years ago; notaltered in the least. He was as dry, as wrinkled, and as white as when Ihad last seen him, and his eyes appeared by no means less sharp than atthe time I speak of. 

"Happy to see you, my dear fellow!" he said. "I should have known youwherever I met you. You look like the old boy you were. "

"So I do, because of my clean-shaven face, uncle. I do not care for themanly beauty of a moustache and beard. But I must return yourcompliment. You have not aged in the least, and I can hardly believe inyour wanting a physician at all. You do not look like it. "

He chuckled. "Well, well, I don't think you are much mistaken; but sitdown here in the bower: my room is not quite so pleasant and orderly aplace. I must call the gardener--"

"Don't take the least trouble, uncle, " I said. "I shall not stay withyou, as I ordered a room at the inn and also my dinner. I had a heartylunch half an hour ago, and so you need not worry about my comfort. Nowtell me what ails you, pray, and then I'll see what I can do for you. "

"Nothing in the least with regard to my health, for I am not a bit worsethan I was ten years ago, and far better than most others at my age. Iam ninety-seven, as you know, and that's no trifle. It would be foolishto expect anything better, and you could not prevent my dying about thistime next year. "

"Oh! you are hypochondriac, I see, and give way to fancies! Come in, andlet me examine you professionally, for such fancies are always theresult of some serious disorder. "

"There you are mistaken, my boy. My heart, lungs, liver, and the rest ofit are all right, and I am not melancholy. Neither am I weak-minded ornervous, and you need not look into my eyes or feel my pulse. I haveknown these four years that I am to die at the time I mentioned, although I am sure, when I tell you how I came to know it, you will callme superstitious. For you fellows of the present day are so scepticaland matter-of-fact that you refuse to believe in anything that cannot beproved by optical inspection or by evidence. It was, as I said, justfour years ago, on my ninety-third birthday, when St. John the Nepomucappeared to me in a dream, and said--'Dionysius, my good fellow, makethe best of your time! There are only five more years for you in store, and then you must die! no help for it!' Since that time he comes to meevery year regularly on the night of my birthday, and repeats hiswarning, each time giving me one year less. Last week was my birthday, and he gave me the last warning. Next time he comes I shall have to go. So--"

"But, my dear uncle, " I said, rather vexed, "if you are so muchconvinced of the certainty of your death, then it was not at allnecessary for me to come. You want the priest, and not the physician. Ican cure bodily diseases, and release you from the clutches of cholera, or sometimes even of death; but if the saints have got hold of you, andsuch a tight hold, too, then you had better go to your confessor, for itis his business to be in close connection with all of them. I give youup. Good-bye! I have patients in Vienna, and cannot afford to waste mytime on a pleasure trip. "

"Good God! what a hot-tempered fellow, and what admirable rudeness!Stay, you unmannerly specimen of honesty, who don't think it worth yourwhile to cajole an old fool for the sake of his money! What do you thinkthat I summoned you for? But none of your impudence, if you please!"

I was amazed, and must have looked so, for the old man broke into amerry laugh, that sounded like two pieces of cracked iron rubbingtogether. There was a merry twinkle in his eye even after his laugh, andhe regarded me with a humorous expression which was entirely new to me. 

"Well, " he said, "I see that you are somewhat slow of apprehension; notat all as sharp as others of the family. So I must help you out. I amgoing to make my will. There!"

"Well then, you had better consult a lawyer or a notary. I am neither ofthe two, and cannot be of the least use to you. "

"That's gospel truth. But as you are the only sensible person of thewhole family, the only one who is not a prodigal, and have made shift tolive decently upon your own earnings, I rather think that I may be ofuse to you. I like you, because you browbeat me and do not flatter me, and I will tell you the truth; that bank-bill which you returned to mestrongly interested me in your favour. There was a time when I was notthe shrewd hard fellow that I am, but a true Dumany and a spendthrift. Ican show you a heap of signatures from nearly all the members of ourfamily--that is, the elder members--every one given me as security formoney I have lent them; but that money was never returned to me, andalthough I have always believed that spirits will break their bonds andreturn to their former home, I never believed in a bank-note's returnuntil you showed me the miracle. Therefore I have decided to make you myheir, and I have called you to witness the will and--"

"Not a word more, " I said. "I never speculated upon anybody's death, anddo not intend to change my habit. I never took the trouble to inquirehow much of my poor father's fortune was swallowed by the lawyers, although I know that, after paying all of his debts, there must havebeen a handsome penny left, and I could have recovered that money if Ihad cared to see about it. I have earned for myself a respected positionand a decent living, and I expect to do better yet. So thanks to you foryour kind intention, but I am not the man you want. "

"Yes, you are, and the more so because you do not worship the goldencalf, and do not want to hurry me into my grave as the others do. Totell you all: I wish to settle everything on you while I live, theestate, the house, the money, and all--no, don't run away! I am notcrazy, and you need not be afraid that I want you to live here with mein this old hall as it is, mouldy and dirty and desolate. Neither do Iwant you to share my diet of fruits and raw vegetables, eggs and milk, and baked potatoes. On the contrary, I want you to come to me and livelike a gentleman, as a Dumany should, and let me enjoy life with you. "

IX. 

A SLAVONIC KINGDOM. 

"You see, my dear boy, " continued the old man, fondly taking my hand andpressing it, "it is a princely domain that I offer you, and a princelyincome. The station I invest you with is that of a king in its way, andnot a small way, either. Now listen to me! For a great number of years Ihave lived here on this spot, like one of those hermits of bygone times, living on roots and other primitive food, and never tasting of a decentcooked meal, because I have never ceased to fear that those who wishedto get my money would try to poison me in order to get it sooner. Thisfear I know no longer. I know well that my time expires next year; butof this one year of life I am assured, and I am resolved to make thebest of it. I want to eat nice roasts, good cakes, and other delicatedishes, and I want to drink wine. I have not tasted wine since 1809, when I was studying law and attached as juratus to the Personal. Formany years I did not seem to care about it; but now I long for it, and Iremember how delicious it used to taste. "

"But, my dear uncle, this would not be wise. Such a change wouldabsolutely kill you. "

"Tut! tut! Never fear! I am sure of the one year, and am not going tobargain with Death for more. Give me the one year, and let me enjoy itaccording to my wishes--that is all I ask for. But for a safeguardagainst extravagances, should not I have a skilled and renownedphysician living with me and looking after me daily? Don't you see thatyour professional attendance will prevent all evil results, so that Ishall be perfectly safe? I could not have lighted upon a better planthan making you my heir, and letting you live with me. Of course, Icould have taken a housekeeper; but I know womankind. In less than halfa year she would have persuaded me to marry her and settle all mybelongings on her, and this would not do for a Dumany. But if you cometo live with me, everything will be different. I'll let you have thewhole mansion, and keep nothing but my old room, of which I am fond, because I am used to it and to the old, dingy, broken furniture that'sin it. You should marry, and bring your pretty little wife into thehouse, and she would sing to me and play the piano or the organ, andwould keep pretty little chambermaids that I could pat on the cheeks, and your little wife would let me kiss her fair, soft little hands; itwould be delicious! Then I should hear a little scolding and quarrellingin the house, and you would take care that your little lady-wife shouldnot spoil me by too much fondness, and you would order my dinners andselect my wearing apparel according to my health. Perhaps I might sleepa little after meals at the open window--a luxury I always longed for, but did not dare to indulge in. This would be life for me, and a slowand sweet transit from the cares and troubles of this world intoheaven. "

The old man became quite excited over this ideal picture of happiness. "I speak of heaven, " he continued, "and this reminds me of the church. Do you know why I say my prayers outside among the beggars, and never gointo the church? Not out of humility, but because at present there isonly a simple Slav minister here, and I am not over-anxious to listen tohis orations. Besides, the church is always so full of the Slav peasantsthat you cannot breathe inside of it, such an infernal odour is diffusedby them. But if you would come to live here, and bring a gentle littleHungarian lady with you, perhaps the bishop could be induced to sendsome nice Hungarian priest to preach to us; and I am very fond of a goodsermon, especially if I could listen to it comfortably in my pew, as youmay wager that not one of these burly peasants would go inside thechurch if the service were held in Hungarian. And then just fancy thehappiness if there should be a christening in the family, and I shouldbe godfather to your son! Would not that be glorious? Oh, if I couldlive to see it! You must make haste and marry, or I'll put speed intoyou, you may rely on that!"

I was ready with my diagnosis by the time he had finished his lastsentence. Hallucinations born of religious frenzy; idiosyncrasies withallotriophagical symptoms, a consequence of his ascetical mode ofliving; nymphomania of old age; hypochondriacal fancies: all symptomsthat are frequently found together. To second his morbid intention ofchanging his diet and habits would be sheer lunacy; nay, worse, it wouldbe actual murder. Yet first I must win his confidence as a physician, sothat he may trust me and take my advice. I embraced him, and thanked himmost heartily and tenderly for his kind intentions, which I should neverforget and should always feel grateful for; but I said, brilliant andsplendid as it was, I could not accept his proposition, I could not giveup the career I had entered, the profession I had embraced and which Iloved, and the independent and honoured position I was proud of. Mycalling was everything to me--life, happiness, fortune, and ambition;and to give up my profession in order to till my farm, to exchange mystudy, laboratory, and dissecting-table for the petty cares and troublesof a country squire and a county member, would be physical and mentaldeath to me. 

The old man smiled. "You talk so because you cannot comprehend theimportance of the position you will fill as the lord of my Slavickingdom, because you cannot guess the amount of the wealth I offer you. You shall know it, and you are the only person alive to whom I have everspoken, or shall ever speak about it. You think this old mansion looksas dreary and rotten inside as out; but you are mistaken. This residenceof the so-called Slav King is a princely seat, and it hides treasuresthat monarchs and potentates would be proud to possess. If any one ofthe family calls on me, he finds me in my dingy little hole of a room, which, with an old rotten table, broken chairs, mutilated chest ofdrawers, and coarse bed with bear-skin coverlet, looks poor andinhospitable enough, and my visitors are generally glad to escape intothe open air again, thinking that the whole house resembles this room inappearance; whereas, were I to throw the doors open, and show them thesplendour of the rooms and halls, they would stare in amazement. Everyone of the rooms is a perfect museum, and contains precious rarities. One is full of carved furniture of costly woods, inlaid with ivory, mother-of-pearl, gold and silver, and rich stones of the time of'Ulászló. ' The next contains all sorts of pottery of pastcenturies--Roman and Etruscan, Chinese and Japanese, Sčvres and Dresden, old Hungarian, and so forth. The third room is full of weapons of allages--panoplies, coats of mail, shields, bucklers, saddles. In thefourth room are gowns and trains and coats of brocade, and artisticembroidery and tapestry. The fifth room is a picture-gallery ofunlimited value; and then comes a library that has not its equal on thiscontinent, nor, I may say, on any other. High up to the ceiling thelarge hall is filled with precious and rare old products; books withclasps that are themselves curiosities of rare beauty. But those books!If your medical colleagues had the privilege of entering this libraryand peeping into those books, I doubt if they would be willing to partwith them ever after. Why, there is actually a book to invoke the devilwith! I did not dare to look into it, but you young fellows are suchsceptics that you will deny the existence of God and Devil presently, and you will take the risk of reading that book. 

"All these treasures were hoarded together by my father--may God blessand rest his soul! He was called a miser throughout his life, and hedenied himself all comfort in order to spend his income in replenishinghis collection of rarities. Shortly after the birth of his second son, your father, our mother grew tired of his mania and the sacrifices shehad daily to make, and left him, taking us boys with her, while heremained alone among his beloved curiosities, which became dearer to himon account of the high price he had to pay for them. When we boys--yourfather and I--grew up, your father grew daily more like our mother, while I became strangely infatuated with the old man and his store ofcuriosities. He was also fond of me, showed me all his treasures, dwelling upon the particular beauty of each. Miser as our father was, heoccasionally gave money to his younger son, but he never gave any to me, and I had to consider this as an especial favour, for had I not theprivilege of sharing the main interest of his life?

"When my father died, there was hardly enough ready money in his desk topay his funeral expenses, and he had left a very strange will. He hadkept minute accounts of the amount he had spent each day and year fordifferent objects. All the money he had given to my mother and myyounger brother was reckoned up and subtracted from their share underhis will. He wrote that, as he knew that his wife was well provided for, having a considerable fortune of her own, he left her a life-estate insuch one of his many domains as she might select. With regard to his twosons, one had never shown him any love, and visited him only when inwant of spending-money; the other had never asked for a penny, althoughhe had received less from his mother than her favourite, the younger. Yet, as a dutiful father, he did not wish to be partial; therefore hissons were to divide his lands, goods, and chattels in the followingmanner:--One was to take all his ready money, bonds, and objects ofgold, silver, and jewellery of recent workmanship (meaning the presentcentury), besides his horses and cattle, and the wine in the cellars;while the other was to take possession of all the lands and theresiduary estate, on condition that he should reside in this particularmansion and take charge of the museum therein, that he should nevermarry, never accept any public office, in order that the treasures underhis care might receive the full benefit of his resources. He wasrequired to pledge himself to live in exactly the same secluded andfrugal way as his father, and to take his oath that during his lifetimeand stewardship he would not sell or give away one particle of theestate, whether real or personal, which he received under the will. Further, he must give up all claim on his mother's estate for ever, andmust relinquish all that she might give or bequeath him to his brother. 

"To say that your father was furious would hardly express his state ofmind. I have already said that the whole amount of cash left was barelyenough for the funeral expenses. The bonds which were found proved to beso many worthless pieces of parchment. The jewellery of recentworkmanship consisted of a set of valueless shirt-studs and a watch thatwould not have fetched ten florins at auction. Of silver there was atablespoon, a teaspoon, a ladle, and two or three pieces of tableware, bent, crooked, and broken, hardly worth the mentioning. Of horses therewere two lean and decrepit-looking animals, and the cattle consisted ofa diminutive black cow and her calf, neither of much value, yet formingno doubt the most valuable part of the whole bequest. This was yourfather's portion, for as to his taking the other part, giving up theprospect of our mother's goodly store of money and other property, andliving a secluded life as guardian of a museum, that was entirely out ofthe question. 

"To tell that I felt pleased or glad on taking possession of the immensewealth my father had left me would be a falsehood. I was young, and notaltogether devoid of the passions and inclinations pertaining to thatage. But I had interpreted the true spirit of my father's will, and Iknew that all this seeming spite and injustice was really a token of hisgreat love for me and of his great wisdom. Had he not stipulated suchhard conditions, my brother would have taken and squandered these landsand goods as he squandered our mother's fortune, and I should not havebeen able now to say to his only son, 'Stay with me, and receive at myhands the undiminished fortune which your grandfather entrusted to mycare. ' How immense that fortune is you may guess, when I tell you thatone year's income, large as it is, was not sufficient to pay thelegacy-taxes. But come, let me show you everything, and give you an ideaof the Slavic kingdom to which I invite you. "

We entered the mansion, an old château built in the time of King Albert, under the dynasty of the Mazures. Strong walls of cut stone, like theramparts of a fortress; great projecting, mullioned oriel windows;everywhere the Dumany coat-of-arms hewn in stone, wrought in iron, carved in wood. The main entrance was walled up; the middle portion ofthe building contained but one storey; the wings, too, were low, but inthe rear of the house there was a large, high turret. 

A heavy oaken door, beautifully carved, gave access to this turret, andas this was at present the only approach to the interior of the house, we had to cross halls and corridors until we reached the floor of themain building. As we entered, my uncle locked the massive portal and putthe key in his pocket. When, in order to do this, he lifted the lapel ofhis long zrinyi dolmány (old-fashioned Hungarian coat), I could see thebutts of his pistols, which were always loaded and ready to his hands. He noticed the smile on my lips, and said testily, shrugging hisshoulders, "What can I do? I have to think of my personal safety at alltimes. Wickedness has not died out of the world, and a poor lone old manis rather a temptation to robbers. To keep a manservant for protectionwould not do. He would be the very person to kill me, having me at hismercy all the time; and as to keeping a dog for the purpose, I could notthink of it. A dog may bite, and there is danger in that; and, besides, his keep costs just as much as a man's. He will eat up a fortune intime. But when you are here, you will have servants and dogs, and allthe rest, and there will be no more need of my pistols. "

My uncle took me directly to his treasures. With all he had said toexcite my curiosity, he had not said enough. For here were treasuresindeed, and I could readily believe that in these luxurious creations oflong-forgotten ages and races a strong witchcraft was pent, and that aman might grow to give his heart and soul to them. My uncle could giveme the date of every object. This statuette is a Praxiteles; thispicture a Guido Reni; Benvenuto Cellini was the owner of this goblet;and this sword was that of Sultan Soliman. 

It was dusk, and the shadows of night were falling fast when I quittedthe museum. My uncle and I returned to the narrow turret-room in whichhe had taken up his abode for the last seventy years and more. This roomof itself was a sight to see, and I was slightly faint and dizzy frombewilderment at what I had already beheld. "You see, my boy, " said theold man again, "I have not lied to you; and when you are onceestablished here, and open these rooms to your visitors, all the barons, and counts, and princes will stare at them with open mouth, and willcajole you, flatter you, and bring their handsomest daughters for you tochoose a wife from; for such is the power of wealth. But do not believethat the rarities I have shown you are all that I can give. For whatwould be the good of the offer if I gave you nothing else? You wouldhave to lead a miserable existence like mine, for you could not soilthose things--no, not to save your life. If once you come to takepossession of them, you will find that you belong to them as much asthey to you. You will cling to them and neglect the present, only tolive in the forgotten past. The beauty of women you will admire in thesepictures only; the beauty of Nature in these stones and minerals. Forpolitics you will not care, and home will mean to you this mansion, which encloses your treasure. Oh, the air of these rooms is poisonous toyouth, and mirth, and love!"

"Yes, uncle, " I said, earnestly, "and to ambition and independence, andall good and right purposes, also; and therefore I cannot stay with you, for I have chosen my path in life, and I will adhere to it in spite ofthese powerful temptations. "

"Oh, you are afraid that they will convert you into a miser and ahermit, as I have become! But I can give you a potent antidote, whichwas never given to me; that is, ready money. Come, and I'll show youwhat you have never seen, and assuredly never dreamed of. You see thislarge iron chest, itself a rare piece of workmanship, and stronger andsafer than any of your new inventions? Come, let me show you how tounlock it, for it is difficult; and one who was unacquainted with thesecret of this lock might try until Doomsday to force it open, and allto no purpose. See, it turns this way, and at this point you must stop. If in all three locks the keys have been turned to this point, the chestwill open. The contents will rebuild this old castle, will buy youhorses and carriages, and all the home luxuries of modern times, andwill enable you to keep up with the richest and the noblest of them all. Keep up, I say--nay, go ahead of them; and still you will have whatmoney cannot buy for them--your museum. Oh, the Dumanys shall be apowerful race once more, and I shall live to see it!"

He lifted the heavy lid of the chest, and I saw a number of linen bagsand an equally large number of bladders. The linen bags, my uncleexplained, were full of silver coins, the bladders of gold coins. 

"You see, " he continued, "there are fourteen hundred acres of groundbelonging to this estate--rather a handsome piece of property in thispart of the country. It has all been leased out to farmers for many, many years, almost a century, and it has greatly deteriorated. But thismoney will help you to improve the soil also, and it will yield you morethan the twelve thousand acres of Count Vernöczy's estate can do, forhalf of that land has been turned into a deer-park, and the other halfis imperfectly cultivated. Look at the bundles of reeds there in thecorner. You have wondered at them, no doubt; and at all those pipes onthe shelf yonder. You asked me if I was a smoker. I am, but I do notsmoke out of those pipe-stems. Both they and the reeds are money-boxes, every one of them. In them I keep the bank-notes which I have had totake during the last seventy years. They represent a fortune inthemselves. I hardly know myself how much money they contain. You cansplit them, and find out when you come to live with me. I'll settle itall on you in legal fashion, and keep nothing but my own room. You cando with the rest as you please; build and rebuild, buy and furnish, tosuit your fancy. Only let me live the one year that remains to mepleasantly and in plenty, and promise me three things: Never to tillyour acres after the ideas you will get from the text-books; never to doa kindness to a great lord; and never to quarrel or get vexed with awoman. "

"I promise you whatever you wish, dear uncle, " said I; "but, since Ihave listened to you for quite a while, you must now listen to me. Youhave called me in the capacity of a doctor, and as such I must speak toyou. "

"Do you know a remedy for old age?" was his sarcastic inquiry. 

"I do, to grow older still. You do not look a bit older or feebler thanyou did ten years ago, and there is no positive reason why you shouldnot live for ten years longer, or even more, provided you do not changeyour course of living in the least degree. The slightest change ofhabits, of diet, or of dress, may prove fatal at your age. I know thatyou are not afraid of death, and that you also have taken St. John theNepomuc's word for the remaining year. But, my dear uncle, saints aresometimes ambiguous, and there is something that resembles a livingdeath, a prospect too horrible to dwell upon, yet dreadfully near. Asingle meal of some heavy, unwonted food, one glass of liquor, may bringit on. It is called paralysis, and when it comes, St. Nepomuc may stickto his word and give you a year, but what a year that would be!"

He looked at me with a troubled face, and I pressed his hands and said, "Yes, dear uncle; you have to stick to the old, long-travelled road, andthen I may hope to see you ten years hence as hearty as you are now, oras you were ten years ago. For you are in perfect health otherwise, andthere is no need whatever of my staying with you. Only beware ofindigestion, and you will be all right. As for myself, I shall nevercease to remember your kindness and to feel grateful for it, but toaccept your offer would be moral death to me. I have to go back to myprofession, and if you, dear uncle, dislike our other relatives, and donot want to leave them your property, then give it to such patriotic andcharitable institutions as deserve patronising, and you may be sure thatyour memory will be blessed by thousands. Of me you need not think. I amnot the man to speculate on another man's death, and build my future ona grave. "

The old man looked curiously at me; then he sighed, and embraced me. "Thank you, my dear fellow!" he said; "I see you are a truly honest manand no hypocrite. I won't offer you any money: on the contrary, I'll aska further favour. Before you leave, I'll give you a letter, which youwill personally hand to the Prefect at his residence at the county seat, which is on your way to Vienna. I am afraid to entrust this letter tothe mail, as there are very valuable papers in it, and you will have totake a receipt for it from the magistrate. This receipt you need notsend me, but keep it safe; and if you come to this house again, you maybring it with you. "

With that the old man showed me out into the garden, carefully unlockingand re-locking the door, and securing the key. "Thank you for coming tome, my dear fellow, " he said. "And since you decline to take anything ofactual value from me, let me offer you something that has only fancifulvalue, yet is dearer to me than all the treasures within the house. Seethese Remontan roses in their second bloom--for instance, this Sultan ofMorocco, the most perfect specimen of its kind? I gave a _Napoléon d'or_for the scion, and this is its first year of flowering. Here, take it!"

With that he actually cut the blossom from the stalk, and handed it tome. It was a magnificent flower, and almost black, with but a slightpurple tinge. It was the darkest-hued rose known at that time. Later onthe "Deuil d'Alsace" came out of Pandora's box. At the time I speak of, that box was in Benedetti's pocket, and more is the pity that the pocketheld it so tight. 

X. 

"DEAD. "

Hardly three months after I had taken a tender and affectionate farewellfrom my Uncle Dion a newspaper item informed me of his death. Myprediction that a fit of indigestion would prove fatal to him had cometrue. His confidence in St. John of Nepomuc had been greater than hisprudence, and it was a mercy that the stroke of apoplexy had killed himoutright, instead of making a living corpse of him, as is so often thecase. 

About a fortnight after I had read of the death of the celebrated SlavKing, I received a package by mail, containing an official and a privateletter. The official letter informed me that the Honourable DionysiusDumany had recorded a last will and testament in the county archives, inwhich last will and testament he nominated me, Dr. Kornel Dumany, as hissole heir, upon condition that I should take possession of the propertyand live in Dumany Castle. But if I should stubbornly refuse to fulfilthat condition, lands, goods, and chattels should forthwith pass over tothe "Maticza" (Slavic and ecclesiastical literary fund, employed forPanslavonic ends). 

The private letter came from the Governor of the county, and referred tothe same subject. The Governor declared that it was my unmistakableduty, as a Dumany and a son of Hungary, to take possession of the homeof my ancestors, and not to allow such an anti-patriotic and dangerousinstitution as the "Maticza" to do her a mischief on the strength ofHungarian funds, and to turn the ancient halls of my patrioticforefathers into a meeting-place of daring conspirators. 

I shrugged my shoulders, but had not the faintest notion of accepting. Idid not care for politics, and knew of the "Maticza" as a purelySlavonic literary society. If this society was to hold future meetingsin my uncle's museums, I could bear it; there was very little ofChauvinism or even patriotism left in me. I was rather cosmopolitan intendency; and as to giving up my profession and becoming a countrysquire, that was simply ridiculous. 

This happened to be the very period when, after years of degradation andsuffering, the Hungarian national spirit was first allowed to lift itshead and show its colours. Germans and Bohemians, who for many years hadfilled all the public offices in Hungary, were compelled either to learnthe Hungarian language or surrender their places to natives. In mostcases the latter was unavoidable, and these aliens, furious at beingdriven from their prescriptive sinecures, went up to Vienna and didtheir best to make it hot for the Hungarians. As every war has itsorigin in an inkstand, students are, naturally, the greatestChauvinists, and I was to find that out with a vengeance. All my friendsand colleagues became more and more averse to me, and even went so faras to take my patients from me by incensing them against me in everypossible manner. Soon they began to drag my name into professionalpolemics, into professional newspapers; and when I had defeated andsilenced them in one place, they began to annoy me in another. At home, in Hungary, the reorganisation of the counties was begun. For twentyyears constitutional life in Hungary had been extinct, and now it had tobe resuscitated. This was a hard task, and at first it was not evenknown who were entitled to vote at the meetings. 

And now I received another letter from the Governor, again reminding meof my duty, clearly describing the situation of affairs, and telling mehow much good every honest and right-minded man could effect, and howmuch mischief I should be able to prevent. "But, " he closed, "if youstubbornly and positively adhere to your unpatriotic resolution, andfinally decline to accept your deceased uncle's legacy, I must troubleyou to come down in person and give a definite renunciation, with thenecessary affidavit, such being your uncle's strict demand. "

There was no help. I had to go to get rid of the annoyance. Arriving atthe county seat, I paid my respects to the Vice-Governor, the samedignitary to whom I had given the letter which my uncle had entrusted tomy care, and which, as I now learned, proved to be the very will inquestion. I announced my firm resolution to adhere to my principles, andthe magistrate replied that that was all right, but before we talkedfurther on the subject, I had better go to the county meeting, whichwas to be held that day. 

"But what right have I to be there?" I asked. 

"Why, as the present head of the ancient Dumany family, of course, " wasthe reply. "There is not one of us provided with a better claim. "

So I let myself be persuaded, and went. The great Hall of Meetings wascrowded to suffocation, and among the local celebrities I recognised afew of those compatriots who had kindly assisted my poor father to getrid of his money by feeding them and keeping their pockets full. Therewere others who were quite young men, old schoolfellows of mine;somewhat bad students at the time, but, since Providence had furnishedthem with strong voices, they had taken advantage of the gift so as tomake a noise in the world, and played the _rôle_ of leading partisans. One of them in particular, a good-for-nothing sort of fellow who hadnever come near his degree in any school, was recognised as a brightparticular star, and quite too smart for anything. If I rememberrightly, he was the head of the Radical wing. 

After much deliberation and a good deal of talk, of which I did notcomprehend anything, it was decided to read the names of the presentcounty members. A long list was handed to an official, who wasinstructed to pronounce each name clearly; and each name, as it wasread, was followed by a loud cheer "Éljen!" All at once there came, instead of the "Éljen!" after one of the names, the unanimous shout"Dead!" and the person named had to rise from his seat and leave theroom, and his name was erased from the list. This was repeated a numberof times, and behind me stood a Slav nobleman, who after each of theseutterances of "Dead, " added the Slavonic word "Smrt"[2]--a beautifulword, as bony as the spectre "death" itself. 

[Footnote 2: "Dead. "]

There was a priest, with a broad red sash, who made himself especiallyobnoxious to me; for, as often as the "dead" sentence was pronounced, helaughed, and pointed conspicuously with his fat fingers at the expelledman, who, with bent head, made his way to the door. I inquired thereason of these demonstrations, and was told that these men weretraitors, who had filled offices under the absolutist government of theAustrians. 

Immediately after one of these shouts of "Dead, " an old gentleman whosat just in front of me, and of whom I had up to this moment seennothing but his bald head, which showed an immense scar, evidently anold sword-cut, got up from his seat at the green-covered table, and ashe turned I beheld an aged and careworn but honest face, with two bigtears slowly rolling down the furrowed cheeks. "That is for the sevenwounds I received at Nagy Sarló!" said he, with choking voice; andraising his trembling hand to his eyes, he moved away. 

"Seven children the poor fellow has at home, and he had to earn dailybread for them, somehow, so he served as surveyor, and that was histreachery, " said one of my neighbours in an undertone. As the banishedman passed out, I sat down on the seat he quitted. "It is ill luck tosit in a traitor's chair, " said a well-meaning man at my elbow; but Ismiled and kept my seat. 

"Who may that smooth-faced stranger be? and how comes it that he ishere?" I heard some of the bystanders ask, referring, of course, to myclean-shaven visage. Nobody in the whole congregation knew or recognisedme, except the Vice-Governor, and the fellow-student of whom I havespoken. But, of course, he kept at a distance. Presently my own name, "Dumany Kornel, " was pronounced, and "Dead! Dead! Smrt!" was the shoutof all around. I had caught the infection, and as the red-sashed priestsmilingly and playfully raised a threatening fat finger at me and said, "He is turned into a German, an Austrian, " down came my fist upon thegreen cloth of the table. Philosophy, _sang-froid_, and politicalindifference were blown to the winds, carrying forethought andresolution with them. I jumped up, pushed the chair away from behind me, and shouted--

"He is not dead! He is here! And what is more, here he shall stay! I ama landed gentleman, as well as the best of you, and as pure a Hungarianas any in this meeting, or in this country either. I am that DumanyKornel whose name has been read, and I am not dead, but alive, as youshall soon find out!"

There was a dead silence at these words, and some heads were nodded inacknowledgment that I was right. Then there was a whispering andconsulting and questioning, until the honourable Vice-Governor said, "Silence, gentlemen! the honourable Dumany Kornel has the floor upon apersonal question. "

"Hear! hear!" shouted all, some in good earnest, some in order toembarrass me, and the red-sashed parson said, maliciously, "If you are aHungarian, sir, as you claim, where is your moustache?"

"Out hunting for yours, your reverence, " said I, with a grin. 

"I am a priest!" was the haughty reply; but that was just what Iexpected, and looking around at the portraits upon the walls of theroom, portraits representing the most celebrated heroes of our nationalhistory, I gave them then and there such a barbological sermon, _extripode_, that they listened to me in mute astonishment. I told themthat the great national high-priests and patriots, Peter Pázmány, PrinceCardinal Esterházy, and Thomas Bakács, there portrayed, had wornmoustaches, although they were priests; whereas Mathias Corvinus, ourglorious, never-to-be-forgotten hero-king, wore a clean-shaven face likemine. The famous Palatinus Illésházy had pronounced Hungary free andindependent with smooth hairless lips, and Thomas Nádasdy had carriedthe Hungarian tricolour to immortal triumphs although his face was asbeardless as mine, as everybody might see by his portrait there present. I told them that I did not speak for myself, as I did not care a strawfor their opinion, and felt sufficiently strong in my own self-respectand clear conscience, which, perhaps, was more than a good many presentcould say of themselves. But I was not going to look on when patriotismwas made the monopoly of certain people, whereas decent and deservingmen were hooted at because they had dared to earn their own bread andthat of their family, instead of living upon the bounty of friends anddriving them to ruin and death. And then I told them that it was not atime to inaugurate a policy of jealousy and persecution. We had hadenough of that under the absolutist government; what we wanted washonest, energetic co-operation for a common purpose, the welfare ofcountry and nation. 

I had spoken with all the bravery of a simpleton, who has no idea thatif he throws a glowing tinder into a barrel of gunpowder he may blow thehouse up and himself also. For some seconds I ran the risk of beingthrown out of doors, or of getting my hands full of private quarrels andduels, but the concluding sentences met with such unanimous applausethat I was heartily congratulated on the success of my maiden speech, and had the additional satisfaction of seeing the majority of thoseformerly pronounced "dead" restored to the list again, and I was able togive back the seat which I occupied to its former owner, the oldgentleman with the seven scars and as many children. 

