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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36739-0.txt b/36739-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..02cee1a --- /dev/null +++ b/36739-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10914 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Strange Story of Rab Ráby, by Mór Jókai + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Strange Story of Rab Ráby + +Author: Mór Jókai + +Commentator: Emil Reich + +Release Date: July 15, 2011 [EBook #36739] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RÁBY *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RÁBY + + + + +DR. MAURUS JÓKAI'S +MORE FAMOUS WORKS + +(Authorised Translations). + +LIBRARY EDITION. + +6/- each. + + Black Diamonds. + The Green Book; or, Freedom Under the Snow. + Pretty Michal. + The Lion of Janina; or, The Last Days of the Janissaries. + An Hungarian Nabob. + Dr. Dumany's Wife. + The Nameless Castle. + The Poor Plutocrats. + Debts of Honour. + Halil the Pedlar. + The Day of Wrath. + Eyes Like the Sea. + 'Midst the Wild Carpathians. + The Slaves of the Padishah. + Tales from Jókai. + + +NEW POPULAR EDITION. + +2/6 Net each. + + The Yellow Rose. + Black Diamonds. + The Green Book; or, Freedom Under the Snow. + Pretty Michal. + The Day of Wrath. + +LONDON: JARROLD & SONS. + + + + +[Illustration: portrait of Mór Jókai] + + + + +THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RÁBY + +BY MAURUS JÓKAI + +[Illustration: SANS PEUR ET SANS REPROCHE.] + +THIRD EDITION + +LONDON +JARROLD & SONS, 10 & 11, WARWICK LANE, E.C. + +[All Rights Reserved.] + + + + +PREFACE + +TO JÓKAI'S "RAB RÁBY," IN ENGLISH, + +By Dr. Emil Reich. + + +In "Rab Ráby," the famous Hungarian novelist gives us, in a manner quite +his own, a picture of the "old régime" in Hungary in the times of +Emperor Joseph II., 1780-1790. The novel, as to its plot and principal +persons, is based on facts, and the then manners and institutions of +Hungary are faithfully reflected in the various scenes from private, +judicial, and political life as it developed under the erroneous policy +of Joseph II. + +Briefly speaking, "Rab Ráby" is the story of one of those frightful +miscarriages of justice which at all times cropped up under the +influence of political motives. In our own time we have seen the Dreyfus +case, another instance of appalling injustice set in motion for +political reasons. "Rab Ráby" is thus very likely to give the English +reader a wrong idea of the backward and savage character of Hungarian +civilisation towards the end of the eighteenth century, unless he +carefully considers the peculiar circumstances of the case. I think I +can do the novel no better service than setting it in its right +historic frame, which Jókai, writing as he did for Hungarians, did not +feel induced to dwell upon. + +The Hungarians, alone of all Continental nations, have a political +Constitution of their own, the origin of which goes back to an age prior +to Magna Charta in England. Outside Hungary, it is generally believed +that Hungary is a mere annex of "Austria"; and the average Englishman in +particular is much surprised to hear that "Austria" is considerably +smaller than Hungary. In fact, "Austria" is merely a conventional +phrase. There is no Austria, in technical language. What is +conventionally called Austria has in reality a much longer name by which +alone it is technically recognised to exist. This name is, "The +countries represented in the _Reichsrath_." On the other hand, there is, +conventionally and technically, a Hungary, which has no "home-rule" +whatever from Austria, any more than Australia has "home-rule" from +England. In fact, Hungary is the equal partner of Austria; and no +Austrian official whatever can officially perform the slightest function +in Hungary. The person whom the people of "Austria" call "Emperor," the +Hungarians accept only as their King. There is not even a common +citizenship between Hungarians and Austrians; and a Hungarian to be +fully recognised in Austria as, say a lawyer, must first acquire the +Austrian rights of naturalisation, just as an Englishman would. + +The preceding remarks will enable the reader to see clearly that Hungary +never accepted, nor can ever accept Austrian rule in any shape +whatever; and that the entire business of political, judicial, and +administrative government in Hungary must legally be done by Hungarian +citizens only. The King alone happens to be an official in Austria as +well as in Hungary; but according to Hungarian constitutional law he +cannot command, nor reform things in Hungary except with the formal +consent of the Hungarian authorities, in Parliament and County. In +Austria indeed, the "Emperor" was, previous to 1867, quite autocratic; +and even at present he has a very large share of autocratic power. + +Now, Emperor Joseph II. desired to melt down Hungarian and Austrian +manners, laws, and institutions into one homogeneous mass of a +Germanised body-politic. With this view he commanded the Hungarians to +practically give up their own language, their ancient national +constitution, and old County institutions, thinking as he did, that such +an unification of the Austro-Hungarian peoples would make the Danubian +Monarchy much more powerful and prosperous than it had ever been before. +He sincerely believed that his scheme of unification would greatly +benefit his peoples; nor did he doubt that they would readily obey his +behests to that effect. + +However, the Emperor was quite mistaken as to the effect of his imperial +policy upon the Hungarians. Far from acquiescing in his plans, the +Hungarians at once showed fight in every possible form of passive +resistance, rebellion, scorn, or threats. To them their Constitution +was, as it still is, dearer by far than all material prosperity. + +The Emperor's ordinances were coolly shelved, not even read, and with a +few exceptions, all his commands proved abortive. Many Hungarians +admitted then, as others do now, that Joseph's reforms were in more than +one respect such as to benefit Hungary. Yet no Hungarian wanted to +purchase these reforms at the expense of the hoary and holy Constitution +of the country. Joseph, in commanding all those reforms, without so much +as asking for the consent of the Estates, violated the very fundamental +principle of the Hungarian Constitution. This the Hungarians were +determined to resist to the uttermost. In the end they vanquished the +ruler, who shortly before his death withdrew nearly all his ordinances, +and so confessed himself beaten. + +It is in the midst of these historic and psychological circumstances +that Jókai laid his fascinating novel. A young Hungarian nobleman, +indignant at the illegality and injustice of public officials of his +native town, who shamefully exploit the poor of the district, approaches +the Emperor with a view to get his authorisation for measures destined +to put an end to the criminal encroachments of the said officials. The +Emperor gives him that authority. But far from strengthening young +Ráby's case, the Emperor thereby exposes him to the unforgiving rancour +of both guilty and innocent officials who desperately resent the +Emperor's unconstitutional procedure. + +The novel is the story of the conflict between the young noble and the +Emperor on the one hand, and the wretched, but in the nature of the +case, more patriotic officials, on the other. As in all such cases, +where virtue appears either at the wrong time, or in the wrong shape, +the ruin of the virtuous is almost inevitable, while no student of human +nature can wholly condemn his otherwise corrupt and despicable enemies. +In that conflict lies both the charm of the novel and its tragic +character. + +As in all his stories, Jókai fills each page with a novel interest, and +his inexhaustible good humour and exuberant powers of description throw +even over the dark scenes of the story something of the soothing light +of mellow hilarity. + +EMIL REICH. + +_London, Nov. 1st, 1909._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + PAGE + CHAPTER I. 1 + CHAPTER II. 6 + CHAPTER III. 11 + CHAPTER IV. 16 + CHAPTER V. 27 + CHAPTER VI. 37 + CHAPTER VII. 46 + CHAPTER VIII. 50 + CHAPTER IX. 58 + CHAPTER X. 64 + CHAPTER XI. 70 + CHAPTER XII. 82 + CHAPTER XIII. 86 + CHAPTER XIV. 96 + CHAPTER XV. 104 + CHAPTER XVI. 112 + CHAPTER XVII. 130 + CHAPTER XVIII. 141 + CHAPTER XIX. 150 + CHAPTER XX. 159 + CHAPTER XXI. 173 + CHAPTER XXII. 178 + CHAPTER XXIII. 188 + CHAPTER XXIV. 197 + CHAPTER XXV. 204 + CHAPTER XXVI. 219 + CHAPTER XXVII. 224 + CHAPTER XXVIII. 234 + CHAPTER XXIX. 237 + CHAPTER XXX. 249 + CHAPTER XXXI. 255 + CHAPTER XXXII. 259 + CHAPTER XXXIII. 268 + CHAPTER XXXIV. 278 + CHAPTER XXXV. 286 + CHAPTER XXXVI. 289 + CHAPTER XXXVII. 296 + CHAPTER XXXVIII. 301 + CHAPTER XXXIX. 308 + CHAPTER XL. 317 + CHAPTER XLI. 324 + CHAPTER XLII. 328 + CHAPTER XLIII. 335 + CHAPTER XLIV. 339 + CHAPTER XLV. 345 + CHAPTER XLVI. 349 + CHAPTER XLVII. 352 + CHAPTER XLVIII. 357 + CHAPTER XLIX. 360 + CHAPTER L. 364 + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Now it is not because the double name of "Rab Ráby" is merely a pretty +bit of alliteration that the author chose it for the title of his story, +but rather because the hero of it was, according to contemporary +witnesses of his doings, named Ráby, and in consequence of these same +doings, earned the epithet "Rab" ("culprit"). How he deserved the +appellation will be duly shown in what follows. + +A hundred years ago, there was no such thing as a lawyer, in the modern +sense, in the city of Buda-Pesth. Attorneys indeed there were, of all +sorts, but a lawyer who was at the public service was not to be found, +and when a country cousin came to town, to look for someone who should +"lie for money," he sought in vain. + +Why this demand for lawyers could not be supplied in Buda-Pesth a +hundred years back may best be explained by briefly describing the two +cities at that epoch. + +For two cities they really were, with their respective jurisdictions. +The Austrian magistrate persistently called Pesth "Old Buda," and the +Rascian city of Buda itself, "Pesth," but the Hungarians recognised +"Pestinum Antiqua" as Pesth, and for them, Buda was "the new city." + +Pesth itself reaches from the Hatvan to the Waitz Gate. Where Hungary +Street now stretches was then to be seen the remains of the old city +wall, under which still nestled a few mud dwellings. The ancient Turkish +cemetery, to-day displaced by the National Theatre, was yet standing, +and further out still, lay kitchen gardens. On the other side, at the +end of what is now Franz-Deák Street, on the banks of the Danube, stood +the massive Rondell bastion, wherein, as a first sign of civilisation, a +theatrical company had pitched its abode, though, needless to say, it +was an Austrian one. At that epoch, it was prohibited by statute to +elect an Hungarian magistrate, and the law allowed no Hungarians but +tailors and boot-makers to be householders. + +Of the Leopold City, there was at that time no trace, and the spot where +now the Bank stands, was then the haunt of wild-ducks. Where Franz-Deák +Street now stretches, ran a marshy dyke, which was surmounted by a +rampart of mud. In the Joseph quarter only was there any sign of +planning out the area of building-plots and streets; to be sure, the +rough outline of the Theresa city was just beginning to show itself in a +cluster of houses huddled closely together, and the narrow street which +they were then building was called "The Jewry." In this same street, and +in this only, was it permitted to the Jews, on one day every week, by an +order of the magistrate, to expose for sale those articles which +remained in their possession as forfeited pledges. Within the city they +were not allowed to have shops, and when outside the Jews' quarter, they +were obliged to don a red mantle, with a yellow lappet attached, and any +Jew who failed to wear this distinctive garb was fined four deniers. +There was little scope for trade. Merchants, shop-keepers and brokers +bought and sold for ready-money only; no one might incur debt save in +pawning; and if the customer failed to pay up, the pledge was forfeited. +Thus there was no call for legal aid. If the citizens had a quarrel, +they carried their difference to the magistrate to be adjusted, and both +parties had to be satisfied with his decision, no counsel being +necessary. Affairs of honour and criminal cases however were referred to +the exchequer, with a principal attorney and a vice-attorney for the +prosecution and for the defence. + +At that time, there was in what is now Grenadier Street, a +single-storied house opposite the "hop-garden." This house was the +County Assembly House whence the provincial jurisdiction was exercised. +It had been the Austrian barracks, till finally, Maria Theresa promoted +it to the dignity of a law-court, and caused a huge double eagle with +the Hungarian escutcheon in the middle, to be painted thereon; from +which time, no soldier dare set foot in its precincts. Here it was only +permitted to the civilians and the prisoners confined there to enter. +Only the part of the building which faced east was then standing: this +wing comprised the officials' rooms and the subterranean dungeons. + +The magnates carried on their petty local dissensions, aided by their +own legal wisdom alone, yet every Hungarian nobleman was an expert in +jurisprudence in his own fashion. There were even women who had proved +themselves quite adepts in arranging legal difficulties. The Hungarian +constitution allowed the right to the magnate who did not wish the law +to take its course, of forcibly staying its execution, and the same +prerogative was extended to a woman land-owner. The commonweal also +demanded that each one should strive to make as rapid an end as possible +to lawsuits. Long legal processes were adjusted so that there should be +time for the judge as well as the contending parties to look after +building and harvest operations, as well as the vintage and pig-killing. +On these occasions lawsuits would be laid aside so as not to interfere +with such important business. + +But if the tax-paying peasant was at variance with his fellow-toiler, +the local magistrate, and the lord of the manor, were arbitrators. So +here likewise there was no room for a lawyer. + +But when the peasant had ground of complaint against his betters, he had +none to take his part. There was, however, one man willing to fill the +breach, although he had been up to this time little noticed, and that +man was Rab Ráby--or to give him his full title of honour, "Mathias Ráby +of Rába and Mura." + +He it was who was the first to realise the ambition of becoming on his +own account the people's lawyer in the city of Pesth--and this without +local suffrages or the active support of powerful patrons--but only at +the humble entreaty of those whose individual complaints are unheard, +but in unison, become as the noise of thunder. + +The representative of this new profession did Ráby aim at being. It was +for this men called him "Rab Ráby," though he had, as we shall see, to +expiate his boldness most bitterly. + +In what follows, the reader will find for the most part, a true history +of eighteenth century Pesth. It will be worth his while to read it, in +order to understand how the world wagged in the days when there was no +lawyer in Pesth and Buda. Moreover, it will perhaps reconcile him to the +fact that we have so many of them to-day! + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +They sit, the worshipful government authorities of Pesth, at the +ink-bespattered green table in the council room of the Assembly House, +the president himself in the chair; close beside him, the prefect, whom +his neighbour, the "overseer of granaries," was doing his best to +confuse by his talking. On his left is an empty chair, beside which sits +the auditor, busy sketching hussars with a red pencil on the back of a +bill. Opposite is the official tax-collector whose neck is already quite +stiff with looking up at the clock to see how far it is from +dinner-time. The rest of the party are consequential officials who +divide their time between discussing fine distinctions in Latinity, and +cutting toothpicks for the approaching mid-day meal. + +The eighth seat, which remains empty, is destined for the magistrate. +But empty it won't be for long. + +And indeed it is not empty because its owner is too lazy to fill it, but +because he is on official affairs intent in the actual court room, +whereof the door stands ajar, so that although he cannot hear all that +is going forward, he can have a voice in the discussion when the vote is +taken. + +From the court itself rises a malodorous steam from the damp sheepskin +cloaks, the reek of dirty boots and the pungent fumes of garlic--a +combined stench so thick that you could have cut it with a knife. +Peasants there are too there in plenty, Magyars, Rascians, and Swabians: +all of whom must get their "viginti solidos," otherwise their "twenty +strokes with the lash." + +For to-day is the fourth session of the local court of criminal appeal. +On this day, the serious cases are taken first, and after the +death-sentences have been passed, come a succession of lesser peasant +offenders for judgment. + +Some have broken open granaries, others have been guilty of assaults, +but there are three main groups. To one of these belong the settlers +from Izbegh who have been convicted of gathering wood in the forests of +the nobles. The second section embraces those culprits who were artful +enough during the vintage to cover the ripe grapes over with earth, (so +that the magnates should be cheated out of their tithes), and to evade +the heydukes who kept watch and ward over the vintagers. Thirdly, there +were the offenders who had formed a deputation to the chancery court, +and dared to pray for a revision of the public accounts for the past +twenty-five years, a request at once temerarious and stupid, for +twenty-five years is a long time--long enough indeed for accounts to +become rotten and worm-eaten. But that they were in sufficiently good +order, the revenue for this particular year, 1783, testified, seeing it +amounted to sixty thousand gulden, of which six thousand were paid to +the ground landlord, and two thousand towards the internal expenses of +the province, with a balance in hand of fifty-two thousand gulden--not +an extravagant outlay, surely! + +But what remains for the peasant? + +Why just those twenty strokes with the lash. These solve the question of +"plus" and "minus." + +The presiding judge, Mr. Peter Petray, only records his vote through the +door, but he himself is doing his official part, for from the window of +the adjoining room he superintends the sentences carried out in the +improvised court below. There are the prisoners in the dock on whom the +vials of justice are being poured forth. They are by no means a +contemptible study either for the psychologist or the ethnographer. The +Rascians are the defaulters against the vintage rights, and loudly they +shriek and curse as the blows are administered, whilst the outragers of +the forestry laws are mostly Swabians, who take advantage of the pauses +between the lashes roundly to abuse the overseer. But there are many +other delinquents besides in that motley crowd, who simply clench their +teeth and await their chastisement. + +But the eye of the law must itself watch over the execution of judgment, +so that nothing in the shape of an understanding between the heyduke +and the culprit, tending to mollify the punishment, may be arrived at. +Much depends on how the blows are laid on. Not only does the sentence +provide that the due number of lashes may be fulfilled, but likewise +that the strokes should be heavy. It is for this that the judge, if he +sees the heyduke falter in his work, urges him on to harder blows, by +calling out "Fortius!" + +But Judge Petray knows how to combine duty and pleasure. For Fräulein +Fruzsinka, the niece of the prefect, is also in the room, and their +whispered confidences and languishing glances show that the judge and +the young lady have not met here to discuss simply official questions. + +Whilst the notary in the next room is reading the indictment in a loud +enough tone for Petray to be able to follow him, this dignitary manages +to interpolate various interesting "asides" to his companion amid the +fire of cross questions, and only calls out his vote when asked for it. + +Only the prefect cannot just now leave his post as assessor, and it is +impossible for him to see all that goes on. In the pauses therefore +between the blows, the flirtation between these two goes on merrily. + +It was just then that Fräulein Fruzsinka whispered something to her +lover. + +"Willingly," he answers, "but while I do it the Fräulein must take my +place at the window, and count the strokes in my stead." + +"And remember the heyduke's name is 'Fortius,'" added the judge to his +representative. + +Fräulein Fruzsinka leaned out of the window still laughing heartily, and +began to count as if she were noting a scale of music. The culprit, +seeing a girl's smiling face looking down on him, appealed to her for +mercy. And the young lady, who was by no means hard-hearted, called out +to the heyduke: "Don't beat the poor fellow so pitilessly, Fortius." But +that official only flogged all the harder. + +At the twelfth stroke, Petray came back and slipped something into the +hand of the girl as she leaned out of the window. + +This something she pressed to her lips as she withdrew again behind the +curtain, hiding it in the great locket she wore on her breast. The judge +counted on. + +Now it was the turn of a gipsy band, six of whose number had stolen a +goose, and were to receive half a dozen lashes apiece in consequence. +Later on they will provide the music at dinner, at the command of their +prosecutors: "Now we fiddle to you, then you will play to us!" + +Fräulein Fruzsinka, with a parting hand-clasp, hastens away to see to +the setting of the table, for the silver and glass and table-linen are +her special care. The judge raised her hand to his lips as she left. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +It was now time for dinner, whereat we may have the honour of making a +closer acquaintance with the host and hostess and their four guests. + +The prefect, Mr. John Zabváry, with his jaundiced complexion and bleared +eyes, is an excellent specimen of the perfect egoist. Whosoever it is +that comes to him, whether to ask, or to give something, is equally an +enemy in disguise. Does he ask a favour? what is it he wants? Does he +bring something? why is there not more of it? With that perpetual dry +cough of his, he always seems to be calling attention to the faults of +someone or other. He does not even dress like anyone else, but sits at +the end of the table in loose shirt-sleeves, his head nearly +extinguished by a huge red velvet cap, from which dangles an enormous +red tassel, that seems to mock at received Magyar modes. He is a +shocking speaker, and when he gets angry, words fail him, and he begins +to stammer. He is, however, the uncle and guardian of Fräulein +Fruzsinka, which fact perhaps accounts for his short temper. + +For Fräulein Fruzsinka, with her pretty face and arch ways, her bright +eyes and alluring smile, is none the less a domestic affliction in her +way. How the prefect longs for someone to rid him of her! How willingly +would he not give her to the first comer. + +But it is her own fault that no one marries her, for she flirts +desperately with each admirer in turn. You see it even as she sits at +the table, keeping up a cross-fire of bread-pellets with the judge in a +way that is anything but ladylike. The prefect coughs disapproval and +shakes his head each time he glances at his wayward niece, who, on her +part, only shrugs her shoulders defiantly. + +Yet is Judge Peter Petray a highly distinguished man. The dark Hungarian +dolman that he wears suits him admirably. His black curly hair is not +powdered in the Austrian mode, nor twisted into a cue, but curls over +his forehead in a most attractive fashion, and his short moustache +proclaims him a cavalier of the best type. + +His neighbour, the president of the court, Mr. Valentine Laskóy, is a +good specimen of the Magyar of the old school, with his squat little +rotund figure, short red dolman, variegated Hungarian hose, bright +yellow belt, and tan boots. The long fair moustache that droops either +side of his mouth, seems to vie with the bushy eyebrows half defiantly. +Yet it is a face that is always smiling, and the owner has a powerful +voice wherewith to express his feelings. + +The dinner lasted well into the twilight. How describe it? Everyone +knows what an Hungarian dinner implies. With other people, eating is a +pleasure, with the Magyar it is a veritable _cultus_. + +The meal was enlivened by anecdotes, and those of the most racy kind, +whilst the fragrant fumes of tobacco wrapped the company in a cloud of +smoke. + +When they at last rose from the table, the judge drew from under his +dolman a little note that Fräulein Fruzsinka had slipped into his hand +under the table--a missive that an onlooker might have taken perhaps for +a love-letter. The judge, however, pushed it over to the president, +exclaiming as he did so, "Worshipful friend, will you please verify this +little account?" + +"What is it? I can't see to read by candle-light." And with that the +president pushed the document over to the prefect. + +"It's only the statement of accounts," grumbled the host, as he thrust +the paper from him, while he growled: "That is my niece's affair and has +nothing to do with me!" + +"I can't see by candle-light," repeated the president. "I can't make out +the letters." For a good Hungarian never puts on spectacles. Whoever has +good eyes may read if he will. + +His worship, the judge, had good eyes as it happened. But Fräulein +Fruzsinka kicked his foot under the table, a hint her admirer well +understood. + +"Let us hear how much we four have eaten and drunk in four days." Here +it is: + + 12 pounds of coffee. + 24 pounds of fine sugar. + 626 loaves of wheaten bread. + 534 decanters of wine. + 154 pounds of beef. + 4 sucking pigs. + 107 pairs of fowls, turkeys, and geese. + 54½ gallons of Obers beer. + 174½ pounds of fish. + 24½ pounds of almonds. + 18¼ pounds of raisins. + 422 eggs. + 3 hundred weight of finest wheat flour. + +Each item was greeted with a roar of laughter from the company. What was +here set forth could not have been consumed. Moreover the expenditure +was the affair of Fräulein Fruzsinka, who superintended these payments. + +It was the judge's cue to be polite under the circumstances. Fräulein +Fruzsinka held her table-napkin before her face while it was being read, +in order to hide her blushes. Behind her stood the heyduke with the +inkstand, so that the document might be duly signed by the authorities. +Happily the item of the ink wherewith it was signed was not put down, +else, doubtless, it had amounted to a bucketful! Then they all +exchanged the greeting customary at the close of a meal. If anyone had +anything further to say, it was about the gipsy musicians who were just +beginning to play. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +A genuinely welcome guest does not take his leave at nightfall; the +prefect's visitors therefore put off their departure till the next day, +for the evening before they had sat long at the card-table, whereat the +prefect had won back from his guests, and that to the last kreutzer, all +that it had cost to entertain them. + +Fräulein Fruzsinka had played cards till daylight. She had at first no +luck whatever, willing as she was by some slight cheating, to bring it, +but since her fellow-players were ready to let a pretty girl have her +way, she won at last ten ducats. Mr. Laskóy, however, lost the whole of +his salary. But the money would at least be restored to him, for it was +the custom that whoever won most must refund the president his lost +money, in view of the possible wrath of that important official. The +master of the house smuggled the ten ducats through Fräulein Fruzsinka, +into the president's hand. + +"Take care," laughed the girl, "Gyöngyöm Miska does not rob you on the +way." + +"I shall hide it where no one can find it, in the lining of my cap. +There it will be safe enough. Besides, Gyöngyöm Miska is just now +prowling about the county of Somogy. Captain Lievenkopp himself, with +all his dragoons, would hardly succeed in driving him into our +neighbourhood." + +"Ah, well, I only say, look after your gold pieces!" + +The president laughed contemptuously. Lievenkopp was, it was well known, +one of Fräulein Fruzsinka's admirers. + +The president and the judge drove together as far as the next post +station, where their ways parted, and meantime chatted amicably. + +"Isn't our hostess a charming person?" began the president as they left +the inn. + +"I don't say she isn't." + +"I must admit you certainly show your good taste in that quarter." + +"Surely only like any other?" + +"Come, come, what avails evasion? When I look into the fair lady's eyes +I don't see the expression there, you do. Can you deny it?" + +"Well, and if I have looked into her eyes, what of it?" + +"Oh, we know all about that. Everyone knows that you and the lady of the +house were carrying on a flirtation whilst the sessions were going on." + +"Did I flirt?" + +"Most emphatically you did. I know everything. Last night, when I went +to my room, I heard voices through the door of our hostess' boudoir. I +waited in order to listen, and sure enough it was the prefect who was +holding forth angrily about you against a shrill high-pitched voice, +which was obviously that of your Fräulein Fruzsinka. Thereupon, the lady +retorted that there was an understanding between you, and that the +affair was quite serious." + +"Bah! As if I meant to marry every girl to whom I have made a +declaration," laughed the judge. + +"Aha, that would be quite as difficult to bring about as if Fräulein +Fruzsinka wished to marry all those who had courted her. It cuts both +ways. Yet she is a charming girl! If she could only find some good man +who would marry her. Why not you, eh?" + +"Most certainly not. For if someone else marries her, I am certain that +she will be true to me. But if I, and not anyone else, wed her, then +sure enough she'll deceive me every day." + +"But if you don't mean to, then it were surely a great mistake, besides +a mere quibble of words, to leave in the fair lady's hands a pledge that +could be legally produced as argument for the plaintiff." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Tut, tut. I haven't presided twenty years for nothing in criminal law; +I understand what tokens mean. What happened in the little ante-room? +What has the defendant to urge on his behalf?" + +"Why, I only superintended the carrying out of the law from the window." + +"And in the intervals taught your hostess how to conjugate the verb +_amo_, to love, eh?" + +"Stated but not proven--but if it were so?" + +"Consequently, the lady may be justified in urging: 'If he really and +truly loves me, let him give me a love token, a lock of his hair.'" + +"Why not?" + +"Exactly--now you stand convicted! Need I remind you that you only +sought a pair of scissors to cut off a curl of your hair, and while you +did that, your lady-love registered the blows for you as your _locum +tenens_. Yet you were giving the most dangerous blow of all to the +guileless loving heart which beat under your gift, for Fräulein +Fruzsinka hid the curl in her locket, and when we came away, I noted how +she leaned out of the window and kissed the locket over and over again. +Is the impeachment sufficient?" + +"No, I won't admit it is. It's based on a false premise. Up to the time +when I went for the scissors, I grant you it was a sound one, but here +the facts alter. As I stood before the looking-glass, with the scissors +in my hand, who should come in but the Fräulein's' little black poodle, +and as usual he put out his fore paws caressingly. Thereupon, a +brilliant idea struck me. The hair curled as well round the poodle's +neck as it did on my head. No sooner said than done. The Fräulein wasn't +looking; she was too busy with the sessions, so quickly nipping off a +superfluous curl from the dog's neck, I slipped it into my lady's soft +hand; into her locket it goes forthwith. But don't betray me! For if the +Fräulein knew it, she would poison us all at the next dinner." + +Mr. Valentine Laskóy was not given to groundless merriment, but he +could not fail to see the point of this jest; first that one of the +dog's curly locks had been transferred to the locket, and secondly, that +it had been kissed with transport by the owner. And thereupon he burst +into such a guffaw of laughter that the horses thought it was a volcanic +eruption, and began to shy and rear accordingly, so that the coachman +and the heyduke with him could not bring them to a standstill on the +bridge before the post-house, and the passengers were all but sent +flying from their seats. But at this point Mr. Laskóy had to get out to +await the companions he had left behind, who were coming on in the +coach. + +"But don't say a word to anyone," was the judge's parting injunction to +his companion. + +"Trust me! But, all the same, whenever I see a black poodle I shall +laugh at the thought." + +And off went the judge, for his time was up. + +At the bridge, where the roads branched off, Laskóy waited for the coach +to come up. + +But what a time the coach was coming, to be sure! He could not imagine +what had happened to it. It was past mid-day, his ever-growing hunger +made the delay of the diligence all the more wearisome. But in spite of +it all, he waited patiently. + +At last the famous vehicle came in sight, but only slowly, although the +road was quite good. What could have happened? + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Now what had really happened to the coach was that it had lost one of +the big screws out of the hind wheel, so that the latter had come off. +For a whole hour had they hunted for the screw without success, and then +they tried to get on without it, but that was a difficult business. If a +peasant loses a wheel-nail, he can easily find a substitute; the screw +of a coach, however, is not so easily replaced. What straps and ropes +they had to hand were knotted and wound round the axle, but the quickly +rotating nave had in a few minutes torn all to shreds, and would not go +round properly, much to the detriment of the horses who now had to drag +the lumbering conveyance with a wheel that would not work, through the +tough, sticky morass, which made the way much more toilsome. + +Not that this affected the merry mood of the president as he took his +place inside. Every now and again he whistled for sheer lightness of +heart. + +"Fire away, there!" he cried to the driver. + +But the driver was not equal to the task, as he urged his steeds over +the morass through which the four slow old hacks dragged the rickety +vehicle with its broken-down wheel. + +Meanwhile, on a hillock which rose tolerably steep from the roadside, +waited a horseman mounted on a strong wiry beast, that stood with his +muzzle snuffing the ground like a setter scenting the trail, with +watchful eyes and pricked ears, but so still that he did not even brush +off the flies that settled on his withers and flanks. The man himself in +the saddle was equally motionless; he was dark and hawk-eyed, with curly +hair, and a tapering pointed moustache. He wore a peasant's garb that +was scrupulously fine of its kind, his countryman's cloak being richly +embroidered, and his sleeves frilled with wide lace. In his cap he wore +a cluster of locks of women's hair and a knot of artificial flowers; at +his girdle gleamed a pair of silver inlaid Turkish pistols, while from +the pommel of his saddle hung another, double-barrelled, and in his +right hand he carried an axe. An alder-bush had hidden the stranger up +till now, so that he could not be seen by the coaching party till he +himself hailed them. + +"Now you traitor, you knave, are you going to stop or not?" + +Was the coachman going to stop? Yes indeed, he sprang down from his box +in terror, promptly crawled under the coach, and whimpered, "Alack, your +honour, it's Gyöngyöm Miska himself, it is indeed!" + +The mounted cavalier pranced up to the coach, the noble charger tossing +his proud head to and fro, so that the harness-fringe flew round him. + +"Now we've got something to laugh at and no mistake," growled the +coachman. Yet he laughed too in spite of himself. + +The highwayman himself began to laugh as he accosted the president. + +"So you've recognised me, have you, for the celebrated Gyöngyöm Miska?" + +"How pray did you become Gyöngyöm Miska?" + +"Don't you remember me by that name? You yourself gave it me. Have you +forgotten how when, years ago, in the County Assembly, I had begun a +speech, you called out to me in the middle of it, 'Ay, Gyöngyöm (my +jewel), hold your peace; you understand no more of these things than +half a dozen oxen put together,' so that I could not get any 'forrader,' +for people laughing at me. Since those days the name has stuck to me. +Everywhere I go I am received with the greeting, 'Here's Gyöngyöm Miska, +worse luck!' So then, I say to myself, 'I'll be a Gyöngyöm Miska,' and +show them such things as no one else can. And people talk about me, +don't they?" + +"But you won't rob me, will you?" implored his victim. "Do you want my +horses?" + +"Make your mind easy. I rob nobody. I only take what is given me, and +carry off what the possessor does not value, and as for such wretched +nags as you drive, I tell you plainly I wouldn't have them at a gift. I +am pretty hard to please in horseflesh, I can tell you. So don't let's +waste time in talking. I ask for nothing that people have not got. I +know too that you are in a hurry. So just give me ten gold pieces, and +then you can drive on." + +The president did not wish to understand the hint, as he said sulkily, +"What do you mean?" + +"Only those ten Kremnitz ducats that you drew as salary for your work on +the Bench." + +"True enough, friend, that I have received them, but the prefect won +them from me at cards last night, and I haven't one left. He did not +give me back the money he had won. Turn out my pockets, search me if you +will, and if you find there anything but a bad groschen, it shall be +yours. Here's my sword-pouch. See, there's nothing inside. And if you +like, you can take my boots off, but you'll find no gold there, I warn +you." + +The highwayman pressed his axe between his fingers, and tapped quite +gently with the butt end of it on the crown of the president's head, +where the velvet lining of his fur cap hung out. What was jingling +inside? + +The smile vanished from the lips of his victim. His round face became +suddenly square with astonishment. + +Now there must be something wrong about that. Who had betrayed him? No +man knew it but one. + +Gyöngyöm Miska did not let him waste time in further consideration. With +a pickpocket's dexterity he drew from under his cloak his hunting knife +from its sheath, ripped out the velvet lining, and possessed himself of +the ducats in a trice. Then, with a pressure of his knees, he turned +his horse round, and in the twinkling of an eye, horse and rider were +over the marsh. Only then did he turn round to utter as a parting +greeting the formula of the law courts: "I commend to you, my lord, my +official services," and disappeared through the poplar-trees. + +"It is a stupid business," grumbled the president, whose good humour had +been torn away with that cut into his cap-lining. + +And a stupid, not to say absurd business it certainly was. + +But Gyöngyöm Miska, cracking his hunting whip merrily, bounded away over +the sedge. + +It was already evening. The autumn sun cast long shadows over the level +plain. At the edge of a wood burned a herdsman's fire. By it sat a girl +in riding-gear, her head supported on her hands, at her feet two +greyhounds lay stretched out, her horse was tethered to the stem of a +poplar. At the cracking of the whip she sprang from her resting-place, +threw a bundle of dry faggots on the fire, mounted her horse, snatched +up her whip, and cracked it as a counter signal. Across the plain, +starred with wild anemones, the two met; bending down from the saddle, +they embraced and kissed each other, and were off once more, the one +eastwards, the other to the west. + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile, scarcely had the guests withdrawn from the Assembly House +than an official courier rode up the Old Buda Street into Pesth. A +courier of this kind was so unusual a sight, that everyone hastened to +his front door to see him. He wore a red frock coat, leather gaiters +over his boots which reached up to the knee, and a cocked hat with a +tuft of red feathers. Every postmaster is bound to provide him with a +fresh mount does he need it, and a blast from his horn will compel every +peasant to hold at his service as many oxen or horses as he possesses. +The sound of his horn is a well-known one, and as the courier gallops up +the street, the children, blowing through their hands, mimic the blast, +and the elders crane their necks to see what may be his errand. It was +for the prefecture he was bound. + +"Très-humble serviteur, Mamselle Oefrosine!" Thus the courier greeted +Fräulein Fruzsinka de Zabváry. "Postage not paid, but I ask three +kronen, because I've ridden well, to say nothing of having to go back! +There are a thousand gulden inside." + +It was the courier's way to recommend the letters he handed in as +containing a thousand gulden. So he was paid the fee; but there was +nothing like a thousand gulden in the letter thus sent to Fräulein +Fruzsinka, for it was from the captain of dragoons, Heinrich Lievenkopp, +and why there was nothing of the kind in the letter, may now be told. + +Fräulein Fruzsinka paid the courier, but ordered him to wait at the +prefecture so that she might give him the answer to take back. It was +likewise to the interest of the postman to urge the despatching of a +reply. Then she broke the seal and read the letter in question, written +in the stilted affected style just then so much in vogue, with +mythological phraseology mixed up with barrack slang. It ran as follows: + + "My most adored Lady, + + "By the winged feet of Mercury himself, do I address a + message, surely very agreeable to your grace. God Mars + has taken it into his head to complete the heroic + labours of Hercules. That scoundrel of a highwayman, + 'Gyöngyöm Miska,' has, after escaping our annihilating + force on this side of the river, retreated across the + Danube, and has taken refuge in the Ráczkeve + Island--protected by Neptune and Hermes, those + divinities of the robber. Meantime, must we patiently + wait on the shore till we get a ferry to carry us + across. The wretched fellow was playing us off, since + he swam across the other arm of the Danube and reached + the farther side. Thereupon, the Viennese civilians + who were with us, declared, forsooth, that we might + not pursue him, because it would be crossing the + border of another county! + + "So we had to return to Pesth till the county of Pesth + should supersede the county of Weissenburg in its + strategic co-operation. But rumour has it that the + redoubtable robber has come back from Weissenburg + county to that of Pesth, and is haunting the Vörösvár + woods. Therefore have I received new marching orders + from the commander-in-chief to march with my squadron + on to Vörösvár. To-morrow, at the first streak of dawn + shall we start on an expedition which brings me on the + wings of the Hours to the charmed circle of my + adorable Calypso in the beauteous Vörösvár Vale of + Tempe. + + "There is, however, a small but fatal incident that + must be recorded, that has much disquieted me, which I + will set forth to the Fräulein. Last week I was + amusing myself with Mr. Justice Petray (a good fellow + by the way), in dallying with Fortune's painted cards, + on which occasion a thousand dancing sprites turned + the wheel very unluckily for me, so that I lost twenty + ducats to the justice, and had to give him my _parole_ + as an officer that I would pay him to-morrow. Item, he + insists on my redeeming my word, because to-morrow + there is to be an enquiry into the accounts, and among + other things will be missing the twenty ducats from + the treasury. But owing to the incredibly bad state of + the roads the allowance my aunt sends me has not + arrived, nor do I know how I can settle the affair. + And so for me there remains nothing but to take my + leave of the world with a pistol-shot, and embark in + the boat of Charon, or else to take refuge under the + protection of my good genius, and call her to my aid. + I humbly suggest that she might, for just this once, + be an intermediary with her rich uncle for me, and + borrow the above-mentioned sum on my behalf, which I + pledge my word, as a cavalier, gratefully to reimburse + directly I get my aunt's allowance. + + "May the Fräulein accept the most humble homage of + Heinrich von Lievenkopp." + +Off went Fräulein Fruzsinka, when she had read this letter, to her +uncle, the prefect. + +"I say, uncle, dear, will you advance me ten ducats out of my +allowance?" + +"Oho, my dear," answered Mr. Zabváry in a tone which suggested the +melancholy whine of a dog. "What's the matter? I really can't advance +any more money, for my account at the bank is already in danger of being +overdrawn. But what did you so suddenly want ducats for? Is the captain +of dragoons in difficulties? That seems to be a chronic ailment with +him. Yes, indeed, I know, he wants more pecuniary aid, that's it! +Otherwise he'll blow his brains out? Heaven grant he may! If he'd only +do it once for all! What does a dragoon captain matter to me? A man who +never means to marry, but just scares away the eligible suitors. I wish +the devil had taken him to Silesia. And, pray, if he means to marry, am +I to keep him? I should think not, indeed, considering he's got his old +aunt. But even if he has, it will fall upon me in the end. Just write +him the right sort of answer in proper Latin: 'Centurio'=Captain, +'pecunia'=money, 'non est'=is there none; 'si valves valeas'=if there's +no wine, then drink water!" + +"Very good, if you won't give me any, I'll ask someone else," said +Fräulein Fruzsinka defiantly, banging the door after her as she went +out. + +Mr. Zabváry did not think much of that, for it was quite customary for +Fräulein Fruzsinka to raise loans on all sides; from the overseer, from +the chief herdsman, nay, from the shepherd's man she would borrow, and +they never dared to ask the prefect for repayment, but probably then and +there reckoned--as the saying goes--that "discretion was the better part +of valour" in such a case (which is a wise conclusion if you can but +come thereto). Fräulein Fruzsinka, however, left all these possible +creditors unexploited, and calling for her horse, and her riding whip, +and two pet dogs, she went off on a hunting expedition into the open +country. + +She did not, certainly, appear to be troubling about game, but seemed +much more concerned to reach the wood; once there, she paced along the +side of the brook till she came to the thicket. + +There she took a path which led through it, till she reached a +picturesque circular glade on whose edge six armed men in their coloured +cloaks, lay encamped by a herdsman's fire. When the most gorgeously +garbed one among them perceived the Fräulein, he sprang forward to meet +her, and as she approached he hastened up to her, lifted the young lady +from her horse, and kissed her on both cheeks. Both the dogs appeared to +recognise the cavalier, for they sniffed at him in a decidedly friendly +way. Then, with their arms round each other's necks, they paced along +the flower-decked turf, speaking together in a low voice. And the end of +it was that the lordly cavalier, after whispering to the Fräulein, +mounted his horse, shouldered his weapons, and trotted off, with all +his accoutrements, in company with the young lady herself in the +direction of the high road. + +What then happened we have already seen. + +Fräulein Fruzsinka had her ducats when she came back. She put them with +the other ten, enclosed them in an envelope, gave them to the waiting +postman, and the red-coated courier was before nightfall on his return +journey, blowing the while the lustiest blast on his horn. + +And thus had Fräulein Fruzsinka, at one blow, accomplished three, to +her, eminently desirable ends. + +First she had made her adorer, Gyöngyöm Miska, aware on what side danger +threatened him; at the same time she had procured the ten ducats which +her other admirer needed to redeem his word and avoid the fatal shot; in +the third place, she had helped her third suitor, the judge, to verify +the municipal accounts and make them balance. + +But those ten ducats must have truly been bewitched, since they were +fated, in twenty-four hours, to pass through many pairs of hands, to +disappear, be stolen, disappear again, and again be stolen, and only +then to come to a stand-still. + +That Fräulein Fruzsinka had put all her admirers in a good temper, +however, and benefited all three, can we duly testify. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +In the Szent-Endre and the adjoining Izbegh vineyards the vintage was in +full swing. It was an excellent harvest, the wine promised to be +unusually good, and all the vineyards were filled with joyous labourers. + +But from the vineyards the new wine was conveyed away by one road only, +in great casks, while heydukes, armed with pikes and muskets, guarded +the route. For all that grows in the vineyard must first pay the +requisite tithes. + +At the entrance of the one open road four huts were erected, and before +each stood a huge vat. The first belonged to the Bishop of the diocese. +As the cart, laden with the casks of "must," or new wine, passes, the +episcopal steward takes out his tithe. Then the cart proceeds to the +second hut, where the court chamberlain deducts his share. Thence it +arrives in front of the two huts which, facing each other, bound the +narrow road, so none may pass unchallenged. No matter whether the owner +is hailed in German or Magyar, the sacristan of the parish acting for +the Catholic priest, appropriates his own tithe from the cask, or if he +speaks Rascian, it is for the Greek "pope," he takes his share. + +Only then can the convoy proceed. Yes, indeed, so it might, if there +were not a fifth hut in the way, where two heydukes seize the horses' +bridles, and on right and left the owner is hailed by officials who want +to know why he has broken the "portion" rule. (For thus in their +simplicity have the peasants abbreviated the word "proportion.") + +Such is the method in which the taxes are extorted. + +Whoever is in a position to do it, holds himself in readiness to +compound for the "Harács," as it was called in Hungary, from a Turkish +word, by opening his purse and paying up the arrears of the tithe in +groschen, which settled the matter, for to pay the tax in silver was +illegal. Consequently, on the table of the fifth hut fell many a +well-stuffed bag of copper coins, which the officials had squeezed out +of the vintagers. There were, however, many who were not well enough +provided with small change to satisfy this crowd of creditors, and so +had to pay up the arrears in kind. That is why the great vats stand +there in the road. + +But the "red Jew" carries his casks into the small Slovak carts that +take it down to the Danube, and ships it to Vienna, and pays, too, his +tax of two Rhenish gulden for his wine. + +It can well be imagined how to the overtaxed peasant wine-grower who +has run out of money, this same "red Jew" is a friend in need, quite +ready to help him out of his difficulty, for he will pay for his wine at +the rate of two gulden a kilderkin. But this did not happen in +well-regulated communities. Only the municipality had the privilege of +selling wine, and to it the citizen only dare retail his vintage. And +the price which he received for it was fixed by the law at one gulden. + +So the wine-grower pours likewise into the great vat his "deputy-tax," +wherein he reckons a gulden for a kilderkin, and the "red Jew" draws it +out again at two gulden a kilderkin. + +Thus it befalls that the owner of the vineyard brings the bottles which +he has brought with him empty to the vineyard, empty home again. And yet +that is called a first-rate vintage! But it was hard for the good man +himself to esteem it so, and no wonder he was doubtful! + +And thus the vintage went on till nightfall. Then the gates of the +vineyards were shut, and the judicial vintagers paused in their work, +yet not to betake themselves to rest, but to carry on further business +within doors. + +The judge and his deputy, the notary and the jurymen, all conferred +together, the notary being auditor and controller in one, whereby it may +be gathered that he was a very clever fellow. + +The Jew Abraham was likewise called into the council, in order to assist +in the money-changing. + +For at that epoch all kinds of money were current in the country, which +only came into evidence as they passed in daily exchange. To dispose of +them was not easy, so the Jew was bidden to give proper money in +exchange for them. When he got back to Vienna he could in his turn get +rid of it. + +During the money-reckoning transaction, Abraham appeared with the +accounts giving the amount of money taken over, the price of the wine, +and the bad money left behind. + +"Can't you buy this bad money too, father Abraham?" queried the notary. + +"No indeed, my lord, for if I change false money they will lock me up, +but you will quietly put it away in the cash-box, and pay out with it, +your servants' wages, your heydukes, messengers, and foresters. In due +time, these coins will again be in circulation at the tradesman's stall, +or the inn, and the public will be fingering it once more for fees and +fines, and so the bad money comes round again, just as the sun goes +round the earth, for it is not by any means lost." + +Everyone laughed at the Jew's explanation. + +Then Abraham stated how much he would give in gold for the small change +he had taken, and the business was settled without further ado. + +"But now, Mr. notary," proceeded the Jew, "just make me out a receipt to +attest that I have changed the money, and that we are quits, but write +it in Latin, not Rascian." + +"All right, Rothesel." + +"Also, I would ask you not to write my name 'Rothesel,' but 'Rotheisel,' +with an 'i' if it is just as easy to you." + +"But everybody calls you 'Rothesel'?" + +"You may call me what you like, but in writing at any rate, I am +'Rotheisel.' I had this favour granted me in Vienna, from the Kaiser +himself--that I might write it with an 'i.'" + +"And a nice round sum that very 'i' cost you in Vienna, Abraham, or I'm +much mistaken! Confess frankly, it did!" + +"Pray why should I confess anything about it? What does it matter +whether this 'i' cost me but a single heller, or a hundred thousand +gulden--you, not I, pay them, after all is said." + +When the Jew had gone, the notary packed up the ducats in stacks, and +placed them beside him round the inkstand, while the president began: +"Well, now the outsiders are off home, only the privileged councillors +and the members of the council remain, in order to be present at the +opening of the great coffer." + +Now it is not permitted to every official to glance at the contents of +the mysterious coffer. As the privy council alone remained, the notary +fetched out from the cupboard, as many night-caps as there were men, and +each one drew the covering thus provided over his head, so that only the +tip of his nose was visible. This was done so that none might see where +he was going. When all were thus blindfolded, the notary alone +excepted, the latter took a light from the table, and gave the end of +his stick into the judge's hand; the judge in his turn reaching the end +of his to the juryman behind him, and so on, till the chain of +blindfolded men were ready to start. Where? Ah, that was the notary's +secret, for he it was who directed their progress. + +"Now there come steps," he cried, "one, two, three," and so on, till he +had counted ten. Then a key creaked in an iron lock. "Stoop down so you +don't hurt your heads," came the word of command, and they passed +through a low door. "Here we are," cried their leader, "now you can +look." + +The jurymen had often been in this place before. It was a low-pitched +cellar, with a massive, vaulted arched roof, and in a corner of it, +there stood an iron coffer made fast to the wall. + +Beside this iron chest stood a Rascian "pope," whose hand they could +reverentially kiss if they wished. How he came there no one knew. + +The "pope" produced a large, curiously wrought key, and the notary a +second one like it. + +"These are the keys, open it who can!" + +Three or four times some jurymen made the attempt, yet without success; +in vain did the keys press right and left in the wards, but it opened +not. + +"We are wasting time," cried the "pope." "Do you try, Mr. notary, you +understand it." + +Whereupon the notary turned the keys, and the coffer was opened. + +Everyone wanted to see inside. + +There were nothing but ducats there: ducats, indeed, by hundreds, in +fine transparent bladder bags, through which the yellow metal gleamed +seductively. The sacks stood as in battle array, like so many soldiers +close to each other. There must be a fabulous lot of gold there! Now +another row was to be added to it. Then from a side compartment of the +chest, a small book was fetched out wherein the notary entered all kinds +of accounts. And strange entries might those be, judging from the +frequent exclamations of the jurymen, which showed that the budget he +examined was a notable one. + +"Tut, tut," cried the notary interrupting, "you don't want it published +to all the world." + +"But if it has to be, eh?" + +After which, certain accounts were duly registered in the little book, +and the great coffer was again closed. Then the "pope" spoke. + +"I see well enough that you have again husbanded your funds carefully, +and that the money has increased, but where does the blessing of Heaven +come in? You never give a thought to the Church! You promised to buy a +new church bell, to gild the church roof, and to build a house for the +parish priest. There's no money for all these things, but the coffer +gets fuller and fuller." + +"Make yourself easy, your reverence," answered the notary, "all that may +come next year, if we are spared. For that the small cash-box will +suffice." + +"So you think it will, do you? What has ruined the hospital? The poor +sick folk nearly perish of hunger in summer, and are nigh frozen in +winter, whilst you carry off the timber by cart-loads as presents to +Pesth, and then think of the amount of smoked sturgeon and caviare and +wine you send thither, and all for the magnates, but nothing for the +sick and needy!" + +"Let it be, your reverence, there's nothing so advantageous for the sick +as fresh air, and nothing so harmful as overloading their stomachs. But +it's far better that we should give firing for the magnates, than that +they should make it hot for us!" + +"And the poor-house which our revered Queen, Maria Theresa, endowed, is +it not still empty? What are we about that we do not find inmates for +it? But you find none." + +"The devil we do! Don't the blind and the lame stand each Sunday before +the church door, but if we want to befriend them, we've only to say: +'Come you, poor wretches, we'll show you the way into the poor-house,' +and off they run in a fright, so great a horror have they of the bread +of the State." + +"You children of the devil! And what of the poor Izbeghers whose forty +houses were burned down? The Emperor allowed them as much from the +treasury as the worth of the houses amounted to, but you raised the +rents of the remaining houses and then dunned them for the money." + +"That's natural enough, seeing the Emperor let the State annex the +burned part in order to pay so much the less to the ground-landlord. If +Peter has nothing, then pay Paul, that is the rule." + +"A godless rule too! Amend your ways, I say, for if next year as many +complaints reach my ear as have this, I'll denounce your coffer to the +Treasury." + +These words only provoked laughter. + +"Your reverence is not such a bad sort," ventured the judge in a +conciliatory tone. + +Thereupon, the keys were withdrawn, the night-caps again donned, and the +notary led his blind men again to the ground-floor of the council +chamber, where they congratulated one another on the risks run. + +"Only yon priest should not have it all his own way with his +maledictions," grumbled the judge. "But they are all like that. Each one +of them thinks that hardly earned money should be wasted on churches and +hospitals." + +"I also think, my lord, that it would be better that such an +unreasonably big sum of money should be divided to each one as he has +need," suggested a juryman bolder than the rest. + +The speaker might, from the assenting murmur which greeted his speech, +take it for granted that he had a good many on his side, but the +eloquence of the notary soon crushed such sympathy. + +"Ay, my dear friend, that would kill the goose which lays the golden +eggs. This coffer is our pledge of power, our shield of protection, our +bond of union. As long as it exists are we rulers in this city and in +all its dependencies. As long as this coffer answers for us, so long can +we get the laws made in our favour. As long as we have our money, they +won't take our sons for military service, or ask us for accounts, and if +a meadow or a plot of land is to be divided, we look after the +allotment. It is we who direct public works. It is we who fell the +timber in the forest, who cast the net into the Danube, and limit the +vintage; we buy and sell; and fix the tithes. As long as the key of that +coffer is in our hands, we must needs be great powers in the city, like +Kaiser Joseph in his palace at Vienna. At the end of that key we whistle +a tune to which all men must dance." + +"Quite right, quite right!" shouted the whole assembly. + +And who could contradict them? + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +The Jew Abraham was the father of twelve children, all sons, and all +red-haired. And each one equally resembled his father. + +Yet it will be well to explain matters from the beginning. + +Up till the Emperor Joseph's time, the Jews had been devoid of any +family names, as once in the Promised Land. + +But when Joseph II. admitted the Jews to the rights of citizens, he +stipulated that they should render military service if called upon, and +that they should choose a surname--and that a German one. + +To this end, royal commissions were despatched on all sides which should +provide the Jews with surnames. And a nice business it was! Whoever had +a well-filled purse had a free choice, if it so pleased him, but woe to +him who set about it empty handed, for the nickname wherewith his +mocking neighbours had christened him, stuck to him pitilessly. + +Because Abraham had not sufficiently opened his purse-strings, he still +had to go by his nickname of "Rothesel," wherewith he was known among +his neighbours. + +The epithet "roth" (red), he had received from the colour of his beard, +but he had been qualified as "esel" (ass), because he had done nothing +more enterprising with his wife's dowry of two hundred thalers, than buy +up wine with it. On this account everyone had decided he must be an ass. +And everyone, on the face of it, was right. For what could a Jew want +with wine? He dared not retail it, for the trading rights belonged only +to the communes, to say nothing of the difficulty of transporting it +over the frontier. Whence could he carry it? for in Hungary the law +forbade any Jew to trade in such wares. + +So that when his neighbours called Abraham an ass for laying out his +money in wine when he began life, they were not far out, for he hardly +earned salt to his bread by such a business. + +But Abraham was in his way a student of the times. Looking ahead, he saw +under the rule of the later Hapsburgs that many ancient laws, though +still unrepealed, had nevertheless fallen into desuetude, and +consequently that the statute forbidding Jews the commerce in wine, +might follow suit. Consequently, Abraham found means of transporting his +Hungarian vintages to Vienna. And as he was the first in the field his +enterprise was crowned with success. Nor did he deceive the customer as +to the difficulties of the Hungarian wine trade. + +In spite of all this, he did not part with his wealth too readily. The +commission had expected that he would come out with ducats by the +thousand, but he produced nothing more than a cellar full of wine. In +retaliation for this they left him his nickname of "Rothesel." + +What did it matter to him, for what is a name after all? The name of the +creditor is always a good one, that of the debtor as surely a +disgraceful one. + +But his own family did not share his views on the subject. If it was +indifferent to the father what men called him, his wife and children +took a different view of "Rothesel," and, owing to their urgent +representations, Abraham determined to rid himself of this incubus, yet +without paying too dearly for it. + +He reckoned two hundred ducats would cover it, and with this sum off he +went to Vienna, ostensibly, on a question of his wine trade. + +Arrived there, he began to think out how best he could forward the +affair without getting too much fleeced in the process. + +He began at the beginning, that is to say, at the chancery court, where +all such problems have to be conciliated. And a long list it was! The +expediting of such business is a serious matter. + +But to the Jew there suddenly came a brilliant idea. He bethought him of +an acquaintance at Court. The title of this acquaintance was doubtful, +for he was only a young man, and whether to address him as a chancery +clerk or as chancellor, he knew not. He was the nephew of the +postmaster of Szent-Endre, Mr. John Leányfalvy. This worthy had adopted +the orphan son of his sister, while yet a child, and had sent him to +Vienna that he might carve out a career for himself in the imperial +city. Each time that Abraham had made his business visits there, he had +spoken to the postmaster and asked him if he had any message for "young +Matyi." And when the uncle had taken this opportunity of sending his +nephew a gift of country produce, Abraham always carried out these +commissions faithfully, and was duly welcomed by "Mr. Matyi." + +The latter was quite at home at Court, and had employment in the palace +itself. What he did there, whether he had a voice in the Kaiser's +councils, or brushed his coat, Abraham did not know, perhaps the latter +was the likeliest supposition; in this case, he would be a patron to be +prized, for servants are worth propitiating. + +Consequently, the crafty Jew had determined to seek out the postmaster's +nephew at headquarters. And in order he might not appear empty-handed, +he took a pear with him. At that time there was a rage for pears carved +out of wood, whereof one half formed a musical box, being filled with a +mechanism which enabled him who put it to his mouth to produce quite a +respectable tune. Such a pear did Abraham buy in a shop at Nürnberg, but +he stuffed the hollow half of the pear with two hundred ducats. This +pear he had destined for the young man if he prospered his petition with +the Emperor. The said petition was drawn up neither by agent nor +attorney, but as concocted by Abraham, ran thus: "Your Imperial Majesty, +the high commissioners insisted on calling me 'Rothesel,' I only beg +permission to insert a humble little 'i' in the middle of my name." + +Furnished with this formula, Abraham set out for the palace. The +_entrée_ there proved much easier than he had imagined. For was there +not a standing order that no petitioner should be denied admittance? So +he was allowed to enter the great corridor, where already many people +were assembled. + +Abraham had what you might call prodigious luck at the very outset. The +first person he met in the ante-chamber was "Mr. Matyi" himself. His +appearance was that of a refined handsome youth of about +four-and-twenty, with a red and white complexion like a girl's; he wore +his hair powdered, a pea-green silk coat turned up with red, an +embroidered waistcoat, a lace-frilled vest, with knee-breeches of +cherry-coloured velvet, silk stockings, and buckled shoes. At his side +hung an Italian rapier, and from his waistcoat pocket dangled a +watch-chain laden with all kinds of trinkets. Under his arm he carried +the tri-cornered hat of the period. + +Moreover, this elegant young dandy was not ashamed to recognise his old +acquaintance in the crowd; no sooner had he caught sight of his red +mantle than he went up to him, asked him how he fared, and how it was +with his uncle, and when he heard Abraham's errand, exclaimed, "Why +that's a mere trifle." Thereupon, taking his hand, he led the Jew +through three or four rooms in succession, which they traversed without +knocking, till they came to a fifth, where he hung his hat up on a peg, +as a sign that they had reached the presence-chamber, and told the Jew +to wait while he should announce him to the Emperor. Abraham's knees +nearly failed under him when he knew that only those folding doors +divided him from the Kaiser. Yet his friend could enter freely; he must +then be some kind of chamberlain. + +In half a minute the latter was back again. + +"You can enter, Abraham." + +And thereupon he pushed the Jew, with his petition in his hand, through +the door. + +Abraham saw indeed little more of the Emperor than his boots, but these, +he noted, had not certainly been blacked for a week; if "Mr. Matyi" was +really his servant, he didn't know his duties that was plain. + +Back came Abraham again into the ante-room. + +"Mr. Matyi" was busy at a writing-table; he seemed to have some +important correspondence to transact there. + +The Jew was radiant with delight; he hardly knew where to begin: "It's +right enough; the Emperor himself has countersigned the petition with +his 'fiat.' Here is his name! He himself has put in the 'i,' praised be +the Lord!" + +But suddenly he broke off in his thanksgiving as he regarded the +document. "Ay, woe's me!" + +"What is the matter, friend?" + +"Why, his Majesty has clean forgotten to put the dot over the 'i,' and +without this, the 'i' looks exactly like an 'e,' and it only means from +being a short ass, I shall now be but a long one! Alas, I am a dead man. +I beseech you to be so very kind as to put the necessary little dot in +for me, so that it may be done with the same ink. You have the pen in +your hand ready." + +"What are you thinking of?" cried "Mr. Matyi" indignantly, "to correct +the imperial hand-writing, why, it would be a rank forgery! Give me the +petition, I'll take it back to the Emperor, so he may put it in." + +And thereupon, off he went through the folding doors with the paper. + +Abraham breathed freely, he had attained his end, and this without +laying out thousands of ducats; he had managed it for two hundred. He +fumbled in the money compartment of the musical pear, and laid the +ducats on the writing-table of "Mr. Matyi," so that the latter should +not fail to see them when he returned to his correspondence. + +The young man was soon back again. + +"Here you are! God be with you! Greet my uncle for me, and tell him I +have much to do, that I want for nothing, and send my good wishes, and a +happy journey to you!" + +Abraham put the petition in his pocket, crying over it like a child. + +"Mr. Matyi" accompanied his _protégé_ to the next room, thence he +trusted him to find his way out. + +While the Jew was struggling with the door-handle, back came "Mr. +Matyi," red with rage, seized Abraham by the collar of his mantle, and +with the other thrust the pear under his nose, asking angrily: "What do +you mean by leaving this on my table?" + +Abraham took it as a jest. + +"Well now, I have only brought you some pears as usual." + +"But the ducats?" + +"They were for the gracious favour which the young gentleman has been so +kind as to show me." + +"I have shown you no kind of favour. You wanted justice and you have +obtained it. Take back your gold!" + +"Why should I take it back? Hasn't the young gentleman deserved it for +all his trouble? Did he not get the dot put on the 'i'?" + +"I will not accept a handful of gold for a dot over an 'i.'" + +"But it's worth it to me? It's not a bit too much. The young gentleman +needn't take offence. He can pay his debts with it." + +"I have no debts." + +"Oh, you have no debts, do you say? Don't tell me a Viennese dandy has +no debts. You owe neither the tailor nor the host anything? What, don't +you want to make your sweetheart a present?" + +"I have none." + +"Who could ever believe it? How you blush. Well, take it, make merry +with it, gamble it away with good comrades. For I won't have it back." + +"I drink no wine, I don't gamble, I have no good comrades; this money +you will take, for it hurts me to receive it. Those I serve pay me for +what I do. He who does such work as mine asks for no reward but his +master's, and can take no bribe from another. Take your gold back." + +"As you will, Mr. Ráby," said the Jew, and he put the ducats in his +pocket. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +"Very good then, Mr. Ráby," pursued the Jew. (He no longer thought of +him as "young Mr. Matyi.") "But before I leave this place, nay, before +you send me packing, I must needs have three words with you." + +"All right, out with them!" + +"Now the first is this: since I first weathered winter's snow and +summer's dust on this good Mother Earth of ours, I never before met a +man who was frightened at money. I see him for the first time to-day. +You were positively averse to keeping my gold. Nay, I believe that you +wanted to break my head on account of it. And now I find you have no +sweetheart, you neither drink nor gamble; you fraternise with no one. +That again is something quite unheard-of. And finally, a man will not +dot the 'i' of another person's writing, that also is something out of +the common, let me tell you." + +"Well for one word I think that is long enough--what else?" + +"The second concerns myself. As truly as that I yesterday was +'Rothesel,' and to-day am 'Rotheisel,' so surely is it that Rotheisel +won't neglect a treasure which Rothesel has discovered. I know of a +treasure, in fine, for the carrying off of which, as in the fairy tales, +only clean hands can avail." + +"I don't understand what you are talking about." + +"Well, I do. There is a treasure lying buried in a certain place, a +solid heap of more than a hundred thousand ducats, on the track of which +I would set a champion." + +"I still do not understand. To whom does this goodly hoard belong?" + +"This money has been wrung from the sweat and blood of the poor and the +oppressed, nay, squeezed out of ragged and hunger-bitten wretches, +moistened by the tears of widows and orphans, purloined, and concealed +from the Crown. It is the people of your native town, good sir, whose +misery has augmented this treasure, and who starve and complain for the +lack of it, while beggars swarm throughout the country. If this sort of +thing goes on, the whole State must go to the dogs. I know what I am +talking about, and will gladly lead you to the hoard. When you are in a +position to rescue it from the dragon's clutches, two-thirds of it will +go back to the poor wretched folk it was wrung from, and a third to +enrich the man who restores it." + +"But if you know all this, why not do it yourself?" questioned his +listener. + +"Tut, tut, my most respected sir, have you then studied to such little +purpose as not to know the laws of your native land? Does it not stand +written that the plaintiff must be a Christian? The Jew can do nothing. +And, moreover, were I as good a Christian as the zealous old sacristan +who opens the church every morning single-handed and shuts it at +nightfall, I should not be the man for this business. For it is just +such a man as you is wanted, my respected sir, a man who, once he has +set his hand to the work, will not allow himself to be beaten out of the +field. For as long as the seven-headed dragon that guards the treasure +sees that no one attempts to raise it, he'll wag his seven heads more +boldly than ever. As soon as the delegates who are told off to take +charge of it, notice that by chance ten or twenty heaps of ducats have +been left perhaps on the table, they go back and verify that all is in +good order. They will resent the adventurous knight's interference, and +will give him his _quietus_ if he is not wary. He must press on against +all foes, even if help fail him. How should a poor insignificant mortal +like myself be fitted for such an undertaking? For such a quest, a +powerful chivalrous man is needed, who has the _entrée_ at Court, who is +likewise a noble himself, and can wield the pen as well as the sword, in +fine, one who has a heart open to the cry of the poor and oppressed, and +the faculty of sympathising with the people. They are not my people--I +am only a foreigner here, but it goes to my heart when I see how the +harrow tears and the clods are broken, how for others is the sowing that +these may reap. Then I thank God that He has not given me a portion in +this land, but that I am a stranger here. Believe me, Mr. Ráby, the +nobles always know how to oppress the vassals. The Turkish pacha at +most, has shorn his subjects: the Magyar landlord has fairly plucked +his, but the Szent-Endre council flay their victims of hide and hair +alike. So that's my third word!" + +"All right, just give me more precise details over all this, and come +and look me up at my lodgings; there we can talk it over; I shall be at +home the whole evening." + +So at the appointed time, Abraham went to discuss matters with Ráby, and +did not get home till morning. He literally talked the whole night long. + +Yet when he at last took leave, he bound his friend on his honour: + +"That you never betray how you knew all these things. The Spanish +Inquisition was mere child's play compared to what those good people +would do to me, if they knew that it was I who had made it so hot for +them." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Mr. John Leányfalvy was a narrow-minded man. He was the postmaster of +Szent-Endre. He neither paid nor received visits; he had but one hobby, +and that was gardening. This he rode with a persistency worthy of a +Dutchman. He grew flowers of which no one had ever heard before--exotic +blooms almost extinct, but for the fostering shelter his garden walls +afforded. + +He was specially celebrated for his melons. At the time of the +melon-harvest, two great mastiffs guarded the melon-plot over which his +bedroom window looked. In this garden all his spare time was spent. He +was so busy one afternoon over his melon-beds, that he did not observe +how his mastiff, who by day was chained up, was growling at a man who +stood before the garden gate. He only became aware of the new-comer when +the latter wished him good day. He looked round and saw a stranger +dressed in the latest modish costume of Vienna, and finally, he +recognised in the apparition his nephew, young Matyi. + +"Why bless me if it isn't my nephew Matyi. I hardly recognised you in +this fashionable coat, I declare. But very welcome you are all the +same." + +And the old man embraced his nephew heartily. + +"Ay, but you've become a man since I saw you last. You only want a +moustache," and he looked at Ráby's smooth-shaven face critically. "But +you are not in a hurry to be back in Vienna, I hope?" + +"Well, unless you want to send me away, I needn't be in a hurry to go +back, as I could stay here all the winter," answered Ráby. + +"Well, don't talk to me about sending you off. I know well enough you +are under someone else's orders." + +"Yes, uncle, under orders to stay here for some time." + +"Oh! I take it, you are here then for the taxation commission?" + +It was an office which had at that time but an unenviable reputation in +Hungary. + +"More pressing business still," answered the young man with a smile, as +he whispered something in the old gentleman's ear, which was evidently +an important disclosure. + +The features of the old man relaxed. + +"Now that's something like; that's capital! Now I can reckon you a man. +Only don't neglect the work." + +"Trust me!" + +"And then don't begin among the lesser folk, but get hold of the great +people. Go straight to the prefect himself; he's the one to tackle. Ay, +I could give you some good advice. Hear all, see all, and hold your +tongue, as the saying goes. But you know all about that, and have no +need of a plaster over your mouth." + +"Yet if I find the guilty, I shall not spare them, I warn you, whoever +they be." + +"You will see, my boy," said the old gentleman, rubbing his hands, "if +you tackle the prefect properly, you will be court judge of Visegrád, +year in and year out." And he clapped his nephew on the shoulder. + +"What kind of a berth is it in Visegrád?" + +"Ay, my boy, that's the fattest plum in the neighbourhood; it's worth +more than a hundred county court magistracies, and it happens to be just +vacant." + +"How could I hope to get it?" + +"What a stiff-necked man it is to be sure! Didn't you get to Vienna? You +don't surely reckon yourself among those people who let themselves be +cajoled by the gift of a fine horse or a roll of ducats: a man like you +is worthy a bigger bribe." + +The young man became suddenly crimson. + +"But, my uncle, I don't come for that--for the sake of a horse or money, +or even a court magistracy, not to be bribed by the great, but rather to +redress the grievances of the folk who are oppressed, and to rectify +abuses." + +At this speech Mr. Leányfalvy shifted his zouave from the left to the +right shoulder. + +"Don't you know, my dear boy, that out of the mouth of the poor, +complaints are not heard. There must be a God who hears them, +nevertheless. Yet the government is a power against which one man can +avail nothing. How can you protect the sown fields from the marmots? Man +is just such a marmot. Dismiss him who is now in office, and put another +in his place; you only change for the worse. As long as there are fools +and knaves in the world, so long will the one always rob the other." + +"Now if you reckon abuses of office among social ills, I can but tell +you that if you have a will, you can amend them. And this will have I." + +"Yes, but have you likewise the power? 'Whoso is wanting in strength is +powerless in wrath.' Besides, who stands behind you?" + +"The Emperor himself." + +"And who else?" + +"Isn't he enough?" + +"That doesn't suffice; you must have the presiding judge as a patron, or +the lord chancellor, or at least the district commissioner. If you can +only ensure the Emperor's favour, that doesn't go far. What can you say +to our Emperor, except 'May it please his Majesty,' and that he is +lampooned daily. Every day there come some such scurrilous pamphlets to +my notice." + +"The Kaiser believes in unlimited freedom of opinion." + +"Hang freedom of opinion! If I were Emperor, and anyone printed such +things about me, I would take my axe and play such a tune on the +writer's head with it, that he would not ask for a second one. And then +if the Hungarians see that the Austrians dare thus to insult the Kaiser, +what liberties will the Hungarian not allow himself?" + +"Yes, indeed. All those who are shocked at his novelties, murmur against +him. They abuse him because the freedom hitherto only accorded to a +certain class and creed, will now be extended to all his subjects +indiscriminately." + +"Let us talk about the melons, my dear boy. Look at this one with the +mottled rind. When it's ready you can eat it without harm. But take a +bite, before it is ripe, and you get a horribly sore mouth. Now it's +just the same with liberty. When it is ripe, the grower can present it +to the people on a pewter plate. But cut it before it is ready, and the +melon and he who eats it, alike are done for. I know you will maintain +that one can force the melon to get ripe, if you have hot-beds and +green-houses. Now you and your friends, the philosophers and +philanthropists, are just such growers at the present time. Who could +get enough hot-beds and forcing-houses for the whole world? Wait till +the dog-days come, and the heat of the sun will let each one ripen in +its proper measure." + +"Good, uncle. I accept the melon allegory, and will answer you in your +own gardening terms: If you want melons, you must sow the seeds. Some +sprout, others lay dormant. Then comes the worm to devour them, and the +mildew and the frosts to blast the young shoots, yet, in spite of all, +your true gardener tends them to the end. Such a sower am I, who plant +what is entrusted to me in the ground, that others may reap the +harvest." + +The simile pleased the old gentleman much; he stroked his moustache +thoughtfully. + +"You are the right sort, my boy. And if you feel equal to the task, +undertake it. But I fear you won't succeed! But you have not come here +to stir up a hornet's nest, have you?" + +"No, uncle. First of all, I shall procure the actual facts of the case, +and till I get them, I shall not say a word to anyone." + +"That's well and good. But how will you get those facts?" + +"I have reckoned for all that. I mean to settle down and buy myself a +house, with a field and vineyard. As an inhabitant of the city, I shall +have the right to mix myself up in local affairs." + +"That sounds like business. For that matter, I can recommend you a house +that belonged to the notary's brother. It's a fine property, with +garden, vineyard, and meadow attached. The owner is a drunken +good-for-nothing, and over head and ears in debt, but can, by realising +the property, pay his debts, and still have something left. Leave the +contract to me." + +"Agreed then, uncle. The money question can soon be settled, as I have +what will be necessary." + +"So far, so good. But after, when you have your facts, who is going to +be prosecutor?" + +"I myself will be." + +The old gentleman stroked his moustache doubtfully. + +"Oho, my boy, that's a dangerous game. Do you know that the law won't +allow you to do it anonymously? The prosecutor must act in his own +name." + +"I shall lodge my complaint openly so that the guilty can recognise me." + +"Then be sure they will try and get rid of you." + +"That is the fortune of war." + +The old man smiled slily. + +"It has just occurred to me you can't be prosecutor." + +"Why not?" + +"Why, pray, have you not studied law in Vienna? Docs not the decree of +St. Stephen lay it down that the prosecutor must be a married man? If +you are single, you are not qualified to make the depositions." + +"All right, I'll marry." + +His hearer fairly shook with laughter. + +"My boy, I've heard many motives suggested for matrimony, but never one +like yours. You are going to marry to help the people to their rights! +Remember that-- + + "'He who takes himself a wife, + Does but heap up care and strife.'" + +"But, uncle, what can you, who were never married, have to urge against +matrimony?" + +"Oh, I've nothing against your marrying. Leave that also to me. I have +found you a house; now I'll find you a wife." + +"It is very good of you, I'm sure." + +"I'm not joking. I know of a right suitable maiden for you. You remember +when you were still a lawyer's clerk, pretty little Mariska, the +notary's daughter. Well, she has become a fine girl. Since her mother's +death she manages the household entirely, and nowhere is there one so +well ordered as Tárhalmy's. She spends no money beyond what she gives to +the poor, and knows how to save as well. She's none of your frilled and +furbelowed fine ladies, and does not frizz her hair in the latest +fashion, but just dresses like a modest Magyar maid; and when you talk +to her, you hardly know what colour her eyes are, so modestly are they +cast down. Nor does she waste time in chatter, but gives you a plain +answer to a plain question, with the prettiest blush imaginable. That's +the wife for you, my boy, and a right comely one, I promise you." + +"All right, uncle. When I've bought the house, and had time to look +round a little, I'll go and see her." + +And with that, Ráby took his leave. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The postmaster did exactly as he had promised, and he did it promptly. + +"Now I have got the house, you've got to set up housekeeping, but don't +buy much furniture, the wife will see to that. Till you get a wife, I'll +lend you my maid-servant to keep house; she's also a good hand at +milking, for a cow you must have; and your cooking will have to be done +at home, for there is no café or hotel here, as at Vienna. And don't +trust your wine-cellar key to anyone else!" + +Mathias Ráby took this good advice, and arranged his new house as if he +were settling down for good in it. He had his fields sown with crops, +his vineyards overhauled, and laid in a stock of winter provisions. But +he encouraged no gossips, took no interest in outsiders, and was +reserved with acquaintances to the verge of taciturnity. + +But general rumour had it that the gentleman who had thus settled among +them, had been sent by the Kaiser himself to investigate matters of +state in Szent-Endre. + +Soon after this, Ráby made an excuse for going to Pesth so as to call on +the Tárhalmys. + +Tárhalmy was the county notary, and lived in the Assembly House assigned +him. Ráby knew it well, for when he was a clerk, he used to go there +every day. When he reached the door, the heyduke who stood sentry, +barred his way, with his musket under his arm, one foot crossed over the +other, and his shoulder against the door. + +"Tell me, my friend," for thus did Ráby accost the old heyduke, "is the +worshipful pronotary at home?" + +The man answered, his worship had just gone out, but his lady-daughter +was within, and would be delighted to see the honourable gentleman. + +Ráby hastened up the familiar wooden stairs, that were so well worn down +the middle. + +Our hero needed no guide through these rooms. He knew all the nooks and +corners of the house, and likewise the time at which callers might +come--between the hours of three and four in the afternoon. First he +betook himself to the ante-room, where he laid aside his sword and hat. +But there was no lackey there to announce him, he had to knock therefore +at the first door, to hear a "come in," before he ventured to enter +without further preamble. + +It was the familiar dining-room, where the women-folk were used to +betake themselves to their spinning-wheels. + +They sat there now, the Fräulein and the two maids. The spinning-wheel +was to our grandmothers what the cycle is to the women of to-day; nay, +it took also the place of the pianoforte itself. + +Mariska had certainly grown very pretty since Ráby had last seen her, +although, as Mr. Leányfalvy had remarked, she was quite simply dressed, +and did not curl her hair. He was also quite right about her blushing +when she was spoken to. In this instance, words indeed were not needed +to bring the colour into her cheeks, she no sooner saw the visitor, than +she crimsoned to the roots of her hair. The young girl rose respectfully +from the spinning-wheel, glanced shyly at the intruder, and ere he could +forbid it, had made him a childish curtsey and kissed his hand. + +Ráby was very nearly being angry. + +"But, Mariska, do you not recognise me?" + +"How should I help recognising you, Matyi?" + +"Why then do you kiss my hand?" + +"Ah, you have become a great man since those days." + +"Were I ever so great a man, I would not allow my hand to be kissed by a +lady." + +"But I am no lady, you see." + +"Nor am I a great man. And now please give me your hands that I may kiss +them." + +But the girl put both hands behind her back. + +"No, for then should I be a lady indeed. Please be seated." + +She motioned Ráby to the leather-covered sofa, and sat down again by the +spinning-wheel, as she deftly began afresh to twist the flax into fine +silky threads, so that they could talk if they wanted to. + +The two maid-servants did not leave the room, but just listened to all +that their mistress and her visitor said; it was but proper, they +thought. + +Ráby was meanwhile thinking how to baffle the maids. To this end he +asked in German what she was doing? + +The young girl gazed at him with her great blue eyes full of sorrowful +amazement. Fancy expecting that in the household of the pronotary of +Pesth, that stronghold of Magyar freedom, that anyone, much more the +daughter of the house, should speak German! She lowered her eyes, and +whispered timidly, "I do not understand German." + +"You do not understand German? Why, whatever would you do if you went to +a ball here in Pesth, and could not speak to your partners?" + +"I never go to any balls; I can't even dance," murmured the girl. + +"You mean to say, you don't dance? Well then, however do you amuse +yourself?" + +"When I have time for it, I read." + +"And what in the world do you read, if you only know Hungarian?" asked +Ráby. + +"Father has a fine library, and so he chooses books for me." + +"And how do you spend the whole day?" + +"Oh! I have a small garden in the courtyard; I love flowers!" + +Tho two were silent, and Ráby looked around him. + +The whole room was eloquent to him of the past. There, by the +work-table, was still the little box containing thread, scissors, and +thimble, which he himself had made when he was a clerk. There over the +couch, hung a withered wreath of dried flowers which he recognised. +Nothing was lost; all had been carefully preserved, even the pen which +he had used for the last time in the office, rested still behind the +mirror with his name inscribed upon the holder. + +And yet they had not expected him; all these souvenirs had not been +spread out at the news of his coming. They were, everyone, abiding +witnesses to the way in which his memory was cherished in a guileless +maiden's heart which loves, while it yet hardly knows what love is. + +Mathias Ráby was surely strangely ungrateful to the fate which had +preserved such a treasure for him. But it is the way of youth, so +unregardful is it of the treasures true love spreads for its unheeding +eyes, to be its own for the asking. + +But his meditations were interrupted by the entrance of Miska, the +heyduke, who came to announce that his worship, the notary, was ready to +see Mr. Ráby if he would wait upon him in the bureau. + +Ráby rose from his seat, and took leave of his hostess, who accompanied +him to the door. + +There they exchanged the usual farewell greetings, and she laid her +little hand in his shyly, as if fearing the ceremonial kiss. As Ráby +took the small soft fingers in his, a magnetic shock, as it were, +thrilled his being, so that he would fain have asked the question which +was on his lips, the question the girl would have seen in his eyes, had +she but raised her own. + +And Mariska, too, yearned to ask him, "How long do you stay?" How gladly +would she have heard the answer that it was for some time, how naturally +would the invitation have risen to her lips to Ráby to come again often +and see them. + +But instead of all this, they did but hold each other's hands a moment +half-fearfully, as if each were afraid of the other's kiss. + +This once, at any rate, did Ráby have the chance of grasping that +invisible golden thread which runs once through the life of every +mortal. Well for him who seizes it, for it will lead him safely through +all perils, but woe to him who lets it go! He cannot pick it up again. + +Ráby did not seize the thread. + +"Good-bye!" they murmured. And a right good word it is this "God be with +you!" Yet what if man refuses the blessing the good God proffers him? + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +When Ráby went into the office, the clerk told him that the chief was +expecting him in the "state-room" as it was called, in which +distinguished guests were received. This apartment was much more richly +furnished than the rest; it was therefore intended as a compliment to +Ráby, that the pronotary should receive him there, rather than in his +bureau. + +The pronotary was a fine-looking man of distinguished bearing. His thick +grey hair was combed straight back from his brows, and except for his +short moustache, he was clean-shaven. His short embroidered dolman +reached to his hips, and was confined by a costly girdle, wherefrom +depended a little pouch containing pen and ink, while his watch-chain +dangled from his breeches' pocket. + +Ráby was rather doubtful as to what sort of greeting he should venture +on. The French style exacted a solemn posturing with sundry bows and +curtseys; the German fashion demanded you should shake your neighbour's +hand as lustily as possible, but old-fashioned Hungarian etiquette +prescribed that the younger should kiss the hand of the elder. Ráby +bethought him of the kiss he had received in coming thither, and that +decided him. He would pay it back now to the father. The face of the old +gentleman brightened at this greeting. + +"Look you, my friend," he exclaimed in a clear deep voice, "in former +times, I would have patted you on the head, but I cannot do that now for +fear of dishevelling the coiffure your friseur has arranged. Don't you +regret, by the way, wasting so much flour?" + +His guest was glad to catch the old man in such a good temper, and +determined to profit by it, so he kept up the jest. + +"Yet it is far better surely, that I should tumble into flour than +bran?" + +"I think not, my boy, besides you are not so far from tumbling into bran +as you seem to think." + +Ráby looked at him with astonishment. + +Tárhalmy's face became suddenly grave. + +"I know well enough why you are here!" + +(How could he know why he had come? wondered his guest.) + +"Not at my house, but why you are in this country. And if you will +permit me, I will tell you what I think about your mission." + +"Oh pray do!" exclaimed Ráby. + +"Well, my young friend, you know I have always loved you as my own son. +I recognised all your capabilities, and always said 'that boy will some +day do great things!' A better brought-up, better disposed youth than +you were, with a higher sense of honour, could not be found. I would +not hesitate to entrust you with untold millions--or an innocent maiden. +But I warn you, if you persist in the way you have marked out for +yourself, you will soon be rotting in one of our prisons; and I shall +hear your chains clanking, without being able to stir a finger to set +you free." + +"And all that because I am a friend of the people?" + +"Rather an enemy of the nation, say!" + +"Are not the people and the nation one and the same?" + +"No, not at all: the nation is the state. You idealists cannot see the +wood for the trees; you cannot see the nation for the people. Only make +the people believe that they fare better under a despotism than under a +constitution, and you are the right side of the hedge." + +"So you think it's a choice of being ruled by one tyrant or five hundred +thousand." + +"Wait, young man, the five hundred thousand are the defenders of the +country on the field of battle, judges, commanders, pastors of souls and +teachers." + +"Yes, it was like that formerly. But time does not stand still, even if +conditions remain the same. The new age demands a better system of +defence, a more enlightened code of justice and government, as well as +better methods of instruction." + +"But you can't get all that in Hungary by just speaking the word! Nor +anywhere else, for that matter. We defend our much abused Asiatic +traditions, only through passive resistance." + +"Yet the question which once was asked of old from the oracle of Dodona, +is still the pressing problem for us: which is the most desirable, a +flourishing Hungarian nation according to the ancient idea of it, or +popular freedom?" + +At these words, the pronotary shook the young man cordially by the hand. + +"That was a pertinent question. I honour you for your candour. So many +proselytes of the Emperor that I have come across so far, will insist on +it that between these two antagonistic ideals a compromise is possible: +that, after the abolition of the privileges of the nobles, with an +equalisation of taxes, and a mutual obligation to bear the common +burden, the country can remain the same as it was. But you openly admit +there are only two alternatives, in the face of which we must needs +choose. You have chosen your part, I too have made up my mind. I believe +that in our part of the world it is more necessary for the +constitutional, patriotic Hungarian nation to endure, than for the +peasants to have one day a week more for idling; that it is better for +the aristocracy to give orders to the mob, than that the mob should give +orders to the aristocracy." + +The young man laughed aloud. + +"No, no, my honoured friend, I do not come here with the intention of +touching our hereditary constitution with my little finger. In this does +my whole mission consist--in rectifying abuses which cry aloud to +Heaven for redress in the Court of the County Assembly." + +"And pray who entrusts you with it?" + +"Firstly the Emperor, and then the oppressed people themselves." + +"That's just where the fault lies: neither the Emperor nor the people +have the right to lay such a duty on you. That right belongs alone to +the Pesth Assembly." + +"But the Crown has the right to demand that such a right be exercised." + +"Very likely. The Assembly will do whatever it be called upon to do." + +"And if the Assembly acquit itself badly? For its own officials are +guilty of the misery of the people." + +"Oh, that is no secret. Our officials are in a body quite ready to +fleece the folk in the very way that has aroused your indignation. But +up till now, we have elected these officials ourselves, and we would +rather have them over us, even if they were stained with the seven +capital sins, than have the Emperor's nominees, were they angels from +heaven. This is no legal quibble, but a question of actual conditions. +Whatever the people suffer, they will recover sooner or later; if a man +dies, another is born in his place; but the constitution can neither +suffer nor die. You stand for the Emperor, I stand for the voice of the +nation. Both are mortal. We shall see which of the two survives. But I +warn you to reckon on no one's support in the work you have undertaken, +for everyone will regard you as an enemy." + +"Thank you," said Ráby. "Also, there is a satisfaction in remembering +that there is at least one man I can reckon on who won't desert me." + +"And who is that, pray?" asked Tárhalmy smiling rather grimly, for he +thought it was the Emperor he meant. + +"Why myself." + +The pronotary embraced him, exclaiming tenderly as he did so: "Poor +fellow, poor fellow!" Then he said gently: "Farewell, in case I never +see you again!" + +And Mathias Ráby went away without mentioning even a word of Mariska. +What a horrible thing these politics are, to be sure! + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Ráby had scarcely left, than pretty Mariska put her little head in at +the opposite door which led from the reception-room to the +dining-parlour. Mr. von Tárhalmy was striding up and down the apartment +as if perturbed. + +"Did you call me, dear father?" asked the girl. + +"No, no, child; but come in." + +"You are not vexed, father?" + +"Not a bit of it, my dear." + +"I thought you were quarrelling with someone." + +"Nothing of the sort. We have only been discussing some business +matters. So just come in." + +The girl nestled up to her father's side affectionately. + +"I quite thought you called me," she murmured, "and that you said, we +have a guest coming to-morrow, Mariska." + +"Aha, you are right enough," smiled Tárhalmy. "Of course I said so. Your +cousin Matyi will dine with us to-morrow. Bless me, if I hadn't quite +forgotten all about it." + +"And it's well I should know it in good time." + +"Yes, indeed, and see you have his favourite dishes for him. Have you +plenty of stores, or must any be procured?" + +"No, indeed, I have everything I want in the house." + +And therewith, Mariska kissed her father's hand, nay both of them, and +danced back into the next room as light-hearted as a bird. + +And the two maids at the spinning-wheel must be up and doing; one to +pound almonds in the mortar; the other to sift fine flour for fritters. +The Fräulein herself set about peeling lemons, seeing she was going to +make some of Matyi's favourite cakes, such as no Vienna pastry-cook +could turn out. And through the whole household there was the sound of +singing, for Mariska too could sing on occasion--and this was one. + +But the pronotary himself sent his heyduke to go and find Mr. Mathias +Ráby, and tell him, with his compliments, that he would expect him to +dinner the next day. + + * * * * * + +Ráby was meantime interviewing some of the high officials of Pesth. + +The first one he visited was the lord-lieutenant of the city. + +For this visit he had to put on court dress, as that official was a +direct representative of the Emperor. + +His Excellency was an unpopular person, disliked by everyone. He was a +hard man whom nothing softened. He sympathized with no one, and he was +in nobody's good graces. Yet he was a personality everyone had to reckon +with. + +His very appearance bespoke the man. The copper-coloured complexion and +ill-shaven face, with its deep frowning eyebrows, heightened the natural +defect of his neck, which was twisted towards the right shoulder. His +hair was lank and reddish; his dress a cross between the Hungarian and +Austrian mode, slovenly and dirty, and stained with snuff, while the +order of St. Stephen, which he wore round his neck, was defaced and half +torn away. His voice had a repellent snarl about it. He spoke German +with everybody, but it was a vile patois. + +When Ráby was ushered into his presence, his Excellency was drinking his +coffee, and his visitor had to stand till he had finished. + +When he had set his cup down, he got up, and turning abruptly to Ráby, +asked him if he were a count? + +His visitor could not imagine what prompted this question, but he +answered that he was only an untitled gentleman of good family. + +Thereupon his Excellency pointed to Ráby's silk vest, and snapped: + +"Well, then, what do you mean by this? According to the prescription of +the 'dress regulations,' no one under the rank of a count may wear +embroidery." + +And in fact there was at this time a "dress regulation" in force to this +effect. Kaiser Joseph carried his paternal interest in his subjects so +far as to lay down rules as to how they should dress. Fashions and +ornaments which were permitted to the count, were not allowed the baron. +In this way, you could specify at first sight what rank a man held, for +even his hat revealed it. Only for princes and princesses was it +permitted to wear both black and white feathers; counts wore white +alone, barons black, and so forth down the scale. These sumptuary laws +even affected walking-sticks which had their mountings differentiated +according to the rank of the possessor. + +That was why Ráby had offended the lord-lieutenant. As a simple +gentleman, he had no right to either gold or silver embroidery. + +"This is the dress usually worn by the secretary of the imperial +cabinet," was the only explanation Ráby offered. + +"Ah, that is another thing. But I don't approve of these concessions +being allowed to those who are not men of rank." + +He scanned his caller mistrustfully from head to foot, and then went on +stiffly. "But I already have your credentials. Discharge your duty, but +take care what you are about, for you will find no one here to help you +out of a difficulty. So I have the honour to be your very humble +servant." + +But Ráby did not mean to let himself be dismissed in this fashion. + +"I too, am your Excellency's very humble servant," he answered. "But I +have a special mission to your Excellency which concerns both of us: my +duty is to speak, as it is likewise to present you with the imperial +warrant." + +The determined tone of the speaker levelled at once all distinctions of +age and rank. His Excellency vainly took refuge in walking up and down +the room, for Ráby kept pace with him, and he poured forth his whole +story into his ear, for he was determined that in such a high quarter, +the right side should be known. + +When he had finished his explanations, he raised his cocked hat with an +elaborate bow, bent his knee ceremoniously to the proper degree, and +withdrew, with the three paces prescribed by correct etiquette, to the +door. + +Mathias Ráby now hastened to the dwelling of the district commissioner, +who lived alone in an old house at Buda. Before it stood a sentry, and +at the entrance was also a porter who rang the bell if a visitor came in +a sedan-chair--the favourite means of locomotion. You could, if you +wished, have a carriage, but it was not so comfortable. Nor was it +advisable to go on foot, for in the covered ways which led round the +water-city, it was dark enough to cause ordinary pedestrians to dread +being robbed--as indeed they easily could have been. + +Ráby hastened up the steps of the district commissioner's house with +renewed confidence, for the commissioner had been one of his Vienna +acquaintances, and so when the lackey announced the visitor, ordered +Ráby to be admitted at once, though he had not finished his toilet. + +At that epoch, dress was no light matter even for a man. The _friseur_ +was occupied in shaving his client; then from one box he took out some +white cosmetic, from another some red colouring, to apply them to the +proper place on the cheeks, for, at that era, not only women, but also +men of fashion painted their faces. Then the eyebrows were darkened, and +blue streaks were faintly outlined on the temples with a paint-brush +dipped in ultramarine; finally, a patch was applied with artful +dexterity on the right spot above the reddened lips. Only when all this +was done, could the final operation be carried out--that of powdering +the curled and twisted hair, the patient holding meanwhile a kind of +paper bag before his face, whilst the barber powdered the coiffure with +a large brush. + +"How are you, my friend?" was his host's greeting, as Ráby entered. +"I'll be done in a few minutes; meanwhile, sit down and read." + +On the writing-table, to which he motioned Ráby, lay some of the latest +pamphlets and pasquinades of the moment, mostly directed against the +Emperor. + +Ráby turned them over. "I've seen these before," he remarked. + +"And is not his Majesty very angry at them?" asked the commissioner. + +"Not a bit of it; he sends for the pamphlets, and not only does he make +me read them to him, but he is heartily amused." + +"Otherwise the author might find himself fastened to the wheel, eh!" + +"Joseph has thought of a more sensible punishment. A writer sold his +pasquinades at thirty kreutzers apiece, and built a house with his +profits. But recently the Kaiser, as soon as one of these productions +appeared, had it reprinted and sold for eight kreutzers. The result was +that the writer had the whole edition left on his hands, while everyone +bought that issued by the Kaiser. The proceeds were given to charity." + +"Not a very seemly trade for an Emperor, eh? It were far more becoming +to a prince to have the fellow's head off." + +"Yes, the Kaiser has distinctly plebeian ideas, it must be owned." + +"What too did he mean by putting in the pillory an officer of the Guard? +Only think of it, just for misappropriating from the treasury sixty-six +thousand gulden. And it was only to build an alchymist's laboratory. +Could he help it because it turned out a failure?" + +"Ah, well, now the ice is broken." + +Meantime the _friseur_ had finished his work and gone, so it was easy +for Ráby to broach his errand, with such an opening: + +"The Emperor visits with extreme severity the embezzlement of public +funds; it is for this very purpose that he has sent me to bring to light +certain abuses connected with the Szent-Endre municipality." + +"I know, I know," said his Excellency, as he poured some eau de Cologne +over his hands, "it has come to my ears. But you will be a long time +finding your way out of that tangle, once you get into it; let me warn +you. By the way, is there a new opera company at the Vienna theatre?" + +"Ah, my good friend, I've no time to run after plays and players. I've +dramas of my own to look after, and they deal with the picking of other +people's pockets." + +"The deuce take your dramas! Does one still see pretty women at Vienna? +Where do you have your evening gatherings during the winter?" + +"We go to 'The Good Woman.' The sign-board is a woman without a head." + +"What does the hostess say to that, pray?" + +"I shall have no chance of asking her, seeing that I shall spend the +winter here, and pass my time in verifying accounts." + +"Stuff and nonsense! Cut it short, sir, and get back to Vienna as soon +as you can. Say you have found nothing. By the way, have you been in +Pozsony? They say they pay their theatrical companies far better than we +do; isn't it a shame?" + +"May I venture to ask if his Excellency will deign to listen to my +representations about the Szent-Endre affair?" + +"My dear fellow, just tell me everything. I am wholly at your service. +And don't mind my interruptions. I shall hear all. Have the officials +really so oppressed the poor? It's unheard-of! And the Rascian 'pope' +might well speak out. He's a good sort! Just such another as some of our +priests in Vienna. Did you ever hear how--oh, yes, I'm listening right +enough. I see quite well that you've discovered some sort of roguery. +The story of the hidden coffer sounds just like a play, doesn't it? 'The +Hidden Treasure,' or 'The Forty Thieves.' Go on! I declare that notary +ought to be placed in Dante's Inferno. What was that celebrated forgery +case, by the way, when some count or other, of high family, was put in +prison surely? You can't be too severe with that kind of thing. Yes, the +small fry, like your notary, don't get out of the net, but the man with +a handle to his name, gets clean off! We ought to make some examples in +high places." + +Ráby longed to express to his Excellency his conviction that the +Szent-Endre culprits would also elude justice; but it seemed wiser to be +silent till his loquacious friend had had his say. + +And now indeed the district commissioner, who was really a good sort of +fellow, showed that he had quite understood the whole business. + +"You leave it to me, my friend; I'll follow it up. You may reckon on my +help. If the councillors show themselves recalcitrant, we will know how +to make them dance! But now it's time for the theatre, my friend. What +do you say to coming with me? I have a box. You will be able to see all +the pretty girls of Pesth and Buda together." + +"Much beholden to you, but I regret I can't take advantage of your +offer," answered Ráby; "I must hasten homewards to send in my report to +the Emperor." + +"Oh, what's the good of drawing up reports? Take my advice and don't +send him any. And if you won't come to the theatre with me, then come +and dine to-morrow and we can talk things over." + +But Ráby went home to draw up his report. + + * * * * * + +Meantime, the lord-lieutenant was demanding of his secretary: + +"Which is the Statute that treats of _nobilis cum rusticis tumultuans_?" + +The secretary was a walking legal code. He not only knew that the law in +question was article thirty-three, of the year 1514, but could quote the +passage word for word: "Noblemen who take part in any risings of the +peasantry shall be banished, and shall forfeit the whole of their +estates." + +His Excellency uttered a growl of discontent; evidently the citation was +not an apt one. + +"What about that other statute of _Nota Conjurationis_?" + +"Article forty of 1536 pronounces sedition to be high-treason. See _Nota +Infidelitatis_." + +His Excellency shook his head. + +"And that of _Calumniator Consiliariorum_?" + +"Article of the year 1588 runs as follows:--Whosoever shall calumniate +and unjustly attaint any of the Empire's councillors, shall be condemned +to lose his head and forfeit all his goods." + +"That is better. You can go." + +The speaker was obviously contented this time. + +But immediately afterwards he recalled the secretary. + +"Which article is it that treats of the _Portatores Causarum_?" + +"Article sixty-three, of the year 1498. Whosoever shall bring his cause +before a tribunal other than that of his own country, shall be arrested +and imprisoned in the Dark Tower." + +"Now you can retire." + + * * * * * + +His worship, the district commissioner, who during Ráby's relation had +appeared to pay not the slightest attention to the Szent-Endre story, +had no sooner got to his box at the theatre, than he sent immediately +for pen, ink, and paper, and, quite oblivious of the play, hurriedly +drew up a missive to the prefect, wherein he set forth Mathias Ráby's +mission, and how he had been directly authorised by the Emperor to +revise the finances, pointing out that he was well informed as to +everything, even to the contents of the strong box. He would further +suggest that it would be wise for the prefect to go and look into things +for himself, otherwise disagreeable consequences might ensue. + +This note he sent by a special messenger to ensure its speedy delivery. + + * * * * * + +Tárhalmy's heyduke came back late in the evening with Ráby's refusal. He +could not come, because he was already pledged to dine with the district +commissioner. + +"You need not trouble about the almond-cakes, Mariska," said the +pronotary to his daughter, "Cousin Matyi will not be with us to-morrow, +he is flying higher game." + +And all at once the sound of singing ceased in the house. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Hardly had Mathias Ráby returned to Szent-Endre than he realised that +everyone was aware of his mission. Gifts of all kinds poured in, and his +servant told him that in his absence two casks of wine had arrived--she +knew not from whom. In the courtyard, big stacks of firewood had already +been piled up--the gift of some anonymous donor, while the poultry-yard +was full of feathered stock which seemed to have flown down from the +skies. + +It was a pity the recipient did not appreciate them. Yet he knew the +time would come when all those who now plied him with gifts, would be +ready to deprive him of everything, if he ventured to set foot in their +streets. He forbade the maid to touch any of them under pain of instant +dismissal. The poor girl was quite dumbfoundered with surprise, for what +could one have better than such presents? + +On the day of his return, two well-known citizens appeared at his door +with a smart coach and four beautiful horses. One of them was Mr. Peter +Paprika; in former times he had himself fulfilled a term of office as +magistrate six years, so he understood the situation. The two had come +to wish Mr. Ráby good day, Peter Paprika adding that, as his worship +must have so many journeys to make in so many different directions, he +was sure he could not exist without a carriage and horses. For Ráby, +moreover, the price of the whole equipage, including horses, would only +be forty gulden! Nor need he be surprised at this abnormally cheap +price, for they were not stolen. The four horses were from the stud of +the State, the carriage was the best the local builder could turn out. + +Mathias Ráby thanked them for the offer, but refused to buy the +equipage, even at this price. + +However, they still pressed their bid, adding that fodder for the horses +would be provided gratis, whereupon Ráby told them point blank that +their bribes would not in the least avail to turn him from his purpose. + +Mr. Paprika returned dejectedly to the town council where his colleagues +waited to learn the result of his mission. + +"I'm afraid," he announced to his fellow-councillors, "it won't avail us +to dip in the little chest for this. We have a difficult customer to +deal with. We must dive into the big one." + +They talked the matter over, and determined that if necessary, they +would sacrifice half the common wealth, and for this, bleed the treasure +itself, to such an end. And Peter Paprika was entrusted to find out a +new opportunity for proffering the bribe. + +So the next day they sought out Ráby, and put the whole thing before +him. They hinted broadly enough that you did not muzzle the ox that +trod out the corn, and that he who cut up a goose was justified in +keeping the best bit for himself, and other like arguments, and finally +laid on his table the sum of three thousand ducats. + +Even to-day three thousand ducats are not a sum to be despised: in those +days, indeed, they represented a respectable fortune. But Ráby nearly +drubbed the envoy who brought them out of the room. He was righteously +indignant, and angrily showed the messenger the door. + +"I never saw a man so angry," growled Peter Paprika, "I've heard men +often enough refuse money in so many words, but they contrived to pocket +the ducats discreetly, directly they have the chance." So they thought +it might happen this time. A week elapsed, and people already began to +smile knowingly at Ráby when they met him in the street, saying to +themselves, "He only wants a little bigger net, but he'll be caught in +the end." + +How greatly was popular opinion disconcerted, when in all the churches +the following Sunday, a "command" from the Emperor was read to the +effect "that the three thousand ducats which the worshipful town council +had given to Mr. Mathias Ráby for benevolent purposes, were to be +divided among the inhabitants whose homes the preceding year had been +destroyed by fire, and that each one would receive seventy-five gulden +apiece." + +What a procession it was that took its way to Ráby's house. The +unfortunate victims of the conflagration came with their children and +chattels to thank their benefactor and to kiss his hand. The homes of +many of them had still to be made good, and the help could not have come +at a more seasonable time. But it set the officials against Ráby. They +could not tell the recipients of this bounty what had really happened. +But the latter guessed immediately that the town council had given Mr. +Ráby three thousand ducats, not for any charitable ends, but in order to +bribe him, and that he was making over to them these ill-gotten gains. +Well might the poor regard him as their deliverer! + +Nevertheless, the councillors began to shake in their shoes. Judge, +notary, and old Paprika hastened to the prefect, and announced with +anxiety and horror that a dragon had been set on to them, who would not +be pacified with the treasure itself. + +"Well, we'll just fetch out a bigger one still to satisfy him." + +What that greater treasure was, we shall in the course of events now +learn. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +For some days the great circuit had been in full swing in the city. It +was a new institution, inaugurated by the Emperor Joseph, whereby the +lord-lieutenant or his representative, annually had to make a tour +through the county to procure information of all kinds, and refer the +same to the district commissioner, of whom there were ten in all +throughout the country. + +The business was easily settled in some counties. But in that of Pesth, +which is as large as a German kingdom, the number of official +entertainments was so great that it demanded an ostrich's digestion. +These municipal officials, like the lord-lieutenant himself, must eat +and drink hard three or four days running, while, at the end, the whole +burden of the work fell on the substitute, the eldest and best qualified +magistrate. No one answered to this demand better than our old friend, +Mr. Laskóy. + +When the circuit came to Szent-Endre, it was naturally the turn of the +prefect to give an entertainment. To this the imperial court secretary, +Mr. Mathias Ráby of Rába and Mura, received a formal invitation in due +course. + +As it was so great an official gathering, he put on his Viennese dress, +and arrived at the prefecture by twelve o'clock, the hour appointed. + +He was received by a lordly looking lackey, who discreetly gave him to +understand that he was somewhat early, that the gentry were still in +council, but that till dinner-time, he might, if he would, go into the +garden where he would find Mademoiselle, the prefect's niece. + +Ráby instantly conceived a high opinion of the lady of the house, who, +thus immediately preceding a great banquet, could find leisure to walk +in the garden. She could not be wholly wrapped up in her housewifery. + +But how find a garden he had never seen and seek out a lady who was a +complete stranger to him? However, help was nigh. Just as if it had +scented him, a black poodle came running down the corridor wagging his +tail, as welcoming the guest, and finally took the end of Ráby's cane +between his teeth and drew him to the door that led into the garden. +Ráby, seeing the dog wanted to play with the cane, let him have it, +whereupon the cunning little beast seized it in the middle and preceded +Ráby down the garden path where Fräulein Fruzsinka was to be found. The +garden was laid out in the prevalent mode, in a maze composed of trees, +among which one had vainly sought for an outlet. There, indeed, Ráby had +never found the lady on his own account, for she had ensconced herself +in the innermost recess and was reading, seated on the mossy bank. + +She was no longer the Hungarian amazon who had worn the riding gear we +met her in, earlier in this story. She was now the Viennese "élégante," +whose toilette proclaimed her the lady of fashion, with her +walking-stick, her elaborate coiffure, and lace ruffles, all +irreproachably correct. Nor were cosmetics and patches wanting that the +mode demanded, and she answered Ráby's greeting with the prescribed +German formula: "Your servant, sir." + +The poodle broke the ice, by running up with his cane and laying it at +his mistress' feet. + +But Fräulein Fruzsinka picked it up gently and gave it back to Ráby. She +held a richly bound book, Wieland's "Oberon," which she showed to her +guest. + +Now with ladies who read Wieland you can talk of something else besides +ordinary themes. And in the first quarter of an hour of his conversation +with her, Mathias Ráby discovered that his hostess was a highly +cultivated woman who could discuss the French philosophers as an +ordinary provincial belle might the latest fashion in head dresses, and +speak German fluently. + +And her eyes, how marvellous they were! + +They came out of the maze pursuing the talk on literature, and bent +their steps towards the flower garden. Passing the flower-beds, Fräulein +Fruzsinka betrayed also her knowledge of that "language of flowers" +which just then was the rage in Vienna. The young lady broke off a twig +of evergreen, and gave it to Ráby, who well recollected the couplet +which set forth its symbolism: + + "The evergreen is always green, although it blossoms never, + So may the friendship 'twixt a man and woman last for ever." + +But there was nothing of the coquette about her; she made no advances +whatever. + +The sound of the dinner-gong here breaking off their talk, his hostess +accompanied Ráby back to the house, where the company were impatiently +awaiting them. The dinner was already on the table. + +The Fräulein presented Ráby to the other guests who all greeted him +warmly. + +The meal threatened to be interminable, as course succeeded course, till +at last someone threw out a hint to the effect that a little exercise +would be good for the diners, who had a game of skittles awaiting them. + +"Skittles," indeed, was as it were the word of dismissal, and the +suggestion nearly spoiled the proposal made by another guest that after +dinner they should have a song from Fräulein Fruzsinka on the +clavichord. + +But the skittle players were in the majority though there was a keen +opposition. + +Finally matters were compromised by settling that they should have their +hostess' song first, and then the skittles. At first a few of the guests +loitered round the clavichord, at which Fräulein Fruzsinka, with her +really sweet voice, was commencing a ditty. But you could not well smoke +there, so one by one they stole out into the garden where the skittles +were already in full swing. + +Meanwhile, Fräulein Fruzsinka remained at the clavichord alone with +Mathias Ráby, who from his knowledge of music could turn over for her at +the right moment. + +The singer soon shut the music book, and rose impatiently from the +instrument. + +"What people these are!" she exclaimed with a little irritated gesture +of her hands. "Not a lofty idea, not a noble aspiration among them, as +far as one can judge. And that is our world!" + +Ráby, who had the instincts of a courtier, sought to excuse his fellow +guests. + +"Their own official concerns fill their minds entirely." + +"Their official concerns indeed! Yes, I should think so! Did you hear +the anecdotes with which they regaled each other at table? Quite +frankly, with the most shameless cynicism. Yet they were all true. Among +such people as ours, ignorance, idleness and greed counter-balance one +another. Not one of them knows his business: each neglects his duty. But +see if there is anything to be got out of any official function, and +everyone is ready to seize it for himself." + +Ráby held a brief for the accused. + +"With us, offices of that kind are ill-paid. The official's salary is +scant; he has, too, a house and family to keep up." + +Fruzsinka laughed aloud. "There is not a married man among all of them. +They are all a penniless lot who come to pay their court to me. Each of +them would marry me, were they not all afraid of me!" + +"Afraid of the Fräulein? You must make a strange impression on them." + +"Yes, think of it! Can you believe that anyone is frightened at me +because I wear a fashionable gown, read novels, am clever at music, but +indifferent to kitchen and cellar; thereat the wooer shudders. He says +to himself, 'he cannot possibly tolerate that,' and takes himself off +forthwith." + +"On the contrary, dainty toilettes and culture bespeak wealth, and that +alone should be one more spur for the suitors, surely." + +"Oh certainly, if they were sure that my uncle, who is rich, were going +to leave me his money. But that is a secret no one knows. There are two +things my wooer cannot find out, whether my uncle really loves me, and +whether I know how to flatter him well enough, so as not to forfeit his +affection. And truly I do not quite know myself." + +"And that surely is not difficult to decide. For your beautiful +toilettes and good education witness sufficiently to his affection for +you." + +"Ah, as far as my education goes, I have only to thank the gracious +Empress Maria Theresa, for I was educated at her Elizabeth Institute in +Buda, and my education cost no one a heller. And as regards my dress, my +uncle insists on my dressing well, in order to captivate each new-comer. +If it is an aristocratic cavalier who appears on the scene, forthwith I +must don my pearl-embroidered bodice and lace stomacher and the plumed +hat, but if it be an ordinary townsman, I wear the provincial dress of +the simple country girl. Yes, would you know everything at this, our +first meeting? And, indeed, as it is the first, so will it be the last. +But would you hear how that must be, come with me into my own +sitting-room, for here someone will overhear us." + +Ráby was already under the spell of the sorceress, and he followed her +willingly into her boudoir. + +"You are not the first, dear Ráby," pursued his hostess, "who has come +into this town vowing vengeance on us, to demand that justice be done. I +say 'us,' for as you see, I too am leagued with this confederacy. And +each of such emissaries in turn have I seen withdraw after a time, his +anger appeased. Now, once more, they hear that a man of iron has come to +set his foot down with inexorable rigour; he distributes the vast bribe +which has been offered him, among the poor, while to win him over, even +the great coffer is ransacked, but in vain. Thereupon, the authorities +bethink them of another treasure still, the prefect's niece. And they +trick her out as a fashionable lady, and leave her alone with the +incorruptible. You see I am quite frank! Do you not blush for me? I do +for myself, I can assure you. Take my advice, and fly from this place!" + +"But, Fräulein, all you tell me does but make me still more determined +to pursue the purpose for which I came hither." + +"I see you to-day for the first time; I know nothing of you but what I +have heard from your opponents; but what I have heard of you only makes +me take your side. You are no ordinary man. Go, I tell you, and save +yourself; flee from this place!" + +"I save myself?" + +"Yes, indeed! You cannot imagine how evilly disposed to you are those +among whom you find yourself. Indeed, they have threatened to take your +life." + +What does she mean? Will she scare him away from the field of his +labours, so that intimidated by her words, he returns to Vienna? Or has +she measured her man, and seen that he is to be best caught by seeking +to divert him from his purpose? And does she know that for such a one, +the most powerful enticement of all will be to seek to turn him from +his goal? + +Ráby responded to the signal that his hostess made him, to come closer; +nay, he took the fan she held, and fanned her and himself with it. + +"That is splendid; why it will make my stay here quite a romantic +experience," he said. + +"You will rue it, however, and expose yourself to a thousand dangers +which you have not the power to withstand. I see you are confident of +your strength. But if you had to fight with someone, would it not +disquiet you to know your adversary was an excellent shot. Suppose the +moment you entered the field, someone whispered to you: 'Be on your +guard; your second is in league with your opponent, he has placed no +bullets in your pistol.' Would you not, in such a case, refuse to +fight?" + +"But the case is quite unthinkable." + +"So you deem it. But to prove to you, that I am not seeking, as your +enemies would have me do, to try and entangle you in my net, I will tear +asunder the snare already closing round you, and show you something +which shall enlighten you once and for all." + +She went to her writing-table and took out of a drawer a letter. + +"Say, do you know this handwriting?" + +"Very well, it is that of the district commissioner." + +"The note was addressed to me, in order to awaken no suspicion. Please +read it." + +It was the letter which the district commissioner had written at the +theatre. + +As he read it, Ráby fairly crimsoned with wrath. He was thunderstruck to +find that his official chief, who had promised to support his mission, +should have a secret understanding with those whom he was pledged to +punish. Whom should he trust, if this was the state of things? + +"Now will you not fly?" said Fräulein Fruzsinka. Her words urged him to +go, but her eyes held him back. + +"No, indeed! now will I remain," cried Ráby impetuously, as he rose to +go. And as if to prove that he had determined to do and dare all, he +hastily seized her hand and raised it passionately to his lips. + +And she did not withdraw hers, but vehemently returned its pressure, as +if to say: "This is the man I have long been looking for!" + +"Leave me now," she whispered; but her eyes seemed to say, "Come again, +soon!" + +Mathias Ráby knew now that fate had led him to a kindred soul at last! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +Were this story a romance pure and simple, it would suffice to tell that +Fräulein Fruzsinka had fire in her eyes, and Mr. Mathias but a heart of +wax, that, consequently, when they met, the one melted the other. + +But since this history is, in the main, a true narrative, we do not +think it should be supposed that such was the case. Mathias Ráby being a +diplomatist as well as a philosopher, did not seek in the lady of his +dreams a Venus Anadyomene, but rather a fully equipped Minerva, and he +thought that he had before him a high-minded woman, whose insight +penetrated the evil intentions of his enemies, and whose hands should +serve to set him free from the snares their wickedness had woven around +him. To save such a woman from a degrading position was in itself surely +a knightly and a noble deed. And what a splendid help would it not be to +him, in the struggle that lay before him, to choose such a companion, +who could circumvent the designs of his enemies, and be to him a +guardian angel as well as a helpmate. + +So it came about that one day Mathias Ráby sought out his uncle, Mr. +Leányfalvy, with this request. + +"I have come, my dear uncle, to remind you of your promise. I need a +'best man.'" + +"A 'best man'? All right, my boy, I'm ready; let's have the horses put +to." + +"It won't be necessary; it is only at the other end of the city. It is +to the prefecture I want to go." + +"It's the Fruzsinka, then," exclaimed the old gentleman, and he began to +scratch his head in deep perplexity. Finally, he blurted out, "Listen to +me, my boy, take my advice and choose anyone else." + +"Uncle, I forbid you to speak thus! She is my betrothed." + +"I will not say anything against the woman of your choice. I will only +say this: your father and mother were worthy God-fearing folk. If there +had been twenty commandments to keep instead of ten, they would have +observed them all scrupulously. And they loved each other so dearly, +that when your father died, your mother followed him the very next day. +And so it can be said to your own credit, that you are neither a +murderer nor a robber. Therefore, I want to know how it is that, since +neither you nor your parents have ever committed mortal sin, such a +punishment should be destined for you, as marrying Fräulein Fruzsinka?" + +"Uncle, I forbid you----" + +"If you only knew the woman she is!" + +"I know quite well, she herself has told me all." + +"All, has she, what sort of an 'all' is it?" + +Mathias Ráby shrugged his shoulders as one who does not understand +grammatical subtleties. "Oh, with women, the world is an everyday +matter." + +"But these are not everyday matters." + +"Well, I will hear no evil of her." + +"May Heaven forgive me if I make a mistake! But what does it concern me +after all? Yet I found for you a nice, well-brought up girl to whom the +other one cannot hold a candle! What are the black gipsy eyes of the one +compared to the innocent blue ones of the other? But if such a wife +pleases you, there is nothing more to be said. Only you will have a wife +and no mistake, I'll warrant you!" + +"Now, dear uncle, I beg of you to come and accompany me in my wooing." + +Mr. Leányfalvy began to see that he must play a part in this pantomime +after all. + +"I've no clothes to go in," he explained. "In these I could not enter +such grand company." + +"I will bring you a new coat from Pesth." + +"It's no use, nephew. Among such grand folks a simple gentleman like me, +who am a mere nobody, has no business. Take the district commissioner +with you; he is a great man, and can write worshipful before his name." + +"I don't want any great men. I'd rather have you!" + +Now the postmaster came out with his true meaning. + +"I don't want to be your 'best man!'" he said bluntly. + +"You don't, and why not?" + +"Because I am exceedingly angry, and I should quarrel with you. I am +seriously vexed with you, not because you insist on marrying +Fruzsinka--you can be angry with yourself for that--but because you are +leaving that sweet, pretty, innocent child, to eat her heart out in +disappointment. I do not want to have anything more to do with you; you +are nothing to me. Now go, and take your grand friend with you!" + +"Very well, I won't take anyone. I'll go alone and ask for her myself." + +Thereupon, Ráby turned away and went. It would be indeed absurd that a +man, in such a high position, who had been educated at the Theresianum, +and was the trusted confidant of the Emperor himself, should let himself +be dissuaded from his purpose by a simple unlearned rustic. + +The contradiction only strengthened him in his determination. + +And then--those glorious eyes! + + * * * * * + +Ráby was one of those men who, once having set themselves an end in +view, pursue it unflinchingly. He went straight away to the prefect, +stated plainly his errand, and asked for the hand of his niece. + +The prefect, however, pushed his cap back a little off his brows, and +demanded somewhat abruptly if his visitor understood Hungarian? + +Ráby was a little disconcerted by the question. + +"Yes, I can speak Hungarian," he answered shortly. + +"But, my friend, to speak Hungarian and to understand it are two very +different things, as we shall see directly. I ask you, what is it you +want? Do you want to take my niece Fruzsinka as your wife, or do you +wish to be the husband of my niece Fruzsinka?" + +"Surely that is one and the same thing," said the suitor. + +"Not a bit of it; they are quite distinct. Let's put it plainly. For +instance, you elect to be my niece's husband. In this case you come and +live here at the prefecture, and you get thrown in as a marriage +settlement, a coach and four, a coachman and lackey, and will have in +fact all the money you need. If you are tired of the chancery work in +Vienna, we can get you elected administrator of Visegrád, which post +happens to be vacant. You only need walk into it, or if you would prefer +to do so, you can easily keep your appointment at Court, and a deputy +will look after the Visegrád affairs for you, perhaps better than you +could yourself. All you have to do is to spend the income, if you come +to live here. This is one alternative. The other is that you take my +niece as your wife, and make your own little home for her, and the rest +is your concern, not mine. Now I have spoken plainly, do you understand +me?" + +"Perfectly, and I am also ready with my answer. I ask for no prefecture, +no coach and four, no administratorship; I only ask for Fräulein +Fruzsinka, whom I love; I ask for the lady, not for the property." + +"Well, go and have a talk with her. If she is agreeable to the proposal, +I won't raise any objection." + +Thereupon, he sent the wooer to Fräulein Fruzsinka, who had previously +suggested to Ráby that he should come on this particular day and +formally propose for her hand. + +"You come without a 'best man,'" said Fruzsinka, as Ráby entered. "You +have found no one who would undertake the office, that is it. Each of +the friends you asked refused, and tried to set you against me?" + +"I assure you, Fräulein, that there is no man living from whom I would +listen to the slightest word against you, not even my own father. I will +tell you truthfully how the matter stands. I have one good old friend in +this world whom you know well, my uncle Leányfalvy. I begged him to bear +me company, but he refused solely, however, on this ground, that he had +already chosen a bride for me, a playmate of my childhood, and had so +set his heart on my having her, that he is angered at my making another +choice." + +"And why not marry the playmate of your childhood?" + +"That too will I tell you, and be as candid with you as you were with +me. This girl is a dear, gentle, little creature, whose life it were a +shame to link with my own stormy career. Why, I should have to transform +myself to marry her. If I were a man who simply swims with the stream, +and troubles not as to what passes outside his own house, then could I +woo such a bride indeed. But I am possessed by a demon of unrest that +will let me have no peace; the misery of the people is constantly before +me, urging me unceasingly to champion their cause against their +oppressors. Nothing shall stop my mouth from pleading their rights. My +life will be a perpetual struggle, I see that clearly. And can I fetter +to such a destiny, a mere child whose only strength is her inexhaustible +patience and gentleness? Every moment would it not be a torment to me, +that each woe I drew down upon my head would fall likewise upon that of +a guiltless and innocent being with a hundredfold weight. No, Fräulein, +when I reckoned up the obstacles to the career I had set before me, I +determined to ask no woman to share it. Till fate threw me across your +path, I had never thought of marriage. But at the first glance, I said +to myself, 'There is the complement of my own being; there is a woman +whose soul is consumed like mine with a restless consciousness of the +world's woes. No one can understand her as I do.' What shocks others in +you is just what attracts me. My destiny can only be shared by one who +has plenty of ambition and no dread of danger. If you are truly mine, +give me your answer." + +Fräulein Fruzsinka's only response was to throw herself on Ráby's breast +and take his face between her hands. + + * * * * * + +Three weeks later, the marriage ceremony took place. When the wedding +was over, the worthy prefect rubbed his hands and murmured, "Now thank +Heaven, Mathias Ráby has already the yoke round his neck. That is +something to be thankful for." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +Wonder of wonders! Fruzsinka had become domesticated. Since her +marriage, she had been a different being. Her former rich dress was now +exchanged for a simple homespun gown, and she wore only the national +dress of the Hungarian woman. She rarely even looked in a book, for the +young matron was now wholly occupied with the things of the household. + +She made an ideal housewife, superintending everything herself, and +never parting with her keys. She kneaded the dough for the fritters +which no hand must touch but hers; she skimmed too the milk, and roasted +the coffee. She even had a spinning-wheel brought in and sat at it, +though the yarn spun did not amount to much, only the spinning-wheel +indeed knew whether it went backwards or forwards. + +But on her lord and master, Fruzsinka lavished the most passionate +devotion. Never did she allow him to leave the house without her +buttoning his coat for him, and had he the least ailment she made no end +of ado. + +She never dreamed of going out without him, and was, as a matter of +fact, jealous of every pretty woman, but Ráby liked to think that her +watchfulness had regard rather to the designs of his enemies than from +any other cause. He began to see that all women who love their husbands +are alike, and that those stories of the wives of heroes who themselves +spur their spouses on to fight and place the sword in their grasp, +belong to the domain of myth, not to that of reality. + +For the rest, Ráby's business seemed as if it was going to settle itself +smoothly. The municipality gave orders to the district commissioner who, +in his turn, forwarded directions to various subordinate officials, and +a deputation, which was entrusted with full judicial powers, was elected +to audit the accounts. All was ready for taking active steps, Ráby only +needed to come forward with the formal impeachment, for he now held the +threads of the business in his own hands. + +The various officials concerned strongly suspected that they themselves +were mixed up in the affair, but consoled themselves with the thought +that the commissioner would himself preside. + +But the district commissioner was very easy-going, had they known it, +and that was his failing. He did not like seeing his friends set by the +ears, therefore he betrayed the inimical intentions of each one to the +other, in order to frustrate strife. They should leave one another +alone; why quarrel, when you might live at peace with your neighbour, +was his philosophy. + +At last the important day dawned when the commission was to sit for the +investigation of the Szent-Endre accounts. The district commissioner did +not keep them long waiting. His impartiality was shown by his accepting +an invitation to the prefect's to dinner, and by inviting himself to +Ráby's to supper, for he too had been an old flame of Fruzsinka's. + +They assembled for the great work in the Town Hall, and had unearthed +accounts of years' standing--and nice models of book-keeping they were, +full of erasures and corrections, just where the most important entries +could be expected. Under such circumstances, the commissioner divided +the work up, so that each one might do his share of it without being +overlooked by the others. Ráby could have burst with indignation when he +regarded the commission's irregularities as to procedure. + +With the most unblushing impudence, all sorts of frauds, corruptions, +and tyrannical methods were simply ignored in the investigation. + +"Fiddlesticks!" exclaimed the commissioner to the protesting Ráby, "that +happens everywhere." + +And finally, when the worshipful commission of burghers who understood +about as much of finance as a hen does of the alphabet, summed up the +results of the revision, they gave out, that in spite of all efforts to +make them balance, there was a deficit amounting to eighty-six thousand +gulden, for which it was impossible to account. + +"Fiddlesticks," cried the commissioner again, "let's go on!" + +"No, no, we cannot possibly pass that over, and we will not go on," +cried the indignant Ráby. "Does not your worship recollect that on +account of just such a deficit, a captain of the guard had, but a while +back, to stand in the pillory with a black board round his neck. Shall +an officer of the imperial body guard be thus punished, and these who +have hidden the gold, go free? These things are no trifles. Will you be +pleased to order that the secret treasure-chest be produced." + +The reference to the captain of the guard was not, it seemed, without +its effect on the commissioner. He struck the table with his long cane +as if to threaten the company, as he spoke. + +"Hear, you people! This business passes all bearing. In the Emperor's +name, I herewith order you to fetch out yon secret treasure-chest, in +which the embezzled money is stored. And if it is not here by two +o'clock this afternoon, at which hour we have to be ready with our +report, I shall have you all clapped into the Dark Tower. So look you to +it! Now we'll go to dinner!" + +Ráby did not appear at the prefect's banquet; he never allowed his wife +to have her meals alone. It seemed a long while till two o'clock, the +hour named for the continuation of the investigation, when they promised +to let him know. And he remembered the question of the timber had not +been touched on. This must be worked in somehow. + +At last it was time to go to the Town Hall. The councillors sat round +the long table waiting for him. + +"Now, you gentlemen," ordered the district commissioner, "out with your +secret chest." + +The notary rose obediently from his seat, and went into the adjoining +room, whence he came back with a small iron casket about the size of a +lady's workbox, which he brought and set down on the table. + +"Here, your lordship, is our secret chest, here too is the key; be +pleased to open it for yourself." + +The district commissioner looked in, and found inside the sum of two +gulden and forty-five kreutzers all told. + +"This is our treasure," cried the notary dejectedly. Everyone burst out +laughing, and even Ráby himself could not forbear joining in, though it +was no matter for jest. + +When the laugh had subsided, Ráby was the first to speak: "Now then, you +gentlemen of the council, that was a pleasant jest, but permit me to +remind you that it was a question not of this cash-box, but of the great +chest, the secret way to which only the notary knows how to find." + +"I know of a secret way?" exclaimed the notary. "Who dares say that of +me? I beg the commission to search the Town Hall thoroughly, to see +whether anyone can discover a secret passage there. If you find one, +well, there is my head, ready to lie on the block!" + +"I know well enough," said Ráby, "there is such a place: to brick it up +perhaps is not difficult. But there is another entrance. The Rascian +'pope' knows it, and will be able to show us where the entrance to this +stolen treasure is. I would suggest that he be cited." + +To this the district commissioner had an objection. + +"The Rascian 'pope' is an ecclesiastic, so cannot be summoned before a +secular tribunal. He is under the immediate jurisdiction of the +Patriarch of Carlovitz. The Patriarch will not understand the procedure +of the Hungarian commissioners, but is only responsible to the Croatian +and Slavonic tribunals. The Szent-Endre municipality can address a +memorial to the Archbishop of Carlovitz to cite the Greek pastor of +Szent-Endre at their tribunal, if he does not mind giving the +information." + +So this was settled. + +Ráby looked at the clock. + +"We had other circumstances to consider. There is still the question of +the timber. My indictment charges the municipality with aiding and +abetting great devastation in the woods. Whilst the poor are not allowed +to pick even dry brushwood in winter, and the sick in the hospital are +dying of cold, the overseers are allowed to sell timber, and to give +away hundreds of stacks as bribes. This cannot be gainsaid. There are +the felled trees to witness to it." + +"What do you mean, Mr. Ráby? That is all very well, but it may, or may +not be true. You just let us manage our own affairs," said the notary. + +The district commissioner here remarked that the thing must be looked +into, and if proven, this alone would be cause enough to bar all those +concerned from holding office. He thereupon ordered a carriage should +come round directly, so that they could examine the wood while it was +yet daylight. + +Whilst they were waiting to start, suddenly a man rushed in white with +terror. + +"For Heaven's sake, come quickly, gentlemen, the wood is on fire!" + +All sprang up from the table, for sure enough the wood was on fire. In +vain did Ráby try to appease them, the conflagration could only have +just broken out, and it would be easy in the damp winter weather to +master it. No one listened to him; it was all up with the commission and +its enquiry. + +All made for the street, shouting "Fire!" and clamouring for ladders and +buckets to extinguish the flames. At last they produced the only +watering-cart the city possessed, but a hind wheel was off, and how to +get it along no one knew. Helpless confusion reigned. Crowds of +distracted citizens ran up and down the streets; the men shouted, the +women screamed. Amid the barking of the dogs, the cackling of hens, and +the ringing of bells, the townspeople tore hither and thither as if +possessed, while the dragoons galloped about trying to keep order. + +"Come along, my dear fellow," said the district commissioner to Ráby. +"Let's go to your poor wife, she will be distracted with fear and +anxiety: it's time you consoled her." + +And really it was the wisest thing Ráby could do. + +And sure enough, there was Fruzsinka awaiting them at the gate, and it +was touching to see how she fell on Ráby's neck, sobbing her heart out, +for she had feared some harm had come to him. Nor did she recover +herself, but the whole evening trembled every time the alarm bell rang, +and was inattentive to their distinguished guest's choicest anecdotes +which he told for their benefit during supper. + +Before he left, the news came that the wood was quite destroyed by the +fire. + +"It is all your fault," he cried to Ráby. "Had you never raised that +unlucky question about the timber, no one would have thought of setting +fire to the wood, and this enormous damage might have been avoided." + +Only the presence of his wife prevented Ráby coming to blows with the +district commissioner. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +Ráby had said nothing to Fruzsinka of what had happened at the +commission. But when the guest had gone, he brought out his travelling +bag and began to pack up as if for a journey. + +"Is it possible you are going on a journey?" asked Fruzsinka +reproachfully, "without telling me? Don't you know that the wife packs +for her husband?" + +Ráby did not want his wife to guess whither he was bound. So he made her +believe he was only going as far as Tyrnau to take the official +depositions regarding the Szent-Endre affair; though since the +commission had reduced the whole business to such a farce, how to +produce his proofs and, as prosecutor, lay the matter before them at +head-quarters, he hardly knew himself. So he told her he could not take +her with him, because he would have to travel by diligence or in a +peasant's cart, and such a jaunt would be too trying in winter for a +delicate woman. + +"Now if I were you, I would not go to Tyrnau; I would rather go straight +to Vienna, and tell the Emperor himself what roguery is going forward +here." + +Ráby was astounded. This was precisely what he had intended to do, and +the journey to Tyrnau had only been a pretext. + +"I would lay the whole plot before him," went on Fruzsinka, "and would +say, 'Sire, send a man in my place who may bring these conspirators to +book, and make an end to their intrigues.'" + +Ráby began to understand. Then he said aloud: "But I don't know of any +man who would take on such an unthankful business." + +"Is it possible that you mean then to go on with the struggle?" asked +Fruzsinka plaintively. "Dearest, I beseech you, think of our position. +We are living among enemies. Those who were not ashamed to set fire to +the wood, to wipe out the proof of their guilt, will not shrink from +burning our own house over our heads. I tremble each time you go out, +and have no peace till I see you again. Every night I dream they have +murdered you. O Ráby, the very thought of living among these people +makes me shudder, there are surely no other such vindictive folk on the +face of the earth. Come away from this place. Let us go to Vienna! There +your career is made. Leave this thankless, malevolent people to their +fate!" + +Mathias Ráby's heart grew suddenly heavy, and a dark misgiving gripped +him in its clutches. + +"You would be the first to despise me," he exclaimed, "were I to be +weakened by your words, and quit my post to fly to another country." + +"Do you mean then to continue the struggle?" + +"It is no question of struggle, but rather of right and wrong and just +punishment," he answered gloomily. + +"Ah, well! I suppose it is only womanly weakness that gets the best of +me. Yet I, too, have thought out the whole affair. You mean that the +embezzlements which you have brought to light shall be avenged?" + +"Yes, that is what I do mean!" + +"Now, has it ever occurred to you that if anyone investigates this +affair, at least a part of the odium which it incurs, may fall on your +wife?" + +"How can that be, Fruzsinka?" + +"You remember that absurd housekeeping account, don't you?" + +"Yes, indeed, the one we all laughed at so heartily. But how would your +name be mentioned in connection with such a business? The items were set +down by the head cook, and the prefect settled the account." + +"But everyone knows that it was to my advantage. Now suppose I was +confronted with the prefect and the cook, in the case of a formal +inquiry? Would not it be a disgrace for you?" + +"And pray would it not be a disgrace," returned Ráby, "if your husband +had to make this confession to the Emperor who sent him: 'Sire, I am no +better than all the others you have sent to right your subjects' wrongs, +and here I have come back to tell you that everywhere in this world +roguery reigns triumphant.' And if he answered me never a word but just +looked at me with those keen eyes of his, what shame should I not feel? +You shrink at being confronted with the prefect, because the least +morsel of the pitch which sticks to him may perchance darken the tip of +your little finger, but you do not blush that I may stand before the +Emperor and say: 'Sire, here is my wife, with whose paint I have daubed +the prefect white.'" + +Frau Fruzsinka at this changed her point of attack. + +"Remember," she urged, "that if we fly in the face of my uncle, we risk +losing a considerable property." + +Now it was Ráby's turn. + +"You fear the prospect of losing the property, but I tremble at the +chance of your possessing it." + +"I do not understand," faltered his wife. + +"I quite believe you," returned Ráby bitterly. + +Fruzsinka dared not pursue this tack further, it was time to try +another. She threw herself on her husband's neck, and gazed with those +wonderful eyes of hers straight into his. + +"Ráby, did we swear that we would make the people, or ourselves happy, +which was it, dear?" + +At those words, and that glance, Ráby's heart softened. + +What can one advance to those most unanswerable of arguments? + +Who will blame Mathias Ráby if he weakly gave way then, as many a strong +man had done before him, and threw his half-packed bag into a corner. + +And as the temptress had gone so far, now she proceeded still further: + +"Now I'll unpack for you," she cried merrily. + +Thereupon, she took the hunting-pouch from the wall and carefully filled +it with savoury spiced meat and flaky white bread; then she deftly +replenished the flask with wine, and cried: "Now go and enjoy yourself! +Don't stay mewed up in the house. You are bothered; well, go and get +some sport, and let the fresh air blow the cobwebs away." + +And so saying, she helped him on with his shooting coat, and handed him +his gun, and so it fell out that Ráby hung up his sword and knapsack, +and went neither to Tyrnau nor to Vienna, but just into the copse to try +and shoot hares. He heard behind him, as he left the house, the merry +song his wife was warbling to herself. + +As he sauntered along the street, it occurred to him that up till now he +had not met one of his former acquaintances in the town, nor seen a +single one of his old schoolmates. + +But just then, he ran on to a townsman, whose wasted bent frame and +dejected air did not prevent Ráby from recognising him as one of his old +contemporaries. The man wore a leathern apron, and carried carpenters' +tools. He returned Ráby's greeting politely and was about to shuffle +past him. But the latter stopped him. + +"Dacsó Marczi! Is it possible? Are you really Marczi? And won't you just +wait that we may have a word together; it is so long since we have +met." + +And he seized the limp hand of the stranger and held it fast. + +"Oh, I am indeed glad to see your worship again," returned his new-found +friend. + +"Never mind 'my worship,' you can leave him out of it," said Ráby. +"Didn't we sit beside each other at school, and you would pass me +without a word? Tell me how things are going with you?" + +The man looked round to left and right, and in his eyes there lurked a +nameless fear. + +"Well, as far as that goes," he began, "but don't let us talk here, it +is not wise to discuss these things in the street." + +Ráby dropped his hand. "Ah, you are afraid suspicion may rest on you if +you are seen talking to me!" + +"It is not that. But I fear, on the contrary, that it might be +unpleasant for you, if you were seen talking to a mere carpenter. I am +just going to look after my mates in the lower town who are putting new +joists to the burned houses. May Heaven bless your efforts to help the +poor people!" added the man in a lower voice. + +"Good, I'll go with you," said Ráby, "it's all the same to me which way +I take." + +"But don't let yourself be drawn into talk with them. They are always +ready to complain, and there are always people ready to repeat all that +is said." + +So they walked together down the street--the dapper sportsman, and the +working-man in his leather apron. + +Ráby well remembered the houses they passed, and their owners, and asked +after the latter. + +"Yes, they all live there still, but the houses no longer belong to +them. The magistrate has bought one, the notary another, and Peter +Paprika a third. The original owners are only there as tenants, and now +they have put an execution in the houses." + +"And wherefore?" + +"For what was owing for tithes." + +"And is old Sajtós still there, who used to be so good to us boys when +we came home from school?" + +"Yes, indeed, you may see her any Sunday at the church door begging." + +"Sajtós begging? Why she was quite a well-to-do woman. What has happened +to her?" + +"Oh, the old story, 'bad times.' There are many more who have come to +beggary in the same way. Just go any Sunday morning past the door of the +Catholic church, where the beggars congregate, and you will see plenty +of your old acquaintances," said Marczi sorrowfully. + +"But what has brought them to it?" + +And Marczi told him many a sad record of oppression and misery that +wrung Ráby's heart as he listened. + +But now they had arrived at the lower town, where the ruins of the forty +houses burned out in the great fire still stood. The streets hereabouts +were nearly a morass and all but impassable. + +The men who were commencing to put the roofs on, greeted Ráby timidly, +as if half afraid, and they quickly drove indoors the women who stood +furtively about in the surrounding courts. Ráby's questions they only +answered with the greatest caution, fencing with his enquiries as to why +the work of restoration had been so long delayed. Marczi drew him away. + +"They will never tell you where the shoe pinches," he said, "whatever +bait you offer; they know too well what the end for them would be. You +would listen to their grievance and then retail it to the Emperor. He +would send to the town council to know why his subjects' wrongs were not +redressed? Thereupon the complainants would be arrested, get twenty +strokes with the lash, and the Kaiser would be told the grievances of +his subjects were amended. Oh, our people know better than to complain! +At no price would they confess why their houses are yet unfinished, or +how much of the compensation is still owing." + +"Surely their wrongs cry aloud to Heaven," said Ráby indignantly. "I +only wish I could get documentary evidence of it!" + +"Well, they won't give it to you, but if you really wish it, I could get +you many such testimonies by to-morrow, and bring them to your house." + +"And are you not afraid of the authorities being angry with you?" + +"I? What does their anger matter to me, I don't need them, but they +can't do without me. I've got them too much in my power. Listen, for you +are an honest man, to no other would I venture to say it. One day they +summoned me to bring my masons' tools to the Town Hall. No sooner had I +arrived, than they bid me go to the secret passage with the notary, +which only he and I know of; the aperture was made during the Turkish +rule, and except the notary and the Rascian 'pope,' no one knows the +whereabouts. I had to wall up the opening." + +"So you know the entrance to the room which contains the secret +treasure?" + +"Yes, indeed, I know it; I have so managed it that no one save the +notary shall ever be able to find it again." + +"And would you be willing to take me to it?" Ráby ventured to ask. + +"No, for they have bound me by a terrible oath never, except at the +bidding of the notary, to break open the walled-up passage. What I have +sworn, I hold sacred, but this much will I say, that you can still +manage to get there." + +"Through the 'pope' who knows the other entrance, eh?" + +"Mark well, not through the first. It is as much as his life is worth to +betray that secret. But there is another way yet. If you can gain the +ear of the Emperor, persuade him to order the election of new +representatives in the council, then there would be neither the judge, +nor the notary, nor any at present in office to reckon with. If we get a +new notary, I could show him the secret passage without any difficulty, +since my oath compels me only to 'open it at the notary's bidding.'" + +"That is a good idea, Marczi, I will try and follow it out." + +"You too care for the rights of our poor oppressed folk. May the good +God reward you! But I will tell you where our greatest danger lies; it +is in the surveying of the land that the Emperor has ordered. The whole +work the surveyor performs is a sham. The best fields under his survey +become ownerless, and the municipality takes possession of them. The +common folk have to be satisfied with sterile, marshy waste land, and +the peasants have to sell their last cow, because they have no pasture +for it. Come with me a little way, and I will show you." + +So Ráby sauntered the livelong day with his old school-fellow through +the fields, and saw much. If the new surveying measures were taken, +four-fifths of the peasants' property was ruined, the remaining fifth +was devoured by their oppressors, and the owner became houseless and a +serf. + +Towards evening, Ráby turned homewards with an empty game-bag and a +heavy heart. + +His mood surely had not escaped Fruzsinka, for she welcomed him with +more than ordinary tenderness. She had prepared for his supper some of +his favourite dumplings, but somehow even these delicacies failed to +satisfy him, and he only wanted to go to bed. + +The next morning, Marczi was there quite early. He brought what he had +promised, a whole hoard of documents. Ráby took them into his study, and +was the whole day long deciphering them. + + * * * * * + +Marczi, meantime, went about his own business. + +As he came out towards the market-place, at the end of the long street, +he heard the tones of a bagpipe, and the strains of a violin fell on his +ear. But when he came up with the music, he saw what was going forward. +The recruiting officers were coming down the street. + +So the Emperor wanted soldiers, that was evident enough. + +And a right merry affair it was, this recruiting! + +They chose out from among the hussars the finest looking fellow, and he +was sent from town to town with a dozen comrades to enlist recruits. + +They played and sang some such song as this as they went: + + "Merry is the game we play, + See, our uniforms so gay, + And the ensign that we bear, + 'Twas our sweethearts placed it there!" + +They each carried a bottle of good wine in their hands, and every +citizen they met was promptly treated to a cup, till he noticed that +they wore the hussar uniform. But no human power, once he had tasted the +wine, could then free him, and he belonged thenceforth to the recruiting +sergeants. + +The recruiters reaped the best harvest in the market-place, where they +led a riotous dance. It was a regular Magyar measure, a wild, capricious +"Csardas," with a dash in it of defiant pride, every movement and +gesture suggesting reckless abandon. The clapping of hands, the clinking +of spurs, the stamping of feet, all helped towards it, and when the last +movement came, foot and heel vied with each other, as the tall figures +swayed hither and thither, with the sabre swinging jauntily at their +sides, and the "csákó" on their heads. No wonder that with a dozen such +warriors dancing in a row, the women's eyes sparkled as they watched, +and they beckoned to the tallest men in the crowd to come and join in. + +The recruiters had finished their dance, and were coming along the +street where Marczi was walking. + +In front was the recruiting-sergeant, and he seemed in a right merry +mood. Behind him came the piper, taking wild leaps and bounds as he +played an accompaniment to the dancers on his bagpipes; then followed +the rest, strutting along like peacocks, offering the bottle to all they +met. + +Marczi did not look at them; he was in too much of a hurry. But the +recruiting-sergeant stopped him. + +"Halloa, comrade, won't you stop for a word? Anyone would think you had +stolen something by the way you run." + +"I am in a hurry. I have a job I want to finish. You have done your +work, I see?" + +"Don't be a fool, man, we can only live once. Have a drink!" + +"The deuce take your drink. Don't you see that to-day I've carpentering +business on hand. It won't do for me to get giddy when I'm on the +ladder." + +"Well, a gulp of wine wouldn't do you any harm. You don't go any further +till you've had a swallow from my bottle, I tell you." + +"Oh, very well," and Marczi took the proffered drink. + +"Here's to our true friendship, comrade!" said the other as he followed +suit. + +Marczi was turning away, having thus gratified his interlocutor, when +the latter called him back. + +"Marczi, Marczi!" he called, "here's something for you. Here, hold out +your hand!" + +And the recruiting-sergeant pulled out a thaler from his coat-pocket, +and forced it into Marczi's hand, shaking it as he did so. + +This time the carpenter would have gone off in earnest, but the other +called him back in quite a peremptory tone. + +"Dacsó Marczi," he shouted, "you must stay, you can't go now. You have +drunk of the soldier's wine, and accepted the press-money, now there is +no drawing back, so off you march with the rest!" + +The carpenter stood dumbfoundered whilst they pressed an hussar's +"csákó" on his head. He felt for the handle of his saw in the belt of +his apron. For one instant he had a wild impulse to fall upon the +sergeant; but then he reflected, it was all his own fault. So he +resigned himself to his fate. What had he to regret, indeed, in leaving +this town? There was no one there who would weep for him. So he quietly +took off his apron. + +"If I am to be a soldier, let us see where the wine bottle is. Piper, +play my favourite song, 'A soldier's life for me!'" + + "The Danube waters long shall flow + 'Ere thou again my face shalt know." + +"Now, Mr. Corporal, are you ready? Off we go, and walk and talk till +morning." + +And the newly-made soldier drank with the recruiters to his new +profession. + +On the morrow, the recruiting-sergeant went with the ex-carpenter to his +old home, so that he might arrange his affairs there before leaving. He +had an old aunt to whom he could safely entrust his belongings. Besides, +ten years after all, are not an eternity. They pass before one can look +round. + +The good old soul was busy tying up her nephew's bundle, when a +messenger appeared with an official air, and the order: + +"Dacsó Marczi, it is settled at head-quarters that the recruiters are to +stay a week here; during that time you are to stop here and not attempt +to go anywhere else; but you are to put your three horses to, and drive +to-day with relays to Pesth." + +Marczi was inclined to rebel, but it availed nothing. + +The sergeant only laughed. + +"It's no jest, Marczi. They reckon on you for the relays. A gulden for +every horse and each station, besides money for the driver, and for +drinks." + +"But why should I go with relays, when there are plenty of carriage +owners who have nothing better to do than to chatter with jackanapes?" + +"My dear fellow, this is why, so you shall not think we are getting the +best of you. You know that the surveyor has finished his work and is to +leave the town to-day. You know, too, how angry the mob are with him. +They will pelt him with stones. But if they see that you, whom they all +like, are the coachman, they won't do it for fear of hitting you." + +In half an hour from that time, a light carriage, drawn by three good +horses, stood at the gate of the prefect's residence, where the surveyor +was staying. On the box sat Dacsó Marczi himself. The orderlies carried +out the surveyor's documents, done up in large bundles, to lay them +under the leather covering of the back seat. The surveyor himself was +well guarded against the cold, having on a seasonable fur coat and warm +overshoes, while the lappets of his fur cap were fastened well under his +chin. + +"Now, Marczi, if you drive well, we'll drink to-day to any amount," he +cried. + +"Ay, that we will," agreed the driver as they dashed off. + + * * * * * + +Mathias Ráby was again pressed by his wife to go and get some shooting. +Perhaps he might be more lucky to-day, and bring home a hare. + +His spouse was all affection and anxiety. So he went. + +But the things Ráby had heard lately he could not get out of his head. + +Therefore he did not go far into the country, but turned back in the +direction of Pesth. There, he saw a mob of men, women, and children, who +all seemed to be waiting for someone. + +He would not ask for whom, for he knew they would not tell him. + +But hardly had Ráby gone a few hundred paces past them, than he noted a +carriage drawn by three horses, coming from the prefecture at a quick +gallop, whereupon the whole crowd of people, till now silent, burst +forth with loud cries, and placed themselves on either side of the road. + +The passenger inside the carriage he did not recognise; neither could he +make out what it was the mob were shouting to him. But their tone was +sufficiently menacing. As the equipage dashed between the rows of +people, the yells became still louder, whilst fists were raised and +sticks were brandished threateningly. The carriage did not stop, but +cleared the mob till it had left it far behind. + +When the carriage reached Ráby, he saw the surveyor cowering on the back +seat. Now he gathered what the people's cries had meant. But he did not +understand what it was till the carriage pulled up close to him, and he +recognised in the driver, Dacsó Marczi. + +"Your very humble servant," exclaimed the surveyor to Ráby. "Did you +hear the infernal row they made? That's the way they receive me +everywhere. If Marczi had not been my coachman, I should have had stones +thrown at my head." + +"Your worship," cried Marczi, in a voice already thick with wine; "is +there still some brandy in the flask?" + +"Yes, Marczi, here you are, drink!" + +The coachman took the bottle and emptied it. + +"Marczi, you will do yourself harm!" objected Ráby. + +"Not a bit of it," stammered the driver, whilst he set down the flask, +and with that he whipped up the horses, and off they flew, so that the +wheels scattered the mud on all sides. + +At one spot where the high road nears the Danube, a side-path winds in +the direction of the river towards the ferry. When Marczi's carriage had +reached this point, the coachman turned the horses and urged them with +the whip along the path. Then all at once the carriage dashed from the +steep bank into the river below. + +"Help, help!" yelled the driver, waving his hat; but horses and carriage +were already struggling against the strong tide of the river, now +swollen by its spring flood. + +But no help was forthcoming, and Ráby only saw a man muffled up in a fur +coat, struggling desperately to free himself from the sinking carriage, +but the heavy garment dragged him helplessly down. Soon the vehicle with +its passenger began to sink, and at last the horses' heads disappeared +in the stream. Coachman, surveyor, and documents all had gone to the +bottom of the Danube. Nor was any trace of them ever found. + +Mathias Ráby stood horror-stricken on the highway, while around him the +wintry wind swept over the stubble fields, and carried it with the sound +as of a howling of many voices that echoed afar off like the laughter of +despair. + + +END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +This catastrophe was destined to affect Ráby's mood in a fateful way. +When he went home he told his wife all that had happened, and she +quickly guessed the sequel. + +"Now you will be more intent than ever on pursuing your mad enterprise," +she said. + +"And shall I let myself be shamed into abandoning it by the fate of an +ignorant boor, who, little idea as he had of the higher virtues, was +ready to sacrifice his life in order to save his fellow-citizens from +beggary?" + +"You will drive me to exasperation," cried Fruzsinka. + +"I would rather have your anger than your contempt, dearest." + +"And is our love nothing to you at all?" + +"Better that the whole world hate me for my determination, than to earn +your love through cowardice. I know that your very opposition to my work +is a proof of your love, and therefore, I pray you, my angel, Fruzsinka, +listen to me. If I leave this place, I shut every door to a future +career. It is now or never, I must go to Vienna. If I write and tell +the Emperor that the struggle is of no avail, he will dismiss me at once +from my post." + +But Fruzsinka answered nothing, she only wept. + +That meant of course that Ráby ought to have stayed at home, for only a +heart of stone could leave a weeping woman and refuse to comfort her. +But Mathias Ráby had just that heart of stone, and he was quite prepared +to leave his wife in tears, so to Vienna he went. For you could travel +there quickly enough, as there was a famous diligence which carried its +passengers in a day to the Austrian capital. + +Moreover, no one except Fruzsinka knew he had gone to Vienna. + +There he showed himself nowhere. He knew that the Emperor was accustomed +to walk every morning in the so-called "meadow garden," where, clad in a +simple short coat and plain hat, he was often taken for one of his own +equerries. There Ráby could speak to him, and tell him how matters stood +in Hungary. + +The Kaiser commended what Ráby had already done and encouraged him to go +on and prosper. He gave him every aid in his power to help him, +including a special pass, wherein all to whom he showed it, were adjured +to respect the bearer's person. But he advised Ráby only to show this +letter in a case of extreme necessity, and begged him not to tell anyone +of the interview he had just had. + +Then Ráby hastened homewards, feeling he had ordered his affairs for the +best. + +On the return journey he arranged to reach Pesth in time to attend the +meeting of the County Assembly. + +First, he proceeded to the Assembly House to look out certain documents. + +The first person he met was the pronotary, Tárhalmy. + +Tárhalmy was more friendly, yet more gruff than ever. He called Ráby +into his room, and when they were alone, exclaimed: + +"You come at the right time, my friend, for we have already cited you as +a 'runaway noble,' as the legal phrase has it." + +"Cited me! What in the world for, I should like to know?" + +"Yes, my friend, you are impeached. And guess wherefore! They say you +are Gyöngyöm Miska himself, and actually dare to accuse you of robbing +the Jew Rotheisel three days ago in the Styrian forest." + +Ráby hardly knew whether to laugh or to be indignant at such a charge. + +"But surely that is a very poor joke!" he protested. + +"I quite agree that it is. But they have only just brought the +accusation, and you can easily get out of it by proving an _alibi_." + +Ráby reddened in spite of himself. + +"But I cannot lower myself so far as to disprove so preposterous an +allegation," he said. "Besides, you have only to call Abraham Rotheisel +to give testimony that it was not I who robbed him. I shall prove no +_alibi_." + +"My dear fellow, I know you won't. Simply, because you won't own up to +where you have been for three days past, and the person who could prove +your _alibi_ could not be called as a witness. I shall not be the judge: +you know that the chief notary only acts as referee of the tribunal in +such cases. You will naturally never confess where you have been these +last three days. But there are people who want to know, and that is the +serious side of the jest." + +"Rotheisel will be quite ready to disprove it; he knows me well enough." + +"I know it. But the testimony of a Jew only counts in our law when he is +sworn." + +"Won't Rotheisel swear?" + +"I am not so sure. The Jew very rarely takes an oath if he can help it. +The Talmud makes it very difficult for him. But you can depend upon it, +Abraham Rotheisel will be as anxious as possible to clear you from such +an absurd accusation, directly he hears of it." + +"He is a good kind of man," said Ráby, "and I am certain that he will +swear." + +"I hope he may. But anyhow, it will be decided to-day, as the tribunal +is sitting even now." + +"And shall I have to stand in the dock?" said Ráby anxiously. + +"Yes, I am afraid you must. So I advise you to stay here and see the +business through." + +"With your permission I will first write a letter." + +"Pardon me, dear friend, but in this room you may neither write nor +despatch a letter." + +"Am I then a prisoner already?" + +"Not exactly, but you are accused, so that I cannot officially be a +party to any correspondence you carry on. Meanwhile, I would suggest you +just go upstairs to my own private rooms, where you will find my +daughter who will give you pen, ink, and paper, wherewith to write; +moreover, she will gladly carry it to the post herself. Then, seeing +that the business will be prolonged till evening, you will, I hope, +share our homely dinner with us." + +A blow in the face could hardly have hurt Ráby more than this kindly +proposal. For would it not mean meeting Mariska again? + +But Ráby had a ready excuse for not accepting Tárhalmy's hospitable +offer. + +"I am grateful indeed for your kind invitation, but I am being strictly +dieted just now for a nervous complaint, and hardly dare eat anything +but dry bread." + +"Nervous complaint, eh? Why, what does that mean?" + +"Well, for one thing, I cannot sleep at night." + +Tárhalmy was just going to give him some good advice, when the tension +was broken by the entry of a heyduke coming to announce the arrival of +the Jew, who had to be carried in a litter to the court, as he was still +weak from the wounds he had received, and could not stand. + +At the announcement that Abraham was ready to give his testimony on +oath, the tribunal formally cited the defendant to appear before them. + +Ráby recognised a good many of his acquaintances sitting round the +table. The tribunal was presided over by Mr. von Laskóy, whose usually +merry mood had become serious for awhile. He asked the parties +implicated their creed and calling, and all the customary questions. + +Then a young man, in whom Ráby recognised an old school-fellow, rose, +and read out the formal indictment in which Mr. Mathias Ráby of Rába and +Mura, gentleman, and an inhabitant of Szent-Endre, was accused of +disguising himself as a highwayman named Gyöngyöm Miska, and of robbing +peaceable travellers. How on a particular day he had waylaid the Jew, +Abraham Rothesel _alias_ Rotheisel, in the Styrian wood, had stunned him +with a blow on the head, and had stolen from him the sum of five +thousand gulden. The proof whereof being that whilst the said Mathias +Ráby was in the neighbourhood without anyone knowing his exact +whereabouts, the depredations of the redoubtable robber had been going +on. Moreover, it was known to all, that, though Mathias Ráby had +inherited no great wealth from his parents, he had, nevertheless, +scattered money lavishly on all sides--which fact greatly strengthened +suspicion against him. But the most convincing testimony of all would be +furnished by the Jew's own driver, who would swear to the identity of +the accused with Gyöngyöm Miska. The prosecutors now asked for the +witnesses to be sworn, and demanded that the said Mathias Ráby, if +convicted, might be hanged, or if his rank forbade that, beheaded. + +The reading of this impeachment was received by all present with the +seriousness befitting the situation. The president then turned to Ráby. + +"Will the accused deny this impeachment by proving an _alibi_?" + +"I abstain from making such a defence," answered Ráby, "and only ask to +be confronted with my accuser." + +The first witness for the prosecution stepped forward in the person of +the coachman, whose appearance betokened him to be a rogue of the first +water, and obviously ready to swear to anything, provided he were well +paid for it. + +According to the customary formula, he was questioned as to his +antecedents, and owned up unconcernedly to having himself been nine +times in prison. + +When asked if he recognised in Ráby the robber who had waylaid the Jew +Rotheisel, he answered promptly: + +"Recognise him again, I should just think so! There can be no question +of their not being one and the same. Only then he happened to be wearing +a black wig, and a curly moustache, with a peasant's cloak over his +shoulder. But I knew it was Mr. Ráby directly I heard his voice." + +Ráby, addressing the court, now spoke in Latin, knowing that the +peasants were ignorant of that language, + +"I protest against the evidence of this witness; I know him for the +coachman who drove the official who came to bribe me. This witness +therefore is not impartial." + +The prosecutor replied that this could not be proven, but Ráby +interrupted him whilst he turned to the witness and said to him in +Magyar, + +"Pray how could you have recognised my voice since I have never spoken +to you in all my life?" + +"Ay, does not the worshipful gentleman remember that I drove Mr. Paprika +into his courtyard in the new coach and four. The gentleman talked so +loudly then, that the deafest man must have heard him." + +And thereby the case against Ráby fell to the ground. + +It must in fairness be admitted that on this, as on later occasions, +many upright and honourable men sat in the jury who were quite ready to +take Ráby's part, though they were in a minority. One such here +protested against such a witness being heard on oath, and the coachman +was consequently discharged. + +Now, however, old Abraham, supported by his two sons, entered the room, +his head still bound up on account of his wound, his legs trembling +visibly under him. + +"Abraham Rotheisel," said the president, "tell us plainly, how was the +attack on you made?" + +"I tell nothing of the kind," retorted the Jew. "I have not come here to +lay a complaint. Gyöngyöm Miska is not here. You have summoned me +simply to bear witness that it was not Mr. Ráby who robbed me, and that +I willingly do." + +"Think of what you are doing, Abraham! It was dark, you could not see +your assailant's face, remember." + +"Ay, if it had been but Egyptian darkness, and if I had been as blind as +Tobit, nay, if the highwayman and Mr. Ráby had been as like to one +another as two peas, yet I will swear it was not Mathias Ráby, whom I +have known from his childhood, ever since he was a baby. Moreover, +neither his face nor figure resembled in the least those of the man who +robbed me." + +Here the Jew was questioned as to his assailant's appearance, but +persisted that in no wise did the robber resemble Ráby. The "worshipful +gentleman" who robbed him was, he said, very different looking. + +"Why do you call him a 'worshipful gentleman,'" asked the president. + +"How do I know he might not have been one? I have seen highwaymen and +gentlemen very much alike indeed," answered the Jew, "and in time may +see still more. But I keep my convictions to myself." + +Ráby's counsel here observed that one witness contradicted another, and +thus tended to invalidate the evidence. + +"Naturally," returned Laskóy, "only kindly remember that according to +our laws, the testimony of a Jew against that of a Christian can only be +accepted on oath." + +At the sound of the word "oath," Abraham's two sons began to tear their +garments, and throwing themselves at the feet of the magistrate, they +implored him not to allow their father to be sworn, as it was contrary +to the Talmud. + +"I fear I cannot help you in this matter," answered Laskóy. "I must +carry out the law regarding Jews witnessing against Christians. If you +would free your father from the need of swearing, you must ask Mr. Ráby; +one word from him obviates the necessity of an oath. He has only to +prove an _alibi_, and the case is immediately dismissed." + +Whereupon the two young Jews dashed across to Ráby, fell on their knees +before him, and begged and implored him with might and main, to set up +this _alibi_--it was only a matter of speaking one word. + +But old Abraham flew into a mighty rage. + +"Get up both of you, and be off directly, and leave a brave man in +peace. Who called you to come hither, running after me as the foals +after the mare? Hold your miserable cackle, and away with you! Be kind +enough, Mr. heyduke, to turn these two noisy fellows out of the court. +Go home at once, you boys, I don't need your support, or your teaching +in this matter. And I beg pardon, gentlemen, for the behaviour of these +two good-for-nothings. Now I am ready to be sworn." + +So after the two young Jews had been turned out, Abraham was sworn, +though he took the oath in Hebrew, so that none present could follow +the formula. + +When it was over, Abraham prepared to leave the court, for Mathias Ráby +was free. This time at least had he escaped the dungeon his enemies had +prepared for him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Ráby could hardly bear the delay in getting home. When the open verdict +was pronounced, a coach was already at the door of the Assembly House, +to bear him on his way: he threw himself into it, while the sparks flew +under the swift hoofs of his horses. + +Szent-Endre was not, after all, the other side of the world, but the +distance seemed endless. On the way, he racked his brains as to how he +would find Fruzsinka. Yet he could not have possibly dreamed of what his +actual home-coming would be. + +As he sprang from the vehicle, to knock at his house-door, he found the +summons of the court nailed under the knocker, with all the +misdemeanours and crimes whereof he had been falsely accused before the +tribunal, set forth at length. As is well known, these kind of summonses +were fixed to the house-door, were there no means of presenting them to +the person cited. + +Rage drove every other thought from Ráby's mind when he found this +disgraceful document fluttering over his door. He tore it down +indignantly, and beat with hand and foot at the entrance to gain +admission. + +Poor Böske, the maid-servant, at last opened it, looking white and +frightened. "Why had they allowed this thing to be fastened to the +door," he inquired angrily. + +"I humbly beg pardon," stammered the girl, "the gentleman who brought it +nailed it there with a hammer, and said if I tore it down I should be +hanged." + +"Why did your mistress not do it?" + +"The gracious lady-mistress?" + +"Yes, my wife, where is she then?" + +"Ah, my dear kind master, how shall I tell you? Please don't kill me for +it! The gracious lady-mistress has left home." + +"Stuff and nonsense! She has only probably gone to pay a visit." + +"Ah, no indeed, she has not done that, she has, oh how shall I say it, +run away. The very day the gracious master went, the lady-mistress wrote +a letter and gave it to the gipsy Csicsa to carry. She did not wait for +an answer, but packed up, called a coach, loaded it with her luggage, +and drove off without saying a word about the dinner." + +"Perhaps she has gone to her uncle's at the prefecture?" + +"No, indeed, she went in the other direction; I watched her from the +street-door down the road, as far as I could see." + +Ráby went into the parlour. The girl had spoken the truth, that was +evident. All the chests stood open; Fruzsinka had packed up all her own +belongings when she went; she had not even left a single souvenir +behind. + +Ráby was completely nonplussed; it was indeed a horrible situation for a +man who hastens home on the wings of love to find his house destitute of +all that made it home for him. He could think of nothing better than to +seek out his uncle, the old postmaster, from whom, since his marriage, +he had been somewhat estranged. + +Ráby entered the old man's room without speaking a word, where he sat +down and stretched out his legs in gloomy silence. He shrewdly suspected +that his host knew what had happened, and why he was there. How should +he not, considering everyone in Szent-Endre knew by this time. The old +gentleman shrugged first one, and then the other shoulder expressively, +whilst he coughed and cleared his throat in visible embarrassment. + +"H'm, h'm!" he said, significantly, "these fashionable ladies have not +much feeling. Besides, you can never take them seriously. Therefore you +must not let the grass grow under your feet." + +"If I did but know where she has gone to?" sighed Ráby. + +"Now just wait! I fancy I can help you to find out. For two days past a +letter has been lying here addressed to your wife. There--take it and +read it." And he handed Ráby a sealed missive. + +"I, how can I open a letter which is directed to my wife?" he asked +anxiously. + +"Yes, indeed, why not? Are not man and wife according to the Hungarian +law one flesh? A letter addressed for the one can legally be opened by +the other, and I would do it, if I incurred the galleys for it, my +friend, if I were in your place. Just read it, and I will be the +guarantee that I delivered it into your hands." + +Ráby opened the note with trembling fingers. + +It was in the handwriting of the judge, Petray, and though short, was +quite intelligible. + + "My darling Fruzsinka, + + "From your own letter I see that you find it + impossible to put up with your tyrant any longer. I + thought as much long since. You do quite right in + leaving him, and the sooner you get away from him the + better; the man will come to no good. My house, as you + know, will ever be a safe asylum for you. I await you + with open arms. + + "Your devoted friend, + + "PETRAY." + +Ráby's eyes were no longer glazed and staring as heretofore; they shot +sparks now. + +"Read it, my friend," he said, as he handed it to Mr. Leányfalvy. + +"Well, at any rate, now you know where you are." + +"Know it, indeed I do," answered Ráby, as he grimly folded up the note, +and placed it in his coat pocket. + +"And pray what do you mean to do?" + +"First, I would have a four-horse coach." + +"You shall have it sure enough. And then----?" + +"Then I'll go home and fetch my pistols and sword; look for a second, +and then--either he or I are dead men." + +"That's it! It's the only way. Only see to it that you think it out +accurately. Suppose your opponent wants to fight with swords? Perhaps +he's an out-and-out swordsman." + +"What does that matter? The sword will satisfy equally the duelling +regulations, and will merely prove which of us can fence the better." + +"Good! But take this much warning. The judge is a very cunning man; you +will have to be on your guard. Be careful not to be the first to draw +the sword, else he'll be hanging round your neck an attainder in +pursuance of an antiquated law which rules that 'he who first draws the +sword shall be held to incur blood-guiltiness.'" + +"Many thanks, I'll remember your good advice." + +"Ah! if you had always done so! Yet I am right glad that you don't look +askance at me any longer. You are another man since you made up your +mind to fight! How a wife demoralises a man to be sure! There is nothing +wanting now, except a sword and a pair of pistols. You need not go home +for those. I have a rare old blade which was used at the storming of +Buda, and will cut through iron itself; it is worth a good deal more +than your parade-sword. And here are my pistols, each is loaded with +three bullets; if you understand what shooting straight means, you can +kill three enemies at once. So good luck, my young friend, I am glad +you are going." + +The old gentleman embraced his nephew as if he were going to face the +enemy, and had his best horses put in for him, and they brought Ráby to +the judge's house in less than an hour. + +The uninvited guest just caught the judge going out. + +"Come back with me to the house," said his visitor, "I want to have a +word with you." + +Petray guessed from the speaker's tone that it was on no friendly +business that he had come, though he affected not to perceive it, and +treated Ráby with his accustomed familiarity. + +When they had come into Petray's parlour, Ráby drew the letter out of +his pocket and held it before his host's face. + +"Do you recognise this writing?" + +Petray drew himself up. + +"What presumption is this, pray? To open a letter directed to someone +else, it is unheard of!" + +"It is perfectly legal," said Ráby. "Your protest is useless. In the +eyes of the law, a letter written to my wife is a letter written to me." + +"It is, I say, a great piece of presumption, to attack a man like this +in his own house." + +"You need not make such a noise! You may see I carry pistols in my +belt." Then adopting a more familiar tone, Ráby added, "It comes to +this, either you take one of these two pistols, and we fire according to +the prescribed rules, or if you refuse me the satisfaction of a man of +honour, I shoot you dead without further ado, as I would a wolf who +attacks me on the highway." + +The cowardly bully grew pale with fear. To look at him, you would have +deemed him a powerful foe to be reckoned with, but he was a very coward +at heart, like the braggart that he was. + +"All right, I'm not afraid of you, or of anybody else, for that matter. +But all this is idle talk! A gentleman does not fight with pistols. That +kind of duel exacts no skill. A schoolboy can fire off a pistol. I only +fight with swords; so with my sword I am at your service to have it out +in proper fashion. Out with yours, and we'll see who is the best man of +the two." + +"Very well, with swords, so be it," said Ráby quietly, replacing his +pistols again in his belt. + +"And now you had better make your will, for you don't leave this place +alive." + +"That our weapons will decide. I have nothing further to say," answered +Ráby. + +"So, you will venture to draw your sword on me, will you, you silly +fellow?" + +"With you, or after you. I would not have it said that I drew my sword +on an unarmed man," answered his antagonist. + +"Don't provoke me, Ráby! I tell you we will have it out here." + +"Well, draw then!" + +Petray thus urged, endeavoured to draw his sword in earnest from his +belt, but that otherwise excellent weapon had never been used since the +last Prussian war, and stuck so fast in its sheath that the most +powerful tugs quite failed to move it. + +Come out it would not. Mr. Petray pulled and tugged to no avail; the +blade would not yield an inch. + +"Good heavens," cried Ráby impatiently, "hand it over to me, I will make +it come out." + +And hereupon the two opponents pulled away with might and main at the +refractory weapon; Ráby seizing the sheath, and Petray the handle, +indulged in a very tug-of-war, but to no purpose; the sword stuck where +it was, and did not budge, while the two adversaries were bathed in +perspiration with their unavailing efforts. + +Had anyone ever seen such an absurd struggle? + +Petray was foaming with rage. + +"Deuce take the thing! If you want to come to grips, let's fight it out +with our fists! There I can be sure of my resources. I'll smash you up, +I promise you, so there won't be anything left of you." + +"All right," retorted Ráby, and lifting up the sleeve of his dolman, he +put himself into a boxer's attitude, and struck Petray two ringing blows +with his bare muscular arm, that sent his opponent fairly reeling from +sheer astonishment. + +Now the judge set great store by his appearance. He therefore reflected +that by such methods as these, his enraged antagonist might end in +breaking his nose, or knocking out his teeth, and these were both +contingencies to be avoided. + +"Ah, leave me in peace," he cried piteously. "I am no boxer, I am a +judge, a man of the law. If you have anything to bring against me, let +it be at the tribunal, I'll meet you there fast enough. But I will +neither fence, nor shoot, nor box on your wife's account. If you think I +am the first whom your wife has fooled, I am not, by a long way. If you +want to fight, look up Captain Lievenkopp--he lives out yonder at +Zsámbék. You have a bigger score to settle with him than with me, if you +did but know it. He's ready for either swords or pistols. As judge, it's +my duty to hinder a fight, not to promote it by myself taking part in +one. Go to the tribunal, and I'll give you satisfaction there fast +enough." + +He spoke rapidly, but Ráby did not wait to hear the end. He clapped his +hat on, and jumped into his coach, and cried to the driver to drive to +Zsámbék. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Ráby only reached Zsámbék the next morning. The dragoon-captain's house +he found without any difficulty, for it stood close to the post-station. + +There were two other officers with the captain, and three horses stood +ready saddled in the courtyard. They were evidently on the point of +starting for some expedition, though there was no sign of soldiers going +with them. + +"Aha, who is this?" cried Lievenkopp as Ráby entered. "Why, bless me, +it's Mathias Ráby!" + +"Yes, indeed, captain. Perhaps you can guess my errand here?" + +"Truly, I cannot do any such thing." + +"Well, my wife has run away from me." + +"The deuce she has! What already? I did not think she would have gone +quite so soon." + +"I went first of all to Judge Petray to demand satisfaction of him. He +would not give it me, but referred me to you." + +"That was very kind of him." + +"Now you know why I come." + +"I know it, comrade, you want to fight me, sure enough? Very good; just +choose one of these gentlemen as your second, and we will decide with +him on the weapons. Only one thing delays our immediate meeting, and +that is, I have to fight Gyöngyöm Miska." + +Ráby was electrified as he heard the name. + +"Can't you leave him till later? You will never succeed in catching +him." + +"Aha, I've got him this time though; I am going at this very hour to +fight a duel with him." + +"Do you know who this Gyöngyöm Miska really is?" asked Ráby. + +"Why he lives at Szent-Torony, two hours' journey from here, where he +owns an estate, and is called Karcsatáji Miska. He is the notorious +robber, and no other. This is why he is never to be caught red-handed. +When he is everywhere driven into a corner, he goes quietly back home, +throws off the highwayman's gear, and whoever seeks him there, finds +instead of the fierce robber with lank locks and drooping moustaches, a +harmless country gentleman, with his powdered hair done in a neat cue, +whom twelve witnesses can swear to not having left home for weeks. No +one will ever succeed in convicting him. But this once I've caught my +gentleman nicely. Listen to how I did it. This very day when we had +planned our attack upon the band of Gyöngyöm Miska, we observed a +suspicious-looking fellow trying to get in between our railings. We +arrested him, searched him, and found sewn into the sole of his sandal, +this letter to Mr. Michael Karcsatáji. You probably will know the +handwriting." + +Ráby recognised the writing of his wife. + +"Yes, you can read it, you will understand it better than we do." + +The letter ran thus: + + "Dear Miska,--Don't have any scruples about the affair + in the Styrian wood. The whole suspicion falls on + someone who will not be able to prove an _alibi_. + Thine own one." + +Ráby's arms fell helplessly at his side. It was as if he had suddenly +been stung by a cobra. + +His own wife was the traitor who had betrayed him to his enemies! A +dagger-thrust in the dark does not hurt one so much as such a discovery. + +Ráby distrusted his senses; he would not, could not believe it; he +thought he must be dreaming. + +"Sit down, comrade," said the captain. "You are a bit upset, and small +wonder too. The bolt didn't strike me quite so nearly, yet I too was +fairly staggered when I read the letter. Then I called up my two +comrades here, and sent my challenge over to Szent-Torony, where Mr. +Michael von Karcsatáji was in the courtyard, engaged in marking his +newly born lambs. In such a harmless fashion is he wont to spend his +leisure! My second presented him with my message: 'This letter which we +have intercepted proves that you have an intrigue with a lady to whom +Captain Lievenkopp is also paying court. Captain Lievenkopp will not +tolerate this sort of thing, and calls upon you to meet him to-morrow at +nine o'clock, by the ruined church of Zsámbék, to settle the matter +there in proper fashion.' + +"The highwayman did not deny that between us there lay ground for +quarrel, and he would be at the rendezvous at the time appointed. It is +now eight o'clock. We can get to the ruins in half an hour, and there +await my opponent. You, my friend, can remain here in my lodgings for an +hour longer, and follow on after us. From nine to ten I am at Mr. +Karcsatáji's service. As soon as I have finished with him, we two will +fire at each other till only one of us remains to tell the tale. But if +the highwayman kill me, then you and Karcsatáji will fight till one or +the other is a dead man. Is that in order?" + +"Perfectly," cried the seconds; "it could not be better arranged!" + +Ráby had nothing against this settlement. When the captain had gone he +stretched himself on his host's camp-bed, and was fast asleep in a few +minutes, completely exhausted by his recent experiences. + + * * * * * + +The Zsámbék ruins are a remarkable relic of the Gothic period. The nave +of the church, thickly over-grown by juniper-bushes, is an admirable +place for a duel, where two men, unseen by any outsider, can fire at one +another to their hearts' content. + +The officers tethered their steeds to a birch stem, and withdrew inside +the ruins so that their presence should not be remarked by the people +working in the fields. + +Meantime, Ráby had awakened and was making his way to the ruins. Nor did +he need a guide, for they had been well known to him since his boyhood. + +It was yet half an hour to the promised rendezvous, so he just wandered +round through the brushwood, which surrounded the church, listening for +shots. Perhaps the masonry dulled the sound, but surely he would see the +smoke, yet he could neither see nor hear anything. + +At last the remaining five minutes were up, and he strode into the +ruins. So well had he calculated time and distance, that the hand of his +watch pointed close on ten, as he pushed aside the juniper-bushes which +hid the entrance to the ruins, and went in. + +"Karcsatáji has not yet appeared," said Lievenkopp. "Punctuality is not +his strong point." + +"I fancy he doesn't mean to come." + +"Surely that is not thinkable! In that case we will just go for him in +his own house." + +"Now, meantime, what do you propose doing?" + +"Well, I think that we might get on with our own business and not wait +for him. By delay he has lost his right of precedence, and must take the +second place. I propose, gentlemen, therefore, that we take the second +appointment first." + +After a short discussion, the seconds agreed, and since the nature of +the quarrel barred all idea of reconciliation, they staked out the +barriers, and placed the opponents against the two opposite walls. + +The weapons which the seconds handed to them, were a pair of rough old +riding pistols, which were so constructed that the bullets fired into a +group of ten men, would have probably perforated the cloak of one of the +party, provided he had one on. The combatants shot at first at +five-and-twenty paces; they were honestly bent on hitting one another, +yet neither succeeded. At the second attempt they took aim at twenty +paces, again without result. + +"Wretched weapons, these pistols!" growled the captain, "if I haven't +brought down the vulture's nest in that wild pear-tree." + +"Perhaps mine are better," suggested Ráby. "My uncle Leányfalvy gave +them to me, and they are already loaded." + +So the seconds accepted Ráby's weapons. One of them remarked, however, +that the pistols were loaded to the muzzle, so that both of them, in +this case, would do well to stand behind a pillar, seeing if one +exploded, they would all be dead men, combatants and seconds alike. + +"It's quite safe," said Ráby, "the powder is good, and the charge is not +too strong; there are only three bullets in each charge." + +"Now then, fire! One, two, three." + +At "three" Ráby's pistols cracked. + +Pistols loaded with three bullets have very often this peculiarity of +not hitting the man they are fired at. + +After the two first terrible detonations everyone looked round extremely +amazed that he and the rest were still alive. + +"Re-load your pistols," cried one of the seconds, and they did so. But +when they were ready, an idea struck the other second. + +"Gentlemen, you have fired three times, and such being the case, honour +is entirely satisfied. It is my duty to suggest a reconciliation." + +The two antagonists looked at each other. + +Was it worth while to fight to the death over this matter? So without +more ado, they shook each other by the hand, and were friends. + +Now it would be Gyöngyöm Miska's turn, and he would have to reckon with +two adversaries instead of one. + +So they waited on; yet he came not. What could be the reasons of his +delay? Had a wheel come off? Could he not find the ruins? + +But these were a landmark, and even if he had gone astray, he must have +heard the shots. + +"He surely cannot be a coward," muttered Ráby between his teeth, for his +national pride was piqued by sundry contemptuous remarks the Austrian +officers began to let fall. + +At last they heard the trotting of horses' hoofs. He was coming then! + +The men rose from the sward whereon they had been lying, and listened +expectantly. + +The trotting stopped at the ruined wall, and it was obvious that it +belonged to one horse only. + +Was it possible he would come alone, without seconds, thinking to find +them here in the village? + +After awhile there was the sound as of several horses' hoofs, but these +seemed as if they were going away, rather than nearing the ruins. + +"Friends," shouted Lievenkopp, "someone is stealing our horses!" + +And all four dashed out of the ruins. + +The captain had guessed rightly, their horses had been stolen. + +And the thief was Gyöngyöm Miska himself, who, mounted on his own fiery +courser, was driving before him the officers' three horses tethered +together by their bridles. + +"Stop you scoundrel," cried the captain and Ráby in unison. + +But he evidently had not the intention to run away. Fifty paces ahead he +pulled up and let his horse caracole. + +His two grim adversaries subjected him now to a cross fire, for each of +them had two pistols. First on one side, and then from the other they +fired, but not one of the shots so much as grazed the robber, for his +horse pranced about and turned round and round in such a bewildering way +while his master was being aimed at, that all four shots missed their +mark. + +When the firing ceased the horse remained standing at a sound from his +rider, as if cast in bronze. + +Then Gyöngyöm Miska, raising his musket with one hand to his face, took +aim at both, and one bullet whistled through the captain's helmet and +the other sent Ráby's cap flying from his head. Whereupon the +highwayman raised his tufted hat and cried, "So fights Gyöngyöm Miska!" + +And with that he switched his whip, cracking it right and left over the +tethered horses, and galloped away with his prey. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +When Mathias Ráby recounted this story to his uncle, the old gentleman +declared he had never read or heard any stranger. Then they had a +consultation as to what was to be done. It was evident that it was a +matter for a lawsuit. + +The ancient laws against a breach of the marriage vow were very +stringent; and even allowed a husband to put to death an unfaithful +wife. But Mathias Ráby found no consolation in such statutes. He did not +want to lose the woman still so dear to him for all the grievous injury +she had done him, and he was even ready to take her back again, and to +pardon her threefold treachery. + +"By the law," said his uncle, interrupting Ráby's meditations, "a wife +who runs away from her husband shall be restored to him. Now if there be +such a thing as justice on this earth of ours, you shall get her back. +But what are we to do with the seducer, Petray?" + +"We can accuse him on the ground of seduction." And the old gentleman +proceeded to quote to Ráby a law dating from the year 1522 which +provided for the decapitation of such misdemeanants. So it was plain +that Ráby might obtain the condemnation of Petray, and succeed in having +Fruzsinka restored to him. But the legal proceedings were very +complicated, and it was difficult to determine to which court the case +should be taken. + +At last they came to the conclusion it would be wise to carry it before +the higher court, since it was a question of a capital crime, though +much care would have to be exercised in quoting the law under which they +prosecuted, as the least difference in the wording might upset their +case. + +When the eventful day arrived for instituting the suit before the higher +court, Ráby was punctually in his place. Petray was also present, but +Fruzsinka was only represented by counsel. + +Ráby determined he would have no mercy on Petray. If the severe +Hungarian law prescribed that the man who seduced the wife of another +should lose his head, it should be satisfied. + +Petray, the defendant, heard the impeachment out to the end, without +once turning pale. He followed with his defence. + +He began by quoting old formularies and attacking certain technical +defects in the indictment, which, he maintained, should have been +carried to the spiritual consistory, as the tribunal for matrimonial +disputes. Also he maintained that the action of the plaintiff was not +valid, seeing that he demanded the restitution of his runaway wife, and +the punishment of the man who had given her an asylum, yet was himself +open to the charge of bigamy, since he now had three wives alive. + +"What in the world do you mean?" cried Ráby indignantly. + +"That you were already twice married before you took Fräulein Fruzsinka +to wife." + +"I twice married!" exclaimed Ráby. "What do you mean?" + +"That they are still alive," answered Petray with a perfectly serious +face. "They both are here," he added, "and I beg that they may be +confronted with Mr. Ráby." + +"Well, I should like to see them." + +And thereupon through a side door they admitted two women into the +court. One was a pretty young Rascian in her picturesque national +costume, the other was a coquettishly clad peasant from the Alföld, of +imposingly tall stature. They were each cited by name, though Ráby had +never heard either before. + +"So these are my wives, are they?" he cried, half amused, half angry. + +"They are indeed," answered Petray unabashed, "and pray do not attempt +to deny it, for they are both ready to prove it." + +"Why, when have either of you ever seen me before?" demanded Ráby +sternly of the two women. + +The little Rascian was obviously ashamed of herself, for though the +paint on her cheeks effectually hid her blushes, she buried her face in +her handkerchief to suppress her confusion. But her companion was not +so easily daunted. Her arms akimbo, she placed herself in front of Ráby +and began to abuse him roundly. + +"So you mean to say you don't remember me, do you, my fine sir?" And she +forthwith began a string of voluble reminiscences which Ráby in vain +strove to stem, beside himself with indignation, but he could not get in +a word edgeways. + +At last the judge intervened. Till then he had contented himself with +pulling his moustache the better to control his ill-suppressed +amusement. + +"That will do, woman, we have had enough of your tongue. We must have +documentary evidence. Have the parties marriage-certificates to +produce?" + +The little Rascian drew out the desired document from her pocket, whilst +the rival claimant in great haste dived into a huge bag she carried, and +produced the certificate wrapped up in a coloured handkerchief. + +They were to all appearances genuine enough. One was drawn up by the +registrar at Szent-Pál, the other dated from the commune of Belovacz on +the military frontier. Both documents were countersigned by the parish +priests, and bore the official seal of the ecclesiastical authorities. + +"But I have never in my life even been in the neighbourhood of these +places," cried Ráby in desperation, fairly trembling with rage. "These +registered formulas are falsified; I charge the man who produces them +with forgery." + +The little Rascian girl here began to wring her hands and weep, but her +Hungarian rival gave her tongue its rein, and she poured forth such a +flood of abuse on Ráby that his every fibre thrilled with indignation. + +With much trouble the heydukes restored order, and the judge called on +the court to be quiet. + +"Silence, his honour is speaking; the judgment will now be given, so let +the litigants retire from the court," was the order. + +It was hardly five minutes before the contending parties were recalled +and the verdict given. + +"The case as heard by us is very complex. It lies between two parties +who prefer counter-accusations against each other. The one says his +opponent has robbed him of his wife, whilst the accused becomes +plaintiff in his turn, and incriminates his accuser as a bigamist, and +therefore incapacitated for demanding the restoration of his runaway +spouse. Therefore, we beg to refer the case to the united courts of the +provinces of Pesth, Pilis, and Solt, that they may adjust the relations +between the contending parties satisfactorily. Meantime the case is +dismissed." And herewith followed in legal phrase the reasons why the +said courts should be pressed to institute an inquiry into the whole +suit between Ráby and Petray, and its complications, and the parties +were adjured to leave the court. + +Ráby was sorry enough he had ever come, for what had it all availed him? + +Scarcely had the door of the court closed behind him than he heard the +end of it all, the horrible mocking laughter which burst forth from the +whole room, directly he had left it--a sound which followed him out into +the corridor. + +He was completely staggered. The shame, the exasperation, the deception +of it all, and this persistent persecution--how powerless he was against +them! His very senses seemed deserting him. So distracted was he in his +bewilderment, that when he reached the end of the passage, instead of +going straight out, he took the flight of steps which led down to the +cells. Through the prison doors came the sound of merriment. Even the +criminals were mocking him. And that was likely enough, seeing that the +two women who had impersonated his wives, had been requisitioned from +the ranks of the prisoners. + +For three days did Ráby remain in hiding at his inn, not daring to show +his face. He fancied all Pesth and Buda were making merry over his fall. + +Only on the evening of the third day did he venture to set out for home. +And even then he muffled himself up in his mantle so that he might pass +unrecognised. + +But as soon as he reached the open country, the fresh air exhilarated +his drooping spirits and he saw things in a different light. It was +certainly very impolitic to betray his vexation, for in this case he +was sure to get the worst of it. It would be far wiser to disguise his +real feelings. + +The first person he sought out was his uncle. + +"Remember, my boy, it's just what I told you. Didn't I say that if you +would insist on marrying Fruzsinka you would have wife enough. And, sure +enough, here you have three! And by the time you have done, it may be a +great many more." + +"How do you mean, uncle?" + +"Why, as soon as the news spreads that the marriage certificates of +these women were forged, other 'wives' will be turning up from all +parts, and a nice dance they will lead you." + +Ráby, in spite of his real misery, could not forbear a grim smile. + +"Where did you say the two marriage articles came from, eh?" + +"One was from Szent-Pál, the other from Belovacz." + +"So that's it, is it? Well, Szent-Pál was utterly destroyed by the +insurrection of Hora-Kloska three years ago, and Belovacz is a haunt of +freebooters. In neither place is there priest or sexton, church or +register, as I happen to know, so seek all your life long, you'll never +find proof of the forgery." + +"Now I see why the witnesses came from so far afield; it was manifestly +a part of the plot." + +"By the way," said his uncle, "you'll want some one to look after your +house, for in your absence your maid Böske has been locked up." + +"Whatever do you mean?" demanded Ráby indignantly. "My servant locked +up! why what is the meaning of it?" + +"H'm, it was by order of the municipality." + +"And pray what for?" + +"That, no one can say. I only knew through the neighbours coming round +to tell me that I ought to send my servant over, for your cows were +standing at the gate, and that there was no one to let them in, seeing +that poor Böske had been marched off between two officers to the +police-station." + +"The deuce she has!" cried Ráby, and he seized his sword. "But I won't +stand that!" + +And without another word he dashed out of the house and down the street +at full tilt, in the direction of the police-station, which was close to +the post office. He thrust open the door, without announcing himself, +and shouted so furiously to the unlucky porter that the latter nearly +died of fright. + +"Where is the jailer? In heaven's name, tell me," thundered Ráby. + +"He is drinking in there," said the man, pointing to a door. + +Ráby dashed into the room and found the jailer, seized him by the lappet +of his jacket, shook him, and yelled: + +"You brute, you scoundrel, what have you done with my servant, I want to +know?" + +"Your worship, the judge had her locked up in 'the Hole.'" + +"Let her out, then, at once, you hound! If you don't, I will slay you on +the spot, and willingly pay up the forty gulden fine I shall be mulcted +of for killing a peasant. Where is the cell, where are the keys? I tell +you, you are to give them to me directly." + +The frightened official said humbly that he would soon get the keys, but +Ráby held him by the scruff of the neck, and dragged him to the door of +"the Hole," made him open it, and called out, "Come out directly, +Böske!" + +Directly she appeared he seized the girl by the hand, and led her out of +her captivity. And he never let go her hand all the way home, in spite +of her wish to withdraw it. + +"You are a good, honest girl, Böske, who have only been persecuted on my +account; there, there, don't cry, they shall pay for this, sure enough!" + +And he flourished his sword so threateningly, that all who met them were +quite scared and hastened to clear out of their path. + +The gentry had robbed him of his wife, and now the burghers had stolen +away his servant; it was truly "adding insult to injury!" + +"And now just come in," said Ráby, "and tell me all about it." + +"Oh, but I've no time to," exclaimed Böske, "besides, it's a long story. +First of all I must run and look after my cows. I've not seen them for +two days. They weren't milked either, and perhaps they are starving." + +"Oh, it's all right, the postmaster's maid tended them." + +"Ay, what does Susanne know about it, I should like to know? The dun +cow, she won't give a drop of milk if anyone else milks her, and the +dappled one, if she knows that a stranger is there instead of me, will +kick over both pail and milking-stool. And no one can feed them as I +can. Just listen, gracious master, how they begin to low when they hear +my voice." + +And away ran Böske into the cowhouse. Not for anything would she have +told her own story till the cows were looked after. They recognised her +also directly, and the dun cow licked her red arm affectionately, when +she went to tether her, and Böske made them a nice turnip "mash," in a +wooden bowl, and fed her favourites. Then she washed the pail clean, and +when she had put everything in order, she sat down to her milking, and +here Ráby found her. + +"Now you can tell me, while you are at work, all that has happened," he +said kindly. + +"If the gracious master does not mind listening to me in the cowhouse. +It was like this. When I was setting the yeast to rise the day before +yesterday, for baking, in the kitchen, in came two police-officers, +saying I must go with them to the police-court. I told them I had not +stolen anything. Thereupon, one said, I was not to make a noise, and he +threatened to lay his cane about my shoulders, and if I didn't go of my +own free will, he'd make me. I told him my master was away. He said that +would be all right, and that we could shut the door and leave the key +under a beam outside, where I could find it again. So what could I do? I +had to leave the yeast in the trough where it got all sour and mouldy, +and go off to the police-station. When I got there, I saw lots of men +sitting round a table, and they all looked at me and asked me questions, +and told me I'd got to be sworn. I thought they meant being married, so +said I didn't mind if there was anyone there I liked well enough to +marry. Then one of them said it wasn't a question of marrying, but that +I must swear to what I knew about the master." + +"A regular inquisition," muttered Ráby. + +"'I'll swear fast enough,' said I, 'that I know nought of him but what +is good.' + +"'Then,' says the notary, 'what about the peasants that he sets on to +rebel against their landlords?' + +"'Nothing of the kind,' says I; 'the man who says that ought to be +hanged.' + +"With that, he asks if my master did not throw Dacsó Marczi and the +surveyor into the river. So I told them it was a wicked lie." + +"That was quite true, Böske!" + +"Then they asked me if you were not a sorcerer, and did not call up evil +spirits at night-time." + +"And, pray, what did you say to that?" + +"Why I just laughed outright, and told them I had never even heard my +master say 'the devil take them,' much less call up evil spirits. But +they said the Devil himself would carry me off if I didn't tell the +truth. And when they asked me to swear that the gracious master was a +sorcerer, I just swore by the Crucifix it was not true. But they were so +angry that they just packed me off to prison, then and there, and there +I was left without food or drink till the gracious master himself came +and fetched me out." + +Poor Böske finished her story with a burst of weeping, for up till now +she had not had the time for crying. But now she had got her tale over, +and the milking done, she cried her heart out into the corners of her +apron. + +"That was quite enough for once," muttered Ráby to himself. But he +deceived himself if he fancied it was enough, for there was yet more to +come. + +When they had recovered the key from its hiding-place under the beam, +Böske went first to open the house, but she started back in horror, and +dropped the pail of milk she was carrying, as she exclaimed, + +"Gracious master, just look, thieves have been in! We have been robbed!" + +Sure enough it was so; the whole house had been completely rifled of +valuables. So thoroughly had the work been done that only the empty +chairs and tables remained. + +Böske broke into a wail of despair. + +"Hush, be quiet," ordered Ráby sternly, putting his hand over her mouth. + +"But they've broken into my trunk," she cried; "they have stolen my new +petticoat, and best kerchief, and my shoes with the rosettes." + +"Never mind," said her master consolingly, "to-morrow I'll take you to +Buda, and buy you some fresh ones. These are trifles. The thieves +probably came after my papers, but those I luckily had with me." + +At this Böske was appeased, also she remarked it was a comfort the +lady-mistress had taken the embroidered quilt with her, so the thieves +were done out of that at any rate. + +"But where is the house-dog?" + +They found the poor beast, by the well, stiff and dead. + +"The brutes!" cried Böske, horrified; "they have drowned him, they have +not even left us the dog alive." + +Ráby drove the weeping girl into the house and spoke earnestly to her: + +"Now, Böske, listen to me. You must never tell anyone what has happened, +and that the house has been robbed, for if you do, they may put you in +prison again, and you may not get out for years." + +With which piece of parting advice Ráby repaired to his uncle's. Here he +collected his papers, and stowed them away in the pocket of his coat, he +likewise donned his fur mantle, told his uncle shortly what had +occurred, and then started to go back home. + +It was already nightfall when he took his way down the street to his own +home. + +As he passed Peter Paprika's house he heard a curious whizzing noise +near him, and at the same moment was conscious of having been struck a +blow on the side, which so staggered him, it nearly made him lose his +balance. He looked round; there was not a soul in sight in the street. +He could not imagine from whence the mysterious report had come. But +after he had got home, he found a little round perforation on the left +side of his coat, which was plainly a bullet hole. + +When he drew his papers out of his breast-pocket, out fell a leaden +bullet which had evidently bored through so far and been turned aside by +the packet of documents. + +The whizzing sound our hero had heard had been the report of an air-gun, +and had he not placed the papers in his breast-pocket, it would have +been all over with him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +The jest was surely now at an end, said Ráby to himself; it was no use +trifling with these people but best to go straight to the point with +them. + +So the next day he set out for Vienna, nor did he conceal the purport of +his journey. For he had to induce the Emperor to remove the Szent-Endre +authorities and order a new municipal body to be set up in their place. +As a land-owner, he had full right to demand this to be done. + +Meanwhile, he left Böske to keep house, only stipulating she should have +someone to be with her in his absence. + +In Vienna all fell out as he had wished, and after forwarding his plans +there, he returned home. + +As he reached the gate of the town he wondered what new developments +would greet his return; he had a foreboding something strange was +preparing, nor was he mistaken. + +For when he came to his own house, there outside sat Böske in tears, +surrounded by various bits of furniture, which had evidently been thrown +out into the street. + +"Why, what in the world have you got there?" asked Ráby, amazed, of the +weeping maid-servant. + +"What have I got?" cried Böske, "why, honoured master, don't you know +your own furniture when you see it? These are all our things, and they +have turned them out here, and me with them." + +"What?" yelled Ráby, as he leapt from the coach. + +But no answer was needed, for just then the door opened, and out came +the notary. + +He leaned with the utmost sang-froid against the door, while he filled +with tobacco his clay pipe, from which he proceeded to puff eddies of +smoke right into Ráby's face. He was quite drunk, and behind him stood a +couple of boon companions. + +"Pray what has happened here?" inquired the astonished master of the +house. + +"Only that I am taking possession of my own property," was the insolent +answer. + +"Your property, why it's mine, considering I paid the price for it in +due form," retorted the puzzled Ráby. + +"But I repent of having sold it, and I've taken possession again," +rejoined the notary, as he re-lit his pipe. "And now since you, my fine +gentleman, have nothing further to look for in this town, and are no +longer the master here, you may just pack off and go!" + +"But I paid you ready-money," remonstrated Ráby, his voice fairly +shaking with rage and shame. + +"You'd better bring it before the tribunal," sneered the notary, and he +laughed so immoderately that the pipe dropped out of his mouth. + +Ráby heard the laughter echoed in the yard without by a dozen other +voices. + +He strove no longer. He told Böske he would send a coach to fetch her +and the furniture away, and till then, she must wait there. Then he +hurried off to his uncle's and told his story. + +"This is beyond a joke," said the old man. "We will not stand this sort +of thing from these insolent wretches." + +"But to whom can I complain?" asked Ráby. "To the judge, Petray, who is +my personal enemy; to the county court where I am accused of bigamy and +scoffed at?" + +"To none of the lot! There is an edict which provides that whoso +appropriates unlawfully the property of another, can himself be turned +out by the lawful owner." + +"But where can we procure the methods of force necessary to drive these +people out?" demanded Ráby. "The whole township is in their pay. The +municipality gives no formal help, and the military would not move in +the matter. If I myself incite the people to act, I shall be accused of +instigating to violence." + +"Leave all that to me, my boy; we old folks know more than you young +ones give us credit for. No need to go either to the tribunal or to the +barracks. We'll just get the good people of Bicske and Velencze to help +us. The gentry in these towns fight like dragons. But in all their +history there is not a single case of either having ever taken their +disputes before the county courts or the provincial tribunals. For, +being of noble descent, there is a tradition among them that all +quarrels which arise between them shall be settled by the military +officer who happens, for the time being, to be in command of the +defendant's town. They are satisfied with this judgment, and never do +either judge or lawyer have a fee out of their pockets." + +"That sounds quite patriarchal," remarked Ráby. + +"Now why can't we acquire just such a right among our people here?" +pursued his uncle. "In a fortnight's time there will be a fair at +Stuhlweissenburg. During this time I will go round and discuss the +matter with the heads of the departments. You yourself can remain here +in the meantime and look after my work in the post office. In Velencze +they are just electing Stephen Keö, Knight of Kadarcs, as the judge. You +ought to propound your plan to him. He has a fine fighting record behind +him, for he went through Rákóczi's campaigns with the great leader +himself, and still wears the shabby wolfskin coat in which he used to +parade in the old fighting days. He is very proud of his military +record, as well as of his ancestors, who came from Asia with the +horsemen of Arpád himself. Remember this point; it will be an excellent +passport to his good graces, and don't forget to give him his full +title, and always to address him as Knight of Kadarcs. As soon as I'm +ready with the legal points we'll go to Stuhlweissenburg and set our +scheme afoot. Meanwhile, have no fear, we'll soon drive those brutes +out of your house, my boy, and send them packing!" + +Ráby agreed to all of it. He was so exasperated that he positively +yearned for a fight of some kind, whatever it might be. + +So it was arranged he should stop and look after the post office, while +his uncle went to collect materials for his campaign. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +It was Stuhlweissenburg fair. In the chaffering, chattering crowd of +market folk, cattle-drivers and swine-herds jostled country land-owners +accompanied by their lackeys, and shepherds in gay cloaks, while gipsy +horse-dealers, with their ragged coats bright with silver buttons, +trotted out their prancing nags to attract possible buyers. Here and +there flitted strangely clad figures--a Wallachian boyar with his +sheepskin cap, or a Servian with his scarlet fez, and turbanned Turks, +the remnant of the expelled Mussulman population, who had come to sell +their last sheep, and then follow the rest of their folk. + +The encampments begin with rows of shoemakers and furriers, then come +variegated groups of merchants from outlying provinces. Foreign wares +there are none, for the "dumping" of useless foreign commodities is +forbidden by an imperial edict. What are exposed here are all genuine +native products, whether it be in fabrics, pottery, or copper-ware, +while there is a great rush for the booths where pewter plates and +dishes are for sale. + +Everything is paid for in ready money, so that if a well-to-do purchaser +buys a herd of sheep and has not the price forthcoming, he leaves his +silver knife and fork (which he carries about with him) as a pledge, and +the seller knows well enough they will be redeemed in due course. + +Towards mid-day, the "market-kitchen" becomes thronged. Here too the +famous gipsy stew needs no advertising, for its savoury odour betrays +its whereabouts, and it only wants good wine to wash it down to make it +complete. But this same good wine is dear, and only for the gentry. The +Velencze people have already annexed a table near the bar, and sit round +it and listen to their favourite song: + + "See I will drink with you, + So I can clink with you + A glass of good wine: + But if you do not choose, + To pledge, I'll not refuse + Alone to empty mine." + +But now come the Bicske contingent, each one of whom brandishes a huge +weighted stick, or copper axe, while their neighbours have already +deposited their weapons on the table. + +These late-comers observe that the others have already annexed the best +table, and proceed accordingly. + +"You gentlemen from Velencze have come early," growls Bognár Laczi, the +leader of the Bicske party. + +"Yes, and by this you must have caught plenty of mud-fish." (This is +intended as a graceful allusion to the Lake of Velencze.) "And what's +more, have swallowed them by this time," sneered a pugnacious looking, +thick-set fellow, who also belonged to the Bicske gang. + +As is well known, the worthy dwellers by the Velencze lake do not relish +this kind of reflection on their sport, and they resented it +accordingly. + +But the fight does not yet begin, for who is fool enough to fight over +the fish he eats? Besides, eating is the first and most important +business, so they sink differences in order to make a square meal. + +"Now, friends," says Bognár Laczi to the Velencze contingent, "what say +you to some music? We have brought our own piper and a cornet-player +with us, so I propose that we take it in turns; first your gipsies shall +play, and then our musicians." + +"All right," agreed the others, and thereupon the noble representative +from Bicske had his favourite tune played on the bagpipes. + + "I've a house and a sweet little wife of my own, + And bread and bacon and crops that I've grown." + +And everything progressed smoothly, for while the music was going on, no +one could talk, and if one guest called to someone else at the other +table, he did not forget to address him as "noble friend." But at the +second round of wine the company began to sing with the music, and it +was not easy to stop their efforts. Finally, the two parties insisted on +singing different songs at the same time, the result being an uproar, +wherein cymbal, fiddle, bagpipe, and cornet strove for precedence in a +very rivalry of tumultuous discord. + +The Velencze leader could not stand such an annoyance, and he promptly +hurled an empty bottle at the wall just above the head of the Bicske +chief, so that the fragments fell on the latter's head. He then seized +his axe, struck the beam with it, and cried out defiantly, "Let's see +who is the better man?" + +The valorous Bicske men and their ten Velencze companions, were equally +ready to join in the fray thus begun. So they seized their axes and +clubs, and began to brandish these in a highly menacing fashion. For +there is no fighter like your Magyar when his blood is up. + +At this perilous juncture appeared the representatives of peace and +arbitration, in the person of Sir Stephen Keö, the "Knight of Kadarcs," +and his companion, Mr. Postmaster Leányfalvy, who led between them +Mathias Ráby, and presented him to the company. + +The old campaigner, with his shabby sheepskin over his shoulders, and a +short pipe between his teeth, pressed into the ranks of the combatants +as calmly as if the Geneva Red Cross had sheltered his breast. Not a bit +intimidated by the uproar, he brandished his pike, and cried out in a +shrill voice: + +"So you are at it again, are you! Be quiet, you fellows; and so early +too, for you can't have drunk much yet. But listen to me, friends. This +gallant gentleman whom you see here is Mr. Mathias Ráby of Rába and +Mura, the son of the late Stephen Ráby, that noble patriot, who so +often stood up for Magyar rights. During his absence from home some +bullies in Szent-Endre have ejected this noble gentleman from his own +house, and occupied it. Now he calls upon us, the patriots of Velencze +and Bicske, to come to his aid, and will pay us a salary of two gulden +per head, to drive out the illegal occupiers from his lawful domicile. +Therefore I suggest that you adjourn your mutual quarrel till the next +Stuhlweissenburg fair (and chalk it up so that you do not forget it); +but meantime, come with us, and help to right the wrong done him." + +Whereupon the twenty men present cheered loudly and signified their +readiness to go. + +"We have four carriages here," said Sir Stephen. "Four must stay with +the horses, so that there will be sixteen all told for the expedition." + +And so it was arranged. + +But Bognár Laczi urged immediate action. "Let's be off, all of us, only +let us send on a scout who shall warn the Szent-Endre people that we are +coming in full force. They shall not say that we take them unawares, but +should get their fighting gear in readiness." + +It took some time for Ráby, the postmaster, and the knight to agree to +this arrangement, for they deemed such a proceeding would be pure folly. +Szent-Endre might be too strong for them, if it had time to collect all +its forces. But at last they gave in, and sent on their scout ahead, +delaying their actual start till nightfall. + +By morning they had reached the "Pomázer" Inn safe and sound, so they +halted and baited the horses. The passengers sprang from the carriages, +and stretched their drowsy limbs. Then they roused the hostess and +ordered some coffee, and everyone knows what "Hungarian coffee" means; +it consists of red wine, ginger, and pepper, and is drunk boiling hot. +But this beverage kept them going all day, so invigorating was it. + +While the horses fed, the messenger they had dispatched to reconnoitre, +came back with the news that all Szent-Endre was agog, the municipality +having brought together a rabble armed with sticks, pitchforks, and +flails, who had collected in front of Ráby's house, while the townsmen +in the courtyard were armed and ready for the attack. + +"Heigh ho," shouted the assailants. "What joy! We shall have someone now +with whom we can fight! So let's drive on so that we can be soon in +fighting array." + +"Stop a bit, my noble friends," said Sir Stephen Keö. "First of all, let +us exercise a little strategy. For this will be the decisive struggle, +and remember I am in command! Before all, we must know the fortress we +are about to conquer. Now the house has two doors, the one opening on to +the Buda street, the other behind into the garden. Therefore we must +divide into two parties. The one must begin the frontal attack from the +street, the other will go round into the vineyard and take their chance +under shelter of the garden. The Velencze men will lead the one attack, +and those of Bicske the other." + +The old fire-eater was not only an accomplished strategist, but likewise +a great student of character. He knew his people, and that if he placed +the two factions side by side, they would quarrel at least over +precedence if over nothing else, that neither would give in, and that +all chance of success would consequently be ruined. + +"Now who will lead the attack from the street?" asked their +commander-in-chief. + +It was settled by drawing lots; the garden position falling to the +Bicske party. + +"So we are to go behind, are we?" questioned Bognár Laczi sulkily. + +"Noble friend," pleaded the old knight, "for those who tackle a +seven-headed dragon, there is no 'behind,' for on every side there is a +head. You will attack the enemy's rear-front." + +He was obliged, however, to make this concession to the Bicske +assailants, that they should travel first in two coaches to reach the +garden by a roundabout way, and yet be there at the same time as the +Velencze contingent. + +These delicate points of precedence being settled, they drove off in +fine style, two of the vehicles turning towards the vineyard, and the +other three to Szent-Endre. + +They could hear as they drew nearer that the whole place was in an +uproar. In the Buda Street the citizens had organized an impromptu +army. There they were in little national groups, the Magyars with +clubs, the Serbs armed with flails, the Rascians provided with +pitchforks. It looked as if it would be a hundred to one. + +The space in front of Ráby's house was occupied by a mixed mob of +hangers-on of all kinds, who were carrying sticks, and lances, and old +flint muskets. + +In front of this phalanx stood the lieutenant in full gala dress, with +the big drum slung round his neck, ready to give the storming signal, +and inciting the mob with warlike exhortations. + +But it was in reality no joke, and the antagonists, seeing the attacking +party, retreated into the house and endeavoured to close the door behind +them. Only when they felt themselves safe did they begin their defensive +operations. + +The crowd without did not take an active part in the fray, but only +looked on. + +The Velencze contingent tried first of all to break in the door, but it +was barricaded too fast from within. So a regular attack had to be +essayed. + +The old Knight of Kadarcs directed operations from the coach where he +still sat. + +"Just take the stakes out of the well-posts, and you can jam in the door +with them." + +Four of the party managed to wrench out the stakes, and jammed them +against the great door like a Roman battering-ram, whilst three others +worked at the smaller door with their stout clubs. But those inside +defended themselves bravely enough, it must be owned. In the court +stood logs of wood piled up, and these they hurled at the besiegers, who +naturally returned the projectiles back from whence they came. + +Within could be heard the directions of the defenders to those inside to +fire on the assailants if these effected an entrance. + +But all the attacks of the Velencze men had been perfectly futile, had +not the Bicske auxiliaries come up just in the nick of time to the +rescue. + +They, in fact, decided the issue of the battle. All at once they uttered +a tremendous yell which scared the enemy back into their entrenchments. +Hereupon, a frightful tumult ensued, the crowd without shouting and +seeking to find an outlet over the walls of the neighbouring houses, or +in the out-houses and stables. Then the Velencze party made a tremendous +dash for the barred door, and succeeded in effecting an entrance. What +followed is indeed difficult to describe. + +"Take care to hit them on the head," shouted the old commander-in-chief +from his perch in the coach, while the mob laughed loud and long, as one +after another member of the town council crawled out on all fours over +the neighbouring roofs into safety, whilst first one and then another of +the Szent-Endre worthies were thrown out like cats on to the ground +below. The last to be turned out was the notary, his clothes torn, his +temples bleeding, and his teeth knocked out, yet there was not a soul +who seemed to sympathise with him. + +The mayor had bethought him of a refuge in the chimney, but they lighted +straw below, and he was forced to push his way out. But the chimney +being too narrow, he only succeeded in getting his head and arms out, +and there he stuck, gesticulating wildly like a jack-in-the-box, till +the siege being over, they could take off the chimney-pot and so free +the prisoner. + +When the coast was clear they opened the doors and re-installed Mathias +Ráby in his own house again. + +"Now, noble sir, what did you think of the operations?" asked the Knight +of Kadarcs, as he cleaned out his pipe for a smoke. + +"A nice piece of work; it's a pity that sort of fighting has gone out of +fashion!" + +But the worthy burghers had learned a twofold lesson. First, that when a +plebeian fights it out with a noble, it is the plebeian who gets the +worst of it; and secondly, that the people themselves, if they see their +superiors thrashed, not only turn their backs on them, but regard it as +a good joke. + +But after drinking to his health, the rescuers took leave of their host, +now settled again in his own home. + +"We shall be at your service whenever you want us," was their parting +salutation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +When Ráby was left alone he began to see that what had been done was +really a foolish proceeding. + +To attack a peaceful town with armed force, beat thirty or forty of its +citizens, to say nothing of its magistracy, black and blue--this was +beyond a joke in any civilised city. + +Besides, those who had their heads broken in the fray, would not be +silent about their grievances. For that matter, Böske had already seen +several vehicles full of people with bandaged heads, proceeding in the +direction of Buda. + +Mathias Ráby therefore determined to go himself to Pesth without waiting +to be sent for, and then to testify to what had occurred. + +Of course he could not think of leaving Böske behind alone in the empty +house, where there was nothing now left to take care of. The cows had +long since been turned into butcher's meat for the benefit of the +invaders, who had likewise drunk up every drop of wine in the cellar. + +And it was lucky Ráby took Böske with him, as we shall see later. + +Again he alighted at his old inn, and, donning his official dress, he +caused himself to be taken in a sedan-chair to the palace of the +governor. + +When he entered the ante-chamber the first people he saw were the +Szent-Endre officials waiting likewise to see his Excellency, just as +they had come from the fight. One had his arm in a sling, another showed +a black eye, and a third a bandaged hand. + +But even these grievances were for the moment, it seemed, thrust aside +directly Ráby entered, for on seeing him they all began to talk and +gesticulate noisily. He could not follow what they said, for most of +them spoke Rascian, then the language of the Hungarian middle classes, +whereof he only knew a few words, but from their tone and gestures, he +gathered that the conversation concerned him, and that they were +preparing to make things hot for him. + +So he did not feel exactly comfortable as he turned his back on them and +withdrew to the window. + +All at once the noise ceased suddenly as the usher announced "His +Excellency is coming," while the audience began at once to cringe and +whine, and put on a woful air all round. + +The door of the ante-chamber was thrown open, and his Excellency came +in. + +He nodded grimly at the waiting crowd, for whose woes his face betrayed +no particular sympathy, but when he saw Ráby he went up to him, slapped +him on the shoulder, and his face relaxed into a smile. + +This was indeed a rare event, for it took a lot to make his Excellency +smile! Moreover, he greeted his guest with a dignified cordiality. + +"Well met, my friend! I'm glad you've come. You are on the right road. +Walk in here, and don't let anyone disturb us," he added, turning to the +usher, "as long as his Imperial Majesty's representative is with me. But +you," and he turned to the expectant crowd of suppliants, "you can just +go to where you came from; you have only got what you deserved." + +But those left behind in the ante-room looked at one another, and did +not exactly know what to make of it, till his Excellency's secretary +told them that the hurts they had received were fully recognised by the +law, and that they would have redress later if they now went home +quietly. + +His Excellency, meanwhile, plunged into the matter straight away. + +"Now see here, my worthy sir, you can only obtain satisfaction in +Hungary from the Magyar laws themselves. The thing is to know how to +profit by them, for we have excellent statutes; there is no need to +supplement them. I should like to know if the collective tribunals of +Austria itself would settle your affair so thoroughly and effectually, +nay and cheaply, as the captain of the Velencze company has done. But +you have been to the Emperor again with your denunciations, and even +now, I daresay, have your pockets full of imperial instructions. Don't +take them out if your case is brought before me, for I warn you, I shall +not open them. I wonder if his Majesty knows, by the way, that I never +read the instructions he sends me." + +"But I now bring other orders from his Majesty," said Ráby, who did not +think it worth while to say all he knew. "His Majesty has thought a +great deal about his Hungarian subjects, and has great projects for +bettering this city." + +"What may such projects be, pray?" + +"First of all, he is giving permission to the Jewish community in Pesth +to build a synagogue." + +"A synagogue for the Jews!" cried his Excellency, springing up in horror +from his seat. "Impossible! Pesth will not be bettered by that, it will +be completely ruined. Why in a hundred years' time, if that is allowed, +the Jews will be having all the rights of citizens. Heaven forbid they +should be permitted a place in the Assembly, for they will want to get +in there. Well, that is enough for a beginning; is there anything else?" + +"Of course," pursued Ráby, and since his interlocutor was standing at +the window, he too went there and looked out at the view over the Danube +and Pesth. "Does your Excellency see the great square plain on the edge +of the Pesth woods, that is bordered on one side with willows?" + +"I see, and what of that?" + +"His Majesty has ordered that a large building two stories high, with +nine courts, and two thousand windows, shall be erected there. He has, +himself, shown me the plans of the edifice which is to be built at his +own expense." + +"Good heavens! What's that for? is his Majesty going to shut up there +all those who do not respect his edicts?" + +"No, it is for a hospital for the city of Pesth." + +"A hospital, indeed! As if the ordinary lazaretto was not enough." + +"It will also serve as a foundling asylum." + +"What, for the children who are deserted by their mothers? Why, there +are none such in Pesth. The citizens won't tolerate such worthless women +in their midst. Such folks must do penance as the Church directs, or +else be driven from the city." + +"It may be so now, but in course of time, when Pesth is raised to the +rank of great world-cities, the magistracy will have something else to +do than to control the private lives of its citizens." + +"Now, how in the world can Pesth become a great city, I should like to +know? Will the Emperor come and live here himself?" + +"Perhaps not now, but he means to make it a great place for trade." + +"Pesth a place for trade? Why! what are you thinking about? You will +never see any trade done in Pesth but by rag-merchants and swine-herds." + +Ráby smiled. + +"The Emperor means to raise Pesth to the level of a great commercial +centre by certain big schemes he has in view. He proposes, for instance, +to have a canal cut which shall connect Pesth with Trieste, and so +bring it into direct connection with the coast." + +"Connect Pesth with Trieste! Why my good young friend" (the speaker had +dropped his previous formalities in his astonishment), "don't take me +for a fool, I pray! Remember it is not the first of April. What is the +Emperor thinking of? What about the Carpathians, pray?" + +"The mountains will be tunnelled, and the canal is to run under them." + +"Now just listen to me, my good sir! If you do not respect my official +capacity, otherwise the Imperial Hungarian Presidency of the County +Assembly, which I represent, you should at least have regard to my grey +hairs, and find some other fool to impose on with your scheme. Why, this +would take millions of money." + +"The actual estimate amounts to sixty millions." + +"Sixty millions! What are you dreaming of? Why, the Emperor has not got +as much as that out of the whole Hungarian revenue in twenty years." + +"The financial provision for this undertaking lies ready to hand. A +syndicate has been formed which will answer for the needful funds, and +directly Pesth is brought into connection with the sea its commercial +possibilities can be developed. Imagine a water-way from Pesth to +Trieste, one of the great emporiums of the world's trade in the centre +of Hungary!" + +But his Excellency could not imagine it. + +"Tut, tut," he cried, and his eyes flashed angrily. "What do you mean +by taking such a chimera seriously? A canal from the centre of Hungary +to the coast, what does it mean but foreign traders sucking the life and +strength out of this country to glut their markets with our wealth. We +won't have anything of the kind! The ruling classes of this country will +have something to say to that. We will not let the people of this nation +be plunged into misery thus. Why, foreign traders would just exploit our +mineral wealth to their hearts' content, and leave the poor folk of this +country starving. No, no, my friend, don't you think we will ever have +anything of the kind." + +Ráby would not give in; he was by this time quite at home on these +questions. He could, moreover, give excellent reasons why every land +that has a seaport is prosperous, for trade does not impoverish people, +it enriches them. To which his Excellency retorted that of course trade +was a good thing for nations who knew how to get the best of their +neighbours, but for a simple unsophisticated folk, like the Hungarians, +it meant ruin. + +In the midst of this heated controversy, the two did not perceive that +the district commissioner had entered without being announced, and was +listening with much amusement to the debate. + +The district commissioner could not abide wrangling, so he promptly +turned the conversation on to neutral topics. + +"Eh, what is all this about? We, at any rate, have nothing to do with +the nation's economics. Tell us rather what is going on in Vienna. For +remarkably funny events have happened surely since we met." And the +speaker laughed slily, as if struck by some comical reminiscence. + +Ráby knew well enough what caused his companion's mirth. He was +thinking, doubtless, of Fruzsinka and the two other "wives." And the +thought pierced him with a sudden stab of pain. + +The good-natured official suppressed his ill-timed laughter, however, as +he diverted the subject. + +"Now tell us something about the capital, my dear fellow? Have you been +to the National Theatre and seen the latest comedy there?" + +"I had no leisure," said Ráby drily, "to go to the theatre, and see what +the comedies were like. You will have more time for that probably than I +shall." + +Which retort surprised the worthy district commissioner not a little. + +Then Mathias Ráby turned to the governor with a deeply respectful bow, +only waved a careless "adieu" to the district commissioner, and +withdrew. + +"He is put out with you about something or other," remarked the governor +to his companion. + +"Yes, he snapped, didn't he, like a puppy when you tread on his tail." + +But just then, in came the secretary with despatches that had just +arrived by the last post. + +"One for you as well, worshipful sir," said the secretary to the +district commissioner. "Shall I send it into your office, or will you +have it here, seeing it is marked 'personal.'" + +"All right. Give it me here, please," was the careless answer. + +And the light-hearted official broke the seal and began to read the +missive, stretched at ease in his chair. + +But he did not remain so, for hardly had he perused its contents than he +got up, and his face grew suddenly pale under its cosmetic. + +"Be kind enough to read that," he stammered, embarrassed, "the Emperor +writes an autograph letter to summon me to Vienna, and I am dismissed +from my post as district commissioner." + +"And in my despatch your successor is already nominated." + +"I do not understand it." + +"But I do. Now, my friend, you will have time to judge for yourself what +the comedy at the National Theatre is like." + +The ex-official pressed his hand to his brow. + +But as his Excellency took a pinch of snuff he said drily: "It is not a +puppy who snaps, but a big dog who can bite when he wants to. And he has +flown at you, my friend, that's clear." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +It was horribly hot and depressing at the "White Wolf" at Pesth, where +Ráby had elected to stay. The atmosphere was mephitic and close, and in +the dusty inn parlour the flies swarmed uncomfortably, while outside it +was horribly dusty, as it is even to-day. + +No wonder Ráby was glad to get out of it, and elected to take a stroll +in the direction of the wood outside the city, his head full of many +conflicting thoughts. + +Certainly, his plans for bettering the people were prospering. The +Emperor had recalled the easy-going district commissioner in consequence +of Ráby's representations, and had appointed to the post an able and +strenuous, yet cold and reserved man, a wealthy landlord, who undertook +the office on account of the honour it conferred on its holder. Perhaps +what best qualified him for the post was, that he was not on intimate +terms with anyone in the neighbourhood. + +His first care was, in view of Mathias Ráby's complaints, to suspend the +magistrate of Szent-Endre and his satellites, and to order a fresh +election of such representatives in that town, which meant a complete +clearing out of the old gang. Then the deposed notary would be either +compelled to show the new officials the bricked-up passage to the +treasure chamber, or, if he refused, the "pope" would reveal the secret +of the other entrance; this promise Ráby had succeeded in extorting from +the new authorities. + +Once the treasure-chest was unearthed, the oppressed townspeople, whose +money had been wrung from them to fill that coffer, could be compensated +for their wrongs. What rejoicing would there not be when the poor +starving husbandman could receive back the four or five hundred gulden +unjustly extorted from him, and one could tell him that though it had +been reft from him unjustly, now his wrongs were redressed. What a +splendid mission for him who undertook it! + +Ráby's soul revelled in the very thought of it: no sordid considerations +of selfish interest poisoned his joy, for he had renounced all personal +reward and only taken the work upon himself on the condition that he had +no share in the treasure when it was discovered. Legally, indeed, he was +entitled to such a share, but how much greater claim had he to be heard +if he was empty-handed in this affair! + +And if he rejoiced at the fulfilment of his aims, he, it must also be +admitted, felt a distinct satisfaction in the thought of revenge. The +great coffer held not only the secret treasure, but also the private +accounts which would make it clear which of the powerful officials were +concerned in the affair. The whole shameful story must then be brought +to light, and all, who up till now had pursued him with their malice and +mocked him to his face, must then stand as prisoners at the bar, however +high they had held their heads. + +Obsessed by these and the like reflections, our hero came to the edge of +the wood and there found stretched out before him the great waste plot +of land bordered with willows, which some hours before he had pointed +out from the window of the palace to his Excellency. The surveyors were +already working on it, taking measurements, and staking out the ground +where the first foundations for the new building should be laid. + +All at once Ráby's reverie was disturbed by someone addressing him. He +had not observed how the man who spoke to him had come up, but then he +had of course as much right as Ráby to walk there. The stranger appeared +to be a worthy Pesth citizen; he wore the Magyar dress and had the +consequential air of a man who cannot learn anything from other people, +however wise they be. His short curling moustachios lent his face a +genuine Magyar expression, but of Hungarian he apparently understood not +a word, but expressed himself in bad German. Ráby answered the "Guntag" +of the stranger politely. + +"Does the gentleman happen to know what the surveyors are planning +here?" asked the new-comer. + +Ráby was naturally ready to satisfy worthy curiosity. + +"That," he answered, "is a great hospital the Emperor is erecting. A +building we much need," he added. + +And they talked of various other things, in the course of which it came +out that the new-comer was a pork-dealer in Pesth, whereupon Ráby opined +that he had the honour of speaking to a member of the famous "Guild of +pork merchants." But this new friend talked of many things beside his +own trade. + +They had now come to the winding path which led along the side of the +wood, but the stranger's fund of conversation continued to be apparently +inexhaustible. He mentioned, among other things, that he preferred this +walk because the road was not yet made. Since it had been the fashion to +have the roads in the city paved, he said, he no longer cared to walk in +the streets. The whole paving scheme had been a hobby of the present +burgomaster, who, as everyone knew, had been a German shoemaker, and had +only introduced paving-stones so as to give the German shoemakers +preference over the Hungarian bootmakers, for since they had had +pavements to walk on, people naturally wore fewer boots, for you only +need shoes for the paving stones. + +It was not long before the two reached the little inn, which stood there +even then for the refreshment of travellers. + +"What do you say to turning in for a glass of beer?" asked his +companion, "you get a capital brand here." + +Ráby answered that he did not drink beer, whereupon the pork-dealer +pressed him to touch glasses with him, and promptly drew out his purse +as a proof of his readiness to pay the reckoning. But Ráby insisted that +he only drank water. + +"Well, if that is the case," returned his fellow-wayfarer, "you cannot +do better than have a glass; the water here is of unusual excellence. +Just wait here, and I will go in and get some beer for myself, and send +you out a glass of water. It comes from the famous Elias spring; there +is no such water in the world." + +Ráby gladly assented; tired and thirsty as he was with his walk, he +longed for just such a refreshing draught. + +So into the inn the good man hurried, but he soon reappeared, followed +by a neat little waitress bearing a wooden tray with a large pewter mug +of water on it. The girl looked at him while he drank, with her innocent +blue eyes, so that Ráby hardly noticed, as he returned her scrutiny, +that the water left a curiously bitter after-taste in his mouth. When he +set the mug down, he observed that there was a white sediment at the +bottom of it. + +Rather scared in spite of himself, he asked the girl if there was +anything in the water. + +"I don't know," she answered, "if so, the gentleman who has just gone, +put it in." + +"Has he gone?" + +"Yes, he went out by the back door. He did not even wait to take the +change which I brought him." + +The man was no pork-dealer, but a hired assassin. Ráby had been +poisoned, that was clear. The trees already had begun to dance before +his eyes, the blue sky became blood-red, and his feet refused to carry +him, while his head was so heavy, it felt as if it would burst. He had +not even the strength to stagger as far as a sedan-chair, but bade the +inn people carry him back to the "White Wolf," which they promptly did +in terror. + + * * * * * + +Had not poor Böske been there, Mathias Ráby's history would have come to +an untimely end with that glass of water. + +The servant-girl was the only one who had the presence of mind to give +the patient some warm milk, and then tickled his throat with a feather, +so as to induce violent vomiting, while she applied hot fomentations. + +But in spite of her care it was needful to send for a doctor. Yet it was +not so easy to find one, for physicians in those days were few and far +between, and there were, as a matter of fact, but two in the whole city, +the municipal doctor and the town leech, and neither would come when +sent for. The municipal practitioner maintained that the law did not +allow of him seeing patients out of their own houses. The town +physician again found his excuse in the plea that he could not interfere +in cases which had already been referred to his municipal colleague. + +So there was no one to look after Ráby, since neither doctors would come +to him, even though his life was in danger. Thus for fully +four-and-twenty hours the poisoned man had no other assistance than that +rendered by a poor servant-maid. For only on the evening of the +following day, when it was getting dark, did a surgeon from Pilis +appear, who, it had fortunately occurred to Ráby, was likely to answer +the summons. + +He set about curing his patient immediately, but he bound Ráby on his +honour not to say a word as to who was treating him, otherwise it would +be ruinous to his professional career in the town. It was only through +the urgent prayers and tears, he said, of a good woman, that he had come +to do what he could for the sick man. + +As a matter of fact, the kind-hearted surgeon had to leave the city in +consequence of having succoured Ráby in this way. But it was ten weeks +before the patient fully recovered. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +During those ten weeks, Ráby had abundant leisure to reflect on the +riddle these events presented. Who had thus attempted to poison him? Was +it the offended councillors who had thus intrigued against him, some +jealous courtier who had a grudge against him, or his own fugitive wife? + +But all that time, except the surgeon and Böske, not a living soul +knocked at his door to see him. + +His enemies were, of course, countless, but it was just as certain that +he had devoted friends. Where was his uncle, and Abraham Rotheisel, and +the Servian "pope"; where too the grateful crowd of poor people that he +had befriended? + +Over and over again too did he inquire if this or that one had yet +called, but Böske always answered that visitors had come only when the +gracious master was asleep, and she had not dared waken him, or that the +doctor had ordered that no one was to disturb the patient. + +"And why don't you let people come in and see me?" asked Ráby +querulously of his nurse. He was so cross that at last she lost +patience, and told him plainly that during the whole course of his +illness, not a soul had been near. + +But Ráby would not believe it; it was impossible, and he asserted she +was lying and trying to deceive him. + +Which remark so upset poor Böske, that she burst into tears, and, in her +own justification, admitted that people shunned him on purpose, that +they were afraid of him, and spoke all imaginable evil of him. Nay, was +it not true that everyone was saying he deserved to lose his head for +being a traitor to his own country? + +The simple maid-servant had only spoken the truth. Her master was, as +she had hinted, virtually an outlaw, and his name was by all, from their +Excellencies to the shoemaker's apprentices, only mentioned with hatred +and scorn. But Ráby, incensed, was so indignant at Böske's well-meant +candour, that he gave her notice then and there, and paying her a year's +wages, refused to have her any longer in his service. + +Thus it was that Ráby dismissed his faithful domestic who had simply +told him what men said of him, and now he was absolutely alone in the +world. + +As soon as he had fully recovered, he set out for Vienna, but this time, +in a wine-freighted barge which was to be towed by horses to the +capital, for he was too weak to stand the tiring journey by road. They +took eight days to reach their destination, and the fresh air did much +to restore his shattered health. By the time he reached Vienna, Ráby +looked quite himself again, save that he was much thinner than of old. + +He related all that had befallen him to the Emperor, who advised him not +to bring the crime home to the culprit, as if it came before the courts, +he considered Ráby's cause would be ruined. Thereupon, he furnished him +with directions of all kinds, and gave him _carte-blanche_ to take his +own line in all disturbances that might arise. + +When Ráby came back to Buda, he wore armour under his coat, for this +time his mission would be no jesting matter, that was evident. + +In pursuance of the Imperial instructions, when he arrived at Buda, he +handed the new district commissioner the Emperor's orders, and it was +duly signified to the prefect of Szent-Endre, that the court of inquiry +would meet on a given day, but in the prefecture. + +At the same time, the Szent-Endre magistracy and their underlings were +to be dismissed, and new officials were to be elected in their place. +That choice of fresh functionaries might be made in due order, a big +military force was held in readiness in case of disturbances arising. + +When the order to quit came to the officials, the prefect hurried to +find the notary, who was so angry that he forthwith broke his best +porcelain pipe, and flung his cap down on the table in a rage. + +"It's all up with us," admitted the prefect to his crony. "Now they +will go ahead, and the enemy will spoil us utterly. The new district +commissioner doesn't know his place, he did not once say, 'Your humble +servant,' when I went to see him. All I could get out of him was that he +was 'going to act conformably to instructions.'" + +"That's well enough, if we knew what the 'instructions' were. But it's +the soldiers I don't like, with Lievenkopp at their head too." + +"But, surely, he is an old acquaintance." + +"Yes, that's just the mischief of it. He knows a great deal too well the +ins and outs of my affairs." + +"I know he has had loans at one time or another from your worship." + +"But unluckily he's always paid me back. Hardly a fortnight ago, he paid +me up to the last ducat. I never dreamed an officer would remember his +debts so accurately. I wish he had forgotten them! The world is going to +the dogs, that's plain. And then just think what the commissioner has +said. That he, in consequence of the denunciation of this +good-for-nothing fellow, will insist on a strict search, not only in the +Town Hall, but also in your house and mine. They will go from top to +bottom in the prefecture." + +"They can ransack my place as much as they will; they won't succeed in +ferreting anything out. They will never find the great coffer; I can +answer for it." + +"With you perhaps they won't succeed; you hide your savings so well. +But they are bound to scent out my chests." + +"Why, how can they know anything of them?" + +"How can they know? Don't be a fool! Just remember, Fruzsinka, doesn't +she know?" + +"Do you think she told Ráby?" + +"Not Ráby, but Lievenkopp. I heard her with my own ears as she was +wandering about one day in the maze with the captain, whom she wanted to +marry her. That is why she told him all about the coffer and what it +contained, so Lievenkopp knows all. But they can pounce upon the old +contracts which are in my possession and want to know how I procured the +money which, when I came here, I took for certain pledges left with me. +And if they convict me?" + +"We can easily prevent that; hide your chest so none may find it." + +"That I know without a fool telling me. But whom can we trust? All these +men here are knaves, anyone of them to whom I trust my treasure will +betray me directly he knows that a third of the money legally belongs to +whomsoever informs against the owner. If I bring the money here, someone +will see it, and know where I have hidden it. The whole world is full of +spies. We are the only two honest men in it, friend Kracskó." + +"Don't you trouble, I'll hide your little savings effectually for you. +Good! Well, go home, and come back soon with an empty box under your +cloak, so that everyone can see you are carrying something. Thus no +suspicions will be aroused when you go away again." + +Mathias Kracskó did as he was bidden; he went off, and returned shortly +with an empty municipal cash-box under his cloak. + +Mr. Zabváry had his own box ready, sealed not only at the lock, but at +the four corners. + +"Here it is. Hide it away by all means, and directly the commission is +off our track you can restore it to me again. And give me your written +promise to give it me back as soon as I ask for it. For it's a sad +world, and we are the only two honest men left in it." + +So the notary signed the document, tucked the chest of savings under his +cloak, and hid it carefully away. + + * * * * * + +Mathias Ráby was taking his way to Szent-Endre to attend the inquiry +into the municipal scandals. On the road he met his uncle, who appeared +to be looking for someone. + +"Halloa, uncle! what are you waiting for?" + +"I'm waiting for you, nephew, to have a talk with you. Remember, it's +some time since we met!" + +"Surely, uncle, that is not my fault," exclaimed Ráby, "considering that +you never once crossed my threshold during my illness." + +"No, indeed; small chance of doing so, seeing that every time I came, I +found a heyduke before your door, who told me that only the doctor was +allowed to see you." + +"A heyduke!" cried Ráby in amazement, "why who could have placed him +there?" + +"That was just what I asked him, and he told me the municipality had +done so." + +"But what does the municipality mean by planting a heyduke before my +door? And why did not Böske tell me?" + +"Because the good soul had only one idea in her head--as sweet +simplicity ordinarily has. She wormed out of the fellow why he stood +there, and he told her he was ordered to look after a maniac inside, +whom, if he tried to go out, he was to seize and bind. Had Böske told +you a man was waiting for you then, nervous and feeble as you were, you +would have sprung out of bed and had a hand-to-hand fight with him, and +he would have bound you, weak invalid as you were, and carried you away +to the mad-house, whence you were not likely to get out again. So Böske +was silent." + +"And I was so angry with her. But now we are good friends again, aren't +we?" + +"To be sure we are. But what shall we do with the others?" + +"With my enemies?" + +"No, with your friends! You can always be even with your foes, but your +friends are another matter. The heads of the magistracy have not been +idle during the ten weeks you were ill. To-day you appear with the +imperial orders to elect a new municipality in Szent-Endre. Yet you +will see that the folks here will choose exactly the same lot again." + +"That surely is impossible!" + +"Unluckily, it's not at all so. The mob whom you befriended, have been +clearly bought over by the magistracy, who have not spared their wine +for the last three weeks to convince the townsfolk that the present +municipality are the best set of men going. They have befooled the +peasants into believing they won't have to pay tithes next year, and +blackened you in their eyes, so that the whole town is enraged against +you. They say you have come to 'rectify' the taxes, and instead of the +six thousand gulden it has paid up till now, Szent-Endre will have to +yield thirty thousand, and that is why you trouble about their money +matters." + +"But all this is surely midsummer madness!" + +"My dear fellow, the mob believes everything it is told, if it is only +dinned into its ears often enough. You will see for yourself how popular +feeling has changed towards you since you were last in Szent-Endre. Take +my advice, and don't allow yourself to be seen in the town before the +military arrive. But I know you will go your own way in spite of it!" + +The old gentleman was right. Anyone else would have profited by such a +warning, but it made Ráby only more keen for the fray. + +"I must be on the spot," he answered; "and that soon, for I must have +some talk with the people before the others appear, so good day, +uncle!" + +"Well, adieu, but come again soon!" + +So Ráby hastened on to Szent-Endre to the big market-square, where the +forthcoming election was to take place. On the way, he noted many +suggestive signs, showing which way the wind was blowing. The +shopkeepers who lounged at their thresholds withdrew indoors directly +they caught sight of Ráby. Some acquaintances whom he met retreated to +the other side of the street as if they had not seen him. + +In the square, a large crowd had already assembled. In the front ranks +Ráby recognised many old friends who often had interceded with him for +the grievances of the common folk. Formerly, such men had hastened to +kiss his hand; to-day they did not even raise their hats, and when he +spoke to them they only ignored his greeting. One man to whom Ráby +stretched his hand, actually shook his fist at him, and answered the +question he put in Hungarian, in Rascian. Evidently no one here wished +to understand Magyar. In vain did Ráby try to address them, the crowd +only interrupted him with loud shouts, accompanied by threatening +gestures. + +His uncle was right, the mob had wholly changed, and by now believed +that Ráby had bought over the town for the Emperor. They yelled noisy +acclamations as his enemy, Kracskó, came across the market-square, +hailing him as their benefactor and the defender of their rights. So +Ráby thought the best thing was to go home and postpone his speech till +the commission should formally cite him to appear before them. In the +court he could have his say, and there he would have witnesses to +support him. + +So he went back to his deserted house to think over the situation. + +Whilst he paced through the empty rooms, he suddenly caught sight of +something sparkling on the floor. It was a metal button which had fallen +between a crevice in the boards. He picked it up, and it awoke memories +of Fruzsinka, for it was to one of her gowns that it had belonged. He +remembered so well the one; she had worn it that day when she had thrown +her arms round his neck and besought him not to sacrifice his own and +her happiness to an ungrateful people. Had he listened to her, perhaps +she would have remained a good and true wife to him, and peace and +happiness would have blessed his married life. Now it was all over and +done with, and there without the mob was howling for his destruction. + +He threw the button out of the window, hastening to do away with such +souvenirs. + +Presently from the market-square burst forth that indescribable murmur +which rises from a distant crowd. The minutes seemed hours as he waited. + +At last a trampling of hoofs was heard; it was a lieutenant with an +escort of half a dozen dragoons come to conduct Ráby to the court. + +"The magistrate, the notary, the councillors, are all re-elected," was +the news they came to announce. + +Ráby was much annoyed that they should send an armed escort for him. + +"I can find the way by myself, and am not afraid of anyone," he said, +and with that he took his documents under his arm, and set off to walk +to the Town Hall. + +His self-possession impressed the crowd who silently made way for him. +Besides, they stood in a wholesome awe of the dragoons who were drawn up +in the market-place. + +Ráby entered the court-room where the commission was sitting. It was +intolerably warm, and he could have fairly swooned as he entered the hot +oppressive atmosphere, yet his strength of mind conquered his physical +weakness and steeled his failing nerves. + +He began by making a formal and solemn protest against the way in which +the election had been conducted, but it was not listened to. + +Then the district commissioner read out Ráby's protest and asked the +complainant to formulate his grievance. + +Ráby laid his documents in order at the other end of the table, where +they had prepared a place for him, and began to state his case at +length; he quoted his documentary evidence, and promised to call +witnesses for the prosecution. + +It goes without saying that his statements did not pass unchallenged by +those most interested. + +After the case for the prosecution had been thus stated, the examination +of its witnesses followed, but these were not so satisfactory as they +might have been. + +None could tell much about the great treasure chest, except that they +had heard such an one existed, but they had never seen it, and only knew +of it by hearsay. + +Finally, no other evidence for the prosecution being forthcoming than +the incriminating bills and the collected taxation-accounts, it was left +for the municipality to justify themselves. + +For the defence of the officials collectively, the notary was called +upon to speak. + +In the whole of his discourse, however, there was not a single word of +justification of the officials concerned, or any refutation of the +impeachment; it consisted solely of a violent torrent of invective +against Ráby, who, according to his accuser, was a sorcerer who had +dealings with the devil, a bluebeard who kept seven wives, a +revolutionary who incited to revolt, to say nothing of being a +highwayman who robbed harmless travellers. In short, there was nothing +bad enough for Ráby, whom, finally, he denounced as a vampire who was +robbing the poor folk of their trade and fattening on their +labours--this last an indictment which fell rather flat, in view of poor +Ráby's attenuated appearance, for he looked little more than a skeleton. + +And so it went on, the heap of vile calumnies growing as he proceeded, +yet their victim listened with a smiling face, for Ráby was really +rejoicing in the absurdity of this collection of impossible +impeachments. + +But there is nothing that annoys an uneducated angry man more than +ridicule from his opponents. And the more he raged, the more did it +visibly excite Ráby's mirth. + +Suddenly the features of the notary became distorted and his face turned +livid, while his discoloured lips foamed and his eyes nearly started +from their sockets, as the man he was vilifying continued to smile at +his traducer unperturbed. At last the notary dealt his master stroke. + +"And what think you of this, worshipful sirs, I tell you that he has +actually boasted to the prefect that he has not only played bowls with +the Emperor, but that he has constantly put on his Majesty's +gold-embroidered coat and walked about in it. What say you to that?" + +At this, the crowning accusation, Ráby could restrain his mirth no +longer, and he burst out into a peal of hearty laughter which +reverberated through the hall. + +But at that sound, the speaker suddenly was silent, as if a shot had +struck him, his mouth remained open, but his head sank back, and his +eyes rolled till only the whites showed themselves; for an instant a +spasm convulsed him, then he fell back--dead! + +The laugh had killed him, as surely as if a bullet had been lodged in +his heart. + +They seized him and dragged him out into the fresh air, believing it was +only a swoon, but in vain did they endeavour to restore life: it was all +over with him. + +When they were convinced that the notary was indeed dead, their despair +knew no bounds. + +But most of all was Mr. Zabváry quite desperate; wringing his hands, he +wailed: "Kracskó, Kracskó, do not die till you have told me where my +treasure is hidden. Wake up, I say, and tell me where you have put my +little money-chest." + +"But our big one," moaned the magistrate, "where's that? Haven't I +always said that if only one man knew, and the devil carried him off, +what should we do? Fetch a doctor, a surgeon, some of you. He must live +till he tells us where the great treasure-chest is." + +But no earthly aid could avail them for the man they called on lay there +dead, and he had hidden the treasure so effectually that no one would +ever find it. + +The despairing survivors ran fuming with wrath back into the court-room. +"Murder, murder," cried Zabváry as he rushed on Ráby. "I am a beggar, I +have been robbed! Hang the murderer who has killed the notary." + +"Not quite so fast," exclaimed Captain Lievenkopp, placing himself +before Ráby. "There are others here as well you might hang." + +"That's the man," shouted Zabváry, shaking his clenched fist at Ráby. +"String him up at once!" + +Whereupon the district commissioner rose and insisted on a hearing. + +"It is quite true," he said, "that the notary died in consequence of Mr. +Ráby having laughed at him during his speech, but our law does not +reckon laughter as an instrument of manslaughter. I advise you not to +lift a hand against this gentleman, for whoever does so, will be taught +by the military to respect lawful authority. Now be off home with you!" + +This appeal to armed force effectually quelled the malcontents, who +sulkily beat a retreat. + +The district commissioner turned to Ráby when they were alone. "We must +prorogue the inquiry till all this has blown over. But if you, Mr. Ráby, +will take my advice, you will leave this town as soon as possible, and +will place yourself under Captain Lievenkopp's protection till you get +away." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +After the foregoing experiments, it was time for Ráby to seek for +exterior means to attain his purpose, and he determined to extort an +avowal from the Rascian "pope," who alone now knew the hiding-place of +the great coffer, and if this was revealed, the whole intrigue could be +unmasqued. The heaped-up treasure and large number of bonds, which +represented a large amount of money, constituted irrefragable proof +against the guilty. + +It was to this end that Ráby sent for the "pope" to come and meet him at +Pesth. + +This time our hero did not alight at a frequented hostelry, but put up +at an inn where the country people were wont to go, and chartering a +room there, only went out at night. + +But none the less had his enemies ferreted him out, without his having +the slightest suspicion that two or three spies were on his track +wherever he went. + +One morning, Ráby was able to write to the Emperor and tell him that the +"pope" was ready to present himself in Vienna, and divulge all, as soon +as he received direct instructions from his Majesty. He read the +missive to the "pope" before sealing it up, so that the good man might +approve of it throughout, and carried it himself to post, so that it +should pass through no strange hands. Then he invited the ecclesiastic +to dine with him, taking care to provide that worthy's favourite +national dishes, a savoury Paprika stew and the Servian "Csaja." + +As they sat there doing justice to them, who should come in but Judge +Petray. + +It was surely some unlucky chance which led Petray to Ráby's table. + +They exchanged greetings with a certain amount of embarrassment, and +Petray's contemptuous tone in opening up the conversation (which Ráby +had willingly avoided), was not lost on the other. + +"Well met, friend! I beg pardon for disturbing you, but you are the very +man I wanted to see," said Petray, as he sat down beside them. "Yes," he +went on, "about that letter which you have written to the Emperor." + +"What do you mean?" cried Ráby, beside himself with astonishment. + +"Why, you know well enough that the municipal council has forbidden +complaints to be formulated to the Emperor regarding any matter +affecting its internal regulations." + +"But who can possibly know what my correspondence contains, I should +like to know?" + +"Well we happen to know, because we intercepted the letter at the +post-office, you see." + +"What, you have dared to intercept my correspondence!" cried Ráby +enraged. + +"Yes, and what's more, we have opened the letter and read it, and have +submitted it to a committee of inquiry." + +"But this is an unheard-of insult!" exclaimed Ráby, rising from his seat +in uncontrollable anger. + +"Oh, you are getting angry, are you? I guessed you would be, when you +heard it; that's why I begged your pardon when I came in. But it doesn't +alter the fact that I am sent to arrest you in the name of the +municipality, on a charge of treason against the authorities, and am +ordered to commit you to prison forthwith." + +Petray said all this in such a jesting tone, that the "pope" who had +kept his seat at table, imagined he was simply joking. He poured out a +glass of wine and offered it to the judge, saying as he did so: + +"Here have done with your jests, and drink this, your worship; no one +believes what you are saying! Come, let us toast one another!" + +The "pope" was a vigorous, dignified looking man in the prime of life, +with a round rosy face. He beamed again with benevolence as he pledged +the judge. + +Yet Petray did not take the proffered glass, but stiffened himself and +stood in a judicial attitude, with his hand on the hilt of his sword, +while he said in a stern tone: + +"Here there is no matter for jesting, I am sent by the Pesth County +Assembly to arrest Mr. Mathias Ráby as a criminal, wherever I may find +him." + +And with that he stepped to the door and pushed it open. Without, stood +half a dozen heydukes armed with swords and carbines and the town +provost. + +At the sight of them, the "pope" turned suddenly pale; his rubicund face +became a ghastly grey, his hairs seem to bristle in terror. There was a +rattling sound in his throat, and then he fell back senseless on the +floor in an apoplectic fit. In vain they strove to revive him. He was +dead! Fright, or rather the apoplexy had killed him. And as he was the +only living soul who had known the secret of the buried treasure, his +death forbade the entrance ever being discovered. + +Yet Ráby had not seen what had happened, for as soon as ever Petray had +opened the door, the provost had immediately arrested him with the +threat that if he did not yield, he would be put into irons. + +Ráby simply answered that he would not oppose armed force, and that he +put his trust in a Providence that would bring truth and justice to +light. And with that they marched him off, and led him down out into the +street. + +Before the gate stood three coaches. They made him take the front seat +in the first, and placed two guards opposite him with their swords +pointed against his breast. The others followed in the remaining +vehicles. So they drove through the streets of Pesth till they reached +the Assembly House, where Petray ordered Ráby's conductors to "obey +orders." + +So they proceeded to "obey orders." First they loosened his +silver-hilted sword from his side, took his purse and gold watch from +his pocket, drew the signet ring from off his finger, and searched him +from head to foot. In the breast-pocket they found the passport of the +Emperor, commanding that Mr. Mathias Ráby should pass unmolested +wherever he went. The provost read it through with a mocking laugh. Then +he brought out fetters, rivetted them on his prisoner's hands and feet, +opened a narrow iron-barred door, and without further ceremony, pushed +him into "cell number three." + +From that moment they called Mathias Ráby with justice, "Rab Ráby,"[1] +for does not "Rab" mean in Hungarian, a prisoner? + +[Footnote 1: I cannot but help feeling that the sudden death of the +"pope" in this last chapter will strike the reader as a somewhat bold +license, even for the novelist, seeing how closely it follows on that of +the notary. I am aware that as romance it could not be justified, but +seeing that this is a true story which I am telling, I cannot do +otherwise than follow the facts however extraordinary they may appear, +seeing they are set forth in the hero's own autobiography.--(AUTHOR'S +NOTE.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +Nine feet long and six wide was the underground cellar wherein they had +plunged our hero. + +In this space, a select company was already assembled, eighteen +individuals all told. And Mathias Ráby now made the nineteenth in the +already overcrowded cell, and how he was to find a place there was a +knotty problem. It was lucky that the window over the door was not +filled with glass, but with an iron grating, which let in some air. + +As a matter-of-fact, this cell was the best in the whole Assembly House, +as could be testified to by old Tsajkos, the eldest of the prisoners, +who was now quartered here. He was an old acquaintance of our hero, by +the way, and Ráby had often provided the old man with tobacco, a luxury +which the prisoners were not allowed to smoke, but might chew, if they +could get it. + +Nor was Tsajkos long in recognising the new-comer. He limped up to him, +rattling the heavy chains he wore on his legs, and clapped Ráby on the +back in greeting, while the other occupants of the cell looked on in +wide-eyed amazement. + +"So you have come to it at last, have you, my young friend? Now who +would have thought the likes of you would ever have tumbled into this +company? Why, I've always known you to be a well-brought-up fellow, who +never eat an apple that was not peeled. What can they have against you, +I should like to know? 'Not guilty' may do well enough up above there, +but you know as well as I, it does not do down here. Folks don't come to +a place like this for nothing, we all know that! Now tell us what it +is." + +Disgust and repulsion almost choked Ráby's powers of speech. He covered +his face with his hands. + +"Come now, none of that sort of thing! We want no blubbering here. Don't +disgrace the company. If you want to cry, be off to the women's prison; +we know you've got two wives already there!" + +At this, the whole crew yelled with hoarse laughter. + +"Aha!" exclaimed a voice from the furthest corner. "So that's the +celebrated husband, is it? Well, I can tell you what he's here for; the +women themselves told me, and they had it from the heydukes; he is a +spy." + +At these words, the whole band were roused to sudden uproar. "A spy! a +traitor!" they yelled in chorus. "He'll strangle us at night. Let's +squeeze the life out of him now." + +"Be quiet, all of you," cried old Tsajkos, as he thrust the crowd back. +"You don't know what you're talking about. Stop your barking and listen +to me. He may be a spy, but he only betrays the gentry, and he'll never +turn on us poor folk. If a great lord robs or steals, he's down upon +him, but never on us." + +"That's another matter," shouted the rest. "Then we'll be friends with +him." + +And Ráby had thereupon to submit to the rough greetings of his new +comrades in misfortune. + +"They are not a bad sort," remarked Tsajkos, and he proceeded to point +out each individual member of the crew to Ráby, specifying which was a +horse-stealer, and which a highwayman, identifying as well the thieves +and incendiaries among them. Most of them, however, it turned out, were +murderers. + +To Ráby the whole thing seemed more and more like a ghastly dream. Yet +his five senses warranted its reality: the low vault of the cell which +surrounded him, the fierce criminal faces of the prisoners, the clinking +of the fetters, the dirty grimy hands that grasped his own, the damp, +mouldy odour of the dungeon, the taste of the brackish water from the +prison well that the old man handed him to revive him--all these things +warned him that this was no dream, but a grim reality from which he must +find a speedy means of escaping. + +He looked round, but his companion misconstrued the glance. + +"You are wondering how you will manage to get forty winks here, eh, +comrade? Yes, it's a difficult matter, I warrant you; all the places +are taken, and each one has a right to his own. Unless Pápis will let +you have his corner for the night, I really don't see how you are going +to manage it." + +"Why not, pray?" exclaimed a voice from another corner. "Of course I +will, if I get well paid for it!" + +Pápis was a gipsy felon, already pretty advanced in years, his +complexion wrinkled and tanned like parchment, yet his hair was quite +black, and his teeth shone like ivory. + +"Bravo, Pápis!" cried the old man, while the lithe gipsy crawled between +the others and grinned at Ráby. + +"Don't have any fear, Pápis," said Tsajkos, "the gentleman will pay you, +sure enough; he has no end of money. How much do you want for your +place?" + +The gipsy did not hesitate. "A ducat a day," he retorted promptly. + +Ráby began to enter into the humours of the situation. He reflected a +minute on the proposal. + +"That is not much, after all," he said politely. + +"Ah, you are the right sort, you are," cried old Tsajkos. "I only hope +you'll be long with us. You shall just see what a good place we'll make +for you against the wall with no one on the other side, and my knees can +be your pillow. We can't do feather beds down here, or even run to +straw, but one sleeps soundest on the bricks after all." + +"But where will Pápis sleep himself?" + +For all his own misery, Ráby could not repress the question. + +The whole crew burst out laughing. As soon as they had stilled their +mirth, the prisoners looked at each other embarrassed, and then at their +leader to explain. + +The old man smiled slily. + +"Where will Pápis sleep? Why, in the bucket, to be sure, up above +there," he answered. + +Ráby looked up, and saw from the roof two chains hanging, through the +links of which two poles were thrust, and on these hung the great bucket +in which every evening the prisoners had to carry the water needed in +the kitchen of the Assembly House above. + +They showed him how Pápis got up. One of the prisoners seized the little +gipsy by the legs and hauled him up to the roof, after which, Pápis took +the cover off the bucket, crawled inside, and disappeared from sight. + +Ráby was still more astonished. + +"But how can the man sleep in that pail?" he asked, puzzled. + +Everyone laughed, but quickly suppressed it, and all looked again rather +sheepish. + +Tsajkos patted Ráby's cheek patronisingly with his greasy hand, and +cried, + +"Bless my stars! what a simple greenhorn it is; Pápis will sleep sounder +to-night, thanks to you, on a comfortable bed." + +"How may that be?" + +"I'll whisper it in your ear. He will leave this place this evening on +your account." + +"On my account, how can that be?" cried Ráby astounded. + +"Ay, sure enough, and come back early to-morrow morning again." + +"Why, how is it possible?" + +"That's not our affair. All that matters is he will come back. He does +this whenever some poor devil has a message to send to anyone outside. +To-day Pápis will do it for you. Do you want to send a letter to anyone? +Have it ready, and he'll see they get it. And what is more, you can +trust him with gold; he'll bring back what you give him, even were it a +hundred ducats, all safe and sound. The Emperor himself has no more +trusty courier." + +Ráby's head began to whirl. How if he should take this means of +informing Joseph of his present situation? + +"Yes, but how can I write a letter?" he exclaimed anxiously; "they have +not left me a single morsel of paper, or even a pencil-end." + +"Ay, you shall have any amount, only turn your head away, and don't look +where I get it from; we don't want new-comers to learn these things all +at once." + +The prisoners were already bent on widening their dungeon by breaking +through the roof with implements which Pápis had procured for them. They +had removed first one stone and then another from the roof, and each +night and morning the stones were laid back in their places, in order to +arouse no suspicion, the clefts being hidden with bits of bread, and the +breach carefully strewn with mortar dust. The warder would thus not +notice it. In the cavity from which two of the stones had been removed, +they kept the more dangerous implements required for the work, and +likewise the writing materials. + +A table was also improvised for Ráby. At a sign from the old man, one of +the prisoners, a broad-backed fellow, placed himself on all fours in +front of him, so that Ráby could make a desk of his shoulders. + +"To whom is this letter addressed," inquired Tsajkos. + +"To Abraham Rotheisel, in the Jewry," returned Ráby. + +"It will be all right. Take it, Pápis!" + +The little gipsy stretched his arm from under the lid of the bucket, and +seized the letter. + +How he was ever going to get out with it was a mystery which Ráby did +not pretend to fathom, but the gipsy clambered down again from his +hiding-place. It was growing dark. + +The prisoners prepared a sleeping-place for Ráby in a corner, spreading +a bit of old sheepskin on the floor, so that he might not find it too +hard. + +When the guard was changed at six o'clock, and the great outer gate was +closed, a rattling of keys was heard without, and the gaoler came into +the dungeon to visit the prisoners and bring them their food. He came +first to Ráby, tested the fetters on his hands and feet to see if they +were fast and then handed him a piece of black bread. + +But the new-comer did not feel hungry and threw it away. + +While the gaoler tried the fetters, two prisoners hauled the bucket +down, and the gipsy slipped into it under the lid. + +Then the two men took the poles on their shoulders, and accompanied by +an armed warder, their chains clanking as they went, marched to the +well, Ráby wondering the while how Pápis was feeling during this +expedition. + +He had leisure for reflection, for he did not get a wink of sleep the +whole night; how indeed could he close his eyes in this horrible place? + +He had full scope for his imagination, for he knew every nook and corner +of the building, so familiar to him since his boyhood's days, from the +great council hall to the dainty little parlour, where the +spinning-wheel had hummed its well-remembered song. Only up till now had +the subterranean part remained unexplored ground to him; now he had had +the chance of seeing it for himself. How long was he to remain here? +That was the question. It was certain the Emperor would take steps to +free him, once he had his letter. But it would take at least four days, +two there and two back, and a day more for Rotheisel to convey the +missive to the Kaiser. Full five days therefore he would have to spend +in that frightful hole. But what would have been his thoughts could he +have foreseen how long his captivity was to endure? He would surely have +dashed his head against the wall in despair. + +At last day began to break, and the rattling of keys and the gaoler's +footsteps were again audible outside. One night had gone! + +Then the orders for the day were given as to which of the prisoners were +to sweep the court, and which to carry water. + +Two of them thereupon lifted the bucket again on their shoulders, and +off they went, their fettered footsteps echoing along the corridor. +Those left had now more room, so they stretched themselves and tried to +sleep once again, for it would be some time before the others returned +to the cell. + +It would soon be the hour for the gaoler to come again on his rounds, +and Ráby began to dread lest he should note one of the party were +missing. But none were wanting. When the roll was called, the little +gipsy rose from a corner where he had apparently been huddled up, and +showed an abnormally distended grin on his brown face. + +Directly the gaoler's back was turned, the gipsy wriggled up to him and +produced from one side of his mouth a many folded note; from the other a +roll of fifty ducats. No wonder he had grinned so broadly. He lay both +in Ráby's hands. + +Ráby could fairly have embraced the mannikin, repulsive as he was. The +note, however, contained nothing more than these words: "To-day, steps +will be taken," and by the side of it, the cipher which represented +fifty ducats. Moreover, not one of the latter was missing. + +How in the world had the fellow managed it all? But this demands another +chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + +That a prisoner should break bounds in the evening, return again the +next morning, and be present each time the roll is called, with fetters +properly rivetted on hands and feet seems, humanly speaking, an +impossible feat to achieve. + +But Pápis was quite ready to tell how he had managed it. While the +gaoler had been occupied with testing the fetters of each prisoner, he +had crawled noiselessly into the bucket which stood close at hand. In +the half-dark cell no one could have noted his disappearance. + +When the examination was over, two prisoners lifted the bucket and +carried it to the well, which was one worked by means of a pulley, the +chains which let the bucket up and down clanked, and the axle creaked so +loudly that under cover of the noise, and unseen in the tub, Pápis could +strip off his fetters, for there were no rings too narrow for the pliant +gipsy to draw his hands and feet through. Then the carriers removed the +lid of the receptacle and began to fill it from that of the well-bucket, +taking care the while that the heydukes could not see there was anything +else inside. They had of course to pour the water over the gipsy, and +as it came up to his chin when the bucket was full, he held his missives +tightly between his jaws. + +The two prisoners then carried it into the assembly house, where it was +emptied into a water-tub. If a maidservant happened to be lounging in +the kitchen by any chance, the two men would deliberately frighten her +away by their foul talk. The water-tub stood close to the mouth of an +oven; whilst the two others transferred the water from the bucket into +the tub, the gipsy slipped away as nimbly as a squirrel into the oven, +clambered up the chimney, and waited there till the coast was clear. + +As soon as he heard the pass-word shouted from the guard in the +courtyard below, he knew that it must be ten o'clock. So he clambered up +out of the top of the chimney on to the roof of the Assembly House, as +far as the gable-end. In the yard of the building stood an ancient +pear-tree, which the governor would not cut down, as it bore an +excellent crop of pears every year, although it was obviously dangerous +in the neighbourhood of prisoners. Pápis swung himself dexterously from +the roof on to this tree, whose branches jutted out over the two fathoms +of wall which shut in the court towards the street, that had now to be +scaled. + +But the returning was a more difficult matter than the setting out in +this case, for Pápis had not only to break out of prison, but the next +morning to break in again, which is a different matter. + +And this was how he managed it. The pear-tree had a great hollow in its +trunk, and in this a rope-ladder was hidden; this, the gipsy wound round +an overhanging bough, laid himself flat on the edge of the wall, and +waited till the guard, who patrolled the space below, had turned his +back. Then he let down the ladder, and slid along it into the street +below. + +But this would doubtless have been seen by the sentry the next time he +passed by, so to obviate this peril, the cunning Pápis fastened a string +to the other end of the ladder. As soon as he reached _terra firma_, he +threw the ladder back. The dun-coloured string which fell down over the +wall no one was likely to notice in the dark. + +By the time the sentry had returned, the gipsy was in the neighbouring +street. From there it was easy to reach the Jewry direct, and find the +way to Abraham Rotheisel's. + +He returned by the way he had come up the ladder over the wall, over the +pear-tree on to the roof, through the chimney into the kitchen of the +Assembly House, and into the bucket again, and so back into the dungeon. +When the gaoler came for his morning rounds, Pápis lay fettered hand and +foot in his accustomed place. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + +Abraham Rotheisel hastened to Vienna as fast as the lumbering diligence +could carry him. He lost no time in presenting himself before the +Emperor. + +Before long, the courier was on his way back, furnished with a document +which the Emperor had signed and sealed himself, after he had heard of +the dismal situation in which Ráby found himself. + +This important missive soon found its way to the governor. + +"Eh, what is this?" demanded his Excellency, as he recognised the +superscription and private seal of the Kaiser. He was just in the act of +dictating to his secretary, so put the imperial missive into a basket, +which was filled with documents of all sorts, and went on with his +dictation, pacing up and down the room the while. + +He was just trying to finish, when the district commissioner entered +without any announcing. + +"Has your Excellency received a courier from his Majesty?" he asked +abruptly. + +"I have." + +"What does he say?" + +"How should I know?" + +"Where is the letter?" + +"Where all the others are." And he lifted the cover from the basket and +pointed to the collection within of yet unopened correspondence. + +The district commissioner raised his hands with a little deprecating +gesture, as he whispered anxiously: "But your Excellency, these are in +the Emperor's handwriting; they should not lie here; they are urgent, +surely?" + +His Excellency looked at the speaker as a fencer measures his +antagonist. + +"Urgent, are they?" + +The district commissioner looked puzzled. + +"Your Excellency," he began, "this affair is not done with. His Majesty +has sent a second letter to me by special courier, and I have read it. +He orders me in it to come to you immediately, and express the gravest +disapproval that Mathias Ráby, notwithstanding the imperial safe +conduct, has been made a prisoner and placed in the dungeon of the +Assembly House, among the scum of convicted criminals. I am to take care +that he is released, and that he is allowed to defend himself as a free +man without hindrance." + +"That procedure won't be according to our laws." + +"Perhaps not, but in view of the accusation brought against Ráby, his +Majesty orders that he be detained in a place of confinement more +befitting his rank and calling." + +"That shall be done," said his Excellency, and therewith he rang the +bell. + +The lackey answered it, and he gave him the order: + +"Go at once to the Assembly House at Pesth, and tell the lieutenant he +is to wait on me immediately." + +Then he turned to his interrupted dictation as a sign his guest could +go. + +An hour after this, Mr. Laskóy was announced. He had come to represent +the Council, as the latter was engaged over the vintage. + +His Excellency looked ready to eat his visitor. + +"What is all this foolery in the dungeon of the Assembly House, pray? Is +this the way you keep order? Mathias Ráby has only been imprisoned four +days, yet already the Emperor has had a letter from him, telling him all +about the thieves' den where he is shut up. Could you not manage things +better, and fetter him so that he could not write a letter, even if he +had pencil and paper?" + +Mr. Laskóy stammered and stuttered and lamely excused himself, and +finally got enraged, and vowed to himself he would soon find a way out +of this business. + +He tramped back to the Assembly House, and after a short confab with the +gaoler, new arrangements were soon made regarding Ráby. + +Among the underground vaults was a cell where wood was kept, but this +was hastily turned out. The little vault had an iron door, with a tiny +air-hole in the middle, so small it could hardly be seen, and the door +could be locked fast. A more fitting place for Ráby could not be found. + +Our hero had already passed four days in the company of criminals, and +was counting the minutes and hours till the Emperor's orders should +arrive which were to free him from this frightful hole. And now the time +as it seemed had come. + +He was eating his supper of rice soaked in water--the usual prison +fare--when they came to fetch him. But they only rivetted shorter +fetters on his hands and feet alike, led him down into a deeper vault, +and thrust him into a cold, dark, mouldy cellar, wherein not a single +ray of sunlight, nor the sound of a human voice could penetrate. + +Yes, this was a worse place than that he had longed to escape from. +Above there, they might be evil men, but at least they had had human +faces. Their words had been hateful indeed, but they had been human +voices that uttered them. + +When they clanged the door behind him, and the cold, dark, deathlike +silence closed around him, Ráby lost consciousness. + + * * * * * + +In the afternoon the district commissioner again called on his +Excellency, who was engaged in his favourite game of billiards. + +"Dare I venture?" began his visitor. + +"It is all right. Ráby is transferred into another cell. Now just watch, +my friend, what a good shot I shall make." + +"Yes, but perhaps they've put him in a worse one still?" + +But his Excellency was looking after his ball, for he knew what he was +about at billiards, and scored heavily. + +The next day the district commissioner went to the Assembly House to +investigate the sort of cell Ráby had been removed to. But when he could +not find it, and moreover, could, by no means whatever obtain from the +officials where the prisoner might be housed, he went again to the +governor to demand an explanation. + +This led to recriminations between the two functionaries as to the +respective limits of their jurisdictions, and they parted on very cool +terms. + +"I don't envy his next visitor," whispered the secretary to one of his +colleagues, "whoever it is, he won't get a warm welcome." + +And sure enough, one was just then announced. + +The governor was busy writing to the Kaiser, and he resented this +intrusion. + +"Excellency, it is a petitioner," ventured the secretary timidly. + +"Send him to the devil, then!" + +"But it is a young lady, Excellency." + +"I don't want any young ladies here. What the deuce does she want with +me, I should like to know?" + +But the secretary whispered a name that caused the angry governor to +spring up hastily, and ask: + +"What is she doing here? Has anyone come with her?" + +"Excellency, she is alone." + +"Alone? Let her come in, then." + +It is easy to guess who the stranger lady was. She wore her ordinary +morning-gown, just as she had slipped out from her household duties, +without anyone knowing, but in her blue eyes lay woe unutterable. + +And it was only with those same eyes that she spoke; not a word did she +utter; not a gesture did she make. She sank at the feet of that hard +man, and seized his hands in both of hers, and hid her face and wept at +his feet. + +"Come, come, this won't do, little one! I can't have tears! Now, child, +tell me" (he was her godfather), "what brings you here alone? How if +anyone met you in the street? What is it? What is the matter? Can you +not say a word? Shall I have to talk instead? Shall I guess what it is +you want? You come here on behalf of that scoundrel, Ráby, eh? Nay, +there's no dungeon deep enough for him, the rogue, the graceless knave, +the good-for-nothing that he is----" + +But Mariska--for it was she--suddenly pressed both hands over the +speaker's mouth to stop his denunciations. + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed his Excellency maliciously. "So you've come in +case I am treating him too harshly, have you? Never mind, he shall +carry fifty pounds weight of chains on his feet before we've done with +him." + +But at these words the poor girl pressed her hands to her heaving breast +in dumb entreaty, and her breath came in short gasps. + +"Come now, don't cry, it's all right," whispered the stern old man, as +softened by her grief, he kindly drew her to him. "Foolish child, were +you really so fond of him? There, there, rest easy, we will deal gently +with him. Eh? if you go on like this, I shall want to throttle the +fellow outright. Silly child, can't you forget him? Ah, Ráby, you may +thank your stars you've got such an advocate, otherwise the Emperor +himself hadn't been able to help you." + +His visitor uttered a little smothered cry of joy: + +"My dear, good, kind godfather!" she murmured, as she covered the horny +hand with grateful kisses. + +"Why, how pleased she is! Silly child that you are!" + +He rang the bell, and a secretary appeared. + +"Sit down and write thus: + + "'TO THE LIEUTENANT OF THE PRISON. + + "'By this present, I instruct your worship that you + cause the noble prisoner, Mathias Ráby, to be released + from the cell where he at present is confined, freed + from irons, and be forthwith put in a place of + honourable custody befitting his rank, till his trial + takes place.' + +"You will take the letter immediately to Pesth, and you will remain +there till you have seen with your own eyes that the prisoner is +transferred to proper custody, and further, will say, that I, myself, +shall follow in half an hour's time to see whether my orders have been +executed." + +The secretary hastened away to fulfil his commission. + +Mariska was beside herself with joy. + +"So my foolish god-daughter is satisfied at last, is she? Go back to +your pastry-making, for I want some cakes badly. Yet no more tears, +please! But come back with me," he added, "and I'll take you home. When +your father hears you've been to me to plead for Ráby, he'll be mighty +angry. So you had better let me take you back and smooth it over for you +at home. But I tell you, you must promise to put the fellow out of your +thoughts! No, no, I'm not going to say anything against him; for pity's +sake let's have no more weeping. Rest easy, no harm shall happen to him. +He'll soon be set at liberty, and go back to Vienna, and then he'll +cease to trouble us." + +The girl's only answer was a deep sigh. + +His Excellency led his god-daughter downstairs, and placed her in the +coach which was waiting for them. And little Mariska returned home in +state. + +Janosics, the castellan, met his Excellency at the gate of the Assembly +House, and bareheaded, bowed low before him. + +"What about the prisoner, Ráby?" asked the governor shortly. + +"He is already conveyed to number three on the first floor, your +Excellency," was the respectful answer. + +His Excellency nodded, took his companion by the hand, and led her +indoors. + +Tárhalmy knew nothing, and was astonished beyond measure at seeing the +governor with his daughter. + +"I'm bringing your little deserter back," said her god-father, +jestingly. "Don't be angry with her! Judge the case for yourself; she +came upon me unawares with her cause, and who could withstand such +pleading, eh?" + +The head-notary now understood. Father and daughter looked for a minute +at each other, then the girl threw her arms round his neck. + +He kissed her forehead, and whispered: + +"You were the only one who could do it!" + +It was a consoling word for her. Yes, if everyone else in the world had +the right to persecute and vex the prisoner, she, at least, had the +equal right to protect and console him. + +She said nothing, but ran away into the kitchen. + +Their guest could hear that outside a hen was being killed, and guessed +what was going forward. He stopped on chatting with Tárhalmy, so that +Mariska should have time to fulfil her kindly task. When she re-entered +the room, after half an hour's absence, her face was red, as if she had +been standing over the fire--or was it some deeper cause? Her +god-father patted her cheek, and promised to come again, as he took his +leave. + +But he would not permit his host to accompany him, for he wanted to go +and see the culprit for himself, so he made his way to cell number +three. + +It was a pleasant spacious room, with two beds in it, as well as other +furniture. There was no one else in it but Ráby. + +He was seated at the table, and eating a freshly cooked fowl, which he +seemed to be relishing mightily. + +But when the governor entered, the prisoner rose, and was evidently +anxious to show a brave front. + +"Your humble servant," murmured his guest, as he looked round the room. +"Well, is your worship content with your new quarters, pray?" + +"As far as any man who is innocent of the crime whereof he is accused +can be content with his prison," answered Ráby. + +"Ah well, that will be proved at the trial. But at least as long as the +affair lasts you are well lodged here, I hope. Also you have something +to eat, I see, and some clean linen." + +"I fancy my former serving-maid must have brought it for me from home. +She was a very devoted servant." + +"Oh, you think it's she, do you? Well, there are other devoted people in +the world who remember Mr. Ráby's needs, I fancy, as well. Books too, I +see, and well-chosen ones. Well, there's a difference between this and +your earlier lodging at any rate." + +Ráby felt the blood mount to his head, but he would not betray his +resentment. + +"My arrest was a wholly unjust one," he said bitterly. "If no regard is +shown to the Hungarian nobleman, at least, the imperial mandate should +be respected." + +"So you think that the turn for the better your affairs have taken is +owing to the Emperor's intervention, do you?" + +"I am convinced that his Majesty would not allow his devoted servant to +perish," answered Ráby. + +"You are right in what you say of our illustrious sovereign; he is, +indeed, gracious. You soon found means, it seems, of advising the Kaiser +of your situation. I admire your promptness! The Emperor did not lose +time either; yesterday, early, I had his despatch in my hands." + +Ráby's cheeks grew red with indignation. + +"And why, then, in spite of this, was I yesterday afternoon cast into a +far worse dungeon than the one I was taken from--a cold, dark hole, +where I fainted." + +"Yes, I know all about it. But I suppose you know what happened to the +Emperor's letter?" + +And his Excellency brought out of his pocket, the imperial missive, with +its great seal still unbroken, and held it out to the prisoner. + +"You have not even opened it!" + +"No, nor are any of them opened when they arrive. And I tell you +plainly, that all you write to the Emperor from here avails nothing. If +you have anything to quote from the Hungarian laws in your defence, do +it, and justify yourself. But every effort to act independently of those +same laws is worse than useless. It means only lost time and trouble, +and only rivets your fetters more closely. But at any rate your +captivity is bearable." + +Ráby shook his head, and as the door closed on his guest, he buried his +face in his hands. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + +One morning there was an unwonted stir in "Number 3" cell. Some women +came in to scour the room and fleck away the cobwebs. Moreover, they +placed a fine silken coverlet over the second bed, and the warder came +and fixed a nail in the wall. A new prisoner was expected, they said. + +Ráby was naturally curious to see what his room mate would be like; nor +had he long to wait. + +About eleven of the clock, arrived the expected captive; they could hear +him talking as he came along the corridor, and noted how the gaoler +kissed his hand respectfully, as he opened the door ceremoniously for +him. + +It seemed to Ráby as if he had seen his face somewhere before, but he +could not remember where. The new-comer had his hair carefully powdered +and dressed in the fashionable cue, and he wore his rather +fierce-looking moustachios stiffened in the Turkish fashion. His dress +was, however, distinctly Hungarian, for his green coat, variegated hose, +and gold-laced boots were all in the prevailing Magyar mode. + +The heydukes who accompanied him all seemed at his service. One drew +out his pipe from a large leathern case, a second handed him his +snuff-box, a third his pocket-handkerchief, whilst yet another spread a +bearskin by the side of his bed, and set out bottles and boxes of +cosmetics in a row. The stranger appeared quite oblivious of the +presence of another person in the room, and comported himself as if the +whole Assembly House had belonged to him. + +The worthy Janosics evidently thought it time to repeat his instructions +to the captive, so that he might recognise his limitations. + +"May it please your worship, the prisoners are forbidden to smoke," he +said obsequiously. + +But his worship, ignoring the observation, remarked with a lordly air: +"If the tobacco runs out, just cut me fresh, will you, Janosics? But +don't leave it to the heydukes, they don't understand it as well as you +do. Good tobacco, mind, and don't let them bring inferior. My cook must +have my orders," he went on, but the castellan interrupted him +respectfully: + +"May it please your worship, the prisoners' meals consist of pudding +three times a week, and meat three times, with vegetable broth on +Fridays." + +"My cook, I say, must have my orders," went on the other, not heeding, +"and must make me fish-soup on Fridays, and I must have my wine sent in +at once." + +"May it please your worship, the prisoners are not allowed to drink +wine." + +But his protest availed little, for the new-comer proceeded airily: + +"And please, Janosics, see that the wine is well re-corked once it has +been opened. And take care there is some fresh water in the wine-cooler, +as well as plenty of it for washing." + +Then he looked round him. "Tell my cook to provide two covers; I don't +like eating by myself, and don't want other people to look on while I +dine." + +"The gentleman here is on invalid diet, and has light meals served from +upstairs," said the gaoler. + +Ráby turned his back on the new-comer; he did not want him to think he +troubled his head about him. + +"Never mind that, let the dinner be served for two, I tell you, and +there will be all the more over for those who want it." + +"May it please your worship, the prisoners must go to bed at eight +o'clock every night, and make no noise, for the deputy-lieutenant lives +just overhead." + +"All right. But, Janosics, you must not let the prisoners go clanking up +and down the corridor with their chains; the noise gets on my nerves, I +can't stand it! Now you can go, and if I want anything, I'll just knock +on the door, so the guard had better be on the alert. But let them take +care to wipe their boots before coming in." + +The gaoler and heydukes blundered out of the room, and the new arrival +turned to look at his companion. He appeared a jovial sort of person, +and to be very genially disposed. + +"So it is Mr. Mathias Ráby after all," murmured the stranger with a +smile. + +Ráby looked sharply at him. "You have the advantage of me," he said. + +The new-comer laughed slily. "Ah, I recognise you well enough, but +perhaps you don't remember me, though we have met before?" + +Ráby had to admit that he had no such recollection. + +"Ah, that's because I was--well, differently dressed, perhaps, yet it is +so, I can assure you, and what's more, I spoke four words to you, +although you have so short a memory for them." + +And the speaker sat down and began filling his pipe and lighting up for +a smoke. + +Ráby in vain sought for a solution to the mystery. After the smoker had +taken a couple of pulls at the pipe, he went back to where our hero sat, +and planted himself on the window-ledge letting his legs dangle, while +his spurs rattled. + +"Is it possible they didn't tell you who the prisoner was that was to +share your cell?" he asked. + +"I did not even ask," admitted Ráby, "who it might be." + +"Then I will tell you--his name is Karcsatáji Miska." + +"Gyöngyöm Miska?" + +"Don't make a mistake!" pursued the highwayman, "and think I let myself +be taken: I am here solely through my own fault. It's a strange story, +I'll tell you more about it later, I can't talk on an empty stomach!" + +And thereupon, he took out a big flask of brandy from a case, and +produced some glasses and white bread, and called upon his companion to +join him. + +But Ráby stood coldly aloof. He could not forget that before him stood +the man who had so cruelly wronged him, the man who had been the chosen +lover of Fruzsinka! All the manly pride of his nature revolted at the +thought. Yet he could not help a feeling of satisfaction that the man +for once had been judged on his deserts, and what those were, Ráby knew +only too well. But that his rival should be thus sharing his prison and +partaking the same fate--this was indeed a strange turn for events to +take. + +When dinner-time came the highwayman knocked on the wall for the +heydukes, who promptly responded to the signal, and hastened to serve +quite a luxurious meal, but Ráby excused himself on the score of his +dining at a later hour. His host did not press him, but so vigorously +tackled the good fare, that soon the dishes were cleared completely. + +Ráby, the while, had leisure to meditate on the course events had taken. +It gave an exquisite edge to his misery to be penned up in the same room +with a man he hated. + +Yet such a man, since he was still keeping up apparently his relations +with the world outside, could help him vastly, and would be a better +prop to rely on than the gipsy-carrier: he had simply to give letters to +the heydukes, and they would deliver them as bidden. Yet his better self +revolted at the notion of being helped by Karcsatáji, for, in his inmost +soul, he had nothing but the bitterest contempt for this highway robber, +who had been the lover of Fruzsinka. No, he would receive no favours, +were it liberty itself, from such a hand! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + +As soon as Karcsatáji had finished his meal, he turned to Ráby. + +"Are you inclined for a chat, Mr. Ráby?" he said, as he lighted his +pipe. "Because if you are, this will be our chance to discuss the world +in general, and our own corner of it in particular." + +"I am all attention," answered Ráby coldly. + +"You will be still more so when you hear my story, I fancy. We two are +companions in adversity (only you have got over the worst of it), since +we are both the victims of a worthless woman, curse her!" + +"I will not curse her," said Ráby quietly. + +"No? Then you are a man out of a thousand, but I am only of very +ordinary clay, I fear. And I am not the only one she has fooled. If I +mistake not, Petray is also in the same boat. But the fellow can talk as +well as I can ride--which is saying a good deal. And it is that precious +tongue of his which bewitches the women. Yet I have more to complain of +than you, I consider. She took refuge under the wing of Petray, and +meantime the fatal letter she had written to me was intercepted, in +consequence of which Lievenkopp and you both challenged me to a duel +near the old Zsámbék Church. The end of it was that Petray, as soon as +he heard how matters stood, let the lady know some home-truths, so that +for sometime they lived as man and wife, though leading a cat and dog +life. At last my lady became sick of this honey-mooning, and one fine +day she left Petray and came to me." + +Ráby buried his face in his hands and groaned. How could he endure this +talk? + +"You need not bear me a grudge," said the other. "Know, by that time I +had given up robbery, and would have buried my ancient feud with the +law. I was seriously thinking about setting my house in order, and I +told my old companions to come no more to see me, and promised, if they +were in need, I would send out supplies to them in the forest. I was not +going to be 'Gyöngyöm Miska' any longer, for I had made up my mind to +reform my way of life. Then it was that your runaway wife fled to my +protection. You were well rid of her, yet how many times I have cursed +you in thought. I knew it was a deadly sin to take another man's wife. +Small wonder that Fruzsinka brought me nothing but ill-luck. I gave her +to understand from the first, that I was changing my life, and I set +about building a church in our village, moreover I repented of my sins, +fasted, and did penance and abjured my old evil ways. But easy as it is +to befool women-kind, it is difficult to deceive them, if we want to get +rid of them. Their suspicions are so easily aroused. If I were Emperor, +I would trust the police-espionage to women. She began with +intercepting my correspondence. Good heavens! what an experience I had, +and I thought she would tear me to pieces. So angry was she that she +left me, and I naturally concluded she was going to be reconciled to +you." + +Ráby ground his teeth. + +"I know now that she was not. She began to work me further mischief. Do +you know, that to her I owed the denunciations which were shortly +afterwards, from some mysterious source, made to the ecclesiastical +authorities against me, of blasphemy and sacrilege, and though the +charges were true enough, I am sorry to say, I did not reckon in +expiating my past sins so sharply. For it was on these very charges that +I was arrested by order of high ecclesiastical dignitaries and condemned +to two years imprisonment; and many a thaler has it cost me already to +avoid being put into irons." + +At these words he blew into his big pipe-bowl so energetically, that the +sparks flew up and illuminated his face in the darkness with a strangely +sinister light. + +"And now, friend Ráby, who has the greater ground of complaint, you or +I?" + +He did not wait for an answer to his question, but began to curse away +furiously for some minutes with a virulence terrible to hear. When he +had finished his round of imprecations (and it was no limited one), he +threw himself on his bed and fell asleep. + +As for Ráby, he pondered long and deeply all he had heard about his +faithless wife, and once more she seemed to be spinning beside him, yet +there was a grim satisfaction that others had suffered beside himself. +Was he not avenged on the highwayman at last, seeing that the biter was +bitten! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + +The Emperor sent urgent orders to the governor to set Mathias Ráby free +immediately, so that the inquiry into the Szent-Endre frauds, +established on his accusation, could be brought to an end. + +The letter was laid by with the rest, as usual, unread. The governor +however hastened to answer that the orders would be executed in due +course--when the depositions of the municipality had been taken--an +explanation which satisfied the Emperor, who little knew what the "due +course" extended to. + +It really meant that the culprit Ráby was brought out of his prison, not +to be freed, but rather to be fettered hand and foot. That is usual when +a prisoner is to be tried, and this was his first examination. + +In the presence of the whole court, and of the district commissioner, +they subjected him to an insidious cross-examination for fully four +hours, till he was ready to drop from sheer exhaustion. Only half of the +accusations brought against him would have sufficed for his +condemnation. + +Finally, he was conducted back to prison. He staggered into the room he +had left, but the gaoler called him back. + +"Oho, there, Mr. prisoner, that's not your cell. Those who wear irons +don't lodge there!" + +And he led him into a neighbouring cell whose door was furnished with +three massive locks, whilst the window was protected with iron bars and +a grating. The only furniture was a plank bed; of table or chairs, there +were none. The prisoner's books had not been sent in either. + +Although it was dinner-time, and he had eaten nothing, no dainty meal +awaited him, such as those he had been accustomed to, nor even was he +allowed the ordinary prison fare allotted to well-born culprits. A +heyduke brought in a great earthen pitcher with a crust of black bread. + +"Here you are, my fine sir," laughed the heyduke mockingly, but, as he +bent to set it down on the stone floor, he whispered, "The bottom comes +off!" + +Then he left him, carefully locking the door behind him. + +Now was Ráby's wish fulfilled, he was rid of unpleasant company and was +alone. But solitude had been more welcome if they had allowed him his +books. As it was, he only had his own thoughts for company, and these +were not cheerful companions. + +Ráby's soul was full of rage against the whole world, but most of all +was he angry with his own weak body that was so sensitive to hunger and +cold, that trembled at the thought of death, and felt the pressure of +its chains so keenly. Why could not he carry his body as defiantly as +he bore his soul within him? + +But he knew that he needed some support, therefore he began to eat +mechanically the black bread, but had it been the daintiest fare +possible, it had tasted all the same to him. Only when he raised the +pitcher to his lips, did he remember the words of the heyduke about the +"bottom coming off." He began to examine the pitcher, and presently, by +dint of close scrutiny, he found that it had a false bottom which +screwed on, and found a cavity in which was concealed a bottle of ink, +pen and paper. With them were some slices of cold meat, as well as a +note containing these words: "Fear nothing; the Emperor knows all. Your +friends will not forsake you. Write once more to the Emperor." + +Now he no longer feared solitude. The phantoms and fears which had +tormented him hitherto, vanished with the sight of pen and ink. A +written thought is a substantial friend. So he committed to paper all +that had befallen him, hid the writing again in the bottom of the +pitcher, and re-screwed it on. The meat, too, revived him, and the +consciousness that he was not left to his fate, and that he could still +communicate with the outer world, was strangely comforting. Who his +unknown friend might be, he could not conceive. It must be some one more +powerful than the weak girl whose part in this business his own heart +had already suggested to him. + +The next morning, in came the gaoler with the same heyduke, who carried +away the pitcher, and at mid-day brought him his rations as before. + +Ráby could hardly wait till he had gone, to unscrew his pitcher. Sure +enough, he found some writing materials therein, and the money for +covering the fee of a special courier for his letter. His friends must +be wealthy people. + +He quickly hid all again, however, for steps were approaching his cell. + +The door opened, and three men came in, who proved to be Laskóy, Petray, +and the lieutenant of Szent-Endre. The latter handed to Ráby the bill of +his indictment. + +The prisoner immediately handed it back to him. + +"It is not you who are the accusers in this matter, but rather I," he +said haughtily. "It is for me to impeach you, not the reverse. I refuse +to accept it." + +"Take care," cried Laskóy. "Weigh well the consequences of this +rejection. If you do not receive the indictment, we will soon tackle you +as a contumacious criminal." + +"I dare you to do it," returned Ráby. + +"The man is a fool; he shall take it," cried Laskóy, beside himself with +rage. + +Ráby folded his arms proudly, so that they should not force it on him. + +"Mr. lieutenant, witness that he will not take it and draw up a warrant +of attainder for contumacity." + +The lieutenant proceeded to carry out these instructions. + +"And while you are about it, certify that I threw the document out of +the room," said Ráby, suiting the action to the word. + +This was an unheard-of audacity. The three men withdrew uttering violent +threats. + +After a time, in came the castellan with a very long face. + +"Now I would not give a cracked nut for your chances," he cried. "They +are going to pronounce judgment immediately. The executioner has been +told to hold himself in readiness for to-morrow. We have martial law on +our side, and the Emperor himself cannot gainsay it." + +These words caused Ráby to think over what he had done. It was, of +course, only too likely that their legal right could be strained before +the Emperor had any chance of interfering; in this case, he would have +lost his head before the latter could prevent it. The thought tormented +him the whole night through. The strong soul in vain reminded the weak +body which held it that dying was not to be feared, but philosophy +availed nothing before the thought of imminent death. + +The next morning found the prisoner restless and wakeful. It was hardly +day ere he heard a number of footsteps approaching his dungeon. The iron +door was thrown open, and a whole crowd burst into his cell, the +magistrate and the lieutenant among them, whilst following them, came a +man he took to be the public executioner of Pesth. + +A sudden faintness overcame him; all seemed to swim before his eyes, +and he heard nothing of what they said. The man who looked like the +executioner began to undress and roll up his shirt-sleeves. Ráby +imagined they were going to execute him in prison. The +forbidding-looking wretch then called for assistance, and bid them bring +him his tools. + +Ráby heaved a deep sigh and folded his arms across his breast, whereat +the whole company burst out laughing. The tools which the man had asked +for were a hammer, a trowel, and a tub of mortar. He was, in fact, no +executioner, but an ordinary mason, who was going to block up the window +in Ráby's cell which overlooked the street, and bore an air-hole in the +ceiling. They were going to shut out the prisoner from the outside world +altogether. Henceforth his cell would receive no light but what fell +from the tiny opening over the door which gave into the court, and was +darkened with a narrow iron grating. + +Moreover, from this day forward, Ráby was subjected to daily +cross-examination, and every means was tried to entangle him and make +him contradict himself. + +The twenty indictments first formulated against him rapidly lengthened +to treble that number. And so it went on for a month, nor did they ever +succeed in incriminating him. But it was a painful process for the +accused. + +One day the gaoler brought a bird into Ráby's cell, a magpie, who by his +chattering mightily cheered the captive. The feathered guest sat on his +hand, and pecked his finger in a playful way as if it had been an old +friend. And Ráby stroked the soft plumage tenderly, and he guessed it +was Mariska who had sent it to cheer his loneliness which had become +well-nigh unbearable, and he welcomed it as a comrade. Whilst he +listened to it, as it sat on his hand, he would almost forget the irons +that fettered them, and would, on his return from the court each day, +whistle to his little friend on re-entering his cell. + +But one day there was no answer to his greeting; all was silent. Ráby +sought for his pet in every corner of the cell, and at last found the +bird strangled, tied to the iron grating, killed by his enemies because +of the pleasure it had given him. + +Had Ráby seen one of his own kith and kin dead before him, he could not +have grieved more than he did for this feathered friend. Nor did he get +any sympathy from the gaoler, who only laughed when he heard of it. But +Ráby implored him not to tell Mariska of the fate of her pet. + +That official, however, promptly reported the whole affair to Mariska, +and took care to carry her the dead bird. Bitterly she wept over her +favourite, but remembering her father might see she had been crying, she +soon dried her eyes. + +But Ráby must not be alone; that was the main thing. So she did not long +delay in sending another feathered pet, a titmouse this time, in a +cage, which she intrusted to the gaoler to carry to the prisoner, but on +no account to let him know who sent it. As if Ráby would not guess! + +The warder placed the cage on the prisoner's bed, murmured some excuse +for bringing it, and left him. He did not see Ráby fall upon his knees +before the cage in a transport of almost hysterical joy. And the little +bird soon became as dear to him as the magpie had been. + +But one evening, when he came in from the wearisome cross-examination +that seemed as if it would never end, lo, and behold, there lay the +titmouse dead in his cage. Someone had fed him with poisoned flies. + +Ráby implored the gaoler not to bring him any more birds. Henceforth he +determined not to have these feathered friends sacrificed to him. + +All the same, he soon found another pet in the shape of a little mouse, +which, like himself, lived in captivity. At first it only timidly put +its head out of its hole, and glided shyly and warily along the side of +the wall; gradually, however, it perceived that the cell's occupant had +strewn bread-crumbs on the floor, and furtively yet nimbly it picked +them up. And by degrees it came nearer to the prisoner, and presently +ventured to run up his knees and dared to eat the crumbs that the +stranger hand held, and finally, in that same hand, sat on its hind +legs, looking at Ráby with the most whimsical expression imaginable on +its diminutive face. + +Poor Ráby! The mouse might well look at him; perhaps it wondered who +this haggard, unkempt man was, with the tangled growth of unshaven beard +and lank hair drooping over the hollow eyes, framing a pale, lean face, +disfigured by suffering. + +This was the beginning of their strange friendship. The mouse would +sport round him the whole day, or gambol about on his shoulder, and at +night, would, as he lay on his plank bed, watch him from the ceiling, +with bright, friendly eyes. Did Ráby call to it, it would answer him +with a little responsive squeak, and try to gnaw the links of the chain +that bound the prisoner, with its tiny teeth. But did anyone enter, the +mouse would hurry back into its hole. + +But alas, there came a time when he had to lose even this humble +companion. One evening he missed him, and only found the poor little +beast dead in a corner--someone, apparently, having placed rat-poison in +its hole. What the prisoner's feelings were, words do not express; his +whole heart welled over with bitterness at this fresh proof of the +malice of his enemies. They were, indeed, evil hearts that could find +their pleasure in thus tormenting their victim. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + +When the points in Ráby's indictment had mounted up to eighty, he +thought it time to make his protest to the presiding judge: + +"I am shattered in mind and body alike; I desire to withdraw the +accusation I have made, seeing it in no wise profits the oppressed +people in whose interests I lodged it, but rather tends to their further +hurt." + +"That avails nothing," was the answer. "The accusation has been +presented to the Emperor, and the complainant must justify it. Is the +treasure to which the impeachment relates, found, a third of it falls to +the informer; is the information thus lodged proved to be false, the +informer forfeits his head forthwith. So out with your proofs!" + +"Proofs? How can I furnish them I should like to know, fettered as I am, +from a dungeon?" cried Ráby in desperation. "Are not all my documents in +the hands of my enemies? Have not the archives of Szent-Endre been +destroyed, and my private papers abstracted, so that I am denied all +means of procuring the proofs I need?" + +"How do you know that?" asked the judge, dumbfoundered. + +"I know it only too well. Nay, I know too, it happened at the +instigation of the authorities." + +"This is the gravest evidence we have yet had of your guilt," cried the +judge; "this shows you have held intercourse with the outside world, +although forbidden by the law to do so." + +"It only proves I am right," retorted the prisoner. + +"Pray who are your accomplices who helped you in your correspondence?" +demanded his accuser angrily. + +"No one and everyone body. The bare walls, the air itself, the iron +door, my fetters, my guards--all are my accomplices if you like to call +them so." + +"Well, we will just make your chains a little faster so you can't move +about quite so easily, my friend, that's all." + +"That avails you nothing," exclaimed Ráby. "Their clanking sounds even +now in the ears of one who is your imperial lord and master, and will +shortly be here in his city of Pesth to sit in judgment upon you. Let +the guilty tremble before him, I have no need to do so." + +These bold words enraged the judge beyond measure. How did Ráby know +that the Emperor was about to come to Pesth for the military manœuvres, +and there review the troops in person. Did he know as well that the +Szent-Endre people were only biding their time to send a deputation to +the Kaiser to ask for Ráby's release, and to demand an inquiry into the +conduct of the Pesth authorities in imprisoning him. It never occurred +to them that an ordinary water-pitcher with a false bottom held the +letters which Ráby wrote and received, and that each heyduke who carried +it, was an involuntary courier. + +In vain did they interrogate the heyduke who brought it, and ordered him +to be beaten; for each stroke the man received, he was sent by some +unknown hand a gold piece, so he was not inclined to complain. + +When the Emperor did arrive in Pesth, the following August, he learned +with surprise that his emissary was still detained in prison. He +straightway sent for the head magistrate, expressed his displeasure, and +ordered Ráby's immediate release on pain of all the authorities of the +city being dismissed from office. This was an order which had to be +obeyed. + +So forthwith in the Emperor's presence, the mandate was sent that +Mathias Ráby be immediately released from custody. The command was +peremptory and admitted of no evasion. + +But the next night someone thrust under the door of Ráby's cell, a note +containing these words: + +"Be ready this night! Your true friends are coming to fetch you away. +They will overpower the gaoler, take away the keys from him, and set you +free." + +"But it is evident," reflected Ráby, "this is not from my friends; we +don't conduct our correspondence like this. They have heard the Emperor +has ordered my release, and now they want to convict me of trying to +escape by force." And he gave the letter to the gaoler. + +But, alas, it only made an excuse for a fresh inquisition, and they +based on it the pretence of "a plot against the public safety." +Moreover, it was held to justify a still more rigorous treatment of the +prisoner, who on this fresh charge of conspiring with bandits, was +declared to have merited imprisonment anew. And the inquiry which +followed lasted late into the autumn, whilst the Emperor was too much +occupied in his fresh war with the Turks to be aware of this new turn of +affairs. + +And Ráby's fetters were meantime rivetted more closely than ever, so +that he could not write any more, and his wretched prison fare grew +worse and worse. The winter too had come, and the prisoner was well-nigh +frozen in his cell, for the dungeon was not warmed, and he had only his +summer clothing which was now in tatters. On his complaining of the cold +to the judges, they gave orders that Ráby's cell should be heated three +times a day. + +The end of it was that they placed a stove in the cell which was so +violently overheated that it burst, and Ráby had to press his face to +the wall in desperation to cool his scorched brow. Yet he could have +escaped had he chosen, for the door of his cell was often left open, as +if to abet his flight. But Ráby, when he did leave prison, meant to +leave it proudly and fearlessly, as an innocent man who is rightfully +acquitted before his country's tribunal, not as a fugitive. + +One day the gaoler came in to say that permission had been given for the +prisoner to be shaved, and for his irons to be removed--a grace for +which Ráby hardly knew how to be thankful enough. It was a deadly pale, +if clean-shaven face that the barber's mirror reflected, but small +wonder, seeing that Ráby had not seen the sunlight for a year and a +half. This luxury was followed by an amelioration of his prison fare, +and fresh bedding, for both of which benefits, especially the last, he +was duly grateful, for it meant a good night's rest. + +However, that very night, Ráby was awakened from his first sleep by a +tremendous rattling at his cell door, and the next minute it was burst +open, and the light of the full moon flooded his dungeon. The prisoner +thought he must be dreaming, but the same instant the cell was suddenly +filled by a band of masked men in Turkish attire, with huge turbans on +their heads, and armed with an array of weapons, including swords and +muskets. + +Ráby was wondering in what language to address his strange visitors, +when one of them accosted him in Serb, and then Hungarian. + +"Fear nothing, Mr. Ráby. We are true friends from Szent-Endre, and have +bribed the guard and occupied the Assembly House. We have come to set +you free from this wretched dungeon by the Emperor's orders." + +"But I do not wish to purchase my freedom by force," answered the +captive, "and if the Emperor wished to deliver me, it would surely not +be by masqueraders sent by night, but by his accredited emissaries in +the full light of day." + +"Here's the order signed by the Emperor," and the head of the band of +maskers handed Ráby a document which contained detailed and definite +instructions anent the Szent-Endre affair, set forth in Serb, which was +the Emperor's favourite language. + +Ráby protested against the idea of flight, but they overpowered his +resistance, and made a show of armed force. "Silence, or you are a dead +man," was their only answer to his protestations, and the prisoner, weak +and enfeebled as he was by his privations, and dazed by the sudden +surprise which had thus overtaken him, fell at last in a dead faint and +lost all consciousness. + +When he came to himself, he was dressed as a woman, in the coloured +bodice and embroidered apron of the Serb peasant girl, and his hair tied +with gay ribbons; it was for this, no doubt, that he had been shaven. + +Ráby's entreaties availed nothing. In vain he implored them to desist, +and reminded them the military would be sent to overtake them, and then +all would be over! His representations achieved nothing with his +rescuers, and finally a rough, but powerful-looking fellow of the party +seized Ráby and carried him off on his back out of the cell, followed +by the whole crew shouting and howling. The inhabitants of the Assembly +House must have been stone deaf, had they not been aroused by the +tumult. The band dashed in the moonlight through the court and gateway, +past the guard-room where four-and-twenty were wont to sleep, without +being questioned by a single soul as to their escapade. + +It was towards the Kecskemét gate that they hurried, as the likeliest +one to be open, so as to get off thus with least delay, and thence away +to the river-bank. + +At that time, communication with the other side of the Danube was kept +up by a so-called "flying-bridge," that was a work of art in its archaic +way, consisting of a flat raft-like contrivance, whereto was attached a +thick cable, which half a dozen small boats served to keep out of the +water. Behind the last boat, at the so-called "Nun's Ferry," below Hare +Island, the cable was fast anchored. Linked to this cable, the raft was +towed by a single oar to and fro. At night the ferry was not generally +used and the ferry-men were not there, but this time they were at their +posts ready for the expected passengers. The masked Turks took their +places on it without delay, and off they drifted. + +Poor Ráby was trembling in every limb, principally from the bitter cold +of the December night, which, after his long confinement from the outer +air, struck his senses with the sharpness of a knife. Moreover, he was +not quite sure that these strange rescuers would not throw him +overboard into the river, to find there an unknown and unhonoured grave. + +However, they did nothing of the kind, but the party reached the other +side safely. There horses, ready saddled, awaited them, and a coach and +four. Three of the sham Turks sprang into the vehicle, and dragged Ráby +with them. The rest mounted the horses, and they took the way along the +Old Buda road. + +One of the escort had the kindness to throw his cloak over the freezing +prisoner, the coach leading the way, the riders following. But gradually +the horsemen dropped off till, when they reached Vörösvár, not one was +to be seen. + +By this time the released prisoner had succumbed to the unaccustomed +strain on his already exhausted and overwrought nerves, and had lost all +consciousness of what was going on around him, so that he had to be +lifted out of the carriage in a swoon when they stopped at an inn. + +When he awoke from his stupor late the next morning, he was in a +comfortable bed. Only two of his late companions were to be seen, and +they no longer wore Turkish dress, but the garb of the well-to-do Serb +peasant, and, indeed, turned out to be respectable peasant-proprietors +of Szent-Endre. + +Yet neither their names nor faces were known to Ráby. + +For the rest, his two guardians showed themselves full of consideration +for their patient. They procured him warm clothing, caused light +invalid food to be prepared for him, and begged him not to be too +anxious to try his strength with the journey. When Ráby had sufficiently +rested, the coachman received orders to drive slowly, so that it might +not exhaust the traveller, and they set out again, not without many +misgivings from the fugitive as to whether they could not be overtaken +and their flight intercepted. + +One of his companions, who told him his name was Kurovics, besought him +to make his mind easy on this score. He pointed out how they would get +the start of the authorities before these could mobilise their forces. +Then no one knew of the disguise in which Ráby had escaped; from the +description which the Pesth court would issue for his recovery, no one +would recognise him, so he had no cause for fear. + +They only made two stages a day, so that the journey to Pozsony (which +was their goal,) lasted eight days, through resting at the inns on the +road. His companions gave themselves out as pig-dealers, and said Ráby +was their cousin. The third day they fell in with a party of armed +heydukes who were searching for their charge. They stopped the +cavalcade, and told them of their quest. At each wayside inn Ráby could +read the notice which posted him up as a criminal and outlaw, for whose +identification a reward of two hundred ducats was offered. To his +relief, the description of him corresponded to the appearance he had +presented in prison, with an over-grown beard, tangled hair, and pale +face, wearing a faded silk coat. Little did his pursuers imagine that in +the shy Serb maiden, with her cheeks painted red, who understood nothing +but her native tongue, that the fugitive they sought stood before them. +More than once it even happened that Ráby and his pursuers slept under +the same roof. + +Meantime, he became more and more attached to his two friends, whose +worth he began to realise increasingly. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + +The fugitives had only one more station to accomplish before they +reached the Austrian frontier, where the Hungarian jurisdiction ceased. +Was there trouble at the frontier over Ráby's identification, at least +it meant that he would be taken to Vienna to prove it, and not back to +Pesth. + +They heard from travellers they met on the way that the Emperor was back +in the capital, owing to the army being in winter quarters, and +hostilities against the Turks being suspended for the time being. Ráby, +thereupon grew more anxious than ever as to his possible reception by +the Kaiser, whose concurrence he still doubted in his forcible rescue, +though, by this, the Emperor had doubtless seen that his formal orders +availed nothing, and he probably thought it impolitic to use military +force to free his representative. + +It was revolving such thoughts in his mind, that Ráby and his guides +came to the wayside inn where they were to pass their last night on +Magyar territory. It was a poor little "csárda," as such hostelries are +called in Hungary, between Pozsony and Hainburg, wherein only now and +again travellers passed the night, driven thereto by stress of weather. +The accommodation left much to be desired, and its reputation was none +of the best. It was whispered, indeed, that travellers had been murdered +and waylaid there, and even now the host was serving his term in the +Pozsony prison, where he was a frequent inmate. In his absence, his wife +looked after the inn. + +There was no proper sleeping-rooms, so the guests had to rest on the +straw thrown down for them in the public dining-room, where they forgot +their differences of rank as best they could, while the only light was a +single tallow candle suspended from the ceiling in a hanging +tin-candlestick. + +Laying about on the benches, or on the long table, were a crowd of +guests that included peasants and shepherds, pedlars and smugglers, +while the air was rank with odours of strong cheese, onions, and +tobacco-smoke. The hostess ministered herself to the wants of the +guests, and handed round the wine. + +It was among this company that Ráby and his companions took their +places; as there was no other woman present among the travellers, the +hostess expressed some fear that the pretended Serb maiden would find it +somewhat uncomfortable. + +The two men thanked her, but said they would look after their sister, +and ordered a stewed fowl and some wine, for which the party paid in +advance. The water was too bad for anyone to depend on, so Ráby had to +drink wine, which, unaccustomed as he was to it, soon made him feel +drowsy. + +In a few minutes he was fast asleep, with his head pillowed on his +folded arms on the table. + +His slumbers, however, were soon to be disturbed, for there was a loud +noise heard outside as of the trampling of horses and the clash of +weapons. The hostess said it must be a party of heydukes, and sure +enough it was. + +Now Ráby had ceased to be fearful of discovery by these pursuers, as +from the description of him so industriously circulated, they could not +recognise him in his present disguise. Moreover, he had been carefully +shaven every day since his flight, and his face newly painted, the +better to sustain his rôle. + +But this time he had cause for anxiety, for the first voice he heard +without was a hatefully familiar one--that of the castellan, Janosics. +How did he come to be here, for they were now in the jurisdiction of +Pozsony not of Pesth. He heard the castellan giving orders for one man +to come in with him, and the other to remain with the horses. + +Ráby stole a glance at the door which was half open. A cold shudder +seized him as he caught sight of Janosics wearing the Pesth uniform, and +carrying a carbine in his hand and a sword at his belt. + +Ráby pressed his head down lower, so his face might not be seen. The big +sleeves of his bodice helped him to hide his features the more easily. + +"Up all of you fellows, and let me have a look at you!" shouted the +castellan. Those present immediately obeyed, and submitted to the +inspection. + +"The man I want is not here," grumbled Janosics, as he rapidly ran over +the assembled faces, but when he came to Kurovics, he laughed aloud. + +"Aha, Master Kurovics, so you are here, are you? What brings you out +this bitter winter weather, pray?" + +"Oh, we must look after our business you know," answered the other, +without the least embarrassment. + +"Where's your passport?" + +"What do I want with one? I don't cross the frontier." + +"Well," shouted the other, "what may you be doing here?" + +"Hush! not so loud," retorted Kurovics, with a glance at Ráby. "I've got +my little cousin to look after." + +"Oh, that's the game, is it? Soho, I see; and a nice little baggage it +is, I'll be bound. Oh I don't want to wake her if she's tired." + +And the castellan sat down between Ráby and Kurovics, and asked the +latter for a bit of his tobacco. Then he smoked, but always keeping an +eye on Ráby. + +"Pretty, eh?" he asked, and he made as though he would raise the +coloured kerchief that half hid the sleeper's face. + +"Let her rest, Mr. castellan, I beg. She's wearied out with the +journey." + +"Well, well, let her be then, but you, hostess, bring us some wine, and +take some to the heyduke outside." + +"And what may you be doing in this neighbourhood, if I may be so bold?" +inquired Kurovics. + +"Oh, an important police-mission. A dangerous felon, the notorious +Mathias Ráby broke out of Pesth prison last week, and the descriptions +circulated of him are not correct, as I could have told them had they +asked me. The fellow is not bearded as described, but he was shaved the +day before he got out, and had a face as smooth as any girl's." + +Ráby felt as if the beatings of his heart would burst his bodice, as the +new-comer went on: + +"When I heard of it, I went to the authorities and told them the mistake +they had made, and offered to make it good by riding after the runaway +myself to see if I could identify him. And there are two hundred ducats +for the man who brings him back alive." + +"A nice round sum! I only wish I could find him," answered Kurovics. + +"I mean to take him myself," said Janosics coolly. "But hark ye, +Kurovics, is it possible that you yourself are leading my prisoner away +in a girl's garb? Just let me have another look at her." + +Ráby would have swooned, only that the castellan was now smoking so +closely under his nose that he was nearly choked by it. He was on the +point of springing up and surrendering in sheer desperation; it was with +the greatest difficulty he mastered his feelings, above all his +inclination to cough, for raising his head would betray him directly. +And the suspicion too arose in him that perhaps, after all, his guides +were accomplices in a comedy which had for its _dénouement_ the arrest +of the fugitive just as he was making sure of safety. + +"Now I must see her face," said Janosics, and Ráby felt his enemy's +clammy hand laid on his brow. + +"Won't you look at me, little one? I can speak Serb quite well," sneered +his persecutor. And the castellan forcibly raised Ráby's head, and +looked him in the face with a grin of malicious triumph. + +But just then the heyduke, who had been waiting outside, dashed into the +room in hot haste, crying excitedly, "Villám Pista is here!" With that +the scene was changed, and Janosics had to make way for a mightier +rival. The very name of the renowned robber-chief spread consternation, +and the carabineers, on hearing it, promptly threw their weapons away, +the better to run for their lives, while the whole company scattered +pell-mell, some out of the window, and others up the chimney, in their +hot haste to get off. There was no one finally left in the room but Ráby +and his two companions, and the hostess. + +Outside, they heard some shots fired, followed by a feeble groan that +seemed to come from Janosics. Then the door flew open, and Villám Pista +himself entered, accompanied by two comrades, his rifle in his hand +still smoking from the recent shot. He was a fine-looking young fellow, +with no trace of beard on his smooth, handsome face. His bearing and +air showed that he was accustomed to be master of the situation wherever +he was. His dress fitted him admirably, a richly embroidered cloak fell +across his shoulders, on his head was perched a jauntily feathered cap, +and a short pipe was in his mouth. + +"They are a cursed lot," he cried, as he threw the weapon on to the +table. "But I've paid them out; they won't ride quite so merrily back as +they did in coming, I'll be bound. I'm sorry, however, the shot did not +finish them." + +Then he looked round the room. "Bless me, what a miserable light! Is +that what you call lighting up?" And he whistled to the hostess, who +hurried up with a dozen candles, and promptly placed them on the table +in as many sticks. + +Ráby's companions had placed themselves before him, so that their +mantles rather screened him from the highwayman. But the latter spied +him out at once owing to his dress, and seizing Ráby by the hand, he +dragged him out into the middle of the room. For a moment, they looked +each other steadily in the face, and Ráby recognised in the +robber-leader, his wife, Fruzsinka! + +And thus it was that they met. But the supposed highwayman still did not +betray the situation. He drew Ráby closer to him, and whispered hastily +in his ear, "Pretend you are frightened, and make your escape by the +door." + +Ráby obeyed, and with a bound across the room, in a trice was outside. +Fruzsinka followed him, and grasped his hand in hers. + +"We have no time for talking. A whole gang of heydukes from Pesth is on +your track. Come away immediately; here are the horses of your +persecutors; up and ride for your life till you have left the frontier +behind you. Do not trust even your companions who will follow you, but +do not wait for them." + +And so saying, she helped Ráby to mount, only he was so exhausted he +found it difficult to keep his seat, and was crying like a child. + +"Weep not thus, wretched man," she cried impatiently. "Shame on you for +your weakness! Why do you look at me like that? We have nothing more to +do with each other, you and I. But fly, and look not back, and beware of +ever setting foot in this accursed country again, for whose sake you +have made both me and yourself so miserable." + +While she spoke, she cast her cloak about him to protect him from the +bitter cold of the winter's night. + +Ráby would have spoken one last word, but she cut him short by switching +his horse's flanks with her riding whip, whereat the animal bounded away +over the ground, where the snow already lay a foot deep. And the last +sound Ráby heard from the "csárda" was the cracking of Villám Pista's +whip. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + +It really looked as if Ráby's flight had been a predetermined affair, so +that allowing him to get off in woman's clothes, the authorities might +recapture him to lead him back to Pesth in triumph, more degraded than +ever in the public eyes, only that the appearance of Villám Pista +somewhat disturbed this hypothesis. + +Villám Pista, otherwise Fruzsinka, in fact, had learned from spies that +Ráby had escaped from prison, having pitched her camp in the +neighbouring forest--a fitting abode for the half-crazed woman who now +lived at enmity with all the world, though she boasted that what she +robbed the rich of she divided among the poor--a sentiment which caused +the ten thousand ducats to be taken off Gyöngyöm Miska's head and set on +hers. But when she heard of the pursuit of Ráby, her heart smote her +with pity for the man she had so cruelly wronged, who was now a +persecuted fugitive. + +With her companions she had lain concealed in the forest near the inn, +till the arrival of the Pesth heydukes warned her that the time for +reprisals had come--with what results we have seen. + +But she only learned in what disguise Ráby had fled, when she saw him. +In an instant her plan was formed. The Pesth pursuers were all around; +if Ráby escaped them, he would be taken at the Austrian frontier, where, +seeing the Hungarian trappings of his horse, they would relegate him to +the Pesth authorities to deal with. And meditating on this thought, she +re-entered the inn. "She has escaped me," she cried, "and has dashed off +on one of the heyduke's horses." + +"You don't mean to say my cousin has run away!" cried Kurovics +anxiously. And he made as though to follow the fugitive Serb maiden. + +"Not so fast, my friend," exclaimed the robber-chief, "besides you have +not told me your name." And she questioned the two closely as to their +antecedents--questions which they did their best to evade. + +"Well, by way of passing the time, suppose I teach you how to dance! +We'll just see what you can do?" + +And with that, the pretended brigand took out an axe from under his coat +and dexterously threw it at Kurovics, so that he jumped up nervously as +it fell with its edge close to him. + +But the noise of shots fired without, arrested these diversions. Villám +Pista did not stop even to pick up the axe, but snatching the rifle from +the table bounded out to face this new alarm. + +Outside there stood her horse, which quickly mounting, she shouted to +her followers who were awaiting her orders, and galloped away into the +night. The fresh party of heydukes, with this new enemy to run down, +forgot all about Ráby (for on his head only two hundred ducats were set, +while it was a matter of ten thousand with Villám Pista). And that +chieftain was thinking that this delay would give Ráby time to cross the +river, while the frontier guards' attention would be distracted by the +shots fired. Two of the pursuers at last succeeded in running down +Villám Pista, and in cutting him off from his comrades. + +They were closing upon him in a thicket, and no outlet remained. + +"Is it the ten thousand ducats you are seeking?" laughed their enemy +contemptuously, as she took two pistols out of the holster, and seized +the while her horse's bridle in her mouth. And just as the assailants +approached closer, the robber fired, aiming not at the riders, but at +their steeds. Both beasts fell, the one with his rider under him, the +other on his knees, so that the heyduke was thrown over the horse's +head. + +Villám Pista clapped his hands and laughed aloud. "Now you can overtake +my husband," cried the false highwayman, and for the moment the old +Fruzsinka asserted herself. + +Then she vanished into the thicket, the gathering fog hiding all trace +of her, even as might disappear some wild valkyr of the old legends. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + +Ráby succeeded in crossing the frontier, the thick mist which veiled the +moonlight favouring his escape. The shame of the situation nearly killed +him. To be freed by a woman masquerading as a robber-chieftain--and that +woman his wife! His wretched spouse had done him many wrongs, yet this +one, although intended to benefit him, smote him as with a lash, and the +memory of her last words stung him to the quick. + +But he had by this reached the adjacent river, whose waters were not +sufficiently frozen over to bear the weight of both himself and his +horse. So he had to dismount and leave the animal behind, and then cross +the ice on foot as best he could. + +This was undoubtedly better than arriving at the Austrian frontier on +horseback, for a woman riding alone at that time of night would +certainly arouse the suspicions of the Austrian officials, and they +would probably escort him back to whence he came. So he dragged himself +to the first wayside inn he could find, and explained his presence there +with a story of his brothers having fallen into a snow-drift. The +kind-hearted people believed him, and when it was light, set out to find +his kinsmen. But whom, strangely enough, should they come across but +Ráby's two friends, who, after the fight with the heydukes, had set out +to follow him, not without many mishaps in the snow which bore out +Ráby's tale. + +It was a right merry meeting, and the three could eat and sleep in +safety now that they were free from their pursuers. They thought it best +to say nothing of the heydukes, in case they might be cited as +witnesses. There still lay a two days' journey before them across bad +roads ere they could reach Vienna. His friends' readiness to accompany +him convinced Ráby that they were in the service of the Emperor, and not +mercenaries of the Pesth authorities. In view of chance separating them +again, Kurovics made over to Ráby thirty gulden so that he might not be +without money. + +On Austrian territory, Kurovics became quite communicative, and let out +that he was no Szent-Endre burgher, but a well-to-do landed proprietor, +whose father had been ennobled by Maria Theresa, and that he was in the +Emperor's confidence. + +"And won't I just give you a reception if you ever come back to our +country," he cried, "not with passports, but with police and dragoons at +your back. I promise you I'll kill my finest sheep and roast it whole in +your honour, and open a bottle of the best wine my cellar contains to +drink your health in." + +"How do I know if I shall ever return?" queried Ráby sadly. + +But at last they reached Vienna, and put up at the "Dun Stag" by the Red +Tower Gate. Kurovics was evidently well known in the capital, and Ráby's +doubts about him were henceforth set at rest for good and all. + +Our hero had willingly taken a few days' repose after all the fatigues +of his onerous journey, but Kurovics would not hear of it. "Get to work +directly," he urged, "the Emperor is anxiously awaiting your +explanations. Write down your indictment, and do not wait to change your +clothes, but just come as you are into the palace, and we will come with +you as far as the Hofburg. For you know here in Vienna, everyone who +comes into the city has to report himself immediately, and state his +business here. It is possible that the Vienna police have already +received instructions from Pesth, in this case they will perhaps lock +you up before you can get a hearing with his Majesty, so be beforehand +and get the start of your enemies." + +And Ráby thought it as well to take this advice, so he proceeded to put +on paper his report as simply and briefly as possible. He was, moreover, +convinced that Kurovics was a genuine friend of the people, for he gave +him many proofs of gross abuse of authority on the part of the Pesth +officials. + +Hardly was the ink on the paper dried, than they chartered a coach and +drove off to the Hofburg, in order to be in time for the daily audience +which the Emperor was accustomed to hold for those who sought a +hearing. The audience chamber led straight into the Emperor's own +private cabinet, and was daily, from the hours of ten in the morning +till one o'clock, filled by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of +people, who came furnished with written petitions, or preferring +requests, unannounced and in every-day dress, to seek a personal +audience of the Emperor, which was always granted to them in turn. + +Joseph spoke all the languages of the polyglot races he governed, and +was equally versed in all the various _patois_, though he usually +conversed in German with the petitioners of higher rank. + +It was a mixed crowd which now stood awaiting the imperial +pleasure--prelates, soldiers, Jews, mourning-clad widows, finely dressed +ladies, and peasants in their varied national costumes, jostled one +another in the ante-chamber in which Ráby and his friends found +themselves. There was no precedence of rank observed, for the Emperor +would speak to whomsoever he willed first, though none were overlooked. + +All at once a hush fell on the chattering crowd, and only a subdued +whisper was heard here and there, as the moment for the Emperor's +appearance had arrived. Ráby was not a little shocked to note how his +imperial master had altered: camp life had apparently not suited him. +His cheeks were hollowed as with sickness, and his features bore the +unmistakable marks of the ravages of both bodily and mental suffering; +only the clear blue eyes he remembered so well of old, were unchanged. + +Amid the crowd of suppliants, the Emperor seemed not to observe Ráby and +his companions. At last Ráby ventured to press into his hand his report. + +"What is this?" asked the Kaiser in German, as he pocketed the document +without looking at its contents. + +All those who had spoken with the Emperor had to withdraw directly the +audience was over, and Ráby and his friends were at last the only ones +left. The Emperor seeing that they still waited, demanded of Kurovics +what it was they sought? + +Kurovics thereupon with a low bow, gave him to understand they were only +accompanying the lady. + +"I have received her petition already," said Joseph, "what does the girl +want?" + +"Does not your Majesty remember me?" asked Ráby in a low voice. + +The Emperor scanned him sharply with no sign of recognition. + +"I have never seen you before," he exclaimed coldly. "What is your +name?" + +"Sire, I am Mathias Ráby!" + +His Majesty clasped his hands with a vivid gesture of surprise. + +"Ráby! is it possible? Have you lost your reason then that you dress +thus? Whence do you come in this masquerading attire?" + +"From the dungeons of the Pesth Assembly House, Sire." + +The Emperor seized him by the hand, and drew him without a word into his +cabinet. + +Two secretaries there were very busy sorting documents. The Emperor led +the Serb peasant girl up to them. + +"Now, gentlemen, say, do you recognise this lady?" + +The secretaries were perplexed, and denied all knowledge of the +new-comer. + +"Come, come, gentlemen," said the Emperor jestingly, "tell the truth, +for I'll wager that you have often met before, to say nothing of the +lively correspondence you have carried on of late." + +The secretaries called heaven and earth to witness they had never seen +the stranger in their lives before, and had not the slightest idea who +she might be. + +"This lady is no other than Mr. Mathias Ráby." + +At these words, in defiance of all court etiquette, both burst out +laughing, and in their merriment the Emperor himself joined heartily. + +Only Ráby looked grave, and did not share their amusement. Even now +through the paint on his cheeks, the angry colour flamed--a fact which +did not escape the Emperor. + +"But however did you manage to put on this disguise?" he asked. + +"Simply because I heard your Majesty had ordered I should do so," +answered Ráby. + +"I? Why whatever put such a thing into your head, I should like to +know?" + +"Here are the instructions I received," and Ráby handed him his friends' +paper. + +The Kaiser shook his head as he went through it. "Of course I understand +Serb," he said; "but I never wrote this. Where did you get it from?" + +"From the leader of the twenty-four men dressed as Turks, who, in your +Majesty's name, dragged me by night from out of the dungeon of the +Assembly House in Pesth. Two of them came hither with me. Your Majesty +saw them in the other room." + +"Bring them in here," ordered the Emperor. + +One of the two secretaries went then and there to fetch them in, but +returned immediately with the news that the two men had already left the +Hofburg. + +"The police must be notified," said Joseph. + +But all their trouble was in vain. The two unknowns on leaving the +palace had made direct for the river-bank, where a boat manned by four +oarsmen had awaited them, and carried them away in the fog which +overhung the river. + +Here was an enigma to clear up! Why the men had conducted him to the +palace; why they had waited for his meeting with the Emperor and then +deserted him entirely; whether they had been indeed friends or foes in +disguise, Ráby could not imagine. It remained an unsolved mystery. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + +That year saw the appearance of a strange and new phenomenon in Vienna, +namely the first Hungarian newspaper. Then for the first time did the +Magyar feel he had a purpose in life, and see that by providing the +world with a certain quantity of news (whether true or otherwise it +mattered not to him), he could get for that same news a certain amount +of money. + +Such was the _début_ of the _Magyar Hiradó_; it was edited in Vienna, +and then circulated in Hungary forthwith. Little it mattered to its +readers what were the news it contained; as long as there was something +to read was the main concern of its eager public. + +And so it was that a copy of the _Magyar Hiradó_ found its way to the +Assembly House in Pesth, for the head-notary, Tárhalmy, had been +extravagant enough to invest in one. His neighbours borrowed it freely, +and many were the messages that Mariska received to ask her to procure +for the senders the loan of the coveted news-sheet. And even the girl +herself was not without curiosity to see what this famous journal +contained, though she was too ignorant of Hungarian to be able to +understand its contents. She fondly imagined that everything that +happened in the world would be written down there as news, and she often +tried to spell out the strange Magyar sentences. + +One day, however, after more futile efforts than usual, she summoned up +courage to ask her father the question she had at heart! + +"Father, is poor Mathias Ráby released?" + +Tárhalmy looked at her sadly, he guessed well enough the reason of her +study of the _Magyar Hiradó_. + +"This time he is free, child," he answered; "but if he runs into danger +again, he won't get off so easily." + +"Is he really a bad man, father?" + +"He is the best man alive, and both just and honourable." + +Mariska shook her head with a puzzled air, yet she would find out still +more now that the ice was broken. + +"And the men who prosecute him--are they just also?" + +Tárhalmy did not shirk the answer: "No, they are unjust men," he said +shortly. + +Mariska grew bolder still, "How is it that a man who is really good can +be ruined by those who are evil?" + +"Because it is the way of the world, my child," returned her father. + +"Are you vexed with Mathias Ráby?" she inquired in a low voice. + +"No, I love him as if he were my own son," was the answer. + +"And yet you cannot defend him against those who intend him ill?" + +"I cannot." + +"And why not?" + +"Because I myself am on their side." + +The girl gazed at him in astonishment. + +"My father taking the part of the unjust against the just, how can that +be?" + +"It is a big question which cannot be judged by ordinary standards. +Besides, how should a child like you understand?" + +Yet Tárhalmy marvelled at the girl's questions; they reached their mark. +But he felt he owed her an explanation. + +"I will try and make it clear," he said. "Our Emperor is a very +well-meaning man who has the welfare of this country at heart. He +honestly wants to benefit the people he rules over. But one thing he +does not understand, and that is the love of the Magyar for his native +land and his Hungarian institutions. If our mother is sick, do we cease +to love her? And so it is with Hungary, we, her children, know her +weakness and her wants, but we do not cease to love her the less. The +Emperor does not understand us; he wishes to civilise us before we are +ready for it, to mould us to his own ideals of a nation. He does not +want, as other rulers have done, to crush us, but he would have us +develop by new and unfamiliar methods. Against force we could oppose +force, yet he does not attempt to coerce us, but seeks only to impose on +us the weight of his authority. Thus it is that he sends orders which no +one obeys, and there are none of his officials who dare carry them out. +The whole body of Hungarian opinion in this land is dead against his +reforms, and will continue to oppose them tooth and nail." + +Now all this did not trouble Mariska; she understood so little of it. +Moreover, what her father said must be true. Yet she could not see what +the Emperor's dealings with Hungary had to do with Ráby's imprisonment. + +"It is a bit difficult for my little girl to grasp, isn't it?" went on +Tárhalmy kindly. "Unfortunately the Emperor does not understand how to +deal with our constitution. For instance, the members of our governing +body are chosen every three years, so that if any among them are proven +to be unworthy of the office, they can be rejected at the end of their +term. But the Emperor stretches his prerogative, and rules that these +offices are to be held for life. And as long as he persists in tampering +with our constitution and interferes with the existing order in the +state, so long will Hungarians put every hindrance in the way of his +emissaries. Nay, they would rather condone the misdeeds of corrupt +officials than reach the hand of fellowship to an idealist like Ráby, +who is inspired by a noble belief in the righteousness of his mission, +and sincerely imagines he is going to free the people of this land from +long-standing ills. That is why they make him suffer for his boldness, +and will make him suffer yet more, if an evil chance brings him hither +once again. He will find the anger of the entire nation aroused against +him. Moreover, now that the whole nation is incensed with the Emperor +for carrying on the war against the Turks with his Russian allies, and +is refusing him both subsidies and recruits, it is less likely than ever +to view those who carry out his reforms with favour. And meantime, we +honest well-meaning folk who only desire to live at peace with God and +our neighbour as Christians should do, have to stand shoulder to +shoulder with rogues and vagabonds to protect our country's interests." + +The head-notary turned sadly away and left the room, and Mariska sunk +into a silent reverie. Her father returning, suddenly put his head in at +the door. + +"Are you quite sure, little one, that you understand all I have been +saying?" he asked somewhat anxiously. + +"Father dear, I am going to write it all down straight away," returned +the girl, "and may I send it to Ráby?" she added shyly. + +"You may if you like," whispered Tárhalmy, strangely touched at her +request. + +And Mariska set about making herself a new pen in order to do justice to +the projected document. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + +Mathias Ráby kept as far as possible out of Vienna society after his +arrival in the capital. He never appeared at Court, and rented a modest +apartment in Paternoster Street without giving his address to anyone. It +was not only that he wanted to be undisturbed so as to fulfil a +difficult and important work, but that he felt that a turning-point in +his life had come, which implied a momentous decision on his part. + +His common-sense told him that so far the tragedy which he had lived +through was only a huge jest for the Vienna public, who enjoy nothing so +well as a joke. That the bold Magyars had played off this trick on the +Emperor himself made the whole jest all the grimmer. For them it +mattered not one jot who the victim was, as long as they had their +laugh. + +So Ráby avoided his nearest friends, and even reading the papers +irritated him. With so many big affairs going on in the world, what did +people care about the Szent-Endre happenings, or the machinations of the +Pesth government authorities, at a time when in the East, Russia was +shaking the Ottoman power to its foundations, and the rising of the +German Netherlands was threatening Austria with the loss of her finest +province, whilst like an ever darkening storm-cloud, the French +Revolution was already lowering on the political horizon. With such +contingencies, Szent-Endre affairs might well go to the wall. + +Ráby worked so unremittingly at his task, that by the beginning of +January, he could hand over his report to the Emperor. + +It was a straggling and long-winded, but exhaustive, document. To make +the tangled threads hold together and get a grip of the facts was no +light business, but at last the bill of indictment was drawn up. + +Nor were the Pesth authorities, meantime, slow in preferring their +counter impeachment against Ráby, and a black one it was--instigator of +rebellion, breaker of the peace, calumniator of the council--he was all +these, and much more according to this weighty indictment which brought +forward as many arguments to prove the case against him, as Ráby had +adduced against his adversaries. + +It was between them the Emperor had now to judge, and that impartially, +as justice demanded, and not swayed by his own feelings. + +Ráby handed his report to his imperial master, and gave him a brief +sketch of the contents, and the proofs of his charges, the Emperor +listening intently the while. Joseph held in his hand the +counter-indictment. + +Then he said: "I will consider the whole report carefully. Till I am +ready to see you again, take this document and read it at your leisure. +I have glanced through it, and by letting you read it, I shall show to +you that my trust in you is still unshaken. If you can bring it back to +me, faithfully deny all the charges it contains, and prove that they are +false, I will tell off two of my most trusted police-agents to look +after your personal safety, protect you against the wiles of your +enemies, and procure for you all the witnesses and documents you need to +establish your innocence. But if you find one serious indictment against +you which can be substantiated, then say no more about it; I promise you +I will not ask any questions, for what has hitherto happened may have +been through my own fault in dealing with this people. At the St. +Petersburg Embassy there will soon be a legation-secretary wanted; it +would be just the berth for you! I'll give you to the end of the month +to think it over. At our next meeting it depends on you to say whether +you go to Pesth or Petersburg." + +And with these words the Emperor dismissed Ráby. + +And what better offer could he have had? A new life in a new country +where all the old unhappy past could be for ever blotted out and +forgotten, with no remaining links to bind him to his old days. Nothing +more tempting could the Emperor have suggested. + +He took the fatal indictment with him, and returned home to study its +contents--and a bitter reading it made. By turns he laughed at the +horrible tragicomedy, and then ground his teeth in rage at the stupidity +and malice of it all; the whole thing was put together with such a +grotesque lack of reason. The heaped-up charges would have sufficed to +condemn the accused over and over again, and Ráby hardly recognised +himself in this double-dyed traitor, who had been guilty of almost every +crime. There would be no judge living who, had such charges been proven, +would not have passed on him without mercy the capital sentence. And to +think that this avalanche of lies had been heaped up by those for whom +he was labouring to free from oppression, those for whom he had suffered +so much, and was still suffering, who were now vilifying him as a +traitor. + +At that moment he was very nearly throwing over the cause of the people +for good and all, and fleeing to a country where he should never hear +the name of his native land again. + +And then a terrible struggle began in Ráby's soul. On one side all his +vanity and self-respect rose in arms to urge him to flight. Was he to +labour without reward for this miserable people, and make its most +distinguished leaders his enemies? Was his name to be dragged in the +mire through the length and breadth of the land to gratify their +malice? Could he not turn his back on it all, and find in a foreign +capital that field for his gifts where they would have a worthy scope +for their display, and be cherished and rewarded? Fame and wealth on the +one hand, misery and disgrace on the other, and at best, the doubtful +credit of the informer--that was the choice! + +Long did the two strive for mastery, and darker and more hateful grew +the picture of what he might expect if he returned to his self-imposed +work. Was it not better to root out from his soul all thoughts of his +fatherland? + +And in the midst of it all there arrived Mariska's letter, which was the +only one of all his missives he opened and read just then. + +Twice, thrice, he read it, with its too well-understood appeal: "Do not +come back again!" And her words decided him. + +And indeed if Ráby had not, after reading it, sprung up and cried, "Now +I will go back!" he had not been worthy of having his history written in +this record. + +What if he owed it not to his people or his prince to go back, at least +he owed it to Mariska, and he would remember his debt. To her, at least, +he would prove that he was a man who did not turn his back on danger, +but went boldly forth to brave it when duty and his country called, and +to justify himself at that country's tribunal. + +And what love did not the letter breathe for him for whom she wrote +it--no gross earthly passion, but rather the pure love of a devoted +sister for a brother, of a tender mother who seeks to ward danger from +the head of a dearly loved son--that was love as Mariska felt it. + +And Ráby thought sorrowfully how many anxious hours that letter must +have cost her poor little head, ere she could clothe her thoughts in +words and achieve the difficult task of reporting faithfully her +father's ideas--ideas which must of necessity have been hard for her +girlish mind to grasp in their fulness, much more to put on paper. + +And like a horrible nightmare arose the thought of that other woman who +had betrayed her husband, and as if to make herself still more unworthy +in his eyes, had flaunted her shamelessness by masquerading in man's +attire. + +And the temptation suddenly arose to procure the deed of separation +which the free and easy Protestant marriage laws made only too possible, +and forswear the solemn tie that bound him to Fruzsinka. But he put it +from him as one more temptation to be resisted, not less powerful +because it came from within instead of from without. + +Poor Mariska, how the aim of her well-meant letter had failed! It was to +have just the contrary effect she had intended. + +After reading it again, Ráby hesitated no longer, but took the documents +under his arm, hastened to the palace, sought the Emperor's presence, +and said simply, "All that stands written here is false from beginning +to end! I beg your Majesty to send me back to Pesth." + +"Good," said the Emperor, "and if they dare to lay a hand on you, I will +come myself and set you free." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + +The Emperor sent Ráby two agents of the secret police, who were told off +to accompany him wherever he went; both had full powers to claim +admission everywhere, to arrest anyone they desired without respect to +rank, and to draw the requisite funds they might need from the public +banks. + +One of them, named Plötzlich, was a famous detective, and never so happy +as when he was tracking some notorious criminal to his lair, or +dexterously unravelling some-deep-laid plot. His personal courage was +everywhere recognised, and he had won high distinction in the +performance of his duties in Vienna, where he was generally respected +and feared; in fact, Ráby could hardly have had a better man to protect +him. + +However, even Mr. Plötzlich had his limitations, as Ráby found out by +the time they were fairly on the road in the diligence. The +police-commissioner had never been out of Vienna, and a country journey +was a new experience. + +At the sight of the sparrows (which had been exterminated in the towns) +he cried, "How very small the pigeons are here!" Then, seeing some +country peasants hunting marmots out of their holes, he asked what kind +of an animal they were, whereupon the farmer he addressed told him it +was an Hungarian mouse. From which it will be seen that the accomplished +detective's knowledge of zoology was limited, to say the least of it. + +When they put up for the night at an inn on the road, Ráby noted with +some surprise that Plötzlich drew his sword and laid it in the bed +beside him. Ráby assured him that no danger was to be apprehended, as +all the doors were barred against possible attacks from robbers. + +"Ah! that may be," returned the other, "but," pointing to a mouse hole, +"suppose an Hungarian mouse should get in!" + +Meantime the long formal document which officially announced Ráby's +readiness to appear before his judges to refute the charges against him, +had been drawn up and sent to Pesth, and the head of the police there, +as well as the district commissioner were properly notified of the same. + +It was growing dusk when Ráby and his two conductors arrived in Buda. +And this was just as well, so that they should not be recognised. So ere +the street lamps were lit they hastened to the police-station, where it +had been arranged they should stay. Over the door hung the great +Austrian eagle, and below a soldier guarded the great shield bearing +the imperial coat of arms, which showed that here no Hungarian had +jurisdiction. + +But the chief of the police complained loudly when he heard who his +guest was, and made a very wry face at Ráby's name. + +"H'm," he said doubtfully, "I have received orders from the governor of +the city to deliver over to him the prisoner Ráby if he should come into +my power." + +"But we bring you the imperial mandate," exclaimed the others, "that you +give a shelter here to the noble gentleman, Mr. Mathias Ráby, who is one +of his Majesty's chamberlains." + +"Well, my friend," answered the Buda official, "remember that his +Majesty is far away, while his Excellency is near." + +"Surely the Emperor is a greater man than the governor of Pesth," cried +Mr. Plötzlich indignantly. + +"Well, you will see for yourselves," retorted the Buda chief, "you don't +know the Pesth authorities as well as I do." + +"Yes, but remember we have instructions from the Kaiser," they answered. + +"You had better go and interview him yourselves." + +And off they went, leaving Ráby under the shelter of the Austrian +authorities. + + * * * * * + +Arrived at the governor's palace, they were received by his Excellency, +who, after seeing their credentials, asked abruptly what they desired. + +"We are commissioned by his Majesty to accompany hither Mr. Ráby, who is +to appear for the purpose of confronting his accusers at the Pesth +Assembly House shortly." + +"Do you mean the good-for-nothing fellow who ran away the other day from +prison?" + +"May it please your Excellency, he is authorised by the Emperor +himself." + +"And he is likewise my prisoner, don't forget that!" + +"Pardon me, he is under our special protection, with an imperial +safe-conduct and is here for the fulfilment of a perfectly lawful +purpose." + +"And I have already ordered that he shall be surrendered to the custody +of the Pesth magistracy." + +"Then I must emphatically protest in the Kaiser's name. Here is his +authorisation." + +"Then I recommend you to keep it," returned his Excellency drily. "The +Kaiser commands in Vienna, but it is my turn here." + +And with that the governor got up and rang the bell. + +It was answered by a secretary. + +"Go to the Assembly House and tell them to send an escort of police to +arrest the runaway prisoner Ráby," was the peremptory order. + +The Vienna police-agents both exclaimed loudly at this defiance of their +prerogative: "We protest, we protest!" they cried angrily. "This is +sheer rebellion." + +"Protest if you dare," retorted his Excellency. "I'll have you both +placed in irons if you don't make off, and you will have time enough to +remember Hungarian justice for the rest of your lives." + +And the two commissioners, seeing all protest was futile, thought +discretion was the better part of valour, and hastened away as fast as +they could, till they reached the shelter of the Austrian eagle. There a +council of war was held by the indignant officials and Ráby. + +But they had not much time for discussion, for not long after, the +provost of the Pesth prison arrived with an armed guard to arrest Ráby. + +His Austrian protectors insisted on accompanying their charge, whose +forcible removal they strongly resented, though their protests were +unavailing. + +The Vienna officers naturally thought they would cross from Buda to +Pesth by the bridge; what was their dismay, then, to find that the +expedition meant to ferry across, and this in spite of the drift-ice +which at that season of the year encumbered the Danube and made it +dangerous for navigation. + +"However shall we get across," they asked, as they gazed in +consternation at the river, which did not look inviting, it must be +owned. + +"Oh, that's soon done," said the provost airily. "You've only to get +into the boat here," and he led the way to the ferry-boat which was +fastened close at hand. + +"Please be good enough to get in," said their conductor. + +The prisoner was pushed in first, and the two commissioners dutifully +prepared to follow him. + +"However are we going to make our way through the ice?" asked Plötzlich +anxiously. + +"You'll soon see," was the ready answer. + +The helmsman cut her adrift, and the rowers pushed from the shore; but +scarcely had they put off, before a huge ice-floe drove them back again. + +"Ship your oars," roared the ferry-man, and the rowers dexterously +trimmed the boat which had well-nigh capsized under the blow, but for +their skill. + +It was too much for the Vienna officials. "We protest in the Emperor's +name!" they yelled, whilst Plötzlich, in mingled fear and anger cried, +"I am bound under oath not to allow anyone to cross the river when it is +unnavigable through ice, and I won't transgress my own rules, so take us +back to the shore!" + +And so back they came, and the two Viennese speedily disembarked. "And +Mr. Ráby as well," they cried. + +"Not he!" laughed the provost triumphantly. "You needn't trouble your +heads about him. Whosoever is born to be hanged will not be drowned, of +that you may be sure." + +And once more they put off on their perilous journey, while the +police-agents took out their red pocket-books and made formal memoranda +of what had just happened. Meanwhile, with much trouble and long delay, +Ráby and his custodians reached the other side, not without narrowly +escaping destruction. + +The next morning, the river being free from drift ice, the two +commissioners took their way to Pesth, and by dint of much threatening +and imploring, arrived at the door of the prisoner's dungeon, where they +could speak with him. + +"Are you there, Mr. Ráby?" they asked anxiously, "and what are you +doing?" + +"Yes, I'm here sure enough, and clanking my chains for want of any other +amusement," was the answer. + +"You don't mean to say you are in irons?" cried his questioners. + +"Yes, indeed, both my hands and feet are fettered fast." + +"Well, have no fear, we will soon free you!" + +For this was more than the police commissioners could stand; and they +dashed off in hot haste to demand Ráby's release from the authorities, +but they found the latter perfectly obdurate to all their entreaties. +Finally, they tackled Laskóy, and extorted from that gentleman a promise +to remove the prisoner's fetters. They also were invited by him to +attend the inquiry next morning, when they might see Ráby for +themselves, he said, and escort him away a free man. + +So the following morning found the two Viennese again at the Assembly +House, but there was not a soul about, save a clerk who could give them +but scant information. So they determined to get their news at +first-hand, and make for Ráby's cell. On the way they fell in with +Janosics, carrying a brazier containing disinfectants, whose fumes +filled the corridor. + +"When does Mr. Ráby appear before the court?" they inquired eagerly. + +"Not to-day," said the gaoler, "the poor man is ill." + +"Let us see him and speak with him." + +"You cannot, he is much too bad; besides I have to fumigate the whole +place on account of his illness." + +"But what is his malady then?" + +"That I cannot tell you; ask the doctor when he comes out." + +And at that moment the cell-door opened and the doctor walked out, +carrying a shovel on which some aromatic gum was burning, in one hand, +and in the other a pocket-handkerchief soaked with spirits of lavender. +He spoke to no one till he had washed his hands in a bowl of vinegar and +water that a heyduke held for him, the commissioners looking on somewhat +aghast at all these precautions. Ráby's malady must be something very +contagious to demand them. + +At last Plötzlich summoned up courage to ask what was the matter with +the prisoner. + +The doctor took a long inhalation of the lavender and then whispered to +the official, nervously, "It's the oriental plague." + +It was enough for the Viennese. They thought no more of the unfortunate +man they were leaving behind them, but without more ado, hastened out of +the infected building as fast as their legs could carry them, to take +the fatal news back to Vienna. As for Ráby he was as good as dead and +buried, as far as the world was concerned, for his death was a foregone +conclusion. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + +What was really the matter with Ráby the police never learned; but we +can tell the reader. + +When at about three hours after midnight, they had brought him to the +Assembly House, the whole gang of his enemies was awaiting him, +including the gaoler. + +He was received with a shout of derisive laughter, as he came into the +room, thick with tobacco-smoke. + +"So the Emperor has given you decorations, has he?" thus they jeered at +him. "Well, we'll see what sort of ornaments we can procure for your +worship," and such like remarks, were freely fired off at him. + +But Ráby bore all the jeers of his tormentors in a dignified silence, +and quietly submitted to the searching process, whereby he was stripped +of all his valuables, and fetters slipped over his wrists and ankles, +the gold lace being cut off from his new coat so that he might not hang +himself with it! Then he was led back into the cell he had formerly +occupied, and left to himself. + +But, he reflected, his captivity could not last long. The two +police-officers must be still there, and when all was said, they were +the masters. And failing all else, had not the Emperor himself promised +to come? Up till then, he would have patience. The visit of his friends +on the following day did not give him much hope that their help would +avail him. + +On the third day, the prison doctor sought him out, and with the help of +the gaoler, began to subject him to a long process of disinfecting, +which he said, was necessary for every prisoner who came from across the +frontier, seeing that in Turkey the oriental plague was raging. + +We have seen how the two Viennese officers were smoked out of the city. +This left the coast clear for Ráby's examination the following day. His +earlier trial had taken place before the district commissioner as a +political offender: now he was haled before the ordinary assizes as a +common criminal. + +The indictment which set forth how Ráby by the help of diabolic arts, +had forcibly broken out of custody, and fled to another country, was +read. It called for five and twenty years' solitary imprisonment, +together with public chastisement; which should allow of his being at +appointed intervals set in the public stocks, with a placard showing the +nature of his crime hung round his neck. + +Ráby, in his defence, demanded that the judges should call one of the +twenty men who had forcibly seized him the night of his flight; this +was, he said, exacted by the Emperor in his instructions as to the +trial. + +Laskóy struck the table with his fist. "That is not true," he said, "it +is not in his Majesty's instructions." + +"I have seen it myself," said Ráby, "the Emperor gave it into my own +hands to read." + +At these words there was a perfect outburst of wrath and indignation +from the whole company, so that Ráby could not speak for the uproar; +when the noise had quieted down, he went on: + +"The men who freed me are not forthcoming as witnesses. But there are +two at least, who must know what happened that night, and this is the +heyduke who stood before the door of my cell, and the other who kept the +gate. Though I did not see them I know what their names were, for I +heard the castellan address them as Sipos and Nagy." + +"Let them be brought in," said Laskóy to the castellan with a meaning +grimace. + +But it was Ráby's turn to be astonished when the witnesses entered. For +there before him, stood his two travelling companions, the pretended +pig-dealer, Kurovics, and his comrade, who had accompanied him to +Vienna! And these, it appeared, were the two heydukes who had been +commissioned to play this trick upon their unsuspecting victim. Ráby's +brain fairly reeled at the thought of the lying fraud to which he had +been forced to lend himself. + +But the examination of Sipos was beginning. "It seems you were the guard +at the door of the prisoner's cell, the night of his escape?" questioned +the judge. "Do you know what happened?" + +The witness groaned, and murmured something incoherent. + +"Tell us what you know. The truth, out with it!" as the man hesitated. + +"Ah, how can I say it!" exclaimed the fellow, while the gaoler shook his +fist at him menacingly. + +"I'll tell all," he said, "just as it happened. The gaoler ordered four +and twenty of us heydukes to disguise ourselves as Turks, then to break +open the door of the prisoner's cell, and put on him a peasant girl's +dress and escort him to Vienna in this disguise. He gave us money for +the journey, and told us the Pesth magistracy had ordered it." + +At this outspoken testimony, Ráby could hardly contain himself, he +stamped on the floor till his irons rang again. So the whole intrigue +was manifest! His enemies themselves had hatched this conspiracy against +him, and now they dared to condemn the victim of their own wicked plot! + +He attempted to protest, but the whole crew shouted him down. "Hold your +peace, traitor!" they cried! "Hold your peace! Not a word will we hear +from you!" + +And their anger was not less hot against the witness whom they called a +liar and false swearer, and then and there ordered him to receive fifty +strokes with the lash, and this was Sipos' reward for telling the truth. + +"Let the other witness appear," cried Laskóy. "Now, János Nagy, you are +an honest man, and will tell us what happened, so out with it!" + +Nagy, otherwise the false Kurovics, had the example of his comrade +before him, and bethought himself in time of what he might expect if he +was too truthful, so he took his line accordingly. + +"This is the true history, your worships. When, on the sixth of December +last, I was keeping guard before the door of the gate of the prison, and +my comrade stood before the prisoner's cell, I heard a loud cracking +noise; then the door of Mr. Ráby's dungeon flew open, and he came out in +a fiery chariot drawn by six black cats, whilst on the box sat a demon +in a red dolman, who gave first my comrade, and then me, such a switch +in the face with his long tail, that we could hear and see nothing +further--so stunned were we. And then with a noise like thunder, the +prisoner disappeared in a flash." + +Ráby was astounded--not at the witness, but at his hearers. + +"Is it possible, is it credible," he cried, "that you gentlemen, can +accept such testimony as this?" + +"Be silent, and don't interrupt the witness," yelled Laskóy, "we don't +want you to teach us. You know we have laws against witchcraft, and we +mean to enforce them. Mr. notary," he cried, turning to Tárhalmy, +"please take the depositions of the witness." + +And Ráby saw with amazement that Tárhalmy did not hesitate to do as he +was bidden. And suddenly there flashed across the prisoner what Mariska +had written to him. Here the wise and fools alike seemed to be leagued +against him. In vain he protested his innocence in the Emperor's name, +and that of the law and common-sense: it availed nothing. Finally they +led him out of the room while they debated on his sentence. + +It was not long before he was conducted back again to hear it. Of the +several indictments against him, several had not been verified, but one +at least they indeed had proved, and that was, that by diabolic agency +he had escaped from the dungeon. That was enough to condemn him, and +"death by the axe" was awarded accordingly. + +When Ráby heard it, he could contain his indignation no longer: + +"Gentlemen, and you my most worshipful judges," he cried, "hear me +before I depart, for there is no tribunal on earth so tyrannical that it +will not allow the criminal to justify himself. Why am I condemned? Why +have such punishments, ending with the death-penalty itself, been meted +out to me? Why have I suffered thus? Simply because I strove to heal the +woes of the oppressed; just because the Emperor has sent me hither to +inquire into the grievances of the people, whose cry has reached him. +The poor were no rebels against the law; they sought only justice, and I +desired to help them to attain it. Do you remember what authority is +given to you, when you are placed in the seat of law? Is it not a divine +commission to defend the right of the individual, as of the people, +alike? If you are confident in the success of your cause, I am equally +so in that of mine, for my conscience is clear, I have broken neither +the laws of God nor of man, and to my convictions I will never be false. +I only ask one thing for my people, that they may be freed from the yoke +of the oppressor. Is that a crime deserving the death penalty? Well, let +my head fall; my blood be on those who shed it!" + +Several of the judges could not restrain their tears. Tárhalmy hid his +face in his hands; was it that he could not face the prisoner? + +Ráby's last words rang with such intense sincerity that not one of those +present had dared to interrupt his speech. Laskóy was the only one to +speak when the accused had ended his defence, and all he said was, "Take +the prisoner away!" + +"I appeal then against the judgment of the court," said Ráby as he was +being led out. + +"That is permitted; meantime, he who is under sentence of death must be +heavily ironed till the hour of execution." + +"Against that likewise I protest," said Ráby firmly. And they led him +out and called for the prison locksmith. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + + +Up till now, Ráby had been rigidly fettered, in that his right hand had +been fastened to his left foot, while another chain had bound his left +hand to his right foot. Now as an addition to this came the whole +equipment involved in "heavy irons." Two chains, consisting of six iron +rings linked together, weighing in all about a quarter of a hundred +weight, were now produced for the prisoner. + +These fetters were no longer fastened, as the lighter ones had been, +with a padlock, but were to be rivetted on an anvil, so that they could +only be sawn asunder when taken off. + +For the operation the prisoner was led into the yard of the Assembly +House, much to the excitement of the townspeople who gathered to witness +so unusual a spectacle, including all the women-folk. They were aghast +at seeing a young and richly clad gentleman being loaded with heavy +irons. In such a scene the crowd is on the side of the criminal, and +they were now. + +When they saw Ráby forced to sit down on the paving-stones, and heard +him groan with pain as his already fettered ankle received the first +stroke of the heavy hammer on the anvil, a cry burst from the +bystanders, and they could not restrain their indignation. + +"Poor fellow! What has he done to deserve it?" they asked, and the women +wept freely. One of them took off her kerchief, and, kneeling down +beside him, was fain to bind it round the ankle-bone, so that the iron +should not cut it too severely, but the gaoler sternly thrust her away. + +"What do condemned criminals want with that sort of thing, you stupid? +Away with you and your silly feelings. Would you have his fetters lined +with velvet? He'll soon get accustomed to them, I'll warrant you." + +And he brutally tore the kerchief off Ráby's ankle. + +When at last the work was done, the prisoner had to rise. But this was +easier said than done, for with his fettered hands and feet, he was +almost powerless to move. Small wonder he fell back in the attempt. + +Janosics laughed aloud. + +But it is no laughing matter when a man in irons tries to walk. + +Meantime, the women became more sympathetic than ever with the prisoner, +and openly railed at the heydukes. + +"You murderers! It is a sin and a shame to treat him thus! And such a +pretty gentleman too! If we were only men we would soon teach you +gaolers to mend your manners. Why you are worse than the Turks +themselves." + +"Drive the women out of the yard," cried Janosics furiously, "and then +let us be getting on, for the cage is ready for the bird." + +And some of the heydukes promptly drove out the women, while the rest +looked after Ráby. In one of them, who helped him to rise, Ráby +recognised the man who had brought him the pitcher with the false bottom +when he was in prison. The man also evidently pitied him in his +stumbling efforts to drag one foot before the other, and showed him how +he could best do it by carefully measuring each step forward. But the +pain of the irons which had already begun to cut into his flesh, was +well-nigh unbearable, and it was with the greatest difficulty he +staggered to the cell prepared for him--a small damp dark hole with a +little grated orifice for air through which the falling snow was +drifting. + +No stove warmed the frozen depths of his dungeon, but there was a huge +stake in the wall to which was affixed an iron chain: to this the +fetters of the prisoner were made fast, so that he could stir no further +than the small tether it allowed, and had to lie or crouch day and night +in the heap of straw, which was his only bed. An earthen pitcher and a +wooden bowl held respectively the drinking water and black bread which +were to last him a week, for having provided them, they needed not to +trouble further for some days about the inmate of the cell. And there +was no pitcher this time with a false bottom! + +Now Ráby was to know what it meant to be a captive indeed. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + + +Poor Ráby, he was a prisoner in such surroundings that they would have +served for the wildest page of romance. No sound came to him from the +outer world, as he lay there chained to the blank wall in his living +grave--the underground dungeon whose door no key opened. Yet for all +this he was not forgotten. + +In the deathlike stillness of the night he heard what sounded like a +noise of scratching in the roof of his cell, as if someone were trying +to bore through the ceiling. + +All at once the sound ceased, and from above he heard a well-remembered +voice: "Poor Ráby!" it murmured. + +At the sound, a thrill of joy shook the prisoner, in spite of his +fetters; it spoke to him of life and hope. + +"Can you hear me?" asked the voice. + +"Perfectly," answered Ráby. + +"Trust in God, He will deliver you, He will not let you be lost. If +to-morrow you hear a sound of knocking, give heed. Good-bye." + +Then there was again stillness. But Ráby slept in his heavy fetters +rocked by that hope, as peacefully as a child in its mother's arms. + +When he awoke at daybreak, it seemed like a dream, till he was reminded +of its reality by a light tapping on the ceiling of his cell. + +And then, just over his head, there appeared a long hollow cane thrust +down from a small aperture in the roof, and it came lower and lower till +it reached his fettered hands. + +"Have you got it?" asked the voice. "If so, open it carefully." + +Ráby carefully opened the sealed end and found a minute phial of ink, +and an equally slender pen made from a crow's feather. Round it was +rolled a sheet of paper. + +"Write, and I will wait to take it," said the voice, and the prisoner, +as might be imagined, was not long in obeying the request of his unseen +monitress. Carefully and minutely, in spite of his fettered hand, he +traced on the paper a letter to the Emperor, telling him all that had +happened, and in the relief of giving this welcome vent to his feelings, +he forgot his wretched surroundings. When it was done he rolled up the +paper, tucked it in the cane, and pushed it up again through the +ceiling. + +On the evening of the next day he heard the voice again: "Dear Ráby, +take courage. Your letter has gone to Vienna by the Jew Abraham." + +Ráby's heart warmed at this news, it would mean at the most only a week +more of his present captivity--and for that time he had bread and water +enough. + +Meantime, before the said week came to an end, his Excellency the +governor sent for Mr. Laskóy. + +"We are in a nice quandary, my friend, and you will have to get us out +of it; hear what has happened," and his Excellency paused as if to +emphasise what was to follow. "Three days after Ráby was imprisoned, the +Emperor summoned me to Vienna. I went as fast as posts could carry me, +to hear, as his first question: 'What have the authorities done with +Ráby?' + +"I told him that Mathias Ráby had already had a fair hearing before the +magistracy, but that owing to a dangerous sickness which had suddenly +overtaken him, he was now in the hands of the doctor, pending being +confronted with his accusers. The Emperor did not interrupt me, but when +I had done, out he comes with a letter written by your prisoner in spite +of his irons and fast barred door, setting forth his grievances to his +master in very plain terms. And I can assure you he didn't spare either +of us." + +Laskóy was petrified with amazement. "That means," pursued his +Excellency, "that Ráby has found ways and means of writing to the Kaiser +from his dungeon. When I had read the letter through, the Emperor said: +'Mark my words, if Mathias Ráby is not released from prison by the day +after to-morrow (you will be back in Pesth by then), I shall give orders +that his custodians be themselves arrested and put in the Dark Tower for +the rest of their lives on bread and water. So you see what you have to +reckon with, and the best thing you can do is to set the prisoner free +at once.'" + +The lieutenant did not want urging, he rode to the prison in hot haste, +and demanded to see the head-gaoler. No sooner had Janosics appeared, +bearing his huge bunch of keys, than Laskóy sprang at him straight away +like a wild cat, seized him by the ears, and banged his head against the +door unmercifully, till the keys rattled again in his hands. + +"Take that for your pains," he cried, "I'll teach you how to look after +your prisoners! What do you mean by letting Ráby write to the Emperor +from his dungeon?" + +The castellan was dumbfoundered with pain and amazement. "All I can say +is, your worship," he cried, rubbing his head, "that Ráby must be in +league with the Devil." + +And though all the authorities of Pesth put their heads together, they +could not solve the mystery. The only thing they were clear upon was +that Janosics deserved fifty strokes with the lash, a punishment he +promptly received. + + * * * * * + +The following day his Excellency went to the Assembly House, and two +letters were put into his hands by Laskóy with a crafty smile. Both were +in Ráby's handwriting. The one was dated from Szent-Endre; it contained +an expression of the writer's gratitude for his release by the Pesth +authorities, and his willingness to abide henceforth by the laws of the +land. Further, it announced his determination to withdraw from public +life and attend to his private concerns, and the writer begged that the +accompanying letter, if it met with the governor's approbation, might +be, after reading, forwarded by special messenger to the Emperor. + +The second missive contained a formal admission by the writer that he +had been led astray by false evidence, that the story of the +treasure-chest was a lying invention of the deceased "pope"; further it +expressed his regret at having caused the Pesth magistracy so much +inconvenience, and his determination not to return to Vienna but to pass +the rest of his life in the country, to which end he begged the pension +allotted to him might be sent to him at Szent-Endre. + +His Excellency immediately dispatched this missive to Vienna, and drove +back home. You do not imprison Pesth people so easily in the Dark Tower. + + * * * * * + +Yes, it was all very cleverly arranged, but perhaps the reader will not +be surprised to learn that Ráby still languished in his dungeon a closer +captive than ever. At the discovery of Ráby's letter to the Emperor, a +contingent of heydukes had visited the prisoner in his cell, searched +the dungeon for ink and paper, but in vain, for the thick rime which +glazed the ceiling, effectually hid the small hole at the top. The +result was that, failing to get any light on the mystery, Ráby was +fettered closer than before, the door barred and sealed with the +lieutenant's own private seal, and the prisoner was once more left to +the solitude of his cell. + +And as for the supposed letters, why they were easily accounted for by +the fact that an accomplished forger then in prison, who was anxious to +please his judges to the best of his ability, which was great, had +written them at their bidding. + +So Ráby waited till his good angel again provided him, by means of the +hole in the ceiling, with ink and paper in the cane, but this time he +only wrote the words, "I am still here, your Majesty," and signed it +with his blood, for his foot was bleeding profusely through the chain +cutting into it. But even this was assuaged by his protectress by means +of a linen bandage concealed in the cane, with which Ráby was enabled to +bind up his ankle. + +Before the week was out, his dungeon-door was opened one morning, and an +unusually large allowance of bread, and two pitchers of water were +thrust into his cell. Then the man he had seen once before, whom he +recognised as a mason, appeared with his assistants, and with their +help, took his cell door off its hinges, and proceeded to brick it up. +And through Ráby's mind ran old stories he had read of people being +walled up alive in the Middle Ages, and a shuddering horror fell upon +him, at the fate reserved for him. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + + +The Emperor received both of Ráby's letters--the forged and the genuine +one--nearly at the same time, for the latter had been sent by express +post. Shortly afterwards, it became known that his Majesty was going to +pay a visit to Pesth, ostensibly to review some troops. It was this news +that had hastened the walling up of Ráby's cell. The Emperor was not to +find him when he came, and when the Kaiser had gone, they meant to +restore the dungeon-door to its place. For they did not intend to kill +their victim outright by burying him alive. + +In order to dry the fresh masonry, they often let the window in the +corridor stand open, and so thick was the rime that you could not see +the walls for it. Nay, the hair and beard of the captive were white too +with it, and from the frozen ceiling, the icicles dropped down upon him +as he lay on his straw couch. But the greatest misfortune induced by the +cold was that he became so hoarse, he could not answer the voice from +above, but could only rattle his chains to show that he still lived. + +On the day of the Emperor's arrival, the voice ceased, and he heard +men's footsteps above, as if re-arranging the room, in view perhaps of +the imperial visit. + +In fact the Kaiser had come, and by mid-day had inspected his troops and +was sitting down to a frugal mid-day meal in the Assembly House, as was +his custom, alone, giving orders the while to the crowd of +aides-de-camp, and the various functionaries who came and went. He left +untasted the glass of old Tokay, poured out for him by the obsequious +Laskóy in a glass of rare Venetian crystal, for to the date of its +vintage he was quite indifferent. + +"And now," said his Majesty, when he had finished, "tell me what has +happened to my commissioner, Mr. Mathias Ráby?" + +"Sire, he has gone back some time since to his home in Szent-Endre, and +we had a letter of thanks from him just lately." + +"I have seen that letter," returned the Emperor drily, "likewise another +written from the dungeon of the Assembly House, wherein I learn he is +still a prisoner." + +"Ah, sire, that is easily explained," answered the lieutenant airily. +"The fact is that we had imprisoned at the same time as Ráby, a renowned +forger, who has been deceiving even your Majesty by carefully forged +letters in your commissioner's handwriting." + +"What could he have gained by that?" said the Emperor. + +"Probably he knew," returned Laskóy, "that Ráby enjoyed your Majesty's +favour, and reckoned that, as you were coming to visit the Pesth prison +in person, he would thus recall himself to your Majesty and gain a +hearing from you." + +"That reminds me," answered the Emperor, "that I have not yet seen the +prison, so I will trouble you to lead the way." + +And Laskóy proceeded to conduct the imperial guest to the dungeons, even +to the most noisome, regardless of the pestilential atmosphere which met +the visitor. The Emperor had every door unlocked, and insisted on seeing +everything, and it was plain from his sharp scrutiny that he did not +trust his guide. + +Then he inspected the cells where the "noble" culprits were confined, +and among them that formerly tenanted by Ráby. The bed which the +prisoner had occupied, was duly pointed out to the Emperor, and then he +proceeded to inspect the rest of the cells in order. + +Three times did he actually pass the door of Ráby's dungeon (and the +prisoner could hear the clink of his spurs overhead), yet did not +discover the one he sought. And no suspicion crossed the captive's mind +from behind his walled-up door that his would-be deliverer was close at +hand. + +The deception had been only too well carried out. Not even by coming in +person to free him, as the Emperor had promised his emissary, could he +succeed in delivering him. + +And there was not a single man of them all who would point to Ráby's +cell, and say boldly, "There lies the man whom you are seeking." + +As for Mariska, she had been sent that very day to her aunt's at Buda, +for some of the officers had been quartered at the head notary's, and it +was no longer the place for the daughter of the house. + +And the Emperor went that day into camp, but Ráby still languished in +his dungeon. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + + +Ráby's persecutors were getting tired of their unavailing efforts to +break the prisoner's spirit, so they determined on softer measures, and +three days after the Emperor had left Pesth, his dungeon was broken +open, and Laskóy and Petray arrived to make personal investigations into +their victim's state. + +Truly it was a pitiable spectacle that met their gaze when at last a +breach was made in the masonry and they penetrated into the cell. A +wasted and attenuated figure they saw half-buried under the snow that +had drifted in on to his straw bed through the grating--snow that was +stained red with the blood that had streamed from the captive's wounds. + +"Take the irons off!" ordered Petray, "and wrap the prisoner up in warm +coverings." + +And the order was not unnecessary, for it was some time ere the +locksmith could be found, and, meantime the victim was benumbed nearly +to death with cold. + +Even the locksmith, as he filed off the fetters from Ráby's bleeding +wrists and ankles, could not suppress a murmur of pity, for he was only +a public servant who did as he was told, and had a kind heart. + +When at last Ráby was freed from his chains, he could not stand, and had +to be carried by two heydukes to a neighbouring cell, which was one of +those he had formerly occupied. + +"Let him rest for a little," ordered Petray, "and then I will have a +word with him, and meantime, you may bring him some egg-broth with +wine." + +And the broth revived the wretched prisoner, half-starved and frozen as +he was, with new life, and he eagerly swallowed it. He was conscious of +a feeling of anger against himself for thus being so ready to accept +alleviation for his miserable body, that so little emulated his strong, +unconquered soul. One thing alone lightened the memories of his +sufferings, and that was the voice that had cheered his loneliness with +its encouraging whisper. And lulled by the unaccustomed warmth, he sank +into a comforting slumber, and at his awakening, only had his bandaged +limbs to remind him of his irons. Yet the remembrance that it was to +Petray, of all people, that he owed this amelioration of his misery, +stung him as with a lash. + +But just then the door opened, and in walked his enemy himself. He came +up to Ráby's couch and asked the prisoner how he had slept, and whether +he felt better. But the captive answered these hypocritical enquiries by +never so much as a word. + +"You have to thank me for this change, you know," pursued Petray, "for I +have been chosen as your advocate when you appeal against your +sentence." + +"What?" cried Ráby, in his excitement springing up, in spite of his +weakness, from the couch. "You to be my defender! You who are already +gravely impeached in the indictment I have formulated! Why such a false +position is impossible; it is you who must stand at the bar. Do you mean +to say you, who are my worst enemy, are entrusted with my defence?" + +Petray smiled. He knew well enough he had a sick man to deal with, who +was physically incapable of attacking him. + +"Now you see how unjust it makes you, this misunderstanding. You shall +know that the accused must have a counsel when he is confronted by the +indictment. There are two of us, myself and the lieutenant, who have to +take your case in hand; which do you prefer, him or me?" + +"Neither," cried Ráby indignantly. "I am my own counsel, and I know how +to defend myself, and do not need any of your help." + +"My dear friend, be reasonable; see how unjust this is," said Petray in +a wheedling voice. "You think I would defend you badly. But it is +because I want to prevent you running your head against a wall that I am +doing this. Listen, I'll read you the points of your defence." + +And Petray proceeded to read the document in which he had set forth +Ráby's case with such cunning adroitness, that black appeared white in +his representations, and white wholly black. Such a web of sophistries, +in fact, had he woven, that it had been difficult for a hearer to +disentangle the truth. In it all the guilt was laid at the door of the +dead "pope," and Ráby appeared as a too confiding victim of his wiles +and misrepresentations. It was a tissue of false statements, yet Ráby +listened to the end. + +Then he said indignantly: "So you really believe I need all that for my +justification, do you, that the guiltless are to be blamed and the +criminal cleared, in order that the truth be made manifest; that I +withdraw the impeachment already made against you, that I allow +peaceable and harmless peasants to be attainted as rebels; that I +disavow the responsibility of redressing their grievances, and that for +this, a dead yet innocent man be blamed, and his memory be defamed. No +such defence for me, thank you!" + +Petray laughed patronisingly. + +"My good friend, you are an idealist and always will be. What does the +'pope's' reputation matter to you, since he is dead? Do you suppose he +troubles as to what men say of him now? And as for the peasants, we can +make short work of them by putting them in irons. The defence is +perfectly in order; you only have to sign that you accept it." + +"Let my hand wither in its chains first," cried the prisoner, "ere I +subscribe to such infamy!" and he stretched his wasted hand to heaven. + +"Think twice, Ráby, before you decide thus," said his tormentor. "If +you refuse, you may no longer rely on my help, and then you will just go +back to the place you came from." + +"Take me there," cried his victim, "but torture me no further, rather +kill me outright. But as long as my soul is master of my body, no pains +or persecutions shall cause me to forswear my honour and give the lie to +truth!" + +His anger lent the prisoner an unwonted energy, and Petray fairly +quailed as Ráby dashed up to him and attempted to tear the document from +his hand; between them it was torn in two, but the leaves were stained +with blood! + +Petray was beside himself with rage; he hastily called for the gaoler +and the heydukes, who shortly entered, followed by Laskóy. + +"He is an abandoned wretch, a traitor, a madman," cried Petray. "He has +flown at me, and tried to murder me. Put him in irons again directly!" + +"Out with the fetters," cried Laskóy. "Where are the heaviest ones?" + +And they tore off the bandages from Ráby's wounded limbs, and called the +locksmith to rivet them afresh. + +But that functionary revolted at this fresh act of cruelty against a +helpless invalid. "I won't do it," he said defiantly. "From this hour I +serve the authorities no longer; I will have no part in such cruel +injustice!" And so saying he left them, never to appear again. + +At last, after searching Pesth in vain, they found a locksmith in Pilis +to do the work. + +But when they thrust Ráby back again into his icy dungeon, he cried, as +the door closed upon his tormentors, "I am not dead yet." + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + + +"But I'll take care that you soon will be," muttered the gaoler, as he +fettered the prisoner afresh to the wall, "and I've orders to visit you +twice every day, so that you may not carry on any of your accursed +necromancy in the cell." + +The next time his rations were brought him, it occurred to Ráby that the +bread was strewn with a white powder. He had often complained of it not +being salted, but this did not look like salt, and as he was not hungry, +he did not attempt to eat it. + +That evening when it was dark, he heard the well-remembered voice again +from the floor above. + +"Poor Ráby," it whispered, "are you there?" + +And on his ready answer, came the caution: "Do not eat of the bread they +have brought you, it is poisoned." + +The prisoner had suspected as much, but what was he to do? There was +nothing for it but to die of hunger, it seemed. + +"Examine the cane I am pushing down" came the voice again, and a minute +or two later, appeared the cane whose hollow had already brought him so +much. This time it was filled with chocolate, and there was enough to +last him till the morning. But what was he to drink? + +"Pour the water out of the pitcher, and through the cane I will fill it +with fresh," suggested the voice, and he hastened to obey. + +The next morning the gaoler saw with dismay that his prisoner was still +alive, and apparently uninjured by his supper, yet it would have killed +most men. However, he had not eaten much of it to be sure, judging by +the little that had disappeared. + +And when his back was turned, once more came the voice calling to Ráby, +and this time it brought bad news indeed. + +"The Emperor has gone," it said, "he sought for you, but could find no +trace of you. They told him you had been released, so he left in that +belief." + +"Only give me writing materials," pleaded Ráby earnestly. + +"I cannot, as soon as you are convicted of having them in the cell, you +are to be beheaded immediately. Besides, no one knows where the Emperor +is; they say he is in Turkey." + +The threat was for Ráby but one more spur to action, and he was defiant, +and pleaded no longer with his protectress. He had hidden a morsel of +paper in his wretched bed, and on this he wrote with a straw for pen, +with a drop of his own blood for ink, for he had no other. When it was +dry, he rolled it up and concealed it in a straw-stalk. + +Then he waited till the next time his cell was being swept out by a +heyduke, who was the one who had formerly brought him the pitcher with +the false bottom. Ráby gave his missive to him, and whispered, "This is +worth a hundred ducats." The man understood, and took the straw. + +That was Mathias Ráby's last attempt at freedom. + +From that day forward, all sorts of threats were used to make him sign +Petray's paper, and sometimes they kept him so long under examination in +the court, that he fainted from sheer exhaustion. + +One night the door opened, and Janosics appeared with three men, one of +whom bore a brazier of burning coals, another a pair of pincers, and in +the third he recognised the public executioner of Pesth. + +"I'll soon make the stubborn fellow yield," cried the castellan +brutally; "let's see if this won't bend him! Now, gentlemen, do your +duty; strip him, and torture him till he confesses his crimes." + +Ráby was dumb with horror. They tore his clothes from him, but the sight +of the prisoner's haggard face and emaciated figure smote the heart even +of the executioner with a sudden pity. + +"My good Janosics," he said, "I won't torment the poor wretch, not if +you give me the whole Assembly House for doing such work." + +And with that, he put on his coat, seized the water-pitcher which stood +by Ráby's bed, and extinguished the coals, so that the cell was plunged +in sudden darkness. Then the whole crew withdrew quarrelling among +themselves. + +When Ráby brought the occurrence to the notice of the court the +following day, they only laughed, and said he had been dreaming! + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + + +One of the thoughts that tortured Ráby most was the anxiety as to what +he should do for food, if his benefactress' daily supply of chocolate +should fail him. He saved up a little store of it hidden in his black +bread, and for water, he could trust to the ice which still, through the +severity of the season, constantly formed in his dungeon. + +And one day, what he had so long dreaded, happened, and the voice was +heard no longer, and he had to take refuge in his hardly saved store of +nourishment. Nor was there any sign of his protectress on the following +day. But that night in the room above he could hear men's footsteps and +the sound of a woman groaning, as if with pain, all the night long. A +fearful suspicion crossed his mind that he dared not face, even to +himself. + +It was obvious that overhead someone was dying, and that someone a +woman. He would not let his mind dwell on the presentiment that suddenly +arose; it could not be, it must be a nightmare conjured up by his own +fevered imagination. + +The next morning the groans had ceased, but he could not hear what was +being said by those talking. By the afternoon, his fears were changed +into certainty, and he knew it was no dream. + +Then he heard the sound of singing, the melancholy droning that the +Calvinists use over the corpse, so charged with dreary forebodings, the +horrible gloom of which is in such contrast to the touching Catholic +ritual for the dead, where all tends to prayerful hope for the departed +and to consolation for the survivors. + +And then followed a series of dull thuds, as if they were nailing down a +coffin-lid, and Ráby shuddered, but not this time with the cold. + +Towards evening his gaoler came to visit his cell, and Ráby mastered his +feelings sufficiently as far as to ask who it was they were burying. + +The castellan read the real question in the prisoner's face as in an +open book. It betrayed his one vulnerable point, and his tormentor was +not slow to take advantage of his discovery. + +So he wiped his eye hypocritically, and murmured in a sorrowful tone, +"Alas, it is our beloved Fräulein Mariska, the head notary's daughter, +that they are carrying to the grave. Heaven rest her soul!" + +The prisoner uttered a sharp cry as if he had received his death-blow; +then he burst into tears. Truly the dart had gone home this time, and +nothing could ward it off. The gaoler laughed behind the prisoner's +back; he had done better than the executioner for once! + +But Ráby bowed his head on his knees, and clasped his fettered hands in +prayer for the soul that had so lately taken flight from this valley of +tears. But had he known it, Ráby was praying, not for the soul of +Mariska, but for that of his wretched wife, for it was she whom they +were bearing to the grave. + +Fruzsinka had been, all unknown to him, a prisoner like himself, and +this was the end. How she had come there we shall learn later, for +meantime there are other factors in this strange history to be reckoned +with, and Ráby is still languishing in his dungeon. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + + +Ráby no longer dreaded the poisoned food that he expected his gaoler to +bring him, but next morning, strange to say, Janosics appeared with +empty hands and a malicious leer on his ill-favoured features. + +"Do I have no food to-day?" asked the prisoner. + +"Yes, indeed, my dear friend, from to-day you live like a prince. No +more bread and water for you, but just a jolly good dinner of the best, +and as much red wine as you like. And your fetters are to come off, and +you are to be moved into better quarters. You know, I daresay, as well +as I can tell you, what all this means." + +Ráby shrugged his shoulders. + +"Well, it means that to-day your death-sentence is to be formally +approved in court, and that the scaffold is your destination. Till then, +you are to be kept in the condemned cell, and have everything you like +as befits a criminal under sentence of death, and enjoy yourself while +you may." + +It was too true, and no jest. The locksmith came and filed off the +prisoner's fetters once more, and then the barber shaved him, but the +closeness with which his hair was cut, signified only too clearly it +was the "toilet of the condemned." + +They did not stand on ceremony, but just carried Ráby into the court +(for he could not walk), to hear that the capital sentence against which +he had previously appealed was now confirmed by the higher court, and +that he must prepare to die forthwith. + +He heard the decision with strange indifference, but all now he longed +for, was that they should get it over as quickly as possible. + +He was taken, not into his former cell, but into a small cheerful, +well-warmed room, where a table stood spread with all the delicacies +imaginable. + +This was the "condemned cell," and to it many a kind-hearted housewife +in those days was accustomed to send the pick of her larder, to provide +a good dinner for those whose earthly meals were numbered--a form of +charity at that time very much practised by the housekeepers of Pesth. + +"Now, Ráby, you can eat and drink to your heart's content," cried +Janosics. "But it's no good trying to take any away with you, remember." +And the gaoler pushed the table to the couch, so as to be within the +reach of the prisoner. + +But Ráby had no appetite, and had other preoccupations than those of the +table, to fill his mind just then. + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile, Ráby's message had not been forgotten by the heyduke to whom +he had entrusted it. Old Abraham had taken it to the Emperor who, he +heard, was laid up sick in the capital, and it had been promptly read +and acted upon. Three days later, Colonel Lievenkopp, just appointed the +commandant at Pesth, sought out the governor, and demanded immediate +audience on urgent matters of state. + +He had, in fact, a message from the Emperor. "Thanks, Colonel, leave it +there; I'll read it later on; there's no hurry," said his Excellency, +airily, on receiving the imperial missive. + +"Unfortunately, there is hurry, your Excellency! I have orders to have +the mandate read in my presence." + +The words staggered the governor. He, the virtual, if not the nominal +ruler of Hungary, to be spoken to like this, and to have the law laid +down in this fashion to him! + +"Hoity-toity! I have other things to do! Suppose, too, I am not inclined +to read it?" + +"Then your Excellency will permit me to observe that I am empowered to +proceed to extreme measures. In the event of your Excellency not reading +that letter at once, I am commissioned to call in half a dozen officers +of public health who are waiting outside, with a regimental surgeon, for +the purpose of placing your Excellency in a strait-waistcoat, and +escorting you to Vienna under surveillance--you will guess whither?" + +The governor's face became crimson with rage. + +"What do you say--For me, a strait-waistcoat? Me, the representative of +the crown? Do you mean to say the Emperor said that, that he has written +it? Impossible, man, impossible!" + +And he tore the letter out of the envelope, and read its contents. + +They were short, and his eyes became suddenly blood-shot as he read as +follows: + + "From to-day you are relieved of your office: make + over your keys to the district commissioner at once. + + "JOSEPH." + +"And I have Mathias Ráby to thank for this," groaned his Excellency. + +"Possibly," said Lievenkopp drily, "for his Majesty has entrusted me +with a patent for the Pesth magistracy, whereby he demands the instant +release of Mr. Mathias Ráby; in the case of non-obedience, by ten +o'clock to-morrow, I am ordered to enforce its execution by a battery +and a corresponding number of soldiers, and if the prisoner is not +brought out, to storm the Assembly House forthwith, and release Mr. Ráby +from captivity." + +"Storm the Assembly House?" stammered the magnate, dazed with the +suggestion. "Stir up civil war just for the sake of one miserable +culprit. Oh, that fellow will be the death of me!" + +And the wretched man staggered as with a sudden blow, and blindly clung +to a chair for support to prevent him from falling. He was blue in the +face, his clenched hand still grasping the letter; it was the beginning +of an apoplectic fit. + +Lievenkopp hastened to send one of the secretaries for a doctor, but it +was already too late; when the surgeon arrived to bleed him, the +governor was beyond such help. Thus passed one more actor in this +memorable tragedy of Rab Ráby. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + + +It is time to return to Frau Fruzsinka, and to explain how she had come +to be a prisoner under the same roof as her husband. + +When Fruzsinka found that Ráby was, in spite of the efforts she had made +to save him, a prisoner in Pesth, her rage and disgust knew no bounds. +The abandoned woman still carried on her miserable masquerade in man's +attire, and as a pretended highwayman, continued to strike terror into +the hearts of the countryside. + +One night, however, she was taken with what seemed a sudden faintness, +and seeking shelter in a peasant's hut, was betrayed by the owner to the +heydukes, and carried off by her captors to the prison in Pesth. By the +time she arrived there, she was evidently seriously ill, and appeared to +be in a high fever, although it never occurred to the prison authorities +that her malady might be infectious. + +Janosics, who had hailed her arrival with ill-concealed delight, +perceiving his prisoner wore a richly embroidered kerchief round her +neck, proceeded to annex it, and bind it round his own. But this rough +undressing, to which she was subjected as a culprit, was too much for +Fruzsinka, and she soon betrayed her sex by her tears at the rough +treatment Janosics meted out to her. + +As might be expected, the news soon spread that this was no highwayman, +but a woman, and she too of noble family. + +Tárhalmy recognised her at once, and he tingled with shame at the +thought of Mathias Ráby's wife being treated as a common felon. And the +case of a woman of Fruzsinka's position being sent there was so rare +that there was literally no provision for such prisoners in the +building, and so it came to pass that the disused "archive-room," as it +was called, the room where Mariska had been able to communicate with +Ráby, was that now appointed for Fruzsinka. + +"You will be rewarded for this," gasped the wretched woman. "I shall not +trouble you long, for I shall not live over to-morrow." + +And when Tárhalmy, having found a maid to wait on her, was leaving the +room, she called him back to whisper: + +"I know you have a daughter you love dearly. Send her away immediately +from this house, so she escape the contagion I have brought with me." + +Tárhalmy hastened to warn Mariska that she might go to the house of her +aunt at Buda, and told her who the prisoner really was. + +But the girl was terrified at the thought of leaving Ráby, perhaps to +starve, nor did she shrink at the idea of nursing Fruzsinka, but begged +her father to let her remain at home, and tend the sick woman. + +But Tárhalmy would not let her carry her self-abnegation so far. + +Meantime, the doctor came, and deceived by the patient's symptoms, which +seemed to him those of an ordinary fever, made a false diagnosis of +Fruzsinka's case, and failed to recognise her malady for what it really +was--the oriental plague, which was then raging in the near East. + +But the plague-stricken woman would not allow a soul to come near her, +and refused all attempt at help or consolation, for she, being a +Calvinist, would not even see the kindly Capuchin friar who came to +offer his services. + +And Mariska was allowed to remain till the news of Lievenkopp's +threatening mission determined her father to send her away. + +As for that officer's demand, it was, deemed Tárhalmy, a question to be +settled by the Pesth tribunal, and the still closed door of the +prisoner's dungeon would be the answer to the Emperor's mandate, whilst +the prisoner himself, when it came to the execution of justice, should +know who was master in Pesth! + +Surely Tárhalmy had good reasons for sending his daughter away. + +Thus was Ráby bereft of his guardian-angel, and so it came to pass that +his evil genius, his wretched wife, lay dying in the room over his +dungeon. + +But Fruzsinka's prophecy came true; she died the next day, and was +promptly buried. No one mourned the dead woman, as no one had excused +her. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + + +The fateful day broke at last and found the Pesth authorities still in +council; their vigil had lasted throughout the night. It was no light +question to be decided: nothing less than the authority of the Hungarian +constitution, and whether or not it should resist the armed force which +menaced it. + +Many among them pitied the prisoner and deemed him guiltless in their +own hearts, but the law had to be justified--at whatever cost--and +Ráby's acquittal would have embodied the breach of that law. Thus it was +that no voice was raised on his behalf, and his condemnation was a +foregone conclusion. + +It was with difficulty the prisoner could stand, so exhausted was he; +and when he looked in the faces of his judges, he found there no mercy. + +Tárhalmy had hidden his face in his hands, as, at the stroke of ten from +the great Franciscan church clock, the vice-notary (they spared Tárhalmy +the office) began to read the sentence of the court on Ráby. + +He read out the absurd charges which had been got up against the +culprit, the _résumé_ of the former trials, the judge's verdict, the +prisoner's incitements to the peasants to revolt, his association with +brigands, and resort to diabolical arts in order to escape from prison, +all of which had rendered him amenable to death by the axe. But this +sentence, said the speaker, could not be carried out, since the Emperor +had abolished capital punishment, and so it had been commuted by the +court into the galleys for life. Mathias Ráby was therefore adjudged to +be chained that very day to the oar, to work out his just sentence. + +"Chained to the oar!" + +For that broken emaciated form what a mockery the sentence seemed! And +Mariska, what had she said to it, had she heard it? + +Ráby had to be supported by two heydukes, as he was compelled to listen +standing to the sentence, but his face was deathly pale as he heard it. + +All at once the blare of trumpets and beating of drums was heard +without, and out of the neighbouring barracks came squadrons of infantry +and cavalry. The heavy roll of the cannon and the rattling of the +gun-carriages were distinctly audible as the latter rumbled along the +cobbles. And high above it, Lievenkopp's command to load was clearly +heard, and the rattle of the muskets as the soldiers obeyed. + +The pale face of the prisoner suddenly glowed with hope, and an electric +thrill of triumph convulsed his relaxed limbs, as he listened. Rescue +was at hand then! + +Now it is the turn of his judges to blench, for his persecutors to +tremble. The sword is suspended over the judge's head, not over the +culprit's. Who will first avert it? + +"Now, gentlemen," cried the vice-notary, "the sentence, you know, must +be read from the open window of the Assembly House, so all may hear it!" + +The speaker (he was quite a young man) suddenly paled with terror as he +took up the document, and hastily begged for a glass of water. Laskóy +was too terror-stricken to take upon him the task before which his +junior quailed. + +Tárhalmy stepped forward and seized the paper. "I will read it," he said +calmly. + +And turning to the castellan, he cried, "Close the doors, and tell the +heydukes to load their muskets at once." + +As Ráby heard that command he shuddered. The first shot fired, the door +of the Assembly House once shattered, would be the signal for the whole +country to be aflame with revolt. Such a course would hurl the nation +and the dynasty to the verge of ruin. And for what? For the sake of +ensuring freedom to one miserable man. Was it worth it? + +The prisoner suddenly broke away from his guards, and intercepting +Tárhalmy as he reached the window, he threw himself at his feet. + +"Your worship," he cried, "I recognise the justice of the sentence, I no +longer defy you, I am utterly broken; let me die, but do not let me be +further tortured or insulted. But do not on my account stir up bloodshed +and strife in this land; trample me, kill me if you will, but do not +let the innocent suffer. You shall never hear a word of complaint from +me again!" + +Tárhalmy tore his coat lappet from Ráby's trembling grasp, and strode +firmly but proudly to the window. Below in the street, came the word of +command from the officer in charge: "Load your muskets!" + +Standing at the open window, Tárhalmy read aloud, in a clear unwavering +voice, the judgment on Ráby from beginning to end. The prisoner had +fainted. The cannon were in readiness, the muskets loaded; they only +awaited the order to fire. All at once, an imperial courier, galloping +at full tilt through the crowd, dashed through the trumpeters, rode up +to the commandant, and handed him a sealed missive, crying "In the +King's name!" + +Lievenkopp hastily broke the seal of the letter, read it, and stuck it +into his breast-pocket, then he shouted, "Shoulder your arms!" + +The trumpeters sounded a retreat; the cumbrous cannon were wheeled back +again, and the threatening convoy took their way back to the barracks, +from whence they had so lately come. + +But the red-coated courier stood beating on the door of the Assembly +House with the knob of his riding-whip, and calling, "Open, in the +King's name!" + + + + +CHAPTER L. + + +At the sound of those few words, "In the King's name," the door of the +Assembly House was immediately opened; the formula acted like magic. + +There are two words which are often written down together, "Emperor" and +"King," wherein the outer world sees little difference, but for +Hungarians there is all the difference in the world. For the Magyar, the +first means only the foreign yoke, and all that it stands for; but the +second represents that rightful regal authority which in Hungary never +fails to win the loyalty and love of those to whom it appeals. And it is +a distinction which the world outside Hungary is sometimes slow to +recognise. + +And so it was that when the red-coated courier appeared before the Pesth +tribunal he was received with the utmost respect. It was the office of +the head notary to open and read the missive, which he did first to +himself. When he had finished, tears stood in the strong man's eyes. And +as he began to read it aloud, his voice trembled audibly, and he was +visibly moved. + + "WORSHIPFUL CITIZENS! + + "His Majesty the King herewith, by this present royal + rescript, withdraws all vexatious edicts hitherto + issued, with the exception of his edict of tolerance + and that for the freeing of the serfs. He revokes the + compulsory order for the use of a foreign language, + and rehabilitates your council and restores your + constitution. He concludes a war carried on against + the will of the nation by an honourable peace. He asks + you, the members of the Pesth magistracy, to call a + general council and promulgate the constitution in + Pesth, and further orders that the holy crown of + Hungary be brought from Vienna to Buda, after which he + will summon Parliament and will be crowned there." + +The last words were drowned by loud cries of "Long live the King!" while +the council members sprang up from their places huzzaing and cheering. +They seemed like changed beings. Even Tárhalmy, the grave phlegmatic +man, generally as cold as ice and a slave to duty, was transformed, and +his set, serious face flamed with a sudden enthusiasm. + +"Now, gentlemen," he cried, "comes the new order, now we shall have +justice done. And before God and men can I now say, 'Woe to those who +have done this foul wrong to Mathias Ráby.' I will justify him at the +bar of our country, and none who helped to persecute this brave man +shall escape unpunished. The nation shall judge him." + +"Hear, hear!" shouted many voices, and the loudest of all was Petray's. + +"Justice for Ráby," exclaimed that worthy, "yes, it is right he should +have it. I have always told the lieutenant here what a sin and a shame +it was thus to compass his ruin." + +"What?" cried Laskóy, "I, compassing Ráby's ruin? What do you mean? Who +but you managed the whole business, I should like to know!" + +"That's a lie!" retorted his antagonist, and the strife promised to be +endless, for the others now joined in lustily, and swords were all but +drawn. + +Tárhalmy took his documents under his arm. "I am going," he said, "I +prefer to choose my own company." + + * * * * * + +Meantime, the news of the royal proclamation had spread like wild-fire, +and nothing else was talked of. Nagy (otherwise "Kurovics") hastened to +Janosics to impart to him the news that the members of the council were +quarrelling as to which one was guilty of Ráby's condemnation, and that +it would be as well at any rate, it should not be laid at the door of +the prison officials. + +So the two made for the condemned cell, where Ráby had been dragged all +but unconscious. + +The prisoner imagined they had come to lead him to the galleys. + +"No, my friend, thank your stars you are not going there," shouted +Janosics, "you are reprieved! You are free!" + +And a sudden thrill of joy born of his regained liberty, shot through +the exhausted frame of the prisoner, remembering he was not to be +scourged at the oar. But then his unbending spirit reasserted itself, +and he exclaimed proudly, "I need no man's grace, and I accept none of +your favours, I would rather die here!" + +"You won't then do anything of the kind," retorted the gaoler, "but you +will just march! Here, thrust him out, you fellows," and he called up a +couple of warders who roughly seized the prisoner between them, and +carried him in spite of his struggles into the courtyard below. There +was a small iron door which led into a side thoroughfare, and this +Janosics opened and pushed Ráby through it, out into the street the +other side. + +There they left him on the cobbles, in a dead faint from the efforts he +had made, and there he lay like a lifeless log. The prison authorities +did not care on whom the blame for detaining Ráby fell, but they were +determined it should not lay with them. + +Janosics returned whistling into his room. But suddenly he ceased to +whistle; something seemed to be throttling him. His limbs too were +convulsed by a sudden tremor, and horrible spasms of pain shot through +his whole body. When he tried to cry out, he failed to utter a sound, +and only blood came from his mouth. And still that awful sensation of +strangulation oppressed him, so that he tugged at the kerchief about his +throat to get it off; it was the one Fruzsinka had worn. And the words +of the dead woman, her warning that none should come near her, came +back to him. + +The doctor he sent for, directly he saw his patient, exclaimed in +horror, "This is the oriental plague," for he recognised the symptoms of +the fell malady. + +And that word at once drove every living soul away from the unhappy man, +and he was left writhing in his agony behind the door till he was still, +for that meant he was dead. Then they sent two condemned felons to wrap +up the corpse in a horse-rug and carry it out into the cemetery there to +be buried like a dog. The only thing they troubled after was as to +whether enough quicklime had been thrown into the grave. + + * * * * * + +But Ráby lay half-dead on the cobble-stones. There were no other houses +in the alley, save the monster barracks, the university hospital, and +the great stone rampart of the hinder part of the Assembly House. + +As a rule, only one person went up that alley every day, and that was an +old Jew named Abraham. He was no longer bound by law to wear the red +mantle, and could go about in his black gown and kaftan. With him was a +red-haired boy, his youngest son, an intelligent lad who had excellent +legs and could run with the best. + +But Abraham left him at the corner of the alley and went alone to the +little iron door. + +There he was accustomed to wait each morning till a heyduke appeared. +Then he would push a paper containing a piece of gold under the door, +and receive in exchange another morsel of paper. This contained the +latest news of Rab Ráby, and Abraham promptly gave it to the youngster +waiting at the corner, who forthwith would run with it to Buda, where +Mariska was waiting for it. + +But on this particular morning, the Jew found no news of Ráby, but +instead, the prisoner himself, lying on the stones, as one dead. + +The old man raised no alarm, nor did he utter a word, but bending over +the prostrate man, laid his hand on Ráby's heart to see if it yet beat. + +When he had satisfied himself that Ráby was still alive, Abraham wrapped +him up in his warm fur-lined mantle, took him in his arms, and carried +him to the corner of the alley, where he and his son between them +dragged him into a sedan-chair, and bore him off--whither no one knew! + + * * * * * + +A voice like the voice of the angels themselves (so it seemed to the +half-conscious man who heard it) sweet as the song of the spheres and +thrilling with some unwonted harmony which did not seem of this earth, +recalled the stricken soul of Mathias Ráby back from the shadows of +death where it yet lingered. + +"May heaven preserve you to us, poor Ráby," whispered the voice. + +The ex-prisoner awoke from his swoon to find himself in a warm room, +whose atmosphere was redolent with some refreshing fragrance, pillowed +on soft cushions, while above him were bending two blue eyes that seemed +as if they carried in their inmost depths, something of the light of +paradise itself. Such eyes, and who could forget them, once having seen +them? + + * * * * * + +But to this day the treasure-chest of Szent-Endre has never been found, +so effectually was it hidden from all men. + + +THE END. + +_Jarrold & Sons, Ltd., Printers, The Empire Press, Norwich._ + + + + +Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors present in the +original text have been corrected. + +In Chapter III, "based on a false premiss" was changed to "based on a +false premise". + +In Chapter V, "the gate of the vineyards were shut" was changed to "the +gates of the vineyards were shut". + +In Chapter VIII, periods was added after "others lay dormant" and "she +has become a fine girl". + +In Chapter XI, "_Did you call me, dear father?