Among those who had congratulated me was one conspicuously handsome anddistinguished-looking young man. He fairly embraced me, and said, "Youare the man we wanted! Let me welcome you, and consider me your friend;I am Count Vernöczy. Siegfried Vernöczy is my name!"

The Vice-Governor invited me to dinner, and just as we were pushing ourway out of the hall, I heard the red-sashed priest and the Slavnobleman, who had always added his "Smrt" to the cry of "Dead!" speakingtogether in Slav, of which language they supposed me ignorant. Thenobleman said to the priest--

"What folly it was of you to vex and excite this blockhead bypronouncing him dead! Had you left him alone, he would have gone off, and left the Maticza in possession of the old miser's fortune. Now wemay go and hunt for other fools; this one has escaped us for ever. "

"Well, how could I know that the milksop had turned into a fightingbull?" was the reply. 

The reverend gentleman was wrong. I was not a bull, but an ox; and amoment's excitement had made me give up fame and ambition, professionand independence, and here I was in the kingdom of Swatopluk, takingpossession of my Uncle Diogenes's legacy. It was very foolish, but if Ihad to do it again--why, I should do it. I was a Hungarian and a Dumany, in spite of my cosmopolitan tendencies and in spite of modern equality. 

XI. 

MY DEAR FRIEND SIEGFRIED. 

So I must needs call him, for dear was his friendship to me; at least, Ihave paid for it dearly. At our first meeting he told me that henceforthwe should stick to each other like the Siamese twins. And the man whomhe thought worth catching was clever indeed if he could extricatehimself from the meshes which encircled him. He was altogether awonderful fellow. Of athletic build, striking beauty, great agility andversatility in all bodily exercises, an unrivalled fencer, and a perfectmarksman. What a soldier he would have made! But Mr. Schmerling knew agood many fine tricks, and one of the prettiest was the prevention ofHungarian youths from entering the army. He took advantage of theprevalent Chauvinistic sentiments, and put them forward as a bait. Onethousand florins, paid down, protected a Hungarian youth from serving inthe hated army, and he was free to ride his own horses instead of theking's. Yet what a general that Siegfried might have been! He was bornto command and direct other people. All who adhered to him and did hisbidding were his soldiers; all who declined to follow his lead, heregarded as enemies. The former he compelled to serve him, the latter hedefeated and slew. He was sometimes high-spirited to eccentricity. Atother times he was discreetly prudent. He spoke almost every existinglanguage, and was a brilliant orator. His addresses were admirablydelivered, and he took an independent and imperative tone. His talk wasalways fluent; and if a Hungarian or a German word failed him, hesubstituted for it a French, English, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Turkish, or other foreign phrase, never stopping for a moment to consider or evento explain. His Hungarian speeches were rhetorical gems, yet they couldhardly be styled Hungarian, for they were delivered in a perfectVolapük--that is, in a medley of all possible languages. He was a strongpersonality, and a "grand seigneur. " His purse was always open, and hespent his money with a liberal hand. He must have been a very rich man, for I never knew him in even a momentary embarrassment for money. When Ifirst felt the pressure of his iron arm, I knew at once that he woulddominate me. But such was the fascination he exercised that I submittedat once. 

It was at the close of that memorable meeting, and after he told me toconsider him my friend. The Vice-Governor had invited me to dine withhim, and I wanted to go to my rooms for a change of attire, or at leasta white tie and a pair of light gloves. "Nonsense!" he said, "theserustics will take you as you are, _en plein parade_. Come at once. Wewill order them to lose no time, but to take up your status in your newdomain to-morrow, and have you put in possession of your rights andprivileges without delay. "

"But to-morrow I shall not be here, " I remonstrated; "I have to go toVienna and provide for my patients. "

"What would you provide for them? _Qu'ils attendent, les pauvres bętes_;death will not escape them. 'We can wait, ' is the Austrian parole; don'tworry about them. To-morrow you will have the board of commissionersmeet on your new premises, and put you in possession of yourinheritance, so that you may be placed on the list of voters. This mustnot be postponed, for if you miss that you are dead indeed--'Smrt, ' asthat honest Maticza champion said. "

Siegfried lost no time, and the Vice-Governor said that he was right. "Yes, " he said, "to-morrow you shall have the keys of your castle. "

"And that of the famous iron chest, " said Siegfried. 

"No, that cannot be yet, " replied the officer; "the iron chest is underan official lock as yet, for the 'Maticza' has put in a claim to theinheritance. The Slav parish priest in Dumanyfalva, as well as hishousekeeper and his sacristan, affirm that your deceased uncle, on theeve of his death, dined with them (in parentheses, the fat pork hepartook of and the strong wine he drank brought on the fatal stroke), and there at the table he declared that, even in case you, his nephew, should accept of the inheritance, the Maticza should not be leftempty-handed, but should receive all the ready money found on thepremises. "

"Franca, franca! It's all a lie!" said Siegfried. 

"So I think, too. But we have no evidence to prove it. It all depends onthe decision of the court, because the Maticza has no documentaryevidence, and so the court will decide the question. "

"And where is the chest at present?"

"There at the castle, under guard. "

"And why did you let it remain there? It ought to be here under your owncare. "

"Yes; but it is so riveted to the wall that we could not remove itwithout tearing up the wall also. "

"Then why have you not taken the money into your own custody? Someunknown person or persons may force the lock. "

"That lock? Why, we tried it in every way, for the tax-commissionerwould have liked to examine its contents to make sure as to the amountof taxes due. But we could not find a locksmith capable of using thethree keys belonging to the locks in the proper way. "

At this I spoke out. "If, " I said, "my uncle has indeed willed away hisready money to the Maticza, he must assuredly have instructed them howto get at their money. To me, at least, he disclosed the secret of thelock, and I know how to apply the keys properly. "

"Bravissimo! That settles the question. A clearer piece of evidencecannot exist. The court cannot decide otherwise than in your favour. "

"Then try to expedite the formalities. You can do it. "

"I can't. The parties must be informed at what time the court holds itssession; they have to appear before the court, and introduce testimony. All this takes a month at least. "

"And how is he to manage until then? Is there nothing in old Diogenes'scasket to make money out of?"

"Oh yes, a lot of old rubbish! I daresay it would bring something atleast. We have taken an inventory of it, and taxed it; here it is. "

With that he took from the shelf an official-looking document, andhanded it to me. I was curious to know at what they had appraised myuncle's precious treasures, and looked at the inventory. I was more thansurprised--I was amused beyond everything. The contents of the two largehalls, ante-chamber, and five chambers were valued at three hundred andseventy-nine florins and forty-five kreutzers. The kreutzers were for anold Gobelin hanging--a rare piece of tapestry. 

"Why, this is ludicrous!" said I laughingly. The Vice-Governor smiledknowingly, and Siegfried took the paper out of my hand, and read theitems. A Palissy-cabinet was described as a wooden chest, worth threeflorins; precious old majolica as old earthenware, the suits of armouras old iron, and so forth. "Now this is a masterpiece!" said Siegfried;but I was indignant. "It is hyper-barbarism!" I said. "This inventoryenumerates the contents of some dime museum--not of my uncle's valuablecollections. If you had looked for it, you might have found an exactschedule, made by my uncle, with the name of each object, statement ofcost, etc. "

"We could not find anything of the kind, " said the Vice-Governor. "But Iforgot. Attached to the will was a package, sealed; and addressed toyou--'Dr. Cornelius Dumány. ' Here it is. "

I took the package, opened it, found the inventory within, and handed itto the official. "Here it is. You see I was right! Here you can see theactual worth of my uncle's museum. "

"I have no curiosity whatever, " said the Vice-Governor; "this is aprivate document addressed to you, and, therefore, I have no business toinquire into it. "

"But--"

"But it is time for you to go, " said Siegfried, slapping me on theshoulder; "never mind that old inventory of your uncle's. "

"But I do mind it, " I insisted. "I can't have something that is actuallyworth two hundred thousand florins appraised at three hundred, all inall. "

"But can't you see that on the three hundred florins the amount of taxwould be seventeen florins, and on the two hundred thousand you willhave to pay nine thousand florins as legacy taxes?"

"Is that the law?"

"Of course it is, clear and distinct. "

"Then I shall pay according to law. I do not intend to cheat theTreasury. "

The Vice-Governor broke into a laugh, and Siegfried took hold of both myears and gave them a hard pull. "Oh! you, you, you doctor!" He wouldhave said you fool, or you simpleton, but he found the "doctor" moreexplanatory, and a good deal more to the purpose. Why, did I notunderstand that it was the patriotic duty of a Hungarian citizen tocheat the Treasury whenever an opportunity to do so was offered?

"Just you let him alone, " said the Vice-Governor, laughing. "He is aninnocent, honest fellow, with a tender conscience, and nothing so toughand hardened as you. Come, friend Kornel! tell me, what do you think ofthe rate at which the other things are estimated? For instance, youruncle's private room? The whole furniture is valued at twenty-threeflorins. Do you think that underestimated? No? Well, here are hispipes--old clay pipes, stuck into cane stems. They are valued at ninetykreutzers. "

I laughed. "The pipes are hardly worth more, but the stems would be wellworth the money, for they and the old reeds in my uncle's room were hisbank-note receptacles, and for all I know they may be full of hundred-or even thousand-florin bills. "

"Well, if you are not the greatest ass in Christendom, then I am--and nodoubt about it, " said Siegfried, vexed. "Here is this fellow actuallydenouncing his own money to the police. If you are such an imbecile, andreally do not care for your own profit, then at least do not talkwithout being asked. "

"Hadn't you better use more civil language?" I asked. "I really am notused to such strong expressions. "

"Oh, of course; I beg your pardon! Only I should like to know what youwill do without ready money? Because you have compelled our friend, theVice-Governor here, to take all the money on the premises, that is, allthe contents of the reeds and pipe-stems, of which you blabbed, into hisown custody, whereas you might have kept your own counsel, and culledthe money out at your leisure, without anybody having an idea of itsexistence. "

"Yes; but that would not be honest. If anybody finds a pocket-book fullof money he cannot keep it for himself, but must give it up to theauthorities. "

"Not if it is his own pocket-book, I should think. But, as you have doneit, it is too late to quarrel about the policy of the act. "

The Vice-Governor called in one of his office clerks, and drew up astatement containing all I had said about the reeds and pipes, and theactual value of the museum. I had to put my signature at the foot of thedocument, and then I was allowed to go. 

Next day Siegfried took me out in his own chaise, to which fourbeautiful horses were attached, to Dumanyfalva, and there, with all theceremony belonging to the occasion, I was inducted into my legal rightsas landlord. I was conducted into the mansion, the keys were put into myhands, then they took me out into the field and gave me a handful ofsoil of each individual plot, or meadow, or pasture. After that theysplit the reeds and pipe-stems, and ten bills of one thousand florinsapiece, two hundred bills of one hundred florins, and sixty-fourfifty-florin bills were found, flattened out, made into a package, uponwhich each of the persons present put a seal, with his own name. Thenthe Vice-Governor wrote on its cover, "Legacy of the Late HonourableDionysius Dumany, " and handed it over to the trustee. 

"Now you see what has come of your blabbing, " said Siegfried. "How willyou manage now?"

"Well enough. I have some money in Vienna, and I am going to fetch it. Ihave to go up to Vienna, anyhow, to arrange my belongings there. "

"And I'll go with you, for, thorough Ćsculapius as you are, there isdanger of your escaping us yet. "

He kept his word, and we went by his own chaise and four to NagySzombat, where we took the train for Vienna. In Vienna he never movedfrom my side, hardly allowing me time for any business transactions, buttaking me to theatres, dinners, cafes, and all sorts of variety-showsand music-halls. I had lived soberly and industriously up to this time, rarely going to the opera or to private entertainments; but I was youngand naturally jovial, and did not object to a few days of dissipation, enjoying the manifold diversions which the Austrian metropolis offered. 

On the last day, Siegfried helped to pack and send off my furniture toDumanyfalva, and, as I could not sleep in my empty rooms, he carried meoff to a hotel; but not to sleep, for we never closed our eyes thatnight, and it was with a dizzy head and a confused brain that I foundmyself in the railway carriage, travelling homeward. Happily, myfaithful old servant had gone with the furniture ahead of me, and, on myarrival at home, I found that the practical old fellow had made the bestof his time. A bedroom and sitting-room had already been furnished andthe old dining-room made serviceable. He had also procured a cook, andfor the first time in my life I enjoyed the sensation of sitting at myown table and playing the host, for that Siegfried did not leave me yetwill be readily understood. 

While at dinner, Siegfried laid down a plan of how the old mansion mightbe renovated without and within, and I had to acknowledge that his tastewas perfect; but--very expensive, as I remarked. 

"How much ready money have you?" he asked. 

"Something over four thousand florins, " I replied. 

"That is almost nothing--hardly sufficient to furnish a few rooms, andwhat becomes of the building? Then there is the grange, the stable, etc. , and then you will want to buy two pair of horses; one for yourchaise, the other for work. You will have to buy cattle, and grain, andhay, and a good many other necessaries, and you will have to take thedistillery away from the lessee, for what will you do with your cattle?What you want is at least twenty thousand florins, and these you havefooled away. It will take months to get hold of them again, and thenhalf of them will be gone, and the time for making all necessaryarrangements will have passed. I'll tell you what, you cannot sit hereand do nothing, and I am not going to let you waste time. I'll lend youthese twenty thousand florins. " I was surprised at the offer. "Yes, " hesaid, "I have the money ready, for I intended to buy a piece ofproperty, but could not make a bargain with the owner. Now the money isof no use to me at present, and you may have it until your money isrestored to you. Happily, I have the money with me now. Here it is!"

With that he took out a portfolio, and handed me twenty bank-notes ofone thousand florins each. I wanted to give him a bond, but he would nothear of it "The idea!" he said; "why, we are no Jews, but gentlemen. Just write upon your card: 'Good for twenty thousand florins, which Iwill pay upon receipt of my legacy. ' Here, take my lead-pencil; thatwill do. "

I was rather embarrassed, but his face showed so much sincere friendshipand regard that I did not venture to refuse the offer, and, consideringthe circumstances, he was right, and he had behaved nobly. Still, I didnot like the obligation he had put me under, and should have preferredto pay interest on the sum even to a common usurer. I had some faintpresentiment that the interest on such a loan as this would be muchhigher than the usual percentage taken by the professional money-lender;but I had done it, and could not undo it, as you might say. 

With the money in hand I attended to business. Siegfried, indefatigablein his endeavours to be of use in me, assisted me with his practicalversatility in business matters, and with his good taste in thedomestic sphere. He purchased the horses for my carriage, he bargainedwith the mason about the buildings, he made the contracts with mytenants, and he bought my grain and other household necessaries. I couldnever have got on without his help--at least, not so profitably--and Iwas naturally very grateful to him. 

"You can't pay any visits to your neighbours until you have made yourown house fit to receive company; but, as it would be rather hard uponyou to live like a hermit until that time, you might drive over to thecounty town and put in an appearance at the casino. I'll introduce youto the whole set. "

The county town was two hours' drive from Dumányfalva. Siegfried droveme over, and my own brand-new and very "pshutt"-looking cab was to waitfor me at the casino door. In the casino Siegfried introduced me toabout a dozen of young and old local celebrities, and one or two greatlights of national reputation. Party divisions there were none; allparties agreed harmoniously, and played with each other their whist, their games of chess or dominoes. I was very cordially received, and inthe ensuing conversation I took a very lively and active share, andstood my ground without any of the usual bashfulness of a novice. Siegfried seconded me in all my remarks with an occasional nod and a"Very true, my friend, " or "You have hit it exactly, " or "You haveexpressed my own opinion;" "My friend, you are an excellent debater, "and other observations of the kind, and soon we were unanimously called"the Dioscuri, " for we were never found apart. 

At a county banquet Siegfried spoke of me, in a brilliant toast-speech, as of a newly risen star, or rather "a great shining planet, " and therewas a universal "Éljen!" and shouts of acclamation. It was wonderful howmany friends I found, and how much I was sought after! I had a dozendifferent invitations at once. One invited me to his shooting-box in themountains, another to inspect his model farm and dairy, a third invitedme on a fishing excursion, and so forth. 

While driving home from the casino, Siegfried said to me--"I wonder youare not vexed at my never inviting you over to Vernöcze, but I must tellyou the truth. I am not the master of my own house and home at present. An aunt of mine is here with my two cousins, half-grown young girls, staying until the bathing-season begins. So the lady has control of thehouse, and I live in a little pavilion in the park. My aunt will be verymuch pleased to make your acquaintance--too much pleased, I should say, for she is one of those spirited women who have an opinion of their own, and let you know it. She is never tired of arguing, and you are the veryperson for her. I verily believe that the two little girls have caughtthe infection from her, and you would be surprised to hear what a flowof nonsense issues from the aristocratic little mouths. And the numberof questions they ask is astonishing! Sometimes I give them an answer inlanguage such as I would not venture to use to a variety singer; butthe little innocents stare at me, and laugh without the faintest blush;they do not understand the hidden impertinence. I'll some day introduceyou to all of them, my aunt and the two girls; but your house must firstbe put in order. For I find it hard, even now, to keep them from rushingin upon you unawares, and introducing themselves. They are positivelydying for a peep at you and your museum. Well, I have done enough toexcite that curiosity. I am incessantly talking of you. "

"Then it will be your fault if their ladyships are shocked at findingout the deception. I am too commonplace a fellow not to disappoint themcruelly. "

"Vederemo!" he said. "The Devil is never at rest!"

 INTERMEZZO. 

 The Devil?

 "Do you believe, then, in the existence of a personal Devil?" you ask. 

 "Has not this story been terribly dull and tedious up to this moment? You have not shown us a single Devil as yet. No, not even a woman. "

 "Well, I'll show you three of the latter species presently--a strong-minded, argumentative aunt, and two little nieces. "

 "You won't say that these two little countesses or their aristocratic aunt, or either of them, is an incarnation of the Evil One? Or are you speaking of your dear friend, Siegfried? Why, he is a perfect guardian angel, the personification of goodness and benevolence!"

 "Do you know the story of St. Anthony? How he was tempted by the Devil in the semblance of a lovely sylph, until all at once he saw the fiend's hoof appear from under the robe?"

That night, as Siegfried took leave of me, to drive home to Vernöcze, heembraced me and kissed me on the cheek. It is many years since thatnight, but many a night since then I have lain sleepless in my bed andrubbed that eternally burning and smarting spot, and felt an almostunconquerable temptation to take the operating-knife and cut out thepart which had been contaminated by that foul kiss. 

XII. 

THE DEVIL'S HOOF. 

One morning my dear friend, Siegfried, came. "My dear Nell, " he said, "we held a party meeting yesterday, and it was decided that you shouldbe a candidate for Parliament. In fact, we have nominated you already. "

"You are in a jocular mood, I suppose?" said I. "I do not understand anatom of legislation and politics. "

"Neither do I; yet I fill my place in the House of Lords, so will youfill yours in the House of Commons. You need not stare at me, for I amnot joking. I am fully in earnest, and, now that the chalice is set toyour lips, you are bound to drain it. "

"But I can't see why, " said I. "I am not in the least fit for theposition, and am not going to make a fool of myself. I am a doctor ofmedicine, not a legislator. "

"And what does that matter, pray? The department of public health isvery much in need of a radical reform, and you are the very man toadvocate sanitary measures in Parliament. But this is all nonsense. Hungary is not yet in a position to have all departments represented byexperts; what she wants at present is firmness to principle, strictparty fealty. The demagogues, the heretics, and the Panslavonians ofour country are preparing for a strong contest at the coming electoralstruggle, and we Conservatives must strain every nerve to defeat them, and cause patriotism, religion, and aristocratic rights to triumph. Ourparty believes that you are the man to represent these principles, andyou can't decline to accept such an honourable mission. Do you not loveyour country? Do you want her to become a prey to infidels, orPanslavonic conspirators, or to the mob? You would not have thedescendants of the Hussites dominate Hungary? Are you not a CatholicChristian? You are brave; you have strong principles, and you are anexcellent orator. You are the man we want, and there is an end ofarguing. "

"Very good! But there is a practical side to the question. "

"Yes. If the other parties come off victorious, the agrarian movementwill grow too fast for us. The Socialist rabble is preaching theassessment of all land, the abolition of the congrua taxes, [3] and theabolition of our feudal privileges. This is the prose or practical sideof the question, my friend. "

[Footnote 3: Congrua taxes are the taxes paid by the parish members totheir curates or priests. ]

"There is another still, " I persisted, "and I must speak plainly. Youknow that I have no money for political enterprises. My own money is inofficial custody; but, even if it were not, and I had so much money atmy disposal that I did not know what to set about in order to get rid ofit, I should not waste it in buying myself a seat in Parliament. Iremember well what politics did for my father, and how much it cost him. But, besides this recollection, the idea of corrupting the minds of theelectors and of making drunken animals out of decent and intelligentlabourers for two or three weeks is repulsive to me. It is entirelyagainst my conscience. "

"Now listen to me. In the first place, no one asks for a penny of yourmoney, so it is no business of yours to inquire or care about it. Whatis the use of party funds, I might ask? Then, what have you to do withthe details of the campaign? I am head-drummer, manager of the canvass. You need not give a single bottle of wine to anybody, unless you want toregale your friends here in your house; but that is quite a differentthing, and has nothing to do with the election. There is one thing youmust remember. If you offer venison and champagne to your electors, itis called a banquet, and the papers speak admiringly of your bountifulhospitality; but if you boil a sheep and open a barrel of sixpenny wineor beer for them, then you are bribing voters, and corrupting the mindsof the innocent. So never trouble your head with a thought about thesethings. I have made a bargain with every hotel-keeper or inn-keeper inthe whole county for that one day, and the voters may revel as theyplease--at their own expense; that is, a dinner may be had for twokreutzers, a supper for three, and the wine will be included in thatprice. Who can forbid an inn-keeper to sell cheap viands? You will havenothing to do with the whole business. Only, if some decent elector getshis head broken in the spree, you will plaster him up, or sew him up, asmay be necessary. Up to the day of election you will not show yourself, and only put in your appearance when they come to fetch you with musicand flags and all that flummery, and beg you to come and kindly acceptthe mandate, which the chairman of the party is dying to hand over toyou. Then at the banquet you offer a toast to his Majesty the King, andafterward you will accept of the torchlight serenade, which your voterswill give you, and perhaps speak a few gracious words; but that is notessential, and you may hold your peace. At any rate, with that serenadeall your duties are ended. "

"I should think they began with that--at least, according to my notion. No, I can't accept. I can't afford to loiter about in Budapest, and haveeverything here go to the dogs. "

"What a greenhorn you are! You need not live in Budapest at all. If thechief of the party telegraphs you that some great division is coming onwith respect to some important question, you go up, find the seat withyour name on it, sit down, and, when your name is called, you shout'yes' or 'no, ' according to the party's views, and then you travel homeagain, and make your famous 'Lipto cheese. '"

"I have no intention of becoming a voting machine. "

"There you are right. You are too spirited and much too talented forthat. You will deliver your maiden speech amid universal applause, andbecome famous at once. You will be hated by the opposite parties, hatedand feared, and that will only stimulate your courage. You will be agreat man, and a blessing to your country. You can engage a trustworthyman to manage your estate, and do well under such an arrangement; andyou will give your talent and your faculties to your country and yourparty. It is your duty, and you are not the man to shrink from anacknowledged duty. Besides, out of friendship for me, you cannot refuse. I have positively staked my word on your acceptance; and then there is arequest from the party, with a hundred and twenty signatures. Lookhere!"

He showed me a sheet of writing, with a long list of badly-scrawlednames underneath a few lines of writing. I still hesitated, whenSiegfried smiled, and, taking from his pocket a little bit of a letter, perfumed with heliotrope, handed it to me. 

"My aunt sends you this. "

I broke the rose-coloured wax, and drew out a tiny piece ofbristol-board with the signature of Countess Diodora Vernöczy. Itscontents were as follows:--

"Pray accept the nomination. "

That was all. But what all the persuasions, all the allusions tocountry, race, patriotism, and religion had not effected, these fewHungarian words, written in a fine, aristocratic hand, did at once. Theypersuaded me, and I accepted. Yet I had never seen the lady who hadwritten these words, and did not even know whether she was young or old, beautiful or ugly! She was a woman, and that sufficed. No! the Devil isnot dead; here is his hoof. 

How I triumphed and how I fell I have told you already. If I had thegift of Virgilius Maro, and could speak or write in hexameters, in suchverses I would compose the "Ćneid" of my career as a belligerent. As itis, you can read it all, described in somewhat unflattering language, inthe Hungarian newspapers of the period. There is a whole history ofbribery, corruption, intimidation, and similar crimes committed in myname, related in those papers, and you may read of the horrible fraudthat was practised in offering the vote of a dead man. The epithets"cheat, " "deceiver, " "liar, " and so forth were freely and frequentlyattached to my name; and then followed the shameful annulment of theelection, and I was sent home--a broken, disgraced, snuffed-outwretch--a dead man, indeed!

There is something fearful, something terribly cruel and unjust, in sucha moral cudgelling to death, for those who cast the stones are not awhit better than their victim. A common criminal, murderer, counterfeiter, or forger may procure a pardon, and rehabilitate himselfin time; but a man that has furnished society with amusement and beenlaughed to death is never again allowed to hold up his head and show hisface. I was nearly mad with shame and disgrace. What should I do withmyself now--now that I was nothing but a broken tool--I, who might havebeen a scientific celebrity, a light in the profession? I could not goback to Vienna for very shame. A flouted, ridiculed man cannot be adoctor. A doctor must be respected, trusted, even revered, like apriest. For me there was nothing but to hide myself in my own house, shut the doors against everybody, and live the life of a hermit--thelife of my Uncle Diogenes. 

I need not have shut my doors; not a soul demanded admittance. I reallythink my dear friends made a circuit around my château when they had topass through my village. 

The first day I remained shut up in my room; the second I paced thegarden walks in a furious rage; the third I noticed that I hadshamefully neglected my uncle's dearly-cherished garden since I hadabandoned myself to the mania of politics. The carefully tended Isabellagrapes wound their tender twigs up and around an apple tree; the roseswere full of water shoots; the American lilies choked up with deadnettles. Wasps' nests were hanging from the branches of the trees, andgiant ants had built their pyramids on the foot-path; and the hedgehogsboldly invaded the lawn as I passed. As I strolled, my eye fell upon alittle flower which I recognised as a favourite from my dear mother'sgarden; I observed a glowing alkermes, an Oriental corn-rose, then againan artichoke, overgrown with vile weeds. All at once I found myselfworking away with garden-knife, shovel, and spade, pruning, weeding, andtying up the twigs and branches, just as Uncle Diogenes had done. 

By night I had smoked out the wasps, put the little bower to rights, and, hardly knowing how or why, I had gone into my uncle'sturret-chamber instead of my own bedroom. And why not be as he had been?I asked myself. Here at least I could meet with no shame, nodisappointment, and no deception. All was well. I should be a gardenerin summer and a museum-keeper in winter, and so the time would pass withme as it passed with him. No doubt, in time, this solitary, secludedlife would not be so irksome to me as now. The social instinct would dieout; and, left to rural pleasures and occupations, the polish would berubbed off me, and in appearance also I should be as my Uncle Diogeneshad been. I gave up shaving, dressed shabbily, and ordered a dinner ofpork and potatoes, which disgusted me. I ceased to drink wine, because Iwas no toper to enjoy drinking alone, and in the course of two or threedays I had a hearty indigestion, which at least recalled me from myself-tormenting course so far as my inward man was concerned. In outwardappearance I had a beard of a week's growth, wore a pair of coarsebreeches and high top-boots, because in low boots I could not rambleabout in garden and field as I did. 

My valet was in despair; the good old man had known me for years, andwas very faithful to me. Of course, he dared not ask questions, but hethrew me such appealing glances that I was strongly tempted to pour outall my burning shame and rage to him, since I had nobody else to make aconfidant of. It was a very, very miserable time, and it lastedsomething more than a week--a week, I say! I thought it a century at theleast. 

XIII. 

THE VALKYRS. 

It was about ten or twelve days after my discomfiture, and a beautifulafternoon. I was standing in my front garden, attired, as I usually hadbeen of late, in coarse breeches, muddy top-boots, a not very cleanlinen blouse, and a broad, rough straw hat on my head. My face was roughand adorned with bristles. I do not think that anybody coming upon meunawares would have taken me for anything but a Slav garden labourer. 

Presently I heard the gallop of horses, and, looking through the new andvery handsome iron trellis in front of the building, I saw three Amazonsriding up to the house. I did not know them, and supposed them to bestrangers in the country, approaching in order to admire the curious oldbuilding. They wore long black riding-habits, all three alike, with blueveils tied around their high beavers and entirely concealing theirfaces. One of them was a real Zenobia figure: tall of stature, regal ingait, a magnificent creature! The second was tall and slender, and slowand stately in movement. The third was a tiny little figure, but full ofnervous vitality and energy. Opposite to the verandah of my house theychecked their horses, and looked through the trellis at me as if theyexpected me to run out, and give them the desired information. Thetall, slender lady rode nearer to the gate and looked haughtily in, while the little girl-rider cried out:

"_Tu y serais_!" Then she beckoned the groom, who was waiting behindthem, to come nearer and hand her a little wooden case with a roundglass set in at the front--a little photograph-apparatus. 

"Well, " thought I, "these are amateur photographers, and Dumany Castlehas apparently pleased their eye, and they want to immortalise it in thepages of their albums--an interesting object!"

I was standing near the fence, by the side of a flowering rose-bush. Iheld a spade in my hand, and was just in the act of putting it to itsproper use when the lady directed her camera toward me. I thought it wasrather a clever performance for a person on horseback. 

"_Ne remuez pas, mon cher_!" cried the lady, as I lifted the spade. Ofcourse the Slav gardener, whom I resembled, was bound to understand herFrench prattle. So there I stood, with uplifted spade in hand, until thelady had finished her picture, and then she released me with a "_Merci, mon garçon_!" and I, hardly able to keep my composure, answered in Slav, "_Dobri nocz, mladi panyicska_, " which means "Good night, miss!"

The ladies broke out into a merry laugh, returned the apparatus to thegroom, and rode off, laughing because the slender lady had been includedin the picture. I laughed also as I looked after them, and I said tomyself, "Now I shall not utterly die, '_non omnis moriar_. ' The Valkyrshave come to pick up the fallen hero and carry him into their Walhalla, which in all probability is bound in morocco leather with silverclasps. "

The same evening I had another surprise. My friend Siegfried drove up tomy house, sprang from his barouche, and, seeing me, he ran up andembraced me tenderly. 

"So you know me still?" asked I. 

"Know you? It would be no wonder if I had not recognised you as you looknow! Do you know that with a week's growth of beard and moustache a manlooks like a gorilla?"

"Well then, I look like the progenitor of mankind, if Darwin is to bebelieved. "

"I say, it's high time I came! otherwise you would cease to be aChristian, and become one of those detestable naturalists. " With thatSiegfried ordered his coachman to walk the horses about, feed them, water them, and prepare for the drive home after supper. So I had togive orders for a supper, and remember that I was not yet my UncleDiogenes, but his nephew and a gentleman, and this friend of mine averitable Count, who expected me to give him a good supper. "Aftersupper you must come with me, " said Siegfried, decidedly. 

"I! Where?"

"To Vernöcze, to visit me! Have you not got my letter?"

"I received a letter. I have it in my blouse-pocket yet, but--"

"You have not opened it, nor looked at it yet?"

"No. I thought that if anybody wrote to me now, he either wanted toinsult me or call me to some kind of a reckoning. I thought there wastime for both. "

"Oh, you stupid fellow! Where is that letter? I want you to read it atonce!"

I took out the letter, opened it, and read:--

 "DEAR NELL, --Our party decided at yesterday's meeting to support your name at all odds against the ensuing new election, and carry you through at any cost. My aunt wants to inform you of some very serious matter, so she begs you to pay her a visit on Wednesday next. --Yours, as ever, "SIGID. "

The previous day had been Wednesday, and the letter had been in mypocket for the last four days. I confess that I felt a glow afterreading these lines. Something like joy, like exultation, filled me, that after all I was not dead and buried there in that house, not anutter laughing-stock, and that my name was not hooted by friend andenemy alike. I still had noble friends. They remembered me, acted forme, endeavoured to avenge me, and rehabilitate me. It was an intensefeeling of relief, of pride, of happiness; but I tried to hide mysensations and play the Cincinnatus a little longer. When Siegfriedsaid, "We expected you all day yesterday; but as you did not come Iconcluded to come over and look after you, " I replied, "I had not readthe letter; but if I had, it would hardly have been otherwise. I cannotgo from home at present. "

"Why! what is the matter with you? You are not going to play UncleDiogenes, are you? Simple civility might have induced you to come overto Vernöcze. You are due there for ever so long. "

"You are very kind; but, you see, the Vice-Governor does not send hissentinels to guard the iron chest with the money, and so I have to guardit myself; and then, you see, I am busy budding my 'Marshal Niel' and'Sultan of Morocco' roses--it is their season. "

Siegfried broke into a merry laugh. "The dear boy is actually trying tolive after the pattern of that exemplary old uncle of his. Now, don'tmake a fool of yourself, old fellow, and don't make believe that youlike baked potatoes and curds. I tell you I want a good supper, andafter that I'll take you with me. You can take your rose-scions withyou. My gardener will be thankful for them. We have a lot ofwater-shoots in our garden. "

We had a good supper, and after the first glass of wine I felt the gloomvanish from me entirely. Siegfried had brought me good news. The newelection was to take place in twenty days. Our party was firm as a rock, and the enemy was disheartened and short of money, as the MaticzaSociety, which had given up all hope of driving me away from the estate, would not furnish them with more funds. Now they had reunited to a lastdesperate method, and their candidate was about to unfold theanti-Semitic flag, in this way driving all intelligent, Liberalvoters--or those at least who assumed the name, and all the Jews withtheir money, influence, and keenness--straight into our arms, so thatour success was undoubted. In order to silence all accusations ofbribery, of feasting the voters, and so forth, Countess Diodora, Siegfried's aunt, was ready to keep open house in Vernöcze for ourpolitical friends, and so there would be no need of engaging any publicrestaurants or wine-shops. Siegfried told me that Countess Diodora was avery active champion of our party, and very influential, too. Besides, she was very much interested in me personally. 

"I am sure I am very grateful to her ladyship, and shall take theliberty of telling her so, to-morrow, " I said--"the more grateful, as Ireally do not know how I could have merited such an interest. "

He smiled. "Merit is not everything, " he said. "But Aunt Diodora is alittle vexed at your want of politeness. You should have come and paidyour homage long ago. Her ladyship really threatened the other day thatsome day she would come over with the two little ones and fetch you, ifnot personally, at least in effigy. They have photographic apparatus, and are very clever amateur photographers. "

I could not suppress an exclamation, and then I related the littleadventure of the afternoon. He laughed. "Oh, no question as to theiridentity! Sure enough, it was my aunt and the girls! That queenly Amazonis my aunt, Countess Diodora. You are surprised? I see, you supposedthat an aunt must necessarily be some aged, corpulent lady, fond of hergame of 'patience, ' and secretly indulging in a sip. My aunt is but oneyear my senior, and I am barely thirty. My aunt is a classical beauty, highly intellectual, and very talented; quite a female phenomenon. Thattall, slender girl is Countess Flamma, a miracle of beauty and virtue;and that tiny creature was the little Kobold, Puck, or whatever else youmay call her, Cousin Cenni. She is the most skilful photographer of thethree, and it was she who told you not to move, and took you with spadein hand. That's the best joke I ever heard! How vexed Countess Cenniwill feel on discovering the mistake! She is a little vixen, and full ofmischief. If any of the young dandies tries to court her, she bids himgo bear-hunting with her and show his valour. My woods are full ofbears. I have shot three, but there are a lot of them alive still, andthey do a deal of damage. So, if Cenni invites you, which no doubt shewill, you need not be afraid of want of game. "

I was dazzled, flattered, and surprised. What a difference between theseladies of the high aristocracy and the daughters of our country gentry!As if they really belonged to a different world, lived on a differentplanet. One of them assuming the lead in politics, another bear-huntingand photographing. The third, that tall, slender, somewhat haughty, butmodest girl, who had approached to admire my roses, pleased me best; andthen, too, their names--"Diodora! Cenni! Flamma!" The first domineering, imposing; the second with a touch of the Bohemian or the gipsy; thethird bewitching, enticing, a flame! Oh, what a moth I should make!

I did not show much further resistance, but was willing enough to gowith Siegfried. I did not even take the trouble of locking theturret-chamber, in which the precious iron chest stood, with my ownhands, but ordered my valet to perform that duty and take care of thekey. I went out into the garden, and cut all the blooming "Sultan ofMorocco" roses and carefully wrapped them up with wet moss; and all theway I held them in my hand for fear of injuring them. 

So the Valkyrs were indeed taking away the fallen hero to Walhalla, their own abode. 

"Where is Walhalla, and what is it like? Does anybody know? If onlysomebody might return and tell us!"

"Well, I have been there, and I have returned, and I will tell you. "

Part II. 

I. 

THE SEA-DOVE. 

From Dumanyfalva to Vernöcze the high-road makes a circuit of a twohours' ride, but we took a short cut by a cross-road through Siegfried'sdeer-park, which is about ten thousand acres in extent. The whole parkwas fenced in with high iron railings, and this fence alone had cost theneat little sum of one hundred and fifty thousand florins. Yet it wasworth its cost, for, before its erection, the Vernöczys had to payyearly about twenty-five thousand florins for damage done by their gameupon the crops in the neighbouring fields. At the big iron gate a rangerwith two loaded rifles was waiting for us. He handed the rifles to thetwo servants, and then took his seat on the box with the coachman. 

It was a beautiful wood through which we drove--all of giant larch treesof a century's growth, perfuming the air with ambrosial odours. Thebright rays from our lanterns attracted the deer, and they stood gazingat us with their glittering eyes. One of the bucks bellowed at us, andone of the little fawns came almost under the wheels. Pheasants, startled from sleep by the noise of our wheels, soared above our heads. From the depths of the forest mysterious voices met our ears: thewoodcock's hoarse call, the roebuck's deep bellow, the wild boar'sgrunt, the squirrel's chatter, and the shrill cries which announce thepresence of the wild peacock. What a difference between this lordlyforest and my small twenty-acre park! Red squirrels, gray squirrels, gambolling among the boughs, playing with acorns and hazelnuts;thrushes, blackbirds, nightingales, and greenfinches, chirruping andtwittering, were all the game I had. 

In vain we endeavour to bring high nobility and plain gentry into oneclass. They are divided by the game-park. We are only visitors there, kindly invited, kindly received, but visitors still, and we can neverrepay the compliment. Therefore I consider we should always think twicebefore we accept the invitation. 

It was past midnight when we finally arrived at Siegfried'sshooting-box, a beautiful pavilion in the Swiss style, with a largeverandah to the east, facing the magnificent château. Between the twobuildings extended a clear, broad lake, with silvery willows on thenearer side, and grand old lime-trees on the side toward the mansion. Graceful white and black swans swam on the lake, and two tiny littlewherries lay ready for a boating excursion. The south side of theshooting-box had "altdeutsch" windows of coloured glass, and woodenshutters with heart-shaped perforations on the outside. On the nearerside of the lodge was a beautiful green lawn and a few somewhatneglected rose-beds. 

The shooting-box was a comfortably large and luxuriously-furnishedbuilding, and afforded accommodation for thirty guests. The couches inthe different sleeping apartments were all covered with deerskinspreads, and the furniture was all in harmony with the purpose and styleof the building. 

I left my window ajar for the night, so as to be up early, and my plansucceeded. The dew still glittered upon the tender petals of the roseswhen I was up and sauntering among the flowers. I had brought my"Malmaison" and "Sultan of Morocco" roses with me, and also mybudding-knife and the sap for budding. "What a surprise for them, " Ithought, "when they find these beautiful flowers instead of the wildsuckers. " I had put my roses into a glass of water, and was nowpreparing for the performance by cutting off the collateral shoots andremoving the inconvenient thorns. Just as I had taken one of the "Sultanof Morocco" roses out of the water, I heard steps on the gravel, and amusical voice cried--

"Gardener, do you hear?"

I turned around, and beheld two beautiful young girls hurrying towardme. One of them, a tiny little creature, was of the blonde type, withlong, golden curls and a face of cream and roses. One startling, bewitching little black mole was seen on one of the dimpled cheeks. Hereyebrows were dense, of a golden-brown, and arched over a pair of large, glittering brown eyes. The corners of her little mouth curved upward ina smile, and the cherry lips were always open and moving. Her littlehands were busy gesticulating, explaining, acting, and never at rest; apicture of the entire little personage. 

The other girl was a tall, slender, willow-like figure, with raven hairpushed high above the marble forehead. Her skin was clear andtransparent, but with hardly a tinge of colour. Her straight, blackbrows and long black lashes overhung a pair of deep blue, or rathersea-green, eyes, and her little coral mouth was so small that the ideastruck me that it must hurt her to speak, and therefore she liked tohold her peace. 

Both were in morning dress, appropriate to the country. The blonde worea dress of some sort of light Japanese silk, covered with a pattern ofgreat painted birds and flowers. The dark girl had a Nile-blue gown ofsome light material, and in style somewhat resembling the Greek. 

The verandah had prevented me from perceiving their approach. Now theyhastened toward me with the easy composure with which we meet some oldfriend, or--a servant. Of course, I had no difficulty in recognising theequestrian amateurs of the previous day, and it was easy to guess thatthey repeated their mistake of that afternoon, by taking me for agardener. I had no intention of undeceiving them, and did not take offmy hat, but stood with the "Sultan of Morocco" between my teeth, and myhands engaged with the budding-knife. 

"Do you hear?" said the little blonde, now coming near; "cut me a budof these 'Gloire de Dijons. ' No! one of these 'Marshal Niels'; not this, the other, that is just opening!"

I was correctly dressed for the occasion, and quite in proper style fora country visit: tanned shoes, knickerbocker jacket, Pepita waistcoat, Madapolam shirt-collar, Bismarck _en colčre_ scarf, Panama hat. "Mydarling, does not that content you?" Still these girls took me for aservant. Well, let it pass!

I cut off one of the roses, and began to pare off the thorns with myknife, when she angrily stamped her little foot on the grass. "What areyou paring the thorns off for? I don't like a rose without thorns, Iwant a rose with thorns; this looks stripped!" and, pulling the rose outof my hand, she held it over to her companion. 

"_Tiens! Ca m'embęte_!"

To her she spoke French; to me, German. The girl took the rose without aword; for her it was good enough without the thorns. I prepared to cutanother bud for the capricious fair one, when she asked, "What rose isthat in your mouth?"

"A Sultan of Morocco, " I said, taking the rose from my lips. 

"Give me this, " with an imperative gesture. 

"This is for grafting, " I tried to explain. 

"But I want it!" was the haughty reply, and she impatiently held out herbit of a hand for the rose. I handed it to her, and for a moment sheburied her little nose in it and then tried to fasten it to her dress. Presently a thought seemed to strike her, for she lifted the rose toher lips, and then, turning to me again, asked--

"Has the Count returned home?"

"He has, " I answered. 

"He did not come alone? A gentleman came with him, did he not?"

I answered in the affirmative. 

"Are they asleep yet, do you think? Which is his window?"

"Whose? The Count's?"

"No, that I know! The stranger's?"

"The one that is open, " I said, wondering what she meant. She lookedaround, and observed a double step-ladder standing in front of a tree. "Bring that ladder, " she said to me, "and put it in front of thatwindow. "

I began to perceive her intention, and, much amused, I fetched theladder. "Shall I hold it?" I asked, with seeming innocence. 

"No. Go back to your work!"

I submitted, and went back to my roses, where the other girl was stillstanding. The little blonde vixen, as Siegfried had called her, went upthe ladder, throwing me a haughty glance because I had the impertinenceto watch her movements. 

As I prepared for work again, I noticed that in the chalice of eachflower, two or more green cetonias were to be found. The cetonia beetleis the deadliest foe of the rose, destroying it entirely, and since myboyhood, when I used to practise gardening at home, and was taught tokill a cetonia wherever I found it, I could not bear the sight of theglittering, green beetle. I was just crushing one under my foot, whenthe dark-haired girl near me cried out--

"Why do you kill that poor cetonia?"

"Because it injures the roses, " I said. 

"Well, let them alone! Who cares for the roses?"

"Who cares for the roses?" Is not that strange? A young girl taking theside of the harmful destroyer against the innocent victim!

The blonde descended the ladder, and her face, her hands, and her walkbetrayed that she was vexed. I was very much amused. Was it not a jokethat she had climbed up to my window to present me with my own rose, therose she had taken out of my mouth? And was it not amusing to see herangry, because I had had the sauciness to watch the movements of thosetiny slippered feet in pink stockings as they mounted the ladder andrevealed a bewitching little ankle?

The black-haired girl turned to her and complained--"See, he kills ourcetonias!" Whereupon the little one, with a queenly mien, stepped infront of me and said--

"I forbid you to do that! Do not dare to hurt my cetonias!"

I could not repress a smile, as I answered, "I shall duly obey. I had noright to interfere, as these cetonias do not belong to me. "

"I really think that fellow is laughing at us!" said the little one, with arching brows, when the other, who had been watching me for somemoments, made some whispered remark, and then the fair head and the darkone were put close together in earnest consultation. 

On one of my hands I wore an antique carnelian seal-ring, with my familycrest, and a large solitaire, the gift of a grateful patient. Theserings, rather unusual upon the finger of a common gardener, had caughtthe eye of the dark-haired girl, and she could not but notice that myhands and nails were not those of a labourer. For a while they lookedshyly at me, while they busied themselves in gathering into their gardenhats all the cetonias they could, as if afraid that, after theirdeparture, I should avenge myself by a general onslaught on their_protégées_. Presently the blonde stepped up to me, and, touching thecarnelian on my hand with her finger, she said--

"Are you a nobleman?"

I answered by an anecdote. 

"A German journalist had to translate an item on sea-turtles from anEnglish paper. He did not exactly understand what a turtle was; but heknow of turtle-doves, which are in German called _Turtel-tauben_, and, as he did not want to trouble himself to look for the expression in adictionary, _turtle-doves_ it remained. He wrote of the bird, that itcomes out of the sea to the sand of the shore, lays its eggs in thatsand, carefully and safely scratching them in, and smoothing the surfacewith its front paws. These front paws of a turtle-dove perplexed him, and he did what he ought to have done before: he looked in thedictionary and found that the sea-turtle was no dove at all. "

"Hem!" said the little one, looking with charming astonishment at theother girl; and then she turned to me again, and, lifting a threateninglittle finger at me, she said--

"Now, don't you go and betray us to anybody. Promise!"

"You have my knightly word, " I said; "_parole d'honneur_!" But, unableto suppress my mirth any longer, I broke into a ringing laugh, and bothgirls fled as fast as they could. 

On returning to my room, I found Siegfried there. "My aunt's footman hasalready been here to invite us to breakfast, " he said. "When in thecountry she is always an early riser, and so are the children. I wonderthey have not been running about yet. They used to. "

I did not tell him that they had been running about already; but, stepping up to the window, I found the rose which the fair girl had laidupon the sill, and, fastening it in the button-hole of my jacket, madeready to follow up the invitation for breakfast. 

"Wouldn't you rather shave before going down?" asked Siegfried, with adisapproving look at my face. "My valet has an easy hand, and is veryreliable. "

"No, thank you!" I said, and with that I took his arm and we went down. 

Near the lake was a mass of beautiful dolomite rock, a forerunner of thehigh mountains further on. The face of the rock was all overgrown withbirch trees, and wild roses and other flowers were peeping out of thethick moss and bush. At the foot of the rock was a clearing, surroundedwith pines, their drooping foliage forming a shady roof above the littlecircuit of ground. In the wall of the rock was a grotto, overrun withhenna leaves, hedge-plant, and other creepers. Out of one of the wallsof the grotto broke, murmuring and rippling, a clear mountain spring, which, meeting with another and uniting with it to form a rivulet, flowed across the flowery plain, emptying itself into the lake by aseries of cascades. 

In the centre of this space the breakfast-table was set--the shiningsilver, the glittering crystal, and the creamy china forming a pleasantcontrast to the rural simplicity of the chairs and table and the greenroof and walls above and around. 

Countess Diodora was already there, expecting us. The two girls were inthe grotto, pretending to be busy with the preparations for breakfast. 

Countess Diodora was strikingly handsome. Tall of stature and fullydeveloped, her movements had all the elasticity of youth and all themajesty of a goddess. Her Creole complexion was in harmony with thegreat almond-shaped eyes, the Minerva forehead, Grecian nose, andshell-shaped mouth with its coral-red lips. Her head was crowned with atiara of heavy black tresses, more precious and beautiful than anyartificial ornament. 

Siegfried led me to her and presented me with the following words--

"At last I am able to introduce my hitherto invisible friend. Do not beamazed at his present resemblance to our common progenitors, theSimians--that is, if we believe the evolutionists; but our friend herehas no intention of claiming that affinity. His sprouting moustache andbeard are a token of patriotic zeal, and a sacrifice upon the altar ofnational idiosyncrasy. Henceforth he will be known as a Hungarian inappearance also, and nobody will be justified in calling him anAustrian. "

The lady smiled at the humorous introduction, and extended both herhands, which were somewhat large, but magnificently shaped. Could I doless than kiss both? The smile that flitted over her queenly featuresgave her the appearance of a veritable goddess. 

"Is it not odd, " she asked, "that we know each other so well, yet havenever met until this moment?" Her voice was a rich, deep contralto, andvery sweet. 

"I have already enjoyed the happiness of seeing your ladyship, " said I, smiling. 

"Indeed? And where?"

"In my own garden. If I am not greatly mistaken, your ladyship and thetwo young ladies, your cousins, were yesterday at the pains toimmortalise me by taking my photograph. "

"Impossible!" she cried. "It could not have been you! With the spade inhand, and--oh, it is too odd!" And she broke into a loud laugh. 

A laughing Pallas! The two girls ran but of the grotto to see what thestaid Diodora was laughing at. "Come on, Cenni, " said the lady to thelittle blonde: "here is the gardener of yesterday; the one you havephotographed along with his garden. "

But by that time the little one knew me well enough; she had recognisedthe rose in my button-hole, and, with pretended anger, she ran towardme, took hold of the collar of my jacket, and gave it a hearty pull. 

"You are an artful and dangerous cheat and deceiver--that is what youare!" she said. "Why did you deceive us this morning, and make sport ofus? Let us treat you as a gardener, and send you on errands? Why did notyou tell us who you were?"

Siegfried came to my help. "How could he? He did not know you; maybe hetook you for your own maids. If you had told him who you were, he wouldhave returned the compliment. "

"But you won't betray us to anybody?" she said, holding up, as if inprayer, her little hands, that looked like the delicate petals of thewhite lily. "You won't tell anybody of our conversation at the rosebushes? If you promise, I'll give you a kiss; I will, indeed!"

"But, Cenni!" cried Countess Diodora, shocked, "what expression is thatagain?"

The little one looked like a scolded school-girl, who does not know whatcrime she has been punished for, and said, poutingly--

"But I want him to keep the secret, and I must give him a reward. "

"You always forget that you are no longer a little girl of twelveyears, but a grown-up young lady, although, God knows, you do not looklike it!" said the countess, with a humorous shake of the head. 

"Now you great debater and future lawgiver, what do you say to thisoffered reward? Answer _ex tripode_!" said Siegfried, laughingly. 

"I say that I am no usurer, and cannot take unlawful interest, " Ireplied. 

"Bravo! bravissimo! A usurer! Unlawful interest he calls a kiss! Oh, what a moral fellow!" cried Siegfried; but Countess Diodora observedthat breakfast was waiting, and that we had time enough for ventilatingacademic questions afterward. 

At the table I sat between Countess Diodora and Countess Flamma. Thelatter turned to me, and said in her quiet and sober way--

"But I discovered soon enough that the sea-turtle was not a sea-dove, did I not?"

"What are you talking about sea-doves?" asked the countess; "it seemsyou have secrets in common already. "

I opened my mouth to answer, when the little blonde opposite to mesprang up and put her little shell-coloured hand to my lips. "Nobetrayal, if you please! You have given your knightly word!"

"I am mute!" I said, bowing to her with a smile. 

"I declare!" said the countess, "knightly word, turtle-dove! Why, whatmystery is this? Flamma was complaining something about the cetonias. "

"Oh, that is nothing, " said Cenni, lightly, "and that may be spoken of;but the 'step-ladder, ' the 'Sultan of Morocco, ' and the 'sea-dove' arestrict secrets, and never to be mentioned anywhere. "

Siegfried clapped his hands in surprise. "Riddle after riddle! and tothink that I myself have brought this boy to the house only last nightfor the first time in his life, and introduced him not an hour ago, and--talk of his being shy in the company of ladies!--he is head overears in conspiracy with both of the girls, when I thought he had neverseen them, and they did not know him at all!"

II. 

"WHAT IS THE DEVIL LIKE?"

"We not know him?" asked the little one. "Why, we have his photograph inour album! Only he looks much nicer there. Such a Lord Byron face!"

"Well, this is really audacious!" cried Siegfried, "with such a face toappear before ladies! Coarse and stubby like that of a Slavfield-labourer, and yet such a young lady as that calls it a Lord Byronface! Now I see that the old proverb is right, and a man has to be butone shade handsomer than the Devil, for women will find him handsomeenough. "

"Only that the proverb is a paradox in itself. The Evil One is not ugly;on the contrary, he is beautiful!" said Diodora. 

"_Quien sabe_?" answered Siegfried. "I have seen his portrait in theGreek churches, in a large wall-painting, and there he is represented asa bandy-legged, ox-tailed, black-faced monster, with a pair of big hornson his forehead. Then, again, I have seen the Devil in the opera, asGöthe and Gounod's creation of Mephistopheles in _Faust_, and there hewore a goat's-beard and red-feathered cap, was a little lame in one leg, and had a baritone voice. He was not in the least beautiful. "

"You ought to read Klopstock, then, and Milton, " said Countess Diodora. "Their Devils are enchantingly handsome men, with pale faces, and deep, sorrowful eyes; and that is the real demon-type as given by theclassics: for, originally, the Devil was not known as an evil spirit, but was an angel. Only he was haughty and ambitious, and tried to rivaland dethrone the Almighty. It was after he was defeated, and duepunishment was dealt to him, that he became the representative of Evil, and, after the creation of man, the tempter and seducer. "

"So part of the Devil's corruption is due to man kind, " said Siegfried, ironically. 

"If you read the Cabalists and Gnostics you will learn how sinful pridehad its downfall, and the angel fell. Still, in all his humiliation andhis banishment from grace and glory, he never lost his beauty, and thisis natural; for who would listen to the temptations of an ugly monster?A seducer must needs be handsome. In the old Jewish Scripture, frombefore Moses' time, the Evil Spirit is represented by a woman, Lilith, the ideal beauty. In the same manner Menander has painted Sybaris, andof Socrates it is said that he lived in intimate friendship with thedemon. "

Siegfried had made a desperate onslaught on the sandwiches; now heturned in comical vexation to me, and said--

"Friend, brother, help! for this learned woman is slaying me withpandects, and, if the Devil has such a champion, what can poor I doagainst him?"

It was a difficult task. If I said that she was right, she would scornme as a simple, empty-headed flatterer. If, on the other hand, I triedto contradict her, she was sure to conquer me with arguments. So Ithought I would plead scepticism. 

"Indeed, I can't, " was my reply. "All I have to say is that I do notbelieve in the existence of an actual Devil at all. I positively denythe existence of evil spirits or devils. "

"Ah!" said the countess, astonished and seemingly dismayed, "do you knowthat such a negation includes a denial of the fundamental truths of allreligion also? Turn wherever you will, and you will find that the RomanCatholic faith expressly commands us to believe in the Devil. TheProtestants, with Martin Luther at the head, have in speech and writinggone so far as to compose a whole Shamanism of the Devil's specialqualities; and so on in all positive religions. Are you an infidel, aso-called Freethinker, and not a Christian?"

At first I smilingly referred her to Becker's "Bewitched World, " whichmade all belief in an actual Devil completely ridiculous, showing todemonstration that such a being is simply impossible. She answered mewith Spinoza. I again spoke of Thomasius, whereupon the countessdeclared me a Rationalist. 

Siegfried smiled, and smoked his cigarette complacently, and the twogirls listened innocently and wonderingly to the strange dispute. 

"You see, my lady, " said I at last, "I am a physician, and I know of nobodily or mental ailment that is without some foundation or reason. Iknow of miasmata, spores, bacilli, as sources of bodily diseases, ofinherited or fancied maladies, infections, contagions, and their properremedies: vaccination, disinfection, prophylactics; but an invisible, immaterial spirit, which we ought to know by the title of Devil, hasnothing to do with any of these. All evil-doers, murderers, etc. , areprompted to the mischief they do by some abnormity in their brains, orby some powerful egotistic motive, as jealousy, revenge, greed, ambition, etc. ; but the temptation is always material--a benefit theywant to secure by their crime--never a spiritual Devil. We may fairlysay that all crimes committed without a visible motive are founded uponlunacy, a disorder of the brain. I do not believe in one being, eithercorporal or spiritual, that would do mischief purely for mischief'ssake, out of evil principle, of pure malice. I do not believe that anybeing exists which would inflict sorrow on others just in order torejoice at the despair of the victims. The so-called hellish passionsand inclinations in man are really created by that which is beneath him, the animal part of him, the material element, and it is superfluous tolook to that which is above him, a spirit, for a motive. "

As I pronounced this conviction, the four persons present looked at eachother and then at me, in wonder and defiance, but without a word. For amoment a chilly presentiment crept over me--a shadowy warning that thedeclaration I had just made would prove the _fatum_ of my life. 

As a physician, I had given very much attention to disturbances of themind; nervous distractions, diseases of the brain. In lunatic asylums Ihad had frequent opportunity of observing the different manifestationsof extravagances of the mind diseased. There are cases in whichsimulation is identical with the symptoms of actual insanity, others inwhich it is mistaken for such; but still the simulator is never quitesane. I had speculated about the hidden motives of apparently motivelesscrimes. I had seen a gallant youth, whose noble, manly features inspiredlove and confidence, and who yet had murdered many victims of hisbestial desires; had lured them on, and killed them. 

I had seen a tender, innocent, pleasant-looking young girl, with awinning smile on her ruby lips, after she had poisoned all the membersof her family in turn; and I had known a miracle-working virgin, who hadfor years and years befooled and deceived aged and experienced men. Allthese and more I had seen, but all had possessed one common peculiaritywhich betrayed them as belonging to that large and unhappy class we termlunatics, and their mental disorder was revealed in a clear, glitteringglance, cold and keen as a steel blade. The moment that unluckyassertion had escaped me, I saw my companions stare at each other andthen at me, and in the eyes of all four of them I clearly discerned andrecognised the same cold, keen, and gloomy expression. I felt a shock ofterror, and then I laughed at my own folly. A professional habit ofmentally examining and distinguishing all persons as sane and healthy, or diseased, I thought, and I tried to joke the matter away. 

"Let us make a bargain, countess! We will leave the demon to those whocannot spare him; for there are people who would greatly protest againstbeing robbed of their devils--as, for instance, some Western nations whoworship him instead of God. They say God is good, and won't hurt them, anyhow, but the Devil must be bribed by compliments to keep him fromdoing mischief. Therefore they raise altars to him, and set up hisimages with many ceremonies. The Yakoots and Chuckches believe in adouble creation, and think that all good things are created by God, andall bad things by the Devil. "

"It would not hurt you to be of the same creed, " said Countess Diodora. 

"For instance, to believe that the rose was created by God and thecetonia by the Devil, " I replied, smilingly. 

"And why those?" she asked. "My niece has complained to me that youcrush these beautiful little beetles to death. In what have theyoffended you?"

"Offended me? Do you hold me capable of such petty malice? I kill thecetonias because they are the deadliest foes of the rose; or, rather, asthey love the rose, and in loving destroy the flower, I must call thecetonia the most dangerous friend of the rose. "

"However, the beetles are necessary to my nieces, and therefore theymust live. "

"Necessary?" I cried. "How so?"

The blonde girl went into the grotto and, returning, brought with her alarge teak board, upon which a Chinese sun-bird was enamelled. The birdwas only half finished as yet, but it was the most artistic, tasteful, and delightful enamel-work I had ever seen, and all of it was composedof the delicate lids of the beetle-wings. The cetonias vary in colour:some of them are red with a tinge of gold; others green and gold; othersagain the colour of darkened copper, and still others in a metallicblue, like steel. All these were carefully arranged and pasted upon theteak board in a wonderful mosaic, the sun-bird's head and wingsconsisting of red, its neck of blue, and its breast of greencetonia-wings. I looked admiringly at the work. So, then, they had notprotected the cetonias out of some sentimental fancy for them, but forindustrial purposes. This changed my conception of the matter entirely;for the better in some respects--in some for the worse. 

"So you save the life of the beetle in order to rob them of theirwings?" I asked them, reproachfully. 

"These are only their winter wings which we take off; their summer wingsthey keep, and we give them their liberty again. It is summer now; theyhave no need of their winter wings at present. "

Well, this was girlish logic and philosophy: I have taken what I wanted, you must make the best of what I have left you. Rather a striking pieceof egotism!

"Do you know that the cetonia contains poison?" asked I. 

"What kind of poison?" was the inquiring response, given with greatquickness. 

"The poison, " I said, evasively, "that gives the motive to the Bánk-Bántragedy. "

At these words Siegfried puffed a whole cloud of tobacco-smoke full inmy face, and at any other time I should have strongly resented theinsult; but this time he was right. The explanation was, even as anallusion, objectionable in the presence of girls. Nevertheless I couldperceive through the cloud of smoke that the pale face of Flamma hadcoloured violently, and that Cenni pouted and pushed the sun-bird away. The innocents were not so very innocent, after all. 

"Is not this beetle identical with the holy scarabćus of the Egyptians?"asked Countess Diodora. 

"No. Because the cetonia lives on roses; and of the holy scarabćusHerodotus tells us that he dies of the odour of roses. As soon as theroses begin to bloom the scarabćus vanishes. "

This interested the girls, and we continued the subject. I told them ofthe South American Hercules-beetle, that is as fond of liquor as anyhuman tippler, and I really thought that I had succeeded in turning theconversation from the horned devil to the horned beetle, when CountessDiodora said--

"You are too much of a naturalist. This won't do, and you must try toamend. To deny God is bad enough, but He is kind and forgiving, and theinfidel may yet be saved; but to deny the Devil is sure destruction, forthe Devil knows no mercy, and he takes his revenge on the insulter. "

I looked up astonished and met her eyes. Again I detected thatbewildering cold glitter, and with an involuntary shiver I turned away. 

III. 

THE FOUR-LEAVED CLOVER. 

The same day our political friends and partisans came, and we held aconference. From that day on I was a daily guest in Vernöcze, and whenoccasionally I spent a night at home in my own house, next morning I wassure to feel restless and uneasy, and persuaded myself that politicalreasons required my presence in Vernöcze, and that I must make haste togo there. 

A number of times the illustrious ladies of the Vernöcze castledescended from their lofty situation to pay a visit to my lowly house, and on these occasions I played the host, and set before them what mycellar and buttery afforded. Then I conducted them through the chambersin which were stored my late uncle's beloved curiosities, and I toldthem of the horrors of the olden time, and the history of this ancientseat of my family. There was the story of a walled-up wife and murderedlovers, and we had our "Woman in White" and our "Red Templar, " who, atthe stroke of midnight, duly stalked through locked rooms and corridors, and performed all the actions that could be expected of real andrespectable ghosts. These phantoms the countess rather envied me, forVernöcze could boast of no such token of old nobility; yet theVernöczys were counts and the Dumanys only plain gentry. 

Of course, I was an ardent admirer of the three fairies, only I couldnot exactly tell which of the three I admired most. Countess Diodora'sphilosophical intellect impressed me as much as Countess Cenni's unrulyactivity; and Countess Flamma's pensive silence affected me none theless, and I looked at her with the reverential awe of the priest beforethe Holy Virgin. 