_ asked he girl" was +changed to "_Did you call me, dear father?_ asked the girl". + +In Chapter XIV, "Thereupon, he sent the wooer to Fräulein, Fruzsinka" +was changed to "Thereupon, he sent the wooer to Fräulein Fruzsinka". + +In Chapter XVI, "the csakó on their heads" was changed to "the csákó on +their heads". + +In Chapter XVII, _"Why do you call him a "worshipful gentleman," asked +the president._ was changed to _"Why do you call him a 'worshipful +gentleman,'" asked the president._, and a period was changed to a +question mark after "in order to save his fellow-citizens from beggary". + +In Chapter XIX, a period was changed to a question mark after "What +could be the reasons of his delay". + +In Chapter XX, "a coquettishly clad peasant from the Aldföld" was +changed to "a coquettishly clad peasant from the Alföld", a quotation +mark was added before "These registered formulas are falsified", and "He +fancied al Pesth" was changed to "He fancied all Pesth". + +In Chapter XXIII, "What for the children who are deserted by their +mothers?" was changed to "What, for the children who are deserted by +their mothers?" + +In Chapter XXIX, missing periods were added after "Where all the others +are" and "to demand an explanation". + +In Chapter XXXII, "said Raby, suiting the action to the word" was +changed to "said Ráby, suiting the action to the word". + +In Chapter XXXIII, "They stopped the calvacade" was changed to "They +stopped the cavalcade". + +In Chapter XL, a period was changed to a question mark after "had not +the Emperor himself promised to come". + +In Chapter XLIV, "A wasted and attentuated figure" was changed to "A +wasted and attenuated figure". + +In Chapter XLVIII, a comma was added after "deceived by the patient's +symptoms". + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Strange Story of Rab Ráby, by Mór Jókai + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RÁBY *** + +***** This file should be named 36739-0.txt or 36739-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/3/36739/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/36739-0.zip b/36739-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4bfbfb --- /dev/null +++ b/36739-0.zip diff --git a/36739-8.txt b/36739-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b992a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/36739-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10914 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Strange Story of Rab Rby, by Mr Jkai + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Strange Story of Rab Rby + +Author: Mr Jkai + +Commentator: Emil Reich + +Release Date: July 15, 2011 [EBook #36739] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RBY *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RBY + + + + +DR. MAURUS JKAI'S +MORE FAMOUS WORKS + +(Authorised Translations). + +LIBRARY EDITION. + +6/- each. + + Black Diamonds. + The Green Book; or, Freedom Under the Snow. + Pretty Michal. + The Lion of Janina; or, The Last Days of the Janissaries. + An Hungarian Nabob. + Dr. Dumany's Wife. + The Nameless Castle. + The Poor Plutocrats. + Debts of Honour. + Halil the Pedlar. + The Day of Wrath. + Eyes Like the Sea. + 'Midst the Wild Carpathians. + The Slaves of the Padishah. + Tales from Jkai. + + +NEW POPULAR EDITION. + +2/6 Net each. + + The Yellow Rose. + Black Diamonds. + The Green Book; or, Freedom Under the Snow. + Pretty Michal. + The Day of Wrath. + +LONDON: JARROLD & SONS. + + + + +[Illustration: portrait of Mr Jkai] + + + + +THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RBY + +BY MAURUS JKAI + +[Illustration: SANS PEUR ET SANS REPROCHE.] + +THIRD EDITION + +LONDON +JARROLD & SONS, 10 & 11, WARWICK LANE, E.C. + +[All Rights Reserved.] + + + + +PREFACE + +TO JKAI'S "RAB RBY," IN ENGLISH, + +By Dr. Emil Reich. + + +In "Rab Rby," the famous Hungarian novelist gives us, in a manner quite +his own, a picture of the "old rgime" in Hungary in the times of +Emperor Joseph II., 1780-1790. The novel, as to its plot and principal +persons, is based on facts, and the then manners and institutions of +Hungary are faithfully reflected in the various scenes from private, +judicial, and political life as it developed under the erroneous policy +of Joseph II. + +Briefly speaking, "Rab Rby" is the story of one of those frightful +miscarriages of justice which at all times cropped up under the +influence of political motives. In our own time we have seen the Dreyfus +case, another instance of appalling injustice set in motion for +political reasons. "Rab Rby" is thus very likely to give the English +reader a wrong idea of the backward and savage character of Hungarian +civilisation towards the end of the eighteenth century, unless he +carefully considers the peculiar circumstances of the case. I think I +can do the novel no better service than setting it in its right +historic frame, which Jkai, writing as he did for Hungarians, did not +feel induced to dwell upon. + +The Hungarians, alone of all Continental nations, have a political +Constitution of their own, the origin of which goes back to an age prior +to Magna Charta in England. Outside Hungary, it is generally believed +that Hungary is a mere annex of "Austria"; and the average Englishman in +particular is much surprised to hear that "Austria" is considerably +smaller than Hungary. In fact, "Austria" is merely a conventional +phrase. There is no Austria, in technical language. What is +conventionally called Austria has in reality a much longer name by which +alone it is technically recognised to exist. This name is, "The +countries represented in the _Reichsrath_." On the other hand, there is, +conventionally and technically, a Hungary, which has no "home-rule" +whatever from Austria, any more than Australia has "home-rule" from +England. In fact, Hungary is the equal partner of Austria; and no +Austrian official whatever can officially perform the slightest function +in Hungary. The person whom the people of "Austria" call "Emperor," the +Hungarians accept only as their King. There is not even a common +citizenship between Hungarians and Austrians; and a Hungarian to be +fully recognised in Austria as, say a lawyer, must first acquire the +Austrian rights of naturalisation, just as an Englishman would. + +The preceding remarks will enable the reader to see clearly that Hungary +never accepted, nor can ever accept Austrian rule in any shape +whatever; and that the entire business of political, judicial, and +administrative government in Hungary must legally be done by Hungarian +citizens only. The King alone happens to be an official in Austria as +well as in Hungary; but according to Hungarian constitutional law he +cannot command, nor reform things in Hungary except with the formal +consent of the Hungarian authorities, in Parliament and County. In +Austria indeed, the "Emperor" was, previous to 1867, quite autocratic; +and even at present he has a very large share of autocratic power. + +Now, Emperor Joseph II. desired to melt down Hungarian and Austrian +manners, laws, and institutions into one homogeneous mass of a +Germanised body-politic. With this view he commanded the Hungarians to +practically give up their own language, their ancient national +constitution, and old County institutions, thinking as he did, that such +an unification of the Austro-Hungarian peoples would make the Danubian +Monarchy much more powerful and prosperous than it had ever been before. +He sincerely believed that his scheme of unification would greatly +benefit his peoples; nor did he doubt that they would readily obey his +behests to that effect. + +However, the Emperor was quite mistaken as to the effect of his imperial +policy upon the Hungarians. Far from acquiescing in his plans, the +Hungarians at once showed fight in every possible form of passive +resistance, rebellion, scorn, or threats. To them their Constitution +was, as it still is, dearer by far than all material prosperity. + +The Emperor's ordinances were coolly shelved, not even read, and with a +few exceptions, all his commands proved abortive. Many Hungarians +admitted then, as others do now, that Joseph's reforms were in more than +one respect such as to benefit Hungary. Yet no Hungarian wanted to +purchase these reforms at the expense of the hoary and holy Constitution +of the country. Joseph, in commanding all those reforms, without so much +as asking for the consent of the Estates, violated the very fundamental +principle of the Hungarian Constitution. This the Hungarians were +determined to resist to the uttermost. In the end they vanquished the +ruler, who shortly before his death withdrew nearly all his ordinances, +and so confessed himself beaten. + +It is in the midst of these historic and psychological circumstances +that Jkai laid his fascinating novel. A young Hungarian nobleman, +indignant at the illegality and injustice of public officials of his +native town, who shamefully exploit the poor of the district, approaches +the Emperor with a view to get his authorisation for measures destined +to put an end to the criminal encroachments of the said officials. The +Emperor gives him that authority. But far from strengthening young +Rby's case, the Emperor thereby exposes him to the unforgiving rancour +of both guilty and innocent officials who desperately resent the +Emperor's unconstitutional procedure. + +The novel is the story of the conflict between the young noble and the +Emperor on the one hand, and the wretched, but in the nature of the +case, more patriotic officials, on the other. As in all such cases, +where virtue appears either at the wrong time, or in the wrong shape, +the ruin of the virtuous is almost inevitable, while no student of human +nature can wholly condemn his otherwise corrupt and despicable enemies. +In that conflict lies both the charm of the novel and its tragic +character. + +As in all his stories, Jkai fills each page with a novel interest, and +his inexhaustible good humour and exuberant powers of description throw +even over the dark scenes of the story something of the soothing light +of mellow hilarity. + +EMIL REICH. + +_London, Nov. 1st, 1909._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + PAGE + CHAPTER I. 1 + CHAPTER II. 6 + CHAPTER III. 11 + CHAPTER IV. 16 + CHAPTER V. 27 + CHAPTER VI. 37 + CHAPTER VII. 46 + CHAPTER VIII. 50 + CHAPTER IX. 58 + CHAPTER X. 64 + CHAPTER XI. 70 + CHAPTER XII. 82 + CHAPTER XIII. 86 + CHAPTER XIV. 96 + CHAPTER XV. 104 + CHAPTER XVI. 112 + CHAPTER XVII. 130 + CHAPTER XVIII. 141 + CHAPTER XIX. 150 + CHAPTER XX. 159 + CHAPTER XXI. 173 + CHAPTER XXII. 178 + CHAPTER XXIII. 188 + CHAPTER XXIV. 197 + CHAPTER XXV. 204 + CHAPTER XXVI. 219 + CHAPTER XXVII. 224 + CHAPTER XXVIII. 234 + CHAPTER XXIX. 237 + CHAPTER XXX. 249 + CHAPTER XXXI. 255 + CHAPTER XXXII. 259 + CHAPTER XXXIII. 268 + CHAPTER XXXIV. 278 + CHAPTER XXXV. 286 + CHAPTER XXXVI. 289 + CHAPTER XXXVII. 296 + CHAPTER XXXVIII. 301 + CHAPTER XXXIX. 308 + CHAPTER XL. 317 + CHAPTER XLI. 324 + CHAPTER XLII. 328 + CHAPTER XLIII. 335 + CHAPTER XLIV. 339 + CHAPTER XLV. 345 + CHAPTER XLVI. 349 + CHAPTER XLVII. 352 + CHAPTER XLVIII. 357 + CHAPTER XLIX. 360 + CHAPTER L. 364 + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Now it is not because the double name of "Rab Rby" is merely a pretty +bit of alliteration that the author chose it for the title of his story, +but rather because the hero of it was, according to contemporary +witnesses of his doings, named Rby, and in consequence of these same +doings, earned the epithet "Rab" ("culprit"). How he deserved the +appellation will be duly shown in what follows. + +A hundred years ago, there was no such thing as a lawyer, in the modern +sense, in the city of Buda-Pesth. Attorneys indeed there were, of all +sorts, but a lawyer who was at the public service was not to be found, +and when a country cousin came to town, to look for someone who should +"lie for money," he sought in vain. + +Why this demand for lawyers could not be supplied in Buda-Pesth a +hundred years back may best be explained by briefly describing the two +cities at that epoch. + +For two cities they really were, with their respective jurisdictions. +The Austrian magistrate persistently called Pesth "Old Buda," and the +Rascian city of Buda itself, "Pesth," but the Hungarians recognised +"Pestinum Antiqua" as Pesth, and for them, Buda was "the new city." + +Pesth itself reaches from the Hatvan to the Waitz Gate. Where Hungary +Street now stretches was then to be seen the remains of the old city +wall, under which still nestled a few mud dwellings. The ancient Turkish +cemetery, to-day displaced by the National Theatre, was yet standing, +and further out still, lay kitchen gardens. On the other side, at the +end of what is now Franz-Dek Street, on the banks of the Danube, stood +the massive Rondell bastion, wherein, as a first sign of civilisation, a +theatrical company had pitched its abode, though, needless to say, it +was an Austrian one. At that epoch, it was prohibited by statute to +elect an Hungarian magistrate, and the law allowed no Hungarians but +tailors and boot-makers to be householders. + +Of the Leopold City, there was at that time no trace, and the spot where +now the Bank stands, was then the haunt of wild-ducks. Where Franz-Dek +Street now stretches, ran a marshy dyke, which was surmounted by a +rampart of mud. In the Joseph quarter only was there any sign of +planning out the area of building-plots and streets; to be sure, the +rough outline of the Theresa city was just beginning to show itself in a +cluster of houses huddled closely together, and the narrow street which +they were then building was called "The Jewry." In this same street, and +in this only, was it permitted to the Jews, on one day every week, by an +order of the magistrate, to expose for sale those articles which +remained in their possession as forfeited pledges. Within the city they +were not allowed to have shops, and when outside the Jews' quarter, they +were obliged to don a red mantle, with a yellow lappet attached, and any +Jew who failed to wear this distinctive garb was fined four deniers. +There was little scope for trade. Merchants, shop-keepers and brokers +bought and sold for ready-money only; no one might incur debt save in +pawning; and if the customer failed to pay up, the pledge was forfeited. +Thus there was no call for legal aid. If the citizens had a quarrel, +they carried their difference to the magistrate to be adjusted, and both +parties had to be satisfied with his decision, no counsel being +necessary. Affairs of honour and criminal cases however were referred to +the exchequer, with a principal attorney and a vice-attorney for the +prosecution and for the defence. + +At that time, there was in what is now Grenadier Street, a +single-storied house opposite the "hop-garden." This house was the +County Assembly House whence the provincial jurisdiction was exercised. +It had been the Austrian barracks, till finally, Maria Theresa promoted +it to the dignity of a law-court, and caused a huge double eagle with +the Hungarian escutcheon in the middle, to be painted thereon; from +which time, no soldier dare set foot in its precincts. Here it was only +permitted to the civilians and the prisoners confined there to enter. +Only the part of the building which faced east was then standing: this +wing comprised the officials' rooms and the subterranean dungeons. + +The magnates carried on their petty local dissensions, aided by their +own legal wisdom alone, yet every Hungarian nobleman was an expert in +jurisprudence in his own fashion. There were even women who had proved +themselves quite adepts in arranging legal difficulties. The Hungarian +constitution allowed the right to the magnate who did not wish the law +to take its course, of forcibly staying its execution, and the same +prerogative was extended to a woman land-owner. The commonweal also +demanded that each one should strive to make as rapid an end as possible +to lawsuits. Long legal processes were adjusted so that there should be +time for the judge as well as the contending parties to look after +building and harvest operations, as well as the vintage and pig-killing. +On these occasions lawsuits would be laid aside so as not to interfere +with such important business. + +But if the tax-paying peasant was at variance with his fellow-toiler, +the local magistrate, and the lord of the manor, were arbitrators. So +here likewise there was no room for a lawyer. + +But when the peasant had ground of complaint against his betters, he had +none to take his part. There was, however, one man willing to fill the +breach, although he had been up to this time little noticed, and that +man was Rab Rby--or to give him his full title of honour, "Mathias Rby +of Rba and Mura." + +He it was who was the first to realise the ambition of becoming on his +own account the people's lawyer in the city of Pesth--and this without +local suffrages or the active support of powerful patrons--but only at +the humble entreaty of those whose individual complaints are unheard, +but in unison, become as the noise of thunder. + +The representative of this new profession did Rby aim at being. It was +for this men called him "Rab Rby," though he had, as we shall see, to +expiate his boldness most bitterly. + +In what follows, the reader will find for the most part, a true history +of eighteenth century Pesth. It will be worth his while to read it, in +order to understand how the world wagged in the days when there was no +lawyer in Pesth and Buda. Moreover, it will perhaps reconcile him to the +fact that we have so many of them to-day! + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +They sit, the worshipful government authorities of Pesth, at the +ink-bespattered green table in the council room of the Assembly House, +the president himself in the chair; close beside him, the prefect, whom +his neighbour, the "overseer of granaries," was doing his best to +confuse by his talking. On his left is an empty chair, beside which sits +the auditor, busy sketching hussars with a red pencil on the back of a +bill. Opposite is the official tax-collector whose neck is already quite +stiff with looking up at the clock to see how far it is from +dinner-time. The rest of the party are consequential officials who +divide their time between discussing fine distinctions in Latinity, and +cutting toothpicks for the approaching mid-day meal. + +The eighth seat, which remains empty, is destined for the magistrate. +But empty it won't be for long. + +And indeed it is not empty because its owner is too lazy to fill it, but +because he is on official affairs intent in the actual court room, +whereof the door stands ajar, so that although he cannot hear all that +is going forward, he can have a voice in the discussion when the vote is +taken. + +From the court itself rises a malodorous steam from the damp sheepskin +cloaks, the reek of dirty boots and the pungent fumes of garlic--a +combined stench so thick that you could have cut it with a knife. +Peasants there are too there in plenty, Magyars, Rascians, and Swabians: +all of whom must get their "viginti solidos," otherwise their "twenty +strokes with the lash." + +For to-day is the fourth session of the local court of criminal appeal. +On this day, the serious cases are taken first, and after the +death-sentences have been passed, come a succession of lesser peasant +offenders for judgment. + +Some have broken open granaries, others have been guilty of assaults, +but there are three main groups. To one of these belong the settlers +from Izbegh who have been convicted of gathering wood in the forests of +the nobles. The second section embraces those culprits who were artful +enough during the vintage to cover the ripe grapes over with earth, (so +that the magnates should be cheated out of their tithes), and to evade +the heydukes who kept watch and ward over the vintagers. Thirdly, there +were the offenders who had formed a deputation to the chancery court, +and dared to pray for a revision of the public accounts for the past +twenty-five years, a request at once temerarious and stupid, for +twenty-five years is a long time--long enough indeed for accounts to +become rotten and worm-eaten. But that they were in sufficiently good +order, the revenue for this particular year, 1783, testified, seeing it +amounted to sixty thousand gulden, of which six thousand were paid to +the ground landlord, and two thousand towards the internal expenses of +the province, with a balance in hand of fifty-two thousand gulden--not +an extravagant outlay, surely! + +But what remains for the peasant? + +Why just those twenty strokes with the lash. These solve the question of +"plus" and "minus." + +The presiding judge, Mr. Peter Petray, only records his vote through the +door, but he himself is doing his official part, for from the window of +the adjoining room he superintends the sentences carried out in the +improvised court below. There are the prisoners in the dock on whom the +vials of justice are being poured forth. They are by no means a +contemptible study either for the psychologist or the ethnographer. The +Rascians are the defaulters against the vintage rights, and loudly they +shriek and curse as the blows are administered, whilst the outragers of +the forestry laws are mostly Swabians, who take advantage of the pauses +between the lashes roundly to abuse the overseer. But there are many +other delinquents besides in that motley crowd, who simply clench their +teeth and await their chastisement. + +But the eye of the law must itself watch over the execution of judgment, +so that nothing in the shape of an understanding between the heyduke +and the culprit, tending to mollify the punishment, may be arrived at. +Much depends on how the blows are laid on. Not only does the sentence +provide that the due number of lashes may be fulfilled, but likewise +that the strokes should be heavy. It is for this that the judge, if he +sees the heyduke falter in his work, urges him on to harder blows, by +calling out "Fortius!" + +But Judge Petray knows how to combine duty and pleasure. For Frulein +Fruzsinka, the niece of the prefect, is also in the room, and their +whispered confidences and languishing glances show that the judge and +the young lady have not met here to discuss simply official questions. + +Whilst the notary in the next room is reading the indictment in a loud +enough tone for Petray to be able to follow him, this dignitary manages +to interpolate various interesting "asides" to his companion amid the +fire of cross questions, and only calls out his vote when asked for it. + +Only the prefect cannot just now leave his post as assessor, and it is +impossible for him to see all that goes on. In the pauses therefore +between the blows, the flirtation between these two goes on merrily. + +It was just then that Frulein Fruzsinka whispered something to her +lover. + +"Willingly," he answers, "but while I do it the Frulein must take my +place at the window, and count the strokes in my stead." + +"And remember the heyduke's name is 'Fortius,'" added the judge to his +representative. + +Frulein Fruzsinka leaned out of the window still laughing heartily, and +began to count as if she were noting a scale of music. The culprit, +seeing a girl's smiling face looking down on him, appealed to her for +mercy. And the young lady, who was by no means hard-hearted, called out +to the heyduke: "Don't beat the poor fellow so pitilessly, Fortius." But +that official only flogged all the harder. + +At the twelfth stroke, Petray came back and slipped something into the +hand of the girl as she leaned out of the window. + +This something she pressed to her lips as she withdrew again behind the +curtain, hiding it in the great locket she wore on her breast. The judge +counted on. + +Now it was the turn of a gipsy band, six of whose number had stolen a +goose, and were to receive half a dozen lashes apiece in consequence. +Later on they will provide the music at dinner, at the command of their +prosecutors: "Now we fiddle to you, then you will play to us!" + +Frulein Fruzsinka, with a parting hand-clasp, hastens away to see to +the setting of the table, for the silver and glass and table-linen are +her special care. The judge raised her hand to his lips as she left. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +It was now time for dinner, whereat we may have the honour of making a +closer acquaintance with the host and hostess and their four guests. + +The prefect, Mr. John Zabvry, with his jaundiced complexion and bleared +eyes, is an excellent specimen of the perfect egoist. Whosoever it is +that comes to him, whether to ask, or to give something, is equally an +enemy in disguise. Does he ask a favour? what is it he wants? Does he +bring something? why is there not more of it? With that perpetual dry +cough of his, he always seems to be calling attention to the faults of +someone or other. He does not even dress like anyone else, but sits at +the end of the table in loose shirt-sleeves, his head nearly +extinguished by a huge red velvet cap, from which dangles an enormous +red tassel, that seems to mock at received Magyar modes. He is a +shocking speaker, and when he gets angry, words fail him, and he begins +to stammer. He is, however, the uncle and guardian of Frulein +Fruzsinka, which fact perhaps accounts for his short temper. + +For Frulein Fruzsinka, with her pretty face and arch ways, her bright +eyes and alluring smile, is none the less a domestic affliction in her +way. How the prefect longs for someone to rid him of her! How willingly +would he not give her to the first comer. + +But it is her own fault that no one marries her, for she flirts +desperately with each admirer in turn. You see it even as she sits at +the table, keeping up a cross-fire of bread-pellets with the judge in a +way that is anything but ladylike. The prefect coughs disapproval and +shakes his head each time he glances at his wayward niece, who, on her +part, only shrugs her shoulders defiantly. + +Yet is Judge Peter Petray a highly distinguished man. The dark Hungarian +dolman that he wears suits him admirably. His black curly hair is not +powdered in the Austrian mode, nor twisted into a cue, but curls over +his forehead in a most attractive fashion, and his short moustache +proclaims him a cavalier of the best type. + +His neighbour, the president of the court, Mr. Valentine Lasky, is a +good specimen of the Magyar of the old school, with his squat little +rotund figure, short red dolman, variegated Hungarian hose, bright +yellow belt, and tan boots. The long fair moustache that droops either +side of his mouth, seems to vie with the bushy eyebrows half defiantly. +Yet it is a face that is always smiling, and the owner has a powerful +voice wherewith to express his feelings. + +The dinner lasted well into the twilight. How describe it? Everyone +knows what an Hungarian dinner implies. With other people, eating is a +pleasure, with the Magyar it is a veritable _cultus_. + +The meal was enlivened by anecdotes, and those of the most racy kind, +whilst the fragrant fumes of tobacco wrapped the company in a cloud of +smoke. + +When they at last rose from the table, the judge drew from under his +dolman a little note that Frulein Fruzsinka had slipped into his hand +under the table--a missive that an onlooker might have taken perhaps for +a love-letter. The judge, however, pushed it over to the president, +exclaiming as he did so, "Worshipful friend, will you please verify this +little account?" + +"What is it? I can't see to read by candle-light." And with that the +president pushed the document over to the prefect. + +"It's only the statement of accounts," grumbled the host, as he thrust +the paper from him, while he growled: "That is my niece's affair and has +nothing to do with me!" + +"I can't see by candle-light," repeated the president. "I can't make out +the letters." For a good Hungarian never puts on spectacles. Whoever has +good eyes may read if he will. + +His worship, the judge, had good eyes as it happened. But Frulein +Fruzsinka kicked his foot under the table, a hint her admirer well +understood. + +"Let us hear how much we four have eaten and drunk in four days." Here +it is: + + 12 pounds of coffee. + 24 pounds of fine sugar. + 626 loaves of wheaten bread. + 534 decanters of wine. + 154 pounds of beef. + 4 sucking pigs. + 107 pairs of fowls, turkeys, and geese. + 54 gallons of Obers beer. + 174 pounds of fish. + 24 pounds of almonds. + 18 pounds of raisins. + 422 eggs. + 3 hundred weight of finest wheat flour. + +Each item was greeted with a roar of laughter from the company. What was +here set forth could not have been consumed. Moreover the expenditure +was the affair of Frulein Fruzsinka, who superintended these payments. + +It was the judge's cue to be polite under the circumstances. Frulein +Fruzsinka held her table-napkin before her face while it was being read, +in order to hide her blushes. Behind her stood the heyduke with the +inkstand, so that the document might be duly signed by the authorities. +Happily the item of the ink wherewith it was signed was not put down, +else, doubtless, it had amounted to a bucketful! Then they all +exchanged the greeting customary at the close of a meal. If anyone had +anything further to say, it was about the gipsy musicians who were just +beginning to play. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +A genuinely welcome guest does not take his leave at nightfall; the +prefect's visitors therefore put off their departure till the next day, +for the evening before they had sat long at the card-table, whereat the +prefect had won back from his guests, and that to the last kreutzer, all +that it had cost to entertain them. + +Frulein Fruzsinka had played cards till daylight. She had at first no +luck whatever, willing as she was by some slight cheating, to bring it, +but since her fellow-players were ready to let a pretty girl have her +way, she won at last ten ducats. Mr. Lasky, however, lost the whole of +his salary. But the money would at least be restored to him, for it was +the custom that whoever won most must refund the president his lost +money, in view of the possible wrath of that important official. The +master of the house smuggled the ten ducats through Frulein Fruzsinka, +into the president's hand. + +"Take care," laughed the girl, "Gyngym Miska does not rob you on the +way." + +"I shall hide it where no one can find it, in the lining of my cap. +There it will be safe enough. Besides, Gyngym Miska is just now +prowling about the county of Somogy. Captain Lievenkopp himself, with +all his dragoons, would hardly succeed in driving him into our +neighbourhood." + +"Ah, well, I only say, look after your gold pieces!" + +The president laughed contemptuously. Lievenkopp was, it was well known, +one of Frulein Fruzsinka's admirers. + +The president and the judge drove together as far as the next post +station, where their ways parted, and meantime chatted amicably. + +"Isn't our hostess a charming person?" began the president as they left +the inn. + +"I don't say she isn't." + +"I must admit you certainly show your good taste in that quarter." + +"Surely only like any other?" + +"Come, come, what avails evasion? When I look into the fair lady's eyes +I don't see the expression there, you do. Can you deny it?" + +"Well, and if I have looked into her eyes, what of it?" + +"Oh, we know all about that. Everyone knows that you and the lady of the +house were carrying on a flirtation whilst the sessions were going on." + +"Did I flirt?" + +"Most emphatically you did. I know everything. Last night, when I went +to my room, I heard voices through the door of our hostess' boudoir. I +waited in order to listen, and sure enough it was the prefect who was +holding forth angrily about you against a shrill high-pitched voice, +which was obviously that of your Frulein Fruzsinka. Thereupon, the lady +retorted that there was an understanding between you, and that the +affair was quite serious." + +"Bah! As if I meant to marry every girl to whom I have made a +declaration," laughed the judge. + +"Aha, that would be quite as difficult to bring about as if Frulein +Fruzsinka wished to marry all those who had courted her. It cuts both +ways. Yet she is a charming girl! If she could only find some good man +who would marry her. Why not you, eh?" + +"Most certainly not. For if someone else marries her, I am certain that +she will be true to me. But if I, and not anyone else, wed her, then +sure enough she'll deceive me every day." + +"But if you don't mean to, then it were surely a great mistake, besides +a mere quibble of words, to leave in the fair lady's hands a pledge that +could be legally produced as argument for the plaintiff." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Tut, tut. I haven't presided twenty years for nothing in criminal law; +I understand what tokens mean. What happened in the little ante-room? +What has the defendant to urge on his behalf?" + +"Why, I only superintended the carrying out of the law from the window." + +"And in the intervals taught your hostess how to conjugate the verb +_amo_, to love, eh?" + +"Stated but not proven--but if it were so?" + +"Consequently, the lady may be justified in urging: 'If he really and +truly loves me, let him give me a love token, a lock of his hair.'" + +"Why not?" + +"Exactly--now you stand convicted! Need I remind you that you only +sought a pair of scissors to cut off a curl of your hair, and while you +did that, your lady-love registered the blows for you as your _locum +tenens_. Yet you were giving the most dangerous blow of all to the +guileless loving heart which beat under your gift, for Frulein +Fruzsinka hid the curl in her locket, and when we came away, I noted how +she leaned out of the window and kissed the locket over and over again. +Is the impeachment sufficient?" + +"No, I won't admit it is. It's based on a false premise. Up to the time +when I went for the scissors, I grant you it was a sound one, but here +the facts alter. As I stood before the looking-glass, with the scissors +in my hand, who should come in but the Frulein's' little black poodle, +and as usual he put out his fore paws caressingly. Thereupon, a +brilliant idea struck me. The hair curled as well round the poodle's +neck as it did on my head. No sooner said than done. The Frulein wasn't +looking; she was too busy with the sessions, so quickly nipping off a +superfluous curl from the dog's neck, I slipped it into my lady's soft +hand; into her locket it goes forthwith. But don't betray me! For if the +Frulein knew it, she would poison us all at the next dinner." + +Mr. Valentine Lasky was not given to groundless merriment, but he +could not fail to see the point of this jest; first that one of the +dog's curly locks had been transferred to the locket, and secondly, that +it had been kissed with transport by the owner. And thereupon he burst +into such a guffaw of laughter that the horses thought it was a volcanic +eruption, and began to shy and rear accordingly, so that the coachman +and the heyduke with him could not bring them to a standstill on the +bridge before the post-house, and the passengers were all but sent +flying from their seats. But at this point Mr. Lasky had to get out to +await the companions he had left behind, who were coming on in the +coach. + +"But don't say a word to anyone," was the judge's parting injunction to +his companion. + +"Trust me! But, all the same, whenever I see a black poodle I shall +laugh at the thought." + +And off went the judge, for his time was up. + +At the bridge, where the roads branched off, Lasky waited for the coach +to come up. + +But what a time the coach was coming, to be sure! He could not imagine +what had happened to it. It was past mid-day, his ever-growing hunger +made the delay of the diligence all the more wearisome. But in spite of +it all, he waited patiently. + +At last the famous vehicle came in sight, but only slowly, although the +road was quite good. What could have happened? + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Now what had really happened to the coach was that it had lost one of +the big screws out of the hind wheel, so that the latter had come off. +For a whole hour had they hunted for the screw without success, and then +they tried to get on without it, but that was a difficult business. If a +peasant loses a wheel-nail, he can easily find a substitute; the screw +of a coach, however, is not so easily replaced. What straps and ropes +they had to hand were knotted and wound round the axle, but the quickly +rotating nave had in a few minutes torn all to shreds, and would not go +round properly, much to the detriment of the horses who now had to drag +the lumbering conveyance with a wheel that would not work, through the +tough, sticky morass, which made the way much more toilsome. + +Not that this affected the merry mood of the president as he took his +place inside. Every now and again he whistled for sheer lightness of +heart. + +"Fire away, there!" he cried to the driver. + +But the driver was not equal to the task, as he urged his steeds over +the morass through which the four slow old hacks dragged the rickety +vehicle with its broken-down wheel. + +Meanwhile, on a hillock which rose tolerably steep from the roadside, +waited a horseman mounted on a strong wiry beast, that stood with his +muzzle snuffing the ground like a setter scenting the trail, with +watchful eyes and pricked ears, but so still that he did not even brush +off the flies that settled on his withers and flanks. The man himself in +the saddle was equally motionless; he was dark and hawk-eyed, with curly +hair, and a tapering pointed moustache. He wore a peasant's garb that +was scrupulously fine of its kind, his countryman's cloak being richly +embroidered, and his sleeves frilled with wide lace. In his cap he wore +a cluster of locks of women's hair and a knot of artificial flowers; at +his girdle gleamed a pair of silver inlaid Turkish pistols, while from +the pommel of his saddle hung another, double-barrelled, and in his +right hand he carried an axe. An alder-bush had hidden the stranger up +till now, so that he could not be seen by the coaching party till he +himself hailed them. + +"Now you traitor, you knave, are you going to stop or not?" + +Was the coachman going to stop? Yes indeed, he sprang down from his box +in terror, promptly crawled under the coach, and whimpered, "Alack, your +honour, it's Gyngym Miska himself, it is indeed!" + +The mounted cavalier pranced up to the coach, the noble charger tossing +his proud head to and fro, so that the harness-fringe flew round him. + +"Now we've got something to laugh at and no mistake," growled the +coachman. Yet he laughed too in spite of himself. + +The highwayman himself began to laugh as he accosted the president. + +"So you've recognised me, have you, for the celebrated Gyngym Miska?" + +"How pray did you become Gyngym Miska?" + +"Don't you remember me by that name? You yourself gave it me. Have you +forgotten how when, years ago, in the County Assembly, I had begun a +speech, you called out to me in the middle of it, 'Ay, Gyngym (my +jewel), hold your peace; you understand no more of these things than +half a dozen oxen put together,' so that I could not get any 'forrader,' +for people laughing at me. Since those days the name has stuck to me. +Everywhere I go I am received with the greeting, 'Here's Gyngym Miska, +worse luck!' So then, I say to myself, 'I'll be a Gyngym Miska,' and +show them such things as no one else can. And people talk about me, +don't they?" + +"But you won't rob me, will you?" implored his victim. "Do you want my +horses?" + +"Make your mind easy. I rob nobody. I only take what is given me, and +carry off what the possessor does not value, and as for such wretched +nags as you drive, I tell you plainly I wouldn't have them at a gift. I +am pretty hard to please in horseflesh, I can tell you. So don't let's +waste time in talking. I ask for nothing that people have not got. I +know too that you are in a hurry. So just give me ten gold pieces, and +then you can drive on." + +The president did not wish to understand the hint, as he said sulkily, +"What do you mean?" + +"Only those ten Kremnitz ducats that you drew as salary for your work on +the Bench." + +"True enough, friend, that I have received them, but the prefect won +them from me at cards last night, and I haven't one left. He did not +give me back the money he had won. Turn out my pockets, search me if you +will, and if you find there anything but a bad groschen, it shall be +yours. Here's my sword-pouch. See, there's nothing inside. And if you +like, you can take my boots off, but you'll find no gold there, I warn +you." + +The highwayman pressed his axe between his fingers, and tapped quite +gently with the butt end of it on the crown of the president's head, +where the velvet lining of his fur cap hung out. What was jingling +inside? + +The smile vanished from the lips of his victim. His round face became +suddenly square with astonishment. + +Now there must be something wrong about that. Who had betrayed him? No +man knew it but one. + +Gyngym Miska did not let him waste time in further consideration. With +a pickpocket's dexterity he drew from under his cloak his hunting knife +from its sheath, ripped out the velvet lining, and possessed himself of +the ducats in a trice. Then, with a pressure of his knees, he turned +his horse round, and in the twinkling of an eye, horse and rider were +over the marsh. Only then did he turn round to utter as a parting +greeting the formula of the law courts: "I commend to you, my lord, my +official services," and disappeared through the poplar-trees. + +"It is a stupid business," grumbled the president, whose good humour had +been torn away with that cut into his cap-lining. + +And a stupid, not to say absurd business it certainly was. + +But Gyngym Miska, cracking his hunting whip merrily, bounded away over +the sedge. + +It was already evening. The autumn sun cast long shadows over the level +plain. At the edge of a wood burned a herdsman's fire. By it sat a girl +in riding-gear, her head supported on her hands, at her feet two +greyhounds lay stretched out, her horse was tethered to the stem of a +poplar. At the cracking of the whip she sprang from her resting-place, +threw a bundle of dry faggots on the fire, mounted her horse, snatched +up her whip, and cracked it as a counter signal. Across the plain, +starred with wild anemones, the two met; bending down from the saddle, +they embraced and kissed each other, and were off once more, the one +eastwards, the other to the west. + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile, scarcely had the guests withdrawn from the Assembly House +than an official courier rode up the Old Buda Street into Pesth. A +courier of this kind was so unusual a sight, that everyone hastened to +his front door to see him. He wore a red frock coat, leather gaiters +over his boots which reached up to the knee, and a cocked hat with a +tuft of red feathers. Every postmaster is bound to provide him with a +fresh mount does he need it, and a blast from his horn will compel every +peasant to hold at his service as many oxen or horses as he possesses. +The sound of his horn is a well-known one, and as the courier gallops up +the street, the children, blowing through their hands, mimic the blast, +and the elders crane their necks to see what may be his errand. It was +for the prefecture he was bound. + +"Trs-humble serviteur, Mamselle Oefrosine!" Thus the courier greeted +Frulein Fruzsinka de Zabvry. "Postage not paid, but I ask three +kronen, because I've ridden well, to say nothing of having to go back! +There are a thousand gulden inside." + +It was the courier's way to recommend the letters he handed in as +containing a thousand gulden. So he was paid the fee; but there was +nothing like a thousand gulden in the letter thus sent to Frulein +Fruzsinka, for it was from the captain of dragoons, Heinrich Lievenkopp, +and why there was nothing of the kind in the letter, may now be told. + +Frulein Fruzsinka paid the courier, but ordered him to wait at the +prefecture so that she might give him the answer to take back. It was +likewise to the interest of the postman to urge the despatching of a +reply. Then she broke the seal and read the letter in question, written +in the stilted affected style just then so much in vogue, with +mythological phraseology mixed up with barrack slang. It ran as follows: + + "My most adored Lady, + + "By the winged feet of Mercury himself, do I address a + message, surely very agreeable to your grace. God Mars + has taken it into his head to complete the heroic + labours of Hercules. That scoundrel of a highwayman, + 'Gyngym Miska,' has, after escaping our annihilating + force on this side of the river, retreated across the + Danube, and has taken refuge in the Rczkeve + Island--protected by Neptune and Hermes, those + divinities of the robber. Meantime, must we patiently + wait on the shore till we get a ferry to carry us + across. The wretched fellow was playing us off, since + he swam across the other arm of the Danube and reached + the farther side. Thereupon, the Viennese civilians + who were with us, declared, forsooth, that we might + not pursue him, because it would be crossing the + border of another county! + + "So we had to return to Pesth till the county of Pesth + should supersede the county of Weissenburg in its + strategic co-operation. But rumour has it that the + redoubtable robber has come back from Weissenburg + county to that of Pesth, and is haunting the Vrsvr + woods. Therefore have I received new marching orders + from the commander-in-chief to march with my squadron + on to Vrsvr. To-morrow, at the first streak of dawn + shall we start on an expedition which brings me on the + wings of the Hours to the charmed circle of my + adorable Calypso in the beauteous Vrsvr Vale of + Tempe. + + "There is, however, a small but fatal incident that + must be recorded, that has much disquieted me, which I + will set forth to the Frulein. Last week I was + amusing myself with Mr. Justice Petray (a good fellow + by the way), in dallying with Fortune's painted cards, + on which occasion a thousand dancing sprites turned + the wheel very unluckily for me, so that I lost twenty + ducats to the justice, and had to give him my _parole_ + as an officer that I would pay him to-morrow. Item, he + insists on my redeeming my word, because to-morrow + there is to be an enquiry into the accounts, and among + other things will be missing the twenty ducats from + the treasury. But owing to the incredibly bad state of + the roads the allowance my aunt sends me has not + arrived, nor do I know how I can settle the affair. + And so for me there remains nothing but to take my + leave of the world with a pistol-shot, and embark in + the boat of Charon, or else to take refuge under the + protection of my good genius, and call her to my aid. + I humbly suggest that she might, for just this once, + be an intermediary with her rich uncle for me, and + borrow the above-mentioned sum on my behalf, which I + pledge my word, as a cavalier, gratefully to reimburse + directly I get my aunt's allowance. + + "May the Frulein accept the most humble homage of + Heinrich von Lievenkopp." + +Off went Frulein Fruzsinka, when she had read this letter, to her +uncle, the prefect. + +"I say, uncle, dear, will you advance me ten ducats out of my +allowance?" + +"Oho, my dear," answered Mr. Zabvry in a tone which suggested the +melancholy whine of a dog. "What's the matter? I really can't advance +any more money, for my account at the bank is already in danger of being +overdrawn. But what did you so suddenly want ducats for? Is the captain +of dragoons in difficulties? That seems to be a chronic ailment with +him. Yes, indeed, I know, he wants more pecuniary aid, that's it! +Otherwise he'll blow his brains out? Heaven grant he may! If he'd only +do it once for all! What does a dragoon captain matter to me? A man who +never means to marry, but just scares away the eligible suitors. I wish +the devil had taken him to Silesia. And, pray, if he means to marry, am +I to keep him? I should think not, indeed, considering he's got his old +aunt. But even if he has, it will fall upon me in the end. Just write +him the right sort of answer in proper Latin: 'Centurio'=Captain, +'pecunia'=money, 'non est'=is there none; 'si valves valeas'=if there's +no wine, then drink water!" + +"Very good, if you won't give me any, I'll ask someone else," said +Frulein Fruzsinka defiantly, banging the door after her as she went +out. + +Mr. Zabvry did not think much of that, for it was quite customary for +Frulein Fruzsinka to raise loans on all sides; from the overseer, from +the chief herdsman, nay, from the shepherd's man she would borrow, and +they never dared to ask the prefect for repayment, but probably then and +there reckoned--as the saying goes--that "discretion was the better part +of valour" in such a case (which is a wise conclusion if you can but +come thereto). Frulein Fruzsinka, however, left all these possible +creditors unexploited, and calling for her horse, and her riding whip, +and two pet dogs, she went off on a hunting expedition into the open +country. + +She did not, certainly, appear to be troubling about game, but seemed +much more concerned to reach the wood; once there, she paced along the +side of the brook till she came to the thicket. + +There she took a path which led through it, till she reached a +picturesque circular glade on whose edge six armed men in their coloured +cloaks, lay encamped by a herdsman's fire. When the most gorgeously +garbed one among them perceived the Frulein, he sprang forward to meet +her, and as she approached he hastened up to her, lifted the young lady +from her horse, and kissed her on both cheeks. Both the dogs appeared to +recognise the cavalier, for they sniffed at him in a decidedly friendly +way. Then, with their arms round each other's necks, they paced along +the flower-decked turf, speaking together in a low voice. And the end of +it was that the lordly cavalier, after whispering to the Frulein, +mounted his horse, shouldered his weapons, and trotted off, with all +his accoutrements, in company with the young lady herself in the +direction of the high road. + +What then happened we have already seen. + +Frulein Fruzsinka had her ducats when she came back. She put them with +the other ten, enclosed them in an envelope, gave them to the waiting +postman, and the red-coated courier was before nightfall on his return +journey, blowing the while the lustiest blast on his horn. + +And thus had Frulein Fruzsinka, at one blow, accomplished three, to +her, eminently desirable ends. + +First she had made her adorer, Gyngym Miska, aware on what side danger +threatened him; at the same time she had procured the ten ducats which +her other admirer needed to redeem his word and avoid the fatal shot; in +the third place, she had helped her third suitor, the judge, to verify +the municipal accounts and make them balance. + +But those ten ducats must have truly been bewitched, since they were +fated, in twenty-four hours, to pass through many pairs of hands, to +disappear, be stolen, disappear again, and again be stolen, and only +then to come to a stand-still. + +That Frulein Fruzsinka had put all her admirers in a good temper, +however, and benefited all three, can we duly testify. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +In the Szent-Endre and the adjoining Izbegh vineyards the vintage was in +full swing. It was an excellent harvest, the wine promised to be +unusually good, and all the vineyards were filled with joyous labourers. + +But from the vineyards the new wine was conveyed away by one road only, +in great casks, while heydukes, armed with pikes and muskets, guarded +the route. For all that grows in the vineyard must first pay the +requisite tithes. + +At the entrance of the one open road four huts were erected, and before +each stood a huge vat. The first belonged to the Bishop of the diocese. +As the cart, laden with the casks of "must," or new wine, passes, the +episcopal steward takes out his tithe. Then the cart proceeds to the +second hut, where the court chamberlain deducts his share. Thence it +arrives in front of the two huts which, facing each other, bound the +narrow road, so none may pass unchallenged. No matter whether the owner +is hailed in German or Magyar, the sacristan of the parish acting for +the Catholic priest, appropriates his own tithe from the cask, or if he +speaks Rascian, it is for the Greek "pope," he takes his share. + +Only then can the convoy proceed. Yes, indeed, so it might, if there +were not a fifth hut in the way, where two heydukes seize the horses' +bridles, and on right and left the owner is hailed by officials who want +to know why he has broken the "portion" rule. (For thus in their +simplicity have the peasants abbreviated the word "proportion.") + +Such is the method in which the taxes are extorted. + +Whoever is in a position to do it, holds himself in readiness to +compound for the "Harcs," as it was called in Hungary, from a Turkish +word, by opening his purse and paying up the arrears of the tithe in +groschen, which settled the matter, for to pay the tax in silver was +illegal. Consequently, on the table of the fifth hut fell many a +well-stuffed bag of copper coins, which the officials had squeezed out +of the vintagers. There were, however, many who were not well enough +provided with small change to satisfy this crowd of creditors, and so +had to pay up the arrears in kind. That is why the great vats stand +there in the road. + +But the "red Jew" carries his casks into the small Slovak carts that +take it down to the Danube, and ships it to Vienna, and pays, too, his +tax of two Rhenish gulden for his wine. + +It can well be imagined how to the overtaxed peasant wine-grower who +has run out of money, this same "red Jew" is a friend in need, quite +ready to help him out of his difficulty, for he will pay for his wine at +the rate of two gulden a kilderkin. But this did not happen in +well-regulated communities. Only the municipality had the privilege of +selling wine, and to it the citizen only dare retail his vintage. And +the price which he received for it was fixed by the law at one gulden. + +So the wine-grower pours likewise into the great vat his "deputy-tax," +wherein he reckons a gulden for a kilderkin, and the "red Jew" draws it +out again at two gulden a kilderkin. + +Thus it befalls that the owner of the vineyard brings the bottles which +he has brought with him empty to the vineyard, empty home again. And yet +that is called a first-rate vintage! But it was hard for the good man +himself to esteem it so, and no wonder he was doubtful! + +And thus the vintage went on till nightfall. Then the gates of the +vineyards were shut, and the judicial vintagers paused in their work, +yet not to betake themselves to rest, but to carry on further business +within doors. + +The judge and his deputy, the notary and the jurymen, all conferred +together, the notary being auditor and controller in one, whereby it may +be gathered that he was a very clever fellow. + +The Jew Abraham was likewise called into the council, in order to assist +in the money-changing. + +For at that epoch all kinds of money were current in the country, which +only came into evidence as they passed in daily exchange. To dispose of +them was not easy, so the Jew was bidden to give proper money in +exchange for them. When he got back to Vienna he could in his turn get +rid of it. + +During the money-reckoning transaction, Abraham appeared with the +accounts giving the amount of money taken over, the price of the wine, +and the bad money left behind. + +"Can't you buy this bad money too, father Abraham?" queried the notary. + +"No indeed, my lord, for if I change false money they will lock me up, +but you will quietly put it away in the cash-box, and pay out with it, +your servants' wages, your heydukes, messengers, and foresters. In due +time, these coins will again be in circulation at the tradesman's stall, +or the inn, and the public will be fingering it once more for fees and +fines, and so the bad money comes round again, just as the sun goes +round the earth, for it is not by any means lost." + +Everyone laughed at the Jew's explanation. + +Then Abraham stated how much he would give in gold for the small change +he had taken, and the business was settled without further ado. + +"But now, Mr. notary," proceeded the Jew, "just make me out a receipt to +attest that I have changed the money, and that we are quits, but write +it in Latin, not Rascian." + +"All right, Rothesel." + +"Also, I would ask you not to write my name 'Rothesel,' but 'Rotheisel,' +with an 'i' if it is just as easy to you." + +"But everybody calls you 'Rothesel'?" + +"You may call me what you like, but in writing at any rate, I am +'Rotheisel.' I had this favour granted me in Vienna, from the Kaiser +himself--that I might write it with an 'i.'" + +"And a nice round sum that very 'i' cost you in Vienna, Abraham, or I'm +much mistaken! Confess frankly, it did!" + +"Pray why should I confess anything about it? What does it matter +whether this 'i' cost me but a single heller, or a hundred thousand +gulden--you, not I, pay them, after all is said." + +When the Jew had gone, the notary packed up the ducats in stacks, and +placed them beside him round the inkstand, while the president began: +"Well, now the outsiders are off home, only the privileged councillors +and the members of the council remain, in order to be present at the +opening of the great coffer." + +Now it is not permitted to every official to glance at the contents of +the mysterious coffer. As the privy council alone remained, the notary +fetched out from the cupboard, as many night-caps as there were men, and +each one drew the covering thus provided over his head, so that only the +tip of his nose was visible. This was done so that none might see where +he was going. When all were thus blindfolded, the notary alone +excepted, the latter took a light from the table, and gave the end of +his stick into the judge's hand; the judge in his turn reaching the end +of his to the juryman behind him, and so on, till the chain of +blindfolded men were ready to start. Where? Ah, that was the notary's +secret, for he it was who directed their progress. + +"Now there come steps," he cried, "one, two, three," and so on, till he +had counted ten. Then a key creaked in an iron lock. "Stoop down so you +don't hurt your heads," came the word of command, and they passed +through a low door. "Here we are," cried their leader, "now you can +look." + +The jurymen had often been in this place before. It was a low-pitched +cellar, with a massive, vaulted arched roof, and in a corner of it, +there stood an iron coffer made fast to the wall. + +Beside this iron chest stood a Rascian "pope," whose hand they could +reverentially kiss if they wished. How he came there no one knew. + +The "pope" produced a large, curiously wrought key, and the notary a +second one like it. + +"These are the keys, open it who can!" + +Three or four times some jurymen made the attempt, yet without success; +in vain did the keys press right and left in the wards, but it opened +not. + +"We are wasting time," cried the "pope." "Do you try, Mr. notary, you +understand it." + +Whereupon the notary turned the keys, and the coffer was opened. + +Everyone wanted to see inside. + +There were nothing but ducats there: ducats, indeed, by hundreds, in +fine transparent bladder bags, through which the yellow metal gleamed +seductively. The sacks stood as in battle array, like so many soldiers +close to each other. There must be a fabulous lot of gold there! Now +another row was to be added to it. Then from a side compartment of the +chest, a small book was fetched out wherein the notary entered all kinds +of accounts. And strange entries might those be, judging from the +frequent exclamations of the jurymen, which showed that the budget he +examined was a notable one. + +"Tut, tut," cried the notary interrupting, "you don't want it published +to all the world." + +"But if it has to be, eh?" + +After which, certain accounts were duly registered in the little book, +and the great coffer was again closed. Then the "pope" spoke. + +"I see well enough that you have again husbanded your funds carefully, +and that the money has increased, but where does the blessing of Heaven +come in? You never give a thought to the Church! You promised to buy a +new church bell, to gild the church roof, and to build a house for the +parish priest. There's no money for all these things, but the coffer +gets fuller and fuller." + +"Make yourself easy, your reverence," answered the notary, "all that may +come next year, if we are spared. For that the small cash-box will +suffice." + +"So you think it will, do you? What has ruined the hospital? The poor +sick folk nearly perish of hunger in summer, and are nigh frozen in +winter, whilst you carry off the timber by cart-loads as presents to +Pesth, and then think of the amount of smoked sturgeon and caviare and +wine you send thither, and all for the magnates, but nothing for the +sick and needy!" + +"Let it be, your reverence, there's nothing so advantageous for the sick +as fresh air, and nothing so harmful as overloading their stomachs. But +it's far better that we should give firing for the magnates, than that +they should make it hot for us!" + +"And the poor-house which our revered Queen, Maria Theresa, endowed, is +it not still empty? What are we about that we do not find inmates for +it? But you find none." + +"The devil we do! Don't the blind and the lame stand each Sunday before +the church door, but if we want to befriend them, we've only to say: +'Come you, poor wretches, we'll show you the way into the poor-house,' +and off they run in a fright, so great a horror have they of the bread +of the State." + +"You children of the devil! And what of the poor Izbeghers whose forty +houses were burned down? The Emperor allowed them as much from the +treasury as the worth of the houses amounted to, but you raised the +rents of the remaining houses and then dunned them for the money." + +"That's natural enough, seeing the Emperor let the State annex the +burned part in order to pay so much the less to the ground-landlord. If +Peter has nothing, then pay Paul, that is the rule." + +"A godless rule too! Amend your ways, I say, for if next year as many +complaints reach my ear as have this, I'll denounce your coffer to the +Treasury." + +These words only provoked laughter. + +"Your reverence is not such a bad sort," ventured the judge in a +conciliatory tone. + +Thereupon, the keys were withdrawn, the night-caps again donned, and the +notary led his blind men again to the ground-floor of the council +chamber, where they congratulated one another on the risks run. + +"Only yon priest should not have it all his own way with his +maledictions," grumbled the judge. "But they are all like that. Each one +of them thinks that hardly earned money should be wasted on churches and +hospitals." + +"I also think, my lord, that it would be better that such an +unreasonably big sum of money should be divided to each one as he has +need," suggested a juryman bolder than the rest. + +The speaker might, from the assenting murmur which greeted his speech, +take it for granted that he had a good many on his side, but the +eloquence of the notary soon crushed such sympathy. + +"Ay, my dear friend, that would kill the goose which lays the golden +eggs. This coffer is our pledge of power, our shield of protection, our +bond of union. As long as it exists are we rulers in this city and in +all its dependencies. As long as this coffer answers for us, so long can +we get the laws made in our favour. As long as we have our money, they +won't take our sons for military service, or ask us for accounts, and if +a meadow or a plot of land is to be divided, we look after the +allotment. It is we who direct public works. It is we who fell the +timber in the forest, who cast the net into the Danube, and limit the +vintage; we buy and sell; and fix the tithes. As long as the key of that +coffer is in our hands, we must needs be great powers in the city, like +Kaiser Joseph in his palace at Vienna. At the end of that key we whistle +a tune to which all men must dance." + +"Quite right, quite right!" shouted the whole assembly. + +And who could contradict them? + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +The Jew Abraham was the father of twelve children, all sons, and all +red-haired. And each one equally resembled his father. + +Yet it will be well to explain matters from the beginning. + +Up till the Emperor Joseph's time, the Jews had been devoid of any +family names, as once in the Promised Land. + +But when Joseph II. admitted the Jews to the rights of citizens, he +stipulated that they should render military service if called upon, and +that they should choose a surname--and that a German one. + +To this end, royal commissions were despatched on all sides which should +provide the Jews with surnames. And a nice business it was! Whoever had +a well-filled purse had a free choice, if it so pleased him, but woe to +him who set about it empty handed, for the nickname wherewith his +mocking neighbours had christened him, stuck to him pitilessly. + +Because Abraham had not sufficiently opened his purse-strings, he still +had to go by his nickname of "Rothesel," wherewith he was known among +his neighbours. + +The epithet "roth" (red), he had received from the colour of his beard, +but he had been qualified as "esel" (ass), because he had done nothing +more enterprising with his wife's dowry of two hundred thalers, than buy +up wine with it. On this account everyone had decided he must be an ass. +And everyone, on the face of it, was right. For what could a Jew want +with wine? He dared not retail it, for the trading rights belonged only +to the communes, to say nothing of the difficulty of transporting it +over the frontier. Whence could he carry it? for in Hungary the law +forbade any Jew to trade in such wares. + +So that when his neighbours called Abraham an ass for laying out his +money in wine when he began life, they were not far out, for he hardly +earned salt to his bread by such a business. + +But Abraham was in his way a student of the times. Looking ahead, he saw +under the rule of the later Hapsburgs that many ancient laws, though +still unrepealed, had nevertheless fallen into desuetude, and +consequently that the statute forbidding Jews the commerce in wine, +might follow suit. Consequently, Abraham found means of transporting his +Hungarian vintages to Vienna. And as he was the first in the field his +enterprise was crowned with success. Nor did he deceive the customer as +to the difficulties of the Hungarian wine trade. + +In spite of all this, he did not part with his wealth too readily. The +commission had expected that he would come out with ducats by the +thousand, but he produced nothing more than a cellar full of wine. In +retaliation for this they left him his nickname of "Rothesel." + +What did it matter to him, for what is a name after all? The name of the +creditor is always a good one, that of the debtor as surely a +disgraceful one. + +But his own family did not share his views on the subject. If it was +indifferent to the father what men called him, his wife and children +took a different view of "Rothesel," and, owing to their urgent +representations, Abraham determined to rid himself of this incubus, yet +without paying too dearly for it. + +He reckoned two hundred ducats would cover it, and with this sum off he +went to Vienna, ostensibly, on a question of his wine trade. + +Arrived there, he began to think out how best he could forward the +affair without getting too much fleeced in the process. + +He began at the beginning, that is to say, at the chancery court, where +all such problems have to be conciliated. And a long list it was! The +expediting of such business is a serious matter. + +But to the Jew there suddenly came a brilliant idea. He bethought him of +an acquaintance at Court. The title of this acquaintance was doubtful, +for he was only a young man, and whether to address him as a chancery +clerk or as chancellor, he knew not. He was the nephew of the +postmaster of Szent-Endre, Mr. John Lenyfalvy. This worthy had adopted +the orphan son of his sister, while yet a child, and had sent him to +Vienna that he might carve out a career for himself in the imperial +city. Each time that Abraham had made his business visits there, he had +spoken to the postmaster and asked him if he had any message for "young +Matyi." And when the uncle had taken this opportunity of sending his +nephew a gift of country produce, Abraham always carried out these +commissions faithfully, and was duly welcomed by "Mr. Matyi." + +The latter was quite at home at Court, and had employment in the palace +itself. What he did there, whether he had a voice in the Kaiser's +councils, or brushed his coat, Abraham did not know, perhaps the latter +was the likeliest supposition; in this case, he would be a patron to be +prized, for servants are worth propitiating. + +Consequently, the crafty Jew had determined to seek out the postmaster's +nephew at headquarters. And in order he might not appear empty-handed, +he took a pear with him. At that time there was a rage for pears carved +out of wood, whereof one half formed a musical box, being filled with a +mechanism which enabled him who put it to his mouth to produce quite a +respectable tune. Such a pear did Abraham buy in a shop at Nrnberg, but +he stuffed the hollow half of the pear with two hundred ducats. This +pear he had destined for the young man if he prospered his petition with +the Emperor. The said petition was drawn up neither by agent nor +attorney, but as concocted by Abraham, ran thus: "Your Imperial Majesty, +the high commissioners insisted on calling me 'Rothesel,' I only beg +permission to insert a humble little 'i' in the middle of my name." + +Furnished with this formula, Abraham set out for the palace. The +_entre_ there proved much easier than he had imagined. For was there +not a standing order that no petitioner should be denied admittance? So +he was allowed to enter the great corridor, where already many people +were assembled. + +Abraham had what you might call prodigious luck at the very outset. The +first person he met in the ante-chamber was "Mr. Matyi" himself. His +appearance was that of a refined handsome youth of about +four-and-twenty, with a red and white complexion like a girl's; he wore +his hair powdered, a pea-green silk coat turned up with red, an +embroidered waistcoat, a lace-frilled vest, with knee-breeches of +cherry-coloured velvet, silk stockings, and buckled shoes. At his side +hung an Italian rapier, and from his waistcoat pocket dangled a +watch-chain laden with all kinds of trinkets. Under his arm he carried +the tri-cornered hat of the period. + +Moreover, this elegant young dandy was not ashamed to recognise his old +acquaintance in the crowd; no sooner had he caught sight of his red +mantle than he went up to him, asked him how he fared, and how it was +with his uncle, and when he heard Abraham's errand, exclaimed, "Why +that's a mere trifle." Thereupon, taking his hand, he led the Jew +through three or four rooms in succession, which they traversed without +knocking, till they came to a fifth, where he hung his hat up on a peg, +as a sign that they had reached the presence-chamber, and told the Jew +to wait while he should announce him to the Emperor. Abraham's knees +nearly failed under him when he knew that only those folding doors +divided him from the Kaiser. Yet his friend could enter freely; he must +then be some kind of chamberlain. + +In half a minute the latter was back again. + +"You can enter, Abraham." + +And thereupon he pushed the Jew, with his petition in his hand, through +the door. + +Abraham saw indeed little more of the Emperor than his boots, but these, +he noted, had not certainly been blacked for a week; if "Mr. Matyi" was +really his servant, he didn't know his duties that was plain. + +Back came Abraham again into the ante-room. + +"Mr. Matyi" was busy at a writing-table; he seemed to have some +important correspondence to transact there. + +The Jew was radiant with delight; he hardly knew where to begin: "It's +right enough; the Emperor himself has countersigned the petition with +his 'fiat.' Here is his name! He himself has put in the 'i,' praised be +the Lord!" + +But suddenly he broke off in his thanksgiving as he regarded the +document. "Ay, woe's me!" + +"What is the matter, friend?" + +"Why, his Majesty has clean forgotten to put the dot over the 'i,' and +without this, the 'i' looks exactly like an 'e,' and it only means from +being a short ass, I shall now be but a long one! Alas, I am a dead man. +I beseech you to be so very kind as to put the necessary little dot in +for me, so that it may be done with the same ink. You have the pen in +your hand ready." + +"What are you thinking of?" cried "Mr. Matyi" indignantly, "to correct +the imperial hand-writing, why, it would be a rank forgery! Give me the +petition, I'll take it back to the Emperor, so he may put it in." + +And thereupon, off he went through the folding doors with the paper. + +Abraham breathed freely, he had attained his end, and this without +laying out thousands of ducats; he had managed it for two hundred. He +fumbled in the money compartment of the musical pear, and laid the +ducats on the writing-table of "Mr. Matyi," so that the latter should +not fail to see them when he returned to his correspondence. + +The young man was soon back again. + +"Here you are! God be with you! Greet my uncle for me, and tell him I +have much to do, that I want for nothing, and send my good wishes, and a +happy journey to you!" + +Abraham put the petition in his pocket, crying over it like a child. + +"Mr. Matyi" accompanied his _protg_ to the next room, thence he +trusted him to find his way out. + +While the Jew was struggling with the door-handle, back came "Mr. +Matyi," red with rage, seized Abraham by the collar of his mantle, and +with the other thrust the pear under his nose, asking angrily: "What do +you mean by leaving this on my table?" + +Abraham took it as a jest. + +"Well now, I have only brought you some pears as usual." + +"But the ducats?" + +"They were for the gracious favour which the young gentleman has been so +kind as to show me." + +"I have shown you no kind of favour. You wanted justice and you have +obtained it. Take back your gold!" + +"Why should I take it back? Hasn't the young gentleman deserved it for +all his trouble? Did he not get the dot put on the 'i'?" + +"I will not accept a handful of gold for a dot over an 'i.'" + +"But it's worth it to me? It's not a bit too much. The young gentleman +needn't take offence. He can pay his debts with it." + +"I have no debts." + +"Oh, you have no debts, do you say? Don't tell me a Viennese dandy has +no debts. You owe neither the tailor nor the host anything? What, don't +you want to make your sweetheart a present?" + +"I have none." + +"Who could ever believe it? How you blush. Well, take it, make merry +with it, gamble it away with good comrades. For I won't have it back." + +"I drink no wine, I don't gamble, I have no good comrades; this money +you will take, for it hurts me to receive it. Those I serve pay me for +what I do. He who does such work as mine asks for no reward but his +master's, and can take no bribe from another. Take your gold back." + +"As you will, Mr. Rby," said the Jew, and he put the ducats in his +pocket. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +"Very good then, Mr. Rby," pursued the Jew. (He no longer thought of +him as "young Mr. Matyi.") "But before I leave this place, nay, before +you send me packing, I must needs have three words with you." + +"All right, out with them!" + +"Now the first is this: since I first weathered winter's snow and +summer's dust on this good Mother Earth of ours, I never before met a +man who was frightened at money. I see him for the first time to-day. +You were positively averse to keeping my gold. Nay, I believe that you +wanted to break my head on account of it. And now I find you have no +sweetheart, you neither drink nor gamble; you fraternise with no one. +That again is something quite unheard-of. And finally, a man will not +dot the 'i' of another person's writing, that also is something out of +the common, let me tell you." + +"Well for one word I think that is long enough--what else?" + +"The second concerns myself. As truly as that I yesterday was +'Rothesel,' and to-day am 'Rotheisel,' so surely is it that Rotheisel +won't neglect a treasure which Rothesel has discovered. I know of a +treasure, in fine, for the carrying off of which, as in the fairy tales, +only clean hands can avail." + +"I don't understand what you are talking about." + +"Well, I do. There is a treasure lying buried in a certain place, a +solid heap of more than a hundred thousand ducats, on the track of which +I would set a champion." + +"I still do not understand. To whom does this goodly hoard belong?" + +"This money has been wrung from the sweat and blood of the poor and the +oppressed, nay, squeezed out of ragged and hunger-bitten wretches, +moistened by the tears of widows and orphans, purloined, and concealed +from the Crown. It is the people of your native town, good sir, whose +misery has augmented this treasure, and who starve and complain for the +lack of it, while beggars swarm throughout the country. If this sort of +thing goes on, the whole State must go to the dogs. I know what I am +talking about, and will gladly lead you to the hoard. When you are in a +position to rescue it from the dragon's clutches, two-thirds of it will +go back to the poor wretched folk it was wrung from, and a third to +enrich the man who restores it." + +"But if you know all this, why not do it yourself?" questioned his +listener. + +"Tut, tut, my most respected sir, have you then studied to such little +purpose as not to know the laws of your native land? Does it not stand +written that the plaintiff must be a Christian? The Jew can do nothing. +And, moreover, were I as good a Christian as the zealous old sacristan +who opens the church every morning single-handed and shuts it at +nightfall, I should not be the man for this business. For it is just +such a man as you is wanted, my respected sir, a man who, once he has +set his hand to the work, will not allow himself to be beaten out of the +field. For as long as the seven-headed dragon that guards the treasure +sees that no one attempts to raise it, he'll wag his seven heads more +boldly than ever. As soon as the delegates who are told off to take +charge of it, notice that by chance ten or twenty heaps of ducats have +been left perhaps on the table, they go back and verify that all is in +good order. They will resent the adventurous knight's interference, and +will give him his _quietus_ if he is not wary. He must press on against +all foes, even if help fail him. How should a poor insignificant mortal +like myself be fitted for such an undertaking? For such a quest, a +powerful chivalrous man is needed, who has the _entre_ at Court, who is +likewise a noble himself, and can wield the pen as well as the sword, in +fine, one who has a heart open to the cry of the poor and oppressed, and +the faculty of sympathising with the people. They are not my people--I +am only a foreigner here, but it goes to my heart when I see how the +harrow tears and the clods are broken, how for others is the sowing that +these may reap. Then I thank God that He has not given me a portion in +this land, but that I am a stranger here. Believe me, Mr. Rby, the +nobles always know how to oppress the vassals. The Turkish pacha at +most, has shorn his subjects: the Magyar landlord has fairly plucked +his, but the Szent-Endre council flay their victims of hide and hair +alike. So that's my third word!" + +"All right, just give me more precise details over all this, and come +and look me up at my lodgings; there we can talk it over; I shall be at +home the whole evening." + +So at the appointed time, Abraham went to discuss matters with Rby, and +did not get home till morning. He literally talked the whole night long. + +Yet when he at last took leave, he bound his friend on his honour: + +"That you never betray how you knew all these things. The Spanish +Inquisition was mere child's play compared to what those good people +would do to me, if they knew that it was I who had made it so hot for +them." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Mr. John Lenyfalvy was a narrow-minded man. He was the postmaster of +Szent-Endre. He neither paid nor received visits; he had but one hobby, +and that was gardening. This he rode with a persistency worthy of a +Dutchman. He grew flowers of which no one had ever heard before--exotic +blooms almost extinct, but for the fostering shelter his garden walls +afforded. + +He was specially celebrated for his melons. At the time of the +melon-harvest, two great mastiffs guarded the melon-plot over which his +bedroom window looked. In this garden all his spare time was spent. He +was so busy one afternoon over his melon-beds, that he did not observe +how his mastiff, who by day was chained up, was growling at a man who +stood before the garden gate. He only became aware of the new-comer when +the latter wished him good day. He looked round and saw a stranger +dressed in the latest modish costume of Vienna, and finally, he +recognised in the apparition his nephew, young Matyi. + +"Why bless me if it isn't my nephew Matyi. I hardly recognised you in +this fashionable coat, I declare. But very welcome you are all the +same." + +And the old man embraced his nephew heartily. + +"Ay, but you've become a man since I saw you last. You only want a +moustache," and he looked at Rby's smooth-shaven face critically. "But +you are not in a hurry to be back in Vienna, I hope?" + +"Well, unless you want to send me away, I needn't be in a hurry to go +back, as I could stay here all the winter," answered Rby. + +"Well, don't talk to me about sending you off. I know well enough you +are under someone else's orders." + +"Yes, uncle, under orders to stay here for some time." + +"Oh! I take it, you are here then for the taxation commission?" + +It was an office which had at that time but an unenviable reputation in +Hungary. + +"More pressing business still," answered the young man with a smile, as +he whispered something in the old gentleman's ear, which was evidently +an important disclosure. + +The features of the old man relaxed. + +"Now that's something like; that's capital! Now I can reckon you a man. +Only don't neglect the work." + +"Trust me!" + +"And then don't begin among the lesser folk, but get hold of the great +people. Go straight to the prefect himself; he's the one to tackle. Ay, +I could give you some good advice. Hear all, see all, and hold your +tongue, as the saying goes. But you know all about that, and have no +need of a plaster over your mouth." + +"Yet if I find the guilty, I shall not spare them, I warn you, whoever +they be." + +"You will see, my boy," said the old gentleman, rubbing his hands, "if +you tackle the prefect properly, you will be court judge of Visegrd, +year in and year out." And he clapped his nephew on the shoulder. + +"What kind of a berth is it in Visegrd?" + +"Ay, my boy, that's the fattest plum in the neighbourhood; it's worth +more than a hundred county court magistracies, and it happens to be just +vacant." + +"How could I hope to get it?" + +"What a stiff-necked man it is to be sure! Didn't you get to Vienna? You +don't surely reckon yourself among those people who let themselves be +cajoled by the gift of a fine horse or a roll of ducats: a man like you +is worthy a bigger bribe." + +The young man became suddenly crimson. + +"But, my uncle, I don't come for that--for the sake of a horse or money, +or even a court magistracy, not to be bribed by the great, but rather to +redress the grievances of the folk who are oppressed, and to rectify +abuses." + +At this speech Mr. Lenyfalvy shifted his zouave from the left to the +right shoulder. + +"Don't you know, my dear boy, that out of the mouth of the poor, +complaints are not heard. There must be a God who hears them, +nevertheless. Yet the government is a power against which one man can +avail nothing. How can you protect the sown fields from the marmots? Man +is just such a marmot. Dismiss him who is now in office, and put another +in his place; you only change for the worse. As long as there are fools +and knaves in the world, so long will the one always rob the other." + +"Now if you reckon abuses of office among social ills, I can but tell +you that if you have a will, you can amend them. And this will have I." + +"Yes, but have you likewise the power? 'Whoso is wanting in strength is +powerless in wrath.' Besides, who stands behind you?" + +"The Emperor himself." + +"And who else?" + +"Isn't he enough?" + +"That doesn't suffice; you must have the presiding judge as a patron, or +the lord chancellor, or at least the district commissioner. If you can +only ensure the Emperor's favour, that doesn't go far. What can you say +to our Emperor, except 'May it please his Majesty,' and that he is +lampooned daily. Every day there come some such scurrilous pamphlets to +my notice." + +"The Kaiser believes in unlimited freedom of opinion." + +"Hang freedom of opinion! If I were Emperor, and anyone printed such +things about me, I would take my axe and play such a tune on the +writer's head with it, that he would not ask for a second one. And then +if the Hungarians see that the Austrians dare thus to insult the Kaiser, +what liberties will the Hungarian not allow himself?" + +"Yes, indeed. All those who are shocked at his novelties, murmur against +him. They abuse him because the freedom hitherto only accorded to a +certain class and creed, will now be extended to all his subjects +indiscriminately." + +"Let us talk about the melons, my dear boy. Look at this one with the +mottled rind. When it's ready you can eat it without harm. But take a +bite, before it is ripe, and you get a horribly sore mouth. Now it's +just the same with liberty. When it is ripe, the grower can present it +to the people on a pewter plate. But cut it before it is ready, and the +melon and he who eats it, alike are done for. I know you will maintain +that one can force the melon to get ripe, if you have hot-beds and +green-houses. Now you and your friends, the philosophers and +philanthropists, are just such growers at the present time. Who could +get enough hot-beds and forcing-houses for the whole world? Wait till +the dog-days come, and the heat of the sun will let each one ripen in +its proper measure." + +"Good, uncle. I accept the melon allegory, and will answer you in your +own gardening terms: If you want melons, you must sow the seeds. Some +sprout, others lay dormant. Then comes the worm to devour them, and the +mildew and the frosts to blast the young shoots, yet, in spite of all, +your true gardener tends them to the end. Such a sower am I, who plant +what is entrusted to me in the ground, that others may reap the +harvest." + +The simile pleased the old gentleman much; he stroked his moustache +thoughtfully. + +"You are the right sort, my boy. And if you feel equal to the task, +undertake it. But I fear you won't succeed! But you have not come here +to stir up a hornet's nest, have you?" + +"No, uncle. First of all, I shall procure the actual facts of the case, +and till I get them, I shall not say a word to anyone." + +"That's well and good. But how will you get those facts?" + +"I have reckoned for all that. I mean to settle down and buy myself a +house, with a field and vineyard. As an inhabitant of the city, I shall +have the right to mix myself up in local affairs." + +"That sounds like business. For that matter, I can recommend you a house +that belonged to the notary's brother. It's a fine property, with +garden, vineyard, and meadow attached. The owner is a drunken +good-for-nothing, and over head and ears in debt, but can, by realising +the property, pay his debts, and still have something left. Leave the +contract to me." + +"Agreed then, uncle. The money question can soon be settled, as I have +what will be necessary." + +"So far, so good. But after, when you have your facts, who is going to +be prosecutor?" + +"I myself will be." + +The old gentleman stroked his moustache doubtfully. + +"Oho, my boy, that's a dangerous game. Do you know that the law won't +allow you to do it anonymously? The prosecutor must act in his own +name." + +"I shall lodge my complaint openly so that the guilty can recognise me." + +"Then be sure they will try and get rid of you." + +"That is the fortune of war." + +The old man smiled slily. + +"It has just occurred to me you can't be prosecutor." + +"Why not?" + +"Why, pray, have you not studied law in Vienna? Docs not the decree of +St. Stephen lay it down that the prosecutor must be a married man? If +you are single, you are not qualified to make the depositions." + +"All right, I'll marry." + +His hearer fairly shook with laughter. + +"My boy, I've heard many motives suggested for matrimony, but never one +like yours. You are going to marry to help the people to their rights! +Remember that-- + + "'He who takes himself a wife, + Does but heap up care and strife.'" + +"But, uncle, what can you, who were never married, have to urge against +matrimony?" + +"Oh, I've nothing against your marrying. Leave that also to me. I have +found you a house; now I'll find you a wife." + +"It is very good of you, I'm sure." + +"I'm not joking. I know of a right suitable maiden for you. You remember +when you were still a lawyer's clerk, pretty little Mariska, the +notary's daughter. Well, she has become a fine girl. Since her mother's +death she manages the household entirely, and nowhere is there one so +well ordered as Trhalmy's. She spends no money beyond what she gives to +the poor, and knows how to save as well. She's none of your frilled and +furbelowed fine ladies, and does not frizz her hair in the latest +fashion, but just dresses like a modest Magyar maid; and when you talk +to her, you hardly know what colour her eyes are, so modestly are they +cast down. Nor does she waste time in chatter, but gives you a plain +answer to a plain question, with the prettiest blush imaginable. That's +the wife for you, my boy, and a right comely one, I promise you." + +"All right, uncle. When I've bought the house, and had time to look +round a little, I'll go and see her." + +And with that, Rby took his leave. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The postmaster did exactly as he had promised, and he did it promptly. + +"Now I have got the house, you've got to set up housekeeping, but don't +buy much furniture, the wife will see to that. Till you get a wife, I'll +lend you my maid-servant to keep house; she's also a good hand at +milking, for a cow you must have; and your cooking will have to be done +at home, for there is no caf or hotel here, as at Vienna. And don't +trust your wine-cellar key to anyone else!" + +Mathias Rby took this good advice, and arranged his new house as if he +were settling down for good in it. He had his fields sown with crops, +his vineyards overhauled, and laid in a stock of winter provisions. But +he encouraged no gossips, took no interest in outsiders, and was +reserved with acquaintances to the verge of taciturnity. + +But general rumour had it that the gentleman who had thus settled among +them, had been sent by the Kaiser himself to investigate matters of +state in Szent-Endre. + +Soon after this, Rby made an excuse for going to Pesth so as to call on +the Trhalmys. + +Trhalmy was the county notary, and lived in the Assembly House assigned +him. Rby knew it well, for when he was a clerk, he used to go there +every day. When he reached the door, the heyduke who stood sentry, +barred his way, with his musket under his arm, one foot crossed over the +other, and his shoulder against the door. + +"Tell me, my friend," for thus did Rby accost the old heyduke, "is the +worshipful pronotary at home?" + +The man answered, his worship had just gone out, but his lady-daughter +was within, and would be delighted to see the honourable gentleman. + +Rby hastened up the familiar wooden stairs, that were so well worn down +the middle. + +Our hero needed no guide through these rooms. He knew all the nooks and +corners of the house, and likewise the time at which callers might +come--between the hours of three and four in the afternoon. First he +betook himself to the ante-room, where he laid aside his sword and hat. +But there was no lackey there to announce him, he had to knock therefore +at the first door, to hear a "come in," before he ventured to enter +without further preamble. + +It was the familiar dining-room, where the women-folk were used to +betake themselves to their spinning-wheels. + +They sat there now, the Frulein and the two maids. The spinning-wheel +was to our grandmothers what the cycle is to the women of to-day; nay, +it took also the place of the pianoforte itself. + +Mariska had certainly grown very pretty since Rby had last seen her, +although, as Mr. Lenyfalvy had remarked, she was quite simply dressed, +and did not curl her hair. He was also quite right about her blushing +when she was spoken to. In this instance, words indeed were not needed +to bring the colour into her cheeks, she no sooner saw the visitor, than +she crimsoned to the roots of her hair. The young girl rose respectfully +from the spinning-wheel, glanced shyly at the intruder, and ere he could +forbid it, had made him a childish curtsey and kissed his hand. + +Rby was very nearly being angry. + +"But, Mariska, do you not recognise me?" + +"How should I help recognising you, Matyi?" + +"Why then do you kiss my hand?" + +"Ah, you have become a great man since those days." + +"Were I ever so great a man, I would not allow my hand to be kissed by a +lady." + +"But I am no lady, you see." + +"Nor am I a great man. And now please give me your hands that I may kiss +them." + +But the girl put both hands behind her back. + +"No, for then should I be a lady indeed. Please be seated." + +She motioned Rby to the leather-covered sofa, and sat down again by the +spinning-wheel, as she deftly began afresh to twist the flax into fine +silky threads, so that they could talk if they wanted to. + +The two maid-servants did not leave the room, but just listened to all +that their mistress and her visitor said; it was but proper, they +thought. + +Rby was meanwhile thinking how to baffle the maids. To this end he +asked in German what she was doing? + +The young girl gazed at him with her great blue eyes full of sorrowful +amazement. Fancy expecting that in the household of the pronotary of +Pesth, that stronghold of Magyar freedom, that anyone, much more the +daughter of the house, should speak German! She lowered her eyes, and +whispered timidly, "I do not understand German." + +"You do not understand German? Why, whatever would you do if you went to +a ball here in Pesth, and could not speak to your partners?" + +"I never go to any balls; I can't even dance," murmured the girl. + +"You mean to say, you don't dance? Well then, however do you amuse +yourself?" + +"When I have time for it, I read." + +"And what in the world do you read, if you only know Hungarian?" asked +Rby. + +"Father has a fine library, and so he chooses books for me." + +"And how do you spend the whole day?" + +"Oh! I have a small garden in the courtyard; I love flowers!" + +Tho two were silent, and Rby looked around him. + +The whole room was eloquent to him of the past. There, by the +work-table, was still the little box containing thread, scissors, and +thimble, which he himself had made when he was a clerk. There over the +couch, hung a withered wreath of dried flowers which he recognised. +Nothing was lost; all had been carefully preserved, even the pen which +he had used for the last time in the office, rested still behind the +mirror with his name inscribed upon the holder. + +And yet they had not expected him; all these souvenirs had not been +spread out at the news of his coming. They were, everyone, abiding +witnesses to the way in which his memory was cherished in a guileless +maiden's heart which loves, while it yet hardly knows what love is. + +Mathias Rby was surely strangely ungrateful to the fate which had +preserved such a treasure for him. But it is the way of youth, so +unregardful is it of the treasures true love spreads for its unheeding +eyes, to be its own for the asking. + +But his meditations were interrupted by the entrance of Miska, the +heyduke, who came to announce that his worship, the notary, was ready to +see Mr. Rby if he would wait upon him in the bureau. + +Rby rose from his seat, and took leave of his hostess, who accompanied +him to the door. + +There they exchanged the usual farewell greetings, and she laid her +little hand in his shyly, as if fearing the ceremonial kiss. As Rby +took the small soft fingers in his, a magnetic shock, as it were, +thrilled his being, so that he would fain have asked the question which +was on his lips, the question the girl would have seen in his eyes, had +she but raised her own. + +And Mariska, too, yearned to ask him, "How long do you stay?" How gladly +would she have heard the answer that it was for some time, how naturally +would the invitation have risen to her lips to Rby to come again often +and see them. + +But instead of all this, they did but hold each other's hands a moment +half-fearfully, as if each were afraid of the other's kiss. + +This once, at any rate, did Rby have the chance of grasping that +invisible golden thread which runs once through the life of every +mortal. Well for him who seizes it, for it will lead him safely through +all perils, but woe to him who lets it go! He cannot pick it up again. + +Rby did not seize the thread. + +"Good-bye!" they murmured. And a right good word it is this "God be with +you!" Yet what if man refuses the blessing the good God proffers him? + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +When Rby went into the office, the clerk told him that the chief was +expecting him in the "state-room" as it was called, in which +distinguished guests were received. This apartment was much more richly +furnished than the rest; it was therefore intended as a compliment to +Rby, that the pronotary should receive him there, rather than in his +bureau. + +The pronotary was a fine-looking man of distinguished bearing. His thick +grey hair was combed straight back from his brows, and except for his +short moustache, he was clean-shaven. His short embroidered dolman +reached to his hips, and was confined by a costly girdle, wherefrom +depended a little pouch containing pen and ink, while his watch-chain +dangled from his breeches' pocket. + +Rby was rather doubtful as to what sort of greeting he should venture +on. The French style exacted a solemn posturing with sundry bows and +curtseys; the German fashion demanded you should shake your neighbour's +hand as lustily as possible, but old-fashioned Hungarian etiquette +prescribed that the younger should kiss the hand of the elder. Rby +bethought him of the kiss he had received in coming thither, and that +decided him. He would pay it back now to the father. The face of the old +gentleman brightened at this greeting. + +"Look you, my friend," he exclaimed in a clear deep voice, "in former +times, I would have patted you on the head, but I cannot do that now for +fear of dishevelling the coiffure your friseur has arranged. Don't you +regret, by the way, wasting so much flour?" + +His guest was glad to catch the old man in such a good temper, and +determined to profit by it, so he kept up the jest. + +"Yet it is far better surely, that I should tumble into flour than +bran?" + +"I think not, my boy, besides you are not so far from tumbling into bran +as you seem to think." + +Rby looked at him with astonishment. + +Trhalmy's face became suddenly grave. + +"I know well enough why you are here!" + +(How could he know why he had come? wondered his guest.) + +"Not at my house, but why you are in this country. And if you will +permit me, I will tell you what I think about your mission." + +"Oh pray do!" exclaimed Rby. + +"Well, my young friend, you know I have always loved you as my own son. +I recognised all your capabilities, and always said 'that boy will some +day do great things!' A better brought-up, better disposed youth than +you were, with a higher sense of honour, could not be found. I would +not hesitate to entrust you with untold millions--or an innocent maiden. +But I warn you, if you persist in the way you have marked out for +yourself, you will soon be rotting in one of our prisons; and I shall +hear your chains clanking, without being able to stir a finger to set +you free." + +"And all that because I am a friend of the people?" + +"Rather an enemy of the nation, say!" + +"Are not the people and the nation one and the same?" + +"No, not at all: the nation is the state. You idealists cannot see the +wood for the trees; you cannot see the nation for the people. Only make +the people believe that they fare better under a despotism than under a +constitution, and you are the right side of the hedge." + +"So you think it's a choice of being ruled by one tyrant or five hundred +thousand." + +"Wait, young man, the five hundred thousand are the defenders of the +country on the field of battle, judges, commanders, pastors of souls and +teachers." + +"Yes, it was like that formerly. But time does not stand still, even if +conditions remain the same. The new age demands a better system of +defence, a more enlightened code of justice and government, as well as +better methods of instruction." + +"But you can't get all that in Hungary by just speaking the word! Nor +anywhere else, for that matter. We defend our much abused Asiatic +traditions, only through passive resistance." + +"Yet the question which once was asked of old from the oracle of Dodona, +is still the pressing problem for us: which is the most desirable, a +flourishing Hungarian nation according to the ancient idea of it, or +popular freedom?" + +At these words, the pronotary shook the young man cordially by the hand. + +"That was a pertinent question. I honour you for your candour. So many +proselytes of the Emperor that I have come across so far, will insist on +it that between these two antagonistic ideals a compromise is possible: +that, after the abolition of the privileges of the nobles, with an +equalisation of taxes, and a mutual obligation to bear the common +burden, the country can remain the same as it was. But you openly admit +there are only two alternatives, in the face of which we must needs +choose. You have chosen your part, I too have made up my mind. I believe +that in our part of the world it is more necessary for the +constitutional, patriotic Hungarian nation to endure, than for the +peasants to have one day a week more for idling; that it is better for +the aristocracy to give orders to the mob, than that the mob should give +orders to the aristocracy." + +The young man laughed aloud. + +"No, no, my honoured friend, I do not come here with the intention of +touching our hereditary constitution with my little finger. In this does +my whole mission consist--in rectifying abuses which cry aloud to +Heaven for redress in the Court of the County Assembly." + +"And pray who entrusts you with it?" + +"Firstly the Emperor, and then the oppressed people themselves." + +"That's just where the fault lies: neither the Emperor nor the people +have the right to lay such a duty on you. That right belongs alone to +the Pesth Assembly." + +"But the Crown has the right to demand that such a right be exercised." + +"Very likely. The Assembly will do whatever it be called upon to do." + +"And if the Assembly acquit itself badly? For its own officials are +guilty of the misery of the people." + +"Oh, that is no secret. Our officials are in a body quite ready to +fleece the folk in the very way that has aroused your indignation. But +up till now, we have elected these officials ourselves, and we would +rather have them over us, even if they were stained with the seven +capital sins, than have the Emperor's nominees, were they angels from +heaven. This is no legal quibble, but a question of actual conditions. +Whatever the people suffer, they will recover sooner or later; if a man +dies, another is born in his place; but the constitution can neither +suffer nor die. You stand for the Emperor, I stand for the voice of the +nation. Both are mortal. We shall see which of the two survives. But I +warn you to reckon on no one's support in the work you have undertaken, +for everyone will regard you as an enemy." + +"Thank you," said Rby. "Also, there is a satisfaction in remembering +that there is at least one man I can reckon on who won't desert me." + +"And who is that, pray?" asked Trhalmy smiling rather grimly, for he +thought it was the Emperor he meant. + +"Why myself." + +The pronotary embraced him, exclaiming tenderly as he did so: "Poor +fellow, poor fellow!" Then he said gently: "Farewell, in case I never +see you again!" + +And Mathias Rby went away without mentioning even a word of Mariska. +What a horrible thing these politics are, to be sure! + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Rby had scarcely left, than pretty Mariska put her little head in at +the opposite door which led from the reception-room to the +dining-parlour. Mr. von Trhalmy was striding up and down the apartment +as if perturbed. + +"Did you call me, dear father?" asked the girl. + +"No, no, child; but come in." + +"You are not vexed, father?" + +"Not a bit of it, my dear." + +"I thought you were quarrelling with someone." + +"Nothing of the sort. We have only been discussing some business +matters. So just come in." + +The girl nestled up to her father's side affectionately. + +"I quite thought you called me," she murmured, "and that you said, we +have a guest coming to-morrow, Mariska." + +"Aha, you are right enough," smiled Trhalmy. "Of course I said so. Your +cousin Matyi will dine with us to-morrow. Bless me, if I hadn't quite +forgotten all about it." + +"And it's well I should know it in good time." + +"Yes, indeed, and see you have his favourite dishes for him. Have you +plenty of stores, or must any be procured?" + +"No, indeed, I have everything I want in the house." + +And therewith, Mariska kissed her father's hand, nay both of them, and +danced back into the next room as light-hearted as a bird. + +And the two maids at the spinning-wheel must be up and doing; one to +pound almonds in the mortar; the other to sift fine flour for fritters. +The Frulein herself set about peeling lemons, seeing she was going to +make some of Matyi's favourite cakes, such as no Vienna pastry-cook +could turn out. And through the whole household there was the sound of +singing, for Mariska too could sing on occasion--and this was one. + +But the pronotary himself sent his heyduke to go and find Mr. Mathias +Rby, and tell him, with his compliments, that he would expect him to +dinner the next day. + + * * * * * + +Rby was meantime interviewing some of the high officials of Pesth. + +The first one he visited was the lord-lieutenant of the city. + +For this visit he had to put on court dress, as that official was a +direct representative of the Emperor. + +His Excellency was an unpopular person, disliked by everyone. He was a +hard man whom nothing softened. He sympathized with no one, and he was +in nobody's good graces. Yet he was a personality everyone had to reckon +with. + +His very appearance bespoke the man. The copper-coloured complexion and +ill-shaven face, with its deep frowning eyebrows, heightened the natural +defect of his neck, which was twisted towards the right shoulder. His +hair was lank and reddish; his dress a cross between the Hungarian and +Austrian mode, slovenly and dirty, and stained with snuff, while the +order of St. Stephen, which he wore round his neck, was defaced and half +torn away. His voice had a repellent snarl about it. He spoke German +with everybody, but it was a vile patois. + +When Rby was ushered into his presence, his Excellency was drinking his +coffee, and his visitor had to stand till he had finished. + +When he had set his cup down, he got up, and turning abruptly to Rby, +asked him if he were a count? + +His visitor could not imagine what prompted this question, but he +answered that he was only an untitled gentleman of good family. + +Thereupon his Excellency pointed to Rby's silk vest, and snapped: + +"Well, then, what do you mean by this? According to the prescription of +the 'dress regulations,' no one under the rank of a count may wear +embroidery." + +And in fact there was at this time a "dress regulation" in force to this +effect. Kaiser Joseph carried his paternal interest in his subjects so +far as to lay down rules as to how they should dress. Fashions and +ornaments which were permitted to the count, were not allowed the baron. +In this way, you could specify at first sight what rank a man held, for +even his hat revealed it. Only for princes and princesses was it +permitted to wear both black and white feathers; counts wore white +alone, barons black, and so forth down the scale. These sumptuary laws +even affected walking-sticks which had their mountings differentiated +according to the rank of the possessor. + +That was why Rby had offended the lord-lieutenant. As a simple +gentleman, he had no right to either gold or silver embroidery. + +"This is the dress usually worn by the secretary of the imperial +cabinet," was the only explanation Rby offered. + +"Ah, that is another thing. But I don't approve of these concessions +being allowed to those who are not men of rank." + +He scanned his caller mistrustfully from head to foot, and then went on +stiffly. "But I already have your credentials. Discharge your duty, but +take care what you are about, for you will find no one here to help you +out of a difficulty. So I have the honour to be your very humble +servant." + +But Rby did not mean to let himself be dismissed in this fashion. + +"I too, am your Excellency's very humble servant," he answered. "But I +have a special mission to your Excellency which concerns both of us: my +duty is to speak, as it is likewise to present you with the imperial +warrant." + +The determined tone of the speaker levelled at once all distinctions of +age and rank. His Excellency vainly took refuge in walking up and down +the room, for Rby kept pace with him, and he poured forth his whole +story into his ear, for he was determined that in such a high quarter, +the right side should be known. + +When he had finished his explanations, he raised his cocked hat with an +elaborate bow, bent his knee ceremoniously to the proper degree, and +withdrew, with the three paces prescribed by correct etiquette, to the +door. + +Mathias Rby now hastened to the dwelling of the district commissioner, +who lived alone in an old house at Buda. Before it stood a sentry, and +at the entrance was also a porter who rang the bell if a visitor came in +a sedan-chair--the favourite means of locomotion. You could, if you +wished, have a carriage, but it was not so comfortable. Nor was it +advisable to go on foot, for in the covered ways which led round the +water-city, it was dark enough to cause ordinary pedestrians to dread +being robbed--as indeed they easily could have been. + +Rby hastened up the steps of the district commissioner's house with +renewed confidence, for the commissioner had been one of his Vienna +acquaintances, and so when the lackey announced the visitor, ordered +Rby to be admitted at once, though he had not finished his toilet. + +At that epoch, dress was no light matter even for a man. The _friseur_ +was occupied in shaving his client; then from one box he took out some +white cosmetic, from another some red colouring, to apply them to the +proper place on the cheeks, for, at that era, not only women, but also +men of fashion painted their faces. Then the eyebrows were darkened, and +blue streaks were faintly outlined on the temples with a paint-brush +dipped in ultramarine; finally, a patch was applied with artful +dexterity on the right spot above the reddened lips. Only when all this +was done, could the final operation be carried out--that of powdering +the curled and twisted hair, the patient holding meanwhile a kind of +paper bag before his face, whilst the barber powdered the coiffure with +a large brush. + +"How are you, my friend?" was his host's greeting, as Rby entered. +"I'll be done in a few minutes; meanwhile, sit down and read." + +On the writing-table, to which he motioned Rby, lay some of the latest +pamphlets and pasquinades of the moment, mostly directed against the +Emperor. + +Rby turned them over. "I've seen these before," he remarked. + +"And is not his Majesty very angry at them?" asked the commissioner. + +"Not a bit of it; he sends for the pamphlets, and not only does he make +me read them to him, but he is heartily amused." + +"Otherwise the author might find himself fastened to the wheel, eh!" + +"Joseph has thought of a more sensible punishment. A writer sold his +pasquinades at thirty kreutzers apiece, and built a house with his +profits. But recently the Kaiser, as soon as one of these productions +appeared, had it reprinted and sold for eight kreutzers. The result was +that the writer had the whole edition left on his hands, while everyone +bought that issued by the Kaiser. The proceeds were given to charity." + +"Not a very seemly trade for an Emperor, eh? It were far more becoming +to a prince to have the fellow's head off." + +"Yes, the Kaiser has distinctly plebeian ideas, it must be owned." + +"What too did he mean by putting in the pillory an officer of the Guard? +Only think of it, just for misappropriating from the treasury sixty-six +thousand gulden. And it was only to build an alchymist's laboratory. +Could he help it because it turned out a failure?" + +"Ah, well, now the ice is broken." + +Meantime the _friseur_ had finished his work and gone, so it was easy +for Rby to broach his errand, with such an opening: + +"The Emperor visits with extreme severity the embezzlement of public +funds; it is for this very purpose that he has sent me to bring to light +certain abuses connected with the Szent-Endre municipality." + +"I know, I know," said his Excellency, as he poured some eau de Cologne +over his hands, "it has come to my ears. But you will be a long time +finding your way out of that tangle, once you get into it; let me warn +you. By the way, is there a new opera company at the Vienna theatre?" + +"Ah, my good friend, I've no time to run after plays and players. I've +dramas of my own to look after, and they deal with the picking of other +people's pockets." + +"The deuce take your dramas! Does one still see pretty women at Vienna? +Where do you have your evening gatherings during the winter?" + +"We go to 'The Good Woman.' The sign-board is a woman without a head." + +"What does the hostess say to that, pray?" + +"I shall have no chance of asking her, seeing that I shall spend the +winter here, and pass my time in verifying accounts." + +"Stuff and nonsense! Cut it short, sir, and get back to Vienna as soon +as you can. Say you have found nothing. By the way, have you been in +Pozsony? They say they pay their theatrical companies far better than we +do; isn't it a shame?" + +"May I venture to ask if his Excellency will deign to listen to my +representations about the Szent-Endre affair?" + +"My dear fellow, just tell me everything. I am wholly at your service. +And don't mind my interruptions. I shall hear all. Have the officials +really so oppressed the poor? It's unheard-of! And the Rascian 'pope' +might well speak out. He's a good sort! Just such another as some of our +priests in Vienna. Did you ever hear how--oh, yes, I'm listening right +enough. I see quite well that you've discovered some sort of roguery. +The story of the hidden coffer sounds just like a play, doesn't it? 