Only one thing puzzled me. Here were three beautiful, gifted, high-born, and wealthy young women, and not one of them had a real, earnest, andsincere suitor. Of course, there were a number of young aristocratspaying court to them, and very much inclined to carry on a little bit offlirtation; but all in an easy-going, although certainly very respectfuland distant way; but of a real, true attachment I could perceive nosign. Once I had ventured a remark to this effect in Siegfried'spresence, whereupon he explained that the two younger countesses weremere school-girls yet, and nobody would have the audacity to think of aserious courtship in that quarter as yet, while, as to Countess Diodora, she would never marry at all. She repudiated the very idea of marriage, and would no doubt, sooner or later, enter a convent as abbess. 

This explanation, to tell the truth, did not satisfy me. If the twoyoung ladies were such forbidden fruit at present, why bring them inconstant contact with young men? And, as to Countess Diodora'sintention to become a nun, I had my strong doubts. True, she wasreligious, even to bigotry, but she was not averse to the pleasures ofthe world, and I did not believe in her inclination to give them up ofher free will. I rather believed that men were afraid of her, for suchlearned and strong-minded women can be only the wives of yet wiser andmore strong-minded men, or else of fools, who willingly become theirslaves. 

To me Countess Diodora was conspicuously kind, and showed me anexceptional preference--that is, she did me the honour to select me asher antagonist in debate. 

When she supported one paradox, I would support the opposite, and wekept up a constant battle with intellectual weapons. She was a greatreader; so was I. She had travelled a good deal; so had I, and, as itchanced, we had observed the same countries and scenes. On art, architecture, literature, I gave judgment with the same startlingaudacity as she, only that my opinions were in direct opposition tohers. 

Still in matters of politics our views were harmonious. I had the sameConservative principles as she, and I heartily agreed with all that sheuttered on that point. This was the first step to our mutualunderstanding. The second step was taken when we joined each other indefence of our principles against persons of opposing views; and thethird step, which lifted me not only to a level with my new andbeautiful ally, but even above her, was gained by me in a controversyon professional science, with especial relation to physicians. Thecountess, in a very spirited bit of banter, ridiculed the wholeprofession and its science, stating that, in her belief, our entirepathology, therapeutic, etc. , was not worth the sand strewn over theprescriptions. She declared that in the treatment of internal maladiesmedical science has made no progress since Galen's time, and our mostrenowned professional celebrities are no wiser than Paracelsus. Ourmedicines, according to her opinion, were either baneful poisons, or ofno higher sanative power, at the best, than the waters of Lourdes. Shealso was afflicted with bodily pain at times, but never yet had shesubmitted to any professional treatment. No physician had ever enteredher bed-room or parted the tapestry hangings around her bed, and neveryet had she tasted of any kind of medicine. 

I listened complacently to her talk, and did not interrupt her with aword. After she had finished, I said--

"Allow me to contradict, and, at the same time, convict you. You havenever spoken of your special ailment to me up to this moment. I havenever heard of it before this, and I need not put any questions eitherto you or to others in regard to it. Yet, by simply looking at you, Ican tell you from what you are suffering--that you are a victim ofoccasional nervous attacks of greater or less severity, and I can tellyou exactly how these paroxysms commence, what symptoms they show, andall the particulars of your ailment. "

She stared at me, quite perplexed. "You are right!" she said at last, and there was not a man alive who could boast that she had ever said asmuch to him. She asked me how I came to know or to guess the nature ofher sufferings, and I told her that I had had great experience in thetreatment of nervous disorders, and that her case was by no meanshopeless. That although it was impossible to entirely and permanentlycure the disease and drive away its attacks, yet it might be greatlydiminished. The paroxysms might be reduced in duration and violence, andthat without administering any poisonous drugs--simply by propermassage. 

"Then I am sorry that we have no female physicians as yet; for I wouldnever submit to that treatment from a male physician. "

"And do you know that this shrinking is one of the symptoms of themalady, and at the same time its main foundation?"

"How so?"

"Because, if your views of propriety were not distorted, you would applyfor help in time, and not wait until you are past cure; but you grow upwith the conviction that it is a shame and a degradation to confess yourphysical weaknesses to a male physician, yet you are by no meansashamed--nay, you consider it a duty and a virtue--to confess yourmental and moral failings to a priest, although he is a man as well asthe physician, and the sins you confess are sometimes more degrading andshameful than the sores of your body. "

She looked at me for quite a while. "Again you are right, " she said, andwith that broke off the conversation. 

At that period, every day brought some political meeting or partyconference, and the leaders of the coming elections, head-drummers, andsubalterns swarmed into Vernöcze, bringing all sorts of news, asking forall sorts of information, and Countess Diodora was at the head ofeverything--presiding at the councils, assisting them all with heradvice, never tired, never slackening in spirit or courage, and neverforgetting her position as hostess--and a bountiful hostess, too. 

When the discussion approached the financial question, she said to mewith rare delicacy--

"This is no affair of yours; leave that to us. You can meanwhile go andlook for the girls in the park. "

And I, in spite of my professional sagacity, in spite of the knowledgeand experience I had gained, I was such a greenhorn--such a simplefool--that I actually believed in the existence of a fund raised for theespecial purpose of sending such shining political stars, such rarecelebrities, as the Honourable Cornelius Dumany, into Parliament, thereto enlighten the minds of his compatriots, and to be a blessing to hiscountry; although, if any one had asked me how I had deserved to be heldin such high esteem, I could not have found an answer! Oh, vanity andconceit! How easily you are caught in the meshes of cunning deception!

The "girls, " as they were invariably called, were on the lawn lookingfor four-leaved clovers, and the little blonde declared that she wasbent on finding one, for whoever found it first was sure to be marriedfirst. I laughed, and, looking down, I saw one little quatrefoil just atmy feet. I gathered it, and presented it to the little blonde countess, but she refused to accept it. "No, " she said, "everybody must keep hisown fortune. You have found the leaf, and you will get married first, and within the year. "

"Ought not I to know something of the coming happiness in advance?" Iasked, smilingly. "Surely I can't get married without my own knowledge!"

"Just you keep quiet. Mockery is not becoming to you; but tell us ingood earnest, why don't you marry? You ought to. "

"Why, then, in good faith, I do not marry because the girls that wouldnot reject me I do not care for, and those that I might care for wouldnot accept me. "

"How do you know? First tell us what qualities a girl must possess tomake you care for her. "

"Well, I suppose I must obey your ladyship's wishes. In the first place, then, she must be young and pretty; then she must be intellectual, prudent, and well educated; and, finally, she must have a kind heartand a sweet disposition; if she is merry and bright also, I shall likeher the better. Yes, there is something else: I should like my futurewife to be always elegant and stylish, and I should like to give her asplendid home and keep her in luxury; but, as my own little Slav kingdomis not sufficient for my notion of the term, therefore she must alsohave a fortune of her own. Yet, if a woman, or let me rather say a younggirl, should possess all these qualities at once, which I thinkunlikely, I would not take her if I were not fully convinced that shemarried me for love. So, you see, with these pretensions I am likely tolive and die a bachelor. "

"Not necessarily. I, for instance, know a lady who answers to yourdescription as if you had drawn her portrait. "

"Indeed? You seem bent on proving that the four-leaved clover was a trueprophet of marriage. You want to make the match?"

"Why not? But, indeed, I am speaking in good faith. Why don't you marryAunt Diodora?"

"Because I have more sense than those poor birds who shatter their headsand beaks in flying against the reflected rays of the lighthouse. "

"I don't understand the simile. "

"Do you know the story of Turandot?"

"No. Novels and comedies I dare not read yet; but I should like to know, for Aunty Diodora is nicknamed 'Princess Turandot. ' I have often heardher spoken of by that name. I think that Turandot must be a fictitiouscreature, who tortures all her suitors to death, for aunty is also veryunkind to them. Only that is no fault of hers; it is her misfortune tohave nobody sue for her hand except simpletons. All these sweet-spoken, flattering, aping, thought-snatching, cajoling, empty-headed wooers myaunt calls monkeys, and not men. A man must have the courage to opposeher, defend his own opinion against her and all the world, to gain herrespect and her confidence. This you have done. Oh, we girls know wellenough what impression a man has made on another girl!"

This was a startling confession. Here was a little girl, who was treatedand spoken of as quite a baby; yet, in spite of her unacquaintance withnovels and comedies, she seemed to be very well versed in all matters oflove and matrimony. 

"Yes, " she continued, "I have noticed it plainly enough, and quitefrequently. Whenever you are away she is gloomy, and melancholy, and outof spirits; but, as soon as she sees you or hears your voice, shebrightens up and is good-humoured and pleasant. When, the other day, Flamma and I had made some remark about you--some light jest--she gaveus such a sermon! telling us that men were all so different, and thatyou were, among them, like a real diamond among coloured glass. Oh, if Icould tell you all! But you are proud and disdainful, I see. Perhaps youwant to wait until Countess Diodora Vernöczy makes you a humble offer ofher hand, and then maybe you would be proud, and consider about it. "

"Perhaps I should. Give me leave, ladies, to tell you a story--thehistory of a very intimate friend, and from beginning to the end true tothe letter. I shall invent nothing. "

IV. 

THE HISTORY OF MY FRIEND. 

As soon as I promised them a story, the two young girls sat down on alow bench beneath a jasmine bush, and I sat down on the bowling-green attheir feet; or, rather, I kneeled there before them. Do not think thatwe were left without a proper guard, for we could be seen from thebalcony of the house, and on the mountain-ash tree was an oldmissel-thrush that kept on chirruping and twittering, "Take care, youboy! take care!"

The young ladies had stripped a heap of the slender Pimprinpáre stalks, from which they began to braid chains and other ornaments, while Irelated the following story:--

"My friend is a descendant of the noblest families of Hungary, and acount by birth. During the Revolution of 1848 he was one of the bravestand most heroic defenders of the national cause, and his great personalattractions, manly beauty, athletic strength, intellectual power, andhigh moral integrity, united with an iron will and the tender heart of awoman, made him distinguished above many. Of him it was said that, evenas a man, he obeyed every command of his mother, but could never be madeto obey that of any potentate of the world. "

"Is that paragon of a man alive yet?" asked Cenni. 

"He is. Only he is an old eagle now, for our friendship dates from thetime when he gave me a ride on his knees, while I blew the whistle hehad brought me. During our national struggle for liberty in 1848 heserved as a captain of the ---- Hussars, and, after the Russianinvasion, and the final overthrow of the national cause, he made goodhis escape to England. Of course, his lands and goods were seized, andhe was sentenced to death; but, as he could not be caught and hanged inperson, he was hanged in effigy--that is, his portrait was nailed to thegallows. 

"The same high qualities which had distinguished him at homedistinguished him abroad. A great many Hungarian refugees had found ahome in England, especially in that gigantic metropolis, London; and itis said of them, in general, that of all political emigrants theybehaved best. They never quarrelled, never grumbled, and neverconspired. Everyone hastened to find a mode of earning a decent livingfor himself, and none of them were too proud or too lazy to work. Everyone of them was honestly and diligently engaged in some business. 

"My friend had some acquaintances among the English nobility, and he wassoon introduced, and speedily became at home in English high life. Amongthose aristocratic families with which he had frequent intercourse wasone in which there was a young girl, an orphan and an heiress. She wasbeautiful and intellectual, like Countess Diodora, and competition forher hand was naturally high among the young and old bachelors, andmarriageable men of their set. Singularly enough, the young stranger, who never thought of such good fortune, at last felt compelled tobelieve that the open preference the lady showed him was more thancommon courtesy, and more than the friendly, even sisterly regard withwhich most ladies of his acquaintance honoured him. He could not butadmire her beauty, her grace, and accomplishments, and he was ready andwilling enough to fall in love with so much charm and loveliness. Hiscourtship, if so it must be termed, although the lady was doing thegreater part of the wooing, was short and successful, and they weremarried. 

"The marriage took place on the Isle of Wight, at that time thefavourite haunt of the Hungarian refugees. Two of the latter, the one arenowned politician, the other a famous general, were witnesses, and thewedding breakfast was quite an event. But when, after the bridal cakehad been cut and the toasts drunk, the guests retired, and the youngcouple were left alone, the fair young bride said to the happy groom:--

"'I beg your pardon for leaving you to your own company, but I mustretire to change my dress, for my yacht is waiting, and I shall startfor France in two hours. '

"He gazed at her in utter amazement 'Why, dearest, ' he said, 'don't youknow that Louis Napoleon denies us Hungarians even the privilege ofpassing through France, and that for me to go there is equivalent toimprisonment, possibly death?'

"'I know it, and I do not ask you to accompany me. I shall go therealone. I yearned for independence and liberty, and for the coming yearsI could get it only as a married woman. I was in need of a husband, orof his name, and my choice fell upon you, because I did not dare to playthis trick on one of our English Hotspurs. Of you I know that you aretoo gentle and too noble withal to injure a woman. So good-bye to you, count, for I do not think that we shall ever set eyes on each otheragain!'

"With that the fair goddess left her husband of two hours' standing, humiliated, stunned, without money, bereft of his former occupation, towhich, as her husband, he could not return; left him for ever; and hewas such a gentle fool that he did not even for a moment think ofrevenge upon the woman who had robbed him of the last and only treasurehe possessed, his spotless name and honour, and had ruined him for ever. 

"For twenty-five years the poor victim of the fair deceiver could notwith decency extricate himself from the meshes of the net which she hadthrown over him. After some years he found a good, pure, and true heartthat was full to the brim with love for the unhappy man--so much so thatshe sacrificed position, family, and reputation for his sake, andaccompanied him from country to country, through danger and poverty, sharing his cares and troubles, and consoling him with her love andfidelity. To this woman, who was his real wife, he could not give thelegal name and position she merited, and the curse that had been laid onhis own life was heavy upon his innocent children, for he could notcarry them to the baptismal font, could not christen them as his own. InEngland he could not secure a divorce, to France he could not go, andhome to Hungary he dared not come. For twenty-five years he draggedthese heavy chains on his weary limbs, until Hungary had risen from herprostration, had become a constitutional state with a free Parliament, and had crowned her king, and called home her banished children from thenooks and corners of the world. Then only, when again at home and infull possession of his ancestral castle and estates, then only a legaldivorce set him at liberty and left him free to bestow his name upon hisfaithful, loving companion and their children. But when that time had atlast arrived, my friend was an old man with silvery beard and a baldhead. The fairy that was the cause of so much suffering had takennothing of him but his name, of which she was in need; but what is aname? Nothing but the lid, the tender coverlet of the beetle's wing. Shedid not kill the poor beetle, and she set him free; he was allowed tolive with his winter wings. "

During the recital of this story, Cenni's rosy countenance was crimsonedthrough and through, while Flamma's pale face was overspread with analmost deadly pallor, and, as I spoke the final words, the girls lookedat each other in silence. "So, you see, " I continued, "if such a thingcould happen to a man like my friend, the bearer of a great name, noble, brave, accomplished, and handsome, what would be my fate if I shouldattempt to do what he did--marry a beauty and an heiress? I, that amnothing but a runaway doctor, an expelled Member of Parliament, and aSlav King! one who, from his appearance, is mistaken for his ownsubject. "

"No! no!" said Cenni, taking hold of both my hands, "there you aremistaken, and--and I am sure you do not know your own worth!"

At that moment the jasmine-bush was parted, and Siegfried's voice asked, "May I take the liberty to interrupt these tender confessions?"

At the sound of Siegfried's voice we all sprang from our seats, andCenni, throwing the chain she had braided on his neck, said, "You are agreat, naughty, good-for-nothing fellow! What do you want?"

"This noble and gallant knight of yours. He is wanted by hisexecutioners--that is, by the election leaders that are to be. "

The two young girls laughed, and ran to the little lake for a boatingtrip, and I asked Siegfried, "What do these men want from me? What istheir business with me?"

"Oh, nothing!" he said, coolly. "They have not come; it is I who havebusiness to speak of with you, and quickly, too, for I may be too latealready. My dear boy, even a friend has something that he wants to keepfor himself and does not want to share with his dearest friend--hislove! You are making love to Cenni, although you must have seen that Iam over ears in love with her myself. "

"I have seen nothing of the kind, and I give you my word that I neverthought of making love to her. "

"Possibly so; but then she makes love to you, and that renders mattersworse yet. "

"I assure you that your jealousy leads you into error. "

"Oh! Do you think we have no telescopes in the house? I have witnessedthe last interesting scene as if I were on the spot. "

"Then I can only wish that your hearing might have been as muchincreased by some instrument as your vision by the telescope, so thatyou might have heard our discourse, and not guessed at it by sight. "

"Did you not find a four-leaved clover, and offer it to Cenni?"

"Yes, here it is; take it, my boy, and marry your Cenni, with myblessing!"

"Take care! I may take you at your word!"

"And welcome! I'll be your best man. "

"That's a bargain. And, now that I see that you are really not going toplay the traitor with me, I'll tell you the whole truth. I am mad withlove for Cenni; and then, too, she has a million florins from hergrandfather, and this money would come in well to help me carry out myplans. But my aunt does not consent to give the girl to me. She says Iam a libertine, a _frivol viveur_, etc. , and she won't take theresponsibility of trusting me with the dear child. "

"Tell her you will reform, you will change after marriage. "

"That I have repeatedly tried, but she refuses to believe me. Thenthere is that million. As long as the girl is unmarried and a minor, myaunt takes her revenues, and, among her other accomplishments, my auntis a very fair accountant. She has found out that the girl cannot eatfigs and candies in a year to the amount of sixty thousand florins, soshe is not over-willing to part with her at all. But I am not going toplay the Tantalus for years, and run the risk of having the girlsnatched from me by some jackanapes or rascal or another. Pardon!"

"Never mind! I shan't pick up the 'jackanapes' or the 'rascal. ' They donot belong to me. "

"Then help me carry out my plan. Do you promise?"

"By all means. "

"Thank you. But let me unfold my plan. Cenni and I will be marriedclandestinely behind Aunt Diodora's back. My aunt is sometimes subjectto severe neuralgic attacks, and, as she never calls a physician andnever takes any remedies for her pains, she suffers all day. Duringthese paroxysms of her nerves she remains all day in a darkened room, and will not allow anybody to stay with her but Flamma. That kind soulis with her at such times, administering to her comforts, smoothing herpillows, etc. , and in return she is allowed to read Flammarion, or oneof Verne's harmless fictions, in the adjoining sitting-room. On suchdays Cenni is entirely at liberty, and not watched by anybody, becausethat sleepy governess the girls have is hardly worth mentioning. Nowlisten. I keep here, concealed in my shooting-box, a priest--a Capuchinmonk--Father Paphuntius. He seems to be a jolly good fellow, and he hasan open hand. In the park there is a little memorial chapel, erected byone of my ancestors in honour of St. Vincent de Paul. In that chapel wewill exchange vows. You and Muckicza shall be my witnesses. Now you havegiven me your promise, will you stick to your word?"

"By all means! Only after the marriage is perfected give me leave to runaway as fast as possible; for I should not dare to look your aunt in theface after such perfidy on my part. "

"_Au contraire_, you shall not run, for you must stay and help me outfurther. I have chosen you in your capacity as physician to persuadeDiodora to swallow this bitter medicine. She will take much if it comesfrom you, and I really believe you have magnetised her. It will be yourmission to break the fact of the accomplished marriage to her, andpersuade her to give her consent, since the matter is irreparable. Yousee, we cannot afford to quarrel with her, for she has four millions, and is not likely to marry at all. "

I hesitated, but he begged and prayed--"My dear friend, " "My own Nell, "and so forth--until I gave way, and promised to do all that he wanted. 

When I had finally promised him he pressed my hands, and then turnedaway and buried his face in his silk pocket-handkerchief. Was this tohide his tears or--his laughter? _O sancta simplicitas_!

V. 

HOW ROSES ARE INOCULATED. 

The same day, after luncheon, Countess Flamma turned to me with thequestion--

"Would you mind teaching me the process of inoculation? I am greatlyinterested in roses, and should like to see how the scion is set intothe stock. "

"With ever so much pleasure, " I said, pleased that the pale, silent girlshowed an interest in my favourites, the roses, and turned to me for afavour. Countess Diodora gave the required permission for the lesson, which was to be given and taken while the others were playinglawn-tennis on the adjacent grounds. Flamma was a bad player, anyhow, soshe might take to horticulture meanwhile. 

When the whole company were on the grounds, Flamma and I stepped up tothe rose-beds, and I began to explain to her how, in the first place, aT-shaped incision has to be made on the stock, when presently she said, in a low whisper, "Take care of yourself. "

I thought she meant that I should cut my fingers with the knife, whenshe repeated her warning again, mid more explicitly, "Take care; theymean to play a bad joke on you. "

I looked up amazed. What could she mean?

"Who?" I asked. 

"Don't look at me, but continue the explanation and demonstration. Neverforget I am taking a lesson, for we are closely watched. "

"Thank you. So now we take a carefully chosen scion. Tell me, pray, whowants to play that jest on me?"

"This scion is beautifully developed, let us take it--Siegfried. "

"Siegfried? What does he intend to do?"

"Keep your hands busy, and do not look surprised. That clandestinemarriage, of which you are to be a witness, is a comedy. The Capuchinmonk, who is to perform the ceremony, is Seestern, the famous Germanactor, who is here under an assumed name, as he does not want to bepestered to play or amuse the others. "

My hands trembled, but I kept on and said--

"Siegfried has sworn to me that he is madly in love with Countess Cenni, and that he will marry her, come what may. "

"What for?"

"What a question! For love, and--because--he wants the million florinsof her grandfather's which the countess has. "

"Hand me the knife, for you will assuredly cut your finger, and give methat scion, so that I may try to insert it. Cenni is no countess at all, but the niece of Leestern and daughter of an actress, who at one timedid my aunt a great service, and, when dying, made Aunt Diodora promiseto take care of her little girl. Aunt gave her at confirmation the nameof Cenerentola, which we have shortened to Cenni. Her real name isKlara. She has no other money or dower but what Aunt Diodora will giveher, which will not be much, for in money matters she is not veryliberal, and Cenni is called 'comtesse' because it suits Aunt Diodora'swhims. That million of which Siegfried spoke exists; but it is mine, andnot Cenni's. Is this scion well inserted?"

"No. I will show you the whole process again. What is Siegfried's objectin the deception?"

"You show too much agitation. Show me how to cut out the germ properly. This is the plan. After the ceremony, on the day when Diodora isconfined to her room and I am with her, a festival banquet will bespread in the shooting-box. It will be a noisy, dissolute company thatmeets there, and Siegfried will drink most, be the loudest and leastwell-behaved of the set. The bride will pretend to be afraid of thegroom, and at last she will break away from his hands, and ask theprotection of the only sober, sensible, and decent man present, namely, yourself. The bridegroom will have lost all self-control through drink. He will swear, and use all sorts of bad language, and the bride will soband entreat you to take her away, protesting that she hated the sight ofthe vulgar wretch she had just married, but had been forced to do hiswill, although he knew well that in reality she loved you, and youalone. At last, growing desperate, she will attempt to leap out of thewindow to escape from this place, even at the risk of her life. You willtake pity on her; her tears and charms will conquer your resistance, and you will tell her to dispose of you for ever, and take shelter inyour own castle from the ruffian who was not worthy of the treasure hehad obtained. You will order your carriage, and take Cenni with you;but, as soon as you have left, the fellow-plotters will mount theirhorses, and, by a short cross-cut, arrive there before you, discover theintended elopement of the bride, and carry off you and her as criminals. You will of course offer to fight every one of them, until all, thebride included, will burst out into Olympian laughter, and you standstunned and bewildered. But, pray, show me how to insert the germproperly into the T-shape?"

My whole frame trembled with excitement. 

"What is his object in all this?" I asked. 

"To give you the usual 'jump, ' as they call it in our set. If, forinstance, a member of some other class of society--in your case a simplenobleman--is pushing his way into high aristocracy, he must be 'jumped, 'each in his own different way. One is made to drink until he makeshimself obnoxious even to his nearest friends; another is made to gambleuntil he either wins or loses a fortune, generally the latter; but allmust 'jump, ' and if they break their necks, well and good! It wasproposed to 'jump' you in courtship; you refused to aspire to Diodora. In a duel you are not afraid of a fight, and so this course was decidedon. You had been 'jumped' already--at the election--but the triumph andyour downfall were not complete. Your vanity--don't start--was not yetwounded to death, and you will have to 'jump' once more--once in privateand once at a second election. But this time you will not rise again. Hopp! Hopp! That's the design. Don't look at me--that's all!"

I was fairly choked with emotion. "But why do they play that trick onme? I did not want to enter their society; in fact, never valued it atall; but I cared for Siegfried, and he lured me on with protestations offriendship. What was his reason for that? What have I done to him tomerit this?"

"What have you done? You have provoked him--called him out. You said youcould not believe in the existence of a spiritual or corporal being whowould do mischief without a material motive, simply for the sake ofmischief and the pleasure he found in the despair of a fellow-being: youdid not believe that there are men who will afflict the innocent withpain and sorrow, who will degrade, socially and morally humiliate you, and then laugh you in the face and make game of you. Stay here, move inour society, and you will find out your mistake! Why, what a sight itwill be to have the great debater, the candidate-elect, the sage andlearned doctor, and heir of old Diogenes caught in the act of robbinganother man of his bride! They will have a painter there to take asketch of the fine situation '_en plein air_. '"

At that moment one of the lawn-tennis players throw the ball just infront of my feet, and Siegfried came running to fetch it. 

"Well, have you profited at all by this lesson on inoculating?" heasked the girl, and he added a remark which was so vulgar andimpertinent that he would not have dared to use the expression in avariety theatre or any other low place of common entertainment. 

"I have, " said the girl, with low emphasis, and laid down the knife. 

I was in such a state of anguish that I did not know for certain whetherthe spot I was standing on belonged to this earth or was part of theinfernal kingdom, for the soil actually burned my feet. Countess Mammathanked me for the horticultural lesson I had given her, and I was somuch embarrassed that I repeated her own words verbally, instead ofgiving her a courteous reply. Siegfried laughed. 

"What an exemplary, bashful young fellow you are! Evidently you are notused to teach young ladies such delicate lessons. Come! come! Don'tblush. Try your hand at lawn tennis. "

And I went with him and played. 

VI. 

MR. PARASITE. 

I have never given way to paroxysms of temper; not exactly because I wasnaturally cool and collected, but because my profession had taught mepresence of mind and self-control. Violent wrath, violent terror, andviolent love could not attack me. 

Countess Flamma's singular disclosure had made a twofold impression. Myfirst feeling was a painful regret that my most intimate friend, in whomI had placed infinite trust and confidence, was a faithless deceiver;and my second emotion was that of a burning curiosity as to why thatgirl, a close relative of my cozening friend, had betrayed him to me--astranger. What reason had the one to hurt me, and what was the motive ofthe other in warning me? For, as I refused to believe in evil spirits, Ialso refused to believe in protecting angels. 

"My dear friend, take care!" said Siegfried, throwing the ball at me. The ball I did not catch, but the "dear" epithet I picked up; for itstruck me that the same phrase was often attached to my name as well asto that of other less intimate acquaintances, and sometimes with aspecial, humorous playfulness. Now I caught it. Of course I was their"dear" friend, for did not I sit there and do nothing, and let themwaste their money on my election?

In Hungarian society, and I think in most other societies as well, there is a certain person whom we call "Potya ur"--"Mr. Parasite. " Hefeeds at every board, sleeps in other men's rooms, is served by othermen's servants, uses other men's horses and carriages, and smokes othermen's cigars. When playing cards, he has invariably left his money athome; so when he is a loser it does not matter, for he is not accustomedto pay his losses; but, when a winner, he complacently pockets hisgains. He never pays for the flowers he sends to his hostess, never paysanything or anybody; yet he is well lodged, well fed, well clad, and inexcellent spirits, for he needs them. His wit is his only resource, hissole capital. 

Such a Mr. Parasite, I thought, was I to these men, and I determinedthat I would be so no longer. Surely I, who was formerly a physician inVienna, had no right to accept a nomination for Parliament inHungary--at other men's expense. They were right, and I had been an assand a coxcomb. When Siegfried told me that the party had decided not totake a penny of me, but to secure my election out of party funds, Ishould have remembered Chinese etiquette. If two Chinamen meet on thestreet, Tsang will invariably invite Tsing home to dinner, and Tsingwill invariably refuse. Tsang will use all possible persuasion, andfinally fairly drag the invited one to his house, although the manprotests and struggles as much as possible. And well he knows why;because if he should give way to the pressing invitation and go withTsang, the moment he entered the house his host would call him a rude, unmannered peasant; for he must remember well that it becomes the one tocourteously invite, and the other to respectfully refuse. This is thelaw of civilisation in China; and I had forgotten that law the secondtime. 

So, about Siegfried's motive I felt pretty sure; but what was thatgirl's motive in betraying the whole plot? More! She had not onlybetrayed Siegfried, her own cousin, to me--a stranger: she had betrayedCenni, her origin, her real name, and her kin; and, finally, what motivehad she in informing me that the million of florins was her money, andnot Cenni's? What was her motive in confiding to me such a secret insuch a mysterious and secret manner? Was it only kindness, generosity, compassion, that prompted her, or--? No, I durst not go farther--asyet--only I knew now beyond a doubt that, from the first, of all thethree fairies of the castle Flamma alone had aroused my interest andsympathy. Her clear, transparent, pale face, her deep, sea-tinted eyes, and her silent, cherry lips, so lovely when parted in speaking, hadattracted me from the first. 

We were called indoors to partake of some iced coffee, and strawberrieswith cream; but this time I had not forgotten Tsang and Tsing. Irefused, saying that I had a letter from the Vice-Governor, and wasexpected by him; so I could not return until next day in the afternoon. 

My excuse was accepted, and I took my leave. For a second the thoughtflashed through my mind that I ought not to return at all, and thatthis should be my last visit to the place; but, somehow, to thatrose-scion which I had taught Flamma how to inoculate I hadinvoluntarily and unconsciously tied that particular part of my beingwhich is known as the "soul. "

Next morning I drove over to the county seat, and paid a visit to theVice-Governor. 

Of course, he was as cordial as ever, and welcomed me as a dear friend. "Well, what have you brought me?" he asked finally. 

"This time a sensible resolution, " I said. "I have come to give in myresignation as a candidate for Parliament. "

The Vice-Governor embraced, nay, fairly hugged me in his arms. "My dearboy, that's a sensible thing, indeed: not from the view of theGovernment party only--I don't believe that your party could havecarried the day with you--but in consideration of your own welfare. Justsit down, and let me inform the President of the Board of Elections ofyour resolution. I shall do that at once. Not for a world would I letyou reconsider this excellent idea. Perhaps you might be over-persuaded, and 'jumped' again by your good friends. "

Again I heard the expression "jumped, " and I sat down to meditate overit. "Have you told Siegfried yet?" asked the Vice-Governor. 

"Not yet, " I said; "but I think he won't greatly object. "

"Who knows? But you will pledge your word that you will stick to yourresignation against all persuasion?"

"Certainly. I'll give you any oath you want, and--well, here is my handon the promise. My resignation is final. "

"Then allow me to congratulate you, and to convince you, by action, whata sensible conclusion you have come to. I should have withheld yourproperty from you until after election, for I feared that generousnature of yours, and was afraid that, if you had free access to youruncle's iron chest, your companions would soon enough have their fistsdeep in it. But, now that you convince me of your good sense, here arethe papers which make you lord of the real and personal property of yourlate uncle, and here is the package with the bank-bills. Pray open andcount them over. The county sheriff will go over with you to take offthe seals from everything, and put you in legal possession. "

I thanked him, and put the money, uncounted, in my coat pocket. Then Ireturned to our former theme, and asked the Vice-Governor if he reallythought that my nomination had put my party to very great expense. 

"Think so?" he exclaimed, "of course, I think so! Why, my dear friend, you are a new man, and considered almost as a foreigner and a scholar, not a patriotic politician! But, if you are really interested in thequestion, you can find out the exact figure which your nomination hascost your party. Just go straight to the County Savings Bank here, andask the amount which Siegfried has drawn on bills signed with his ownname and that of his political friends as security. "

I was stunned. "I never thought of such a thing, " I said. "Siegfriedtold me that he had money at home which he did not want for himself atpresent, and could easily spare. "

The official laughed. "Siegfried, and spare money! Why, what an innocentyou are! If he had money at all, he would leave it on the card-table, heis such a gambler. The fact is, he is on such a sandbank, just atpresent, that it will be fortunate for him if his barque ever getsafloat again. "

"How is that possible? I thought him very well off. "

"He is more than that; he is very rich. His domains are large andbeautiful, and his income is princely; only he is of the opinion that itis mean to keep money, and he spends in six months the income of a year, and in this way he runs into debt. He has practised that for aconsiderable time, and it cannot go on that way much longer. His onlyresource is his maiden aunt, Countess Diodora. It is said--at least, Siegfried says--that she hates men, and will take the veil to become anabbess. In that case her estates will revert to him as next heir. "

"H--m; and do you think Siegfried would feel insulted if I should go tothe Savings Bank and pay those bills of his? Or do you believe that hisfriends would be offended if I took up all the bills, and paid all theexpenses I have caused them?"

"No; although they would pretend to be so for a while, in reality Ithink they would be only too glad. But I will tell you something: youare just such a generous, large-hearted, noble, free-handed fool as yourfather was, and, if you go on the way you have begun, old Diogenes'shoard will go after your father's fortune. Do you know what the two Msin the palm of your hands signify?"

"_Memento mori_, " I said, smilingly. 

"No. Mind money. It means 'Always mind your own money. ' It is the bestadvice I can give you, and the one you stand most in need of. "

I thanked him, and took my leave: no more Mr. Parasite, but on the wayto earn the title he had given me--that of a fool. 

VII. 

A BRILLIANT GAME. 

If I had had a particle of good judgment or common sense, I should havetaken the bills I had paid for at the bank to the solicitor who actedboth for Siegfried and myself, should have authorised that gentleman topay the twenty thousand florins Siegfried had lent me when I came intopossession of my house, and I myself should have written two pleasantletters--one to Countess Diodora, thanking her for her great anddisinterested kindness and hospitality, and the other to Siegfried, notifying him formally of what I had done, and, at the same time, telling him that my resolution was firm, and that no persuasion on hispart would shake it. Then I should have thanked him for his friendship, and finally have taken myself off with all possible speed to Heligoland, Ostend, or some other remote watering-place. After an election campaign, or, as in my case, nearly two campaigns, such an invigorating of thesystem is very commendable. 

All this I should have done as a man of good judgment, but, alas! I wasnot such a man--at any rate, no longer. My judgment had left me, and itwould need a whole pathologico-psychological dissertation to explain howthe process of inserting a rose-scion into a stock can, in a period ofhardly an hour, convert a cool, sensible, and collected man into astark raving madman. 

For a lunatic I was--no doubt about that. Now it was I who wanted toplay the game to the end, and to show to those five companions of minewhich of us could "jump" best. An angel had come to warn me, and hadgiven me a weapon against my adversaries; now I was bound to show herthat I could make proper use of the weapon. There was already a sweetsecret bond between us--her warning, and I was burning to find out thecause, the fountain-head, of that significant partiality shown to me. Why was the angel an angel? The question was all-important to me. 

On arriving at home with the sheriff I found a letter from Siegfried, and on the envelope the inscription, "_Ibi, ubi, cito, citissime_. N. B. Dr. Cornelius Dumany, Esquire. "

The contents of the letter were as follows:--

 "DEAR FRIEND, --Aunt Diodora has her nervous attack, and is dangerously ill. Pray make haste! _Periculum, in mora_. Bring your electro-magnetic apparatus with you, and come at once. --SIEGFRIED. "

The gamekeeper had brought the letter, and said that he had strictorders to wait for me, if it was until midnight. So I despatched mybusiness with the sheriff, gave orders for refreshments for him, and, going into my museum, I took out a watch of the Apafy period, with whichI presented him, and made him perfectly happy. Then I picked out anantique opal bracelet, which Cenni had found exceptionally beautiful, and put it into my pocket as a present for the bride. I would take theceremony _bonâ fide_, and play my part as naturally as possible. 

We drove through Siegfried's game-park, and at the cascades I wasexpected by Baron Muckicza, the other witness. "You are expected likethe Messiah by the Jews, " he cried, and leaped up to me without stoppingthe vehicle. "Cenni and Siegfried are in the chapel already. "

On arriving in front of the chapel, an old Gothic edifice, situated in alarge clearing in the park, we alighted, and I ordered my coachman notto unhitch the horses, but to drive about, and wait for me at the gatein about an hour or more. 

We opened the little gate that led to a large stone crucifix in front ofthe chapel, and found the vestry-clerk and a boy ministrant waiting forus in the entry. Now they tolled the bell hurriedly and briefly, andgave way to us. 

Siegfried and Cenni met us in the chapel. He pressed my hand in evidentexcitement, assuring me of eternal friendship and gratitude for standingby his side at this turning-point of his life, whereupon I returned hisprotestations with equal feeling. The bride, in a dove-colouredtravelling-dress, with a wreath of orange flowers in her blonde locks, and a costly lace shawl as a bridal veil, was an exquisite image of loveand modesty. On seeing me she bashfully hid her face in her hands, exclaiming, "Oh! what will you think of me?" and to Siegfried, imploringly, "Pray let me go back to the house! My God, what a step youhave persuaded me to! Pray let me go back; oh, pray do!" But Siegfriedtenderly held her hands, and persuaded her to go to the good FatherPaphuntius, who was awaiting her in the shriving-pew to receive theconfession of her sins; for, as a good Catholic, she could not marryunshriven. So she simpered and blushed a good deal, and went away towhere the Father, with clean-shaven face--evidently a Ligorian, not aCapuchin--received her with a benediction. 

It was a splendid farce, and admirably acted by almost all the parties. There were two bridesmaids with somewhat rural complexions, and handswhich seemed to swell out of their number seven white gloves, as didtheir robust waists from the tightly-laced silk bodices. Of course, wecalled them "Milady, " and spoke French to them, although it was easy toguess that they were dairy and garden wenches, and the only languagethey understood or spoke was the Slavonic. They blushed and giggled agood deal, and did not feel very much at ease on our arms. 

The ceremony took place in the most solemn and decorous way. FatherPaphuntius delivered a very impressive sermon on domestic virtues andthe fear of God leading to earthly happiness and eternal bliss. Brideand groom kneeled down before the altar and exchanged their vows, whereupon the priest bound their hands together and gave them hisbenediction. 

My hand itched, and I could hardly keep from loudly applauding theacting priest or the preaching actor; but I did not forget that at leastthe place of comedy was really sacred, although profaned by a parcel ofblasphemous roysterers, and so I held my peace and looked on. 

After the ceremony, of course, everybody congratulated the new couple, and I added the opal bracelet to my compliments, and received in returna sweet smile from the fair bride. "You have robbed your collection ofits most precious treasure, " she said, and "It will be made moreprecious by your ladyship's acceptance" was my answer. 

We wrote our names in an old register which was in the vestry. Ipresented the excellent Father Paphuntius with six gold eagles, and thevestry clerk was made happy with as many brand-new and shining silverflorins, while the boy received six glittering quarters--all in thefashion of a real wedding. After that, the new Benedict gave his arm tohis bride. Baron Muckicza and I bowed to the red-faced damsels, with theGerman phrase, "_Darf ich Ihnen meinen Arm bieten, mein Fräulein_, " towhich they answered in classic Slavonian, "_Gyekujem peknye mladi-pan_, "which means, "Thank you very much, young master. " Then we went, _perpedes apostolorum_, to the shooting-box, Father Paphuntius, of course, accompanying us, to feast at the wedding banquet. 

The table fairly groaned under the sumptuous meal. The newly-weddedcouple took the seat of honour. I was placed to the right of the bride, and Musinka, the dairy-wench, sat next to me, as became her position asbridesmaid. Next to the groom sat the priest, then Anyicska, thegarden-wench and second bridesmaid, and at her side, between the twodamsels (the table was round), sat Baron Muckicza. 

We were in excellent humour and rather hilarious, and the affair was avery lively one. At all such revels I have the peculiarity of neverdrinking anything but champagne. All other wine I despise and scorn todrink. Siegfried knew this well, and had given orders that, after thetrout, champagne should be served. The cork was drawn with a loud noise, the wine foamed and sparkled in the glasses, but, when the servant cameto help me, I took the bottle from his hands to look at the label; forthere is a difference in the fluid, and Röderer and Röderer is notalways alike. There are certain symbolical marks on the bottles, wellknown to connoisseurs. On some is a bee, on others an ostrich or anelephant. On this particular bottle was a fly, and I threw the bottle tothe wall with such force that it broke into shivers, and the foamingcontents went splashing into the faces of the company. The reverendFather had just risen, glass in hand, to drink a toast to the happycouple, and Siegfried said, reproachfully--

"My dear fellow, you begin it too early; the bottle-breaking businesscomes after the drinking, not before it. "

"All right, " said I, grumbling, "but if you have a physician as yourmarriage witness, don't treat your wedding company with wine marked witha fly. I know the effect of that poison. "

He smiled mischievously, and, turning, he said in Hungarian, which theFather did not understand, "Don't spoil the game. You'll have anothermark; this is for the Capuchin. I want to 'jump' him. "

"Indeed!" I thought. "Well, I'll 'jump' you both. " The mock priest wasstanding with his glass in hand to begin his toast, when I turned to himand asked--

"Is it not you, my dear Seestern, that plays the Capuchin in Schiller's_Wallenteins's Camp_?"

The man stared at me, and fell back into his chair, with the classicalquotation "_Ha, ich bin erkannt_!" The bride shrieked, and, boundingfrom my side, ran out of the room. The rustic bridesmaids stared at eachother, and asked, "_Csoeto_?" ("What does that mean?") and Siegfried'sfist came down hard on the table. "_Sacré de Dieu_! This is treachery!"and taking hold of my arm, he asked, "Who was it? Who has betrayed thislittle joke?"

I looked him innocently in the face. "Why, my dear Siegfried, it wouldbe unnatural if an old Vienna theatre-goer like me did not knowSeestern, the famous comic actor. I am no country cousin to be cozenedin that way. "

"Well, evidently we have made the reckoning without our host, " said he, grumblingly. "But it is a pity. Such a capital joke it would have been, and you would have laughed most. Still, it can't be helped, so we'llmake the best of the spoiled game. I see the prima donna has thrown offher _rôle_, so you had better go after her, Seestern, and see her safeto the château. Your monk's cowl is a protection in itself. Don't lookdisconcerted; you can come back. Our revel does not end yet; it hashardly begun. You, Muckicza, my dear boy, go out and get in the boys. Tell them the hunt is over; the game has broken fence. "

By this time one of the Slav girls had stuffed her pockets with Frenchcandies and confectionery from the table, and the other drank off thechampagne from all the glasses near. Now Siegfried looked at them, andimperatively motioned to the door. They hurried out, and "my dearfriend" Siegfried and I were face to face, alone. His face wore a gloomyexpression, and he said, in a courtly manner--

"Sir, I am at your service. Do you feel offended by this joke?"

I laughed outright. "I offended? Why should I? Nothing has happened tome. "

"But it would have happened. We intended to give you a little 'jump. '"

"And why?"

"Oh, for nothing! Only you look so funny with that gorilla beard youwear on your face. "

"Indeed? And pray how should I 'jump' as your marriage witness?"

"Has not the person who warned you betrayed the whole scheme?"

"Never you mind. I am not offended; quite the contrary. I like suchpractical jokes, and have taken my revenge beforehand. I have played youan equal trick: I have given my resignation as a candidate thismorning. "

"You cannot mean it! Tell me, are you in earnest?"

"Dear me, no! I am joking; I told you so! But the thing is irrevocablydone, all the same. "

"But how could you do it without consulting the party!--without tellingme! Thunder and lightning! this is no child's play, but a high game; andthere are thousands staked on it! How dare you play fast and loose withus, after all the expenses you have caused us?"

"Oh, if I have a hand in such a game, I generally play it in the properway!" I said, taking out the wallet with Siegfried's bills, and puttingthem all in a row on the table. "You see, this is the way I ventured todo as I did. "

He tried to play the offended man. "Sir, it seems you do not know--"

"Oh, everything, my dear count!" I said, laughingly; "only don't let usmake much ado about nothing. We have both had our joke, and now allow meto beg you for my piece of pasteboard, on which you had the kindness tolend me twenty thousand florins. Here, pray, let me hand you your money. I have it ready for you. "

He gave me my card, but refused the money. "It is paid already, " hesaid. "The amount is included in these bills. "

At that moment Countess Diodora's footman came in, and Siegfried askedif he had come to look for Countess Cenni. "No, " said the man, "CountessCenni is in the château"--("What a good runner she is!" I thought)--"buther ladyship, the Countess Vernöczy--Diodora--is very ill, and begs hishonour, the Dr. Dumany, to be kind enough to come and see her. Theranger has saddled his horse, and is waiting for the prescription totake it to town at once. "

That was an honour indeed, and I lost no time in following the man, andleft Siegfried utterly amazed. "Why, Nell, " he said, "you can workmiracles! You are a Cagliostro, and exercise some powerful, mysteriousinfluence! You must be congratulated on this victory. Fancy Aunt Diodoraconsulting a physician! having a man enter her maiden sanctuary! Itwould not be believed if I told it!"

At the portal of the château I hesitated for a moment. I had grownsuspicious, and suddenly it occurred to me that this might be some otherlittle practical joke, and part of the programme; but I dismissed thethought as base. The countess was a woman--a sick woman; deception inthat line was impossible, at least in my profession. I could not be"jumped. "

In the château everybody went on tiptoe, as usual when Diodora had hernervous attacks, but I did not heed that. My step was as firm as ever;the reverberation of the physician's step is soothing to the patient, and fills him with hope and assurance. 

The servant conducted me to the room in which Countess Flamma sat; theadjacent room was that of the sufferer. Flamma sat reading before thelamp when I entered. She laid down the book, got up, and extended herhand. "Diodora expects you impatiently. She is more excited than ever, and has just driven out Cenni because she smelt of wine. "

"So Cenni was here already, possibly for the sake of an _alibi_. "

"Don't speak of that! She told me all that has occurred. Have you drunkwine also, or is your breath pure? Bend down a little, so. You are allright, and I'll take you to Diodora; only wait here a little. "

She went in, but returned instantly, and beckoned me to follow her intoa boudoir lighted by a lamp with a shade of green glass. Rich tapestryhangings divided the apartment. Flamma drew the hangings partly aside, motioned me to go near, and left the room, softly closing the entrance. 

So I was here on that sacred spot, the first and only male being alivewho had ever been granted the privilege of seeing the sublime Diodora onher couch. Only her head and arms were visible--such arms as might havebeen lost by the Venus of Milo and found by this, her divine sister. Thethick tresses of raven hair were uncoiled and scattered in rich skeinson the pillows and the coverlet. One of the silken coils fell downheavily to the carpet, and another was thrown high over the sculpturedornaments of the mahogany bedstead. It was an _embarras de richesses_rarely met with; and in the rich and precious braids the ivory fingerswere clutched, dishevelling them, tearing at them, in the excess ofpain. The beautiful face was pale and lustrous, the eyes bright andglittering, surrounded by broad, dark blue circles; the lips wereparted, and the breath came short. Her hands were hot and dry, and thepulse beat intermittently. When I laid my hand on her head and my thumbpressed against the crown, she groaned--"Yes, there it is. Hell itself, with all its tortures!"

My hands went down on her neck, between the _musculus cucullaris_ andthe _sternocleido mastoideus_. "Ah, that is the way the pain goes down, "she sighed; and when I asked, "Will your ladyship give me leave to makeuse of my skill?" she answered, "Don't call me 'ladyship'! I am nocountess now; I am nothing but a suffering animal, and you may call mewhat you please. Give me the title of dog, so you can help me. "

"Then pray sit up first, and let me gather and secure your hair; ithinders my movements. "

She obeyed; and, while I gathered the loose tresses and coiled themaround the head, the coverlet slipped down unnoticed, and the lacenightgown, torn open by the restless fingers, revealed the marble bustand shoulders; but for the physician, in the execution of hisprofessional duty, female charms do not exist. The warm, soft, creamyskin is nothing to him but epidermis, _stratum mucosum Malpighii_; thewhite, sculptured neck only the _regio nuchć_, and then comes the _regioscapularis_, the _deltoidea_, and then the _sacrospinalis_. 

What a fuss they make about that ascetic who resisted the temptationsof the flesh when tried by the evil spirit in the shape of Lilith! Whatwould that famous saint have done, how would he have behaved, if he hadbeen called to rub this soft, velvety, odorous flesh, the fascinating, peerless body, with his hands? Who knows if then the Catholic Church hadnot boasted of one saint less? Indeed, indeed, we modern physicians havemore of the saint in our disposition--in general, of course. 

The effect of the treatment appeared at once in soft, voluptuous sighsof relief, deep and long-drawn; in the magnetic showers of the body Irecognised a sure token which that mysterious disorder in the veins, lymphs, and nerves reveals in the ganglia. A firm pressure of the bicepswith full fist, a pressure of the thumb against the _rhomboideus_, madeher exclaim, "Oh, that has done me good!" Then she began to shiver, thebody ceased to be hot and dry, and perspiration set in. She laughedinvoluntarily, her teeth chattering with cold, and then she sighedagain, and said, gratefully, "I feel as if you had saved me fromdrowning in an ocean of hot oil. " I was at the _regio palmarum_, rubbingher hands and fingers, cracking each of them. "Thank you, " said she;"that will do. I feel much better. "

But I told her that my work was only half done as yet and had to befinished, or else the attack would return. The object was to gainregular circulation of the blood throughout the whole body. This is nowitchcraft, but plain mechanical aid to the action of the live organism. 

But now that her sense had returned, her bashfulness returned also. "Could not the remaining part of the treatment be executed by a woman?"she asked. 

"Yes, if she has studied anatomy, visited the dissecting-room regularly, and knows every particle in the structure of the human body; otherwise, a quack may do just as much mischief with the pressure of her unskilledhands on the outside of your body as with a bottle of quack medicine toyour inner system. It is hard to make you open your eyes to the factthat the organic structure of the human body is a more wonderful, muchmore admirable work of creation than the starry heaven. When, at a word, the muscles of your face move to a smile of pleasure, or your eyes arefilled with tears of joy, sorrow, or compassion such a complicatedmachinery is set in motion that no mechanical iron structure on earthcan be found half as involved or half as complete; and a person notthoroughly acquainted with the qualities and parts of this wonderfulapparatus will prove a tormenting executioner, not a healing physician, to the sufferer. Be patient, milady, the physician at the bed of hispatient is of the neuter gender--just as the angels are. "

"Then--be an angel!"

I did my duty. The _musculus risorius_ was moving already. A happy smileplayed on her face, the pale face regained its colour, and then theinvoluntary smile gave way to involuntary tears. After this she fellasleep; so deep, so peaceful was her sleep that the _aponeurosisplantaris_ did not disturb her, although there are few or none who areable to undergo the process of having the soles of their feet rubbed. 

She slept, and there she lay in all her sublime beauty, like somewonderful marble statue, the image of a goddess. I took the coverlet, onwhich the Vernöczy crest--a nymph rising out of a shell, holding aparther long, golden hair--was embroidered, and covered up the fair sleeper, folding the blanket well on the feet to prevent evil dreams. Then I letdown the curtains to shut out the lamplight, and left the room. 

On the thick, soft carpet, my step was noiseless, and Countess Flammawas not aware of my presence. I entered the room in which she sat beforea little table, her palms clutched together, her pale, beautiful facebent over a book. It seemed to be a very interesting book, for she wasentirely lost in the contents. I waited until she finished the page, butshe did not turn the leaf, but re-read the same page again and again. "Countess!" I said, deferentially. She looked up and hastily closed thebook. The silver filigree cross on the purple velvet cover betrayed theprayer-book. What prayer was that of which she did not tire, but read itover and over repeatedly?

She gazed at me in evident wonder, and her eyes sparkled like twoshining orbs. "You have returned?" she exclaimed, as if in doubt of mybodily reality. 

"Countess Diodora is asleep, " I said, "and will not wake until themorning. Pray, take care not to disturb her. "

"And--you--you--did not remain--there?" pointing to the room I left. 

"I have done all I could, and my staying would be of no use to her. Towatch her sleep would do no good to her and be tiresome to me. "

From the shooting-box shouts of revelry reverberated up to us. "You aregoing back to them?" she asked. 

"No. I have finished my business with Siegfried, and told him that I hadrevoked my nomination. "

"You have really done it?"

"Certainly. I have also paid the election expenses up to date, andthanked Siegfried for his good intentions. Henceforth we shall befriendly neighbours, but not friends. Now give me leave to saygood-night to you. To-morrow morning I'll drive over to pay aprofessional visit to Countess Diodora. "

"Don't go home now, " she said, holding my hand; "the night is dark, andsomething might happen to you. I have prepared a room for you here inthe château, with auntie's permission, and you will stay. Henceforth, whenever you come to Vernöcze, you will come straight here, not to theshooting-box. "

The blood rushed up to my face, and then back to my heart with athrobbing sensation. A tingling noise like the sound of bells was in myears, and for a moment the whole universe seemed to have but one realfixed star--the fair, pale face before me. "Will you stay?" she asked, with a sweet smile and a pressure of her hand; and I ask, Is there onearth a Cicero or a Demosthenes so eloquent as the pressure of awoman's hand when it speaks?

I thought I knew all. I had sounded the mystery of her warning to me, and in that moment of overwhelming bliss I do not know what I did. Had Ikissed her hand? Had I said anything? given a promise or received one? Ido not know; but that my head was dizzy, and my heart filled with aworld of joy, that I remember. 

VIII. 

A BITING KISS. 

The valet conducted me to the room assigned to me, and carried my ordersto my coachman to unhitch the horses, and send up my necessaries. "Willit please your honour to take some tea?" asked the valet. 

"Thanks, " said I, "I won't take anything. But you will greatly oblige meif you will send me a bowl with warm water; I want to shave. "

"Certainly, sir. The chambermaid will fetch it at once. "

I had resolved to shave. Good-bye to Chauvinism and nationalpeculiarity! I wanted a smooth, clean face, as I had had before I hadgiven way to vanity and political ambition. From this day on I ceased tobe a clay figure in the hands of juggling quacks. I was Dr. Dumanyagain, and would remain so for life. 

As I sat before the mirror, looking at my own face, I could not repressa smile. That beard of a few weeks' growth lent me an appearance thatwas nearly akin to that of a gorilla. I took a pair of scissors andclipped off the hair; then I prepared the soap and razor for shaving thebristles. A woman, whom I took to be the chambermaid, set a bowl ofwater before me, and, as I am not in the habit of looking closely atchambermaids, I said, "Thank you, " prepared the lather, and commencedshaving. 

The woman was yet standing beside me, and, as I thought she was waitingfor orders, I said, without turning--

"Much obliged, my dear; you need not wait. I shall not want anythingthis evening. "

"May I not send you a cup of tea?"

I started, and the razor in my hand gave a great jerk, happily not intomy face: the woman I had taken for a chambermaid was Cenni. 

"Oh, " I said, "it is you!"

She laughed, and said, with a mock obeisance, "Yes, sir. " But, lookingat me in the mirror, she laughed again, and said--"Only go on. I amwaiting for the Byron face to appear again, when these stalks are sweptoff. We can talk a little meanwhile. "

"Indeed? But, you see, there is one more forbidden subject between us. There are four now: the step-ladder, the Sultan of Morocco, thesea-dove, and now Father Paphuntius. "

"It's astonishing how sharp you are; almost as keen as your razor. Onlytake care, you may cut your own skin!"

"Not likely. My hand is skilled in using knives. Am I mistaken insupposing that you have come to ask for secrecy on my part?"

"Not altogether. That was a part of my motive in coming. "

"You magnanimously promised me a kiss for keeping the other secrets. What will be my fee for this?"

"A bite, and yet a kiss. It will hurt you, and yet it is meant as acaress--like those biting kisses which some over-fond mothers bestow ontheir little ones, and make them cry. "

"Thank you, I am ready to accept it, and shall do my best not to cry. "

"Don't be too sure of that. Take care of the blade in your hand! I halfthink I ought to postpone my revelations, because as long as thisshaving process serves you as a pretext for making grimaces, I cannotclearly detect the real impression my words are making on you. Would youmind laying down that razor for a while, and leave off making faces andholding the tip of your own nose?"

"Impossible. I have heard of Janus having two different faces--one forpeace, smooth and smiling sweetly; the other for war, frowning andthreatening, and clothed with a grizzly beard. But I myself always showan honest impartiality to friend or foe. "

"Oh, I daresay that you condemn and despise me, for, foolish andconceited as you are, you scarcely know how to distinguish betweenfriend and foe. You think the misfortune that little pleasantry wouldhave brought upon you highly important, whereas, if carried out asintended, it would have saved you from real harm and real degradation. "

"What? If I had played that game to the end and had caused you, thepretended bride of another man, to elope with me, it would have been tomy advantage? Is that the quintessence of cynicism, or sublime_naďveté_?"

"No. It is plain truth, and you will find it out with a vengeance! Onlythen it will be too late for repentance. You have been told that I lentmy aid to play a trick which would have made you the laughing-stock ofall your acquaintances. I tell you if you had only gone on, unforewarned, you would have come out a hero and the master of them all. Only then you would have known me as I truly am, and not as I choose toappear. I have been slandered to you, and you think me a she-devil atleast, because I like a joke, and look everybody in the face, and not upto heaven like a saint, or down to earth like a sinner. I also look likea bold word, and am no more a hypocrite in words than I am in deeds;and, first of all, I never make use of calumny to gain my own ends. Iknow who has told you that I was a Satanella. Flamma, the--'angel. ' Ofcourse, everybody who is acquainted with us will tell you that she _is_an _angel_, and that I am a devil at least, because I have cat's-eyes, asharp tongue, and a quick temper, whereas she has the face of a Madonna, the disposition of a nun, and--she knows how to keep her own counsel. Her mouth is only opened when necessary to her own purposes; in such acase she does not recoil from the basest slander. Do you think I did notwatch you two at that rose-bed? That I did not notice the glitter inyour eye, the excited shaking of your hands? And do you know why she didit? Because the day before I had boldly told you to win Diodora. Thatshe could not forgive me, and do you know why? You remember your answer. It was when you told us the tragic story of your friend and the moral, that you were wary of the caprices of aristocratic heiresses. Now--shethought--if this is so? Here is a girl without a penny of her own, witha mock title which does not belong to her; if he disbelieves inheiresses, he may believe in her, and that is a state of things not tobe endured. Let us spoil that little private game of Miss Nobody, because we have a reason for wanting the light-headed, easily-deceivedfellow for ourselves. But do you know that reason? Can you guess it?"

The knife was at my throat literally; but she laughed a short, harshlaugh, and continued--

"Ha! ha! You come from them. You have been called to the divinity toadmire her in her sublime loveliness, and you have treated her as clay, and played the _rôle_ of the Messiah, Who drove out the demons by thetouch of His hands. How she must despise you--nay, hate you--for thatproof of your preference for Psyche over Anadyomene! How thatsweet-winged creature, Psyche, must have pressed your hand, and lookedup to you with a sweet, promissory smile as you kissed her hand andprofessed yourself her most obedient slave for ever after! Although youought to remember your friend's story well enough! When you told it, yousaid, 'I am nothing but a runaway doctor, an expelled Member ofParliament, and a Slav king'; now you shave your face and say, 'I am amarvellously powerful man, and endowed with magical charms. I shall be aking of hearts!'"

My face was smooth and clean. I poured some _eau de Cologne_ in the bowlof water, dipped a sponge into it, and washed my face, drying it with asoft towel. "Oh, you are quite handsome enough!" she said, mockingly;"you can show your Byron face; 'I come, I see, I conquer, ' is written onyour forehead. But now I am not jesting; and listen to me, or repent ituntil your dying hour! If you succeed in winning the divinity you may bea slave, but a cherished slave. You will not know the blessing of love, but you will also be free of the pangs of jealousy and of shame. Butbeware of the angel! I tell you, if that rose-scion which you bothinserted the other day germinates and comes to bloom, deadly despairwill be your lot, and the angel's rose will kill you with foul poison!Beware, I say! Cut that scion while you have the opportunity, and thengo to the end of the world to be safe from the angel's revenge!Remember, I have warned you!"

She had gone to the door, but at the threshold she turned and said--"Ihave given you the biting kiss I promised. Much good it may do you!"

With that she went out, but her biting kiss had not hurt me. My heartwas full of hope and joy. This girl's impotent jealousy had convinced meof the reality of my happiness. I was beloved, and I loved again; andcould the venomous tongue of a jealous woman incense me against an angellike Flamma? True love is like pure gold, and the acid of calumny doesnot destroy it, but gives new proof of its value. I loved Flamma, andFlamma loved me. This was enough of bliss, enough to keep me all nightin a waking dream, in a transport of exquisite joy. 

IX. 

WHO IS THE VISITOR?

I waited impatiently for the daybreak. At the first dawn I was up anddressed, and taking long strides on the garden path. How long would itbe until the ladies were up, and willing to receive me? Even theservants were asleep yet. I strolled on aimlessly until I found myselfunexpectedly at the dairy, which was quite a grand establishment, wheretwenty milch cows of the Aargau breed were milked daily, and a deliciouscheese manufactured. Siegfried had told me some time before that, assoon as the railway was extended to the neighbouring town--a prospectwhich was expected to be realised shortly--he would have a branch laidon, at his own expense, to his dairy. Anyicska and Masinka, the twobridesmaids of last evening, met me at the gate, and were very officiousin showing me in, and while Anyicska brought me a cup of excellent sweetmilk, Masinka brought some spongy rye bread, fresh from the oven, upon asalver. Of course, this was offered as a bribe for my secrecy on thetopic of last night, and I promised them not to tell Countess Diodorahow they had been employed at the mock wedding. Poor things, why shouldI betray them for obeying orders? So I graciously accepted myhush-money, which was less subtle and more substantial than that offeredby the fair bride herself; and they told me that the revelry had lastedalmost until cock-crow. They all had capital fun. The Father had sunghighly amusing songs. The girls had been called back after my departure, and then, with the other companions who were called in, the merry-makinghad reached a very high pitch. Of course, Cenni had not returned tothem. 

As I gave them my promise of silence they thanked me, and in return theytold me that, with my smooth face, I was a much handsomer-looking fellowthan last night, with that beard on my cheeks and chin; and I wasconceited enough to pocket the compliment and believe in its truth. 

Breakfast was served to me in my room. The ladies were up, but CountessDiodora was too weak to preside as usual at the breakfast-table. Irequested the honour of paying her a professional visit, and was toldthat she would be glad to see the "doctor. "

The room in which she received me was a magnificent _salon_, with abalcony in front. When I entered, the doors and windows were wide open;the rays of the sun darted through the filmy lace curtains; it was a"_tableau en plein air_" that met my eye. Countess Diodora, in amauve-coloured silk dressing-gown, rested on a settee. Before her was alittle Venetian mosaic table, and on it a tea-tray. Diodora seemed to bein excellent spirits, and looked beautiful; the suffering of last nighthad not told on her complexion the least bit. She wore a black lacescarf to conceal her hair, which was still in the state in which I hadcoiled and pinned it, except that a great ornamental tortoise-shellcomb, of yellow hue, had been thrust into it. Opposite to the countess, on two embroidered stools, sat the two girls, engaged in finishing theJapanese sunbird; and in the balcony door stood Siegfried, smoking acigarette, and blowing the smoke--in consideration of his aunt--out ofthe door. I thought it would have been more considerate still if he hadnot smoked at all. As I entered, the thought seemed to occur to him thatthe business of smoking would be best despatched on the balcony, so heescaped the difficulty of looking me in the face. Cenni also found apretext for retiring; she took the tea-tray from the little table andleft the room with it. Countess Diodora, Flamma, and myself remained inthe room. I asked the countess how she felt, and whether she had enjoyeda peaceful sleep, and she answered, with rapture--

"I slept deliciously, as I never have before since my childhood; and Ihad such delightful dreams! I fancied I was a child again, and rambledin the garden chasing butterflies. You have worked miracles, andhenceforth I shall believe in you as in an oracle. I revoke all I havesaid against your profession and science, and confide myself entirelyinto your hands. The first touch of your hand had a magic effect on me, and afterward I felt as if you had taken my vile body of clay from me, joint by joint, with the witchcraft of your fingers, and given me a new, better, and more perfect form. I felt as if you had lent me wings, andthat now I could rise with you up above the clouds, captivated by yourmesmeric influence upon me. Moon and stars seemed to remain far belowme, and you were guiding me up to a strange world, full of unknown andeternal bliss. Oh, why cannot this transport of exquisite pleasure lastfor ever? Indeed, indeed, I do not know how to express the gratitude Iowe you!"

Diodora said this to me in the presence of Flamma, and in the hearing ofSiegfried, who, on the balcony, could hear every word through the opendoor; and, as she said it, her great Juno-like eyes rested on mine withan expression of enthusiastic admiration. Yes! such might have been thelook which the goddess bestowed on poor, silly Ixion as she lured him onand then--left a cloud in his arms. 

But do you know why that look failed to infect me as it had Ixion?Because I had been inoculated against the infection by another look lastnight--a look from the violet eyes of Flamma. 

I rose from my seat, and, throwing myself into an attitude befitting aceremonious announcement, I said--

"Countess, to be of service to you is a happiness to me. Pray dispose ofme. If I can convert your pains into pleasures, I shall consider thehappy result as the highest reward. Your ladyship's gracious words atthis moment inspire me with boldness; so much so that I feel encouragedto lay the hidden secret of my heart, the cherished wish of my life, inyour hands. If you deign to accept my confession and grant my desire, you will bind me to your service for life, in attaching me to yourfamily. "

I shall never in life forget that proud, repellent lifting of her headas I spoke. Diana might have looked so at Actćon, although, poor fellow, he had never come so near to the virgin charms of that Olympian lady asI to those of the queenly virgin before me on the preceding night. Herforehead seemed to gain in height, her eyes retreated behind the lashes, her lips were pressed together, and her nostrils dilated. In looking atme her chin doubled, and she seemed the personification of haughtydisdain. 

"My dear doctor, " she said, with proud emphasis on the "doctor, " "itseems you have misinterpreted my words. I have never thought ofencouraging you in desires such as you this moment expressed. "

I bent my head deeper still. "Dear countess, allow me to say that themisconstruction is on your side. I did not intend the bold request whichyou seem to impute to me; I simply beg leave to ask for the hand of yourniece. "

Her whole disposition seemed to change on hearing this, and she brokeinto a long, ringing, scornful laugh--the laugh of offended vanity, ofangered pride; such a laugh as women use to mask their disappointmentand jealousy, and the rising of their temper. 

"Ha! ha! ha! Ah! ha! ha! The little Cenni! Ha! ha! So it is true, and Ihave guessed right? Ha! ha! ha! And the little fool has run out; sheguessed the object of your visit. Ha! ha! ha! It's wonderful! My niece, the little Cenni--Countess Cenni! Oh, what a perfect match! Ha! ha! ha!"

I did not disturb the explosion of her mirth. As a physician I knew thatit impaired the health of a nervous woman if she was interrupted in hervagaries. At the sound of her laughter Siegfried re-entered and asked, "What is it now?"

Diodora explained, laughing hysterically, that their dear, commonfriend, Dr. Dumany, had just now asked for the hand of little Cenni. 

"Very well, " said Siegfried, "serves him right. Let him have her, by allmeans!"

"I beg both your pardons, " I said, "but it seems to me as if themisunderstanding between us is becoming chronic. I very much admire, buthave no intention of marrying--Miss Klara. "

"Ah!" Like Semiramis she stood before me. "Who has told you that therewas such a person--a Miss Klara--existing in this house?"

Retreat was impossible. I looked at Flamma, and she answered with anencouraging nod; so I replied to the countess's imperious inquiries--

"Lady Flamma. "

"Yes, it was I, " said Flamma, rising from her seat, and stepping to myside. 

"You shall pay dear to me for this!" cried Siegfried, with a threateninglook; but I took her hand, and said--

"Pray compose yourself. This lady stands under my protection. I havedone myself the honour to ask for her hand, and I wait for yourdecision. "

"Show the Devil your finger, and he will take your hand; treat a peasantwith kindness, and he will think himself your equal, " said he, with asneer. 

"Siegfried!" said Diodora, "I beg you not to forget that this is myroom, and that my guests are not to be insulted in my presence. Thisaffair does not concern you in the least. "

"But if he is impertinent?" growled he. 

"Perhaps the count might be more careful in his choice of language, "said I, proudly, "if he would consider that a Dumany fought as a knightand a soldier under the national tricolour at Mount Thabor, while thefirst Vernöczy was still serving as a humble shepherd on the Verhovina. "

I was sorry for this as soon as I said it, for I had offended Flammaalso; but the bitter pill had the desired effect, inasmuch as the wholearistocratic family regained their usual lymphatic composure. 

"Flamma, " said Diodora, coldly, "have you given this gentleman the rightto claim your hand?"

"Yes. "

"Then--I do not object, " and she motioned with her hand. I understoodthe gesture, and extended my hand to Flamma. She accepted it, and Ibowed and kissed her hand. That was our betrothal. Siegfried took out acigarette, lighted it, and blow the smoke at the chandelier. 

"I had other intentions concerning Flamma's future, " said Diodora again, "but, since her choice has fallen on you, I am satisfied--at least, Ido not object. Only I beg of you not to delay your nuptials. Have themcelebrated as soon as possible, for I intend to go to Heligoland--to trythe baths. "

To Heligoland!--that was the place I should have gone to, if I hadlistened to good sense--and to Cenni. 

"Certainly, " I said; "I am only too happy in the prospect. If you willgive me leave I shall hasten to Szepes-Váralja, to the bishop, for adispensation, and, as soon as I am in possession of that document, Ishall return, and we can have the ceremony performed the day after myreturn. "

"Then I should also wish, " said Diodora again, "that the wedding mightbe altogether a simple family affair, with no strangers as witnesses. "

"Your ladyship expresses my own wishes. "

"If so, we might have the ceremony performed here, in our chapel. "

I remembered Father Paphuntius. "No, I'll have nothing to do with thatchapel. "

Siegfried smiled as he guessed the reason of my embarrassed silence, andthen Flamma smiled, and Diodora also. At last, as a smile has a soothingeffect on everybody, we all laughed. "No, " said Diodora, "I was notspeaking of the park hermitage. We have a chapel here in the château, and if we do not invite too many we shall have room enough. "

"I shall invite no one but a single witness as my best man. "

"But do not ask me to fill that position, " said Siegfried; "for I aminvited to go buffalo-hunting in Volhynia, and shall start to-morrow. "

"There is something else, " said Diodora. "After the wedding ceremony Ishall hand you over Flamma's dowry, which she has inherited from hergrandfather. It consists of a million of florins in good bonds. "

I bowed in silence, looking at Flamma. 

"No; this is a matter which concerns you as well as her, and you mustknow that her grandfather laid down the condition that if she, guided bywhatever motive, should release herself from the bonds of the Catholicreligion, she should lose everything, and surrender the inheritance tocollateral relatives. "

"I cannot think that such an event could take place at any time. "

"Time will show. "

There was a long pause, and I thought best to take my leave. I turnedfirst to Flamma, who laid both her hands in mine, and, looking up to me, asked me softly to return soon. Then Diodora languidly extended her handto me, and I bowed over it with cool, studied politeness, and as Ilooked up I saw that Siegfried thought fit to shake my hand in honour ofthe new relation between us. He even went so far as to embrace me. "Godbless you, my dear--cousin, " he said, laughingly; but, thank God, he didnot think it necessary to kiss me!

A week later Flamma and I were married. Everything went on in theregular way. No objection, no obstacle was raised. The ceremony washeld in Vernöcze in the afternoon, and the same evening I was free totake my bride home to Dumanyfalva. From one of the great portals I drovewith Flamma; from the other, Diodora and Cenni started on a trip toHeligoland. Siegfried had gone to Volhynia six days before. 

If you think that with this marriage my story is at an end, you aremistaken; it has hardly begun. It is a strange story, and not pleasantto dwell on; but you shall judge for yourself. 

X. 

AFTER THE WEDDING. 

So overwhelming was my happiness that I sometimes fancied that it wasall a dream, and that I should wake to find myself in my formercondition. In one short week I had had my old mansion refurnished in astyle worthy of the high-born and gently-reared bride who was to inhabitit; and I thought what joy it would give me if she should walk throughthe halls and chambers of her new home, and find everything arranged tosuit her own delicate and refined taste, and answering all herrequirements as to beauty and comfort. 

And then I had dreamt of the first supper we should eat at home at ourown table; each dish an inviting delicacy, deliciously prepared; and yetwe should hardly taste of it, our palates thirsting for differentfeasts. 

And now this dream had become a reality, and I looked at my beloved, andtried to catch a glance of her beautiful, downcast eyes. I had as yetnever enjoyed the privilege of a kiss from her lips, and I was longingfor one; but when I tried to draw her close to me, she whispered, "Don't, we shall be observed by the servants!"

At last the meal was over, and we rose from the table. 

"Pray lead me to your work-room. I have yet to hand you over my dowry. "

I laughed. "Time enough for that a week or more hence. No? Well, any dayyou please; but not now. " Still she persisted. 

"It has to be done this evening. I can't keep it any longer. You did notaccept of it from Diodora, so you must take it from me. It is no longermy own--it is yours. "

"Dearest, there is no such distinction existing! Since this blessedmorning neither of us can claim possession of anything that is notcommon to both alike. What is mine is all yours, and what is yours Iclaim all for myself! For the marriage tie has made us one for ever!"

"But pray come, " she said again; "I have the chest with the securitieshere with me, and I should like to have it all over. "

I sighed and obeyed. At the door of my study she left me for a moment, returning instantly with a rosewood chest, richly ornamented withsilver. On one of her bracelets a tiny filigree key was dangling; withthis key she opened the chest, and then, stepping back, she said--

"Convince yourself. The contents must amount to exactly one million offlorins. "

"I am quite convinced, " I said, "and accept it as correct. "

"That you shall not. Let us take out everything, and reckon up theamount. " With that she took the papers out herself, and I had to sitdown, take slate and pencil, while she dictated to me the value of eachbond, its title, and, looking into every one, she satisfied herself thatthe coupons were attached to it. 

In the abstract it may seem rather a pleasant occupation for a marriedcouple to reckon up a million of money as their joint property; but, inthis concrete instance, to spend the wedding-night in a study, makingpecuniary computation, is the pinnacle of pedantry. 

At last it was done; and, as I computed it, I made the total to be onemillion and twenty-five thousand florins. 

"How is that possible?" she asked. 

I had to explain to her the fluctations of the market price in relationto the nominal value, which was the basis of our computation. 

"Then let us look for the market-price of the bonds as it is at present. I know it is to be found in every newspaper, " and with that she took oneup from the table, looked for the exchange report, and dictated again, "Hungarian real estate bonds, 85; Lower-Austrian, 88; Transylvanian, 82, etc. "

This time we have thirty thousand florins less than the million. 

"How is that possible?" she asked again. 

"Dearest, " said I, "let that be! What does it matter if--"

"But it does matter. My grandfather left me exactly one million; neithermore nor less. So I must find out this balance of thirty thousand, also. "

"Maybe, at the time when he bequeathed this money to you the price ofthese securities was higher than at present, " I suggested. 

"That is possible. But then there ought to be some list, or somethingelse relating to it. Let me look it over again. "

Great heavens! she took everything out again, and searched for a lastyear's exchange list. A crumbled yellow newspaper clipping was found, and then the whole process had to be repeated again; and now thank God, the million came out even! I drew a great sigh of relief; but I hadtriumphed too soon. She asked for pen and ink, and, as I got up from theseat before the writing-desk, she sat down and wrote on each of thebonds, deeds, obligations, mortgages, etc. , her own name--"Flamma MariaDumany of Dumanyfalva, _née_ Countess Vernöczy of Vranicsa, " in a clear, almost masculine hand. 

"What is the use of this, dearest?" I asked. 

"You know, " she replied, "all these papers, as yet, bear the name of mygrandfather, and we could not realise upon them as they are. I mustfirst write my own name upon each. "

"But we do not want to realise on them. "

"That you don't know--at present. "

"But there would be time for this on some future day. "

"No. Pray compose yourself. I have to finish this now. "

And she did finish it. On two hundred different securities she wrote, inbold, large letters, her full name, and I stood there and looked on inhelpless despair. 

At last there was an end of it. She put the papers in the chest again, handed me the key, and begged me to lock everything up in the safe. Iobeyed, in the ardent hope that at last I had done with papers andaccounts. 

"There is something else I have to hand over to you, " said Flamma, as Istepped nearer; and, drawing from the pocket of her dress an envelope, she handed me an official-looking document, fastened with tri-colouredtape, with a large official seal upon it. It was a power of attorneyfrom Flamma Maria, Countess Vernöczy of Vranicsa, to her husband Dr. Cornelius Dumany of Dumanyfalva, giving him full authority over herdowry, consisting of real estate, bonds, etc. , to the amount of onemillion of florins, and authorising him to sell or retain or use theaforesaid securities according to his own need or pleasure, and withoutprevious consultation with any person, his wife included. 

"Dearest, " I said, "this is very generous of you; but there is no needof any such document to give me proof of your confidence. "

"I did not intend it as such a proof. "

"Then what was your intention?"

"To give you no cause to accuse me of meanness. You shall not say that Ileft you on your wedding-day without a shilling in your pocket, as yourfriend was left on the Isle of Wight. "

I gazed at her, at the pale face that was even paler than usual, andcold and inanimate as a block of ice. 

"Flamma!" I cried, "what does it mean? How am I to take this?"

"As a confession. That other man has made me--his--wife. "

"Flamma!"

She stood there, pale, cold, statue-like, and her voice sounded likethat of an automaton. I felt like one stupefied, like one who had meantto enter the gates of paradise and found himself in a sea of fire andbrimstone. 

"Who is the man?" I stammered. 

"Siegfried. "

"And why did he not marry you, if--"

"Because he is married already. His wife lives in Egypt, and he cannotget a legal divorce from her. "

"And why have you married me? For we are married. The ceremony of thisafternoon was real, not a comedy like that other?"

"No; we are married. When that--misfortune--happened to me Siegfriedpromised to marry me to some distinguished gentleman who might give me agood name and an acceptable position, so that the marriage should needno explanation. "

"When was that?"

"Three months ago. "

"At the time I arrived from Vienna?"

"Yes. "

"Was that the reason for his instantaneous proffer of friendship?"

"Yes. "

"And for that reason I was nominated for Parliament?"

"Yes, but that also was the cause of your first failure. It wasSiegfried who bribed the witnesses against you. He wanted to crush yourpride, draw you closer to him, bring you into close connection with anddependence upon our homes and us. "

"So it was all a conspiracy?"

"Yes. "

"And Cenni's mock-marriage and your betrayal of the scheme?"

"Were meant to win your confidence. "

"So Cenni co-operated with you?"

"She had to. At first she opposed it, and meant to win you for herself. She is a poor girl, and dependent on Diodora's charity; and she had togive way. "

"And Diodora?"

"It was she who designed the whole plot. Her sickness that night wassimulated in order to bring you near me, and to encourage you to theproposal. "

This whole discourse, so closely resembling a cross-examination, hadaltogether the appearance of such an interrogatory as a magnetiser wouldaddress to his subject; and the answers I received were given with theplain, involuntary precision characteristic of hypnotised persons. Shestood there before me, with her hands clasped in each other; thatseraph-face of hers, that seemed the type of innocence and purity, without a tinge of colour, although her dreadful confession was enoughto paint the cheeks of the most degraded woman with the colour of shame. She seemed to have no bashfulness, no sense of shame, and to be whollyincapable of realising her offence. And I had not believed in a Devil!Here he was before me, in the shape of this fair woman, who had temptedme with her angel's mien to sell my soul for her, and now she wasdragging me down with her to eternal damnation! And the other one hadwarned me! She had told me with that "biting kiss" of hers that thisseeming angel was no angel, but a Devil to kill me body and soul. Shehad told me that this fair rose was full of foul poison, and her warninghad filled me with vain conceit and enhanced my love for my executioner. I saw it now. Cenni had meant to make that elopement real; and if I hadtaken her she would have given me her love, as this one had given me heraccursed million. Money to pay for my honest name, money for my lostlife and happiness, money to bribe me to the endurance of these hellishtortures!

Impossible! I cannot believe that human nature can be so vile, somiserably cunning and treacherous. This is some evil dream, some test, perhaps, of the sincerity of my love and trust in her. 

"Flamma!" I said--"dearest! do not continue this ugly jest. I cannothear foul words come out of your pure mouth;" and I tried to take herhand. But she drew back. 

"I have told you the truth, " she said, with a repellent gesture. 

The truth! The truth! This shameful, horrid confession was the truth?Like an idiot or a lunatic I stared, gazing before me, with scarcely athought in my stunned, aching head. A Calabrian dagger lay before me onthe table. I had taken it from the museum, and used it forpaper-cutting. Upon the steel blade was graven, in golden letters, "_Buona notte_;" and "_Buona notte! buona notte_, " I kept incoherentlymurmuring. 

"Have you no other question to address to me?" she asked, in a tremulusvoice. 

I shook my head, and pointed to the door, and, like a wooden puppet, sheturned and disappeared through it. At the moment when her back wasturned something like a flame flashed through my brain and body. For aninstant I felt a mad impulse to rush after her, and with one bound burythis two-edged knife in her heart. Yes, in her heart; but from behind, just as they had stabbed me unawares, like assassins. My better selfkept me back. My Uncle Diogenes rose before me. "Never quarrel with, never hurt a woman!" and my professional instinct was awakened. I shouldthen have destroyed two lives; with the guilty I should have slain theinnocent--a life which was in God's keeping as yet. Now the door closedbehind her, and I had let the only opportunity for a deadly revenge uponthe woman who had tricked me pass by neglected. Had I killed her at thatmoment I should have washed off the stain she had brought on my name inher own blood. "Look, " I might have said, "she was led astray by anotherman, and I have killed her; it was my right and my duty!" This I couldno longer do. She had escaped, and would live on safe and unharmed, andI should be dead and buried alive. I remembered now how confused theylooked, Cenni and she, when I related to them the story of my friend, and how I had prided myself on my own prudence and good sense! And thetrap was already laid for me, and I, who had thought myself safe fromevery such danger, here was I, on my wedding night, left alone, insulted, degraded as he was. No, not quite. He had had no money, and Ihad received a million. I had been paid for my disgrace, bribed for myinfamy with money!

Great Jehovah, Whose vengeance is mighty, lend me Thine ear! No! Thouart too just and upright, I'll have nothing from Thee! Turn from me! Iwill none of Thy advice, none of Thy heavenly patience and magnanimousmercy! That marble-hearted woman had said to me, "If you deny God, Hewill forgive you, for He is infinitely good and merciful; but if youdeny the Devil, he will be revenged on you!" and I had seen the devilishlight in their eyes. I had shuddered and shunned them, and yet I hadplunged headlong into the abyss which they had opened at my feet. 

But now they had conjured up the Devil before me, I felt that in my ownbreast they had awakened a demon quite as cunning and wicked as theirhoofed and horned idol; and we would see whose teachings would provemore destructive! Only, cool blood! Let me not betray myself; let meconsider how to act, and then keep my own counsel. Shall I go toVolhynia after that man? Hold him to account, invite him to face themuzzle of my pistol or the edge of my sword? He is a ruffian and anotorious duellist. I am a bad shot and an indifferent fencer. He isperfect in both; it is his profession. Naturally, he would kill me, andwhere would be my revenge? Should I kill myself? Die the death of asuicide, and be spoken of as a lunatic who had crazy fancies because hisfortune had turned his head? And what would be the result? Flamma wouldperhaps faint away for a few seconds, have bad dreams for a week, wearmourning for six months, and--would be none the worse for being a widow, whereas I should be laughed at as a silly fool. Shall I sue for a legaldivorce? "_Si fuerit dolus_?" Had I not had enough of notoriety? Enoughof laughter, calumny, and ridicule? Must I drag my honest and hithertorespected name through the mire, and become the laughing-stock of everyfop throughout the country? No, anything but that! Help me, thou worserself, thou Devil in my own breast, help me to find some revenge worthyof a Devil's teaching! Give me death, for it is death I crave; but sucha death as will give me peace and rest and honour in my grave, and tothose others remaining here on earth, shame, sorrow, and remorse! I am adead man from this accursed night forward, but I can, at least, choosethe manner of my corporal death, and woe to her who has driven me to thechoice!

When the morning dawned my scheme was complete, and it was a scheme thatdid honour to my special demon. I would die, but fame and glory shouldwrite my epitaph; and dead, I should be remembered by this woman withlifelong sorrow. She shall never be happy; and in remembering me, hersoul shall be filled with bitter repentance for the misfortune shebrought on me. She shall yearn for me, shed bitter tears for me, andfret away her life in despair. This should be my revenge. 

XI. 

MY SCHEME. 

Next morning I said to my wife--"We cannot stay here. Our next year mustbe spent in travelling in foreign parts, and we shall start for Paris inthree days. You had better make arrangements accordingly. "

"My arrangements are made, for I have not unpacked my things yet. Soeverything is at your command, " was her answer. 

I left her, and drove over to the county town to my solicitor, and toldhim to borrow as much money on my property as he could possibly get fromthe financial institutions. As a pretext I told him that I had theintention of buying lands. He advised me to wait, for he had learned forcertain that in a year's time Siegfried would have to sell out. Hisestates were mortgaged over and over, and matters were going very illwith him. If, then, I should add to the million my wife had brought me, the money I had and the money I could at any moment raise on myproperty, I should be able to purchase the Vernöczy estates. 

This was a revelation that for a moment made me hold my breath. It wouldbe something to tear that water-nymph on the Vernöczy crest from overthe portals of the château into the mire, and erect the Dumany crest onthe front of the proud old castle. But that feeling passed, and with itthe temptation. It would be no revenge on her to let her live asmistress on the estates of her forefathers, and, first of all, I cravedrevenge on her. More than that scoundrel who had betrayed her and thenflung her to me, I hated her, Lilith, the tempting devil in the guise ofa seraph! But I said to the lawyer, "Very well"--that I would considerabout it, and not buy anything at present; but that he should raise themoney, all the same, and send it for me to Paris, as well as the funds Ihad inherited. Perhaps I might have use for the money there--at anyrate, he must send it. Then I took the rosewood chest with my wife'sdowry, and sent it by mail, and under the usual guarantee, to awell-known banking firm in Brussels as a deposit. 

Three days after, we were on our journey to Paris. I had taken the Swissroute, for in those days it was the safest way to escape the obstaclesand annoyances which on the road through Germany were thrown in the wayof travellers to France. War was, so to speak, floating in the air, andwas each moment expected to break upon the two leading nations of theContinent. At such a time the railroad termini are naturally the centresof exciting scenes and noisy demonstrations; but the Swiss republic wasneutral, and the southern part of France was quiet. So we arrived inParis unmolested; and the great crowds in the boulevards, and themultitude of detectives among the people, gave us the first notion thatsomething extraordinary was occurring. 

At first the demonstrations were all in favour of peace. Labourers inblue blouses were marching up in compact masses on the Place de laConcorde, carrying white flags and signs with the inscriptions "_Ŕ basla guerre_" and "_Vive la paix_!" Public speakers delivered longorations on the horrors of war, and protested against the ambitious, fame-hunting tyrants who drove their innocent, peace-loving subjectsinto bloody combats to feed their own greed for glory and power. Buttheir speeches were all blown to the winds. Bellona is a fair woman, andthe more she is slandered to her admirers the more ardent andimpassioned is their love for her. In vain did the orators protest thatFrance was all for peace, and would not be dragged into the perils ofwar. The soil was thirsting for blood, and the day after our arrival inParis the declaration of war which Napoleon had issued against Prussiawas publicly announced. 

I had been informed of these events long before they happened, and onthem my whole scheme was built. When the public enthusiasm was highest, and the shouts "_Ŕ Berlin_!" loudest, when throngs of people crowdedthrough the streets, singing the "_Marseillaise_" and "_Le Départ_, " Imingled with them, bent on business. 

During our journey I had shown my wife all those polite littleattentions which are due to a bride on her wedding tour from herhusband. Now I was looking for a residence for her. I found a handsome, palatial-looking house, exquisitely furnished, which had been hastilyabandoned by a German diplomat at the first rumour of the war, and wasnow in the market, with its carriages and horses, servants, andeverything. The bargain was made, and, as I took my wife to hertemporary home, she seemed to be struck with the delicate considerationwhich I showed her. I saw by her face that she wished to protest againstthis excess of luxury, which was not in keeping with our means. Butperhaps something in the expression of my face warned her to be silent;perhaps it occurred to her that as she had given me full power to dowhat I pleased with her dowry, I had acquired the right to squanderit--if it suited my whims--on herself. 

When she was comfortably established I said to her--"I have offered myservices as an army physician to the French Government, and they havebeen accepted. I have received my commission from the Duke of Palikao, and shall start this evening for my destination. "

"If it is your wish, I cannot oppose it, " was her answer. What a meek, obedient wife she was! Whatever I said or did, it was, "Pray pleaseyourself. Whatever you think best will satisfy me. " She never showed theslightest increase of temper, never offered the least resistance to myarrangements. She was the same quiet, pale, silent, sylph-like being asshe had been when I first knew her, and I wondered that she had notchanged. We had been married only two weeks, but to me it seemed as ifseven hard winters and seven fierce tropical summers had passed sincethat time, and had taken the marrow from my bones and every spark ofhope and brightness from my soul. 

"I have left you forty thousand francs in the safe; they will last youuntil the time of my return. You need not deny yourself anything youwish, " I said. 

"Thank you. I shall manage the money carefully, and shall not spend morethan is strictly necessary. I am of a saving disposition. "

These were our parting words, and we exchanged no others. I went toH----'s banking-house to draw the money my solicitor had sent me, andwhen they inquired whether I wanted checks or bills of exchange, I askedfor the latter, because, as I said, in time of war the Government mightbring in a _moratorium_. [4] "What, " they laughed, "the NapoleonicGovernment bring in _moratorium_? _Tęte carrée_!" The latter was meantas a compliment for me. 

[Footnote 4: A governmental act of mercy in regard to the payment ofdebts. ]

By the next express train I went to Brussels, and then straight to thebanker to whom I had sent Flamma's million. I opened the chest in hispresence, and convinced him that it actually contained goodsecurity--bonds and deeds for the sum of one million and twenty-fivethousand florins par--and asked him for an advance. The banker putseventy-five per cent of the nominal value at my disposal, and I handedhim the power of attorney from my wife, and a written authorisationpermitting him to sell the securities without notice in the event of myfailure to repay the loan at a certain date. 

This money, with a part of the funds which my solicitor had sent me, amounted to two millions of francs. With this sum I went to a well-knownand trustworthy stockbroker, and instructed him to speculate with thewhole amount in French Government bonds for a fall. 

"Do you intend to throw this money in the gutter?" said the man, eyeingme critically. 

"That is my own business, I presume, " said I, calmly. 

"Have you ever speculated on the Exchange before? Are you versed inthese manipulations?"

"No! Never!"

"Do you know the situation of the Money Market at present?"

"No. "

"Then grant me leave to inform you by giving you a few data. All Frenchsecurities are rising in value. Paris is enthusiastic for the war. Themoney-chests of the financial ring are open to the Government. TheFrench military force is fully equipped, ready to begin hostilities, andstationed at the Rhone, whereas the Prussians are caught unprepared. Bavaria will remain neutral, and the Danes are preparing to break intoSchleswig-Holstein. The sequel of the war can be foretold with suchcertainty that a Paris financier offers, to any one who will accept it, a wager of two hundred thousand francs against one hundred thousand thaton August 15 the French will march into Berlin. "

"Well, you may take up that wager, also, for me. "

The agent shrugged his shoulders, and accepted my offer for a bearspeculation. We agreed that from time to time we should communicate witheach other in cipher. Telegrams were to be forwarded through H----'sBank. 

From Brussels I returned to Paris, and procured all the necessarysurgical instruments at my own expense. Next I bought three waggons withstrong Trakene horses for my own transport and that of the invalids, furnished myself with all utensils requisite for camp hospitals, andthen, under the protecting ensign of the Geneva Cross, I joined theregiment of the French army in which I had enlisted as volunteercamp-surgeon. My scheme was clear now. I was a dead man. I was seekingDeath in his own realm, where he reigned supreme, and it was impossiblenot to find him there, if one really sought him. So I should die, butnot the death of a suicide, despised, misjudged, forgotten, but a deathon the field of honour and glory, as a hero and a martyr of science andphilanthropy. And that accursed money which was given me as a fee for mydisgrace would be blown to naught, as my body would be by a mercifulKrupp shell. When the news of my death reaches that woman in Paris, shewill try hard to discover what I have done with her fortune--and mine!But let her search ever so thoroughly, she would find--nothing! I hadleft no trace of my operations, nothing from which she could regain onepenny. Then she would be compelled to come down from her height, returnto Hungary, and live a lonely, miserable, poverty-stricken existence onmy Slav kingdom, which I had mortgaged and ruined. She would have tostruggle against poverty and want, and, by daily care and close economy, would have to pay from her scanty crops the heavy debts I had incurred. All day she would pine and toil, all night she would sigh and grieve. And in her dreams she would call me back, and ask me where I had buriedthe treasures. Her priests would fail to console her, and she wouldbecome superstitious, and resort to clairvoyants and mediums for thesolution of the torturing mystery. But no prayer or curse will reach me, no incantation of conjurers or spirit-rappers will call me back. Thedead do not return, either for promised kisses or for promised bites. 

XII. 

SEEKING FOR DEATH. 

To tell the truth, on my arrival at the camp I felt like an apprenticein the presence of his masters. French surgery in general occupies aforemost place. French camp-surgeons have acquired skill and experiencein their great military expeditions; there their studies receive thefinishing-touch, whereas the little skill and practice which I had cameentirely from the clinic and the dissecting-table. 

But, nevertheless, I was very cordially received by the old, experiencedmasters of the profession, to whom I stated that I had come, as avoluntary apprentice, to aid in the work of philanthropy as best Icould. My immediate superior was old Duval, who had served ascamp-surgeon at Sebastopol, and I succeeded in acquiring his goodgraces. He asked me if I had ever been on a battle-field before, and Ianswered, a little ashamed, that I had never had that opportunity. Inspite of my descent from the chivalrous Hungarian nation, I know thesound of the cannon only from hearing the salutes fired on our King'sbirthday, or other occasions equally peaceful. 

"It does not matter, " said the old man, encouragingly. "You will getover your first irritation at the noise, and then you will feel as muchat home and as safe as in your own study. There is not the least dangerfor us. We hoist the Geneva flag with its red cross, and every civilisedfoe respects that ensign. After the battle is over, and the enemy hasfled, beaten, shattered, and in disorder, we carry our ambulances to thegory field, and take up the wounded, friend and foe alike. The severelyinjured we attend to at once, dressing their wounds on the spot, andthen we place them all on our beds, and take them to our hospital-tentsfor treatment. "

This had been the old man's practice in many wars. The French hadinvariably been victors and masters of the field; the enemy hadretreated, and then the French had taken up the wounded and nursed themfaithfully, whether friend or foe. That a time could come when theFrench would be driven from the field, and the enemy would take up thewounded, was deemed preposterous and out of the question. 

We were attached to Marshal Douay's corps, but, unfortunately, I did notreceive the privilege of participating in the first battle atSaarbrücken, where old Dr. Duval's experience was confirmed; thePrussian advance was repulsed, and the victorious French gathered up thewounded. 

The first wounded soldiers whom we treated were foes; one an Englishman, the other a German from Baden. Both were officers in the German army. Three daring officers from the German camp, on horseback and in fulluniform, had galloped into the heart of the French camp in broaddaylight; there they had cut down the sentinel, ordered food and drink, taken notes as to the camp, the position and order of the forces, thenumber of the batteries, etc. , until at last the French awoke from theirillusion, and recognised them as foes. They retreated firing, cuttingtheir way through the French lines, killing two French officers, one ofwhom, as he expires, finds strength enough to return the fire, and oneof the three, the Englishman, falls shot in the abdomen. A second, theBadener, is hewn down from his horse; but the third escapes unhurt, andcuts his way back to the German camp. 

This incident I regarded as a bad omen. The French were so confident, sopresumptuous, that they neglected the outpost service. Next day theGermans attacked Marshal Douay at Weissenburg with three times hisforce. This was the fault of the French, who ought to have attacked theGermans with an overwhelming force, instead of waiting to be attacked bythem. 

The French fought heroically against the crushing superiority of theGermans, vainly hoping that the report of the cannonade would attractassistance from a corps stationed in the neighbourhood of thebattle-field; but in this heroic fight their lines were sadly decimated. At first they fought in the village, then they were forced out by theGermans, and had to defend themselves among the vineyards and thethickets. The soil was saturated with blood, and the dead and woundedwere lying about in ditches, copses, and everywhere. 

"Sir, " said I to Dr. Duval, "to-day the enemy will be master of thefield, and he will gather up the wounded, unless we prevent this bypicking them up while the fight lasts. Now, while the balls are flyingabout, is our chance! Give me leave to go there with the ambulance. "

"With all my heart! Try it if you have a mind to. "

"If I had a mind to?" Why, of course, I had come for that; it was theopportunity I had craved, the chance for the immortalising cannon-ballto send me up to heaven and glory! So, taking the twelve men who weregiven me as aids, I started off with the ambulance to the scene of thebattle. 

There is not the slightest braggadocio about this. Soldiers, even in thehottest ardour of battle, will carefully avoid firing at the life-savingcorps, which is distinguished by the sign of the red cross. But it isimpossible to prevent an exploding shell from sending its splintersamong them, and on that eventful day I had occasion to watch the courseof these splinters. 

The firing did not cease for a moment. The roar of the artillery, thecracking of the rifles created a deafening noise; the hoarse, gratingsounds from the French mitrailleuses, in particular, made a horribleaccompaniment to the dying groans of the wounded. But the Frenchmitrailleuses had found their match in the Krupp cannon. These fire noballs, but some fiendish contrivances, longitudinal, cylindricalprojectiles, which explode as they alight, and scatter their deadlyfragments far and near. 

All the injured men whom we took from the field were wounded by thesesplinters. As we toiled, the hellish projectiles were flying over ourheads; but my experienced aids worked with the coolness of the harvesterwhen he hastens to save his crops from the threatening rain. They knewwell that these messages of death were not sent to them, but to theFrench artillery, which was opposing the advance of the Germans. Allthis while I felt that indescribable intoxication which is sure toovertake every novice. I stood there in the terrible realm of death, inthe presence of the awful Moloch, Hamoves, the angel with the scythe. Ifelt a chill, a shudder, and I bowed down before the omnipotent Lord oflife and death, the Almighty Ruler of the universe. 

This short-lived sensation of terror every novice has to overcome. Noris anyone spared the humiliation of this experience. The eye can hardlyperceive anything of the effect of the shots, for the cannon-smokeenvelopes the surrounding objects in a thick cloud of fog. The Prussianinfantry were crouching down, and, while creeping and cringing thus, they were pressing forward. Nothing but the smoke of their riflesbetrayed the level of their faces, and the French infantry were hiddenin ditches, behind bushes and trees, and firing from thesevantage-grounds. Only the Zouaves and the Turcos might now and then berecognised by their red caps. 

While the artillery was pealing, the bugle was sounding the commands. All at once a strange drumbeat was heard from beside us, and theveteran sergeant at my elbow said--

"Sir, we must get out of this with our beds at once. Cavalry isadvancing. "

"Cavalry of the enemy?" I asked. 

"Brother and enemy is all one in such a case. If we are in their waythey will crush us under their horses' hoofs, without observing whatbody we belong to. "

So we hastily picked up our beds with the wounded, and retreated withall speed behind the line of battle. We had hardly reached securitywhen, from both sides, the cavalry advanced, both friends and enemies. The earth shook with the stamping of the hoofs, "_Quadrupedante putremcrepitu quatit ungula campum_. "

Avoiding our right wing, a regiment of Prussian hussars was gallopingtowards us; a regiment of French chasseurs on horseback, under commandof the commander-in-chief, Marshal Douay, in person, was dashing fromthe hills to meet them. The strong west wind was blowing clouds of dustin the faces of the French, the backs of the Germans. All at once thePrussian regiment divided itself, wheeling to right and left; behindthem a whole battery of artillery appeared, and a powerful dischargesaluted the chasseurs. 

The shells made a fearful gap in the French horsemen, but still theydashed bravely on, shouting wildly, and giving the enemy's artillery notime for a second shot. The Prussians wheeled swiftly, and hussars, battery and all, fled before the lines of the French chasseurs. Wethought this wild retreat meant victory for the French, but wediscovered that it was only a ruse. 

When the clouds of dust had dispersed, we saw that on the battle-fieldhorses, struggling in deadly convulsions, and men in the throes ofdeath, were strewn thickly around. We hastened thither to save whom wecould, but, oh! what an awful sight it was! Man and beast piled inconfusion and crushing each other. The neighing of the wounded horsemingled with the last prayer, or the death-groan, of its rider. Maddenedhorses, with their dead or wounded riders hanging in the saddle, weregalloping on, while the less-injured soldiers, who had been thrown fromtheir slain horses, or were struggling to extricate themselves frombeneath them, were cursing and swearing, and invoking God and Devil forvengeance on the Prussians. 

Among those who were fatally injured was Marshal Douay himself. As theold sergeant drew him out from under his horse, the blood rushed from anawful gash on his neck. "_O, mon général_!" sobbed the old soldier, trying to close the gash with his pocket-handkerchief. 

"Don't cry!" said the dying chief, hoarsely. "Go shout to them '_Enavant_!' in my place. "

It was a fatal command, this "_En avant_!" The French chasseurs hadpursued the German hussars to a hop plantation, which proved to be fullof concealed Prussian sharp-shooters. At this point the hussarsattacked the chasseurs in the rear, while the sharp-shooters receivedthem with a volley from their quick-firing rifles, and a generalonslaught was begun upon the brave corps. The chasseurs endeavoured tobreak into the hop field, but such a plantation is a terriblefortification, with its walls of vines fastened to other walls of stoutpoles, and behind each a hidden foe with a quick-slaying weapon. Thewhole fine corps of cavalry was destroyed then and there. 

The fall of the commander-in-chief, Marshal Douay, had decided the fateof the battle. When finally, all too late, MacMahon arrived with histroops, Douay's unfortunate command was shattered, and the battle ofWeissenburg lost. 

XIII. 

MY DISCHARGE. 

In spite of this terrible disaster, the retreat of the French troops wasaccomplished in good order, and but few prisoners fell into the hands ofthe Prussians; even those few were mostly Zouaves and Turcos, not realFrench soldiers. 

That we had really been beaten was not believed by anybody. Everybodywas inspired by the conviction that the Weissenburg disaster was nothingbut an incident. A comparatively small defensive force had been attackedby an overwhelmingly large force of Prussians, and was compelled toretreat for the moment; but the fight had been only a trifling prologueto the great battle to come, or else was part of a deep-laid plan whichwould secure to us the final victory. So it had been at Solferino, whenBenedek had been allowed to attack and disperse the French-Italiantroops on their left wing, while at Solferino itself the Austrian armywas destroyed. So it would be here. It was supposed that this slightvictory was allowed to the Prussians, so as to divert their attentionfrom the movements of MacMahon and Bazaine, who were certain to crushthem all at their first encounter. 

Next day the Emperor himself and his young heir-apparent appeared amongus, presenting to each of those who had distinguished themselves at thebattle of the preceding day some badge of honour. At the recommendationof old Dr. Duval, the Chevalier Cross of the Legion of Honour was pinnedto my breast, and the reporter of a Paris newspaper wrote a flourishingitem about the heroic and self-sacrificing Hungarian surgeon. When Iread it, I thought of that woman in Paris, and what she would think ofthese reports. Perhaps she would say to herself, "So he is noteverywhere the same coward as he was here! He has some pluck, somephysical courage at least. "

But in vain did we wait for our revenge upon the Prussians. AfterWeissenburg came Spicheren, then Wörth. Everywhere the German force wasstronger than the French, and it turned out that their artillery wasbetter than ours. MacMahon was cut off from Bazaine, and in the giganticbattles at Bézonville and Gravelotte, Bazaine, with his force of onehundred and fifty thousand men, was driven back into Metz. Strasburg wasbesieged, and MacMahon cut off from the road to Paris. 

In every battle that was fought the Prussians remained masters of thefield, and it was always they who took charge of the wounded. Of course, each corps was in ignorance as to the fate of the others, and if one wasbeaten or repulsed, it was fully convinced that the other had meanwhilebeen victorious elsewhere. The Paris newspapers and the Bourse supportedand increased that belief. One evening, after a forced march that verymuch resembled a regular flight, we arrived at a certain town. I entereda café, and being very curious to learn something of the present stateof the Money Market, I looked for a newspaper, and here it was:--"Paris. Extraordinary Upward Movement! Rate of interest raised to 68-15, andrising rapidly. News of great victories!"

"Well, " I thought, "my two millions are nicely exploded by this time. "Underneath I read in large letters, "The Prussians severely beaten byMacMahon! The German Crown Prince captured and made prisoner byMacMahon!"

That very day we had been compelled to leave our entire baggage in theenemy's hands and run for our lives, so to speak, and here they aretalking of the German Prince having been captured. That is how theycreate upward movements on 'Change. But could this last? Surely suchlies would soon be exposed! How long was it possible to keep on in thisway?

How long? For ever. 

After the massacre at Mars-la-Tour, MacMahon's forces were practicallyscattered to the winds, running aimlessly about, and, when coming intocontact with the enemy, hardly thinking any longer of resistance. If aPrussian Uhlan was seen far off on the road every man took to his heels. The infantry threw down their rifles, the cuirassiers their helmets andbreastplates; the gunners cut the traces of the horses, jumped upontheir backs, and dashed on, without thinking of the fate of the rest. Onhorseback, with a loaded revolver in hand, I had to keep guard at theside of the ambulance carts, to keep the marauders away from thewounded. Once I had a narrow escape from being captured by theBavarians. It was at a skirmish of artillery. A couple of French and acouple of German pieces were in position. The French were quicklydisabled by the Germans, and even the head gunner was severely wounded. I took him on my shoulders, and got him out of the line of fire. TheBavarians sent another shrapnell shell after us, and, as the projectileburst over our heads, I felt a blow on the leather rim of my képi. "Ashrapnel splinter!" I thought, scornfully: "could it not have hit me alittle more to the right, and have done with me?"

After I had hastily placed the wounded officer on the waggon, I jumpedon horseback, and hastened after the flying troops. Upon a wooden bridgethat led over a shallow rivulet the soldiers were crowded. I did notstop to consider, but dashed on with my waggons to the water. Adetachment of Bavarian hussars, guessing at my intention, was there toprevent its execution. A young lieutenant of hussars was leading thedetachment, and, placing the muzzle of his revolver to my forehead, heshouted: "_Rendez-vous: demande pardon_!"

"At last!" I thought, "here is my opportunity for the glorious end. Thisfellow is the man I want, " and, turning my face full toward him, Ilooked coolly into the barrel of his weapon. "Shoot, comrade!" I said. "You'll get neither me, nor my charges, as long as I am alive. "

He gazed at me, as if scrutinising my features. "You are not French?" heasked. 

"I am a Hungarian, " I answered. 

"Kornel, and no doubt about it!" he exclaimed, taking hold of my handand shaking it. "Don't you know me? I am Plessen. " Sure enough, he wasmy favourite chum from the University; but we had not seen each otherfor years, and the last three months of camp-life had done more tochange a man's outward appearance than whole years at home. "Go on, comrade, " he said, with a farewell shake of the hand, "and may our nextmeeting be a pleasanter one! Good-bye!" With that he let me take mycharges safely across the water and over the fields, avoiding the openroads, until finally, as night fell, I reached with my patients the campat Chalons, and found my way to the camp hospital. 

What a cursed, vile task old Duval had had all day! Nothing but soreheels and slight shrapnel scars in the rear!--and he embraced me andkissed me all over for bringing him now three cart-loads of real woundedmen, with wounds got from sword-cuts, rifle-bullets, and gun-shots. "What an invaluable, brave fellow you are!" he said to me, handling eachof my charges with the tenderness of a loving father; "but now you shallshare the privilege of dressing their wounds, and assist me in thenecessary operations. " This was a privilege indeed, and for a while wewere very busy. When we had finished, he put his hand into his pocketand said, "Now, my boy, I will also present you with something. "

I thought he meant to give me one of his utterly wretched cigars; butno--it was a paper, and, on handing it over to me, Duval said, "It isyour discharge, my boy; you are free. "

"My discharge?" I asked, offended, "and why, pray? Have I not done morethan my duty? And if so, how have I merited this disgrace?"

"I am afraid that it was just your extraordinary ardour that brought iton you; that's it, you have done more than your duty; and as you are aforeigner, it is natural to ask, Why have you done it? Why have youexposed your own life, contrary to custom, picking up the wounded wherethe fight was the hottest and the balls flying thickest? True, you haveby this course saved the lives of many that would have bled to death, orbeen otherwise lost; but it is a marvellous thing that you could do allthat and escape unhurt. The fact is, you have always come back with asound skin. Can you explain this miracle? Can you tell me, why you, aforeigner, took the risk of such imminent danger for--Hecuba--that is, for wounded French soldiers?"

The old man was right. I could not explain it, for I could not tell himthat I had regarded their great national calamity as a means of carryingout my petty suicidal designs and giving them a decent cloak. I neverthought of it before; but now I had to acknowledge that my conductlooked suspicious to strangers. What will be their suspicions, Ithought, when they learn that I have talked German with a Prussianofficer, and shaken hands with him? Would this not give new matter fortheir suspicions, and was it not natural in the vanquished to believe intreachery?

And then I thought what a self-conceited fool I had been to think Icould command God Mars to afford me a disguise for self-murder. "Why, "he said, "do you suppose these great national conflagrations are kindledto cook your meals on? What do I care for your family quarrels? If youare tired of life, take a rope and hang yourself on that willow, andthere is an end of you and your paltry complaints. "

As I stood there musing, old Duval turned my face around andexclaimed--"Look! look! Your forehead is wounded. "

"A mere scratch with a shrapnel splinter, " I said, bitterly, "not worthplastering. " I took from him the letter with my discharge, presented himwith my camp outfit, instruments, horses, etc. , and kept nothing but oneof the waggons and a pair of horses for my journey homeward--that is, toParis. This was now the speediest way of travelling, for the railwayswere all occupied with the transport of troops. 

Before I left Chalons, I entered a café and drank a cupful of some blackbeverage that was called coffee, although I think it tasted of soot, andread one of the Paris newspapers--the last that had arrived the sameday. 

A dazzling glare of light was visible through the windows, arising fromthe valley. It was the burning camp. The Emperor had given orders toburn all tents, since there was not time enough to strike them and carrythem off. So everything was left to be consumed by the flames, while themen fled for their lives. 

The newspapers in the coffee-house were going from hand to hand, andwere eagerly devoured. At last I obtained one. I found the followingreport in large letters--

"The Prussian army scattered! Two hundred Krupp guns remaining ascaptures in the hands of the French! Commander Moltke a prisoner!Bismarck fatally wounded! Price of rentes, 1 franc 25. "

If this were true, one part of my scheme had succeeded. The two millionswere annihilated. But what of the other part? I was still alive, anddeath would not come to me without disgrace and ridicule. What aposition to be in!

XIV. 

HOME! SWEET HOME!

It was damp, disagreeable, dirty weather when I arrived in Paris. It hadrained for the last few days, for usually after great battles stormyweather sets in. The poets will have it that heaven washes away withtears the blood spilt by man. Scientists say that the gas freed by thecombustion of so much gunpowder, together with the detonations at theexplosions, brings on the rain. The fact is that after all great battlesrain is sure to follow. 

As I alighted from the one-horsed vehicle that had brought me to thedoor of my residence, my own porter asked me whom I was looking for atthis house? I answered "Myself, " but found it difficult to convince himthat I was his master. At last he let me in, and rang the bell threetimes as a signal that the master of the house had arrived. 

The valet met me at the ante-chamber, and stared at me with mouth andeyes wide open; but no wonder. I must have cut a handsome figure, with, that torn and perforated red képi on my head, and the dirty, blood-smeared cotton handkerchief around my forehead. My face wasblackened by exposure to the sun and wind, and had a grizzly beard ofthree months' growth upon it. My uniform was dirty and torn, and aboveit was a rubber cloak with a hood, while on my feet were a pair ofrough, high top-boots, with spurs. By my side I had a sabre, a revolver, and a bag for bread and bacon--not a very gentlemanly appearance, by anymeans. 

"Is madame at home?" I asked. 

"Yes, sir. Madame is in her boudoir. "

"Then tell her, monsieur has come home, and afterward see that a fire iskindled in my room. I am cold and damp. "

The valet was a very humane and obliging fellow. He asked me to stepinto the _salon_, where a fire was burning already. I was forciblystruck by this proof of democratic condescension. Fancy his allowing afellow with such a robber's look, who had unexpectedly intruded into thehouse, to enter the luxurious, polished, gilded _salon_ of--his ownwife!

The fire was burning in the grate, and I went up to it to warm myself, when the door opened, and, with quick steps, there entered--my wife. Shehad entered hastily, but, on seeing me she faltered, and stoodmotionless at the door. 

Well might she start at my strange appearance; but, if I looked dreadfulto her, her appearance was positively loathsome to me. I had not seenher for three months, and she had visibly changed since then. 

To another man his wife looks charming in that condition, but to me mywife seemed perfectly disgusting, horrid, abominable! I cannot find aphrase to express the detestation that filled me as I looked at her. 

"You have come away from the camp?" she asked, in a low tone. 

"I have been discharged, " I answered. 

"You? How could that be?"

"They believed me to be a Prussian spy. "

"Nonsense! I have read so much of your courage and daring, of theself-sacrifice which made you risk your own life to save that of others. The papers were full of praise of your magnanimous conduct. "

"That's it exactly. They think a respectable surgeon has no business torisk his hide or exhibit sentiment. So they told me to pack off. "

"But you are wounded!" she cried out, as I took off my képi. 

"A mere scratch, and already closed. It's nothing. " And, throwing therubber cloak from my shoulders, I stepped nearer to the gate. 

"You have been decorated!" she said, pointing to the "_légiond'honneur_" on my breast. 

"Trash!" I said, tearing it off, and with an angry gesture throwing italmost into the fire. 

She ran up to me, and held my hand. "No! no!" she said: "I shall not letyou! Leave it on your breast!" and, snatching it out of my hand, shepinned it in its place again. 

"Well, let it be, " I thought. At least there would be one spot on mybody that was honourable. But it was time to change the subject. For asoldier coming home from the gory field of honour might speak to hiswife of his wounds and his deserts, but I? As I was no real soldier, somy wound was no real wound, this badge of merit not really merited, and--my wife--was not really my wife. So I changed the subject, and, like a conscientious family physician, I questioned her about herhealth. My questions were purely professional, and she gave her answersin confidence, as patients usually answer the questions of their_ordinarius_. I advised her as to the best way of avoidinginconveniences connected with her present condition, and so on. Afterthe consultation was over, I asked her if no letters had arrived for meduring my absence. 

"Only one--in the last day or two, and that has been opened. "

"By whom?"

"By the police, I think. For a short time back all letters coming fromforeign parts are opened by the police. "

"Have you also read the letter?"

"I looked into it certainly; but I have not read it. It is written incipher. "

"Ah!" I thought, "the communication from my agent to say that themillions have disappeared. " But I did not show any impatience to get atthe contents of the letter. I listened politely as she related to me theevents of her life in my absence. 

After a while the valet announced that my room was ready for me, andthen she asked if I would not dine with her? "No, thank you!" said I, with an inward shudder; "I am quite unfamiliar with your civilisedcustoms, and will thank you if you will permit me to retire to my room. "

In my room I found the letter upon my writing-desk. As I had expected, it came from my agent in Brussels. The key to the cipher code was in mypocket, rolled up in a cigarette; so that in case of my death on thebattle-field some soldier or nurse might smoke the cigarette andunwittingly destroy this last clue to the mystery which surrounded mymoney transactions. The letter ran as follows:--

 "SIR, --The two millions which you entrusted to my care have doubled themselves, and I hold four millions of francs for you. The decline is continuous, and will hold good for a considerable time to come. The Paris Bourse created an enormous rise by fictitious reports of victories; but the decline was all the sharper in consequence. The French are beaten everywhere, and if you will consent to let me continue in the present course, I shall double your money again on short sales. "

Camp life had taught me to swear, and I was furious. Fate was mockingme, tantalising me. Instead of taking from me the accursed money which Ihad received in exchange for my life, my soul's salvation, and myhonour, it doubled that money, and threw it back at me. But I would seeif I could not get the better of blind fortune. I did not want thatmoney, and would have none of it. 

I sat down and wrote an answer on the spot I gave the agent fixedinstructions to speculate with the whole amount for a rise, and thatimmediately. As soon as I had translated this into cipher, I gave it tothe valet to be posted. 

Then I took out the rough fare I had been accustomed to during my camplife, the rye bread and bacon, and, slicing it up, I toasted it at thegrate fire. Surely a man who had thrown four millions out at the windowa few minutes before had a right to indulge in such luxuries. 

But the cognac which I had been used to drink I could not relish athome. For three months I had drunk nothing but cognac. It is a powerfulstimulant, good for fever and ague, hunger and thirst, influenza-cold, and, yes, the tremor before a battle. But here, at home, I wantedsomething I could not get there--a glass of clear, fresh water. 

Oh, how I enjoyed it! How deliciously refreshing it was after so long acraving! Home had still a great treasure to offer me--a glass of clear, fresh water. 

What a precious, sweet, home it was!

XV. 

VOX POPULI. 

The street was very noisy, and a tumult of loud voices, shouts, etc. , penetrated through the blinds, shutters, and doors into the room inwhich I sat. I took that to be the normal condition of a Paris street, for in large cities there is always some spectacle afoot to set the mobshouting. But I was mistaken. The valet, whom I had sent to thepost-office to mail my letter to the broker at Brussels, enteredhastily, his face livid with fear. 

"Monsieur, save yourself!" he cried. "The mob is coming. "

"Coming where?"

"To this hotel. A German diplomat lived here before you, and the peoplethink this is his house still. Someone has given them a hint, and theyhave taken it up, and they are coming to storm and plunder the house. The residences of two bankers have been demolished in this way, onlybecause their names had a German sound. "

"Let them alone, " I said; "I will talk with their leaders. Now go tomadame, and tell her I beg she will retire to the winter-garden, and notcome out of it in any case or for any noise. "

The valet obeyed, and I girded on my sword again, put on my képi, andwent downstairs. 

The porter had locked the entrance, but a loud muttering and batteringnoise was heard from the outside. 

"Open the door!" I said to the porter, and, sword in hand, I stepped outWhat I beheld was the usual spectacle upon such occasions. A mob of allclasses; labourers in blouses, dandies in tall hats, college youths, street boys, market women, and veiled "ladies" in flashy dresses andwith painted cheeks, all huddled pell-mell in picturesque disorder. 

The man who was battering at the door was a gigantic locksmith, withhammer in hand, and I believe that the only object he had in hisbattering operations was to make use of his hammer. As I appeared, thosewho were near the door, retreated a little, and some of them called out, "See, see! An officer of the army. "

"_Citoyens_!" said I, in a loud voice, "in this house there is a sickwoman, and whoever tries to break into this house will have his skullsplit in two. "

Most of the _gommeux_ retreated at these words, but the locksmith seemedto think resistance a provocation to an attack. "Ho, ho!" said he, beating his breast and swinging his hammer, inviting me to try the edgeof my sword on his skull, while around him sticks and umbrellas wereupraised against me with threatening gestures of all sorts of people, male and female. 

I had to make an end of this, and that was only possible by showing themthat I was not afraid of them, and, first of all, I had to silence thatburly smith by a smart cut on the hand that held the hammer. I had justlifted my arm with the sword, when someone caught it from behind, seizing tight hold of both hand and sword. 

It was Flamma. 

"What do you want here? Why did you come out?" I asked her. 

She stepped close to my side, and addressed the people. I could neverhave believed that that tiny, silent, shell-mouth of hers could becapable of such eloquence. "_Citoyens_!" she said, with a perfectlydramatic intonation and gesture, "you are mistaken in this house and inus. We are no Germans, no enemies, but Hungarians, and friends to theFrench. Look at my husband! He has just arrived from the battlefield, where he has served the French army. He has repeatedly risked his ownlife to save that of your brethren. Look at his forehead! That woundupon it he received in the service of your country! Look at his breast!It is decorated with the star of the Legion of Honour! He--"

I was furious. What business had this woman, who, in her heart ofhearts, despised me as an abject, greedy, dishonourable coward, a basewretch, who had accepted the most degrading position on earth for amoney consideration--what business, said I, had she to speak fair of mebefore this crowd?

"Madame, " I shouted, "go into the house! I do not want your speeches!Let go my hand, I say! I want to drive this rabble away!" But she clungtightly to me, and, seeing that I could not free myself of her, Icaught her up in my arms, and carried her to her room. There I threw herupon her couch and said--"Don't move from this bed. You are triflingwith your life!"

"Then stay here with me, " she said, beseechingly; "don't go back amongthem!"

"Nonsense, I am able to protect and save you from a drunken mob, butfrom an attack of convulsions I could not save you! This might cost youyour life. "

At this word I fancied I saw a smile of contempt on her lips, and itoccurred to me that she thought I feared for her life, because, in caseof her death, I should have to return her money. "I wish they would comeand tear me to pieces in her very presence, " I thought, in thebitterness of my heart; but, to my surprise, no one came. The nextminute or two furnished an explanation. I heard the sound of a bugle, then the clatter of horse-hoofs; the Imperial Guard itself had clearedthe street of the mob. In a few minutes the shouts and threats weresilenced, and the crowd had moved on to other quarters. Immediatelyafterward I heard voices in the _salon_, and, telling the woman to keepquiet and not stir, I entered the _salon_. 

A police officer was talking with the valet. I thanked him for riddingme of my unpleasant visitors, who would undoubtedly have done harm tothe furniture of the house, if not to our persons. 

"Oh, that is past, " said he, "but there is something else amiss; and Imay tell you at once, sir, something that is very serious!"

"Serious to me?" I asked. 

"Yes, the police have certain knowledge of the fact that you keep up acipher correspondence with somebody in Brussels. You have received aletter a day or two ago. "

"I know it. The letter had been opened by the police. "

"Exactly. You have answered that letter, also in cipher, and the letterwas posted not quite an hour ago. "

"And the contents of this letter are already in the hands of thepolice?"

"Yes. Will you have the kindness to give me the key to the cipher?"

"Sir, " said I, "you know well that every correspondence has secretswhich cannot be disclosed to a stranger!"

"I assure you that the Police Department is just as silent with respectto the secrets that are entrusted to it, as the tongueless stone lionson St. Mark's Square in Venice. "

"And what will be the consequence if I refuse to give you the key?"

"If they offer to shoot me, " I thought, "I will not tell. "

"If you refuse, you will be conducted to the Belgian frontier without amoment's delay. "

"No, thank you, " I thought; "I'll have none of that. "

So I invited him into my room, and together we solved the contents ofboth letters. 

The first was that of the agent, the second was my answer, whichconsisted of the following words:--

"The French will be victorious; invest my whole fortune, all the moneyyou hold of mine, in buying for a rise. "

The tears rushed down the cheeks of the police officer. That a foreignerhad so much confidence in the French cause as to stake his whole fortuneon it was completely overpowering to him. He pressed my hands in silentacknowledgment, when I could have laughed in his face, and was silentlyapplauding myself on the comedy I had played. 

"It is all right, sir, " said he, taking his leave; "but since you are atrue friend of the French, let me give you a bit of honest advice. Don'tstay in Paris beyond to-day at the utmost. To-day we command; to-morrow, God knows who may fill our place. Go to-day, while you are free to go;to-morrow it is possible that I shall follow your example. "

I thanked him heartily, and gave him my passport for revision. In anhour the passport was returned to me in proper order, and at daybreak wewere sitting in a railway carriage. My wife confessed that she felt veryhappy in being able to leave Paris; she had been very uncomfortable andill at ease there. 

XVI. 

DAME FORTUNE. 

It took us two whole days to reach Brussels. All the railway trains werecrowded with soldiers and refugees fleeing from Paris, and at everystation there was some delay. Special trains had to be waited for, andat every town the passengers had to leave the carriage, show theirpassports, answer all questions, and open all trunks and valises forexamination by the police. 

For me this exasperating procedure was rendered more difficult still. The wound on my forehead betrayed me for a soldier of some sort, and astrict command of General Trochu expressly forbade soldiers to leave thecountry. Of course, I had my discharge; but, when I showed the document, it took them always a good while to consider which command of GeneralTrochu should be respected--the one which bade me go, or the other whichdirected me to stay. 

At the border I was detained for exactly four hours. Again my luggagewas searched; again I had to convince them that I was no runawaysoldier, no foreign spy, but a lawfully-discharged volunteercamp-surgeon of foreign birth; and I had to give my word of honour thatthe lady with me was really and legally my own wife. 

When we finally arrived at Brussels, late at night, we could hardly finda lodging. All the hotels were crowded to the doors, and only withdifficulty, and by the aid of a very liberal tip, was I enabled toprocure a back room on the third storey. I took my wife to the elevator, to be carried to the room, gave orders for her supper, etc. , and wentdown to the café to drink a glass of hot punch. 

The place was crowded to suffocation, in spite of the lateness of thehour. Every newspaper was being read by five or six readers at once. Something very important seemed to have happened, but the noise was sodeafening that it was utterly impossible to catch a word of the news. 

I begged the waiter to let me have one of the papers. 

"Never mind, sir, " he said, smilingly; "these are all afternooneditions. If you will wait till your punch is ready, I will manage toget you a fresh paper moist from the press. "

I rewarded his good offices with the expected money gratification, andsome minutes later the hot punch and a moist copy of the morning_Indépendance_ were before me. The price of the copy was five francs. 

As an experienced reader of Continental newspapers, I began my readingon the last page, devoted to the telegrams. I found one from Arlon, stating that MacMahon's position was very good. He was posted behindfortifications, which were stored with provisions for three hundredthousand men. Yesterday's engagement had ended in a triumph for theFrench. 

Another telegram came from Mézičres, according to which yesterday'sbattle had ended fatally for the French, who had been forced to theBelgian frontier by the Prussians. The Emperor was with MacMahon. Theline of battle extended from Bazille to La Chapelle. Three thousandFrench soldiers, with five hundred horses, had been driven across theBelgian frontier, and had there surrendered. 

A gentleman sitting near me, evidently a Frenchman, politely begged meto show him the telegrams. "Oh, " said he, "these are old ones, broughtover from the evening papers. Let us look at the front page, " and, turning the leaves, he pointed to a few lines printed in large letters, "Sedan, September 2, 8 p. M. MacMahon's army has surrendered and laiddown its arms. MacMahon is severely wounded, and General Wimpffen hastaken command in his place. The capitulation was signed by him. Napoleonhas personally surrendered to the Prussian King. "

The French gentleman had fallen from his chair in a swoon. He wascarried out into the fresh air to recover. This incident caused asensation in the room; everybody inquired for the cause of the swoon, and I gave them the newspaper, which was eagerly devoured, until onegentleman leaped upon a billiard-table and read the news aloud to all. 

I went up to my wife. She had thrown herself on the bed, withoutundressing, for, as we had only this single apartment for both of us, she could not undress before the stranger who was--her husband. I beggedher pardon for disturbing her, but I thought she would be interested inthe important news. Of course she was! All the sleep was gone from hereyes in a moment. She sprang from the bed and came to me. "See how kindProvidence has been!" she said. "If you had not been dismissed, you alsowould be a prisoner now. So what seemed an evil has been converted intoa benefit. "

At the first moment I felt inclined to share her views. For, indeed, itwould have been a ludicrous end to my little private tragedy if, insteadof the coveted death, I had experienced a few years of tedious inactionat Mainz or some other German fortress. 

So that, considered from this point of view, I had indeed had afortunate escape, and out of the fancied evil had come a certain good. "But if evil may change into good, " I thought, "I wonder who can repairmy marred and blackened life? Is there any Providence powerful enough toconvert this evil into a benefit?"

I gazed at Flamma, and wondered how she would look if I were to tell herthat her million had ceased to exist, that this catastrophe, which haddragged a monarch from his throne into captivity, had also cost her hersole fortune, the inheritance of her grandfather, and had thrown herupon my mercy? "Good-night!" I said to her. "Try to sleep a little. Iwill go and look for some private lodgings. We cannot stay in thisplace. " She thanked me, and, if I remember rightly, she extended herhand to me; but I contrived to avoid taking it, and left her to her owncompany. 

I descended again to the café. Nobody was there except the staff ofwaiters. Everybody else had gone to the Bourse, I learned. 'Change openat four o'clock in the morning! is not that extraordinary? Certainly, but so are the events which are occurring. The spacious halls andcorridors of the Exchange were brilliantly lighted all night long, andwere filled with a throng of brokers and "matadores. " Curiosity took methere also; but I had literally to fight my way in. My fists had toprocure admission for me. In the large hall this lighting for room wasgeneral; and as for the noise and uproar of voices, the blockade ofSpicheren must have been a symphony in comparison. 

I promised twenty francs to one of the servants of the establishment ifhe would fetch me Mr. X. , my broker, from the _coulisses_. I handed himmy card. It was an hour before the good man could emerge from the crowd. His silk hat was crushed, his coat-collar torn off, the bow of hisnecktie was dangling at the back of his neck, and his waistcoat had lostfour buttons; but he was radiant. As he caught sight of me, he ran tomeet me, shook my hands, embraced and kissed me, and fairly went intoecstasies over me. Was this man mad?

"Sir!" he cried. "My friend! my hero! You are a sage, a prophet! At thenews of the catastrophe of Sedan a tremendous rise has set in on'Change!"

"Rise!" I exclaimed, astonished. 

"Certainly, and what a rise! If the French had simply been vanquished weshould have had a tremendous fall, but at the news of the surrendervalues are rising enormously. You are a wonderful man! How you havescented it all! Let me go back to make millions! Your money is allinvested for a rise. To-day we shall take lunch at Tortoni's at twelveo'clock sharp. I shall bring you home eight millions. Let me go, or Ishall leave the lappet of my coat in your hands. "

With that he ran back to the orgies around the golden calf. I let myselfgo with a crowd that was thronging out--possibly the beatenspeculators--and was borne by the current into the street. I wascompletely stunned at the results of my determined efforts to lose thatmoney, and felt for my head to make sure that I was not dreaming. Couldall this be true? Could ice be kindled into flames, and could flamesfreeze to ice? How was I to believe that all my curses could be turnedinto blessings, and that out of misfortune Fortune herself should arise?

By this time the morning had dawned, and I went into a café to get sometea. With the tray a newspaper was laid before me, and, sure enough, Iread--"General rise! French values mounting and greatly in demand! Moneyin abundance!"

So it was no dream. 

Until noon I sauntered about in order to kill time. At precisely twelveo'clock I was at Tortoni's, and found my broker already expecting me. Hehad ordered lunch: Four dozen oysters, woodcock, artichokes, giardinetto. Wines: Chablis, Chateau Lafitte, Grand Vin Mumm, etc. 

"Wonderful victory!" said he, taking my hand. "_Écrasant_ defeat of the_contremine_! Sir, Napoleon has capitulated before King William; Icapitulate before you. You know more of the psychology of the MoneyMarket than I!"

I to know the psychology of the Money Market? was not that excessivelyabsurd?

"It is easy to understand, " he continued. "You are home from the Frenchcamp. Evidently you have not gone there to plaster sores or set brokenbones, but to have an opportunity for watching the development of thesituation, and the movements of the forces. Oh if all 'matadores' wouldonly be as prudent! But this course requires pluck, courage, and perfectcoolness. You already knew that MacMahon was hemmed in, and that theEmperor shared the same fate. It was easy to foresee the ensuingsurrender, and you made use of the means provided for your escape. Yougave me instructions; I have carried out your order, and here is theresult. Four millions are the prize of this one day. "

"But how is it possible?" asked I. 

"Pray don't try to play the simpleton before me. Of course, you hadcalculated that, with the capitulation and the capture of the Emperor, the war was at an end. The French have no organised armies left, andare, therefore, compelled to make peace. The Stock Market anticipatesthe conclusion of peace, and forces up French securities. What shall Ido with your eight millions?"

What? I hardly knew. Throw it into the ocean; it would come back to me, like the ring of Polycrates. Nay, not like that, for it kept hatching, and came back like a hen with a brood of chickens--that is, millions. This odious money sticks to me like so many burs, and I cannot get ridof it. Fortune is called a goddess. To me she was a "She-devil;" hergold was choking me. 

"Did you come from Paris alone?" asked the broker. 

"No; my wife is with me. "

"Have you found comfortable quarters to live in?"

"A back room on the third storey. I am looking for private lodgings. "

"Well, I will tell you something. A banker, who was on the bear side, offers his residence for sale, in order to pay his differences. Hishouse cost him four hundred thousand francs. We could get it for halfthe amount, and you could move into it at once. "

"Take it, by all means. "

"But what shall I do with the balance of the money? This glass to thenew landlord!"

We clinked glasses. What a powerful agent money was! Only last night Icould not find a room to sleep in, and now I was practically the ownerof a palatial residence in Brussels. But what should I do with the rest, the seven million eight hundred thousand francs?

"Speculate with the whole amount for a fall, " said I to the agent, determined that this time the hateful money should be lost for ever. Mr. X. Set down his glass and looked at me. "I beg pardon, sir, but--perhapsyou are not accustomed to spirits? The champagne was rather strong. "

"Wine does not affect me. I am quite sober. "

"Then, in all politeness, I would advise you to consult a specialist;perhaps you are suffering from the mania of contradiction or some othermental disease. "

"This is my own affair. You do with my money as I instruct you. Put allthe money left, after paying for the house, on a bear speculation at oneweek. "

"Then, pray, give me permission to take out my percentage first; for inthis transaction I take no share. You have pulled out the devil'sforelock and shaved off his beard, but he won't give you his hoof andtail also. Give me my percentage, and handle your money yourself. "

"Your percentage you may take when you please, but with the rest do as Itell you; speculate for a fall at the end of a week. I have no time togo on 'Change, as I must be off to Paris. "

"Paris? You are going back to Paris? Sir, your reason must be disturbed. Why, revolution has broken out in Paris. Don't you know of it?"

"That's exactly the reason for my going. My wife has left her wholewardrobe, her silver, jewellery, pictures, and tapestry in Paris, and Iam going to take everything away before it is destroyed. "

"But, sir, this is foolish! Here are eight millions. Surely you can buya new wardrobe and jewellery for your wife with this money withoutcarrying your head to the guillotine. "

"Will you allow me to judge of my own affairs?" said I, angrily. "I mustknow best what I ought to do. "

After that my man put the tip of his forefinger to his nose, andexclaimed: "Oh, so!"

I looked at him with tight-shut lips, giving vent to a slight "H--m, h--m!"

At that he raised his eyebrows, lifted his fat finger with a warninggesture, and smiled mischievously; whereat I shrugged my shoulders, andthe mutual understanding was perfect. Of course, it was natural in theowner of eight millions to have, besides his legal wife, another illegalwife, or mistress; and as in case of danger an honest man's first dutyis to save his own wife, I had of course done so; but, like a realgentleman, I was returning to the place of danger in order to save myother wife as well. 

That was the meaning of the mysterious winking and smiling and hemming, and I did not think it worth my while to undeceive him. Let him believewhatever he likes; what do I care for his opinion?

The same day I obtained possession of the house, and took my wife to it. She was greatly astonished at its splendour, but ventured no remark. Iasked her if she had any money left out of the forty thousand francs, and she answered that she had only spent half of it. That showed goodeconomy. Not to spend more than twenty thousand francs in three monthswas the quintessence of thriftiness. I told her that the house was ather disposal, and that she might arrange everything to please herself. Iwas compelled to leave her on urgent business. She did not ask me whatbusiness I had, nor where it would take me. Neither would she persuademe to stay. 

I reached Paris much sooner than I had expected. As soon as I had passedthe frontier I had donned my uniform again, and was very wise in doingso. All those who had hindered me when leaving the country were nowvery officious in assisting me to reach Paris. The sight of my uniform, my wounded forehead, and the _légion d'honneur_ was enough to put thementirely at my service. In Paris I was surprised at the change of theappearance in the public streets. Over every porch, on every house, alarge tricolour flag was displayed; the military embraced andfraternised with the people. I saw the Imperial Guard hacking at theimperial eagle over the barrack-gate with their swords--the same swordswhich they used two days before to drive off and disperse the mob at mydoor. 

My own residence had undergone a similar change. Like the caterpillarwhich has developed into a gay butterfly, it had put on wings, and fromthe balcony, above the porch, on all sides, great tricolours werehanging, with the legend "_Vive la République_!"

So it was already a Republic, and only the other day it had been anEmpire. And all this had occurred without the shedding of a single dropof blood, without the least disorder! It was just as though a handsomewidow should remarry the day after her husband's funeral. The newGovernment was already established, and the satisfaction over thisperformance was enough to sweeten the pang caused by the catastrophe ofSedan. 

In the streets no policeman, no detective could be seen. The NationalGuard watched over the public order, and the foreigners, who, underPalikao's reign, had been the victims of so many molestations, were leftin peace. Yes, large placards, in big red letters, invited allforeigners who were true friends of liberty to enter the volunteercorps, which was called into existence for defence against the tyrants. It was enough to show some exotic trait of dress or appearance to beliterally embraced on the streets by fair ladies. 

So it was in vain that I had come to this place to get rid of my head. There was no guillotine, no barricade, not the slightest opportunity forcheap martyrdom; and as for the volunteer legion, why, that was averitable life insurance corps. 

I could not get myself killed. But my millions had another chance ofannihilation. The rise was lasting for days, and all Europe believed ina restoration of peace. 

On the sixth day, the limit I had given to my broker, appeared thatmanifesto of the French Republican Government which proclaimed that thewar would be continued until all resources were exhausted. France wouldnever rest until she had driven her enemy from her soil. 

This proclamation was a deathblow to all hopes of peace, and destroyedall calculations and expectations. That a tremendous decline in valueswas the consequence will be readily understood. 

So my Hell-born millions had hatched again, and returned to me doubled. Dame Fortuna insulted me! She was a demon--a Devil!

XVII. 

LIGHT AT LAST. 

At this I gave up that Quixotic fight against windmills, and said to myown familiar spirit, my little inward devil--

"My dear little demon, I find you are a much more cunning little devilthan I thought you to be, and I shall begin to listen to your advice. What the devil shall I kill myself for, when I have got sixteen millionfrancs of ready money? Is there any need of my final surrender to you asyet? First, I'll see what services you'll do me still. The money I gotby following your suggestions, but the suicide speculation was afailure. Evidently there are other devils more potent than you. Now letme see. If I judge correctly, I can spare you altogether, dismiss youwith good references, such as, 'A fine little demon, very cunning, verydevoted and submissive. ' It would be easy for you to find anothermaster, and I could well spare you. Why, with sixteen millions there isno need of my being unhappy, and giving way to despair; with so muchready money, I have Fortune at my command. She will come at my bidding. If every husband in France who is not beloved by his wife were to enlistagainst the Prussians, daring Death and Devil alike, the Prussians wouldvery soon find their way home again. And if she has insulted, betrayedme with another man before she became my wife, I can revenge myself now, and why not? When Father Adam quarrelled with Mother Eve, he foundconsolation with Lilith, the dark-skinned Hashor, the almond-eyedAnaitio, the silent Mylitta. So, my dear little demon, I can't see ofwhat use you can be to me any longer. I am tired of going death-hunting, and not fool enough to play a game of shuttlecock with a lump of gold. Then what's the use of my keeping you?"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" laughed he. "Fancy your sending me off when you standmost in need of me and my advice. My dear boy, you were never so much myown as at this moment. You are tired of death-hunting? Very good; liveon, drink deep of the fountain of life, drain it to the dregs, and muchgood may it do you! You have wealth and therefore power, and you willbecome just such a dare-devil villain as the man who has caused all thispother. You will betray innocent, confiding maidens, deceive lovingfriends, ruin families, and beget unfortunate, ill-starred beings. Youwill become a heartless libertine, a selfish sensualist. You will mockat God, mock at the Devil; and when you are all alone, you will dreadand despise yourself. You will do evil for evil's sake, and rejoice atthe despair of your brethren. Oh, you can't spare me now, my boy; youwant me more than ever!"

I did not enter the Franc-tireur legion, although its captain was acountryman of mine, a chivalrous Hungarian: if I am not mistaken, hisname was Varjassy. I returned to Brussels, and remained there. 

My broker, Mr. X. , came to me, quite submissive, doing penance insackcloth and ashes. Again he called me sage and prophet, and finallyasked me, "What next?"

"Nothing, " I said. "We will not go near the Bourse again. We have madeour booty; don't let us run the risk of losing it. "

"You are certainly wise!" he said, admiringly. He took his ownproportion, and bought property with it. The last time I had heard ofhim he had established a great dairy and was manufacturing an excellentcheese. 

I had become a fashionable dandy. I was a member of the Jockey Club, wasseen at the theatres and at all fashionable places of publicentertainment. I opened my palatial residence to fashionable society, and took my wife to all social amusements fitted to her station in life. I took pride in the elegance of her toilette, and was jealously carefulthat her equipage should outshine all others. 

Still I cannot say that this constant, tender consideration andattention to her affected her in my favour. On the contrary, I foundthat of late her glance had a troubled, I may say, puzzled expressionwhen it rested on me; and when occasionally I entered her roomunexpectedly I saw that she hastily concealed in a drawer a small andwell-worn note-book. I supposed she was calculating what this expensiverate of living might cost. If she only computed what I spent officially, so to speak--that is to say, on herself and the household--she must havemade it some four hundred thousand francs. The income on her million offlorins would amount, at the utmost, to one hundred thousand francs, soshe must naturally have come to the conclusion that her securities werescattered to the winds. 

At that time the rosewood chest with the bonds, in exactly the samecondition as when she had given them to me on our wedding night, was inmy own possession again, and locked up in my safe. It had been my firstcare to take it home from the banking-house where it had been deposited. I had repaid the amount of the loan, received the securities, and foundthem all in excellent order. 

By this time the period of Flamma's confinement had arrived, and a sonwas born. I had made her a proposition to postpone the christening for amonth, and only then to give our aristocratic family connections at homeinformation of the happy event. She consented, and by the time thechristening took place she had fully recovered her health and beauty, or, rather, she had become more beautiful than ever; for, from a girlishmaiden, she had developed into a blooming woman. 

The little boy we christened William James. He was a well-formed, healthy child, and I myself had conscientiously selected a nurse forhim. 

When at last no harm was to be feared from excitement, and Flamma'shealth was fully established, I wrote her a line that I should like tohave some conversation with her on money matters that afternoon. Shewrote me in reply that I had anticipated her own wishes, and that shewould be ready to receive me. 

At the appointed time I carried the rosewood chest with her dowry to herroom. I found her engaged with the same worn-looking note-book that Ihad already noticed, but this time she did not hide it upon my entrance. She offered me a seat, but I set the chest on the table in front of her, and, looking her in the face, I said--

"Madame, to-day it is seven months since that eventful evening on whichyou made me certain confidential disclosures. At that time I did notmake any remark on the subject, because the state of your health wassuch that, in my capacity as a physician, conscientious scruplesprohibited me from creating in you any excitement which might provefatal to yourself and to another being. You will not refuse to bearwitness that I have paid you all the care and attention which yourcondition required, and that I have done everything that was possible, under the circumstances, to save you from emotions which might beinjurious. I have nursed you conscientiously, and omitted nothing whichI thought necessary to your health and that of your child. But now yourhealth is fully established, your child is christened, and I have givenhim an honourable name and a good nurse, which is all that he requiresfor the present. Now the time has come when I may express my realsentiments to you. I shall even now forbear to reproach you. In thiswhole baneful connection between us the fault has been mine alone. Itwas my boundless vanity, my absurd conceit, which led me to believe thata beautiful, wealthy, and high-born young lady would choose me, of allmen, for her husband, without any secret motive or hidden reason toprompt her. I ought to have known my own worthlessness better, and notyielded to a flattering self-conceit. You see, I acknowledge my faultfully, and I own that I have deserved my punishment. I have noaccusation against you. You were desperate; you had to save yourreputation, and you did not stop to consider what it might cost me solong as it served your purpose. Of course, the pride and honour ofCountess Vernöczy were of much higher importance than the life, thehonour, of an insignificant fool like myself. Move over, you paid for theservices you had procured with admirable magnanimity. You placed yourwhole dowry at my disposal. But now your honour and reputation aresaved; so is that of your child. There is no need of my suffering longerfor a fault for which I have bitterly atoned. Now, pray, let me restoreto you the money which you placed in my hands on that memorable night. Let me beg you to take slate and pencil, and convince yourself of theentire correctness of the amount. "

She looked at me as if mesmerised, and mechanically she obeyed me. Iopened the chest, took out the papers, and, as she had done on the nightof our wedding, I dictated to her the titles of the various deeds andsecurities, and she wrote as I dictated. 

The amount was correct. "You see that the coupons are inside, " I said;"those of last year and those of this year also. Not one has beentouched. "

"And our household expenses?" asked she, breathlessly. 

"Were liquidated by me with my own money. Now, pray, take the propertyout of my hands, for this is the last time that we shall ever speak withor behold each other as long as we live. " She gazed up at me, tremblingin every nerve. I continued--

"I shall leave you to-day, and you will never learn whither I have goneor where I am. Like the criminal escaping from jail, I shall change myname, and deny the term which I have served at your side. I shallpossess no name, no home, no family. I shall be a stranger and anoutcast, wandering to and fro for fear that the acquisition of a settledresidence might betray my abode to you. And now, there are three roadsopen to you. You may return with your child to the old home of theDumanys, my poor Slav kingdom. There you may live, secluded from theworld, bringing up your child and teaching him virtue, honesty, anduseful employments. You may dole out alms to the poor, and in thismournful solitude pray to God for happy oblivion or the still happiernews of my death. This is one of the roads open to you; it is the stonypath of virtue, dreary and tiresome. The second path is the flowery one. You may throw yourself upon the waves of life, drink deep of the cup ofpleasure, not troubling yourself with scruples as to what is allowed andwhat forbidden. Your youth, beauty, and wealth will carry you up to thepinnacle of pleasure--only beware of the consequences! I, the husband, shall be separated from you by whole oceans perhaps, and shall not behere to legitimatise the result of a _faux pas_. There is still a thirdway--a divorce; and I authorise you to commence your suit. Only, youknow, this way is tedious, and requires great sacrifices. Monetarysacrifices also, for we cannot get a divorce without being converted toProtestantism, and in that case, according to your grandfather's will, you are obliged to give up your dowry--this million. But you have alsoto give up the Church and the religion in which you were born andbrought up, and which has given you consolation in despair, and thesaints whom you are accustomed to invoke to your aid. Still, the road isopen to you, and I will give you four hours to make your decision. If itshould be for a divorce, I am ready to go with you to Transylvania toprocure a divorce under the Unitarian laws. "

As I finished she rose from her seat, her cheeks aglow, her eyesburning. "I know a fourth way, " she said, catching her breath. 

"And that is?"

"I will not let you go!" she cried, taking hold of my arm with bothhands, and clinging to me with her trembling body. 

I broke out into a bitter, scornful laugh. "Countess, " said I, "do youbelieve that there is in the world an interest, a sentiment, a spirit ofmagnanimity or of cowardice, which is powerful enough to hold me in jailnow that the time for which I have sentenced myself has expired? Thatthere is any power existing which could tie me to your side, if but foranother day? Well, I have read the hate, the contempt, the scorn in youreyes, and you were justly entitled to those feelings; but you cannotwish me to endure these daily pangs and lacerations of my woundedself-esteem for ever. You cannot ask of me to live on at the side of awoman who hates me, despises me, and scorns me, simply because it wouldsuit that woman to retain her present position. No, my lady! Even myample stock of weak foolish indulgence is at an end. I go, and I go forever! Not even in Paradise do I wish to meet you again. And if you go tosalvation, I shall go to perdition to avoid you!"

The effect of my cruel, insulting words were marvellous. They did notseem to hurt or offend her; she seemed to delight in them, drink them inlike some sweet, delicious nectar. Her face, her eyes, her attitudespoke of exultant admiration, of triumphant joy, of ecstatic delight. 

"True!" she said, "it is all true that you have said. Only what I havefelt for you was never hate; it was love warring against contempt, andcontempt fighting against love. Yes, I have despised you; for I wastold, and I believed it, that money was all that you cared for, and yourown words have confirmed me in this opinion. Do you remember, after youhad told Cenni and me the story of your friend, you spoke of thequalities of the girl whom you might marry? She must be young andbeautiful, and wealthy and luxurious. Young and beautiful--I thought--tosuit your vanity; wealthy and luxurious--because you loved wealth andluxury; and your conduct after our marriage hourly convinced me of thecorrectness of the supposition. You accepted your position without amurmur. I was burning with shame and humiliation, ready at a word tofall at your feet, and make you a confession which would cleanse me fromthe burning stigma, remove from me the brand of shame. But you acceptedthe money, and asked no questions, and I left you in despairingcontempt. Our married life was much too luxurious to undeceive me, and Ibelieved that you were making use of my money to feed your appetite forpleasure. When you protected me against danger, nursed me in my odiouscondition, I thought, 'All is well to him as long as he can keep themoney. He fears for my life, because, in case of my death, he would haveto restore the money. ' The comfort, the splendour, the costly presents, dresses, and jewels which you bestowed upon me were so many accusationsagainst yourself. And yet how I longed to be able to respect you! Whenthe newspapers spoke of your undaunted courage, of your disinterestedand indefatigable activity, your self-denial, generosity, and discreetmodesty, how my heart yearned for you! How my soul cried out to you, 'Why are you not the same to me as to the world? Why are you brave, generous, disinterested, and self-denying to them, and not to me? Why amI, of all persons alive, condemned to know you for a cowardly, avaricious, and selfish man, when, in spite of all that, my heart burnsfor love of you?' And now you have thrown off the hideous mask you wore, have shown me your real face, shown me how much I have misjudged you, how I have sinned against you! You give me back that money untouched. You have not even spent the interest of it, and now I see how I havewronged you in accusing you of greed. All your tender care, yourdelicate attention, your patient indulgence were given to me out of yourmagnanimous sense of duty, the heavenly generosity of your soul! And nowthat I know you in all the glory of your goodness, now that I have foundmy ideal in you and my love has grown into worship, now you tell methat you are lost to me for ever, that you will not be mine, and I mustchoose the paths you point out to me. No, sir; that is impossible! Youcannot cast me off, now that I love you! I have sinned against you, caused you insufferable pains, infinite tortures; but my whole lifeshall be given to atone for those sins by meek submission, dutifulobedience, ardent love. I cannot choose between those paths you haveshown me. I do not want to be consumed by the fires of sinful love, norto freeze in the ice of solitude and self-abnegation. I want to behappy, and to make you happy. I want to love, and I do love you!"

"You have a child. "

"That child! That living stigma which was branded into my flesh by amiserable assassin! I hate it so much that I will never kiss it, neverpray for it. Its very sight is loathsome to me! I have given birth toit, but shall never love it as a mother!"

After this tempest of her emotions she threw herself against the door, barring it against me as though to say: "The way through this door, theway that separates you from me, leads over my body. "

I looked at her, and the sight of her deep and real agitation summonedme to a silent condemnation of my base hypocrisy. What was I but acunning dissembler, coming here to play a great part before her, makingbelieve that I had not touched her money, when I had time and againrisked it in speculations? And the very house she lived in, the comfortand splendour that surrounded her, were the result of the profits hermoney had acquired. How dared I make a parade of my generosity, when allthe time I had been scheming for her ruin and dreaming of revenge? Truthand sincerity were all on her side; the halo of virtue around my headwas false. 

And she loved me! She confessed that love with the frank truthfulness ofher nature--confessed it in words that sent a thrill of delight throughmy whole frame! And I, who am burning for love of her, I stand here likea pagan idol, in stony indifference, looking down at the bleeding heartwhich is held up as a sacrifice to me. No, I am no stone! Avaunt, Hathor, Mylitta, Baaltis, I am none of yours! And thou too, vile, wretched Dissimulation, I cast thee forth! Depart from the presence ofthis true woman!

I went to her and took her hands. "If your boy is not to have the loveof a mother, he shall have that of a father instead. I shall love himdearly and be a true father to him. "

As I said this, she broke into passionate sobbing, and, crouching downat my feet, she threw her arms around my knees and wept bitterly. 

"No, " said she, "do not lift me up, for my confessions are not yetended. I have asked you for mercy heretofore. I now ask you for justice;for a righteous judgment! I have never been the degraded wretch youbelieved me to be, have never been the mistress of another man, neverlistened to his words of love, so help me God! Siegfried was not mybetrayer, he was my assassin! He made use of Diodora's and Cenni'sabsence from the house, at a time when a slight illness had preventedme from accompanying them, to drug my wine at the table, and during thelethargy caused by the soporific potion he slew my soul! Devil as he is, he took a devilish revenge, because I had shown him my contempt andabhorrence. "

Before this I was down on my knees, covering her eyes, her hair, herface, and her mouth with my kisses; weeping in the excess of my love andhappiness. "Why did you not tell me this before? Why not on the night ofour wedding?" I asked. 

"I intended to! Do you remember that I asked you if you had no otherquestion to address to me? You said 'No, ' and pointed to the door. For afew moments only your eye had rested with a fiery glare on a two-edgeddagger which lay upon the table. If you had carried out the wildpromptings of your wrath, if your hand had raised the dagger against me, if only a single word or action had given me proof that you were the manI wished you to be, and not the wretch who accepts the money which isoffered in return for his name and honour, I should have spoken. Oh, howI have longed to do it!"

I pressed her to my heart and kissed her again. "You are innocent, " Isaid: "as innocent as that poor child himself. You have not sinned;others have sinned against you. And now that you have confessed to me, let me also confess to you, and, if you can, forgive me!" I told herall--my evil designs, the monetary speculations, my suicidal purposes, my moral cowardice. She listened, shuddering, but, when I had finished, she nestled close to my heart and kissed me passionately. She hadforgiven. 

 * * * * *

After this we decided to leave Europe and go to the New World--toAmerica. My old Slav kingdom I did not care to keep; it was best to giveup everything, and wipe out all memory of myself. So I left it to besold in payment of the debts I had accumulated. In the New World fortuneclung to me with the same persistence. Whatever I undertook was sure tosucceed, and all my enterprises were fortunate. So, in course of time, Ibecame the "Silver King. " We came to Europe on account of little James, who all at once ceased speaking and became a mute. We tried Americanphysicians, but to no purpose, and so we came to Europe in order toconsult the best professional talent. Now you know all. You know how itwas possible for the little son of a South American nabob, afterregaining his lost speech, to speak Hungarian, and you know who taughthim to speak that language. The child has never loved anyone but me, andno one has loved him but myself. And I love him truly and with all myheart. For to him I am indebted for all my present happiness; not onlyfor my wealth, for wealth alone is not happiness. A man may be happywithout wealth, and be very unhappy with it; but I owe him this. 

He took a photograph from his pocket-book, and showed it to me--fourlaughing little cherub heads, peeping out of a bath-tub, like birds fromthe nest. "These my little James has brought me, " he said, with tears ofjoy in his eyes; "if he had not come, these would not have come either. So, you see, my dear friend, I was thrown into Hell and fell intoParadise. "

 * * * * *

"I beg your pardon, " said I to Mr. Dumany, as he finished his story, "but I am curious to know what became of Siegfried? Would you mindtelling me?"

"Oh, he is a very famous man at present, and fills a very honourableposition. He is engaged as horse-tamer in the Paris Hippodrome, and theysay that he is excellent in 'jumping. ' I have not seen him yet, but Ihear he has a good salary, and is a general favourite. He is very muchpraised and admired by those who have seen him. I think it highlycreditable in a man when he lives honourably by means of his ability andtalent. "

By this time the dawn had greeted us. Through the chinks of the closedshutters the rising sun was stealing, decorating the wall-tapestry withrings of golden red, adding radiant circles to the smoke-wreaths of ourcigarettes, and sending long glittering darts into all the corners andbehind the curtains. 

Presently, breaking the monotony of our voices, which punch and cognachad made hoarse, a sweet, silvery voice chimed in, "Apácska! Apácska!"("Papa! Papa!") and a little unfledged cherub was peeping out from thebed-curtains. "You may come to me, " said Mr. Dumany, smilingly, and, inan instant, little James was out of bed, and, barefooted, in his littlenightgown as he was, he ran to his father, shouting with glee, climbingup into his lap, and throwing his little arms caressingly around hisneck, laughing mischievously the while. At the noise of this babblingand laughter, similar sounds were heard in the next room, just as in abird's nest when one little fledgeling chirps all the rest join in, lifting the little heads and trying the winglets. 

"Reveille is sounded, " said my friend, with a happy smile. "I have to goand muster my troops; this next chamber is their bedroom. "

But the muster was postponed, for the commander-in-chief arrived--themother. She was in a plain, dark dress, but her beautiful face bore asoft expression of happiness which I had not seen the day before. "Youare up yet?" she asked. 

"And you are up already?" asked her husband. 

"Yes. I have been out to my confessor's. You have made a clean breast toyour friend at home; I have done the same in the confessional, and Ihave come home much happier than I went, and I truly hope much better. "With that she bent down to the child, and kissed it tenderly. 

"I have been an unnatural and undutiful mother, " she said, in a low, trembling voice, "and if you, in your generous pity, in the overflowingkindness of your nature, had not taken this poor innocent to your heart, it would not have known the tender love, the sweet care of a parent. Father Augustin has shown me the great, black sin in my breast. How canI hope for mercy from Heaven if I mercilessly lock my heart against myown innocent offspring? How can I hope for love and respect from myother children, if I withhold a mother's love from this one? Oh, mydearest husband! here in the presence of your friend, whom you have madecognisant of our past sorrows and trials, I thank you from the bottom ofmy heart for the love you have borne my child!" And before he couldprevent the action she had bent down and pressed her lips to his hand. 

"Flamma! dearest!" he said, overcome by his emotion, "you have been thetruest, the most considerate, most loving, and most dutiful of all wivesand mothers; but this day you have filled my cup of happiness to thebrim. This one drop, the mother's kiss to the sweet innocent, waswanting. This day shall henceforth be kept as a high holiday, as thislittle darling's real birthday, for it has given him a mother. "

He held up the boy to her, and at the sweet, inviting smile and theopened arms the little one threw open his arms also; one of them he drewaround his mother's, the other around his father's neck, and then heshowered a volley of kisses and caresses on both. Never in all my lifehave I seen a picture more lovely and beautiful than this. 

"Come, my little one, " said the mother, after a while, to the child, "itis too early yet for you to rise. Come to your little brothers andsisters and sleep awhile longer, " and, nodding sweetly to us, shedisappeared, with the child on her arm, through the tapestry _portičre_that led to the children's bedroom. 

The "Silver King" silently pressed my hand as I said--

"Sir, you are the happiest man on earth, nor can all the crownedmonarchs of the world compare to you in wealth!"

"Yes, " he said, after a while, "I am very happy. But I owe you anexplanation, before I take leave of you. You may think it singular thata man who is the father of a family should disclose such intimatesecrets to a friend of whom he knows beforehand that he will make publicuse of the disclosure, and relate to his readers the events he haslearned. But, you see, so much has already been said about my wife andme--the fantastic imagination of one half of our fellow-creatures hasinvented so much to feed the idle curiosity of the other half, that theplain truth will serve in general as a cooling sedative. There aredifferent versions afloat as to how we got our money. Some say that Iwas a general spy of the Prussians, and that my money was a fee for theinformation furnished, or, in plain words, the betrayal of the positionsof the French forces. Others say that my wife had been the mistress of aKing, and was enriched by him, and that she still draws a life-pensionfrom the Civil List; while superstitious fools will have it that I havesold myself to the Devil, and am supplied by him with infernal lore. Against all of these the disclosure of the plain truth will be the bestdefence. Human I am and have been, and human have been the temptationsand trials that have beset me. The only Devil to whom, for a time, Isold myself, was the demon in my own breast--a poor, feeble spirit, andlong ago subdued by the more potent angel of love and peace. "

THE END. 

 * * * * * * *

Transcriber's Note:

 The following typographical errors in the original text have been corrected. 

 In Part I, Chapter V, "religous monomania" has been changed to "religious monomania". 

 In Part I, Chapter VIII, "Yes, I wan you immediately" has been changed to "Yes, I want you immediately". 

 In Part I, Chapter XIII, "photograpers" has been changed to "photographers". 

 In Part II, Chapter IV, "siezed" has been changed to "seized". 

 In Part II, Chapter X, a missing quotation mark has been added to the sentence, Upon the steel blade was graven, in golden letters, "_Buona notte_; and "_Buona notte! buona notte_, " I kept incoherently murmuring. 

 In Part II, Chapter XII, "distinguised" has been changed to "distinguished". 

 In Part II, Chapter XV, an extra "are" has been deleted from "you are are mistaken in this house". 

 In Part II, Chapter XVII, "Moveover" has been changed to "Moreover". 

 In Part II, Chapter XVII, "infernal ore" has been changed to "infernal lore".