'The +Hidden Treasure,' or 'The Forty Thieves.' Go on! I declare that notary +ought to be placed in Dante's Inferno. What was that celebrated forgery +case, by the way, when some count or other, of high family, was put in +prison surely? You can't be too severe with that kind of thing. Yes, the +small fry, like your notary, don't get out of the net, but the man with +a handle to his name, gets clean off! We ought to make some examples in +high places." + +Rby longed to express to his Excellency his conviction that the +Szent-Endre culprits would also elude justice; but it seemed wiser to be +silent till his loquacious friend had had his say. + +And now indeed the district commissioner, who was really a good sort of +fellow, showed that he had quite understood the whole business. + +"You leave it to me, my friend; I'll follow it up. You may reckon on my +help. If the councillors show themselves recalcitrant, we will know how +to make them dance! But now it's time for the theatre, my friend. What +do you say to coming with me? I have a box. You will be able to see all +the pretty girls of Pesth and Buda together." + +"Much beholden to you, but I regret I can't take advantage of your +offer," answered Rby; "I must hasten homewards to send in my report to +the Emperor." + +"Oh, what's the good of drawing up reports? Take my advice and don't +send him any. And if you won't come to the theatre with me, then come +and dine to-morrow and we can talk things over." + +But Rby went home to draw up his report. + + * * * * * + +Meantime, the lord-lieutenant was demanding of his secretary: + +"Which is the Statute that treats of _nobilis cum rusticis tumultuans_?" + +The secretary was a walking legal code. He not only knew that the law in +question was article thirty-three, of the year 1514, but could quote the +passage word for word: "Noblemen who take part in any risings of the +peasantry shall be banished, and shall forfeit the whole of their +estates." + +His Excellency uttered a growl of discontent; evidently the citation was +not an apt one. + +"What about that other statute of _Nota Conjurationis_?" + +"Article forty of 1536 pronounces sedition to be high-treason. See _Nota +Infidelitatis_." + +His Excellency shook his head. + +"And that of _Calumniator Consiliariorum_?" + +"Article of the year 1588 runs as follows:--Whosoever shall calumniate +and unjustly attaint any of the Empire's councillors, shall be condemned +to lose his head and forfeit all his goods." + +"That is better. You can go." + +The speaker was obviously contented this time. + +But immediately afterwards he recalled the secretary. + +"Which article is it that treats of the _Portatores Causarum_?" + +"Article sixty-three, of the year 1498. Whosoever shall bring his cause +before a tribunal other than that of his own country, shall be arrested +and imprisoned in the Dark Tower." + +"Now you can retire." + + * * * * * + +His worship, the district commissioner, who during Rby's relation had +appeared to pay not the slightest attention to the Szent-Endre story, +had no sooner got to his box at the theatre, than he sent immediately +for pen, ink, and paper, and, quite oblivious of the play, hurriedly +drew up a missive to the prefect, wherein he set forth Mathias Rby's +mission, and how he had been directly authorised by the Emperor to +revise the finances, pointing out that he was well informed as to +everything, even to the contents of the strong box. He would further +suggest that it would be wise for the prefect to go and look into things +for himself, otherwise disagreeable consequences might ensue. + +This note he sent by a special messenger to ensure its speedy delivery. + + * * * * * + +Trhalmy's heyduke came back late in the evening with Rby's refusal. He +could not come, because he was already pledged to dine with the district +commissioner. + +"You need not trouble about the almond-cakes, Mariska," said the +pronotary to his daughter, "Cousin Matyi will not be with us to-morrow, +he is flying higher game." + +And all at once the sound of singing ceased in the house. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Hardly had Mathias Rby returned to Szent-Endre than he realised that +everyone was aware of his mission. Gifts of all kinds poured in, and his +servant told him that in his absence two casks of wine had arrived--she +knew not from whom. In the courtyard, big stacks of firewood had already +been piled up--the gift of some anonymous donor, while the poultry-yard +was full of feathered stock which seemed to have flown down from the +skies. + +It was a pity the recipient did not appreciate them. Yet he knew the +time would come when all those who now plied him with gifts, would be +ready to deprive him of everything, if he ventured to set foot in their +streets. He forbade the maid to touch any of them under pain of instant +dismissal. The poor girl was quite dumbfoundered with surprise, for what +could one have better than such presents? + +On the day of his return, two well-known citizens appeared at his door +with a smart coach and four beautiful horses. One of them was Mr. Peter +Paprika; in former times he had himself fulfilled a term of office as +magistrate six years, so he understood the situation. The two had come +to wish Mr. Rby good day, Peter Paprika adding that, as his worship +must have so many journeys to make in so many different directions, he +was sure he could not exist without a carriage and horses. For Rby, +moreover, the price of the whole equipage, including horses, would only +be forty gulden! Nor need he be surprised at this abnormally cheap +price, for they were not stolen. The four horses were from the stud of +the State, the carriage was the best the local builder could turn out. + +Mathias Rby thanked them for the offer, but refused to buy the +equipage, even at this price. + +However, they still pressed their bid, adding that fodder for the horses +would be provided gratis, whereupon Rby told them point blank that +their bribes would not in the least avail to turn him from his purpose. + +Mr. Paprika returned dejectedly to the town council where his colleagues +waited to learn the result of his mission. + +"I'm afraid," he announced to his fellow-councillors, "it won't avail us +to dip in the little chest for this. We have a difficult customer to +deal with. We must dive into the big one." + +They talked the matter over, and determined that if necessary, they +would sacrifice half the common wealth, and for this, bleed the treasure +itself, to such an end. And Peter Paprika was entrusted to find out a +new opportunity for proffering the bribe. + +So the next day they sought out Rby, and put the whole thing before +him. They hinted broadly enough that you did not muzzle the ox that +trod out the corn, and that he who cut up a goose was justified in +keeping the best bit for himself, and other like arguments, and finally +laid on his table the sum of three thousand ducats. + +Even to-day three thousand ducats are not a sum to be despised: in those +days, indeed, they represented a respectable fortune. But Rby nearly +drubbed the envoy who brought them out of the room. He was righteously +indignant, and angrily showed the messenger the door. + +"I never saw a man so angry," growled Peter Paprika, "I've heard men +often enough refuse money in so many words, but they contrived to pocket +the ducats discreetly, directly they have the chance." So they thought +it might happen this time. A week elapsed, and people already began to +smile knowingly at Rby when they met him in the street, saying to +themselves, "He only wants a little bigger net, but he'll be caught in +the end." + +How greatly was popular opinion disconcerted, when in all the churches +the following Sunday, a "command" from the Emperor was read to the +effect "that the three thousand ducats which the worshipful town council +had given to Mr. Mathias Rby for benevolent purposes, were to be +divided among the inhabitants whose homes the preceding year had been +destroyed by fire, and that each one would receive seventy-five gulden +apiece." + +What a procession it was that took its way to Rby's house. The +unfortunate victims of the conflagration came with their children and +chattels to thank their benefactor and to kiss his hand. The homes of +many of them had still to be made good, and the help could not have come +at a more seasonable time. But it set the officials against Rby. They +could not tell the recipients of this bounty what had really happened. +But the latter guessed immediately that the town council had given Mr. +Rby three thousand ducats, not for any charitable ends, but in order to +bribe him, and that he was making over to them these ill-gotten gains. +Well might the poor regard him as their deliverer! + +Nevertheless, the councillors began to shake in their shoes. Judge, +notary, and old Paprika hastened to the prefect, and announced with +anxiety and horror that a dragon had been set on to them, who would not +be pacified with the treasure itself. + +"Well, we'll just fetch out a bigger one still to satisfy him." + +What that greater treasure was, we shall in the course of events now +learn. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +For some days the great circuit had been in full swing in the city. It +was a new institution, inaugurated by the Emperor Joseph, whereby the +lord-lieutenant or his representative, annually had to make a tour +through the county to procure information of all kinds, and refer the +same to the district commissioner, of whom there were ten in all +throughout the country. + +The business was easily settled in some counties. But in that of Pesth, +which is as large as a German kingdom, the number of official +entertainments was so great that it demanded an ostrich's digestion. +These municipal officials, like the lord-lieutenant himself, must eat +and drink hard three or four days running, while, at the end, the whole +burden of the work fell on the substitute, the eldest and best qualified +magistrate. No one answered to this demand better than our old friend, +Mr. Lasky. + +When the circuit came to Szent-Endre, it was naturally the turn of the +prefect to give an entertainment. To this the imperial court secretary, +Mr. Mathias Rby of Rba and Mura, received a formal invitation in due +course. + +As it was so great an official gathering, he put on his Viennese dress, +and arrived at the prefecture by twelve o'clock, the hour appointed. + +He was received by a lordly looking lackey, who discreetly gave him to +understand that he was somewhat early, that the gentry were still in +council, but that till dinner-time, he might, if he would, go into the +garden where he would find Mademoiselle, the prefect's niece. + +Rby instantly conceived a high opinion of the lady of the house, who, +thus immediately preceding a great banquet, could find leisure to walk +in the garden. She could not be wholly wrapped up in her housewifery. + +But how find a garden he had never seen and seek out a lady who was a +complete stranger to him? However, help was nigh. Just as if it had +scented him, a black poodle came running down the corridor wagging his +tail, as welcoming the guest, and finally took the end of Rby's cane +between his teeth and drew him to the door that led into the garden. +Rby, seeing the dog wanted to play with the cane, let him have it, +whereupon the cunning little beast seized it in the middle and preceded +Rby down the garden path where Frulein Fruzsinka was to be found. The +garden was laid out in the prevalent mode, in a maze composed of trees, +among which one had vainly sought for an outlet. There, indeed, Rby had +never found the lady on his own account, for she had ensconced herself +in the innermost recess and was reading, seated on the mossy bank. + +She was no longer the Hungarian amazon who had worn the riding gear we +met her in, earlier in this story. She was now the Viennese "lgante," +whose toilette proclaimed her the lady of fashion, with her +walking-stick, her elaborate coiffure, and lace ruffles, all +irreproachably correct. Nor were cosmetics and patches wanting that the +mode demanded, and she answered Rby's greeting with the prescribed +German formula: "Your servant, sir." + +The poodle broke the ice, by running up with his cane and laying it at +his mistress' feet. + +But Frulein Fruzsinka picked it up gently and gave it back to Rby. She +held a richly bound book, Wieland's "Oberon," which she showed to her +guest. + +Now with ladies who read Wieland you can talk of something else besides +ordinary themes. And in the first quarter of an hour of his conversation +with her, Mathias Rby discovered that his hostess was a highly +cultivated woman who could discuss the French philosophers as an +ordinary provincial belle might the latest fashion in head dresses, and +speak German fluently. + +And her eyes, how marvellous they were! + +They came out of the maze pursuing the talk on literature, and bent +their steps towards the flower garden. Passing the flower-beds, Frulein +Fruzsinka betrayed also her knowledge of that "language of flowers" +which just then was the rage in Vienna. The young lady broke off a twig +of evergreen, and gave it to Rby, who well recollected the couplet +which set forth its symbolism: + + "The evergreen is always green, although it blossoms never, + So may the friendship 'twixt a man and woman last for ever." + +But there was nothing of the coquette about her; she made no advances +whatever. + +The sound of the dinner-gong here breaking off their talk, his hostess +accompanied Rby back to the house, where the company were impatiently +awaiting them. The dinner was already on the table. + +The Frulein presented Rby to the other guests who all greeted him +warmly. + +The meal threatened to be interminable, as course succeeded course, till +at last someone threw out a hint to the effect that a little exercise +would be good for the diners, who had a game of skittles awaiting them. + +"Skittles," indeed, was as it were the word of dismissal, and the +suggestion nearly spoiled the proposal made by another guest that after +dinner they should have a song from Frulein Fruzsinka on the +clavichord. + +But the skittle players were in the majority though there was a keen +opposition. + +Finally matters were compromised by settling that they should have their +hostess' song first, and then the skittles. At first a few of the guests +loitered round the clavichord, at which Frulein Fruzsinka, with her +really sweet voice, was commencing a ditty. But you could not well smoke +there, so one by one they stole out into the garden where the skittles +were already in full swing. + +Meanwhile, Frulein Fruzsinka remained at the clavichord alone with +Mathias Rby, who from his knowledge of music could turn over for her at +the right moment. + +The singer soon shut the music book, and rose impatiently from the +instrument. + +"What people these are!" she exclaimed with a little irritated gesture +of her hands. "Not a lofty idea, not a noble aspiration among them, as +far as one can judge. And that is our world!" + +Rby, who had the instincts of a courtier, sought to excuse his fellow +guests. + +"Their own official concerns fill their minds entirely." + +"Their official concerns indeed! Yes, I should think so! Did you hear +the anecdotes with which they regaled each other at table? Quite +frankly, with the most shameless cynicism. Yet they were all true. Among +such people as ours, ignorance, idleness and greed counter-balance one +another. Not one of them knows his business: each neglects his duty. But +see if there is anything to be got out of any official function, and +everyone is ready to seize it for himself." + +Rby held a brief for the accused. + +"With us, offices of that kind are ill-paid. The official's salary is +scant; he has, too, a house and family to keep up." + +Fruzsinka laughed aloud. "There is not a married man among all of them. +They are all a penniless lot who come to pay their court to me. Each of +them would marry me, were they not all afraid of me!" + +"Afraid of the Frulein? You must make a strange impression on them." + +"Yes, think of it! Can you believe that anyone is frightened at me +because I wear a fashionable gown, read novels, am clever at music, but +indifferent to kitchen and cellar; thereat the wooer shudders. He says +to himself, 'he cannot possibly tolerate that,' and takes himself off +forthwith." + +"On the contrary, dainty toilettes and culture bespeak wealth, and that +alone should be one more spur for the suitors, surely." + +"Oh certainly, if they were sure that my uncle, who is rich, were going +to leave me his money. But that is a secret no one knows. There are two +things my wooer cannot find out, whether my uncle really loves me, and +whether I know how to flatter him well enough, so as not to forfeit his +affection. And truly I do not quite know myself." + +"And that surely is not difficult to decide. For your beautiful +toilettes and good education witness sufficiently to his affection for +you." + +"Ah, as far as my education goes, I have only to thank the gracious +Empress Maria Theresa, for I was educated at her Elizabeth Institute in +Buda, and my education cost no one a heller. And as regards my dress, my +uncle insists on my dressing well, in order to captivate each new-comer. +If it is an aristocratic cavalier who appears on the scene, forthwith I +must don my pearl-embroidered bodice and lace stomacher and the plumed +hat, but if it be an ordinary townsman, I wear the provincial dress of +the simple country girl. Yes, would you know everything at this, our +first meeting? And, indeed, as it is the first, so will it be the last. +But would you hear how that must be, come with me into my own +sitting-room, for here someone will overhear us." + +Rby was already under the spell of the sorceress, and he followed her +willingly into her boudoir. + +"You are not the first, dear Rby," pursued his hostess, "who has come +into this town vowing vengeance on us, to demand that justice be done. I +say 'us,' for as you see, I too am leagued with this confederacy. And +each of such emissaries in turn have I seen withdraw after a time, his +anger appeased. Now, once more, they hear that a man of iron has come to +set his foot down with inexorable rigour; he distributes the vast bribe +which has been offered him, among the poor, while to win him over, even +the great coffer is ransacked, but in vain. Thereupon, the authorities +bethink them of another treasure still, the prefect's niece. And they +trick her out as a fashionable lady, and leave her alone with the +incorruptible. You see I am quite frank! Do you not blush for me? I do +for myself, I can assure you. Take my advice, and fly from this place!" + +"But, Frulein, all you tell me does but make me still more determined +to pursue the purpose for which I came hither." + +"I see you to-day for the first time; I know nothing of you but what I +have heard from your opponents; but what I have heard of you only makes +me take your side. You are no ordinary man. Go, I tell you, and save +yourself; flee from this place!" + +"I save myself?" + +"Yes, indeed! You cannot imagine how evilly disposed to you are those +among whom you find yourself. Indeed, they have threatened to take your +life." + +What does she mean? Will she scare him away from the field of his +labours, so that intimidated by her words, he returns to Vienna? Or has +she measured her man, and seen that he is to be best caught by seeking +to divert him from his purpose? And does she know that for such a one, +the most powerful enticement of all will be to seek to turn him from +his goal? + +Rby responded to the signal that his hostess made him, to come closer; +nay, he took the fan she held, and fanned her and himself with it. + +"That is splendid; why it will make my stay here quite a romantic +experience," he said. + +"You will rue it, however, and expose yourself to a thousand dangers +which you have not the power to withstand. I see you are confident of +your strength. But if you had to fight with someone, would it not +disquiet you to know your adversary was an excellent shot. Suppose the +moment you entered the field, someone whispered to you: 'Be on your +guard; your second is in league with your opponent, he has placed no +bullets in your pistol.' Would you not, in such a case, refuse to +fight?" + +"But the case is quite unthinkable." + +"So you deem it. But to prove to you, that I am not seeking, as your +enemies would have me do, to try and entangle you in my net, I will tear +asunder the snare already closing round you, and show you something +which shall enlighten you once and for all." + +She went to her writing-table and took out of a drawer a letter. + +"Say, do you know this handwriting?" + +"Very well, it is that of the district commissioner." + +"The note was addressed to me, in order to awaken no suspicion. Please +read it." + +It was the letter which the district commissioner had written at the +theatre. + +As he read it, Rby fairly crimsoned with wrath. He was thunderstruck to +find that his official chief, who had promised to support his mission, +should have a secret understanding with those whom he was pledged to +punish. Whom should he trust, if this was the state of things? + +"Now will you not fly?" said Frulein Fruzsinka. Her words urged him to +go, but her eyes held him back. + +"No, indeed! now will I remain," cried Rby impetuously, as he rose to +go. And as if to prove that he had determined to do and dare all, he +hastily seized her hand and raised it passionately to his lips. + +And she did not withdraw hers, but vehemently returned its pressure, as +if to say: "This is the man I have long been looking for!" + +"Leave me now," she whispered; but her eyes seemed to say, "Come again, +soon!" + +Mathias Rby knew now that fate had led him to a kindred soul at last! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +Were this story a romance pure and simple, it would suffice to tell that +Frulein Fruzsinka had fire in her eyes, and Mr. Mathias but a heart of +wax, that, consequently, when they met, the one melted the other. + +But since this history is, in the main, a true narrative, we do not +think it should be supposed that such was the case. Mathias Rby being a +diplomatist as well as a philosopher, did not seek in the lady of his +dreams a Venus Anadyomene, but rather a fully equipped Minerva, and he +thought that he had before him a high-minded woman, whose insight +penetrated the evil intentions of his enemies, and whose hands should +serve to set him free from the snares their wickedness had woven around +him. To save such a woman from a degrading position was in itself surely +a knightly and a noble deed. And what a splendid help would it not be to +him, in the struggle that lay before him, to choose such a companion, +who could circumvent the designs of his enemies, and be to him a +guardian angel as well as a helpmate. + +So it came about that one day Mathias Rby sought out his uncle, Mr. +Lenyfalvy, with this request. + +"I have come, my dear uncle, to remind you of your promise. I need a +'best man.'" + +"A 'best man'? All right, my boy, I'm ready; let's have the horses put +to." + +"It won't be necessary; it is only at the other end of the city. It is +to the prefecture I want to go." + +"It's the Fruzsinka, then," exclaimed the old gentleman, and he began to +scratch his head in deep perplexity. Finally, he blurted out, "Listen to +me, my boy, take my advice and choose anyone else." + +"Uncle, I forbid you to speak thus! She is my betrothed." + +"I will not say anything against the woman of your choice. I will only +say this: your father and mother were worthy God-fearing folk. If there +had been twenty commandments to keep instead of ten, they would have +observed them all scrupulously. And they loved each other so dearly, +that when your father died, your mother followed him the very next day. +And so it can be said to your own credit, that you are neither a +murderer nor a robber. Therefore, I want to know how it is that, since +neither you nor your parents have ever committed mortal sin, such a +punishment should be destined for you, as marrying Frulein Fruzsinka?" + +"Uncle, I forbid you----" + +"If you only knew the woman she is!" + +"I know quite well, she herself has told me all." + +"All, has she, what sort of an 'all' is it?" + +Mathias Rby shrugged his shoulders as one who does not understand +grammatical subtleties. "Oh, with women, the world is an everyday +matter." + +"But these are not everyday matters." + +"Well, I will hear no evil of her." + +"May Heaven forgive me if I make a mistake! But what does it concern me +after all? Yet I found for you a nice, well-brought up girl to whom the +other one cannot hold a candle! What are the black gipsy eyes of the one +compared to the innocent blue ones of the other? But if such a wife +pleases you, there is nothing more to be said. Only you will have a wife +and no mistake, I'll warrant you!" + +"Now, dear uncle, I beg of you to come and accompany me in my wooing." + +Mr. Lenyfalvy began to see that he must play a part in this pantomime +after all. + +"I've no clothes to go in," he explained. "In these I could not enter +such grand company." + +"I will bring you a new coat from Pesth." + +"It's no use, nephew. Among such grand folks a simple gentleman like me, +who am a mere nobody, has no business. Take the district commissioner +with you; he is a great man, and can write worshipful before his name." + +"I don't want any great men. I'd rather have you!" + +Now the postmaster came out with his true meaning. + +"I don't want to be your 'best man!'" he said bluntly. + +"You don't, and why not?" + +"Because I am exceedingly angry, and I should quarrel with you. I am +seriously vexed with you, not because you insist on marrying +Fruzsinka--you can be angry with yourself for that--but because you are +leaving that sweet, pretty, innocent child, to eat her heart out in +disappointment. I do not want to have anything more to do with you; you +are nothing to me. Now go, and take your grand friend with you!" + +"Very well, I won't take anyone. I'll go alone and ask for her myself." + +Thereupon, Rby turned away and went. It would be indeed absurd that a +man, in such a high position, who had been educated at the Theresianum, +and was the trusted confidant of the Emperor himself, should let himself +be dissuaded from his purpose by a simple unlearned rustic. + +The contradiction only strengthened him in his determination. + +And then--those glorious eyes! + + * * * * * + +Rby was one of those men who, once having set themselves an end in +view, pursue it unflinchingly. He went straight away to the prefect, +stated plainly his errand, and asked for the hand of his niece. + +The prefect, however, pushed his cap back a little off his brows, and +demanded somewhat abruptly if his visitor understood Hungarian? + +Rby was a little disconcerted by the question. + +"Yes, I can speak Hungarian," he answered shortly. + +"But, my friend, to speak Hungarian and to understand it are two very +different things, as we shall see directly. I ask you, what is it you +want? Do you want to take my niece Fruzsinka as your wife, or do you +wish to be the husband of my niece Fruzsinka?" + +"Surely that is one and the same thing," said the suitor. + +"Not a bit of it; they are quite distinct. Let's put it plainly. For +instance, you elect to be my niece's husband. In this case you come and +live here at the prefecture, and you get thrown in as a marriage +settlement, a coach and four, a coachman and lackey, and will have in +fact all the money you need. If you are tired of the chancery work in +Vienna, we can get you elected administrator of Visegrd, which post +happens to be vacant. You only need walk into it, or if you would prefer +to do so, you can easily keep your appointment at Court, and a deputy +will look after the Visegrd affairs for you, perhaps better than you +could yourself. All you have to do is to spend the income, if you come +to live here. This is one alternative. The other is that you take my +niece as your wife, and make your own little home for her, and the rest +is your concern, not mine. Now I have spoken plainly, do you understand +me?" + +"Perfectly, and I am also ready with my answer. I ask for no prefecture, +no coach and four, no administratorship; I only ask for Frulein +Fruzsinka, whom I love; I ask for the lady, not for the property." + +"Well, go and have a talk with her. If she is agreeable to the proposal, +I won't raise any objection." + +Thereupon, he sent the wooer to Frulein Fruzsinka, who had previously +suggested to Rby that he should come on this particular day and +formally propose for her hand. + +"You come without a 'best man,'" said Fruzsinka, as Rby entered. "You +have found no one who would undertake the office, that is it. Each of +the friends you asked refused, and tried to set you against me?" + +"I assure you, Frulein, that there is no man living from whom I would +listen to the slightest word against you, not even my own father. I will +tell you truthfully how the matter stands. I have one good old friend in +this world whom you know well, my uncle Lenyfalvy. I begged him to bear +me company, but he refused solely, however, on this ground, that he had +already chosen a bride for me, a playmate of my childhood, and had so +set his heart on my having her, that he is angered at my making another +choice." + +"And why not marry the playmate of your childhood?" + +"That too will I tell you, and be as candid with you as you were with +me. This girl is a dear, gentle, little creature, whose life it were a +shame to link with my own stormy career. Why, I should have to transform +myself to marry her. If I were a man who simply swims with the stream, +and troubles not as to what passes outside his own house, then could I +woo such a bride indeed. But I am possessed by a demon of unrest that +will let me have no peace; the misery of the people is constantly before +me, urging me unceasingly to champion their cause against their +oppressors. Nothing shall stop my mouth from pleading their rights. My +life will be a perpetual struggle, I see that clearly. And can I fetter +to such a destiny, a mere child whose only strength is her inexhaustible +patience and gentleness? Every moment would it not be a torment to me, +that each woe I drew down upon my head would fall likewise upon that of +a guiltless and innocent being with a hundredfold weight. No, Frulein, +when I reckoned up the obstacles to the career I had set before me, I +determined to ask no woman to share it. Till fate threw me across your +path, I had never thought of marriage. But at the first glance, I said +to myself, 'There is the complement of my own being; there is a woman +whose soul is consumed like mine with a restless consciousness of the +world's woes. No one can understand her as I do.' What shocks others in +you is just what attracts me. My destiny can only be shared by one who +has plenty of ambition and no dread of danger. If you are truly mine, +give me your answer." + +Frulein Fruzsinka's only response was to throw herself on Rby's breast +and take his face between her hands. + + * * * * * + +Three weeks later, the marriage ceremony took place. When the wedding +was over, the worthy prefect rubbed his hands and murmured, "Now thank +Heaven, Mathias Rby has already the yoke round his neck. That is +something to be thankful for." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +Wonder of wonders! Fruzsinka had become domesticated. Since her +marriage, she had been a different being. Her former rich dress was now +exchanged for a simple homespun gown, and she wore only the national +dress of the Hungarian woman. She rarely even looked in a book, for the +young matron was now wholly occupied with the things of the household. + +She made an ideal housewife, superintending everything herself, and +never parting with her keys. She kneaded the dough for the fritters +which no hand must touch but hers; she skimmed too the milk, and roasted +the coffee. She even had a spinning-wheel brought in and sat at it, +though the yarn spun did not amount to much, only the spinning-wheel +indeed knew whether it went backwards or forwards. + +But on her lord and master, Fruzsinka lavished the most passionate +devotion. Never did she allow him to leave the house without her +buttoning his coat for him, and had he the least ailment she made no end +of ado. + +She never dreamed of going out without him, and was, as a matter of +fact, jealous of every pretty woman, but Rby liked to think that her +watchfulness had regard rather to the designs of his enemies than from +any other cause. He began to see that all women who love their husbands +are alike, and that those stories of the wives of heroes who themselves +spur their spouses on to fight and place the sword in their grasp, +belong to the domain of myth, not to that of reality. + +For the rest, Rby's business seemed as if it was going to settle itself +smoothly. The municipality gave orders to the district commissioner who, +in his turn, forwarded directions to various subordinate officials, and +a deputation, which was entrusted with full judicial powers, was elected +to audit the accounts. All was ready for taking active steps, Rby only +needed to come forward with the formal impeachment, for he now held the +threads of the business in his own hands. + +The various officials concerned strongly suspected that they themselves +were mixed up in the affair, but consoled themselves with the thought +that the commissioner would himself preside. + +But the district commissioner was very easy-going, had they known it, +and that was his failing. He did not like seeing his friends set by the +ears, therefore he betrayed the inimical intentions of each one to the +other, in order to frustrate strife. They should leave one another +alone; why quarrel, when you might live at peace with your neighbour, +was his philosophy. + +At last the important day dawned when the commission was to sit for the +investigation of the Szent-Endre accounts. The district commissioner did +not keep them long waiting. His impartiality was shown by his accepting +an invitation to the prefect's to dinner, and by inviting himself to +Rby's to supper, for he too had been an old flame of Fruzsinka's. + +They assembled for the great work in the Town Hall, and had unearthed +accounts of years' standing--and nice models of book-keeping they were, +full of erasures and corrections, just where the most important entries +could be expected. Under such circumstances, the commissioner divided +the work up, so that each one might do his share of it without being +overlooked by the others. Rby could have burst with indignation when he +regarded the commission's irregularities as to procedure. + +With the most unblushing impudence, all sorts of frauds, corruptions, +and tyrannical methods were simply ignored in the investigation. + +"Fiddlesticks!" exclaimed the commissioner to the protesting Rby, "that +happens everywhere." + +And finally, when the worshipful commission of burghers who understood +about as much of finance as a hen does of the alphabet, summed up the +results of the revision, they gave out, that in spite of all efforts to +make them balance, there was a deficit amounting to eighty-six thousand +gulden, for which it was impossible to account. + +"Fiddlesticks," cried the commissioner again, "let's go on!" + +"No, no, we cannot possibly pass that over, and we will not go on," +cried the indignant Rby. "Does not your worship recollect that on +account of just such a deficit, a captain of the guard had, but a while +back, to stand in the pillory with a black board round his neck. Shall +an officer of the imperial body guard be thus punished, and these who +have hidden the gold, go free? These things are no trifles. Will you be +pleased to order that the secret treasure-chest be produced." + +The reference to the captain of the guard was not, it seemed, without +its effect on the commissioner. He struck the table with his long cane +as if to threaten the company, as he spoke. + +"Hear, you people! This business passes all bearing. In the Emperor's +name, I herewith order you to fetch out yon secret treasure-chest, in +which the embezzled money is stored. And if it is not here by two +o'clock this afternoon, at which hour we have to be ready with our +report, I shall have you all clapped into the Dark Tower. So look you to +it! Now we'll go to dinner!" + +Rby did not appear at the prefect's banquet; he never allowed his wife +to have her meals alone. It seemed a long while till two o'clock, the +hour named for the continuation of the investigation, when they promised +to let him know. And he remembered the question of the timber had not +been touched on. This must be worked in somehow. + +At last it was time to go to the Town Hall. The councillors sat round +the long table waiting for him. + +"Now, you gentlemen," ordered the district commissioner, "out with your +secret chest." + +The notary rose obediently from his seat, and went into the adjoining +room, whence he came back with a small iron casket about the size of a +lady's workbox, which he brought and set down on the table. + +"Here, your lordship, is our secret chest, here too is the key; be +pleased to open it for yourself." + +The district commissioner looked in, and found inside the sum of two +gulden and forty-five kreutzers all told. + +"This is our treasure," cried the notary dejectedly. Everyone burst out +laughing, and even Rby himself could not forbear joining in, though it +was no matter for jest. + +When the laugh had subsided, Rby was the first to speak: "Now then, you +gentlemen of the council, that was a pleasant jest, but permit me to +remind you that it was a question not of this cash-box, but of the great +chest, the secret way to which only the notary knows how to find." + +"I know of a secret way?" exclaimed the notary. "Who dares say that of +me? I beg the commission to search the Town Hall thoroughly, to see +whether anyone can discover a secret passage there. If you find one, +well, there is my head, ready to lie on the block!" + +"I know well enough," said Rby, "there is such a place: to brick it up +perhaps is not difficult. But there is another entrance. The Rascian +'pope' knows it, and will be able to show us where the entrance to this +stolen treasure is. I would suggest that he be cited." + +To this the district commissioner had an objection. + +"The Rascian 'pope' is an ecclesiastic, so cannot be summoned before a +secular tribunal. He is under the immediate jurisdiction of the +Patriarch of Carlovitz. The Patriarch will not understand the procedure +of the Hungarian commissioners, but is only responsible to the Croatian +and Slavonic tribunals. The Szent-Endre municipality can address a +memorial to the Archbishop of Carlovitz to cite the Greek pastor of +Szent-Endre at their tribunal, if he does not mind giving the +information." + +So this was settled. + +Rby looked at the clock. + +"We had other circumstances to consider. There is still the question of +the timber. My indictment charges the municipality with aiding and +abetting great devastation in the woods. Whilst the poor are not allowed +to pick even dry brushwood in winter, and the sick in the hospital are +dying of cold, the overseers are allowed to sell timber, and to give +away hundreds of stacks as bribes. This cannot be gainsaid. There are +the felled trees to witness to it." + +"What do you mean, Mr. Rby? That is all very well, but it may, or may +not be true. You just let us manage our own affairs," said the notary. + +The district commissioner here remarked that the thing must be looked +into, and if proven, this alone would be cause enough to bar all those +concerned from holding office. He thereupon ordered a carriage should +come round directly, so that they could examine the wood while it was +yet daylight. + +Whilst they were waiting to start, suddenly a man rushed in white with +terror. + +"For Heaven's sake, come quickly, gentlemen, the wood is on fire!" + +All sprang up from the table, for sure enough the wood was on fire. In +vain did Rby try to appease them, the conflagration could only have +just broken out, and it would be easy in the damp winter weather to +master it. No one listened to him; it was all up with the commission and +its enquiry. + +All made for the street, shouting "Fire!" and clamouring for ladders and +buckets to extinguish the flames. At last they produced the only +watering-cart the city possessed, but a hind wheel was off, and how to +get it along no one knew. Helpless confusion reigned. Crowds of +distracted citizens ran up and down the streets; the men shouted, the +women screamed. Amid the barking of the dogs, the cackling of hens, and +the ringing of bells, the townspeople tore hither and thither as if +possessed, while the dragoons galloped about trying to keep order. + +"Come along, my dear fellow," said the district commissioner to Rby. +"Let's go to your poor wife, she will be distracted with fear and +anxiety: it's time you consoled her." + +And really it was the wisest thing Rby could do. + +And sure enough, there was Fruzsinka awaiting them at the gate, and it +was touching to see how she fell on Rby's neck, sobbing her heart out, +for she had feared some harm had come to him. Nor did she recover +herself, but the whole evening trembled every time the alarm bell rang, +and was inattentive to their distinguished guest's choicest anecdotes +which he told for their benefit during supper. + +Before he left, the news came that the wood was quite destroyed by the +fire. + +"It is all your fault," he cried to Rby. "Had you never raised that +unlucky question about the timber, no one would have thought of setting +fire to the wood, and this enormous damage might have been avoided." + +Only the presence of his wife prevented Rby coming to blows with the +district commissioner. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +Rby had said nothing to Fruzsinka of what had happened at the +commission. But when the guest had gone, he brought out his travelling +bag and began to pack up as if for a journey. + +"Is it possible you are going on a journey?" asked Fruzsinka +reproachfully, "without telling me? Don't you know that the wife packs +for her husband?" + +Rby did not want his wife to guess whither he was bound. So he made her +believe he was only going as far as Tyrnau to take the official +depositions regarding the Szent-Endre affair; though since the +commission had reduced the whole business to such a farce, how to +produce his proofs and, as prosecutor, lay the matter before them at +head-quarters, he hardly knew himself. So he told her he could not take +her with him, because he would have to travel by diligence or in a +peasant's cart, and such a jaunt would be too trying in winter for a +delicate woman. + +"Now if I were you, I would not go to Tyrnau; I would rather go straight +to Vienna, and tell the Emperor himself what roguery is going forward +here." + +Rby was astounded. This was precisely what he had intended to do, and +the journey to Tyrnau had only been a pretext. + +"I would lay the whole plot before him," went on Fruzsinka, "and would +say, 'Sire, send a man in my place who may bring these conspirators to +book, and make an end to their intrigues.'" + +Rby began to understand. Then he said aloud: "But I don't know of any +man who would take on such an unthankful business." + +"Is it possible that you mean then to go on with the struggle?" asked +Fruzsinka plaintively. "Dearest, I beseech you, think of our position. +We are living among enemies. Those who were not ashamed to set fire to +the wood, to wipe out the proof of their guilt, will not shrink from +burning our own house over our heads. I tremble each time you go out, +and have no peace till I see you again. Every night I dream they have +murdered you. O Rby, the very thought of living among these people +makes me shudder, there are surely no other such vindictive folk on the +face of the earth. Come away from this place. Let us go to Vienna! There +your career is made. Leave this thankless, malevolent people to their +fate!" + +Mathias Rby's heart grew suddenly heavy, and a dark misgiving gripped +him in its clutches. + +"You would be the first to despise me," he exclaimed, "were I to be +weakened by your words, and quit my post to fly to another country." + +"Do you mean then to continue the struggle?" + +"It is no question of struggle, but rather of right and wrong and just +punishment," he answered gloomily. + +"Ah, well! I suppose it is only womanly weakness that gets the best of +me. Yet I, too, have thought out the whole affair. You mean that the +embezzlements which you have brought to light shall be avenged?" + +"Yes, that is what I do mean!" + +"Now, has it ever occurred to you that if anyone investigates this +affair, at least a part of the odium which it incurs, may fall on your +wife?" + +"How can that be, Fruzsinka?" + +"You remember that absurd housekeeping account, don't you?" + +"Yes, indeed, the one we all laughed at so heartily. But how would your +name be mentioned in connection with such a business? The items were set +down by the head cook, and the prefect settled the account." + +"But everyone knows that it was to my advantage. Now suppose I was +confronted with the prefect and the cook, in the case of a formal +inquiry? Would not it be a disgrace for you?" + +"And pray would it not be a disgrace," returned Rby, "if your husband +had to make this confession to the Emperor who sent him: 'Sire, I am no +better than all the others you have sent to right your subjects' wrongs, +and here I have come back to tell you that everywhere in this world +roguery reigns triumphant.' And if he answered me never a word but just +looked at me with those keen eyes of his, what shame should I not feel? +You shrink at being confronted with the prefect, because the least +morsel of the pitch which sticks to him may perchance darken the tip of +your little finger, but you do not blush that I may stand before the +Emperor and say: 'Sire, here is my wife, with whose paint I have daubed +the prefect white.'" + +Frau Fruzsinka at this changed her point of attack. + +"Remember," she urged, "that if we fly in the face of my uncle, we risk +losing a considerable property." + +Now it was Rby's turn. + +"You fear the prospect of losing the property, but I tremble at the +chance of your possessing it." + +"I do not understand," faltered his wife. + +"I quite believe you," returned Rby bitterly. + +Fruzsinka dared not pursue this tack further, it was time to try +another. She threw herself on her husband's neck, and gazed with those +wonderful eyes of hers straight into his. + +"Rby, did we swear that we would make the people, or ourselves happy, +which was it, dear?" + +At those words, and that glance, Rby's heart softened. + +What can one advance to those most unanswerable of arguments? + +Who will blame Mathias Rby if he weakly gave way then, as many a strong +man had done before him, and threw his half-packed bag into a corner. + +And as the temptress had gone so far, now she proceeded still further: + +"Now I'll unpack for you," she cried merrily. + +Thereupon, she took the hunting-pouch from the wall and carefully filled +it with savoury spiced meat and flaky white bread; then she deftly +replenished the flask with wine, and cried: "Now go and enjoy yourself! +Don't stay mewed up in the house. You are bothered; well, go and get +some sport, and let the fresh air blow the cobwebs away." + +And so saying, she helped him on with his shooting coat, and handed him +his gun, and so it fell out that Rby hung up his sword and knapsack, +and went neither to Tyrnau nor to Vienna, but just into the copse to try +and shoot hares. He heard behind him, as he left the house, the merry +song his wife was warbling to herself. + +As he sauntered along the street, it occurred to him that up till now he +had not met one of his former acquaintances in the town, nor seen a +single one of his old schoolmates. + +But just then, he ran on to a townsman, whose wasted bent frame and +dejected air did not prevent Rby from recognising him as one of his old +contemporaries. The man wore a leathern apron, and carried carpenters' +tools. He returned Rby's greeting politely and was about to shuffle +past him. But the latter stopped him. + +"Dacs Marczi! Is it possible? Are you really Marczi? And won't you just +wait that we may have a word together; it is so long since we have +met." + +And he seized the limp hand of the stranger and held it fast. + +"Oh, I am indeed glad to see your worship again," returned his new-found +friend. + +"Never mind 'my worship,' you can leave him out of it," said Rby. +"Didn't we sit beside each other at school, and you would pass me +without a word? Tell me how things are going with you?" + +The man looked round to left and right, and in his eyes there lurked a +nameless fear. + +"Well, as far as that goes," he began, "but don't let us talk here, it +is not wise to discuss these things in the street." + +Rby dropped his hand. "Ah, you are afraid suspicion may rest on you if +you are seen talking to me!" + +"It is not that. But I fear, on the contrary, that it might be +unpleasant for you, if you were seen talking to a mere carpenter. I am +just going to look after my mates in the lower town who are putting new +joists to the burned houses. May Heaven bless your efforts to help the +poor people!" added the man in a lower voice. + +"Good, I'll go with you," said Rby, "it's all the same to me which way +I take." + +"But don't let yourself be drawn into talk with them. They are always +ready to complain, and there are always people ready to repeat all that +is said." + +So they walked together down the street--the dapper sportsman, and the +working-man in his leather apron. + +Rby well remembered the houses they passed, and their owners, and asked +after the latter. + +"Yes, they all live there still, but the houses no longer belong to +them. The magistrate has bought one, the notary another, and Peter +Paprika a third. The original owners are only there as tenants, and now +they have put an execution in the houses." + +"And wherefore?" + +"For what was owing for tithes." + +"And is old Sajts still there, who used to be so good to us boys when +we came home from school?" + +"Yes, indeed, you may see her any Sunday at the church door begging." + +"Sajts begging? Why she was quite a well-to-do woman. What has happened +to her?" + +"Oh, the old story, 'bad times.' There are many more who have come to +beggary in the same way. Just go any Sunday morning past the door of the +Catholic church, where the beggars congregate, and you will see plenty +of your old acquaintances," said Marczi sorrowfully. + +"But what has brought them to it?" + +And Marczi told him many a sad record of oppression and misery that +wrung Rby's heart as he listened. + +But now they had arrived at the lower town, where the ruins of the forty +houses burned out in the great fire still stood. The streets hereabouts +were nearly a morass and all but impassable. + +The men who were commencing to put the roofs on, greeted Rby timidly, +as if half afraid, and they quickly drove indoors the women who stood +furtively about in the surrounding courts. Rby's questions they only +answered with the greatest caution, fencing with his enquiries as to why +the work of restoration had been so long delayed. Marczi drew him away. + +"They will never tell you where the shoe pinches," he said, "whatever +bait you offer; they know too well what the end for them would be. You +would listen to their grievance and then retail it to the Emperor. He +would send to the town council to know why his subjects' wrongs were not +redressed? Thereupon the complainants would be arrested, get twenty +strokes with the lash, and the Kaiser would be told the grievances of +his subjects were amended. Oh, our people know better than to complain! +At no price would they confess why their houses are yet unfinished, or +how much of the compensation is still owing." + +"Surely their wrongs cry aloud to Heaven," said Rby indignantly. "I +only wish I could get documentary evidence of it!" + +"Well, they won't give it to you, but if you really wish it, I could get +you many such testimonies by to-morrow, and bring them to your house." + +"And are you not afraid of the authorities being angry with you?" + +"I? What does their anger matter to me, I don't need them, but they +can't do without me. I've got them too much in my power. Listen, for you +are an honest man, to no other would I venture to say it. One day they +summoned me to bring my masons' tools to the Town Hall. No sooner had I +arrived, than they bid me go to the secret passage with the notary, +which only he and I know of; the aperture was made during the Turkish +rule, and except the notary and the Rascian 'pope,' no one knows the +whereabouts. I had to wall up the opening." + +"So you know the entrance to the room which contains the secret +treasure?" + +"Yes, indeed, I know it; I have so managed it that no one save the +notary shall ever be able to find it again." + +"And would you be willing to take me to it?" Rby ventured to ask. + +"No, for they have bound me by a terrible oath never, except at the +bidding of the notary, to break open the walled-up passage. What I have +sworn, I hold sacred, but this much will I say, that you can still +manage to get there." + +"Through the 'pope' who knows the other entrance, eh?" + +"Mark well, not through the first. It is as much as his life is worth to +betray that secret. But there is another way yet. If you can gain the +ear of the Emperor, persuade him to order the election of new +representatives in the council, then there would be neither the judge, +nor the notary, nor any at present in office to reckon with. If we get a +new notary, I could show him the secret passage without any difficulty, +since my oath compels me only to 'open it at the notary's bidding.'" + +"That is a good idea, Marczi, I will try and follow it out." + +"You too care for the rights of our poor oppressed folk. May the good +God reward you! But I will tell you where our greatest danger lies; it +is in the surveying of the land that the Emperor has ordered. The whole +work the surveyor performs is a sham. The best fields under his survey +become ownerless, and the municipality takes possession of them. The +common folk have to be satisfied with sterile, marshy waste land, and +the peasants have to sell their last cow, because they have no pasture +for it. Come with me a little way, and I will show you." + +So Rby sauntered the livelong day with his old school-fellow through +the fields, and saw much. If the new surveying measures were taken, +four-fifths of the peasants' property was ruined, the remaining fifth +was devoured by their oppressors, and the owner became houseless and a +serf. + +Towards evening, Rby turned homewards with an empty game-bag and a +heavy heart. + +His mood surely had not escaped Fruzsinka, for she welcomed him with +more than ordinary tenderness. She had prepared for his supper some of +his favourite dumplings, but somehow even these delicacies failed to +satisfy him, and he only wanted to go to bed. + +The next morning, Marczi was there quite early. He brought what he had +promised, a whole hoard of documents. Rby took them into his study, and +was the whole day long deciphering them. + + * * * * * + +Marczi, meantime, went about his own business. + +As he came out towards the market-place, at the end of the long street, +he heard the tones of a bagpipe, and the strains of a violin fell on his +ear. But when he came up with the music, he saw what was going forward. +The recruiting officers were coming down the street. + +So the Emperor wanted soldiers, that was evident enough. + +And a right merry affair it was, this recruiting! + +They chose out from among the hussars the finest looking fellow, and he +was sent from town to town with a dozen comrades to enlist recruits. + +They played and sang some such song as this as they went: + + "Merry is the game we play, + See, our uniforms so gay, + And the ensign that we bear, + 'Twas our sweethearts placed it there!" + +They each carried a bottle of good wine in their hands, and every +citizen they met was promptly treated to a cup, till he noticed that +they wore the hussar uniform. But no human power, once he had tasted the +wine, could then free him, and he belonged thenceforth to the recruiting +sergeants. + +The recruiters reaped the best harvest in the market-place, where they +led a riotous dance. It was a regular Magyar measure, a wild, capricious +"Csardas," with a dash in it of defiant pride, every movement and +gesture suggesting reckless abandon. The clapping of hands, the clinking +of spurs, the stamping of feet, all helped towards it, and when the last +movement came, foot and heel vied with each other, as the tall figures +swayed hither and thither, with the sabre swinging jauntily at their +sides, and the "csk" on their heads. No wonder that with a dozen such +warriors dancing in a row, the women's eyes sparkled as they watched, +and they beckoned to the tallest men in the crowd to come and join in. + +The recruiters had finished their dance, and were coming along the +street where Marczi was walking. + +In front was the recruiting-sergeant, and he seemed in a right merry +mood. Behind him came the piper, taking wild leaps and bounds as he +played an accompaniment to the dancers on his bagpipes; then followed +the rest, strutting along like peacocks, offering the bottle to all they +met. + +Marczi did not look at them; he was in too much of a hurry. But the +recruiting-sergeant stopped him. + +"Halloa, comrade, won't you stop for a word? Anyone would think you had +stolen something by the way you run." + +"I am in a hurry. I have a job I want to finish. You have done your +work, I see?" + +"Don't be a fool, man, we can only live once. Have a drink!" + +"The deuce take your drink. Don't you see that to-day I've carpentering +business on hand. It won't do for me to get giddy when I'm on the +ladder." + +"Well, a gulp of wine wouldn't do you any harm. You don't go any further +till you've had a swallow from my bottle, I tell you." + +"Oh, very well," and Marczi took the proffered drink. + +"Here's to our true friendship, comrade!" said the other as he followed +suit. + +Marczi was turning away, having thus gratified his interlocutor, when +the latter called him back. + +"Marczi, Marczi!" he called, "here's something for you. Here, hold out +your hand!" + +And the recruiting-sergeant pulled out a thaler from his coat-pocket, +and forced it into Marczi's hand, shaking it as he did so. + +This time the carpenter would have gone off in earnest, but the other +called him back in quite a peremptory tone. + +"Dacs Marczi," he shouted, "you must stay, you can't go now. You have +drunk of the soldier's wine, and accepted the press-money, now there is +no drawing back, so off you march with the rest!" + +The carpenter stood dumbfoundered whilst they pressed an hussar's +"csk" on his head. He felt for the handle of his saw in the belt of +his apron. For one instant he had a wild impulse to fall upon the +sergeant; but then he reflected, it was all his own fault. So he +resigned himself to his fate. What had he to regret, indeed, in leaving +this town? There was no one there who would weep for him. So he quietly +took off his apron. + +"If I am to be a soldier, let us see where the wine bottle is. Piper, +play my favourite song, 'A soldier's life for me!'" + + "The Danube waters long shall flow + 'Ere thou again my face shalt know." + +"Now, Mr. Corporal, are you ready? Off we go, and walk and talk till +morning." + +And the newly-made soldier drank with the recruiters to his new +profession. + +On the morrow, the recruiting-sergeant went with the ex-carpenter to his +old home, so that he might arrange his affairs there before leaving. He +had an old aunt to whom he could safely entrust his belongings. Besides, +ten years after all, are not an eternity. They pass before one can look +round. + +The good old soul was busy tying up her nephew's bundle, when a +messenger appeared with an official air, and the order: + +"Dacs Marczi, it is settled at head-quarters that the recruiters are to +stay a week here; during that time you are to stop here and not attempt +to go anywhere else; but you are to put your three horses to, and drive +to-day with relays to Pesth." + +Marczi was inclined to rebel, but it availed nothing. + +The sergeant only laughed. + +"It's no jest, Marczi. They reckon on you for the relays. A gulden for +every horse and each station, besides money for the driver, and for +drinks." + +"But why should I go with relays, when there are plenty of carriage +owners who have nothing better to do than to chatter with jackanapes?" + +"My dear fellow, this is why, so you shall not think we are getting the +best of you. You know that the surveyor has finished his work and is to +leave the town to-day. You know, too, how angry the mob are with him. +They will pelt him with stones. But if they see that you, whom they all +like, are the coachman, they won't do it for fear of hitting you." + +In half an hour from that time, a light carriage, drawn by three good +horses, stood at the gate of the prefect's residence, where the surveyor +was staying. On the box sat Dacs Marczi himself. The orderlies carried +out the surveyor's documents, done up in large bundles, to lay them +under the leather covering of the back seat. The surveyor himself was +well guarded against the cold, having on a seasonable fur coat and warm +overshoes, while the lappets of his fur cap were fastened well under his +chin. + +"Now, Marczi, if you drive well, we'll drink to-day to any amount," he +cried. + +"Ay, that we will," agreed the driver as they dashed off. + + * * * * * + +Mathias Rby was again pressed by his wife to go and get some shooting. +Perhaps he might be more lucky to-day, and bring home a hare. + +His spouse was all affection and anxiety. So he went. + +But the things Rby had heard lately he could not get out of his head. + +Therefore he did not go far into the country, but turned back in the +direction of Pesth. There, he saw a mob of men, women, and children, who +all seemed to be waiting for someone. + +He would not ask for whom, for he knew they would not tell him. + +But hardly had Rby gone a few hundred paces past them, than he noted a +carriage drawn by three horses, coming from the prefecture at a quick +gallop, whereupon the whole crowd of people, till now silent, burst +forth with loud cries, and placed themselves on either side of the road. + +The passenger inside the carriage he did not recognise; neither could he +make out what it was the mob were shouting to him. But their tone was +sufficiently menacing. As the equipage dashed between the rows of +people, the yells became still louder, whilst fists were raised and +sticks were brandished threateningly. The carriage did not stop, but +cleared the mob till it had left it far behind. + +When the carriage reached Rby, he saw the surveyor cowering on the back +seat. Now he gathered what the people's cries had meant. But he did not +understand what it was till the carriage pulled up close to him, and he +recognised in the driver, Dacs Marczi. + +"Your very humble servant," exclaimed the surveyor to Rby. "Did you +hear the infernal row they made? That's the way they receive me +everywhere. If Marczi had not been my coachman, I should have had stones +thrown at my head." + +"Your worship," cried Marczi, in a voice already thick with wine; "is +there still some brandy in the flask?" + +"Yes, Marczi, here you are, drink!" + +The coachman took the bottle and emptied it. + +"Marczi, you will do yourself harm!" objected Rby. + +"Not a bit of it," stammered the driver, whilst he set down the flask, +and with that he whipped up the horses, and off they flew, so that the +wheels scattered the mud on all sides. + +At one spot where the high road nears the Danube, a side-path winds in +the direction of the river towards the ferry. When Marczi's carriage had +reached this point, the coachman turned the horses and urged them with +the whip along the path. Then all at once the carriage dashed from the +steep bank into the river below. + +"Help, help!" yelled the driver, waving his hat; but horses and carriage +were already struggling against the strong tide of the river, now +swollen by its spring flood. + +But no help was forthcoming, and Rby only saw a man muffled up in a fur +coat, struggling desperately to free himself from the sinking carriage, +but the heavy garment dragged him helplessly down. Soon the vehicle with +its passenger began to sink, and at last the horses' heads disappeared +in the stream. Coachman, surveyor, and documents all had gone to the +bottom of the Danube. Nor was any trace of them ever found. + +Mathias Rby stood horror-stricken on the highway, while around him the +wintry wind swept over the stubble fields, and carried it with the sound +as of a howling of many voices that echoed afar off like the laughter of +despair. + + +END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +This catastrophe was destined to affect Rby's mood in a fateful way. +When he went home he told his wife all that had happened, and she +quickly guessed the sequel. + +"Now you will be more intent than ever on pursuing your mad enterprise," +she said. + +"And shall I let myself be shamed into abandoning it by the fate of an +ignorant boor, who, little idea as he had of the higher virtues, was +ready to sacrifice his life in order to save his fellow-citizens from +beggary?" + +"You will drive me to exasperation," cried Fruzsinka. + +"I would rather have your anger than your contempt, dearest." + +"And is our love nothing to you at all?" + +"Better that the whole world hate me for my determination, than to earn +your love through cowardice. I know that your very opposition to my work +is a proof of your love, and therefore, I pray you, my angel, Fruzsinka, +listen to me. If I leave this place, I shut every door to a future +career. It is now or never, I must go to Vienna. If I write and tell +the Emperor that the struggle is of no avail, he will dismiss me at once +from my post." + +But Fruzsinka answered nothing, she only wept. + +That meant of course that Rby ought to have stayed at home, for only a +heart of stone could leave a weeping woman and refuse to comfort her. +But Mathias Rby had just that heart of stone, and he was quite prepared +to leave his wife in tears, so to Vienna he went. For you could travel +there quickly enough, as there was a famous diligence which carried its +passengers in a day to the Austrian capital. + +Moreover, no one except Fruzsinka knew he had gone to Vienna. + +There he showed himself nowhere. He knew that the Emperor was accustomed +to walk every morning in the so-called "meadow garden," where, clad in a +simple short coat and plain hat, he was often taken for one of his own +equerries. There Rby could speak to him, and tell him how matters stood +in Hungary. + +The Kaiser commended what Rby had already done and encouraged him to go +on and prosper. He gave him every aid in his power to help him, +including a special pass, wherein all to whom he showed it, were adjured +to respect the bearer's person. But he advised Rby only to show this +letter in a case of extreme necessity, and begged him not to tell anyone +of the interview he had just had. + +Then Rby hastened homewards, feeling he had ordered his affairs for the +best. + +On the return journey he arranged to reach Pesth in time to attend the +meeting of the County Assembly. + +First, he proceeded to the Assembly House to look out certain documents. + +The first person he met was the pronotary, Trhalmy. + +Trhalmy was more friendly, yet more gruff than ever. He called Rby +into his room, and when they were alone, exclaimed: + +"You come at the right time, my friend, for we have already cited you as +a 'runaway noble,' as the legal phrase has it." + +"Cited me! What in the world for, I should like to know?" + +"Yes, my friend, you are impeached. And guess wherefore! They say you +are Gyngym Miska himself, and actually dare to accuse you of robbing +the Jew Rotheisel three days ago in the Styrian forest." + +Rby hardly knew whether to laugh or to be indignant at such a charge. + +"But surely that is a very poor joke!" he protested. + +"I quite agree that it is. But they have only just brought the +accusation, and you can easily get out of it by proving an _alibi_." + +Rby reddened in spite of himself. + +"But I cannot lower myself so far as to disprove so preposterous an +allegation," he said. "Besides, you have only to call Abraham Rotheisel +to give testimony that it was not I who robbed him. I shall prove no +_alibi_." + +"My dear fellow, I know you won't. Simply, because you won't own up to +where you have been for three days past, and the person who could prove +your _alibi_ could not be called as a witness. I shall not be the judge: +you know that the chief notary only acts as referee of the tribunal in +such cases. You will naturally never confess where you have been these +last three days. But there are people who want to know, and that is the +serious side of the jest." + +"Rotheisel will be quite ready to disprove it; he knows me well enough." + +"I know it. But the testimony of a Jew only counts in our law when he is +sworn." + +"Won't Rotheisel swear?" + +"I am not so sure. The Jew very rarely takes an oath if he can help it. +The Talmud makes it very difficult for him. But you can depend upon it, +Abraham Rotheisel will be as anxious as possible to clear you from such +an absurd accusation, directly he hears of it." + +"He is a good kind of man," said Rby, "and I am certain that he will +swear." + +"I hope he may. But anyhow, it will be decided to-day, as the tribunal +is sitting even now." + +"And shall I have to stand in the dock?" said Rby anxiously. + +"Yes, I am afraid you must. So I advise you to stay here and see the +business through." + +"With your permission I will first write a letter." + +"Pardon me, dear friend, but in this room you may neither write nor +despatch a letter." + +"Am I then a prisoner already?" + +"Not exactly, but you are accused, so that I cannot officially be a +party to any correspondence you carry on. Meanwhile, I would suggest you +just go upstairs to my own private rooms, where you will find my +daughter who will give you pen, ink, and paper, wherewith to write; +moreover, she will gladly carry it to the post herself. Then, seeing +that the business will be prolonged till evening, you will, I hope, +share our homely dinner with us." + +A blow in the face could hardly have hurt Rby more than this kindly +proposal. For would it not mean meeting Mariska again? + +But Rby had a ready excuse for not accepting Trhalmy's hospitable +offer. + +"I am grateful indeed for your kind invitation, but I am being strictly +dieted just now for a nervous complaint, and hardly dare eat anything +but dry bread." + +"Nervous complaint, eh? Why, what does that mean?" + +"Well, for one thing, I cannot sleep at night." + +Trhalmy was just going to give him some good advice, when the tension +was broken by the entry of a heyduke coming to announce the arrival of +the Jew, who had to be carried in a litter to the court, as he was still +weak from the wounds he had received, and could not stand. + +At the announcement that Abraham was ready to give his testimony on +oath, the tribunal formally cited the defendant to appear before them. + +Rby recognised a good many of his acquaintances sitting round the +table. The tribunal was presided over by Mr. von Lasky, whose usually +merry mood had become serious for awhile. He asked the parties +implicated their creed and calling, and all the customary questions. + +Then a young man, in whom Rby recognised an old school-fellow, rose, +and read out the formal indictment in which Mr. Mathias Rby of Rba and +Mura, gentleman, and an inhabitant of Szent-Endre, was accused of +disguising himself as a highwayman named Gyngym Miska, and of robbing +peaceable travellers. How on a particular day he had waylaid the Jew, +Abraham Rothesel _alias_ Rotheisel, in the Styrian wood, had stunned him +with a blow on the head, and had stolen from him the sum of five +thousand gulden. The proof whereof being that whilst the said Mathias +Rby was in the neighbourhood without anyone knowing his exact +whereabouts, the depredations of the redoubtable robber had been going +on. Moreover, it was known to all, that, though Mathias Rby had +inherited no great wealth from his parents, he had, nevertheless, +scattered money lavishly on all sides--which fact greatly strengthened +suspicion against him. But the most convincing testimony of all would be +furnished by the Jew's own driver, who would swear to the identity of +the accused with Gyngym Miska. The prosecutors now asked for the +witnesses to be sworn, and demanded that the said Mathias Rby, if +convicted, might be hanged, or if his rank forbade that, beheaded. + +The reading of this impeachment was received by all present with the +seriousness befitting the situation. The president then turned to Rby. + +"Will the accused deny this impeachment by proving an _alibi_?" + +"I abstain from making such a defence," answered Rby, "and only ask to +be confronted with my accuser." + +The first witness for the prosecution stepped forward in the person of +the coachman, whose appearance betokened him to be a rogue of the first +water, and obviously ready to swear to anything, provided he were well +paid for it. + +According to the customary formula, he was questioned as to his +antecedents, and owned up unconcernedly to having himself been nine +times in prison. + +When asked if he recognised in Rby the robber who had waylaid the Jew +Rotheisel, he answered promptly: + +"Recognise him again, I should just think so! There can be no question +of their not being one and the same. Only then he happened to be wearing +a black wig, and a curly moustache, with a peasant's cloak over his +shoulder. But I knew it was Mr. Rby directly I heard his voice." + +Rby, addressing the court, now spoke in Latin, knowing that the +peasants were ignorant of that language, + +"I protest against the evidence of this witness; I know him for the +coachman who drove the official who came to bribe me. This witness +therefore is not impartial." + +The prosecutor replied that this could not be proven, but Rby +interrupted him whilst he turned to the witness and said to him in +Magyar, + +"Pray how could you have recognised my voice since I have never spoken +to you in all my life?" + +"Ay, does not the worshipful gentleman remember that I drove Mr. Paprika +into his courtyard in the new coach and four. The gentleman talked so +loudly then, that the deafest man must have heard him." + +And thereby the case against Rby fell to the ground. + +It must in fairness be admitted that on this, as on later occasions, +many upright and honourable men sat in the jury who were quite ready to +take Rby's part, though they were in a minority. One such here +protested against such a witness being heard on oath, and the coachman +was consequently discharged. + +Now, however, old Abraham, supported by his two sons, entered the room, +his head still bound up on account of his wound, his legs trembling +visibly under him. + +"Abraham Rotheisel," said the president, "tell us plainly, how was the +attack on you made?" + +"I tell nothing of the kind," retorted the Jew. "I have not come here to +lay a complaint. Gyngym Miska is not here. You have summoned me +simply to bear witness that it was not Mr. Rby who robbed me, and that +I willingly do." + +"Think of what you are doing, Abraham! It was dark, you could not see +your assailant's face, remember." + +"Ay, if it had been but Egyptian darkness, and if I had been as blind as +Tobit, nay, if the highwayman and Mr. Rby had been as like to one +another as two peas, yet I will swear it was not Mathias Rby, whom I +have known from his childhood, ever since he was a baby. Moreover, +neither his face nor figure resembled in the least those of the man who +robbed me." + +Here the Jew was questioned as to his assailant's appearance, but +persisted that in no wise did the robber resemble Rby. The "worshipful +gentleman" who robbed him was, he said, very different looking. + +"Why do you call him a 'worshipful gentleman,'" asked the president. + +"How do I know he might not have been one? I have seen highwaymen and +gentlemen very much alike indeed," answered the Jew, "and in time may +see still more. But I keep my convictions to myself." + +Rby's counsel here observed that one witness contradicted another, and +thus tended to invalidate the evidence. + +"Naturally," returned Lasky, "only kindly remember that according to +our laws, the testimony of a Jew against that of a Christian can only be +accepted on oath." + +At the sound of the word "oath," Abraham's two sons began to tear their +garments, and throwing themselves at the feet of the magistrate, they +implored him not to allow their father to be sworn, as it was contrary +to the Talmud. + +"I fear I cannot help you in this matter," answered Lasky. "I must +carry out the law regarding Jews witnessing against Christians. If you +would free your father from the need of swearing, you must ask Mr. Rby; +one word from him obviates the necessity of an oath. He has only to +prove an _alibi_, and the case is immediately dismissed." + +Whereupon the two young Jews dashed across to Rby, fell on their knees +before him, and begged and implored him with might and main, to set up +this _alibi_--it was only a matter of speaking one word. + +But old Abraham flew into a mighty rage. + +"Get up both of you, and be off directly, and leave a brave man in +peace. Who called you to come hither, running after me as the foals +after the mare? Hold your miserable cackle, and away with you! Be kind +enough, Mr. heyduke, to turn these two noisy fellows out of the court. +Go home at once, you boys, I don't need your support, or your teaching +in this matter. And I beg pardon, gentlemen, for the behaviour of these +two good-for-nothings. Now I am ready to be sworn." + +So after the two young Jews had been turned out, Abraham was sworn, +though he took the oath in Hebrew, so that none present could follow +the formula. + +When it was over, Abraham prepared to leave the court, for Mathias Rby +was free. This time at least had he escaped the dungeon his enemies had +prepared for him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Rby could hardly bear the delay in getting home. When the open verdict +was pronounced, a coach was already at the door of the Assembly House, +to bear him on his way: he threw himself into it, while the sparks flew +under the swift hoofs of his horses. + +Szent-Endre was not, after all, the other side of the world, but the +distance seemed endless. On the way, he racked his brains as to how he +would find Fruzsinka. Yet he could not have possibly dreamed of what his +actual home-coming would be. + +As he sprang from the vehicle, to knock at his house-door, he found the +summons of the court nailed under the knocker, with all the +misdemeanours and crimes whereof he had been falsely accused before the +tribunal, set forth at length. As is well known, these kind of summonses +were fixed to the house-door, were there no means of presenting them to +the person cited. + +Rage drove every other thought from Rby's mind when he found this +disgraceful document fluttering over his door. He tore it down +indignantly, and beat with hand and foot at the entrance to gain +admission. + +Poor Bske, the maid-servant, at last opened it, looking white and +frightened. "Why had they allowed this thing to be fastened to the +door," he inquired angrily. + +"I humbly beg pardon," stammered the girl, "the gentleman who brought it +nailed it there with a hammer, and said if I tore it down I should be +hanged." + +"Why did your mistress not do it?" + +"The gracious lady-mistress?" + +"Yes, my wife, where is she then?" + +"Ah, my dear kind master, how shall I tell you? Please don't kill me for +it! The gracious lady-mistress has left home." + +"Stuff and nonsense! She has only probably gone to pay a visit." + +"Ah, no indeed, she has not done that, she has, oh how shall I say it, +run away. The very day the gracious master went, the lady-mistress wrote +a letter and gave it to the gipsy Csicsa to carry. She did not wait for +an answer, but packed up, called a coach, loaded it with her luggage, +and drove off without saying a word about the dinner." + +"Perhaps she has gone to her uncle's at the prefecture?" + +"No, indeed, she went in the other direction; I watched her from the +street-door down the road, as far as I could see." + +Rby went into the parlour. The girl had spoken the truth, that was +evident. All the chests stood open; Fruzsinka had packed up all her own +belongings when she went; she had not even left a single souvenir +behind. + +Rby was completely nonplussed; it was indeed a horrible situation for a +man who hastens home on the wings of love to find his house destitute of +all that made it home for him. He could think of nothing better than to +seek out his uncle, the old postmaster, from whom, since his marriage, +he had been somewhat estranged. + +Rby entered the old man's room without speaking a word, where he sat +down and stretched out his legs in gloomy silence. He shrewdly suspected +that his host knew what had happened, and why he was there. How should +he not, considering everyone in Szent-Endre knew by this time. The old +gentleman shrugged first one, and then the other shoulder expressively, +whilst he coughed and cleared his throat in visible embarrassment. + +"H'm, h'm!" he said, significantly, "these fashionable ladies have not +much feeling. Besides, you can never take them seriously. Therefore you +must not let the grass grow under your feet." + +"If I did but know where she has gone to?" sighed Rby. + +"Now just wait! I fancy I can help you to find out. For two days past a +letter has been lying here addressed to your wife. There--take it and +read it." And he handed Rby a sealed missive. + +"I, how can I open a letter which is directed to my wife?" he asked +anxiously. + +"Yes, indeed, why not? Are not man and wife according to the Hungarian +law one flesh? A letter addressed for the one can legally be opened by +the other, and I would do it, if I incurred the galleys for it, my +friend, if I were in your place. Just read it, and I will be the +guarantee that I delivered it into your hands." + +Rby opened the note with trembling fingers. + +It was in the handwriting of the judge, Petray, and though short, was +quite intelligible. + + "My darling Fruzsinka, + + "From your own letter I see that you find it + impossible to put up with your tyrant any longer. I + thought as much long since. You do quite right in + leaving him, and the sooner you get away from him the + better; the man will come to no good. My house, as you + know, will ever be a safe asylum for you. I await you + with open arms. + + "Your devoted friend, + + "PETRAY." + +Rby's eyes were no longer glazed and staring as heretofore; they shot +sparks now. + +"Read it, my friend," he said, as he handed it to Mr. Lenyfalvy. + +"Well, at any rate, now you know where you are." + +"Know it, indeed I do," answered Rby, as he grimly folded up the note, +and placed it in his coat pocket. + +"And pray what do you mean to do?" + +"First, I would have a four-horse coach." + +"You shall have it sure enough. And then----?" + +"Then I'll go home and fetch my pistols and sword; look for a second, +and then--either he or I are dead men." + +"That's it! It's the only way. Only see to it that you think it out +accurately. Suppose your opponent wants to fight with swords? Perhaps +he's an out-and-out swordsman." + +"What does that matter? The sword will satisfy equally the duelling +regulations, and will merely prove which of us can fence the better." + +"Good! But take this much warning. The judge is a very cunning man; you +will have to be on your guard. Be careful not to be the first to draw +the sword, else he'll be hanging round your neck an attainder in +pursuance of an antiquated law which rules that 'he who first draws the +sword shall be held to incur blood-guiltiness.'" + +"Many thanks, I'll remember your good advice." + +"Ah! if you had always done so! Yet I am right glad that you don't look +askance at me any longer. You are another man since you made up your +mind to fight! How a wife demoralises a man to be sure! There is nothing +wanting now, except a sword and a pair of pistols. You need not go home +for those. I have a rare old blade which was used at the storming of +Buda, and will cut through iron itself; it is worth a good deal more +than your parade-sword. And here are my pistols, each is loaded with +three bullets; if you understand what shooting straight means, you can +kill three enemies at once. So good luck, my young friend, I am glad +you are going." + +The old gentleman embraced his nephew as if he were going to face the +enemy, and had his best horses put in for him, and they brought Rby to +the judge's house in less than an hour. + +The uninvited guest just caught the judge going out. + +"Come back with me to the house," said his visitor, "I want to have a +word with you." + +Petray guessed from the speaker's tone that it was on no friendly +business that he had come, though he affected not to perceive it, and +treated Rby with his accustomed familiarity. + +When they had come into Petray's parlour, Rby drew the letter out of +his pocket and held it before his host's face. + +"Do you recognise this writing?" + +Petray drew himself up. + +"What presumption is this, pray? To open a letter directed to someone +else, it is unheard of!" + +"It is perfectly legal," said Rby. "Your protest is useless. In the +eyes of the law, a letter written to my wife is a letter written to me." + +"It is, I say, a great piece of presumption, to attack a man like this +in his own house." + +"You need not make such a noise! You may see I carry pistols in my +belt." Then adopting a more familiar tone, Rby added, "It comes to +this, either you take one of these two pistols, and we fire according to +the prescribed rules, or if you refuse me the satisfaction of a man of +honour, I shoot you dead without further ado, as I would a wolf who +attacks me on the highway." + +The cowardly bully grew pale with fear. To look at him, you would have +deemed him a powerful foe to be reckoned with, but he was a very coward +at heart, like the braggart that he was. + +"All right, I'm not afraid of you, or of anybody else, for that matter. +But all this is idle talk! A gentleman does not fight with pistols. That +kind of duel exacts no skill. A schoolboy can fire off a pistol. I only +fight with swords; so with my sword I am at your service to have it out +in proper fashion. Out with yours, and we'll see who is the best man of +the two." + +"Very well, with swords, so be it," said Rby quietly, replacing his +pistols again in his belt. + +"And now you had better make your will, for you don't leave this place +alive." + +"That our weapons will decide. I have nothing further to say," answered +Rby. + +"So, you will venture to draw your sword on me, will you, you silly +fellow?" + +"With you, or after you. I would not have it said that I drew my sword +on an unarmed man," answered his antagonist. + +"Don't provoke me, Rby! I tell you we will have it out here." + +"Well, draw then!" + +Petray thus urged, endeavoured to draw his sword in earnest from his +belt, but that otherwise excellent weapon had never been used since the +last Prussian war, and stuck so fast in its sheath that the most +powerful tugs quite failed to move it. + +Come out it would not. Mr. Petray pulled and tugged to no avail; the +blade would not yield an inch. + +"Good heavens," cried Rby impatiently, "hand it over to me, I will make +it come out." + +And hereupon the two opponents pulled away with might and main at the +refractory weapon; Rby seizing the sheath, and Petray the handle, +indulged in a very tug-of-war, but to no purpose; the sword stuck where +it was, and did not budge, while the two adversaries were bathed in +perspiration with their unavailing efforts. + +Had anyone ever seen such an absurd struggle? + +Petray was foaming with rage. + +"Deuce take the thing! If you want to come to grips, let's fight it out +with our fists! There I can be sure of my resources. I'll smash you up, +I promise you, so there won't be anything left of you." + +"All right," retorted Rby, and lifting up the sleeve of his dolman, he +put himself into a boxer's attitude, and struck Petray two ringing blows +with his bare muscular arm, that sent his opponent fairly reeling from +sheer astonishment. + +Now the judge set great store by his appearance. He therefore reflected +that by such methods as these, his enraged antagonist might end in +breaking his nose, or knocking out his teeth, and these were both +contingencies to be avoided. + +"Ah, leave me in peace," he cried piteously. "I am no boxer, I am a +judge, a man of the law. If you have anything to bring against me, let +it be at the tribunal, I'll meet you there fast enough. But I will +neither fence, nor shoot, nor box on your wife's account. If you think I +am the first whom your wife has fooled, I am not, by a long way. If you +want to fight, look up Captain Lievenkopp--he lives out yonder at +Zsmbk. You have a bigger score to settle with him than with me, if you +did but know it. He's ready for either swords or pistols. As judge, it's +my duty to hinder a fight, not to promote it by myself taking part in +one. Go to the tribunal, and I'll give you satisfaction there fast +enough." + +He spoke rapidly, but Rby did not wait to hear the end. He clapped his +hat on, and jumped into his coach, and cried to the driver to drive to +Zsmbk. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Rby only reached Zsmbk the next morning. The dragoon-captain's house +he found without any difficulty, for it stood close to the post-station. + +There were two other officers with the captain, and three horses stood +ready saddled in the courtyard. They were evidently on the point of +starting for some expedition, though there was no sign of soldiers going +with them. + +"Aha, who is this?" cried Lievenkopp as Rby entered. "Why, bless me, +it's Mathias Rby!" + +"Yes, indeed, captain. Perhaps you can guess my errand here?" + +"Truly, I cannot do any such thing." + +"Well, my wife has run away from me." + +"The deuce she has! What already? I did not think she would have gone +quite so soon." + +"I went first of all to Judge Petray to demand satisfaction of him. He +would not give it me, but referred me to you." + +"That was very kind of him." + +"Now you know why I come." + +"I know it, comrade, you want to fight me, sure enough? Very good; just +choose one of these gentlemen as your second, and we will decide with +him on the weapons. Only one thing delays our immediate meeting, and +that is, I have to fight Gyngym Miska." + +Rby was electrified as he heard the name. + +"Can't you leave him till later? You will never succeed in catching +him." + +"Aha, I've got him this time though; I am going at this very hour to +fight a duel with him." + +"Do you know who this Gyngym Miska really is?" asked Rby. + +"Why he lives at Szent-Torony, two hours' journey from here, where he +owns an estate, and is called Karcsatji Miska. He is the notorious +robber, and no other. This is why he is never to be caught red-handed. +When he is everywhere driven into a corner, he goes quietly back home, +throws off the highwayman's gear, and whoever seeks him there, finds +instead of the fierce robber with lank locks and drooping moustaches, a +harmless country gentleman, with his powdered hair done in a neat cue, +whom twelve witnesses can swear to not having left home for weeks. No +one will ever succeed in convicting him. But this once I've caught my +gentleman nicely. Listen to how I did it. This very day when we had +planned our attack upon the band of Gyngym Miska, we observed a +suspicious-looking fellow trying to get in between our railings. We +arrested him, searched him, and found sewn into the sole of his sandal, +this letter to Mr. Michael Karcsatji. You probably will know the +handwriting." + +Rby recognised the writing of his wife. + +"Yes, you can read it, you will understand it better than we do." + +The letter ran thus: + + "Dear Miska,--Don't have any scruples about the affair + in the Styrian wood. The whole suspicion falls on + someone who will not be able to prove an _alibi_. + Thine own one." + +Rby's arms fell helplessly at his side. It was as if he had suddenly +been stung by a cobra. + +His own wife was the traitor who had betrayed him to his enemies! A +dagger-thrust in the dark does not hurt one so much as such a discovery. + +Rby distrusted his senses; he would not, could not believe it; he +thought he must be dreaming. + +"Sit down, comrade," said the captain. "You are a bit upset, and small +wonder too. The bolt didn't strike me quite so nearly, yet I too was +fairly staggered when I read the letter. Then I called up my two +comrades here, and sent my challenge over to Szent-Torony, where Mr. +Michael von Karcsatji was in the courtyard, engaged in marking his +newly born lambs. In such a harmless fashion is he wont to spend his +leisure! My second presented him with my message: 'This letter which we +have intercepted proves that you have an intrigue with a lady to whom +Captain Lievenkopp is also paying court. Captain Lievenkopp will not +tolerate this sort of thing, and calls upon you to meet him to-morrow at +nine o'clock, by the ruined church of Zsmbk, to settle the matter +there in proper fashion.' + +"The highwayman did not deny that between us there lay ground for +quarrel, and he would be at the rendezvous at the time appointed. It is +now eight o'clock. We can get to the ruins in half an hour, and there +await my opponent. You, my friend, can remain here in my lodgings for an +hour longer, and follow on after us. From nine to ten I am at Mr. +Karcsatji's service. As soon as I have finished with him, we two will +fire at each other till only one of us remains to tell the tale. But if +the highwayman kill me, then you and Karcsatji will fight till one or +the other is a dead man. Is that in order?" + +"Perfectly," cried the seconds; "it could not be better arranged!" + +Rby had nothing against this settlement. When the captain had gone he +stretched himself on his host's camp-bed, and was fast asleep in a few +minutes, completely exhausted by his recent experiences. + + * * * * * + +The Zsmbk ruins are a remarkable relic of the Gothic period. The nave +of the church, thickly over-grown by juniper-bushes, is an admirable +place for a duel, where two men, unseen by any outsider, can fire at one +another to their hearts' content. + +The officers tethered their steeds to a birch stem, and withdrew inside +the ruins so that their presence should not be remarked by the people +working in the fields. + +Meantime, Rby had awakened and was making his way to the ruins. Nor did +he need a guide, for they had been well known to him since his boyhood. + +It was yet half an hour to the promised rendezvous, so he just wandered +round through the brushwood, which surrounded the church, listening for +shots. Perhaps the masonry dulled the sound, but surely he would see the +smoke, yet he could neither see nor hear anything. + +At last the remaining five minutes were up, and he strode into the +ruins. So well had he calculated time and distance, that the hand of his +watch pointed close on ten, as he pushed aside the juniper-bushes which +hid the entrance to the ruins, and went in. + +"Karcsatji has not yet appeared," said Lievenkopp. "Punctuality is not +his strong point." + +"I fancy he doesn't mean to come." + +"Surely that is not thinkable! In that case we will just go for him in +his own house." + +"Now, meantime, what do you propose doing?" + +"Well, I think that we might get on with our own business and not wait +for him. By delay he has lost his right of precedence, and must take the +second place. I propose, gentlemen, therefore, that we take the second +appointment first." + +After a short discussion, the seconds agreed, and since the nature of +the quarrel barred all idea of reconciliation, they staked out the +barriers, and placed the opponents against the two opposite walls. + +The weapons which the seconds handed to them, were a pair of rough old +riding pistols, which were so constructed that the bullets fired into a +group of ten men, would have probably perforated the cloak of one of the +party, provided he had one on. The combatants shot at first at +five-and-twenty paces; they were honestly bent on hitting one another, +yet neither succeeded. At the second attempt they took aim at twenty +paces, again without result. + +"Wretched weapons, these pistols!" growled the captain, "if I haven't +brought down the vulture's nest in that wild pear-tree." + +"Perhaps mine are better," suggested Rby. "My uncle Lenyfalvy gave +them to me, and they are already loaded." + +So the seconds accepted Rby's weapons. One of them remarked, however, +that the pistols were loaded to the muzzle, so that both of them, in +this case, would do well to stand behind a pillar, seeing if one +exploded, they would all be dead men, combatants and seconds alike. + +"It's quite safe," said Rby, "the powder is good, and the charge is not +too strong; there are only three bullets in each charge." + +"Now then, fire! One, two, three." + +At "three" Rby's pistols cracked. + +Pistols loaded with three bullets have very often this peculiarity of +not hitting the man they are fired at. + +After the two first terrible detonations everyone looked round extremely +amazed that he and the rest were still alive. + +"Re-load your pistols," cried one of the seconds, and they did so. But +when they were ready, an idea struck the other second. + +"Gentlemen, you have fired three times, and such being the case, honour +is entirely satisfied. It is my duty to suggest a reconciliation." + +The two antagonists looked at each other. + +Was it worth while to fight to the death over this matter? So without +more ado, they shook each other by the hand, and were friends. + +Now it would be Gyngym Miska's turn, and he would have to reckon with +two adversaries instead of one. + +So they waited on; yet he came not. What could be the reasons of his +delay? Had a wheel come off? Could he not find the ruins? + +But these were a landmark, and even if he had gone astray, he must have +heard the shots. + +"He surely cannot be a coward," muttered Rby between his teeth, for his +national pride was piqued by sundry contemptuous remarks the Austrian +officers began to let fall. + +At last they heard the trotting of horses' hoofs. He was coming then! + +The men rose from the sward whereon they had been lying, and listened +expectantly. + +The trotting stopped at the ruined wall, and it was obvious that it +belonged to one horse only. + +Was it possible he would come alone, without seconds, thinking to find +them here in the village? + +After awhile there was the sound as of several horses' hoofs, but these +seemed as if they were going away, rather than nearing the ruins. + +"Friends," shouted Lievenkopp, "someone is stealing our horses!" + +And all four dashed out of the ruins. + +The captain had guessed rightly, their horses had been stolen. + +And the thief was Gyngym Miska himself, who, mounted on his own fiery +courser, was driving before him the officers' three horses tethered +together by their bridles. + +"Stop you scoundrel," cried the captain and Rby in unison. + +But he evidently had not the intention to run away. Fifty paces ahead he +pulled up and let his horse caracole. + +His two grim adversaries subjected him now to a cross fire, for each of +them had two pistols. First on one side, and then from the other they +fired, but not one of the shots so much as grazed the robber, for his +horse pranced about and turned round and round in such a bewildering way +while his master was being aimed at, that all four shots missed their +mark. + +When the firing ceased the horse remained standing at a sound from his +rider, as if cast in bronze. + +Then Gyngym Miska, raising his musket with one hand to his face, took +aim at both, and one bullet whistled through the captain's helmet and +the other sent Rby's cap flying from his head. Whereupon the +highwayman raised his tufted hat and cried, "So fights Gyngym Miska!" + +And with that he switched his whip, cracking it right and left over the +tethered horses, and galloped away with his prey. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +When Mathias Rby recounted this story to his uncle, the old gentleman +declared he had never read or heard any stranger. Then they had a +consultation as to what was to be done. It was evident that it was a +matter for a lawsuit. + +The ancient laws against a breach of the marriage vow were very +stringent; and even allowed a husband to put to death an unfaithful +wife. But Mathias Rby found no consolation in such statutes. He did not +want to lose the woman still so dear to him for all the grievous injury +she had done him, and he was even ready to take her back again, and to +pardon her threefold treachery. + +"By the law," said his uncle, interrupting Rby's meditations, "a wife +who runs away from her husband shall be restored to him. Now if there be +such a thing as justice on this earth of ours, you shall get her back. +But what are we to do with the seducer, Petray?" + +"We can accuse him on the ground of seduction." And the old gentleman +proceeded to quote to Rby a law dating from the year 1522 which +provided for the decapitation of such misdemeanants. So it was plain +that Rby might obtain the condemnation of Petray, and succeed in having +Fruzsinka restored to him. But the legal proceedings were very +complicated, and it was difficult to determine to which court the case +should be taken. + +At last they came to the conclusion it would be wise to carry it before +the higher court, since it was a question of a capital crime, though +much care would have to be exercised in quoting the law under which they +prosecuted, as the least difference in the wording might upset their +case. + +When the eventful day arrived for instituting the suit before the higher +court, Rby was punctually in his place. Petray was also present, but +Fruzsinka was only represented by counsel. + +Rby determined he would have no mercy on Petray. If the severe +Hungarian law prescribed that the man who seduced the wife of another +should lose his head, it should be satisfied. + +Petray, the defendant, heard the impeachment out to the end, without +once turning pale. He followed with his defence. + +He began by quoting old formularies and attacking certain technical +defects in the indictment, which, he maintained, should have been +carried to the spiritual consistory, as the tribunal for matrimonial +disputes. Also he maintained that the action of the plaintiff was not +valid, seeing that he demanded the restitution of his runaway wife, and +the punishment of the man who had given her an asylum, yet was himself +open to the charge of bigamy, since he now had three wives alive. + +"What in the world do you mean?" cried Rby indignantly. + +"That you were already twice married before you took Frulein Fruzsinka +to wife." + +"I twice married!" exclaimed Rby. "What do you mean?" + +"That they are still alive," answered Petray with a perfectly serious +face. "They both are here," he added, "and I beg that they may be +confronted with Mr. Rby." + +"Well, I should like to see them." + +And thereupon through a side door they admitted two women into the +court. One was a pretty young Rascian in her picturesque national +costume, the other was a coquettishly clad peasant from the Alfld, of +imposingly tall stature. They were each cited by name, though Rby had +never heard either before. + +"So these are my wives, are they?" he cried, half amused, half angry. + +"They are indeed," answered Petray unabashed, "and pray do not attempt +to deny it, for they are both ready to prove it." + +"Why, when have either of you ever seen me before?" demanded Rby +sternly of the two women. + +The little Rascian was obviously ashamed of herself, for though the +paint on her cheeks effectually hid her blushes, she buried her face in +her handkerchief to suppress her confusion. But her companion was not +so easily daunted. Her arms akimbo, she placed herself in front of Rby +and began to abuse him roundly. + +"So you mean to say you don't remember me, do you, my fine sir?" And she +forthwith began a string of voluble reminiscences which Rby in vain +strove to stem, beside himself with indignation, but he could not get in +a word edgeways. + +At last the judge intervened. Till then he had contented himself with +pulling his moustache the better to control his ill-suppressed +amusement. + +"That will do, woman, we have had enough of your tongue. We must have +documentary evidence. Have the parties marriage-certificates to +produce?" + +The little Rascian drew out the desired document from her pocket, whilst +the rival claimant in great haste dived into a huge bag she carried, and +produced the certificate wrapped up in a coloured handkerchief. + +They were to all appearances genuine enough. One was drawn up by the +registrar at Szent-Pl, the other dated from the commune of Belovacz on +the military frontier. Both documents were countersigned by the parish +priests, and bore the official seal of the ecclesiastical authorities. + +"But I have never in my life even been in the neighbourhood of these +places," cried Rby in desperation, fairly trembling with rage. "These +registered formulas are falsified; I charge the man who produces them +with forgery." + +The little Rascian girl here began to wring her hands and weep, but her +Hungarian rival gave her tongue its rein, and she poured forth such a +flood of abuse on Rby that his every fibre thrilled with indignation. + +With much trouble the heydukes restored order, and the judge called on +the court to be quiet. + +"Silence, his honour is speaking; the judgment will now be given, so let +the litigants retire from the court," was the order. + +It was hardly five minutes before the contending parties were recalled +and the verdict given. + +"The case as heard by us is very complex. It lies between two parties +who prefer counter-accusations against each other. The one says his +opponent has robbed him of his wife, whilst the accused becomes +plaintiff in his turn, and incriminates his accuser as a bigamist, and +therefore incapacitated for demanding the restoration of his runaway +spouse. Therefore, we beg to refer the case to the united courts of the +provinces of Pesth, Pilis, and Solt, that they may adjust the relations +between the contending parties satisfactorily. Meantime the case is +dismissed." And herewith followed in legal phrase the reasons why the +said courts should be pressed to institute an inquiry into the whole +suit between Rby and Petray, and its complications, and the parties +were adjured to leave the court. + +Rby was sorry enough he had ever come, for what had it all availed him? + +Scarcely had the door of the court closed behind him than he heard the +end of it all, the horrible mocking laughter which burst forth from the +whole room, directly he had left it--a sound which followed him out into +the corridor. + +He was completely staggered. The shame, the exasperation, the deception +of it all, and this persistent persecution--how powerless he was against +them! His very senses seemed deserting him. So distracted was he in his +bewilderment, that when he reached the end of the passage, instead of +going straight out, he took the flight of steps which led down to the +cells. Through the prison doors came the sound of merriment. Even the +criminals were mocking him. And that was likely enough, seeing that the +two women who had impersonated his wives, had been requisitioned from +the ranks of the prisoners. + +For three days did Rby remain in hiding at his inn, not daring to show +his face. He fancied all Pesth and Buda were making merry over his fall. + +Only on the evening of the third day did he venture to set out for home. +And even then he muffled himself up in his mantle so that he might pass +unrecognised. + +But as soon as he reached the open country, the fresh air exhilarated +his drooping spirits and he saw things in a different light. It was +certainly very impolitic to betray his vexation, for in this case he +was sure to get the worst of it. It would be far wiser to disguise his +real feelings. + +The first person he sought out was his uncle. + +"Remember, my boy, it's just what I told you. Didn't I say that if you +would insist on marrying Fruzsinka you would have wife enough. And, sure +enough, here you have three! And by the time you have done, it may be a +great many more." + +"How do you mean, uncle?" + +"Why, as soon as the news spreads that the marriage certificates of +these women were forged, other 'wives' will be turning up from all +parts, and a nice dance they will lead you." + +Rby, in spite of his real misery, could not forbear a grim smile. + +"Where did you say the two marriage articles came from, eh?" + +"One was from Szent-Pl, the other from Belovacz." + +"So that's it, is it? Well, Szent-Pl was utterly destroyed by the +insurrection of Hora-Kloska three years ago, and Belovacz is a haunt of +freebooters. In neither place is there priest or sexton, church or +register, as I happen to know, so seek all your life long, you'll never +find proof of the forgery." + +"Now I see why the witnesses came from so far afield; it was manifestly +a part of the plot." + +"By the way," said his uncle, "you'll want some one to look after your +house, for in your absence your maid Bske has been locked up." + +"Whatever do you mean?" demanded Rby indignantly. "My servant locked +up! why what is the meaning of it?" + +"H'm, it was by order of the municipality." + +"And pray what for?" + +"That, no one can say. I only knew through the neighbours coming round +to tell me that I ought to send my servant over, for your cows were +standing at the gate, and that there was no one to let them in, seeing +that poor Bske had been marched off between two officers to the +police-station." + +"The deuce she has!" cried Rby, and he seized his sword. "But I won't +stand that!" + +And without another word he dashed out of the house and down the street +at full tilt, in the direction of the police-station, which was close to +the post office. He thrust open the door, without announcing himself, +and shouted so furiously to the unlucky porter that the latter nearly +died of fright. + +"Where is the jailer? In heaven's name, tell me," thundered Rby. + +"He is drinking in there," said the man, pointing to a door. + +Rby dashed into the room and found the jailer, seized him by the lappet +of his jacket, shook him, and yelled: + +"You brute, you scoundrel, what have you done with my servant, I want to +know?" + +"Your worship, the judge had her locked up in 'the Hole.'" + +"Let her out, then, at once, you hound! If you don't, I will slay you on +the spot, and willingly pay up the forty gulden fine I shall be mulcted +of for killing a peasant. Where is the cell, where are the keys? I tell +you, you are to give them to me directly." + +The frightened official said humbly that he would soon get the keys, but +Rby held him by the scruff of the neck, and dragged him to the door of +"the Hole," made him open it, and called out, "Come out directly, +Bske!" + +Directly she appeared he seized the girl by the hand, and led her out of +her captivity. And he never let go her hand all the way home, in spite +of her wish to withdraw it. + +"You are a good, honest girl, Bske, who have only been persecuted on my +account; there, there, don't cry, they shall pay for this, sure enough!" + +And he flourished his sword so threateningly, that all who met them were +quite scared and hastened to clear out of their path. + +The gentry had robbed him of his wife, and now the burghers had stolen +away his servant; it was truly "adding insult to injury!" + +"And now just come in," said Rby, "and tell me all about it." + +"Oh, but I've no time to," exclaimed Bske, "besides, it's a long story. +First of all I must run and look after my cows. I've not seen them for +two days. They weren't milked either, and perhaps they are starving." + +"Oh, it's all right, the postmaster's maid tended them." + +"Ay, what does Susanne know about it, I should like to know? The dun +cow, she won't give a drop of milk if anyone else milks her, and the +dappled one, if she knows that a stranger is there instead of me, will +kick over both pail and milking-stool. And no one can feed them as I +can. Just listen, gracious master, how they begin to low when they hear +my voice." + +And away ran Bske into the cowhouse. Not for anything would she have +told her own story till the cows were looked after. They recognised her +also directly, and the dun cow licked her red arm affectionately, when +she went to tether her, and Bske made them a nice turnip "mash," in a +wooden bowl, and fed her favourites. Then she washed the pail clean, and +when she had put everything in order, she sat down to her milking, and +here Rby found her. + +"Now you can tell me, while you are at work, all that has happened," he +said kindly. + +"If the gracious master does not mind listening to me in the cowhouse. +It was like this. When I was setting the yeast to rise the day before +yesterday, for baking, in the kitchen, in came two police-officers, +saying I must go with them to the police-court. I told them I had not +stolen anything. Thereupon, one said, I was not to make a noise, and he +threatened to lay his cane about my shoulders, and if I didn't go of my +own free will, he'd make me. I told him my master was away. He said that +would be all right, and that we could shut the door and leave the key +under a beam outside, where I could find it again. So what could I do? I +had to leave the yeast in the trough where it got all sour and mouldy, +and go off to the police-station. When I got there, I saw lots of men +sitting round a table, and they all looked at me and asked me questions, +and told me I'd got to be sworn. I thought they meant being married, so +said I didn't mind if there was anyone there I liked well enough to +marry. Then one of them said it wasn't a question of marrying, but that +I must swear to what I knew about the master." + +"A regular inquisition," muttered Rby. + +"'I'll swear fast enough,' said I, 'that I know nought of him but what +is good.' + +"'Then,' says the notary, 'what about the peasants that he sets on to +rebel against their landlords?' + +"'Nothing of the kind,' says I; 'the man who says that ought to be +hanged.' + +"With that, he asks if my master did not throw Dacs Marczi and the +surveyor into the river. So I told them it was a wicked lie." + +"That was quite true, Bske!" + +"Then they asked me if you were not a sorcerer, and did not call up evil +spirits at night-time." + +"And, pray, what did you say to that?" + +"Why I just laughed outright, and told them I had never even heard my +master say 'the devil take them,' much less call up evil spirits. But +they said the Devil himself would carry me off if I didn't tell the +truth. And when they asked me to swear that the gracious master was a +sorcerer, I just swore by the Crucifix it was not true. But they were so +angry that they just packed me off to prison, then and there, and there +I was left without food or drink till the gracious master himself came +and fetched me out." + +Poor Bske finished her story with a burst of weeping, for up till now +she had not had the time for crying. But now she had got her tale over, +and the milking done, she cried her heart out into the corners of her +apron. + +"That was quite enough for once," muttered Rby to himself. But he +deceived himself if he fancied it was enough, for there was yet more to +come. + +When they had recovered the key from its hiding-place under the beam, +Bske went first to open the house, but she started back in horror, and +dropped the pail of milk she was carrying, as she exclaimed, + +"Gracious master, just look, thieves have been in! We have been robbed!" + +Sure enough it was so; the whole house had been completely rifled of +valuables. So thoroughly had the work been done that only the empty +chairs and tables remained. + +Bske broke into a wail of despair. + +"Hush, be quiet," ordered Rby sternly, putting his hand over her mouth. + +"But they've broken into my trunk," she cried; "they have stolen my new +petticoat, and best kerchief, and my shoes with the rosettes." + +"Never mind," said her master consolingly, "to-morrow I'll take you to +Buda, and buy you some fresh ones. These are trifles. The thieves +probably came after my papers, but those I luckily had with me." + +At this Bske was appeased, also she remarked it was a comfort the +lady-mistress had taken the embroidered quilt with her, so the thieves +were done out of that at any rate. + +"But where is the house-dog?" + +They found the poor beast, by the well, stiff and dead. + +"The brutes!" cried Bske, horrified; "they have drowned him, they have +not even left us the dog alive." + +Rby drove the weeping girl into the house and spoke earnestly to her: + +"Now, Bske, listen to me. You must never tell anyone what has happened, +and that the house has been robbed, for if you do, they may put you in +prison again, and you may not get out for years." + +With which piece of parting advice Rby repaired to his uncle's. Here he +collected his papers, and stowed them away in the pocket of his coat, he +likewise donned his fur mantle, told his uncle shortly what had +occurred, and then started to go back home. + +It was already nightfall when he took his way down the street to his own +home. + +As he passed Peter Paprika's house he heard a curious whizzing noise +near him, and at the same moment was conscious of having been struck a +blow on the side, which so staggered him, it nearly made him lose his +balance. He looked round; there was not a soul in sight in the street. +He could not imagine from whence the mysterious report had come. But +after he had got home, he found a little round perforation on the left +side of his coat, which was plainly a bullet hole. + +When he drew his papers out of his breast-pocket, out fell a leaden +bullet which had evidently bored through so far and been turned aside by +the packet of documents. + +The whizzing sound our hero had heard had been the report of an air-gun, +and had he not placed the papers in his breast-pocket, it would have +been all over with him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +The jest was surely now at an end, said Rby to himself; it was no use +trifling with these people but best to go straight to the point with +them. + +So the next day he set out for Vienna, nor did he conceal the purport of +his journey. For he had to induce the Emperor to remove the Szent-Endre +authorities and order a new municipal body to be set up in their place. +As a land-owner, he had full right to demand this to be done. + +Meanwhile, he left Bske to keep house, only stipulating she should have +someone to be with her in his absence. + +In Vienna all fell out as he had wished, and after forwarding his plans +there, he returned home. + +As he reached the gate of the town he wondered what new developments +would greet his return; he had a foreboding something strange was +preparing, nor was he mistaken. + +For when he came to his own house, there outside sat Bske in tears, +surrounded by various bits of furniture, which had evidently been thrown +out into the street. + +"Why, what in the world have you got there?" asked Rby, amazed, of the +weeping maid-servant. + +"What have I got?" cried Bske, "why, honoured master, don't you know +your own furniture when you see it? These are all our things, and they +have turned them out here, and me with them." + +"What?" yelled Rby, as he leapt from the coach. + +But no answer was needed, for just then the door opened, and out came +the notary. + +He leaned with the utmost sang-froid against the door, while he filled +with tobacco his clay pipe, from which he proceeded to puff eddies of +smoke right into Rby's face. He was quite drunk, and behind him stood a +couple of boon companions. + +"Pray what has happened here?" inquired the astonished master of the +house. + +"Only that I am taking possession of my own property," was the insolent +answer. + +"Your property, why it's mine, considering I paid the price for it in +due form," retorted the puzzled Rby. + +"But I repent of having sold it, and I've taken possession again," +rejoined the notary, as he re-lit his pipe. "And now since you, my fine +gentleman, have nothing further to look for in this town, and are no +longer the master here, you may just pack off and go!" + +"But I paid you ready-money," remonstrated Rby, his voice fairly +shaking with rage and shame. + +"You'd better bring it before the tribunal," sneered the notary, and he +laughed so immoderately that the pipe dropped out of his mouth. + +Rby heard the laughter echoed in the yard without by a dozen other +voices. + +He strove no longer. He told Bske he would send a coach to fetch her +and the furniture away, and till then, she must wait there. Then he +hurried off to his uncle's and told his story. + +"This is beyond a joke," said the old man. "We will not stand this sort +of thing from these insolent wretches." + +"But to whom can I complain?" asked Rby. "To the judge, Petray, who is +my personal enemy; to the county court where I am accused of bigamy and +scoffed at?" + +"To none of the lot! There is an edict which provides that whoso +appropriates unlawfully the property of another, can himself be turned +out by the lawful owner." + +"But where can we procure the methods of force necessary to drive these +people out?" demanded Rby. "The whole township is in their pay. The +municipality gives no formal help, and the military would not move in +the matter. If I myself incite the people to act, I shall be accused of +instigating to violence." + +"Leave all that to me, my boy; we old folks know more than you young +ones give us credit for. No need to go either to the tribunal or to the +barracks. We'll just get the good people of Bicske and Velencze to help +us. The gentry in these towns fight like dragons. But in all their +history there is not a single case of either having ever taken their +disputes before the county courts or the provincial tribunals. For, +being of noble descent, there is a tradition among them that all +quarrels which arise between them shall be settled by the military +officer who happens, for the time being, to be in command of the +defendant's town. They are satisfied with this judgment, and never do +either judge or lawyer have a fee out of their pockets." + +"That sounds quite patriarchal," remarked Rby. + +"Now why can't we acquire just such a right among our people here?" +pursued his uncle. "In a fortnight's time there will be a fair at +Stuhlweissenburg. During this time I will go round and discuss the +matter with the heads of the departments. You yourself can remain here +in the meantime and look after my work in the post office. In Velencze +they are just electing Stephen Ke, Knight of Kadarcs, as the judge. You +ought to propound your plan to him. He has a fine fighting record behind +him, for he went through Rkczi's campaigns with the great leader +himself, and still wears the shabby wolfskin coat in which he used to +parade in the old fighting days. He is very proud of his military +record, as well as of his ancestors, who came from Asia with the +horsemen of Arpd himself. Remember this point; it will be an excellent +passport to his good graces, and don't forget to give him his full +title, and always to address him as Knight of Kadarcs. As soon as I'm +ready with the legal points we'll go to Stuhlweissenburg and set our +scheme afoot. Meanwhile, have no fear, we'll soon drive those brutes +out of your house, my boy, and send them packing!" + +Rby agreed to all of it. He was so exasperated that he positively +yearned for a fight of some kind, whatever it might be. + +So it was arranged he should stop and look after the post office, while +his uncle went to collect materials for his campaign. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +It was Stuhlweissenburg fair. In the chaffering, chattering crowd of +market folk, cattle-drivers and swine-herds jostled country land-owners +accompanied by their lackeys, and shepherds in gay cloaks, while gipsy +horse-dealers, with their ragged coats bright with silver buttons, +trotted out their prancing nags to attract possible buyers. Here and +there flitted strangely clad figures--a Wallachian boyar with his +sheepskin cap, or a Servian with his scarlet fez, and turbanned Turks, +the remnant of the expelled Mussulman population, who had come to sell +their last sheep, and then follow the rest of their folk. + +The encampments begin with rows of shoemakers and furriers, then come +variegated groups of merchants from outlying provinces. Foreign wares +there are none, for the "dumping" of useless foreign commodities is +forbidden by an imperial edict. What are exposed here are all genuine +native products, whether it be in fabrics, pottery, or copper-ware, +while there is a great rush for the booths where pewter plates and +dishes are for sale. + +Everything is paid for in ready money, so that if a well-to-do purchaser +buys a herd of sheep and has not the price forthcoming, he leaves his +silver knife and fork (which he carries about with him) as a pledge, and +the seller knows well enough they will be redeemed in due course. + +Towards mid-day, the "market-kitchen" becomes thronged. Here too the +famous gipsy stew needs no advertising, for its savoury odour betrays +its whereabouts, and it only wants good wine to wash it down to make it +complete. But this same good wine is dear, and only for the gentry. The +Velencze people have already annexed a table near the bar, and sit round +it and listen to their favourite song: + + "See I will drink with you, + So I can clink with you + A glass of good wine: + But if you do not choose, + To pledge, I'll not refuse + Alone to empty mine." + +But now come the Bicske contingent, each one of whom brandishes a huge +weighted stick, or copper axe, while their neighbours have already +deposited their weapons on the table. + +These late-comers observe that the others have already annexed the best +table, and proceed accordingly. + +"You gentlemen from Velencze have come early," growls Bognr Laczi, the +leader of the Bicske party. + +"Yes, and by this you must have caught plenty of mud-fish." (This is +intended as a graceful allusion to the Lake of Velencze.) "And what's +more, have swallowed them by this time," sneered a pugnacious looking, +thick-set fellow, who also belonged to the Bicske gang. + +As is well known, the worthy dwellers by the Velencze lake do not relish +this kind of reflection on their sport, and they resented it +accordingly. + +But the fight does not yet begin, for who is fool enough to fight over +the fish he eats? Besides, eating is the first and most important +business, so they sink differences in order to make a square meal. + +"Now, friends," says Bognr Laczi to the Velencze contingent, "what say +you to some music? We have brought our own piper and a cornet-player +with us, so I propose that we take it in turns; first your gipsies shall +play, and then our musicians." + +"All right," agreed the others, and thereupon the noble representative +from Bicske had his favourite tune played on the bagpipes. + + "I've a house and a sweet little wife of my own, + And bread and bacon and crops that I've grown." + +And everything progressed smoothly, for while the music was going on, no +one could talk, and if one guest called to someone else at the other +table, he did not forget to address him as "noble friend." But at the +second round of wine the company began to sing with the music, and it +was not easy to stop their efforts. Finally, the two parties insisted on +singing different songs at the same time, the result being an uproar, +wherein cymbal, fiddle, bagpipe, and cornet strove for precedence in a +very rivalry of tumultuous discord. + +The Velencze leader could not stand such an annoyance, and he promptly +hurled an empty bottle at the wall just above the head of the Bicske +chief, so that the fragments fell on the latter's head. He then seized +his axe, struck the beam with it, and cried out defiantly, "Let's see +who is the better man?" + +The valorous Bicske men and their ten Velencze companions, were equally +ready to join in the fray thus begun. So they seized their axes and +clubs, and began to brandish these in a highly menacing fashion. For +there is no fighter like your Magyar when his blood is up. + +At this perilous juncture appeared the representatives of peace and +arbitration, in the person of Sir Stephen Ke, the "Knight of Kadarcs," +and his companion, Mr. Postmaster Lenyfalvy, who led between them +Mathias Rby, and presented him to the company. + +The old campaigner, with his shabby sheepskin over his shoulders, and a +short pipe between his teeth, pressed into the ranks of the combatants +as calmly as if the Geneva Red Cross had sheltered his breast. Not a bit +intimidated by the uproar, he brandished his pike, and cried out in a +shrill voice: + +"So you are at it again, are you! Be quiet, you fellows; and so early +too, for you can't have drunk much yet. But listen to me, friends. This +gallant gentleman whom you see here is Mr. Mathias Rby of Rba and +Mura, the son of the late Stephen Rby, that noble patriot, who so +often stood up for Magyar rights. During his absence from home some +bullies in Szent-Endre have ejected this noble gentleman from his own +house, and occupied it. Now he calls upon us, the patriots of Velencze +and Bicske, to come to his aid, and will pay us a salary of two gulden +per head, to drive out the illegal occupiers from his lawful domicile. +Therefore I suggest that you adjourn your mutual quarrel till the next +Stuhlweissenburg fair (and chalk it up so that you do not forget it); +but meantime, come with us, and help to right the wrong done him." + +Whereupon the twenty men present cheered loudly and signified their +readiness to go. + +"We have four carriages here," said Sir Stephen. "Four must stay with +the horses, so that there will be sixteen all told for the expedition." + +And so it was arranged. + +But Bognr Laczi urged immediate action. "Let's be off, all of us, only +let us send on a scout who shall warn the Szent-Endre people that we are +coming in full force. They shall not say that we take them unawares, but +should get their fighting gear in readiness." + +It took some time for Rby, the postmaster, and the knight to agree to +this arrangement, for they deemed such a proceeding would be pure folly. +Szent-Endre might be too strong for them, if it had time to collect all +its forces. But at last they gave in, and sent on their scout ahead, +delaying their actual start till nightfall. + +By morning they had reached the "Pomzer" Inn safe and sound, so they +halted and baited the horses. The passengers sprang from the carriages, +and stretched their drowsy limbs. Then they roused the hostess and +ordered some coffee, and everyone knows what "Hungarian coffee" means; +it consists of red wine, ginger, and pepper, and is drunk boiling hot. +But this beverage kept them going all day, so invigorating was it. + +While the horses fed, the messenger they had dispatched to reconnoitre, +came back with the news that all Szent-Endre was agog, the municipality +having brought together a rabble armed with sticks, pitchforks, and +flails, who had collected in front of Rby's house, while the townsmen +in the courtyard were armed and ready for the attack. + +"Heigh ho," shouted the assailants. "What joy! We shall have someone now +with whom we can fight! So let's drive on so that we can be soon in +fighting array." + +"Stop a bit, my noble friends," said Sir Stephen Ke. "First of all, let +us exercise a little strategy. For this will be the decisive struggle, +and remember I am in command! Before all, we must know the fortress we +are about to conquer. Now the house has two doors, the one opening on to +the Buda street, the other behind into the garden. Therefore we must +divide into two parties. The one must begin the frontal attack from the +street, the other will go round into the vineyard and take their chance +under shelter of the garden. The Velencze men will lead the one attack, +and those of Bicske the other." + +The old fire-eater was not only an accomplished strategist, but likewise +a great student of character. He knew his people, and that if he placed +the two factions side by side, they would quarrel at least over +precedence if over nothing else, that neither would give in, and that +all chance of success would consequently be ruined. + +"Now who will lead the attack from the street?" asked their +commander-in-chief. + +It was settled by drawing lots; the garden position falling to the +Bicske party. + +"So we are to go behind, are we?" questioned Bognr Laczi sulkily. + +"Noble friend," pleaded the old knight, "for those who tackle a +seven-headed dragon, there is no 'behind,' for on every side there is a +head. You will attack the enemy's rear-front." + +He was obliged, however, to make this concession to the Bicske +assailants, that they should travel first in two coaches to reach the +garden by a roundabout way, and yet be there at the same time as the +Velencze contingent. + +These delicate points of precedence being settled, they drove off in +fine style, two of the vehicles turning towards the vineyard, and the +other three to Szent-Endre. + +They could hear as they drew nearer that the whole place was in an +uproar. In the Buda Street the citizens had organized an impromptu +army. There they were in little national groups, the Magyars with +clubs, the Serbs armed with flails, the Rascians provided with +pitchforks. It looked as if it would be a hundred to one. + +The space in front of Rby's house was occupied by a mixed mob of +hangers-on of all kinds, who were carrying sticks, and lances, and old +flint muskets. + +In front of this phalanx stood the lieutenant in full gala dress, with +the big drum slung round his neck, ready to give the storming signal, +and inciting the mob with warlike exhortations. + +But it was in reality no joke, and the antagonists, seeing the attacking +party, retreated into the house and endeavoured to close the door behind +them. Only when they felt themselves safe did they begin their defensive +operations. + +The crowd without did not take an active part in the fray, but only +looked on. + +The Velencze contingent tried first of all to break in the door, but it +was barricaded too fast from within. So a regular attack had to be +essayed. + +The old Knight of Kadarcs directed operations from the coach where he +still sat. + +"Just take the stakes out of the well-posts, and you can jam in the door +with them." + +Four of the party managed to wrench out the stakes, and jammed them +against the great door like a Roman battering-ram, whilst three others +worked at the smaller door with their stout clubs. But those inside +defended themselves bravely enough, it must be owned. In the court +stood logs of wood piled up, and these they hurled at the besiegers, who +naturally returned the projectiles back from whence they came. + +Within could be heard the directions of the defenders to those inside to +fire on the assailants if these effected an entrance. + +But all the attacks of the Velencze men had been perfectly futile, had +not the Bicske auxiliaries come up just in the nick of time to the +rescue. + +They, in fact, decided the issue of the battle. All at once they uttered +a tremendous yell which scared the enemy back into their entrenchments. +Hereupon, a frightful tumult ensued, the crowd without shouting and +seeking to find an outlet over the walls of the neighbouring houses, or +in the out-houses and stables. Then the Velencze party made a tremendous +dash for the barred door, and succeeded in effecting an entrance. What +followed is indeed difficult to describe. + +"Take care to hit them on the head," shouted the old commander-in-chief +from his perch in the coach, while the mob laughed loud and long, as one +after another member of the town council crawled out on all fours over +the neighbouring roofs into safety, whilst first one and then another of +the Szent-Endre worthies were thrown out like cats on to the ground +below. The last to be turned out was the notary, his clothes torn, his +temples bleeding, and his teeth knocked out, yet there was not a soul +who seemed to sympathise with him. + +The mayor had bethought him of a refuge in the chimney, but they lighted +straw below, and he was forced to push his way out. But the chimney +being too narrow, he only succeeded in getting his head and arms out, +and there he stuck, gesticulating wildly like a jack-in-the-box, till +the siege being over, they could take off the chimney-pot and so free +the prisoner. + +When the coast was clear they opened the doors and re-installed Mathias +Rby in his own house again. + +"Now, noble sir, what did you think of the operations?" asked the Knight +of Kadarcs, as he cleaned out his pipe for a smoke. + +"A nice piece of work; it's a pity that sort of fighting has gone out of +fashion!" + +But the worthy burghers had learned a twofold lesson. First, that when a +plebeian fights it out with a noble, it is the plebeian who gets the +worst of it; and secondly, that the people themselves, if they see their +superiors thrashed, not only turn their backs on them, but regard it as +a good joke. + +But after drinking to his health, the rescuers took leave of their host, +now settled again in his own home. + +"We shall be at your service whenever you want us," was their parting +salutation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +When Rby was left alone he began to see that what had been done was +really a foolish proceeding. + +To attack a peaceful town with armed force, beat thirty or forty of its +citizens, to say nothing of its magistracy, black and blue--this was +beyond a joke in any civilised city. + +Besides, those who had their heads broken in the fray, would not be +silent about their grievances. For that matter, Bske had already seen +several vehicles full of people with bandaged heads, proceeding in the +direction of Buda. + +Mathias Rby therefore determined to go himself to Pesth without waiting +to be sent for, and then to testify to what had occurred. + +Of course he could not think of leaving Bske behind alone in the empty +house, where there was nothing now left to take care of. The cows had +long since been turned into butcher's meat for the benefit of the +invaders, who had likewise drunk up every drop of wine in the cellar. + +And it was lucky Rby took Bske with him, as we shall see later. + +Again he alighted at his old inn, and, donning his official dress, he +caused himself to be taken in a sedan-chair to the palace of the +governor. + +When he entered the ante-chamber the first people he saw were the +Szent-Endre officials waiting likewise to see his Excellency, just as +they had come from the fight. One had his arm in a sling, another showed +a black eye, and a third a bandaged hand. + +But even these grievances were for the moment, it seemed, thrust aside +directly Rby entered, for on seeing him they all began to talk and +gesticulate noisily. He could not follow what they said, for most of +them spoke Rascian, then the language of the Hungarian middle classes, +whereof he only knew a few words, but from their tone and gestures, he +gathered that the conversation concerned him, and that they were +preparing to make things hot for him. + +So he did not feel exactly comfortable as he turned his back on them and +withdrew to the window. + +All at once the noise ceased suddenly as the usher announced "His +Excellency is coming," while the audience began at once to cringe and +whine, and put on a woful air all round. + +The door of the ante-chamber was thrown open, and his Excellency came +in. + +He nodded grimly at the waiting crowd, for whose woes his face betrayed +no particular sympathy, but when he saw Rby he went up to him, slapped +him on the shoulder, and his face relaxed into a smile. + +This was indeed a rare event, for it took a lot to make his Excellency +smile! Moreover, he greeted his guest with a dignified cordiality. + +"Well met, my friend! I'm glad you've come. You are on the right road. +Walk in here, and don't let anyone disturb us," he added, turning to the +usher, "as long as his Imperial Majesty's representative is with me. But +you," and he turned to the expectant crowd of suppliants, "you can just +go to where you came from; you have only got what you deserved." + +But those left behind in the ante-room looked at one another, and did +not exactly know what to make of it, till his Excellency's secretary +told them that the hurts they had received were fully recognised by the +law, and that they would have redress later if they now went home +quietly. + +His Excellency, meanwhile, plunged into the matter straight away. + +"Now see here, my worthy sir, you can only obtain satisfaction in +Hungary from the Magyar laws themselves. The thing is to know how to +profit by them, for we have excellent statutes; there is no need to +supplement them. I should like to know if the collective tribunals of +Austria itself would settle your affair so thoroughly and effectually, +nay and cheaply, as the captain of the Velencze company has done. But +you have been to the Emperor again with your denunciations, and even +now, I daresay, have your pockets full of imperial instructions. Don't +take them out if your case is brought before me, for I warn you, I shall +not open them. I wonder if his Majesty knows, by the way, that I never +read the instructions he sends me." + +"But I now bring other orders from his Majesty," said Rby, who did not +think it worth while to say all he knew. "His Majesty has thought a +great deal about his Hungarian subjects, and has great projects for +bettering this city." + +"What may such projects be, pray?" + +"First of all, he is giving permission to the Jewish community in Pesth +to build a synagogue." + +"A synagogue for the Jews!" cried his Excellency, springing up in horror +from his seat. "Impossible! Pesth will not be bettered by that, it will +be completely ruined. Why in a hundred years' time, if that is allowed, +the Jews will be having all the rights of citizens. Heaven forbid they +should be permitted a place in the Assembly, for they will want to get +in there. Well, that is enough for a beginning; is there anything else?" + +"Of course," pursued Rby, and since his interlocutor was standing at +the window, he too went there and looked out at the view over the Danube +and Pesth. "Does your Excellency see the great square plain on the edge +of the Pesth woods, that is bordered on one side with willows?" + +"I see, and what of that?" + +"His Majesty has ordered that a large building two stories high, with +nine courts, and two thousand windows, shall be erected there. He has, +himself, shown me the plans of the edifice which is to be built at his +own expense." + +"Good heavens! What's that for? is his Majesty going to shut up there +all those who do not respect his edicts?" + +"No, it is for a hospital for the city of Pesth." + +"A hospital, indeed! As if the ordinary lazaretto was not enough." + +"It will also serve as a foundling asylum." + +"What, for the children who are deserted by their mothers? Why, there +are none such in Pesth. The citizens won't tolerate such worthless women +in their midst. Such folks must do penance as the Church directs, or +else be driven from the city." + +"It may be so now, but in course of time, when Pesth is raised to the +rank of great world-cities, the magistracy will have something else to +do than to control the private lives of its citizens." + +"Now, how in the world can Pesth become a great city, I should like to +know? Will the Emperor come and live here himself?" + +"Perhaps not now, but he means to make it a great place for trade." + +"Pesth a place for trade? Why! what are you thinking about? You will +never see any trade done in Pesth but by rag-merchants and swine-herds." + +Rby smiled. + +"The Emperor means to raise Pesth to the level of a great commercial +centre by certain big schemes he has in view. He proposes, for instance, +to have a canal cut which shall connect Pesth with Trieste, and so +bring it into direct connection with the coast." + +"Connect Pesth with Trieste! Why my good young friend" (the speaker had +dropped his previous formalities in his astonishment), "don't take me +for a fool, I pray! Remember it is not the first of April. What is the +Emperor thinking of? What about the Carpathians, pray?" + +"The mountains will be tunnelled, and the canal is to run under them." + +"Now just listen to me, my good sir! If you do not respect my official +capacity, otherwise the Imperial Hungarian Presidency of the County +Assembly, which I represent, you should at least have regard to my grey +hairs, and find some other fool to impose on with your scheme. Why, this +would take millions of money." + +"The actual estimate amounts to sixty millions." + +"Sixty millions! What are you dreaming of? Why, the Emperor has not got +as much as that out of the whole Hungarian revenue in twenty years." + +"The financial provision for this undertaking lies ready to hand. A +syndicate has been formed which will answer for the needful funds, and +directly Pesth is brought into connection with the sea its commercial +possibilities can be developed. Imagine a water-way from Pesth to +Trieste, one of the great emporiums of the world's trade in the centre +of Hungary!" + +But his Excellency could not imagine it. + +"Tut, tut," he cried, and his eyes flashed angrily. "What do you mean +by taking such a chimera seriously? A canal from the centre of Hungary +to the coast, what does it mean but foreign traders sucking the life and +strength out of this country to glut their markets with our wealth. We +won't have anything of the kind! The ruling classes of this country will +have something to say to that. We will not let the people of this nation +be plunged into misery thus. Why, foreign traders would just exploit our +mineral wealth to their hearts' content, and leave the poor folk of this +country starving. No, no, my friend, don't you think we will ever have +anything of the kind." + +Rby would not give in; he was by this time quite at home on these +questions. He could, moreover, give excellent reasons why every land +that has a seaport is prosperous, for trade does not impoverish people, +it enriches them. To which his Excellency retorted that of course trade +was a good thing for nations who knew how to get the best of their +neighbours, but for a simple unsophisticated folk, like the Hungarians, +it meant ruin. + +In the midst of this heated controversy, the two did not perceive that +the district commissioner had entered without being announced, and was +listening with much amusement to the debate. + +The district commissioner could not abide wrangling, so he promptly +turned the conversation on to neutral topics. + +"Eh, what is all this about? We, at any rate, have nothing to do with +the nation's economics. Tell us rather what is going on in Vienna. For +remarkably funny events have happened surely since we met." And the +speaker laughed slily, as if struck by some comical reminiscence. + +Rby knew well enough what caused his companion's mirth. He was +thinking, doubtless, of Fruzsinka and the two other "wives." And the +thought pierced him with a sudden stab of pain. + +The good-natured official suppressed his ill-timed laughter, however, as +he diverted the subject. + +"Now tell us something about the capital, my dear fellow? Have you been +to the National Theatre and seen the latest comedy there?" + +"I had no leisure," said Rby drily, "to go to the theatre, and see what +the comedies were like. You will have more time for that probably than I +shall." + +Which retort surprised the worthy district commissioner not a little. + +Then Mathias Rby turned to the governor with a deeply respectful bow, +only waved a careless "adieu" to the district commissioner, and +withdrew. + +"He is put out with you about something or other," remarked the governor +to his companion. + +"Yes, he snapped, didn't he, like a puppy when you tread on his tail." + +But just then, in came the secretary with despatches that had just +arrived by the last post. + +"One for you as well, worshipful sir," said the secretary to the +district commissioner. "Shall I send it into your office, or will you +have it here, seeing it is marked 'personal.'" + +"All right. Give it me here, please," was the careless answer. + +And the light-hearted official broke the seal and began to read the +missive, stretched at ease in his chair. + +But he did not remain so, for hardly had he perused its contents than he +got up, and his face grew suddenly pale under its cosmetic. + +"Be kind enough to read that," he stammered, embarrassed, "the Emperor +writes an autograph letter to summon me to Vienna, and I am dismissed +from my post as district commissioner." + +"And in my despatch your successor is already nominated." + +"I do not understand it." + +"But I do. Now, my friend, you will have time to judge for yourself what +the comedy at the National Theatre is like." + +The ex-official pressed his hand to his brow. + +But as his Excellency took a pinch of snuff he said drily: "It is not a +puppy who snaps, but a big dog who can bite when he wants to. And he has +flown at you, my friend, that's clear." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +It was horribly hot and depressing at the "White Wolf" at Pesth, where +Rby had elected to stay. The atmosphere was mephitic and close, and in +the dusty inn parlour the flies swarmed uncomfortably, while outside it +was horribly dusty, as it is even to-day. + +No wonder Rby was glad to get out of it, and elected to take a stroll +in the direction of the wood outside the city, his head full of many +conflicting thoughts. + +Certainly, his plans for bettering the people were prospering. The +Emperor had recalled the easy-going district commissioner in consequence +of Rby's representations, and had appointed to the post an able and +strenuous, yet cold and reserved man, a wealthy landlord, who undertook +the office on account of the honour it conferred on its holder. Perhaps +what best qualified him for the post was, that he was not on intimate +terms with anyone in the neighbourhood. + +His first care was, in view of Mathias Rby's complaints, to suspend the +magistrate of Szent-Endre and his satellites, and to order a fresh +election of such representatives in that town, which meant a complete +clearing out of the old gang. Then the deposed notary would be either +compelled to show the new officials the bricked-up passage to the +treasure chamber, or, if he refused, the "pope" would reveal the secret +of the other entrance; this promise Rby had succeeded in extorting from +the new authorities. + +Once the treasure-chest was unearthed, the oppressed townspeople, whose +money had been wrung from them to fill that coffer, could be compensated +for their wrongs. What rejoicing would there not be when the poor +starving husbandman could receive back the four or five hundred gulden +unjustly extorted from him, and one could tell him that though it had +been reft from him unjustly, now his wrongs were redressed. What a +splendid mission for him who undertook it! + +Rby's soul revelled in the very thought of it: no sordid considerations +of selfish interest poisoned his joy, for he had renounced all personal +reward and only taken the work upon himself on the condition that he had +no share in the treasure when it was discovered. Legally, indeed, he was +entitled to such a share, but how much greater claim had he to be heard +if he was empty-handed in this affair! + +And if he rejoiced at the fulfilment of his aims, he, it must also be +admitted, felt a distinct satisfaction in the thought of revenge. The +great coffer held not only the secret treasure, but also the private +accounts which would make it clear which of the powerful officials were +concerned in the affair. The whole shameful story must then be brought +to light, and all, who up till now had pursued him with their malice and +mocked him to his face, must then stand as prisoners at the bar, however +high they had held their heads. + +Obsessed by these and the like reflections, our hero came to the edge of +the wood and there found stretched out before him the great waste plot +of land bordered with willows, which some hours before he had pointed +out from the window of the palace to his Excellency. The surveyors were +already working on it, taking measurements, and staking out the ground +where the first foundations for the new building should be laid. + +All at once Rby's reverie was disturbed by someone addressing him. He +had not observed how the man who spoke to him had come up, but then he +had of course as much right as Rby to walk there. The stranger appeared +to be a worthy Pesth citizen; he wore the Magyar dress and had the +consequential air of a man who cannot learn anything from other people, +however wise they be. His short curling moustachios lent his face a +genuine Magyar expression, but of Hungarian he apparently understood not +a word, but expressed himself in bad German. Rby answered the "Guntag" +of the stranger politely. + +"Does the gentleman happen to know what the surveyors are planning +here?" asked the new-comer. + +Rby was naturally ready to satisfy worthy curiosity. + +"That," he answered, "is a great hospital the Emperor is erecting. A +building we much need," he added. + +And they talked of various other things, in the course of which it came +out that the new-comer was a pork-dealer in Pesth, whereupon Rby opined +that he had the honour of speaking to a member of the famous "Guild of +pork merchants." But this new friend talked of many things beside his +own trade. + +They had now come to the winding path which led along the side of the +wood, but the stranger's fund of conversation continued to be apparently +inexhaustible. He mentioned, among other things, that he preferred this +walk because the road was not yet made. Since it had been the fashion to +have the roads in the city paved, he said, he no longer cared to walk in +the streets. The whole paving scheme had been a hobby of the present +burgomaster, who, as everyone knew, had been a German shoemaker, and had +only introduced paving-stones so as to give the German shoemakers +preference over the Hungarian bootmakers, for since they had had +pavements to walk on, people naturally wore fewer boots, for you only +need shoes for the paving stones. + +It was not long before the two reached the little inn, which stood there +even then for the refreshment of travellers. + +"What do you say to turning in for a glass of beer?" asked his +companion, "you get a capital brand here." + +Rby answered that he did not drink beer, whereupon the pork-dealer +pressed him to touch glasses with him, and promptly drew out his purse +as a proof of his readiness to pay the reckoning. But Rby insisted that +he only drank water. + +"Well, if that is the case," returned his fellow-wayfarer, "you cannot +do better than have a glass; the water here is of unusual excellence. +Just wait here, and I will go in and get some beer for myself, and send +you out a glass of water. It comes from the famous Elias spring; there +is no such water in the world." + +Rby gladly assented; tired and thirsty as he was with his walk, he +longed for just such a refreshing draught. + +So into the inn the good man hurried, but he soon reappeared, followed +by a neat little waitress bearing a wooden tray with a large pewter mug +of water on it. The girl looked at him while he drank, with her innocent +blue eyes, so that Rby hardly noticed, as he returned her scrutiny, +that the water left a curiously bitter after-taste in his mouth. When he +set the mug down, he observed that there was a white sediment at the +bottom of it. + +Rather scared in spite of himself, he asked the girl if there was +anything in the water. + +"I don't know," she answered, "if so, the gentleman who has just gone, +put it in." + +"Has he gone?" + +"Yes, he went out by the back door. He did not even wait to take the +change which I brought him." + +The man was no pork-dealer, but a hired assassin. Rby had been +poisoned, that was clear. The trees already had begun to dance before +his eyes, the blue sky became blood-red, and his feet refused to carry +him, while his head was so heavy, it felt as if it would burst. He had +not even the strength to stagger as far as a sedan-chair, but bade the +inn people carry him back to the "White Wolf," which they promptly did +in terror. + + * * * * * + +Had not poor Bske been there, Mathias Rby's history would have come to +an untimely end with that glass of water. + +The servant-girl was the only one who had the presence of mind to give +the patient some warm milk, and then tickled his throat with a feather, +so as to induce violent vomiting, while she applied hot fomentations. + +But in spite of her care it was needful to send for a doctor. Yet it was +not so easy to find one, for physicians in those days were few and far +between, and there were, as a matter of fact, but two in the whole city, +the municipal doctor and the town leech, and neither would come when +sent for. The municipal practitioner maintained that the law did not +allow of him seeing patients out of their own houses. The town +physician again found his excuse in the plea that he could not interfere +in cases which had already been referred to his municipal colleague. + +So there was no one to look after Rby, since neither doctors would come +to him, even though his life was in danger. Thus for fully +four-and-twenty hours the poisoned man had no other assistance than that +rendered by a poor servant-maid. For only on the evening of the +following day, when it was getting dark, did a surgeon from Pilis +appear, who, it had fortunately occurred to Rby, was likely to answer +the summons. + +He set about curing his patient immediately, but he bound Rby on his +honour not to say a word as to who was treating him, otherwise it would +be ruinous to his professional career in the town. It was only through +the urgent prayers and tears, he said, of a good woman, that he had come +to do what he could for the sick man. + +As a matter of fact, the kind-hearted surgeon had to leave the city in +consequence of having succoured Rby in this way. But it was ten weeks +before the patient fully recovered. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +During those ten weeks, Rby had abundant leisure to reflect on the +riddle these events presented. Who had thus attempted to poison him? Was +it the offended councillors who had thus intrigued against him, some +jealous courtier who had a grudge against him, or his own fugitive wife? + +But all that time, except the surgeon and Bske, not a living soul +knocked at his door to see him. + +His enemies were, of course, countless, but it was just as certain that +he had devoted friends. Where was his uncle, and Abraham Rotheisel, and +the Servian "pope"; where too the grateful crowd of poor people that he +had befriended? + +Over and over again too did he inquire if this or that one had yet +called, but Bske always answered that visitors had come only when the +gracious master was asleep, and she had not dared waken him, or that the +doctor had ordered that no one was to disturb the patient. + +"And why don't you let people come in and see me?" asked Rby +querulously of his nurse. He was so cross that at last she lost +patience, and told him plainly that during the whole course of his +illness, not a soul had been near. + +But Rby would not believe it; it was impossible, and he asserted she +was lying and trying to deceive him. + +Which remark so upset poor Bske, that she burst into tears, and, in her +own justification, admitted that people shunned him on purpose, that +they were afraid of him, and spoke all imaginable evil of him. Nay, was +it not true that everyone was saying he deserved to lose his head for +being a traitor to his own country? + +The simple maid-servant had only spoken the truth. Her master was, as +she had hinted, virtually an outlaw, and his name was by all, from their +Excellencies to the shoemaker's apprentices, only mentioned with hatred +and scorn. But Rby, incensed, was so indignant at Bske's well-meant +candour, that he gave her notice then and there, and paying her a year's +wages, refused to have her any longer in his service. + +Thus it was that Rby dismissed his faithful domestic who had simply +told him what men said of him, and now he was absolutely alone in the +world. + +As soon as he had fully recovered, he set out for Vienna, but this time, +in a wine-freighted barge which was to be towed by horses to the +capital, for he was too weak to stand the tiring journey by road. They +took eight days to reach their destination, and the fresh air did much +to restore his shattered health. By the time he reached Vienna, Rby +looked quite himself again, save that he was much thinner than of old. + +He related all that had befallen him to the Emperor, who advised him not +to bring the crime home to the culprit, as if it came before the courts, +he considered Rby's cause would be ruined. Thereupon, he furnished him +with directions of all kinds, and gave him _carte-blanche_ to take his +own line in all disturbances that might arise. + +When Rby came back to Buda, he wore armour under his coat, for this +time his mission would be no jesting matter, that was evident. + +In pursuance of the Imperial instructions, when he arrived at Buda, he +handed the new district commissioner the Emperor's orders, and it was +duly signified to the prefect of Szent-Endre, that the court of inquiry +would meet on a given day, but in the prefecture. + +At the same time, the Szent-Endre magistracy and their underlings were +to be dismissed, and new officials were to be elected in their place. +That choice of fresh functionaries might be made in due order, a big +military force was held in readiness in case of disturbances arising. + +When the order to quit came to the officials, the prefect hurried to +find the notary, who was so angry that he forthwith broke his best +porcelain pipe, and flung his cap down on the table in a rage. + +"It's all up with us," admitted the prefect to his crony. "Now they +will go ahead, and the enemy will spoil us utterly. The new district +commissioner doesn't know his place, he did not once say, 'Your humble +servant,' when I went to see him. All I could get out of him was that he +was 'going to act conformably to instructions.'" + +"That's well enough, if we knew what the 'instructions' were. But it's +the soldiers I don't like, with Lievenkopp at their head too." + +"But, surely, he is an old acquaintance." + +"Yes, that's just the mischief of it. He knows a great deal too well the +ins and outs of my affairs." + +"I know he has had loans at one time or another from your worship." + +"But unluckily he's always paid me back. Hardly a fortnight ago, he paid +me up to the last ducat. I never dreamed an officer would remember his +debts so accurately. I wish he had forgotten them! The world is going to +the dogs, that's plain. And then just think what the commissioner has +said. That he, in consequence of the denunciation of this +good-for-nothing fellow, will insist on a strict search, not only in the +Town Hall, but also in your house and mine. They will go from top to +bottom in the prefecture." + +"They can ransack my place as much as they will; they won't succeed in +ferreting anything out. They will never find the great coffer; I can +answer for it." + +"With you perhaps they won't succeed; you hide your savings so well. +But they are bound to scent out my chests." + +"Why, how can they know anything of them?" + +"How can they know? Don't be a fool! Just remember, Fruzsinka, doesn't +she know?" + +"Do you think she told Rby?" + +"Not Rby, but Lievenkopp. I heard her with my own ears as she was +wandering about one day in the maze with the captain, whom she wanted to +marry her. That is why she told him all about the coffer and what it +contained, so Lievenkopp knows all. But they can pounce upon the old +contracts which are in my possession and want to know how I procured the +money which, when I came here, I took for certain pledges left with me. +And if they convict me?" + +"We can easily prevent that; hide your chest so none may find it." + +"That I know without a fool telling me. But whom can we trust? All these +men here are knaves, anyone of them to whom I trust my treasure will +betray me directly he knows that a third of the money legally belongs to +whomsoever informs against the owner. If I bring the money here, someone +will see it, and know where I have hidden it. The whole world is full of +spies. We are the only two honest men in it, friend Kracsk." + +"Don't you trouble, I'll hide your little savings effectually for you. +Good! Well, go home, and come back soon with an empty box under your +cloak, so that everyone can see you are carrying something. Thus no +suspicions will be aroused when you go away again." + +Mathias Kracsk did as he was bidden; he went off, and returned shortly +with an empty municipal cash-box under his cloak. + +Mr. Zabvry had his own box ready, sealed not only at the lock, but at +the four corners. + +"Here it is. Hide it away by all means, and directly the commission is +off our track you can restore it to me again. And give me your written +promise to give it me back as soon as I ask for it. For it's a sad +world, and we are the only two honest men left in it." + +So the notary signed the document, tucked the chest of savings under his +cloak, and hid it carefully away. + + * * * * * + +Mathias Rby was taking his way to Szent-Endre to attend the inquiry +into the municipal scandals. On the road he met his uncle, who appeared +to be looking for someone. + +"Halloa, uncle! what are you waiting for?" + +"I'm waiting for you, nephew, to have a talk with you. Remember, it's +some time since we met!" + +"Surely, uncle, that is not my fault," exclaimed Rby, "considering that +you never once crossed my threshold during my illness." + +"No, indeed; small chance of doing so, seeing that every time I came, I +found a heyduke before your door, who told me that only the doctor was +allowed to see you." + +"A heyduke!" cried Rby in amazement, "why who could have placed him +there?" + +"That was just what I asked him, and he told me the municipality had +done so." + +"But what does the municipality mean by planting a heyduke before my +door? And why did not Bske tell me?" + +"Because the good soul had only one idea in her head--as sweet +simplicity ordinarily has. She wormed out of the fellow why he stood +there, and he told her he was ordered to look after a maniac inside, +whom, if he tried to go out, he was to seize and bind. Had Bske told +you a man was waiting for you then, nervous and feeble as you were, you +would have sprung out of bed and had a hand-to-hand fight with him, and +he would have bound you, weak invalid as you were, and carried you away +to the mad-house, whence you were not likely to get out again. So Bske +was silent." + +"And I was so angry with her. But now we are good friends again, aren't +we?" + +"To be sure we are. But what shall we do with the others?" + +"With my enemies?" + +"No, with your friends! You can always be even with your foes, but your +friends are another matter. The heads of the magistracy have not been +idle during the ten weeks you were ill. To-day you appear with the +imperial orders to elect a new municipality in Szent-Endre. Yet you +will see that the folks here will choose exactly the same lot again." + +"That surely is impossible!" + +"Unluckily, it's not at all so. The mob whom you befriended, have been +clearly bought over by the magistracy, who have not spared their wine +for the last three weeks to convince the townsfolk that the present +municipality are the best set of men going. They have befooled the +peasants into believing they won't have to pay tithes next year, and +blackened you in their eyes, so that the whole town is enraged against +you. They say you have come to 'rectify' the taxes, and instead of the +six thousand gulden it has paid up till now, Szent-Endre will have to +yield thirty thousand, and that is why you trouble about their money +matters." + +"But all this is surely midsummer madness!" + +"My dear fellow, the mob believes everything it is told, if it is only +dinned into its ears often enough. You will see for yourself how popular +feeling has changed towards you since you were last in Szent-Endre. Take +my advice, and don't allow yourself to be seen in the town before the +military arrive. But I know you will go your own way in spite of it!" + +The old gentleman was right. Anyone else would have profited by such a +warning, but it made Rby only more keen for the fray. + +"I must be on the spot," he answered; "and that soon, for I must have +some talk with the people before the others appear, so good day, +uncle!" + +"Well, adieu, but come again soon!" + +So Rby hastened on to Szent-Endre to the big market-square, where the +forthcoming election was to take place. On the way, he noted many +suggestive signs, showing which way the wind was blowing. The +shopkeepers who lounged at their thresholds withdrew indoors directly +they caught sight of Rby. Some acquaintances whom he met retreated to +the other side of the street as if they had not seen him. + +In the square, a large crowd had already assembled. In the front ranks +Rby recognised many old friends who often had interceded with him for +the grievances of the common folk. Formerly, such men had hastened to +kiss his hand; to-day they did not even raise their hats, and when he +spoke to them they only ignored his greeting. One man to whom Rby +stretched his hand, actually shook his fist at him, and answered the +question he put in Hungarian, in Rascian. Evidently no one here wished +to understand Magyar. In vain did Rby try to address them, the crowd +only interrupted him with loud shouts, accompanied by threatening +gestures. + +His uncle was right, the mob had wholly changed, and by now believed +that Rby had bought over the town for the Emperor. They yelled noisy +acclamations as his enemy, Kracsk, came across the market-square, +hailing him as their benefactor and the defender of their rights. So +Rby thought the best thing was to go home and postpone his speech till +the commission should formally cite him to appear before them. In the +court he could have his say, and there he would have witnesses to +support him. + +So he went back to his deserted house to think over the situation. + +Whilst he paced through the empty rooms, he suddenly caught sight of +something sparkling on the floor. It was a metal button which had fallen +between a crevice in the boards. He picked it up, and it awoke memories +of Fruzsinka, for it was to one of her gowns that it had belonged. He +remembered so well the one; she had worn it that day when she had thrown +her arms round his neck and besought him not to sacrifice his own and +her happiness to an ungrateful people. Had he listened to her, perhaps +she would have remained a good and true wife to him, and peace and +happiness would have blessed his married life. Now it was all over and +done with, and there without the mob was howling for his destruction. + +He threw the button out of the window, hastening to do away with such +souvenirs. + +Presently from the market-square burst forth that indescribable murmur +which rises from a distant crowd. The minutes seemed hours as he waited. + +At last a trampling of hoofs was heard; it was a lieutenant with an +escort of half a dozen dragoons come to conduct Rby to the court. + +"The magistrate, the notary, the councillors, are all re-elected," was +the news they came to announce. + +Rby was much annoyed that they should send an armed escort for him. + +"I can find the way by myself, and am not afraid of anyone," he said, +and with that he took his documents under his arm, and set off to walk +to the Town Hall. + +His self-possession impressed the crowd who silently made way for him. +Besides, they stood in a wholesome awe of the dragoons who were drawn up +in the market-place. + +Rby entered the court-room where the commission was sitting. It was +intolerably warm, and he could have fairly swooned as he entered the hot +oppressive atmosphere, yet his strength of mind conquered his physical +weakness and steeled his failing nerves. + +He began by making a formal and solemn protest against the way in which +the election had been conducted, but it was not listened to. + +Then the district commissioner read out Rby's protest and asked the +complainant to formulate his grievance. + +Rby laid his documents in order at the other end of the table, where +they had prepared a place for him, and began to state his case at +length; he quoted his documentary evidence, and promised to call +witnesses for the prosecution. + +It goes without saying that his statements did not pass unchallenged by +those most interested. + +After the case for the prosecution had been thus stated, the examination +of its witnesses followed, but these were not so satisfactory as they +might have been. + +None could tell much about the great treasure chest, except that they +had heard such an one existed, but they had never seen it, and only knew +of it by hearsay. + +Finally, no other evidence for the prosecution being forthcoming than +the incriminating bills and the collected taxation-accounts, it was left +for the municipality to justify themselves. + +For the defence of the officials collectively, the notary was called +upon to speak. + +In the whole of his discourse, however, there was not a single word of +justification of the officials concerned, or any refutation of the +impeachment; it consisted solely of a violent torrent of invective +against Rby, who, according to his accuser, was a sorcerer who had +dealings with the devil, a bluebeard who kept seven wives, a +revolutionary who incited to revolt, to say nothing of being a +highwayman who robbed harmless travellers. In short, there was nothing +bad enough for Rby, whom, finally, he denounced as a vampire who was +robbing the poor folk of their trade and fattening on their +labours--this last an indictment which fell rather flat, in view of poor +Rby's attenuated appearance, for he looked little more than a skeleton. + +And so it went on, the heap of vile calumnies growing as he proceeded, +yet their victim listened with a smiling face, for Rby was really +rejoicing in the absurdity of this collection of impossible +impeachments. + +But there is nothing that annoys an uneducated angry man more than +ridicule from his opponents. And the more he raged, the more did it +visibly excite Rby's mirth. + +Suddenly the features of the notary became distorted and his face turned +livid, while his discoloured lips foamed and his eyes nearly started +from their sockets, as the man he was vilifying continued to smile at +his traducer unperturbed. At last the notary dealt his master stroke. + +"And what think you of this, worshipful sirs, I tell you that he has +actually boasted to the prefect that he has not only played bowls with +the Emperor, but that he has constantly put on his Majesty's +gold-embroidered coat and walked about in it. What say you to that?" + +At this, the crowning accusation, Rby could restrain his mirth no +longer, and he burst out into a peal of hearty laughter which +reverberated through the hall. + +But at that sound, the speaker suddenly was silent, as if a shot had +struck him, his mouth remained open, but his head sank back, and his +eyes rolled till only the whites showed themselves; for an instant a +spasm convulsed him, then he fell back--dead! + +The laugh had killed him, as surely as if a bullet had been lodged in +his heart. + +They seized him and dragged him out into the fresh air, believing it was +only a swoon, but in vain did they endeavour to restore life: it was all +over with him. + +When they were convinced that the notary was indeed dead, their despair +knew no bounds. + +But most of all was Mr. Zabvry quite desperate; wringing his hands, he +wailed: "Kracsk, Kracsk, do not die till you have told me where my +treasure is hidden. Wake up, I say, and tell me where you have put my +little money-chest." + +"But our big one," moaned the magistrate, "where's that? Haven't I +always said that if only one man knew, and the devil carried him off, +what should we do? Fetch a doctor, a surgeon, some of you. He must live +till he tells us where the great treasure-chest is." + +But no earthly aid could avail them for the man they called on lay there +dead, and he had hidden the treasure so effectually that no one would +ever find it. + +The despairing survivors ran fuming with wrath back into the court-room. +"Murder, murder," cried Zabvry as he rushed on Rby. "I am a beggar, I +have been robbed! Hang the murderer who has killed the notary." + +"Not quite so fast," exclaimed Captain Lievenkopp, placing himself +before Rby. "There are others here as well you might hang." + +"That's the man," shouted Zabvry, shaking his clenched fist at Rby. +"String him up at once!" + +Whereupon the district commissioner rose and insisted on a hearing. + +"It is quite true," he said, "that the notary died in consequence of Mr. +Rby having laughed at him during his speech, but our law does not +reckon laughter as an instrument of manslaughter. I advise you not to +lift a hand against this gentleman, for whoever does so, will be taught +by the military to respect lawful authority. Now be off home with you!" + +This appeal to armed force effectually quelled the malcontents, who +sulkily beat a retreat. + +The district commissioner turned to Rby when they were alone. "We must +prorogue the inquiry till all this has blown over. But if you, Mr. Rby, +will take my advice, you will leave this town as soon as possible, and +will place yourself under Captain Lievenkopp's protection till you get +away." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +After the foregoing experiments, it was time for Rby to seek for +exterior means to attain his purpose, and he determined to extort an +avowal from the Rascian "pope," who alone now knew the hiding-place of +the great coffer, and if this was revealed, the whole intrigue could be +unmasqued. The heaped-up treasure and large number of bonds, which +represented a large amount of money, constituted irrefragable proof +against the guilty. + +It was to this end that Rby sent for the "pope" to come and meet him at +Pesth. + +This time our hero did not alight at a frequented hostelry, but put up +at an inn where the country people were wont to go, and chartering a +room there, only went out at night. + +But none the less had his enemies ferreted him out, without his having +the slightest suspicion that two or three spies were on his track +wherever he went. + +One morning, Rby was able to write to the Emperor and tell him that the +"pope" was ready to present himself in Vienna, and divulge all, as soon +as he received direct instructions from his Majesty. He read the +missive to the "pope" before sealing it up, so that the good man might +approve of it throughout, and carried it himself to post, so that it +should pass through no strange hands. Then he invited the ecclesiastic +to dine with him, taking care to provide that worthy's favourite +national dishes, a savoury Paprika stew and the Servian "Csaja." + +As they sat there doing justice to them, who should come in but Judge +Petray. + +It was surely some unlucky chance which led Petray to Rby's table. + +They exchanged greetings with a certain amount of embarrassment, and +Petray's contemptuous tone in opening up the conversation (which Rby +had willingly avoided), was not lost on the other. + +"Well met, friend! I beg pardon for disturbing you, but you are the very +man I wanted to see," said Petray, as he sat down beside them. "Yes," he +went on, "about that letter which you have written to the Emperor." + +"What do you mean?" cried Rby, beside himself with astonishment. + +"Why, you know well enough that the municipal council has forbidden +complaints to be formulated to the Emperor regarding any matter +affecting its internal regulations." + +"But who can possibly know what my correspondence contains, I should +like to know?" + +"Well we happen to know, because we intercepted the letter at the +post-office, you see." + +"What, you have dared to intercept my correspondence!" cried Rby +enraged. + +"Yes, and what's more, we have opened the letter and read it, and have +submitted it to a committee of inquiry." + +"But this is an unheard-of insult!" exclaimed Rby, rising from his seat +in uncontrollable anger. + +"Oh, you are getting angry, are you? I guessed you would be, when you +heard it; that's why I begged your pardon when I came in. But it doesn't +alter the fact that I am sent to arrest you in the name of the +municipality, on a charge of treason against the authorities, and am +ordered to commit you to prison forthwith." + +Petray said all this in such a jesting tone, that the "pope" who had +kept his seat at table, imagined he was simply joking. He poured out a +glass of wine and offered it to the judge, saying as he did so: + +"Here have done with your jests, and drink this, your worship; no one +believes what you are saying! Come, let us toast one another!" + +The "pope" was a vigorous, dignified looking man in the prime of life, +with a round rosy face. He beamed again with benevolence as he pledged +the judge. + +Yet Petray did not take the proffered glass, but stiffened himself and +stood in a judicial attitude, with his hand on the hilt of his sword, +while he said in a stern tone: + +"Here there is no matter for jesting, I am sent by the Pesth County +Assembly to arrest Mr. Mathias Rby as a criminal, wherever I may find +him." + +And with that he stepped to the door and pushed it open. Without, stood +half a dozen heydukes armed with swords and carbines and the town +provost. + +At the sight of them, the "pope" turned suddenly pale; his rubicund face +became a ghastly grey, his hairs seem to bristle in terror. There was a +rattling sound in his throat, and then he fell back senseless on the +floor in an apoplectic fit. In vain they strove to revive him. He was +dead! Fright, or rather the apoplexy had killed him. And as he was the +only living soul who had known the secret of the buried treasure, his +death forbade the entrance ever being discovered. + +Yet Rby had not seen what had happened, for as soon as ever Petray had +opened the door, the provost had immediately arrested him with the +threat that if he did not yield, he would be put into irons. + +Rby simply answered that he would not oppose armed force, and that he +put his trust in a Providence that would bring truth and justice to +light. And with that they marched him off, and led him down out into the +street. + +Before the gate stood three coaches. They made him take the front seat +in the first, and placed two guards opposite him with their swords +pointed against his breast. The others followed in the remaining +vehicles. So they drove through the streets of Pesth till they reached +the Assembly House, where Petray ordered Rby's conductors to "obey +orders." + +So they proceeded to "obey orders." First they loosened his +silver-hilted sword from his side, took his purse and gold watch from +his pocket, drew the signet ring from off his finger, and searched him +from head to foot. In the breast-pocket they found the passport of the +Emperor, commanding that Mr. Mathias Rby should pass unmolested +wherever he went. The provost read it through with a mocking laugh. Then +he brought out fetters, rivetted them on his prisoner's hands and feet, +opened a narrow iron-barred door, and without further ceremony, pushed +him into "cell number three." + +From that moment they called Mathias Rby with justice, "Rab Rby,"[1] +for does not "Rab" mean in Hungarian, a prisoner? + +[Footnote 1: I cannot but help feeling that the sudden death of the +"pope" in this last chapter will strike the reader as a somewhat bold +license, even for the novelist, seeing how closely it follows on that of +the notary. I am aware that as romance it could not be justified, but +seeing that this is a true story which I am telling, I cannot do +otherwise than follow the facts however extraordinary they may appear, +seeing they are set forth in the hero's own autobiography.--(AUTHOR'S +NOTE.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +Nine feet long and six wide was the underground cellar wherein they had +plunged our hero. + +In this space, a select company was already assembled, eighteen +individuals all told. And Mathias Rby now made the nineteenth in the +already overcrowded cell, and how he was to find a place there was a +knotty problem. It was lucky that the window over the door was not +filled with glass, but with an iron grating, which let in some air. + +As a matter-of-fact, this cell was the best in the whole Assembly House, +as could be testified to by old Tsajkos, the eldest of the prisoners, +who was now quartered here. He was an old acquaintance of our hero, by +the way, and Rby had often provided the old man with tobacco, a luxury +which the prisoners were not allowed to smoke, but might chew, if they +could get it. + +Nor was Tsajkos long in recognising the new-comer. He limped up to him, +rattling the heavy chains he wore on his legs, and clapped Rby on the +back in greeting, while the other occupants of the cell looked on in +wide-eyed amazement. + +"So you have come to it at last, have you, my young friend? Now who +would have thought the likes of you would ever have tumbled into this +company? Why, I've always known you to be a well-brought-up fellow, who +never eat an apple that was not peeled. What can they have against you, +I should like to know? 'Not guilty' may do well enough up above there, +but you know as well as I, it does not do down here. Folks don't come to +a place like this for nothing, we all know that! Now tell us what it +is." + +Disgust and repulsion almost choked Rby's powers of speech. He covered +his face with his hands. + +"Come now, none of that sort of thing! We want no blubbering here. Don't +disgrace the company. If you want to cry, be off to the women's prison; +we know you've got two wives already there!" + +At this, the whole crew yelled with hoarse laughter. + +"Aha!" exclaimed a voice from the furthest corner. "So that's the +celebrated husband, is it? Well, I can tell you what he's here for; the +women themselves told me, and they had it from the heydukes; he is a +spy." + +At these words, the whole band were roused to sudden uproar. "A spy! a +traitor!" they yelled in chorus. "He'll strangle us at night. Let's +squeeze the life out of him now." + +"Be quiet, all of you," cried old Tsajkos, as he thrust the crowd back. +"You don't know what you're talking about. Stop your barking and listen +to me. He may be a spy, but he only betrays the gentry, and he'll never +turn on us poor folk. If a great lord robs or steals, he's down upon +him, but never on us." + +"That's another matter," shouted the rest. "Then we'll be friends with +him." + +And Rby had thereupon to submit to the rough greetings of his new +comrades in misfortune. + +"They are not a bad sort," remarked Tsajkos, and he proceeded to point +out each individual member of the crew to Rby, specifying which was a +horse-stealer, and which a highwayman, identifying as well the thieves +and incendiaries among them. Most of them, however, it turned out, were +murderers. + +To Rby the whole thing seemed more and more like a ghastly dream. Yet +his five senses warranted its reality: the low vault of the cell which +surrounded him, the fierce criminal faces of the prisoners, the clinking +of the fetters, the dirty grimy hands that grasped his own, the damp, +mouldy odour of the dungeon, the taste of the brackish water from the +prison well that the old man handed him to revive him--all these things +warned him that this was no dream, but a grim reality from which he must +find a speedy means of escaping. + +He looked round, but his companion misconstrued the glance. + +"You are wondering how you will manage to get forty winks here, eh, +comrade? Yes, it's a difficult matter, I warrant you; all the places +are taken, and each one has a right to his own. Unless Ppis will let +you have his corner for the night, I really don't see how you are going +to manage it." + +"Why not, pray?" exclaimed a voice from another corner. "Of course I +will, if I get well paid for it!" + +Ppis was a gipsy felon, already pretty advanced in years, his +complexion wrinkled and tanned like parchment, yet his hair was quite +black, and his teeth shone like ivory. + +"Bravo, Ppis!" cried the old man, while the lithe gipsy crawled between +the others and grinned at Rby. + +"Don't have any fear, Ppis," said Tsajkos, "the gentleman will pay you, +sure enough; he has no end of money. How much do you want for your +place?" + +The gipsy did not hesitate. "A ducat a day," he retorted promptly. + +Rby began to enter into the humours of the situation. He reflected a +minute on the proposal. + +"That is not much, after all," he said politely. + +"Ah, you are the right sort, you are," cried old Tsajkos. "I only hope +you'll be long with us. You shall just see what a good place we'll make +for you against the wall with no one on the other side, and my knees can +be your pillow. We can't do feather beds down here, or even run to +straw, but one sleeps soundest on the bricks after all." + +"But where will Ppis sleep himself?" + +For all his own misery, Rby could not repress the question. + +The whole crew burst out laughing. As soon as they had stilled their +mirth, the prisoners looked at each other embarrassed, and then at their +leader to explain. + +The old man smiled slily. + +"Where will Ppis sleep? Why, in the bucket, to be sure, up above +there," he answered. + +Rby looked up, and saw from the roof two chains hanging, through the +links of which two poles were thrust, and on these hung the great bucket +in which every evening the prisoners had to carry the water needed in +the kitchen of the Assembly House above. + +They showed him how Ppis got up. One of the prisoners seized the little +gipsy by the legs and hauled him up to the roof, after which, Ppis took +the cover off the bucket, crawled inside, and disappeared from sight. + +Rby was still more astonished. + +"But how can the man sleep in that pail?" he asked, puzzled. + +Everyone laughed, but quickly suppressed it, and all looked again rather +sheepish. + +Tsajkos patted Rby's cheek patronisingly with his greasy hand, and +cried, + +"Bless my stars! what a simple greenhorn it is; Ppis will sleep sounder +to-night, thanks to you, on a comfortable bed." + +"How may that be?" + +"I'll whisper it in your ear. He will leave this place this evening on +your account." + +"On my account, how can that be?" cried Rby astounded. + +"Ay, sure enough, and come back early to-morrow morning again." + +"Why, how is it possible?" + +"That's not our affair. All that matters is he will come back. He does +this whenever some poor devil has a message to send to anyone outside. +To-day Ppis will do it for you. Do you want to send a letter to anyone? +Have it ready, and he'll see they get it. And what is more, you can +trust him with gold; he'll bring back what you give him, even were it a +hundred ducats, all safe and sound. The Emperor himself has no more +trusty courier." + +Rby's head began to whirl. How if he should take this means of +informing Joseph of his present situation? + +"Yes, but how can I write a letter?" he exclaimed anxiously; "they have +not left me a single morsel of paper, or even a pencil-end." + +"Ay, you shall have any amount, only turn your head away, and don't look +where I get it from; we don't want new-comers to learn these things all +at once." + +The prisoners were already bent on widening their dungeon by breaking +through the roof with implements which Ppis had procured for them. They +had removed first one stone and then another from the roof, and each +night and morning the stones were laid back in their places, in order to +arouse no suspicion, the clefts being hidden with bits of bread, and the +breach carefully strewn with mortar dust. The warder would thus not +notice it. In the cavity from which two of the stones had been removed, +they kept the more dangerous implements required for the work, and +likewise the writing materials. + +A table was also improvised for Rby. At a sign from the old man, one of +the prisoners, a broad-backed fellow, placed himself on all fours in +front of him, so that Rby could make a desk of his shoulders. + +"To whom is this letter addressed," inquired Tsajkos. + +"To Abraham Rotheisel, in the Jewry," returned Rby. + +"It will be all right. Take it, Ppis!" + +The little gipsy stretched his arm from under the lid of the bucket, and +seized the letter. + +How he was ever going to get out with it was a mystery which Rby did +not pretend to fathom, but the gipsy clambered down again from his +hiding-place. It was growing dark. + +The prisoners prepared a sleeping-place for Rby in a corner, spreading +a bit of old sheepskin on the floor, so that he might not find it too +hard. + +When the guard was changed at six o'clock, and the great outer gate was +closed, a rattling of keys was heard without, and the gaoler came into +the dungeon to visit the prisoners and bring them their food. He came +first to Rby, tested the fetters on his hands and feet to see if they +were fast and then handed him a piece of black bread. + +But the new-comer did not feel hungry and threw it away. + +While the gaoler tried the fetters, two prisoners hauled the bucket +down, and the gipsy slipped into it under the lid. + +Then the two men took the poles on their shoulders, and accompanied by +an armed warder, their chains clanking as they went, marched to the +well, Rby wondering the while how Ppis was feeling during this +expedition. + +He had leisure for reflection, for he did not get a wink of sleep the +whole night; how indeed could he close his eyes in this horrible place? + +He had full scope for his imagination, for he knew every nook and corner +of the building, so familiar to him since his boyhood's days, from the +great council hall to the dainty little parlour, where the +spinning-wheel had hummed its well-remembered song. Only up till now had +the subterranean part remained unexplored ground to him; now he had had +the chance of seeing it for himself. How long was he to remain here? +That was the question. It was certain the Emperor would take steps to +free him, once he had his letter. But it would take at least four days, +two there and two back, and a day more for Rotheisel to convey the +missive to the Kaiser. Full five days therefore he would have to spend +in that frightful hole. But what would have been his thoughts could he +have foreseen how long his captivity was to endure? He would surely have +dashed his head against the wall in despair. + +At last day began to break, and the rattling of keys and the gaoler's +footsteps were again audible outside. One night had gone! + +Then the orders for the day were given as to which of the prisoners were +to sweep the court, and which to carry water. + +Two of them thereupon lifted the bucket again on their shoulders, and +off they went, their fettered footsteps echoing along the corridor. +Those left had now more room, so they stretched themselves and tried to +sleep once again, for it would be some time before the others returned +to the cell. + +It would soon be the hour for the gaoler to come again on his rounds, +and Rby began to dread lest he should note one of the party were +missing. But none were wanting. When the roll was called, the little +gipsy rose from a corner where he had apparently been huddled up, and +showed an abnormally distended grin on his brown face. + +Directly the gaoler's back was turned, the gipsy wriggled up to him and +produced from one side of his mouth a many folded note; from the other a +roll of fifty ducats. No wonder he had grinned so broadly. He lay both +in Rby's hands. + +Rby could fairly have embraced the mannikin, repulsive as he was. The +note, however, contained nothing more than these words: "To-day, steps +will be taken," and by the side of it, the cipher which represented +fifty ducats. Moreover, not one of the latter was missing. + +How in the world had the fellow managed it all? But this demands another +chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + +That a prisoner should break bounds in the evening, return again the +next morning, and be present each time the roll is called, with fetters +properly rivetted on hands and feet seems, humanly speaking, an +impossible feat to achieve. + +But Ppis was quite ready to tell how he had managed it. While the +gaoler had been occupied with testing the fetters of each prisoner, he +had crawled noiselessly into the bucket which stood close at hand. In +the half-dark cell no one could have noted his disappearance. + +When the examination was over, two prisoners lifted the bucket and +carried it to the well, which was one worked by means of a pulley, the +chains which let the bucket up and down clanked, and the axle creaked so +loudly that under cover of the noise, and unseen in the tub, Ppis could +strip off his fetters, for there were no rings too narrow for the pliant +gipsy to draw his hands and feet through. Then the carriers removed the +lid of the receptacle and began to fill it from that of the well-bucket, +taking care the while that the heydukes could not see there was anything +else inside. They had of course to pour the water over the gipsy, and +as it came up to his chin when the bucket was full, he held his missives +tightly between his jaws. + +The two prisoners then carried it into the assembly house, where it was +emptied into a water-tub. If a maidservant happened to be lounging in +the kitchen by any chance, the two men would deliberately frighten her +away by their foul talk. The water-tub stood close to the mouth of an +oven; whilst the two others transferred the water from the bucket into +the tub, the gipsy slipped away as nimbly as a squirrel into the oven, +clambered up the chimney, and waited there till the coast was clear. + +As soon as he heard the pass-word shouted from the guard in the +courtyard below, he knew that it must be ten o'clock. So he clambered up +out of the top of the chimney on to the roof of the Assembly House, as +far as the gable-end. In the yard of the building stood an ancient +pear-tree, which the governor would not cut down, as it bore an +excellent crop of pears every year, although it was obviously dangerous +in the neighbourhood of prisoners. Ppis swung himself dexterously from +the roof on to this tree, whose branches jutted out over the two fathoms +of wall which shut in the court towards the street, that had now to be +scaled. + +But the returning was a more difficult matter than the setting out in +this case, for Ppis had not only to break out of prison, but the next +morning to break in again, which is a different matter. + +And this was how he managed it. The pear-tree had a great hollow in its +trunk, and in this a rope-ladder was hidden; this, the gipsy wound round +an overhanging bough, laid himself flat on the edge of the wall, and +waited till the guard, who patrolled the space below, had turned his +back. Then he let down the ladder, and slid along it into the street +below. + +But this would doubtless have been seen by the sentry the next time he +passed by, so to obviate this peril, the cunning Ppis fastened a string +to the other end of the ladder. As soon as he reached _terra firma_, he +threw the ladder back. The dun-coloured string which fell down over the +wall no one was likely to notice in the dark. + +By the time the sentry had returned, the gipsy was in the neighbouring +street. From there it was easy to reach the Jewry direct, and find the +way to Abraham Rotheisel's. + +He returned by the way he had come up the ladder over the wall, over the +pear-tree on to the roof, through the chimney into the kitchen of the +Assembly House, and into the bucket again, and so back into the dungeon. +When the gaoler came for his morning rounds, Ppis lay fettered hand and +foot in his accustomed place. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + +Abraham Rotheisel hastened to Vienna as fast as the lumbering diligence +could carry him. He lost no time in presenting himself before the +Emperor. + +Before long, the courier was on his way back, furnished with a document +which the Emperor had signed and sealed himself, after he had heard of +the dismal situation in which Rby found himself. + +This important missive soon found its way to the governor. + +"Eh, what is this?" demanded his Excellency, as he recognised the +superscription and private seal of the Kaiser. He was just in the act of +dictating to his secretary, so put the imperial missive into a basket, +which was filled with documents of all sorts, and went on with his +dictation, pacing up and down the room the while. + +He was just trying to finish, when the district commissioner entered +without any announcing. + +"Has your Excellency received a courier from his Majesty?" he asked +abruptly. + +"I have." + +"What does he say?" + +"How should I know?" + +"Where is the letter?" + +"Where all the others are." And he lifted the cover from the basket and +pointed to the collection within of yet unopened correspondence. + +The district commissioner raised his hands with a little deprecating +gesture, as he whispered anxiously: "But your Excellency, these are in +the Emperor's handwriting; they should not lie here; they are urgent, +surely?" + +His Excellency looked at the speaker as a fencer measures his +antagonist. + +"Urgent, are they?" + +The district commissioner looked puzzled. + +"Your Excellency," he began, "this affair is not done with. His Majesty +has sent a second letter to me by special courier, and I have read it. +He orders me in it to come to you immediately, and express the gravest +disapproval that Mathias Rby, notwithstanding the imperial safe +conduct, has been made a prisoner and placed in the dungeon of the +Assembly House, among the scum of convicted criminals. I am to take care +that he is released, and that he is allowed to defend himself as a free +man without hindrance." + +"That procedure won't be according to our laws." + +"Perhaps not, but in view of the accusation brought against Rby, his +Majesty orders that he be detained in a place of confinement more +befitting his rank and calling." + +"That shall be done," said his Excellency, and therewith he rang the +bell. + +The lackey answered it, and he gave him the order: + +"Go at once to the Assembly House at Pesth, and tell the lieutenant he +is to wait on me immediately." + +Then he turned to his interrupted dictation as a sign his guest could +go. + +An hour after this, Mr. Lasky was announced. He had come to represent +the Council, as the latter was engaged over the vintage. + +His Excellency looked ready to eat his visitor. + +"What is all this foolery in the dungeon of the Assembly House, pray? Is +this the way you keep order? Mathias Rby has only been imprisoned four +days, yet already the Emperor has had a letter from him, telling him all +about the thieves' den where he is shut up. Could you not manage things +better, and fetter him so that he could not write a letter, even if he +had pencil and paper?" + +Mr. Lasky stammered and stuttered and lamely excused himself, and +finally got enraged, and vowed to himself he would soon find a way out +of this business. + +He tramped back to the Assembly House, and after a short confab with the +gaoler, new arrangements were soon made regarding Rby. + +Among the underground vaults was a cell where wood was kept, but this +was hastily turned out. The little vault had an iron door, with a tiny +air-hole in the middle, so small it could hardly be seen, and the door +could be locked fast. A more fitting place for Rby could not be found. + +Our hero had already passed four days in the company of criminals, and +was counting the minutes and hours till the Emperor's orders should +arrive which were to free him from this frightful hole. And now the time +as it seemed had come. + +He was eating his supper of rice soaked in water--the usual prison +fare--when they came to fetch him. But they only rivetted shorter +fetters on his hands and feet alike, led him down into a deeper vault, +and thrust him into a cold, dark, mouldy cellar, wherein not a single +ray of sunlight, nor the sound of a human voice could penetrate. + +Yes, this was a worse place than that he had longed to escape from. +Above there, they might be evil men, but at least they had had human +faces. Their words had been hateful indeed, but they had been human +voices that uttered them. + +When they clanged the door behind him, and the cold, dark, deathlike +silence closed around him, Rby lost consciousness. + + * * * * * + +In the afternoon the district commissioner again called on his +Excellency, who was engaged in his favourite game of billiards. + +"Dare I venture?" began his visitor. + +"It is all right. Rby is transferred into another cell. Now just watch, +my friend, what a good shot I shall make." + +"Yes, but perhaps they've put him in a worse one still?" + +But his Excellency was looking after his ball, for he knew what he was +about at billiards, and scored heavily. + +The next day the district commissioner went to the Assembly House to +investigate the sort of cell Rby had been removed to. But when he could +not find it, and moreover, could, by no means whatever obtain from the +officials where the prisoner might be housed, he went again to the +governor to demand an explanation. + +This led to recriminations between the two functionaries as to the +respective limits of their jurisdictions, and they parted on very cool +terms. + +"I don't envy his next visitor," whispered the secretary to one of his +colleagues, "whoever it is, he won't get a warm welcome." + +And sure enough, one was just then announced. + +The governor was busy writing to the Kaiser, and he resented this +intrusion. + +"Excellency, it is a petitioner," ventured the secretary timidly. + +"Send him to the devil, then!" + +"But it is a young lady, Excellency." + +"I don't want any young ladies here. What the deuce does she want with +me, I should like to know?" + +But the secretary whispered a name that caused the angry governor to +spring up hastily, and ask: + +"What is she doing here? Has anyone come with her?" + +"Excellency, she is alone." + +"Alone? Let her come in, then." + +It is easy to guess who the stranger lady was. She wore her ordinary +morning-gown, just as she had slipped out from her household duties, +without anyone knowing, but in her blue eyes lay woe unutterable. + +And it was only with those same eyes that she spoke; not a word did she +utter; not a gesture did she make. She sank at the feet of that hard +man, and seized his hands in both of hers, and hid her face and wept at +his feet. + +"Come, come, this won't do, little one! I can't have tears! Now, child, +tell me" (he was her godfather), "what brings you here alone? How if +anyone met you in the street? What is it? What is the matter? Can you +not say a word? Shall I have to talk instead? Shall I guess what it is +you want? You come here on behalf of that scoundrel, Rby, eh? Nay, +there's no dungeon deep enough for him, the rogue, the graceless knave, +the good-for-nothing that he is----" + +But Mariska--for it was she--suddenly pressed both hands over the +speaker's mouth to stop his denunciations. + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed his Excellency maliciously. "So you've come in +case I am treating him too harshly, have you? Never mind, he shall +carry fifty pounds weight of chains on his feet before we've done with +him." + +But at these words the poor girl pressed her hands to her heaving breast +in dumb entreaty, and her breath came in short gasps. + +"Come now, don't cry, it's all right," whispered the stern old man, as +softened by her grief, he kindly drew her to him. "Foolish child, were +you really so fond of him? There, there, rest easy, we will deal gently +with him. Eh? if you go on like this, I shall want to throttle the +fellow outright. Silly child, can't you forget him? Ah, Rby, you may +thank your stars you've got such an advocate, otherwise the Emperor +himself hadn't been able to help you." + +His visitor uttered a little smothered cry of joy: + +"My dear, good, kind godfather!" she murmured, as she covered the horny +hand with grateful kisses. + +"Why, how pleased she is! Silly child that you are!" + +He rang the bell, and a secretary appeared. + +"Sit down and write thus: + + "'TO THE LIEUTENANT OF THE PRISON. + + "'By this present, I instruct your worship that you + cause the noble prisoner, Mathias Rby, to be released + from the cell where he at present is confined, freed + from irons, and be forthwith put in a place of + honourable custody befitting his rank, till his trial + takes place.' + +"You will take the letter immediately to Pesth, and you will remain +there till you have seen with your own eyes that the prisoner is +transferred to proper custody, and further, will say, that I, myself, +shall follow in half an hour's time to see whether my orders have been +executed." + +The secretary hastened away to fulfil his commission. + +Mariska was beside herself with joy. + +"So my foolish god-daughter is satisfied at last, is she? Go back to +your pastry-making, for I want some cakes badly. Yet no more tears, +please! But come back with me," he added, "and I'll take you home. When +your father hears you've been to me to plead for Rby, he'll be mighty +angry. So you had better let me take you back and smooth it over for you +at home. But I tell you, you must promise to put the fellow out of your +thoughts! No, no, I'm not going to say anything against him; for pity's +sake let's have no more weeping. Rest easy, no harm shall happen to him. +He'll soon be set at liberty, and go back to Vienna, and then he'll +cease to trouble us." + +The girl's only answer was a deep sigh. + +His Excellency led his god-daughter downstairs, and placed her in the +coach which was waiting for them. And little Mariska returned home in +state. + +Janosics, the castellan, met his Excellency at the gate of the Assembly +House, and bareheaded, bowed low before him. + +"What about the prisoner, Rby?" asked the governor shortly. + +"He is already conveyed to number three on the first floor, your +Excellency," was the respectful answer. + +His Excellency nodded, took his companion by the hand, and led her +indoors. + +Trhalmy knew nothing, and was astonished beyond measure at seeing the +governor with his daughter. + +"I'm bringing your little deserter back," said her god-father, +jestingly. "Don't be angry with her! Judge the case for yourself; she +came upon me unawares with her cause, and who could withstand such +pleading, eh?" + +The head-notary now understood. Father and daughter looked for a minute +at each other, then the girl threw her arms round his neck. + +He kissed her forehead, and whispered: + +"You were the only one who could do it!" + +It was a consoling word for her. Yes, if everyone else in the world had +the right to persecute and vex the prisoner, she, at least, had the +equal right to protect and console him. + +She said nothing, but ran away into the kitchen. + +Their guest could hear that outside a hen was being killed, and guessed +what was going forward. He stopped on chatting with Trhalmy, so that +Mariska should have time to fulfil her kindly task. When she re-entered +the room, after half an hour's absence, her face was red, as if she had +been standing over the fire--or was it some deeper cause? Her +god-father patted her cheek, and promised to come again, as he took his +leave. + +But he would not permit his host to accompany him, for he wanted to go +and see the culprit for himself, so he made his way to cell number +three. + +It was a pleasant spacious room, with two beds in it, as well as other +furniture. There was no one else in it but Rby. + +He was seated at the table, and eating a freshly cooked fowl, which he +seemed to be relishing mightily. + +But when the governor entered, the prisoner rose, and was evidently +anxious to show a brave front. + +"Your humble servant," murmured his guest, as he looked round the room. +"Well, is your worship content with your new quarters, pray?" + +"As far as any man who is innocent of the crime whereof he is accused +can be content with his prison," answered Rby. + +"Ah well, that will be proved at the trial. But at least as long as the +affair lasts you are well lodged here, I hope. Also you have something +to eat, I see, and some clean linen." + +"I fancy my former serving-maid must have brought it for me from home. +She was a very devoted servant." + +"Oh, you think it's she, do you? Well, there are other devoted people in +the world who remember Mr. Rby's needs, I fancy, as well. Books too, I +see, and well-chosen ones. Well, there's a difference between this and +your earlier lodging at any rate." + +Rby felt the blood mount to his head, but he would not betray his +resentment. + +"My arrest was a wholly unjust one," he said bitterly. "If no regard is +shown to the Hungarian nobleman, at least, the imperial mandate should +be respected." + +"So you think that the turn for the better your affairs have taken is +owing to the Emperor's intervention, do you?" + +"I am convinced that his Majesty would not allow his devoted servant to +perish," answered Rby. + +"You are right in what you say of our illustrious sovereign; he is, +indeed, gracious. You soon found means, it seems, of advising the Kaiser +of your situation. I admire your promptness! The Emperor did not lose +time either; yesterday, early, I had his despatch in my hands." + +Rby's cheeks grew red with indignation. + +"And why, then, in spite of this, was I yesterday afternoon cast into a +far worse dungeon than the one I was taken from--a cold, dark hole, +where I fainted." + +"Yes, I know all about it. But I suppose you know what happened to the +Emperor's letter?" + +And his Excellency brought out of his pocket, the imperial missive, with +its great seal still unbroken, and held it out to the prisoner. + +"You have not even opened it!" + +"No, nor are any of them opened when they arrive. And I tell you +plainly, that all you write to the Emperor from here avails nothing. If +you have anything to quote from the Hungarian laws in your defence, do +it, and justify yourself. But every effort to act independently of those +same laws is worse than useless. It means only lost time and trouble, +and only rivets your fetters more closely. But at any rate your +captivity is bearable." + +Rby shook his head, and as the door closed on his guest, he buried his +face in his hands. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + +One morning there was an unwonted stir in "Number 3" cell. Some women +came in to scour the room and fleck away the cobwebs. Moreover, they +placed a fine silken coverlet over the second bed, and the warder came +and fixed a nail in the wall. A new prisoner was expected, they said. + +Rby was naturally curious to see what his room mate would be like; nor +had he long to wait. + +About eleven of the clock, arrived the expected captive; they could hear +him talking as he came along the corridor, and noted how the gaoler +kissed his hand respectfully, as he opened the door ceremoniously for +him. + +It seemed to Rby as if he had seen his face somewhere before, but he +could not remember where. The new-comer had his hair carefully powdered +and dressed in the fashionable cue, and he wore his rather +fierce-looking moustachios stiffened in the Turkish fashion. His dress +was, however, distinctly Hungarian, for his green coat, variegated hose, +and gold-laced boots were all in the prevailing Magyar mode. + +The heydukes who accompanied him all seemed at his service. One drew +out his pipe from a large leathern case, a second handed him his +snuff-box, a third his pocket-handkerchief, whilst yet another spread a +bearskin by the side of his bed, and set out bottles and boxes of +cosmetics in a row. The stranger appeared quite oblivious of the +presence of another person in the room, and comported himself as if the +whole Assembly House had belonged to him. + +The worthy Janosics evidently thought it time to repeat his instructions +to the captive, so that he might recognise his limitations. + +"May it please your worship, the prisoners are forbidden to smoke," he +said obsequiously. + +But his worship, ignoring the observation, remarked with a lordly air: +"If the tobacco runs out, just cut me fresh, will you, Janosics? But +don't leave it to the heydukes, they don't understand it as well as you +do. Good tobacco, mind, and don't let them bring inferior. My cook must +have my orders," he went on, but the castellan interrupted him +respectfully: + +"May it please your worship, the prisoners' meals consist of pudding +three times a week, and meat three times, with vegetable broth on +Fridays." + +"My cook, I say, must have my orders," went on the other, not heeding, +"and must make me fish-soup on Fridays, and I must have my wine sent in +at once." + +"May it please your worship, the prisoners are not allowed to drink +wine." + +But his protest availed little, for the new-comer proceeded airily: + +"And please, Janosics, see that the wine is well re-corked once it has +been opened. And take care there is some fresh water in the wine-cooler, +as well as plenty of it for washing." + +Then he looked round him. "Tell my cook to provide two covers; I don't +like eating by myself, and don't want other people to look on while I +dine." + +"The gentleman here is on invalid diet, and has light meals served from +upstairs," said the gaoler. + +Rby turned his back on the new-comer; he did not want him to think he +troubled his head about him. + +"Never mind that, let the dinner be served for two, I tell you, and +there will be all the more over for those who want it." + +"May it please your worship, the prisoners must go to bed at eight +o'clock every night, and make no noise, for the deputy-lieutenant lives +just overhead." + +"All right. But, Janosics, you must not let the prisoners go clanking up +and down the corridor with their chains; the noise gets on my nerves, I +can't stand it! Now you can go, and if I want anything, I'll just knock +on the door, so the guard had better be on the alert. But let them take +care to wipe their boots before coming in." + +The gaoler and heydukes blundered out of the room, and the new arrival +turned to look at his companion. He appeared a jovial sort of person, +and to be very genially disposed. + +"So it is Mr. Mathias Rby after all," murmured the stranger with a +smile. + +Rby looked sharply at him. "You have the advantage of me," he said. + +The new-comer laughed slily. "Ah, I recognise you well enough, but +perhaps you don't remember me, though we have met before?" + +Rby had to admit that he had no such recollection. + +"Ah, that's because I was--well, differently dressed, perhaps, yet it is +so, I can assure you, and what's more, I spoke four words to you, +although you have so short a memory for them." + +And the speaker sat down and began filling his pipe and lighting up for +a smoke. + +Rby in vain sought for a solution to the mystery. After the smoker had +taken a couple of pulls at the pipe, he went back to where our hero sat, +and planted himself on the window-ledge letting his legs dangle, while +his spurs rattled. + +"Is it possible they didn't tell you who the prisoner was that was to +share your cell?" he asked. + +"I did not even ask," admitted Rby, "who it might be." + +"Then I will tell you--his name is Karcsatji Miska." + +"Gyngym Miska?" + +"Don't make a mistake!" pursued the highwayman, "and think I let myself +be taken: I am here solely through my own fault. It's a strange story, +I'll tell you more about it later, I can't talk on an empty stomach!" + +And thereupon, he took out a big flask of brandy from a case, and +produced some glasses and white bread, and called upon his companion to +join him. + +But Rby stood coldly aloof. He could not forget that before him stood +the man who had so cruelly wronged him, the man who had been the chosen +lover of Fruzsinka! All the manly pride of his nature revolted at the +thought. Yet he could not help a feeling of satisfaction that the man +for once had been judged on his deserts, and what those were, Rby knew +only too well. But that his rival should be thus sharing his prison and +partaking the same fate--this was indeed a strange turn for events to +take. + +When dinner-time came the highwayman knocked on the wall for the +heydukes, who promptly responded to the signal, and hastened to serve +quite a luxurious meal, but Rby excused himself on the score of his +dining at a later hour. His host did not press him, but so vigorously +tackled the good fare, that soon the dishes were cleared completely. + +Rby, the while, had leisure to meditate on the course events had taken. +It gave an exquisite edge to his misery to be penned up in the same room +with a man he hated. + +Yet such a man, since he was still keeping up apparently his relations +with the world outside, could help him vastly, and would be a better +prop to rely on than the gipsy-carrier: he had simply to give letters to +the heydukes, and they would deliver them as bidden. Yet his better self +revolted at the notion of being helped by Karcsatji, for, in his inmost +soul, he had nothing but the bitterest contempt for this highway robber, +who had been the lover of Fruzsinka. No, he would receive no favours, +were it liberty itself, from such a hand! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + +As soon as Karcsatji had finished his meal, he turned to Rby. + +"Are you inclined for a chat, Mr. Rby?" he said, as he lighted his +pipe. "Because if you are, this will be our chance to discuss the world +in general, and our own corner of it in particular." + +"I am all attention," answered Rby coldly. + +"You will be still more so when you hear my story, I fancy. We two are +companions in adversity (only you have got over the worst of it), since +we are both the victims of a worthless woman, curse her!" + +"I will not curse her," said Rby quietly. + +"No? Then you are a man out of a thousand, but I am only of very +ordinary clay, I fear. And I am not the only one she has fooled. If I +mistake not, Petray is also in the same boat. But the fellow can talk as +well as I can ride--which is saying a good deal. And it is that precious +tongue of his which bewitches the women. Yet I have more to complain of +than you, I consider. She took refuge under the wing of Petray, and +meantime the fatal letter she had written to me was intercepted, in +consequence of which Lievenkopp and you both challenged me to a duel +near the old Zsmbk Church. The end of it was that Petray, as soon as +he heard how matters stood, let the lady know some home-truths, so that +for sometime they lived as man and wife, though leading a cat and dog +life. At last my lady became sick of this honey-mooning, and one fine +day she left Petray and came to me." + +Rby buried his face in his hands and groaned. How could he endure this +talk? + +"You need not bear me a grudge," said the other. "Know, by that time I +had given up robbery, and would have buried my ancient feud with the +law. I was seriously thinking about setting my house in order, and I +told my old companions to come no more to see me, and promised, if they +were in need, I would send out supplies to them in the forest. I was not +going to be 'Gyngym Miska' any longer, for I had made up my mind to +reform my way of life. Then it was that your runaway wife fled to my +protection. You were well rid of her, yet how many times I have cursed +you in thought. I knew it was a deadly sin to take another man's wife. +Small wonder that Fruzsinka brought me nothing but ill-luck. I gave her +to understand from the first, that I was changing my life, and I set +about building a church in our village, moreover I repented of my sins, +fasted, and did penance and abjured my old evil ways. But easy as it is +to befool women-kind, it is difficult to deceive them, if we want to get +rid of them. Their suspicions are so easily aroused. If I were Emperor, +I would trust the police-espionage to women. She began with +intercepting my correspondence. Good heavens! what an experience I had, +and I thought she would tear me to pieces. So angry was she that she +left me, and I naturally concluded she was going to be reconciled to +you." + +Rby ground his teeth. + +"I know now that she was not. She began to work me further mischief. Do +you know, that to her I owed the denunciations which were shortly +afterwards, from some mysterious source, made to the ecclesiastical +authorities against me, of blasphemy and sacrilege, and though the +charges were true enough, I am sorry to say, I did not reckon in +expiating my past sins so sharply. For it was on these very charges that +I was arrested by order of high ecclesiastical dignitaries and condemned +to two years imprisonment; and many a thaler has it cost me already to +avoid being put into irons." + +At these words he blew into his big pipe-bowl so energetically, that the +sparks flew up and illuminated his face in the darkness with a strangely +sinister light. + +"And now, friend Rby, who has the greater ground of complaint, you or +I?" + +He did not wait for an answer to his question, but began to curse away +furiously for some minutes with a virulence terrible to hear. When he +had finished his round of imprecations (and it was no limited one), he +threw himself on his bed and fell asleep. + +As for Rby, he pondered long and deeply all he had heard about his +faithless wife, and once more she seemed to be spinning beside him, yet +there was a grim satisfaction that others had suffered beside himself. +Was he not avenged on the highwayman at last, seeing that the biter was +bitten! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + +The Emperor sent urgent orders to the governor to set Mathias Rby free +immediately, so that the inquiry into the Szent-Endre frauds, +established on his accusation, could be brought to an end. + +The letter was laid by with the rest, as usual, unread. The governor +however hastened to answer that the orders would be executed in due +course--when the depositions of the municipality had been taken--an +explanation which satisfied the Emperor, who little knew what the "due +course" extended to. + +It really meant that the culprit Rby was brought out of his prison, not +to be freed, but rather to be fettered hand and foot. That is usual when +a prisoner is to be tried, and this was his first examination. + +In the presence of the whole court, and of the district commissioner, +they subjected him to an insidious cross-examination for fully four +hours, till he was ready to drop from sheer exhaustion. Only half of the +accusations brought against him would have sufficed for his +condemnation. + +Finally, he was conducted back to prison. He staggered into the room he +had left, but the gaoler called him back. + +"Oho, there, Mr. prisoner, that's not your cell. Those who wear irons +don't lodge there!" + +And he led him into a neighbouring cell whose door was furnished with +three massive locks, whilst the window was protected with iron bars and +a grating. The only furniture was a plank bed; of table or chairs, there +were none. The prisoner's books had not been sent in either. + +Although it was dinner-time, and he had eaten nothing, no dainty meal +awaited him, such as those he had been accustomed to, nor even was he +allowed the ordinary prison fare allotted to well-born culprits. A +heyduke brought in a great earthen pitcher with a crust of black bread. + +"Here you are, my fine sir," laughed the heyduke mockingly, but, as he +bent to set it down on the stone floor, he whispered, "The bottom comes +off!" + +Then he left him, carefully locking the door behind him. + +Now was Rby's wish fulfilled, he was rid of unpleasant company and was +alone. But solitude had been more welcome if they had allowed him his +books. As it was, he only had his own thoughts for company, and these +were not cheerful companions. + +Rby's soul was full of rage against the whole world, but most of all +was he angry with his own weak body that was so sensitive to hunger and +cold, that trembled at the thought of death, and felt the pressure of +its chains so keenly. Why could not he carry his body as defiantly as +he bore his soul within him? + +But he knew that he needed some support, therefore he began to eat +mechanically the black bread, but had it been the daintiest fare +possible, it had tasted all the same to him. Only when he raised the +pitcher to his lips, did he remember the words of the heyduke about the +"bottom coming off." He began to examine the pitcher, and presently, by +dint of close scrutiny, he found that it had a false bottom which +screwed on, and found a cavity in which was concealed a bottle of ink, +pen and paper. With them were some slices of cold meat, as well as a +note containing these words: "Fear nothing; the Emperor knows all. Your +friends will not forsake you. Write once more to the Emperor." + +Now he no longer feared solitude. The phantoms and fears which had +tormented him hitherto, vanished with the sight of pen and ink. A +written thought is a substantial friend. So he committed to paper all +that had befallen him, hid the writing again in the bottom of the +pitcher, and re-screwed it on. The meat, too, revived him, and the +consciousness that he was not left to his fate, and that he could still +communicate with the outer world, was strangely comforting. Who his +unknown friend might be, he could not conceive. It must be some one more +powerful than the weak girl whose part in this business his own heart +had already suggested to him. + +The next morning, in came the gaoler with the same heyduke, who carried +away the pitcher, and at mid-day brought him his rations as before. + +Rby could hardly wait till he had gone, to unscrew his pitcher. Sure +enough, he found some writing materials therein, and the money for +covering the fee of a special courier for his letter. His friends must +be wealthy people. + +He quickly hid all again, however, for steps were approaching his cell. + +The door opened, and three men came in, who proved to be Lasky, Petray, +and the lieutenant of Szent-Endre. The latter handed to Rby the bill of +his indictment. + +The prisoner immediately handed it back to him. + +"It is not you who are the accusers in this matter, but rather I," he +said haughtily. "It is for me to impeach you, not the reverse. I refuse +to accept it." + +"Take care," cried Lasky. "Weigh well the consequences of this +rejection. If you do not receive the indictment, we will soon tackle you +as a contumacious criminal." + +"I dare you to do it," returned Rby. + +"The man is a fool; he shall take it," cried Lasky, beside himself with +rage. + +Rby folded his arms proudly, so that they should not force it on him. + +"Mr. lieutenant, witness that he will not take it and draw up a warrant +of attainder for contumacity." + +The lieutenant proceeded to carry out these instructions. + +"And while you are about it, certify that I threw the document out of +the room," said Rby, suiting the action to the word. + +This was an unheard-of audacity. The three men withdrew uttering violent +threats. + +After a time, in came the castellan with a very long face. + +"Now I would not give a cracked nut for your chances," he cried. "They +are going to pronounce judgment immediately. The executioner has been +told to hold himself in readiness for to-morrow. We have martial law on +our side, and the Emperor himself cannot gainsay it." + +These words caused Rby to think over what he had done. It was, of +course, only too likely that their legal right could be strained before +the Emperor had any chance of interfering; in this case, he would have +lost his head before the latter could prevent it. The thought tormented +him the whole night through. The strong soul in vain reminded the weak +body which held it that dying was not to be feared, but philosophy +availed nothing before the thought of imminent death. + +The next morning found the prisoner restless and wakeful. It was hardly +day ere he heard a number of footsteps approaching his dungeon. The iron +door was thrown open, and a whole crowd burst into his cell, the +magistrate and the lieutenant among them, whilst following them, came a +man he took to be the public executioner of Pesth. + +A sudden faintness overcame him; all seemed to swim before his eyes, +and he heard nothing of what they said. The man who looked like the +executioner began to undress and roll up his shirt-sleeves. Rby +imagined they were going to execute him in prison. The +forbidding-looking wretch then called for assistance, and bid them bring +him his tools. + +Rby heaved a deep sigh and folded his arms across his breast, whereat +the whole company burst out laughing. The tools which the man had asked +for were a hammer, a trowel, and a tub of mortar. He was, in fact, no +executioner, but an ordinary mason, who was going to block up the window +in Rby's cell which overlooked the street, and bore an air-hole in the +ceiling. They were going to shut out the prisoner from the outside world +altogether. Henceforth his cell would receive no light but what fell +from the tiny opening over the door which gave into the court, and was +darkened with a narrow iron grating. + +Moreover, from this day forward, Rby was subjected to daily +cross-examination, and every means was tried to entangle him and make +him contradict himself. + +The twenty indictments first formulated against him rapidly lengthened +to treble that number. And so it went on for a month, nor did they ever +succeed in incriminating him. But it was a painful process for the +accused. + +One day the gaoler brought a bird into Rby's cell, a magpie, who by his +chattering mightily cheered the captive. The feathered guest sat on his +hand, and pecked his finger in a playful way as if it had been an old +friend. And Rby stroked the soft plumage tenderly, and he guessed it +was Mariska who had sent it to cheer his loneliness which had become +well-nigh unbearable, and he welcomed it as a comrade. Whilst he +listened to it, as it sat on his hand, he would almost forget the irons +that fettered them, and would, on his return from the court each day, +whistle to his little friend on re-entering his cell. + +But one day there was no answer to his greeting; all was silent. Rby +sought for his pet in every corner of the cell, and at last found the +bird strangled, tied to the iron grating, killed by his enemies because +of the pleasure it had given him. + +Had Rby seen one of his own kith and kin dead before him, he could not +have grieved more than he did for this feathered friend. Nor did he get +any sympathy from the gaoler, who only laughed when he heard of it. But +Rby implored him not to tell Mariska of the fate of her pet. + +That official, however, promptly reported the whole affair to Mariska, +and took care to carry her the dead bird. Bitterly she wept over her +favourite, but remembering her father might see she had been crying, she +soon dried her eyes. + +But Rby must not be alone; that was the main thing. So she did not long +delay in sending another feathered pet, a titmouse this time, in a +cage, which she intrusted to the gaoler to carry to the prisoner, but on +no account to let him know who sent it. As if Rby would not guess! + +The warder placed the cage on the prisoner's bed, murmured some excuse +for bringing it, and left him. He did not see Rby fall upon his knees +before the cage in a transport of almost hysterical joy. And the little +bird soon became as dear to him as the magpie had been. + +But one evening, when he came in from the wearisome cross-examination +that seemed as if it would never end, lo, and behold, there lay the +titmouse dead in his cage. Someone had fed him with poisoned flies. + +Rby implored the gaoler not to bring him any more birds. Henceforth he +determined not to have these feathered friends sacrificed to him. + +All the same, he soon found another pet in the shape of a little mouse, +which, like himself, lived in captivity. At first it only timidly put +its head out of its hole, and glided shyly and warily along the side of +the wall; gradually, however, it perceived that the cell's occupant had +strewn bread-crumbs on the floor, and furtively yet nimbly it picked +them up. And by degrees it came nearer to the prisoner, and presently +ventured to run up his knees and dared to eat the crumbs that the +stranger hand held, and finally, in that same hand, sat on its hind +legs, looking at Rby with the most whimsical expression imaginable on +its diminutive face. + +Poor Rby! The mouse might well look at him; perhaps it wondered who +this haggard, unkempt man was, with the tangled growth of unshaven beard +and lank hair drooping over the hollow eyes, framing a pale, lean face, +disfigured by suffering. + +This was the beginning of their strange friendship. The mouse would +sport round him the whole day, or gambol about on his shoulder, and at +night, would, as he lay on his plank bed, watch him from the ceiling, +with bright, friendly eyes. Did Rby call to it, it would answer him +with a little responsive squeak, and try to gnaw the links of the chain +that bound the prisoner, with its tiny teeth. But did anyone enter, the +mouse would hurry back into its hole. + +But alas, there came a time when he had to lose even this humble +companion. One evening he missed him, and only found the poor little +beast dead in a corner--someone, apparently, having placed rat-poison in +its hole. What the prisoner's feelings were, words do not express; his +whole heart welled over with bitterness at this fresh proof of the +malice of his enemies. They were, indeed, evil hearts that could find +their pleasure in thus tormenting their victim. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + +When the points in Rby's indictment had mounted up to eighty, he +thought it time to make his protest to the presiding judge: + +"I am shattered in mind and body alike; I desire to withdraw the +accusation I have made, seeing it in no wise profits the oppressed +people in whose interests I lodged it, but rather tends to their further +hurt." + +"That avails nothing," was the answer. "The accusation has been +presented to the Emperor, and the complainant must justify it. Is the +treasure to which the impeachment relates, found, a third of it falls to +the informer; is the information thus lodged proved to be false, the +informer forfeits his head forthwith. So out with your proofs!" + +"Proofs? How can I furnish them I should like to know, fettered as I am, +from a dungeon?" cried Rby in desperation. "Are not all my documents in +the hands of my enemies? Have not the archives of Szent-Endre been +destroyed, and my private papers abstracted, so that I am denied all +means of procuring the proofs I need?" + +"How do you know that?" asked the judge, dumbfoundered. + +"I know it only too well. Nay, I know too, it happened at the +instigation of the authorities." + +"This is the gravest evidence we have yet had of your guilt," cried the +judge; "this shows you have held intercourse with the outside world, +although forbidden by the law to do so." + +"It only proves I am right," retorted the prisoner. + +"Pray who are your accomplices who helped you in your correspondence?" +demanded his accuser angrily. + +"No one and everyone body. The bare walls, the air itself, the iron +door, my fetters, my guards--all are my accomplices if you like to call +them so." + +"Well, we will just make your chains a little faster so you can't move +about quite so easily, my friend, that's all." + +"That avails you nothing," exclaimed Rby. "Their clanking sounds even +now in the ears of one who is your imperial lord and master, and will +shortly be here in his city of Pesth to sit in judgment upon you. Let +the guilty tremble before him, I have no need to do so." + +These bold words enraged the judge beyond measure. How did Rby know +that the Emperor was about to come to Pesth for the military manoeuvres, +and there review the troops in person. Did he know as well that the +Szent-Endre people were only biding their time to send a deputation to +the Kaiser to ask for Rby's release, and to demand an inquiry into the +conduct of the Pesth authorities in imprisoning him. It never occurred +to them that an ordinary water-pitcher with a false bottom held the +letters which Rby wrote and received, and that each heyduke who carried +it, was an involuntary courier. + +In vain did they interrogate the heyduke who brought it, and ordered him +to be beaten; for each stroke the man received, he was sent by some +unknown hand a gold piece, so he was not inclined to complain. + +When the Emperor did arrive in Pesth, the following August, he learned +with surprise that his emissary was still detained in prison. He +straightway sent for the head magistrate, expressed his displeasure, and +ordered Rby's immediate release on pain of all the authorities of the +city being dismissed from office. This was an order which had to be +obeyed. + +So forthwith in the Emperor's presence, the mandate was sent that +Mathias Rby be immediately released from custody. The command was +peremptory and admitted of no evasion. + +But the next night someone thrust under the door of Rby's cell, a note +containing these words: + +"Be ready this night! Your true friends are coming to fetch you away. +They will overpower the gaoler, take away the keys from him, and set you +free." + +"But it is evident," reflected Rby, "this is not from my friends; we +don't conduct our correspondence like this. They have heard the Emperor +has ordered my release, and now they want to convict me of trying to +escape by force." And he gave the letter to the gaoler. + +But, alas, it only made an excuse for a fresh inquisition, and they +based on it the pretence of "a plot against the public safety." +Moreover, it was held to justify a still more rigorous treatment of the +prisoner, who on this fresh charge of conspiring with bandits, was +declared to have merited imprisonment anew. And the inquiry which +followed lasted late into the autumn, whilst the Emperor was too much +occupied in his fresh war with the Turks to be aware of this new turn of +affairs. + +And Rby's fetters were meantime rivetted more closely than ever, so +that he could not write any more, and his wretched prison fare grew +worse and worse. The winter too had come, and the prisoner was well-nigh +frozen in his cell, for the dungeon was not warmed, and he had only his +summer clothing which was now in tatters. On his complaining of the cold +to the judges, they gave orders that Rby's cell should be heated three +times a day. + +The end of it was that they placed a stove in the cell which was so +violently overheated that it burst, and Rby had to press his face to +the wall in desperation to cool his scorched brow. Yet he could have +escaped had he chosen, for the door of his cell was often left open, as +if to abet his flight. But Rby, when he did leave prison, meant to +leave it proudly and fearlessly, as an innocent man who is rightfully +acquitted before his country's tribunal, not as a fugitive. + +One day the gaoler came in to say that permission had been given for the +prisoner to be shaved, and for his irons to be removed--a grace for +which Rby hardly knew how to be thankful enough. It was a deadly pale, +if clean-shaven face that the barber's mirror reflected, but small +wonder, seeing that Rby had not seen the sunlight for a year and a +half. This luxury was followed by an amelioration of his prison fare, +and fresh bedding, for both of which benefits, especially the last, he +was duly grateful, for it meant a good night's rest. + +However, that very night, Rby was awakened from his first sleep by a +tremendous rattling at his cell door, and the next minute it was burst +open, and the light of the full moon flooded his dungeon. The prisoner +thought he must be dreaming, but the same instant the cell was suddenly +filled by a band of masked men in Turkish attire, with huge turbans on +their heads, and armed with an array of weapons, including swords and +muskets. + +Rby was wondering in what language to address his strange visitors, +when one of them accosted him in Serb, and then Hungarian. + +"Fear nothing, Mr. Rby. We are true friends from Szent-Endre, and have +bribed the guard and occupied the Assembly House. We have come to set +you free from this wretched dungeon by the Emperor's orders." + +"But I do not wish to purchase my freedom by force," answered the +captive, "and if the Emperor wished to deliver me, it would surely not +be by masqueraders sent by night, but by his accredited emissaries in +the full light of day." + +"Here's the order signed by the Emperor," and the head of the band of +maskers handed Rby a document which contained detailed and definite +instructions anent the Szent-Endre affair, set forth in Serb, which was +the Emperor's favourite language. + +Rby protested against the idea of flight, but they overpowered his +resistance, and made a show of armed force. "Silence, or you are a dead +man," was their only answer to his protestations, and the prisoner, weak +and enfeebled as he was by his privations, and dazed by the sudden +surprise which had thus overtaken him, fell at last in a dead faint and +lost all consciousness. + +When he came to himself, he was dressed as a woman, in the coloured +bodice and embroidered apron of the Serb peasant girl, and his hair tied +with gay ribbons; it was for this, no doubt, that he had been shaven. + +Rby's entreaties availed nothing. In vain he implored them to desist, +and reminded them the military would be sent to overtake them, and then +all would be over! His representations achieved nothing with his +rescuers, and finally a rough, but powerful-looking fellow of the party +seized Rby and carried him off on his back out of the cell, followed +by the whole crew shouting and howling. The inhabitants of the Assembly +House must have been stone deaf, had they not been aroused by the +tumult. The band dashed in the moonlight through the court and gateway, +past the guard-room where four-and-twenty were wont to sleep, without +being questioned by a single soul as to their escapade. + +It was towards the Kecskemt gate that they hurried, as the likeliest +one to be open, so as to get off thus with least delay, and thence away +to the river-bank. + +At that time, communication with the other side of the Danube was kept +up by a so-called "flying-bridge," that was a work of art in its archaic +way, consisting of a flat raft-like contrivance, whereto was attached a +thick cable, which half a dozen small boats served to keep out of the +water. Behind the last boat, at the so-called "Nun's Ferry," below Hare +Island, the cable was fast anchored. Linked to this cable, the raft was +towed by a single oar to and fro. At night the ferry was not generally +used and the ferry-men were not there, but this time they were at their +posts ready for the expected passengers. The masked Turks took their +places on it without delay, and off they drifted. + +Poor Rby was trembling in every limb, principally from the bitter cold +of the December night, which, after his long confinement from the outer +air, struck his senses with the sharpness of a knife. Moreover, he was +not quite sure that these strange rescuers would not throw him +overboard into the river, to find there an unknown and unhonoured grave. + +However, they did nothing of the kind, but the party reached the other +side safely. There horses, ready saddled, awaited them, and a coach and +four. Three of the sham Turks sprang into the vehicle, and dragged Rby +with them. The rest mounted the horses, and they took the way along the +Old Buda road. + +One of the escort had the kindness to throw his cloak over the freezing +prisoner, the coach leading the way, the riders following. But gradually +the horsemen dropped off till, when they reached Vrsvr, not one was +to be seen. + +By this time the released prisoner had succumbed to the unaccustomed +strain on his already exhausted and overwrought nerves, and had lost all +consciousness of what was going on around him, so that he had to be +lifted out of the carriage in a swoon when they stopped at an inn. + +When he awoke from his stupor late the next morning, he was in a +comfortable bed. Only two of his late companions were to be seen, and +they no longer wore Turkish dress, but the garb of the well-to-do Serb +peasant, and, indeed, turned out to be respectable peasant-proprietors +of Szent-Endre. + +Yet neither their names nor faces were known to Rby. + +For the rest, his two guardians showed themselves full of consideration +for their patient. They procured him warm clothing, caused light +invalid food to be prepared for him, and begged him not to be too +anxious to try his strength with the journey. When Rby had sufficiently +rested, the coachman received orders to drive slowly, so that it might +not exhaust the traveller, and they set out again, not without many +misgivings from the fugitive as to whether they could not be overtaken +and their flight intercepted. + +One of his companions, who told him his name was Kurovics, besought him +to make his mind easy on this score. He pointed out how they would get +the start of the authorities before these could mobilise their forces. +Then no one knew of the disguise in which Rby had escaped; from the +description which the Pesth court would issue for his recovery, no one +would recognise him, so he had no cause for fear. + +They only made two stages a day, so that the journey to Pozsony (which +was their goal,) lasted eight days, through resting at the inns on the +road. His companions gave themselves out as pig-dealers, and said Rby +was their cousin. The third day they fell in with a party of armed +heydukes who were searching for their charge. They stopped the +cavalcade, and told them of their quest. At each wayside inn Rby could +read the notice which posted him up as a criminal and outlaw, for whose +identification a reward of two hundred ducats was offered. To his +relief, the description of him corresponded to the appearance he had +presented in prison, with an over-grown beard, tangled hair, and pale +face, wearing a faded silk coat. Little did his pursuers imagine that in +the shy Serb maiden, with her cheeks painted red, who understood nothing +but her native tongue, that the fugitive they sought stood before them. +More than once it even happened that Rby and his pursuers slept under +the same roof. + +Meantime, he became more and more attached to his two friends, whose +worth he began to realise increasingly. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + +The fugitives had only one more station to accomplish before they +reached the Austrian frontier, where the Hungarian jurisdiction ceased. +Was there trouble at the frontier over Rby's identification, at least +it meant that he would be taken to Vienna to prove it, and not back to +Pesth. + +They heard from travellers they met on the way that the Emperor was back +in the capital, owing to the army being in winter quarters, and +hostilities against the Turks being suspended for the time being. Rby, +thereupon grew more anxious than ever as to his possible reception by +the Kaiser, whose concurrence he still doubted in his forcible rescue, +though, by this, the Emperor had doubtless seen that his formal orders +availed nothing, and he probably thought it impolitic to use military +force to free his representative. + +It was revolving such thoughts in his mind, that Rby and his guides +came to the wayside inn where they were to pass their last night on +Magyar territory. It was a poor little "csrda," as such hostelries are +called in Hungary, between Pozsony and Hainburg, wherein only now and +again travellers passed the night, driven thereto by stress of weather. +The accommodation left much to be desired, and its reputation was none +of the best. It was whispered, indeed, that travellers had been murdered +and waylaid there, and even now the host was serving his term in the +Pozsony prison, where he was a frequent inmate. In his absence, his wife +looked after the inn. + +There was no proper sleeping-rooms, so the guests had to rest on the +straw thrown down for them in the public dining-room, where they forgot +their differences of rank as best they could, while the only light was a +single tallow candle suspended from the ceiling in a hanging +tin-candlestick. + +Laying about on the benches, or on the long table, were a crowd of +guests that included peasants and shepherds, pedlars and smugglers, +while the air was rank with odours of strong cheese, onions, and +tobacco-smoke. The hostess ministered herself to the wants of the +guests, and handed round the wine. + +It was among this company that Rby and his companions took their +places; as there was no other woman present among the travellers, the +hostess expressed some fear that the pretended Serb maiden would find it +somewhat uncomfortable. + +The two men thanked her, but said they would look after their sister, +and ordered a stewed fowl and some wine, for which the party paid in +advance. The water was too bad for anyone to depend on, so Rby had to +drink wine, which, unaccustomed as he was to it, soon made him feel +drowsy. + +In a few minutes he was fast asleep, with his head pillowed on his +folded arms on the table. + +His slumbers, however, were soon to be disturbed, for there was a loud +noise heard outside as of the trampling of horses and the clash of +weapons. The hostess said it must be a party of heydukes, and sure +enough it was. + +Now Rby had ceased to be fearful of discovery by these pursuers, as +from the description of him so industriously circulated, they could not +recognise him in his present disguise. Moreover, he had been carefully +shaven every day since his flight, and his face newly painted, the +better to sustain his rle. + +But this time he had cause for anxiety, for the first voice he heard +without was a hatefully familiar one--that of the castellan, Janosics. +How did he come to be here, for they were now in the jurisdiction of +Pozsony not of Pesth. He heard the castellan giving orders for one man +to come in with him, and the other to remain with the horses. + +Rby stole a glance at the door which was half open. A cold shudder +seized him as he caught sight of Janosics wearing the Pesth uniform, and +carrying a carbine in his hand and a sword at his belt. + +Rby pressed his head down lower, so his face might not be seen. The big +sleeves of his bodice helped him to hide his features the more easily. + +"Up all of you fellows, and let me have a look at you!" shouted the +castellan. Those present immediately obeyed, and submitted to the +inspection. + +"The man I want is not here," grumbled Janosics, as he rapidly ran over +the assembled faces, but when he came to Kurovics, he laughed aloud. + +"Aha, Master Kurovics, so you are here, are you? What brings you out +this bitter winter weather, pray?" + +"Oh, we must look after our business you know," answered the other, +without the least embarrassment. + +"Where's your passport?" + +"What do I want with one? I don't cross the frontier." + +"Well," shouted the other, "what may you be doing here?" + +"Hush! not so loud," retorted Kurovics, with a glance at Rby. "I've got +my little cousin to look after." + +"Oh, that's the game, is it? Soho, I see; and a nice little baggage it +is, I'll be bound. Oh I don't want to wake her if she's tired." + +And the castellan sat down between Rby and Kurovics, and asked the +latter for a bit of his tobacco. Then he smoked, but always keeping an +eye on Rby. + +"Pretty, eh?" he asked, and he made as though he would raise the +coloured kerchief that half hid the sleeper's face. + +"Let her rest, Mr. castellan, I beg. She's wearied out with the +journey." + +"Well, well, let her be then, but you, hostess, bring us some wine, and +take some to the heyduke outside." + +"And what may you be doing in this neighbourhood, if I may be so bold?" +inquired Kurovics. + +"Oh, an important police-mission. A dangerous felon, the notorious +Mathias Rby broke out of Pesth prison last week, and the descriptions +circulated of him are not correct, as I could have told them had they +asked me. The fellow is not bearded as described, but he was shaved the +day before he got out, and had a face as smooth as any girl's." + +Rby felt as if the beatings of his heart would burst his bodice, as the +new-comer went on: + +"When I heard of it, I went to the authorities and told them the mistake +they had made, and offered to make it good by riding after the runaway +myself to see if I could identify him. And there are two hundred ducats +for the man who brings him back alive." + +"A nice round sum! I only wish I could find him," answered Kurovics. + +"I mean to take him myself," said Janosics coolly. "But hark ye, +Kurovics, is it possible that you yourself are leading my prisoner away +in a girl's garb? Just let me have another look at her." + +Rby would have swooned, only that the castellan was now smoking so +closely under his nose that he was nearly choked by it. He was on the +point of springing up and surrendering in sheer desperation; it was with +the greatest difficulty he mastered his feelings, above all his +inclination to cough, for raising his head would betray him directly. +And the suspicion too arose in him that perhaps, after all, his guides +were accomplices in a comedy which had for its _dnouement_ the arrest +of the fugitive just as he was making sure of safety. + +"Now I must see her face," said Janosics, and Rby felt his enemy's +clammy hand laid on his brow. + +"Won't you look at me, little one? I can speak Serb quite well," sneered +his persecutor. And the castellan forcibly raised Rby's head, and +looked him in the face with a grin of malicious triumph. + +But just then the heyduke, who had been waiting outside, dashed into the +room in hot haste, crying excitedly, "Villm Pista is here!" With that +the scene was changed, and Janosics had to make way for a mightier +rival. The very name of the renowned robber-chief spread consternation, +and the carabineers, on hearing it, promptly threw their weapons away, +the better to run for their lives, while the whole company scattered +pell-mell, some out of the window, and others up the chimney, in their +hot haste to get off. There was no one finally left in the room but Rby +and his two companions, and the hostess. + +Outside, they heard some shots fired, followed by a feeble groan that +seemed to come from Janosics. Then the door flew open, and Villm Pista +himself entered, accompanied by two comrades, his rifle in his hand +still smoking from the recent shot. He was a fine-looking young fellow, +with no trace of beard on his smooth, handsome face. His bearing and +air showed that he was accustomed to be master of the situation wherever +he was. His dress fitted him admirably, a richly embroidered cloak fell +across his shoulders, on his head was perched a jauntily feathered cap, +and a short pipe was in his mouth. + +"They are a cursed lot," he cried, as he threw the weapon on to the +table. "But I've paid them out; they won't ride quite so merrily back as +they did in coming, I'll be bound. I'm sorry, however, the shot did not +finish them." + +Then he looked round the room. "Bless me, what a miserable light! Is +that what you call lighting up?" And he whistled to the hostess, who +hurried up with a dozen candles, and promptly placed them on the table +in as many sticks. + +Rby's companions had placed themselves before him, so that their +mantles rather screened him from the highwayman. But the latter spied +him out at once owing to his dress, and seizing Rby by the hand, he +dragged him out into the middle of the room. For a moment, they looked +each other steadily in the face, and Rby recognised in the +robber-leader, his wife, Fruzsinka! + +And thus it was that they met. But the supposed highwayman still did not +betray the situation. He drew Rby closer to him, and whispered hastily +in his ear, "Pretend you are frightened, and make your escape by the +door." + +Rby obeyed, and with a bound across the room, in a trice was outside. +Fruzsinka followed him, and grasped his hand in hers. + +"We have no time for talking. A whole gang of heydukes from Pesth is on +your track. Come away immediately; here are the horses of your +persecutors; up and ride for your life till you have left the frontier +behind you. Do not trust even your companions who will follow you, but +do not wait for them." + +And so saying, she helped Rby to mount, only he was so exhausted he +found it difficult to keep his seat, and was crying like a child. + +"Weep not thus, wretched man," she cried impatiently. "Shame on you for +your weakness! Why do you look at me like that? We have nothing more to +do with each other, you and I. But fly, and look not back, and beware of +ever setting foot in this accursed country again, for whose sake you +have made both me and yourself so miserable." + +While she spoke, she cast her cloak about him to protect him from the +bitter cold of the winter's night. + +Rby would have spoken one last word, but she cut him short by switching +his horse's flanks with her riding whip, whereat the animal bounded away +over the ground, where the snow already lay a foot deep. And the last +sound Rby heard from the "csrda" was the cracking of Villm Pista's +whip. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + +It really looked as if Rby's flight had been a predetermined affair, so +that allowing him to get off in woman's clothes, the authorities might +recapture him to lead him back to Pesth in triumph, more degraded than +ever in the public eyes, only that the appearance of Villm Pista +somewhat disturbed this hypothesis. + +Villm Pista, otherwise Fruzsinka, in fact, had learned from spies that +Rby had escaped from prison, having pitched her camp in the +neighbouring forest--a fitting abode for the half-crazed woman who now +lived at enmity with all the world, though she boasted that what she +robbed the rich of she divided among the poor--a sentiment which caused +the ten thousand ducats to be taken off Gyngym Miska's head and set on +hers. But when she heard of the pursuit of Rby, her heart smote her +with pity for the man she had so cruelly wronged, who was now a +persecuted fugitive. + +With her companions she had lain concealed in the forest near the inn, +till the arrival of the Pesth heydukes warned her that the time for +reprisals had come--with what results we have seen. + +But she only learned in what disguise Rby had fled, when she saw him. +In an instant her plan was formed. The Pesth pursuers were all around; +if Rby escaped them, he would be taken at the Austrian frontier, where, +seeing the Hungarian trappings of his horse, they would relegate him to +the Pesth authorities to deal with. And meditating on this thought, she +re-entered the inn. "She has escaped me," she cried, "and has dashed off +on one of the heyduke's horses." + +"You don't mean to say my cousin has run away!" cried Kurovics +anxiously. And he made as though to follow the fugitive Serb maiden. + +"Not so fast, my friend," exclaimed the robber-chief, "besides you have +not told me your name." And she questioned the two closely as to their +antecedents--questions which they did their best to evade. + +"Well, by way of passing the time, suppose I teach you how to dance! +We'll just see what you can do?" + +And with that, the pretended brigand took out an axe from under his coat +and dexterously threw it at Kurovics, so that he jumped up nervously as +it fell with its edge close to him. + +But the noise of shots fired without, arrested these diversions. Villm +Pista did not stop even to pick up the axe, but snatching the rifle from +the table bounded out to face this new alarm. + +Outside there stood her horse, which quickly mounting, she shouted to +her followers who were awaiting her orders, and galloped away into the +night. The fresh party of heydukes, with this new enemy to run down, +forgot all about Rby (for on his head only two hundred ducats were set, +while it was a matter of ten thousand with Villm Pista). And that +chieftain was thinking that this delay would give Rby time to cross the +river, while the frontier guards' attention would be distracted by the +shots fired. Two of the pursuers at last succeeded in running down +Villm Pista, and in cutting him off from his comrades. + +They were closing upon him in a thicket, and no outlet remained. + +"Is it the ten thousand ducats you are seeking?" laughed their enemy +contemptuously, as she took two pistols out of the holster, and seized +the while her horse's bridle in her mouth. And just as the assailants +approached closer, the robber fired, aiming not at the riders, but at +their steeds. Both beasts fell, the one with his rider under him, the +other on his knees, so that the heyduke was thrown over the horse's +head. + +Villm Pista clapped his hands and laughed aloud. "Now you can overtake +my husband," cried the false highwayman, and for the moment the old +Fruzsinka asserted herself. + +Then she vanished into the thicket, the gathering fog hiding all trace +of her, even as might disappear some wild valkyr of the old legends. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + +Rby succeeded in crossing the frontier, the thick mist which veiled the +moonlight favouring his escape. The shame of the situation nearly killed +him. To be freed by a woman masquerading as a robber-chieftain--and that +woman his wife! His wretched spouse had done him many wrongs, yet this +one, although intended to benefit him, smote him as with a lash, and the +memory of her last words stung him to the quick. + +But he had by this reached the adjacent river, whose waters were not +sufficiently frozen over to bear the weight of both himself and his +horse. So he had to dismount and leave the animal behind, and then cross +the ice on foot as best he could. + +This was undoubtedly better than arriving at the Austrian frontier on +horseback, for a woman riding alone at that time of night would +certainly arouse the suspicions of the Austrian officials, and they +would probably escort him back to whence he came. So he dragged himself +to the first wayside inn he could find, and explained his presence there +with a story of his brothers having fallen into a snow-drift. The +kind-hearted people believed him, and when it was light, set out to find +his kinsmen. But whom, strangely enough, should they come across but +Rby's two friends, who, after the fight with the heydukes, had set out +to follow him, not without many mishaps in the snow which bore out +Rby's tale. + +It was a right merry meeting, and the three could eat and sleep in +safety now that they were free from their pursuers. They thought it best +to say nothing of the heydukes, in case they might be cited as +witnesses. There still lay a two days' journey before them across bad +roads ere they could reach Vienna. His friends' readiness to accompany +him convinced Rby that they were in the service of the Emperor, and not +mercenaries of the Pesth authorities. In view of chance separating them +again, Kurovics made over to Rby thirty gulden so that he might not be +without money. + +On Austrian territory, Kurovics became quite communicative, and let out +that he was no Szent-Endre burgher, but a well-to-do landed proprietor, +whose father had been ennobled by Maria Theresa, and that he was in the +Emperor's confidence. + +"And won't I just give you a reception if you ever come back to our +country," he cried, "not with passports, but with police and dragoons at +your back. I promise you I'll kill my finest sheep and roast it whole in +your honour, and open a bottle of the best wine my cellar contains to +drink your health in." + +"How do I know if I shall ever return?" queried Rby sadly. + +But at last they reached Vienna, and put up at the "Dun Stag" by the Red +Tower Gate. Kurovics was evidently well known in the capital, and Rby's +doubts about him were henceforth set at rest for good and all. + +Our hero had willingly taken a few days' repose after all the fatigues +of his onerous journey, but Kurovics would not hear of it. "Get to work +directly," he urged, "the Emperor is anxiously awaiting your +explanations. Write down your indictment, and do not wait to change your +clothes, but just come as you are into the palace, and we will come with +you as far as the Hofburg. For you know here in Vienna, everyone who +comes into the city has to report himself immediately, and state his +business here. It is possible that the Vienna police have already +received instructions from Pesth, in this case they will perhaps lock +you up before you can get a hearing with his Majesty, so be beforehand +and get the start of your enemies." + +And Rby thought it as well to take this advice, so he proceeded to put +on paper his report as simply and briefly as possible. He was, moreover, +convinced that Kurovics was a genuine friend of the people, for he gave +him many proofs of gross abuse of authority on the part of the Pesth +officials. + +Hardly was the ink on the paper dried, than they chartered a coach and +drove off to the Hofburg, in order to be in time for the daily audience +which the Emperor was accustomed to hold for those who sought a +hearing. The audience chamber led straight into the Emperor's own +private cabinet, and was daily, from the hours of ten in the morning +till one o'clock, filled by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of +people, who came furnished with written petitions, or preferring +requests, unannounced and in every-day dress, to seek a personal +audience of the Emperor, which was always granted to them in turn. + +Joseph spoke all the languages of the polyglot races he governed, and +was equally versed in all the various _patois_, though he usually +conversed in German with the petitioners of higher rank. + +It was a mixed crowd which now stood awaiting the imperial +pleasure--prelates, soldiers, Jews, mourning-clad widows, finely dressed +ladies, and peasants in their varied national costumes, jostled one +another in the ante-chamber in which Rby and his friends found +themselves. There was no precedence of rank observed, for the Emperor +would speak to whomsoever he willed first, though none were overlooked. + +All at once a hush fell on the chattering crowd, and only a subdued +whisper was heard here and there, as the moment for the Emperor's +appearance had arrived. Rby was not a little shocked to note how his +imperial master had altered: camp life had apparently not suited him. +His cheeks were hollowed as with sickness, and his features bore the +unmistakable marks of the ravages of both bodily and mental suffering; +only the clear blue eyes he remembered so well of old, were unchanged. + +Amid the crowd of suppliants, the Emperor seemed not to observe Rby and +his companions. At last Rby ventured to press into his hand his report. + +"What is this?" asked the Kaiser in German, as he pocketed the document +without looking at its contents. + +All those who had spoken with the Emperor had to withdraw directly the +audience was over, and Rby and his friends were at last the only ones +left. The Emperor seeing that they still waited, demanded of Kurovics +what it was they sought? + +Kurovics thereupon with a low bow, gave him to understand they were only +accompanying the lady. + +"I have received her petition already," said Joseph, "what does the girl +want?" + +"Does not your Majesty remember me?" asked Rby in a low voice. + +The Emperor scanned him sharply with no sign of recognition. + +"I have never seen you before," he exclaimed coldly. "What is your +name?" + +"Sire, I am Mathias Rby!" + +His Majesty clasped his hands with a vivid gesture of surprise. + +"Rby! is it possible? Have you lost your reason then that you dress +thus? Whence do you come in this masquerading attire?" + +"From the dungeons of the Pesth Assembly House, Sire." + +The Emperor seized him by the hand, and drew him without a word into his +cabinet. + +Two secretaries there were very busy sorting documents. The Emperor led +the Serb peasant girl up to them. + +"Now, gentlemen, say, do you recognise this lady?" + +The secretaries were perplexed, and denied all knowledge of the +new-comer. + +"Come, come, gentlemen," said the Emperor jestingly, "tell the truth, +for I'll wager that you have often met before, to say nothing of the +lively correspondence you have carried on of late." + +The secretaries called heaven and earth to witness they had never seen +the stranger in their lives before, and had not the slightest idea who +she might be. + +"This lady is no other than Mr. Mathias Rby." + +At these words, in defiance of all court etiquette, both burst out +laughing, and in their merriment the Emperor himself joined heartily. + +Only Rby looked grave, and did not share their amusement. Even now +through the paint on his cheeks, the angry colour flamed--a fact which +did not escape the Emperor. + +"But however did you manage to put on this disguise?" he asked. + +"Simply because I heard your Majesty had ordered I should do so," +answered Rby. + +"I? Why whatever put such a thing into your head, I should like to +know?" + +"Here are the instructions I received," and Rby handed him his friends' +paper. + +The Kaiser shook his head as he went through it. "Of course I understand +Serb," he said; "but I never wrote this. Where did you get it from?" + +"From the leader of the twenty-four men dressed as Turks, who, in your +Majesty's name, dragged me by night from out of the dungeon of the +Assembly House in Pesth. Two of them came hither with me. Your Majesty +saw them in the other room." + +"Bring them in here," ordered the Emperor. + +One of the two secretaries went then and there to fetch them in, but +returned immediately with the news that the two men had already left the +Hofburg. + +"The police must be notified," said Joseph. + +But all their trouble was in vain. The two unknowns on leaving the +palace had made direct for the river-bank, where a boat manned by four +oarsmen had awaited them, and carried them away in the fog which +overhung the river. + +Here was an enigma to clear up! Why the men had conducted him to the +palace; why they had waited for his meeting with the Emperor and then +deserted him entirely; whether they had been indeed friends or foes in +disguise, Rby could not imagine. It remained an unsolved mystery. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + +That year saw the appearance of a strange and new phenomenon in Vienna, +namely the first Hungarian newspaper. Then for the first time did the +Magyar feel he had a purpose in life, and see that by providing the +world with a certain quantity of news (whether true or otherwise it +mattered not to him), he could get for that same news a certain amount +of money. + +Such was the _dbut_ of the _Magyar Hirad_; it was edited in Vienna, +and then circulated in Hungary forthwith. Little it mattered to its +readers what were the news it contained; as long as there was something +to read was the main concern of its eager public. + +And so it was that a copy of the _Magyar Hirad_ found its way to the +Assembly House in Pesth, for the head-notary, Trhalmy, had been +extravagant enough to invest in one. His neighbours borrowed it freely, +and many were the messages that Mariska received to ask her to procure +for the senders the loan of the coveted news-sheet. And even the girl +herself was not without curiosity to see what this famous journal +contained, though she was too ignorant of Hungarian to be able to +understand its contents. She fondly imagined that everything that +happened in the world would be written down there as news, and she often +tried to spell out the strange Magyar sentences. + +One day, however, after more futile efforts than usual, she summoned up +courage to ask her father the question she had at heart! + +"Father, is poor Mathias Rby released?" + +Trhalmy looked at her sadly, he guessed well enough the reason of her +study of the _Magyar Hirad_. + +"This time he is free, child," he answered; "but if he runs into danger +again, he won't get off so easily." + +"Is he really a bad man, father?" + +"He is the best man alive, and both just and honourable." + +Mariska shook her head with a puzzled air, yet she would find out still +more now that the ice was broken. + +"And the men who prosecute him--are they just also?" + +Trhalmy did not shirk the answer: "No, they are unjust men," he said +shortly. + +Mariska grew bolder still, "How is it that a man who is really good can +be ruined by those who are evil?" + +"Because it is the way of the world, my child," returned her father. + +"Are you vexed with Mathias Rby?" she inquired in a low voice. + +"No, I love him as if he were my own son," was the answer. + +"And yet you cannot defend him against those who intend him ill?" + +"I cannot." + +"And why not?" + +"Because I myself am on their side." + +The girl gazed at him in astonishment. + +"My father taking the part of the unjust against the just, how can that +be?" + +"It is a big question which cannot be judged by ordinary standards. +Besides, how should a child like you understand?" + +Yet Trhalmy marvelled at the girl's questions; they reached their mark. +But he felt he owed her an explanation. + +"I will try and make it clear," he said. "Our Emperor is a very +well-meaning man who has the welfare of this country at heart. He +honestly wants to benefit the people he rules over. But one thing he +does not understand, and that is the love of the Magyar for his native +land and his Hungarian institutions. If our mother is sick, do we cease +to love her? And so it is with Hungary, we, her children, know her +weakness and her wants, but we do not cease to love her the less. The +Emperor does not understand us; he wishes to civilise us before we are +ready for it, to mould us to his own ideals of a nation. He does not +want, as other rulers have done, to crush us, but he would have us +develop by new and unfamiliar methods. Against force we could oppose +force, yet he does not attempt to coerce us, but seeks only to impose on +us the weight of his authority. Thus it is that he sends orders which no +one obeys, and there are none of his officials who dare carry them out. +The whole body of Hungarian opinion in this land is dead against his +reforms, and will continue to oppose them tooth and nail." + +Now all this did not trouble Mariska; she understood so little of it. +Moreover, what her father said must be true. Yet she could not see what +the Emperor's dealings with Hungary had to do with Rby's imprisonment. + +"It is a bit difficult for my little girl to grasp, isn't it?" went on +Trhalmy kindly. "Unfortunately the Emperor does not understand how to +deal with our constitution. For instance, the members of our governing +body are chosen every three years, so that if any among them are proven +to be unworthy of the office, they can be rejected at the end of their +term. But the Emperor stretches his prerogative, and rules that these +offices are to be held for life. And as long as he persists in tampering +with our constitution and interferes with the existing order in the +state, so long will Hungarians put every hindrance in the way of his +emissaries. Nay, they would rather condone the misdeeds of corrupt +officials than reach the hand of fellowship to an idealist like Rby, +who is inspired by a noble belief in the righteousness of his mission, +and sincerely imagines he is going to free the people of this land from +long-standing ills. That is why they make him suffer for his boldness, +and will make him suffer yet more, if an evil chance brings him hither +once again. He will find the anger of the entire nation aroused against +him. Moreover, now that the whole nation is incensed with the Emperor +for carrying on the war against the Turks with his Russian allies, and +is refusing him both subsidies and recruits, it is less likely than ever +to view those who carry out his reforms with favour. And meantime, we +honest well-meaning folk who only desire to live at peace with God and +our neighbour as Christians should do, have to stand shoulder to +shoulder with rogues and vagabonds to protect our country's interests." + +The head-notary turned sadly away and left the room, and Mariska sunk +into a silent reverie. Her father returning, suddenly put his head in at +the door. + +"Are you quite sure, little one, that you understand all I have been +saying?" he asked somewhat anxiously. + +"Father dear, I am going to write it all down straight away," returned +the girl, "and may I send it to Rby?" she added shyly. + +"You may if you like," whispered Trhalmy, strangely touched at her +request. + +And Mariska set about making herself a new pen in order to do justice to +the projected document. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + +Mathias Rby kept as far as possible out of Vienna society after his +arrival in the capital. He never appeared at Court, and rented a modest +apartment in Paternoster Street without giving his address to anyone. It +was not only that he wanted to be undisturbed so as to fulfil a +difficult and important work, but that he felt that a turning-point in +his life had come, which implied a momentous decision on his part. + +His common-sense told him that so far the tragedy which he had lived +through was only a huge jest for the Vienna public, who enjoy nothing so +well as a joke. That the bold Magyars had played off this trick on the +Emperor himself made the whole jest all the grimmer. For them it +mattered not one jot who the victim was, as long as they had their +laugh. + +So Rby avoided his nearest friends, and even reading the papers +irritated him. With so many big affairs going on in the world, what did +people care about the Szent-Endre happenings, or the machinations of the +Pesth government authorities, at a time when in the East, Russia was +shaking the Ottoman power to its foundations, and the rising of the +German Netherlands was threatening Austria with the loss of her finest +province, whilst like an ever darkening storm-cloud, the French +Revolution was already lowering on the political horizon. With such +contingencies, Szent-Endre affairs might well go to the wall. + +Rby worked so unremittingly at his task, that by the beginning of +January, he could hand over his report to the Emperor. + +It was a straggling and long-winded, but exhaustive, document. To make +the tangled threads hold together and get a grip of the facts was no +light business, but at last the bill of indictment was drawn up. + +Nor were the Pesth authorities, meantime, slow in preferring their +counter impeachment against Rby, and a black one it was--instigator of +rebellion, breaker of the peace, calumniator of the council--he was all +these, and much more according to this weighty indictment which brought +forward as many arguments to prove the case against him, as Rby had +adduced against his adversaries. + +It was between them the Emperor had now to judge, and that impartially, +as justice demanded, and not swayed by his own feelings. + +Rby handed his report to his imperial master, and gave him a brief +sketch of the contents, and the proofs of his charges, the Emperor +listening intently the while. Joseph held in his hand the +counter-indictment. + +Then he said: "I will consider the whole report carefully. Till I am +ready to see you again, take this document and read it at your leisure. +I have glanced through it, and by letting you read it, I shall show to +you that my trust in you is still unshaken. If you can bring it back to +me, faithfully deny all the charges it contains, and prove that they are +false, I will tell off two of my most trusted police-agents to look +after your personal safety, protect you against the wiles of your +enemies, and procure for you all the witnesses and documents you need to +establish your innocence. But if you find one serious indictment against +you which can be substantiated, then say no more about it; I promise you +I will not ask any questions, for what has hitherto happened may have +been through my own fault in dealing with this people. At the St. +Petersburg Embassy there will soon be a legation-secretary wanted; it +would be just the berth for you! I'll give you to the end of the month +to think it over. At our next meeting it depends on you to say whether +you go to Pesth or Petersburg." + +And with these words the Emperor dismissed Rby. + +And what better offer could he have had? A new life in a new country +where all the old unhappy past could be for ever blotted out and +forgotten, with no remaining links to bind him to his old days. Nothing +more tempting could the Emperor have suggested. + +He took the fatal indictment with him, and returned home to study its +contents--and a bitter reading it made. By turns he laughed at the +horrible tragicomedy, and then ground his teeth in rage at the stupidity +and malice of it all; the whole thing was put together with such a +grotesque lack of reason. The heaped-up charges would have sufficed to +condemn the accused over and over again, and Rby hardly recognised +himself in this double-dyed traitor, who had been guilty of almost every +crime. There would be no judge living who, had such charges been proven, +would not have passed on him without mercy the capital sentence. And to +think that this avalanche of lies had been heaped up by those for whom +he was labouring to free from oppression, those for whom he had suffered +so much, and was still suffering, who were now vilifying him as a +traitor. + +At that moment he was very nearly throwing over the cause of the people +for good and all, and fleeing to a country where he should never hear +the name of his native land again. + +And then a terrible struggle began in Rby's soul. On one side all his +vanity and self-respect rose in arms to urge him to flight. Was he to +labour without reward for this miserable people, and make its most +distinguished leaders his enemies? Was his name to be dragged in the +mire through the length and breadth of the land to gratify their +malice? Could he not turn his back on it all, and find in a foreign +capital that field for his gifts where they would have a worthy scope +for their display, and be cherished and rewarded? Fame and wealth on the +one hand, misery and disgrace on the other, and at best, the doubtful +credit of the informer--that was the choice! + +Long did the two strive for mastery, and darker and more hateful grew +the picture of what he might expect if he returned to his self-imposed +work. Was it not better to root out from his soul all thoughts of his +fatherland? + +And in the midst of it all there arrived Mariska's letter, which was the +only one of all his missives he opened and read just then. + +Twice, thrice, he read it, with its too well-understood appeal: "Do not +come back again!" And her words decided him. + +And indeed if Rby had not, after reading it, sprung up and cried, "Now +I will go back!" he had not been worthy of having his history written in +this record. + +What if he owed it not to his people or his prince to go back, at least +he owed it to Mariska, and he would remember his debt. To her, at least, +he would prove that he was a man who did not turn his back on danger, +but went boldly forth to brave it when duty and his country called, and +to justify himself at that country's tribunal. + +And what love did not the letter breathe for him for whom she wrote +it--no gross earthly passion, but rather the pure love of a devoted +sister for a brother, of a tender mother who seeks to ward danger from +the head of a dearly loved son--that was love as Mariska felt it. + +And Rby thought sorrowfully how many anxious hours that letter must +have cost her poor little head, ere she could clothe her thoughts in +words and achieve the difficult task of reporting faithfully her +father's ideas--ideas which must of necessity have been hard for her +girlish mind to grasp in their fulness, much more to put on paper. + +And like a horrible nightmare arose the thought of that other woman who +had betrayed her husband, and as if to make herself still more unworthy +in his eyes, had flaunted her shamelessness by masquerading in man's +attire. + +And the temptation suddenly arose to procure the deed of separation +which the free and easy Protestant marriage laws made only too possible, +and forswear the solemn tie that bound him to Fruzsinka. But he put it +from him as one more temptation to be resisted, not less powerful +because it came from within instead of from without. + +Poor Mariska, how the aim of her well-meant letter had failed! It was to +have just the contrary effect she had intended. + +After reading it again, Rby hesitated no longer, but took the documents +under his arm, hastened to the palace, sought the Emperor's presence, +and said simply, "All that stands written here is false from beginning +to end! I beg your Majesty to send me back to Pesth." + +"Good," said the Emperor, "and if they dare to lay a hand on you, I will +come myself and set you free." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + +The Emperor sent Rby two agents of the secret police, who were told off +to accompany him wherever he went; both had full powers to claim +admission everywhere, to arrest anyone they desired without respect to +rank, and to draw the requisite funds they might need from the public +banks. + +One of them, named Pltzlich, was a famous detective, and never so happy +as when he was tracking some notorious criminal to his lair, or +dexterously unravelling some-deep-laid plot. His personal courage was +everywhere recognised, and he had won high distinction in the +performance of his duties in Vienna, where he was generally respected +and feared; in fact, Rby could hardly have had a better man to protect +him. + +However, even Mr. Pltzlich had his limitations, as Rby found out by +the time they were fairly on the road in the diligence. The +police-commissioner had never been out of Vienna, and a country journey +was a new experience. + +At the sight of the sparrows (which had been exterminated in the towns) +he cried, "How very small the pigeons are here!" Then, seeing some +country peasants hunting marmots out of their holes, he asked what kind +of an animal they were, whereupon the farmer he addressed told him it +was an Hungarian mouse. From which it will be seen that the accomplished +detective's knowledge of zoology was limited, to say the least of it. + +When they put up for the night at an inn on the road, Rby noted with +some surprise that Pltzlich drew his sword and laid it in the bed +beside him. Rby assured him that no danger was to be apprehended, as +all the doors were barred against possible attacks from robbers. + +"Ah! that may be," returned the other, "but," pointing to a mouse hole, +"suppose an Hungarian mouse should get in!" + +Meantime the long formal document which officially announced Rby's +readiness to appear before his judges to refute the charges against him, +had been drawn up and sent to Pesth, and the head of the police there, +as well as the district commissioner were properly notified of the same. + +It was growing dusk when Rby and his two conductors arrived in Buda. +And this was just as well, so that they should not be recognised. So ere +the street lamps were lit they hastened to the police-station, where it +had been arranged they should stay. Over the door hung the great +Austrian eagle, and below a soldier guarded the great shield bearing +the imperial coat of arms, which showed that here no Hungarian had +jurisdiction. + +But the chief of the police complained loudly when he heard who his +guest was, and made a very wry face at Rby's name. + +"H'm," he said doubtfully, "I have received orders from the governor of +the city to deliver over to him the prisoner Rby if he should come into +my power." + +"But we bring you the imperial mandate," exclaimed the others, "that you +give a shelter here to the noble gentleman, Mr. Mathias Rby, who is one +of his Majesty's chamberlains." + +"Well, my friend," answered the Buda official, "remember that his +Majesty is far away, while his Excellency is near." + +"Surely the Emperor is a greater man than the governor of Pesth," cried +Mr. Pltzlich indignantly. + +"Well, you will see for yourselves," retorted the Buda chief, "you don't +know the Pesth authorities as well as I do." + +"Yes, but remember we have instructions from the Kaiser," they answered. + +"You had better go and interview him yourselves." + +And off they went, leaving Rby under the shelter of the Austrian +authorities. + + * * * * * + +Arrived at the governor's palace, they were received by his Excellency, +who, after seeing their credentials, asked abruptly what they desired. + +"We are commissioned by his Majesty to accompany hither Mr. Rby, who is +to appear for the purpose of confronting his accusers at the Pesth +Assembly House shortly." + +"Do you mean the good-for-nothing fellow who ran away the other day from +prison?" + +"May it please your Excellency, he is authorised by the Emperor +himself." + +"And he is likewise my prisoner, don't forget that!" + +"Pardon me, he is under our special protection, with an imperial +safe-conduct and is here for the fulfilment of a perfectly lawful +purpose." + +"And I have already ordered that he shall be surrendered to the custody +of the Pesth magistracy." + +"Then I must emphatically protest in the Kaiser's name. Here is his +authorisation." + +"Then I recommend you to keep it," returned his Excellency drily. "The +Kaiser commands in Vienna, but it is my turn here." + +And with that the governor got up and rang the bell. + +It was answered by a secretary. + +"Go to the Assembly House and tell them to send an escort of police to +arrest the runaway prisoner Rby," was the peremptory order. + +The Vienna police-agents both exclaimed loudly at this defiance of their +prerogative: "We protest, we protest!" they cried angrily. "This is +sheer rebellion." + +"Protest if you dare," retorted his Excellency. "I'll have you both +placed in irons if you don't make off, and you will have time enough to +remember Hungarian justice for the rest of your lives." + +And the two commissioners, seeing all protest was futile, thought +discretion was the better part of valour, and hastened away as fast as +they could, till they reached the shelter of the Austrian eagle. There a +council of war was held by the indignant officials and Rby. + +But they had not much time for discussion, for not long after, the +provost of the Pesth prison arrived with an armed guard to arrest Rby. + +His Austrian protectors insisted on accompanying their charge, whose +forcible removal they strongly resented, though their protests were +unavailing. + +The Vienna officers naturally thought they would cross from Buda to +Pesth by the bridge; what was their dismay, then, to find that the +expedition meant to ferry across, and this in spite of the drift-ice +which at that season of the year encumbered the Danube and made it +dangerous for navigation. + +"However shall we get across," they asked, as they gazed in +consternation at the river, which did not look inviting, it must be +owned. + +"Oh, that's soon done," said the provost airily. "You've only to get +into the boat here," and he led the way to the ferry-boat which was +fastened close at hand. + +"Please be good enough to get in," said their conductor. + +The prisoner was pushed in first, and the two commissioners dutifully +prepared to follow him. + +"However are we going to make our way through the ice?" asked Pltzlich +anxiously. + +"You'll soon see," was the ready answer. + +The helmsman cut her adrift, and the rowers pushed from the shore; but +scarcely had they put off, before a huge ice-floe drove them back again. + +"Ship your oars," roared the ferry-man, and the rowers dexterously +trimmed the boat which had well-nigh capsized under the blow, but for +their skill. + +It was too much for the Vienna officials. "We protest in the Emperor's +name!" they yelled, whilst Pltzlich, in mingled fear and anger cried, +"I am bound under oath not to allow anyone to cross the river when it is +unnavigable through ice, and I won't transgress my own rules, so take us +back to the shore!" + +And so back they came, and the two Viennese speedily disembarked. "And +Mr. Rby as well," they cried. + +"Not he!" laughed the provost triumphantly. "You needn't trouble your +heads about him. Whosoever is born to be hanged will not be drowned, of +that you may be sure." + +And once more they put off on their perilous journey, while the +police-agents took out their red pocket-books and made formal memoranda +of what had just happened. Meanwhile, with much trouble and long delay, +Rby and his custodians reached the other side, not without narrowly +escaping destruction. + +The next morning, the river being free from drift ice, the two +commissioners took their way to Pesth, and by dint of much threatening +and imploring, arrived at the door of the prisoner's dungeon, where they +could speak with him. + +"Are you there, Mr. Rby?" they asked anxiously, "and what are you +doing?" + +"Yes, I'm here sure enough, and clanking my chains for want of any other +amusement," was the answer. + +"You don't mean to say you are in irons?" cried his questioners. + +"Yes, indeed, both my hands and feet are fettered fast." + +"Well, have no fear, we will soon free you!" + +For this was more than the police commissioners could stand; and they +dashed off in hot haste to demand Rby's release from the authorities, +but they found the latter perfectly obdurate to all their entreaties. +Finally, they tackled Lasky, and extorted from that gentleman a promise +to remove the prisoner's fetters. They also were invited by him to +attend the inquiry next morning, when they might see Rby for +themselves, he said, and escort him away a free man. + +So the following morning found the two Viennese again at the Assembly +House, but there was not a soul about, save a clerk who could give them +but scant information. So they determined to get their news at +first-hand, and make for Rby's cell. On the way they fell in with +Janosics, carrying a brazier containing disinfectants, whose fumes +filled the corridor. + +"When does Mr. Rby appear before the court?" they inquired eagerly. + +"Not to-day," said the gaoler, "the poor man is ill." + +"Let us see him and speak with him." + +"You cannot, he is much too bad; besides I have to fumigate the whole +place on account of his illness." + +"But what is his malady then?" + +"That I cannot tell you; ask the doctor when he comes out." + +And at that moment the cell-door opened and the doctor walked out, +carrying a shovel on which some aromatic gum was burning, in one hand, +and in the other a pocket-handkerchief soaked with spirits of lavender. +He spoke to no one till he had washed his hands in a bowl of vinegar and +water that a heyduke held for him, the commissioners looking on somewhat +aghast at all these precautions. Rby's malady must be something very +contagious to demand them. + +At last Pltzlich summoned up courage to ask what was the matter with +the prisoner. + +The doctor took a long inhalation of the lavender and then whispered to +the official, nervously, "It's the oriental plague." + +It was enough for the Viennese. They thought no more of the unfortunate +man they were leaving behind them, but without more ado, hastened out of +the infected building as fast as their legs could carry them, to take +the fatal news back to Vienna. As for Rby he was as good as dead and +buried, as far as the world was concerned, for his death was a foregone +conclusion. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + +What was really the matter with Rby the police never learned; but we +can tell the reader. + +When at about three hours after midnight, they had brought him to the +Assembly House, the whole gang of his enemies was awaiting him, +including the gaoler. + +He was received with a shout of derisive laughter, as he came into the +room, thick with tobacco-smoke. + +"So the Emperor has given you decorations, has he?" thus they jeered at +him. "Well, we'll see what sort of ornaments we can procure for your +worship," and such like remarks, were freely fired off at him. + +But Rby bore all the jeers of his tormentors in a dignified silence, +and quietly submitted to the searching process, whereby he was stripped +of all his valuables, and fetters slipped over his wrists and ankles, +the gold lace being cut off from his new coat so that he might not hang +himself with it! Then he was led back into the cell he had formerly +occupied, and left to himself. + +But, he reflected, his captivity could not last long. The two +police-officers must be still there, and when all was said, they were +the masters. And failing all else, had not the Emperor himself promised +to come? Up till then, he would have patience. The visit of his friends +on the following day did not give him much hope that their help would +avail him. + +On the third day, the prison doctor sought him out, and with the help of +the gaoler, began to subject him to a long process of disinfecting, +which he said, was necessary for every prisoner who came from across the +frontier, seeing that in Turkey the oriental plague was raging. + +We have seen how the two Viennese officers were smoked out of the city. +This left the coast clear for Rby's examination the following day. His +earlier trial had taken place before the district commissioner as a +political offender: now he was haled before the ordinary assizes as a +common criminal. + +The indictment which set forth how Rby by the help of diabolic arts, +had forcibly broken out of custody, and fled to another country, was +read. It called for five and twenty years' solitary imprisonment, +together with public chastisement; which should allow of his being at +appointed intervals set in the public stocks, with a placard showing the +nature of his crime hung round his neck. + +Rby, in his defence, demanded that the judges should call one of the +twenty men who had forcibly seized him the night of his flight; this +was, he said, exacted by the Emperor in his instructions as to the +trial. + +Lasky struck the table with his fist. "That is not true," he said, "it +is not in his Majesty's instructions." + +"I have seen it myself," said Rby, "the Emperor gave it into my own +hands to read." + +At these words there was a perfect outburst of wrath and indignation +from the whole company, so that Rby could not speak for the uproar; +when the noise had quieted down, he went on: + +"The men who freed me are not forthcoming as witnesses. But there are +two at least, who must know what happened that night, and this is the +heyduke who stood before the door of my cell, and the other who kept the +gate. Though I did not see them I know what their names were, for I +heard the castellan address them as Sipos and Nagy." + +"Let them be brought in," said Lasky to the castellan with a meaning +grimace. + +But it was Rby's turn to be astonished when the witnesses entered. For +there before him, stood his two travelling companions, the pretended +pig-dealer, Kurovics, and his comrade, who had accompanied him to +Vienna! And these, it appeared, were the two heydukes who had been +commissioned to play this trick upon their unsuspecting victim. Rby's +brain fairly reeled at the thought of the lying fraud to which he had +been forced to lend himself. + +But the examination of Sipos was beginning. "It seems you were the guard +at the door of the prisoner's cell, the night of his escape?" questioned +the judge. "Do you know what happened?" + +The witness groaned, and murmured something incoherent. + +"Tell us what you know. The truth, out with it!" as the man hesitated. + +"Ah, how can I say it!" exclaimed the fellow, while the gaoler shook his +fist at him menacingly. + +"I'll tell all," he said, "just as it happened. The gaoler ordered four +and twenty of us heydukes to disguise ourselves as Turks, then to break +open the door of the prisoner's cell, and put on him a peasant girl's +dress and escort him to Vienna in this disguise. He gave us money for +the journey, and told us the Pesth magistracy had ordered it." + +At this outspoken testimony, Rby could hardly contain himself, he +stamped on the floor till his irons rang again. So the whole intrigue +was manifest! His enemies themselves had hatched this conspiracy against +him, and now they dared to condemn the victim of their own wicked plot! + +He attempted to protest, but the whole crew shouted him down. "Hold your +peace, traitor!" they cried! "Hold your peace! Not a word will we hear +from you!" + +And their anger was not less hot against the witness whom they called a +liar and false swearer, and then and there ordered him to receive fifty +strokes with the lash, and this was Sipos' reward for telling the truth. + +"Let the other witness appear," cried Lasky. "Now, Jnos Nagy, you are +an honest man, and will tell us what happened, so out with it!" + +Nagy, otherwise the false Kurovics, had the example of his comrade +before him, and bethought himself in time of what he might expect if he +was too truthful, so he took his line accordingly. + +"This is the true history, your worships. When, on the sixth of December +last, I was keeping guard before the door of the gate of the prison, and +my comrade stood before the prisoner's cell, I heard a loud cracking +noise; then the door of Mr. Rby's dungeon flew open, and he came out in +a fiery chariot drawn by six black cats, whilst on the box sat a demon +in a red dolman, who gave first my comrade, and then me, such a switch +in the face with his long tail, that we could hear and see nothing +further--so stunned were we. And then with a noise like thunder, the +prisoner disappeared in a flash." + +Rby was astounded--not at the witness, but at his hearers. + +"Is it possible, is it credible," he cried, "that you gentlemen, can +accept such testimony as this?" + +"Be silent, and don't interrupt the witness," yelled Lasky, "we don't +want you to teach us. You know we have laws against witchcraft, and we +mean to enforce them. Mr. notary," he cried, turning to Trhalmy, +"please take the depositions of the witness." + +And Rby saw with amazement that Trhalmy did not hesitate to do as he +was bidden. And suddenly there flashed across the prisoner what Mariska +had written to him. Here the wise and fools alike seemed to be leagued +against him. In vain he protested his innocence in the Emperor's name, +and that of the law and common-sense: it availed nothing. Finally they +led him out of the room while they debated on his sentence. + +It was not long before he was conducted back again to hear it. Of the +several indictments against him, several had not been verified, but one +at least they indeed had proved, and that was, that by diabolic agency +he had escaped from the dungeon. That was enough to condemn him, and +"death by the axe" was awarded accordingly. + +When Rby heard it, he could contain his indignation no longer: + +"Gentlemen, and you my most worshipful judges," he cried, "hear me +before I depart, for there is no tribunal on earth so tyrannical that it +will not allow the criminal to justify himself. Why am I condemned? Why +have such punishments, ending with the death-penalty itself, been meted +out to me? Why have I suffered thus? Simply because I strove to heal the +woes of the oppressed; just because the Emperor has sent me hither to +inquire into the grievances of the people, whose cry has reached him. +The poor were no rebels against the law; they sought only justice, and I +desired to help them to attain it. Do you remember what authority is +given to you, when you are placed in the seat of law? Is it not a divine +commission to defend the right of the individual, as of the people, +alike? If you are confident in the success of your cause, I am equally +so in that of mine, for my conscience is clear, I have broken neither +the laws of God nor of man, and to my convictions I will never be false. +I only ask one thing for my people, that they may be freed from the yoke +of the oppressor. Is that a crime deserving the death penalty? Well, let +my head fall; my blood be on those who shed it!" + +Several of the judges could not restrain their tears. Trhalmy hid his +face in his hands; was it that he could not face the prisoner? + +Rby's last words rang with such intense sincerity that not one of those +present had dared to interrupt his speech. Lasky was the only one to +speak when the accused had ended his defence, and all he said was, "Take +the prisoner away!" + +"I appeal then against the judgment of the court," said Rby as he was +being led out. + +"That is permitted; meantime, he who is under sentence of death must be +heavily ironed till the hour of execution." + +"Against that likewise I protest," said Rby firmly. And they led him +out and called for the prison locksmith. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + + +Up till now, Rby had been rigidly fettered, in that his right hand had +been fastened to his left foot, while another chain had bound his left +hand to his right foot. Now as an addition to this came the whole +equipment involved in "heavy irons." Two chains, consisting of six iron +rings linked together, weighing in all about a quarter of a hundred +weight, were now produced for the prisoner. + +These fetters were no longer fastened, as the lighter ones had been, +with a padlock, but were to be rivetted on an anvil, so that they could +only be sawn asunder when taken off. + +For the operation the prisoner was led into the yard of the Assembly +House, much to the excitement of the townspeople who gathered to witness +so unusual a spectacle, including all the women-folk. They were aghast +at seeing a young and richly clad gentleman being loaded with heavy +irons. In such a scene the crowd is on the side of the criminal, and +they were now. + +When they saw Rby forced to sit down on the paving-stones, and heard +him groan with pain as his already fettered ankle received the first +stroke of the heavy hammer on the anvil, a cry burst from the +bystanders, and they could not restrain their indignation. + +"Poor fellow! What has he done to deserve it?" they asked, and the women +wept freely. One of them took off her kerchief, and, kneeling down +beside him, was fain to bind it round the ankle-bone, so that the iron +should not cut it too severely, but the gaoler sternly thrust her away. + +"What do condemned criminals want with that sort of thing, you stupid? +Away with you and your silly feelings. Would you have his fetters lined +with velvet? He'll soon get accustomed to them, I'll warrant you." + +And he brutally tore the kerchief off Rby's ankle. + +When at last the work was done, the prisoner had to rise. But this was +easier said than done, for with his fettered hands and feet, he was +almost powerless to move. Small wonder he fell back in the attempt. + +Janosics laughed aloud. + +But it is no laughing matter when a man in irons tries to walk. + +Meantime, the women became more sympathetic than ever with the prisoner, +and openly railed at the heydukes. + +"You murderers! It is a sin and a shame to treat him thus! And such a +pretty gentleman too! If we were only men we would soon teach you +gaolers to mend your manners. Why you are worse than the Turks +themselves." + +"Drive the women out of the yard," cried Janosics furiously, "and then +let us be getting on, for the cage is ready for the bird." + +And some of the heydukes promptly drove out the women, while the rest +looked after Rby. In one of them, who helped him to rise, Rby +recognised the man who had brought him the pitcher with the false bottom +when he was in prison. The man also evidently pitied him in his +stumbling efforts to drag one foot before the other, and showed him how +he could best do it by carefully measuring each step forward. But the +pain of the irons which had already begun to cut into his flesh, was +well-nigh unbearable, and it was with the greatest difficulty he +staggered to the cell prepared for him--a small damp dark hole with a +little grated orifice for air through which the falling snow was +drifting. + +No stove warmed the frozen depths of his dungeon, but there was a huge +stake in the wall to which was affixed an iron chain: to this the +fetters of the prisoner were made fast, so that he could stir no further +than the small tether it allowed, and had to lie or crouch day and night +in the heap of straw, which was his only bed. An earthen pitcher and a +wooden bowl held respectively the drinking water and black bread which +were to last him a week, for having provided them, they needed not to +trouble further for some days about the inmate of the cell. And there +was no pitcher this time with a false bottom! + +Now Rby was to know what it meant to be a captive indeed. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + + +Poor Rby, he was a prisoner in such surroundings that they would have +served for the wildest page of romance. No sound came to him from the +outer world, as he lay there chained to the blank wall in his living +grave--the underground dungeon whose door no key opened. Yet for all +this he was not forgotten. + +In the deathlike stillness of the night he heard what sounded like a +noise of scratching in the roof of his cell, as if someone were trying +to bore through the ceiling. + +All at once the sound ceased, and from above he heard a well-remembered +voice: "Poor Rby!" it murmured. + +At the sound, a thrill of joy shook the prisoner, in spite of his +fetters; it spoke to him of life and hope. + +"Can you hear me?" asked the voice. + +"Perfectly," answered Rby. + +"Trust in God, He will deliver you, He will not let you be lost. If +to-morrow you hear a sound of knocking, give heed. Good-bye." + +Then there was again stillness. But Rby slept in his heavy fetters +rocked by that hope, as peacefully as a child in its mother's arms. + +When he awoke at daybreak, it seemed like a dream, till he was reminded +of its reality by a light tapping on the ceiling of his cell. + +And then, just over his head, there appeared a long hollow cane thrust +down from a small aperture in the roof, and it came lower and lower till +it reached his fettered hands. + +"Have you got it?" asked the voice. "If so, open it carefully." + +Rby carefully opened the sealed end and found a minute phial of ink, +and an equally slender pen made from a crow's feather. Round it was +rolled a sheet of paper. + +"Write, and I will wait to take it," said the voice, and the prisoner, +as might be imagined, was not long in obeying the request of his unseen +monitress. Carefully and minutely, in spite of his fettered hand, he +traced on the paper a letter to the Emperor, telling him all that had +happened, and in the relief of giving this welcome vent to his feelings, +he forgot his wretched surroundings. When it was done he rolled up the +paper, tucked it in the cane, and pushed it up again through the +ceiling. + +On the evening of the next day he heard the voice again: "Dear Rby, +take courage. Your letter has gone to Vienna by the Jew Abraham." + +Rby's heart warmed at this news, it would mean at the most only a week +more of his present captivity--and for that time he had bread and water +enough. + +Meantime, before the said week came to an end, his Excellency the +governor sent for Mr. Lasky. + +"We are in a nice quandary, my friend, and you will have to get us out +of it; hear what has happened," and his Excellency paused as if to +emphasise what was to follow. "Three days after Rby was imprisoned, the +Emperor summoned me to Vienna. I went as fast as posts could carry me, +to hear, as his first question: 'What have the authorities done with +Rby?' + +"I told him that Mathias Rby had already had a fair hearing before the +magistracy, but that owing to a dangerous sickness which had suddenly +overtaken him, he was now in the hands of the doctor, pending being +confronted with his accusers. The Emperor did not interrupt me, but when +I had done, out he comes with a letter written by your prisoner in spite +of his irons and fast barred door, setting forth his grievances to his +master in very plain terms. And I can assure you he didn't spare either +of us." + +Lasky was petrified with amazement. "That means," pursued his +Excellency, "that Rby has found ways and means of writing to the Kaiser +from his dungeon. When I had read the letter through, the Emperor said: +'Mark my words, if Mathias Rby is not released from prison by the day +after to-morrow (you will be back in Pesth by then), I shall give orders +that his custodians be themselves arrested and put in the Dark Tower for +the rest of their lives on bread and water. So you see what you have to +reckon with, and the best thing you can do is to set the prisoner free +at once.'" + +The lieutenant did not want urging, he rode to the prison in hot haste, +and demanded to see the head-gaoler. No sooner had Janosics appeared, +bearing his huge bunch of keys, than Lasky sprang at him straight away +like a wild cat, seized him by the ears, and banged his head against the +door unmercifully, till the keys rattled again in his hands. + +"Take that for your pains," he cried, "I'll teach you how to look after +your prisoners! What do you mean by letting Rby write to the Emperor +from his dungeon?" + +The castellan was dumbfoundered with pain and amazement. "All I can say +is, your worship," he cried, rubbing his head, "that Rby must be in +league with the Devil." + +And though all the authorities of Pesth put their heads together, they +could not solve the mystery. The only thing they were clear upon was +that Janosics deserved fifty strokes with the lash, a punishment he +promptly received. + + * * * * * + +The following day his Excellency went to the Assembly House, and two +letters were put into his hands by Lasky with a crafty smile. Both were +in Rby's handwriting. The one was dated from Szent-Endre; it contained +an expression of the writer's gratitude for his release by the Pesth +authorities, and his willingness to abide henceforth by the laws of the +land. Further, it announced his determination to withdraw from public +life and attend to his private concerns, and the writer begged that the +accompanying letter, if it met with the governor's approbation, might +be, after reading, forwarded by special messenger to the Emperor. + +The second missive contained a formal admission by the writer that he +had been led astray by false evidence, that the story of the +treasure-chest was a lying invention of the deceased "pope"; further it +expressed his regret at having caused the Pesth magistracy so much +inconvenience, and his determination not to return to Vienna but to pass +the rest of his life in the country, to which end he begged the pension +allotted to him might be sent to him at Szent-Endre. + +His Excellency immediately dispatched this missive to Vienna, and drove +back home. You do not imprison Pesth people so easily in the Dark Tower. + + * * * * * + +Yes, it was all very cleverly arranged, but perhaps the reader will not +be surprised to learn that Rby still languished in his dungeon a closer +captive than ever. At the discovery of Rby's letter to the Emperor, a +contingent of heydukes had visited the prisoner in his cell, searched +the dungeon for ink and paper, but in vain, for the thick rime which +glazed the ceiling, effectually hid the small hole at the top. The +result was that, failing to get any light on the mystery, Rby was +fettered closer than before, the door barred and sealed with the +lieutenant's own private seal, and the prisoner was once more left to +the solitude of his cell. + +And as for the supposed letters, why they were easily accounted for by +the fact that an accomplished forger then in prison, who was anxious to +please his judges to the best of his ability, which was great, had +written them at their bidding. + +So Rby waited till his good angel again provided him, by means of the +hole in the ceiling, with ink and paper in the cane, but this time he +only wrote the words, "I am still here, your Majesty," and signed it +with his blood, for his foot was bleeding profusely through the chain +cutting into it. But even this was assuaged by his protectress by means +of a linen bandage concealed in the cane, with which Rby was enabled to +bind up his ankle. + +Before the week was out, his dungeon-door was opened one morning, and an +unusually large allowance of bread, and two pitchers of water were +thrust into his cell. Then the man he had seen once before, whom he +recognised as a mason, appeared with his assistants, and with their +help, took his cell door off its hinges, and proceeded to brick it up. +And through Rby's mind ran old stories he had read of people being +walled up alive in the Middle Ages, and a shuddering horror fell upon +him, at the fate reserved for him. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + + +The Emperor received both of Rby's letters--the forged and the genuine +one--nearly at the same time, for the latter had been sent by express +post. Shortly afterwards, it became known that his Majesty was going to +pay a visit to Pesth, ostensibly to review some troops. It was this news +that had hastened the walling up of Rby's cell. The Emperor was not to +find him when he came, and when the Kaiser had gone, they meant to +restore the dungeon-door to its place. For they did not intend to kill +their victim outright by burying him alive. + +In order to dry the fresh masonry, they often let the window in the +corridor stand open, and so thick was the rime that you could not see +the walls for it. Nay, the hair and beard of the captive were white too +with it, and from the frozen ceiling, the icicles dropped down upon him +as he lay on his straw couch. But the greatest misfortune induced by the +cold was that he became so hoarse, he could not answer the voice from +above, but could only rattle his chains to show that he still lived. + +On the day of the Emperor's arrival, the voice ceased, and he heard +men's footsteps above, as if re-arranging the room, in view perhaps of +the imperial visit. + +In fact the Kaiser had come, and by mid-day had inspected his troops and +was sitting down to a frugal mid-day meal in the Assembly House, as was +his custom, alone, giving orders the while to the crowd of +aides-de-camp, and the various functionaries who came and went. He left +untasted the glass of old Tokay, poured out for him by the obsequious +Lasky in a glass of rare Venetian crystal, for to the date of its +vintage he was quite indifferent. + +"And now," said his Majesty, when he had finished, "tell me what has +happened to my commissioner, Mr. Mathias Rby?" + +"Sire, he has gone back some time since to his home in Szent-Endre, and +we had a letter of thanks from him just lately." + +"I have seen that letter," returned the Emperor drily, "likewise another +written from the dungeon of the Assembly House, wherein I learn he is +still a prisoner." + +"Ah, sire, that is easily explained," answered the lieutenant airily. +"The fact is that we had imprisoned at the same time as Rby, a renowned +forger, who has been deceiving even your Majesty by carefully forged +letters in your commissioner's handwriting." + +"What could he have gained by that?" said the Emperor. + +"Probably he knew," returned Lasky, "that Rby enjoyed your Majesty's +favour, and reckoned that, as you were coming to visit the Pesth prison +in person, he would thus recall himself to your Majesty and gain a +hearing from you." + +"That reminds me," answered the Emperor, "that I have not yet seen the +prison, so I will trouble you to lead the way." + +And Lasky proceeded to conduct the imperial guest to the dungeons, even +to the most noisome, regardless of the pestilential atmosphere which met +the visitor. The Emperor had every door unlocked, and insisted on seeing +everything, and it was plain from his sharp scrutiny that he did not +trust his guide. + +Then he inspected the cells where the "noble" culprits were confined, +and among them that formerly tenanted by Rby. The bed which the +prisoner had occupied, was duly pointed out to the Emperor, and then he +proceeded to inspect the rest of the cells in order. + +Three times did he actually pass the door of Rby's dungeon (and the +prisoner could hear the clink of his spurs overhead), yet did not +discover the one he sought. And no suspicion crossed the captive's mind +from behind his walled-up door that his would-be deliverer was close at +hand. + +The deception had been only too well carried out. Not even by coming in +person to free him, as the Emperor had promised his emissary, could he +succeed in delivering him. + +And there was not a single man of them all who would point to Rby's +cell, and say boldly, "There lies the man whom you are seeking." + +As for Mariska, she had been sent that very day to her aunt's at Buda, +for some of the officers had been quartered at the head notary's, and it +was no longer the place for the daughter of the house. + +And the Emperor went that day into camp, but Rby still languished in +his dungeon. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + + +Rby's persecutors were getting tired of their unavailing efforts to +break the prisoner's spirit, so they determined on softer measures, and +three days after the Emperor had left Pesth, his dungeon was broken +open, and Lasky and Petray arrived to make personal investigations into +their victim's state. + +Truly it was a pitiable spectacle that met their gaze when at last a +breach was made in the masonry and they penetrated into the cell. A +wasted and attenuated figure they saw half-buried under the snow that +had drifted in on to his straw bed through the grating--snow that was +stained red with the blood that had streamed from the captive's wounds. + +"Take the irons off!" ordered Petray, "and wrap the prisoner up in warm +coverings." + +And the order was not unnecessary, for it was some time ere the +locksmith could be found, and, meantime the victim was benumbed nearly +to death with cold. + +Even the locksmith, as he filed off the fetters from Rby's bleeding +wrists and ankles, could not suppress a murmur of pity, for he was only +a public servant who did as he was told, and had a kind heart. + +When at last Rby was freed from his chains, he could not stand, and had +to be carried by two heydukes to a neighbouring cell, which was one of +those he had formerly occupied. + +"Let him rest for a little," ordered Petray, "and then I will have a +word with him, and meantime, you may bring him some egg-broth with +wine." + +And the broth revived the wretched prisoner, half-starved and frozen as +he was, with new life, and he eagerly swallowed it. He was conscious of +a feeling of anger against himself for thus being so ready to accept +alleviation for his miserable body, that so little emulated his strong, +unconquered soul. One thing alone lightened the memories of his +sufferings, and that was the voice that had cheered his loneliness with +its encouraging whisper. And lulled by the unaccustomed warmth, he sank +into a comforting slumber, and at his awakening, only had his bandaged +limbs to remind him of his irons. Yet the remembrance that it was to +Petray, of all people, that he owed this amelioration of his misery, +stung him as with a lash. + +But just then the door opened, and in walked his enemy himself. He came +up to Rby's couch and asked the prisoner how he had slept, and whether +he felt better. But the captive answered these hypocritical enquiries by +never so much as a word. + +"You have to thank me for this change, you know," pursued Petray, "for I +have been chosen as your advocate when you appeal against your +sentence." + +"What?" cried Rby, in his excitement springing up, in spite of his +weakness, from the couch. "You to be my defender! You who are already +gravely impeached in the indictment I have formulated! Why such a false +position is impossible; it is you who must stand at the bar. Do you mean +to say you, who are my worst enemy, are entrusted with my defence?" + +Petray smiled. He knew well enough he had a sick man to deal with, who +was physically incapable of attacking him. + +"Now you see how unjust it makes you, this misunderstanding. You shall +know that the accused must have a counsel when he is confronted by the +indictment. There are two of us, myself and the lieutenant, who have to +take your case in hand; which do you prefer, him or me?" + +"Neither," cried Rby indignantly. "I am my own counsel, and I know how +to defend myself, and do not need any of your help." + +"My dear friend, be reasonable; see how unjust this is," said Petray in +a wheedling voice. "You think I would defend you badly. But it is +because I want to prevent you running your head against a wall that I am +doing this. Listen, I'll read you the points of your defence." + +And Petray proceeded to read the document in which he had set forth +Rby's case with such cunning adroitness, that black appeared white in +his representations, and white wholly black. Such a web of sophistries, +in fact, had he woven, that it had been difficult for a hearer to +disentangle the truth. In it all the guilt was laid at the door of the +dead "pope," and Rby appeared as a too confiding victim of his wiles +and misrepresentations. It was a tissue of false statements, yet Rby +listened to the end. + +Then he said indignantly: "So you really believe I need all that for my +justification, do you, that the guiltless are to be blamed and the +criminal cleared, in order that the truth be made manifest; that I +withdraw the impeachment already made against you, that I allow +peaceable and harmless peasants to be attainted as rebels; that I +disavow the responsibility of redressing their grievances, and that for +this, a dead yet innocent man be blamed, and his memory be defamed. No +such defence for me, thank you!" + +Petray laughed patronisingly. + +"My good friend, you are an idealist and always will be. What does the +'pope's' reputation matter to you, since he is dead? Do you suppose he +troubles as to what men say of him now? And as for the peasants, we can +make short work of them by putting them in irons. The defence is +perfectly in order; you only have to sign that you accept it." + +"Let my hand wither in its chains first," cried the prisoner, "ere I +subscribe to such infamy!" and he stretched his wasted hand to heaven. + +"Think twice, Rby, before you decide thus," said his tormentor. "If +you refuse, you may no longer rely on my help, and then you will just go +back to the place you came from." + +"Take me there," cried his victim, "but torture me no further, rather +kill me outright. But as long as my soul is master of my body, no pains +or persecutions shall cause me to forswear my honour and give the lie to +truth!" + +His anger lent the prisoner an unwonted energy, and Petray fairly +quailed as Rby dashed up to him and attempted to tear the document from +his hand; between them it was torn in two, but the leaves were stained +with blood! + +Petray was beside himself with rage; he hastily called for the gaoler +and the heydukes, who shortly entered, followed by Lasky. + +"He is an abandoned wretch, a traitor, a madman," cried Petray. "He has +flown at me, and tried to murder me. Put him in irons again directly!" + +"Out with the fetters," cried Lasky. "Where are the heaviest ones?" + +And they tore off the bandages from Rby's wounded limbs, and called the +locksmith to rivet them afresh. + +But that functionary revolted at this fresh act of cruelty against a +helpless invalid. "I won't do it," he said defiantly. "From this hour I +serve the authorities no longer; I will have no part in such cruel +injustice!" And so saying he left them, never to appear again. + +At last, after searching Pesth in vain, they found a locksmith in Pilis +to do the work. + +But when they thrust Rby back again into his icy dungeon, he cried, as +the door closed upon his tormentors, "I am not dead yet." + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + + +"But I'll take care that you soon will be," muttered the gaoler, as he +fettered the prisoner afresh to the wall, "and I've orders to visit you +twice every day, so that you may not carry on any of your accursed +necromancy in the cell." + +The next time his rations were brought him, it occurred to Rby that the +bread was strewn with a white powder. He had often complained of it not +being salted, but this did not look like salt, and as he was not hungry, +he did not attempt to eat it. + +That evening when it was dark, he heard the well-remembered voice again +from the floor above. + +"Poor Rby," it whispered, "are you there?" + +And on his ready answer, came the caution: "Do not eat of the bread they +have brought you, it is poisoned." + +The prisoner had suspected as much, but what was he to do? There was +nothing for it but to die of hunger, it seemed. + +"Examine the cane I am pushing down" came the voice again, and a minute +or two later, appeared the cane whose hollow had already brought him so +much. This time it was filled with chocolate, and there was enough to +last him till the morning. But what was he to drink? + +"Pour the water out of the pitcher, and through the cane I will fill it +with fresh," suggested the voice, and he hastened to obey. + +The next morning the gaoler saw with dismay that his prisoner was still +alive, and apparently uninjured by his supper, yet it would have killed +most men. However, he had not eaten much of it to be sure, judging by +the little that had disappeared. + +And when his back was turned, once more came the voice calling to Rby, +and this time it brought bad news indeed. + +"The Emperor has gone," it said, "he sought for you, but could find no +trace of you. They told him you had been released, so he left in that +belief." + +"Only give me writing materials," pleaded Rby earnestly. + +"I cannot, as soon as you are convicted of having them in the cell, you +are to be beheaded immediately. Besides, no one knows where the Emperor +is; they say he is in Turkey." + +The threat was for Rby but one more spur to action, and he was defiant, +and pleaded no longer with his protectress. He had hidden a morsel of +paper in his wretched bed, and on this he wrote with a straw for pen, +with a drop of his own blood for ink, for he had no other. When it was +dry, he rolled it up and concealed it in a straw-stalk. + +Then he waited till the next time his cell was being swept out by a +heyduke, who was the one who had formerly brought him the pitcher with +the false bottom. Rby gave his missive to him, and whispered, "This is +worth a hundred ducats." The man understood, and took the straw. + +That was Mathias Rby's last attempt at freedom. + +From that day forward, all sorts of threats were used to make him sign +Petray's paper, and sometimes they kept him so long under examination in +the court, that he fainted from sheer exhaustion. + +One night the door opened, and Janosics appeared with three men, one of +whom bore a brazier of burning coals, another a pair of pincers, and in +the third he recognised the public executioner of Pesth. + +"I'll soon make the stubborn fellow yield," cried the castellan +brutally; "let's see if this won't bend him! Now, gentlemen, do your +duty; strip him, and torture him till he confesses his crimes." + +Rby was dumb with horror. They tore his clothes from him, but the sight +of the prisoner's haggard face and emaciated figure smote the heart even +of the executioner with a sudden pity. + +"My good Janosics," he said, "I won't torment the poor wretch, not if +you give me the whole Assembly House for doing such work." + +And with that, he put on his coat, seized the water-pitcher which stood +by Rby's bed, and extinguished the coals, so that the cell was plunged +in sudden darkness. Then the whole crew withdrew quarrelling among +themselves. + +When Rby brought the occurrence to the notice of the court the +following day, they only laughed, and said he had been dreaming! + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + + +One of the thoughts that tortured Rby most was the anxiety as to what +he should do for food, if his benefactress' daily supply of chocolate +should fail him. He saved up a little store of it hidden in his black +bread, and for water, he could trust to the ice which still, through the +severity of the season, constantly formed in his dungeon. + +And one day, what he had so long dreaded, happened, and the voice was +heard no longer, and he had to take refuge in his hardly saved store of +nourishment. Nor was there any sign of his protectress on the following +day. But that night in the room above he could hear men's footsteps and +the sound of a woman groaning, as if with pain, all the night long. A +fearful suspicion crossed his mind that he dared not face, even to +himself. + +It was obvious that overhead someone was dying, and that someone a +woman. He would not let his mind dwell on the presentiment that suddenly +arose; it could not be, it must be a nightmare conjured up by his own +fevered imagination. + +The next morning the groans had ceased, but he could not hear what was +being said by those talking. By the afternoon, his fears were changed +into certainty, and he knew it was no dream. + +Then he heard the sound of singing, the melancholy droning that the +Calvinists use over the corpse, so charged with dreary forebodings, the +horrible gloom of which is in such contrast to the touching Catholic +ritual for the dead, where all tends to prayerful hope for the departed +and to consolation for the survivors. + +And then followed a series of dull thuds, as if they were nailing down a +coffin-lid, and Rby shuddered, but not this time with the cold. + +Towards evening his gaoler came to visit his cell, and Rby mastered his +feelings sufficiently as far as to ask who it was they were burying. + +The castellan read the real question in the prisoner's face as in an +open book. It betrayed his one vulnerable point, and his tormentor was +not slow to take advantage of his discovery. + +So he wiped his eye hypocritically, and murmured in a sorrowful tone, +"Alas, it is our beloved Frulein Mariska, the head notary's daughter, +that they are carrying to the grave. Heaven rest her soul!" + +The prisoner uttered a sharp cry as if he had received his death-blow; +then he burst into tears. Truly the dart had gone home this time, and +nothing could ward it off. The gaoler laughed behind the prisoner's +back; he had done better than the executioner for once! + +But Rby bowed his head on his knees, and clasped his fettered hands in +prayer for the soul that had so lately taken flight from this valley of +tears. But had he known it, Rby was praying, not for the soul of +Mariska, but for that of his wretched wife, for it was she whom they +were bearing to the grave. + +Fruzsinka had been, all unknown to him, a prisoner like himself, and +this was the end. How she had come there we shall learn later, for +meantime there are other factors in this strange history to be reckoned +with, and Rby is still languishing in his dungeon. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + + +Rby no longer dreaded the poisoned food that he expected his gaoler to +bring him, but next morning, strange to say, Janosics appeared with +empty hands and a malicious leer on his ill-favoured features. + +"Do I have no food to-day?" asked the prisoner. + +"Yes, indeed, my dear friend, from to-day you live like a prince. No +more bread and water for you, but just a jolly good dinner of the best, +and as much red wine as you like. And your fetters are to come off, and +you are to be moved into better quarters. You know, I daresay, as well +as I can tell you, what all this means." + +Rby shrugged his shoulders. + +"Well, it means that to-day your death-sentence is to be formally +approved in court, and that the scaffold is your destination. Till then, +you are to be kept in the condemned cell, and have everything you like +as befits a criminal under sentence of death, and enjoy yourself while +you may." + +It was too true, and no jest. The locksmith came and filed off the +prisoner's fetters once more, and then the barber shaved him, but the +closeness with which his hair was cut, signified only too clearly it +was the "toilet of the condemned." + +They did not stand on ceremony, but just carried Rby into the court +(for he could not walk), to hear that the capital sentence against which +he had previously appealed was now confirmed by the higher court, and +that he must prepare to die forthwith. + +He heard the decision with strange indifference, but all now he longed +for, was that they should get it over as quickly as possible. + +He was taken, not into his former cell, but into a small cheerful, +well-warmed room, where a table stood spread with all the delicacies +imaginable. + +This was the "condemned cell," and to it many a kind-hearted housewife +in those days was accustomed to send the pick of her larder, to provide +a good dinner for those whose earthly meals were numbered--a form of +charity at that time very much practised by the housekeepers of Pesth. + +"Now, Rby, you can eat and drink to your heart's content," cried +Janosics. "But it's no good trying to take any away with you, remember." +And the gaoler pushed the table to the couch, so as to be within the +reach of the prisoner. + +But Rby had no appetite, and had other preoccupations than those of the +table, to fill his mind just then. + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile, Rby's message had not been forgotten by the heyduke to whom +he had entrusted it. Old Abraham had taken it to the Emperor who, he +heard, was laid up sick in the capital, and it had been promptly read +and acted upon. Three days later, Colonel Lievenkopp, just appointed the +commandant at Pesth, sought out the governor, and demanded immediate +audience on urgent matters of state. + +He had, in fact, a message from the Emperor. "Thanks, Colonel, leave it +there; I'll read it later on; there's no hurry," said his Excellency, +airily, on receiving the imperial missive. + +"Unfortunately, there is hurry, your Excellency! I have orders to have +the mandate read in my presence." + +The words staggered the governor. He, the virtual, if not the nominal +ruler of Hungary, to be spoken to like this, and to have the law laid +down in this fashion to him! + +"Hoity-toity! I have other things to do! Suppose, too, I am not inclined +to read it?" + +"Then your Excellency will permit me to observe that I am empowered to +proceed to extreme measures. In the event of your Excellency not reading +that letter at once, I am commissioned to call in half a dozen officers +of public health who are waiting outside, with a regimental surgeon, for +the purpose of placing your Excellency in a strait-waistcoat, and +escorting you to Vienna under surveillance--you will guess whither?" + +The governor's face became crimson with rage. + +"What do you say--For me, a strait-waistcoat? Me, the representative of +the crown? Do you mean to say the Emperor said that, that he has written +it? Impossible, man, impossible!" + +And he tore the letter out of the envelope, and read its contents. + +They were short, and his eyes became suddenly blood-shot as he read as +follows: + + "From to-day you are relieved of your office: make + over your keys to the district commissioner at once. + + "JOSEPH." + +"And I have Mathias Rby to thank for this," groaned his Excellency. + +"Possibly," said Lievenkopp drily, "for his Majesty has entrusted me +with a patent for the Pesth magistracy, whereby he demands the instant +release of Mr. Mathias Rby; in the case of non-obedience, by ten +o'clock to-morrow, I am ordered to enforce its execution by a battery +and a corresponding number of soldiers, and if the prisoner is not +brought out, to storm the Assembly House forthwith, and release Mr. Rby +from captivity." + +"Storm the Assembly House?" stammered the magnate, dazed with the +suggestion. "Stir up civil war just for the sake of one miserable +culprit. Oh, that fellow will be the death of me!" + +And the wretched man staggered as with a sudden blow, and blindly clung +to a chair for support to prevent him from falling. He was blue in the +face, his clenched hand still grasping the letter; it was the beginning +of an apoplectic fit. + +Lievenkopp hastened to send one of the secretaries for a doctor, but it +was already too late; when the surgeon arrived to bleed him, the +governor was beyond such help. Thus passed one more actor in this +memorable tragedy of Rab Rby. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + + +It is time to return to Frau Fruzsinka, and to explain how she had come +to be a prisoner under the same roof as her husband. + +When Fruzsinka found that Rby was, in spite of the efforts she had made +to save him, a prisoner in Pesth, her rage and disgust knew no bounds. +The abandoned woman still carried on her miserable masquerade in man's +attire, and as a pretended highwayman, continued to strike terror into +the hearts of the countryside. + +One night, however, she was taken with what seemed a sudden faintness, +and seeking shelter in a peasant's hut, was betrayed by the owner to the +heydukes, and carried off by her captors to the prison in Pesth. By the +time she arrived there, she was evidently seriously ill, and appeared to +be in a high fever, although it never occurred to the prison authorities +that her malady might be infectious. + +Janosics, who had hailed her arrival with ill-concealed delight, +perceiving his prisoner wore a richly embroidered kerchief round her +neck, proceeded to annex it, and bind it round his own. But this rough +undressing, to which she was subjected as a culprit, was too much for +Fruzsinka, and she soon betrayed her sex by her tears at the rough +treatment Janosics meted out to her. + +As might be expected, the news soon spread that this was no highwayman, +but a woman, and she too of noble family. + +Trhalmy recognised her at once, and he tingled with shame at the +thought of Mathias Rby's wife being treated as a common felon. And the +case of a woman of Fruzsinka's position being sent there was so rare +that there was literally no provision for such prisoners in the +building, and so it came to pass that the disused "archive-room," as it +was called, the room where Mariska had been able to communicate with +Rby, was that now appointed for Fruzsinka. + +"You will be rewarded for this," gasped the wretched woman. "I shall not +trouble you long, for I shall not live over to-morrow." + +And when Trhalmy, having found a maid to wait on her, was leaving the +room, she called him back to whisper: + +"I know you have a daughter you love dearly. Send her away immediately +from this house, so she escape the contagion I have brought with me." + +Trhalmy hastened to warn Mariska that she might go to the house of her +aunt at Buda, and told her who the prisoner really was. + +But the girl was terrified at the thought of leaving Rby, perhaps to +starve, nor did she shrink at the idea of nursing Fruzsinka, but begged +her father to let her remain at home, and tend the sick woman. + +But Trhalmy would not let her carry her self-abnegation so far. + +Meantime, the doctor came, and deceived by the patient's symptoms, which +seemed to him those of an ordinary fever, made a false diagnosis of +Fruzsinka's case, and failed to recognise her malady for what it really +was--the oriental plague, which was then raging in the near East. + +But the plague-stricken woman would not allow a soul to come near her, +and refused all attempt at help or consolation, for she, being a +Calvinist, would not even see the kindly Capuchin friar who came to +offer his services. + +And Mariska was allowed to remain till the news of Lievenkopp's +threatening mission determined her father to send her away. + +As for that officer's demand, it was, deemed Trhalmy, a question to be +settled by the Pesth tribunal, and the still closed door of the +prisoner's dungeon would be the answer to the Emperor's mandate, whilst +the prisoner himself, when it came to the execution of justice, should +know who was master in Pesth! + +Surely Trhalmy had good reasons for sending his daughter away. + +Thus was Rby bereft of his guardian-angel, and so it came to pass that +his evil genius, his wretched wife, lay dying in the room over his +dungeon. + +But Fruzsinka's prophecy came true; she died the next day, and was +promptly buried. No one mourned the dead woman, as no one had excused +her. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + + +The fateful day broke at last and found the Pesth authorities still in +council; their vigil had lasted throughout the night. It was no light +question to be decided: nothing less than the authority of the Hungarian +constitution, and whether or not it should resist the armed force which +menaced it. + +Many among them pitied the prisoner and deemed him guiltless in their +own hearts, but the law had to be justified--at whatever cost--and +Rby's acquittal would have embodied the breach of that law. Thus it was +that no voice was raised on his behalf, and his condemnation was a +foregone conclusion. + +It was with difficulty the prisoner could stand, so exhausted was he; +and when he looked in the faces of his judges, he found there no mercy. + +Trhalmy had hidden his face in his hands, as, at the stroke of ten from +the great Franciscan church clock, the vice-notary (they spared Trhalmy +the office) began to read the sentence of the court on Rby. + +He read out the absurd charges which had been got up against the +culprit, the _rsum_ of the former trials, the judge's verdict, the +prisoner's incitements to the peasants to revolt, his association with +brigands, and resort to diabolical arts in order to escape from prison, +all of which had rendered him amenable to death by the axe. But this +sentence, said the speaker, could not be carried out, since the Emperor +had abolished capital punishment, and so it had been commuted by the +court into the galleys for life. Mathias Rby was therefore adjudged to +be chained that very day to the oar, to work out his just sentence. + +"Chained to the oar!" + +For that broken emaciated form what a mockery the sentence seemed! And +Mariska, what had she said to it, had she heard it? + +Rby had to be supported by two heydukes, as he was compelled to listen +standing to the sentence, but his face was deathly pale as he heard it. + +All at once the blare of trumpets and beating of drums was heard +without, and out of the neighbouring barracks came squadrons of infantry +and cavalry. The heavy roll of the cannon and the rattling of the +gun-carriages were distinctly audible as the latter rumbled along the +cobbles. And high above it, Lievenkopp's command to load was clearly +heard, and the rattle of the muskets as the soldiers obeyed. + +The pale face of the prisoner suddenly glowed with hope, and an electric +thrill of triumph convulsed his relaxed limbs, as he listened. Rescue +was at hand then! + +Now it is the turn of his judges to blench, for his persecutors to +tremble. The sword is suspended over the judge's head, not over the +culprit's. Who will first avert it? + +"Now, gentlemen," cried the vice-notary, "the sentence, you know, must +be read from the open window of the Assembly House, so all may hear it!" + +The speaker (he was quite a young man) suddenly paled with terror as he +took up the document, and hastily begged for a glass of water. Lasky +was too terror-stricken to take upon him the task before which his +junior quailed. + +Trhalmy stepped forward and seized the paper. "I will read it," he said +calmly. + +And turning to the castellan, he cried, "Close the doors, and tell the +heydukes to load their muskets at once." + +As Rby heard that command he shuddered. The first shot fired, the door +of the Assembly House once shattered, would be the signal for the whole +country to be aflame with revolt. Such a course would hurl the nation +and the dynasty to the verge of ruin. And for what? For the sake of +ensuring freedom to one miserable man. Was it worth it? + +The prisoner suddenly broke away from his guards, and intercepting +Trhalmy as he reached the window, he threw himself at his feet. + +"Your worship," he cried, "I recognise the justice of the sentence, I no +longer defy you, I am utterly broken; let me die, but do not let me be +further tortured or insulted. But do not on my account stir up bloodshed +and strife in this land; trample me, kill me if you will, but do not +let the innocent suffer. You shall never hear a word of complaint from +me again!" + +Trhalmy tore his coat lappet from Rby's trembling grasp, and strode +firmly but proudly to the window. Below in the street, came the word of +command from the officer in charge: "Load your muskets!" + +Standing at the open window, Trhalmy read aloud, in a clear unwavering +voice, the judgment on Rby from beginning to end. The prisoner had +fainted. The cannon were in readiness, the muskets loaded; they only +awaited the order to fire. All at once, an imperial courier, galloping +at full tilt through the crowd, dashed through the trumpeters, rode up +to the commandant, and handed him a sealed missive, crying "In the +King's name!" + +Lievenkopp hastily broke the seal of the letter, read it, and stuck it +into his breast-pocket, then he shouted, "Shoulder your arms!" + +The trumpeters sounded a retreat; the cumbrous cannon were wheeled back +again, and the threatening convoy took their way back to the barracks, +from whence they had so lately come. + +But the red-coated courier stood beating on the door of the Assembly +House with the knob of his riding-whip, and calling, "Open, in the +King's name!" + + + + +CHAPTER L. + + +At the sound of those few words, "In the King's name," the door of the +Assembly House was immediately opened; the formula acted like magic. + +There are two words which are often written down together, "Emperor" and +"King," wherein the outer world sees little difference, but for +Hungarians there is all the difference in the world. For the Magyar, the +first means only the foreign yoke, and all that it stands for; but the +second represents that rightful regal authority which in Hungary never +fails to win the loyalty and love of those to whom it appeals. And it is +a distinction which the world outside Hungary is sometimes slow to +recognise. + +And so it was that when the red-coated courier appeared before the Pesth +tribunal he was received with the utmost respect. It was the office of +the head notary to open and read the missive, which he did first to +himself. When he had finished, tears stood in the strong man's eyes. And +as he began to read it aloud, his voice trembled audibly, and he was +visibly moved. + + "WORSHIPFUL CITIZENS! + + "His Majesty the King herewith, by this present royal + rescript, withdraws all vexatious edicts hitherto + issued, with the exception of his edict of tolerance + and that for the freeing of the serfs. He revokes the + compulsory order for the use of a foreign language, + and rehabilitates your council and restores your + constitution. He concludes a war carried on against + the will of the nation by an honourable peace. He asks + you, the members of the Pesth magistracy, to call a + general council and promulgate the constitution in + Pesth, and further orders that the holy crown of + Hungary be brought from Vienna to Buda, after which he + will summon Parliament and will be crowned there." + +The last words were drowned by loud cries of "Long live the King!" while +the council members sprang up from their places huzzaing and cheering. +They seemed like changed beings. Even Trhalmy, the grave phlegmatic +man, generally as cold as ice and a slave to duty, was transformed, and +his set, serious face flamed with a sudden enthusiasm. + +"Now, gentlemen," he cried, "comes the new order, now we shall have +justice done. And before God and men can I now say, 'Woe to those who +have done this foul wrong to Mathias Rby.' I will justify him at the +bar of our country, and none who helped to persecute this brave man +shall escape unpunished. The nation shall judge him." + +"Hear, hear!" shouted many voices, and the loudest of all was Petray's. + +"Justice for Rby," exclaimed that worthy, "yes, it is right he should +have it. I have always told the lieutenant here what a sin and a shame +it was thus to compass his ruin." + +"What?" cried Lasky, "I, compassing Rby's ruin? What do you mean? Who +but you managed the whole business, I should like to know!" + +"That's a lie!" retorted his antagonist, and the strife promised to be +endless, for the others now joined in lustily, and swords were all but +drawn. + +Trhalmy took his documents under his arm. "I am going," he said, "I +prefer to choose my own company." + + * * * * * + +Meantime, the news of the royal proclamation had spread like wild-fire, +and nothing else was talked of. Nagy (otherwise "Kurovics") hastened to +Janosics to impart to him the news that the members of the council were +quarrelling as to which one was guilty of Rby's condemnation, and that +it would be as well at any rate, it should not be laid at the door of +the prison officials. + +So the two made for the condemned cell, where Rby had been dragged all +but unconscious. + +The prisoner imagined they had come to lead him to the galleys. + +"No, my friend, thank your stars you are not going there," shouted +Janosics, "you are reprieved! You are free!" + +And a sudden thrill of joy born of his regained liberty, shot through +the exhausted frame of the prisoner, remembering he was not to be +scourged at the oar. But then his unbending spirit reasserted itself, +and he exclaimed proudly, "I need no man's grace, and I accept none of +your favours, I would rather die here!" + +"You won't then do anything of the kind," retorted the gaoler, "but you +will just march! Here, thrust him out, you fellows," and he called up a +couple of warders who roughly seized the prisoner between them, and +carried him in spite of his struggles into the courtyard below. There +was a small iron door which led into a side thoroughfare, and this +Janosics opened and pushed Rby through it, out into the street the +other side. + +There they left him on the cobbles, in a dead faint from the efforts he +had made, and there he lay like a lifeless log. The prison authorities +did not care on whom the blame for detaining Rby fell, but they were +determined it should not lay with them. + +Janosics returned whistling into his room. But suddenly he ceased to +whistle; something seemed to be throttling him. His limbs too were +convulsed by a sudden tremor, and horrible spasms of pain shot through +his whole body. When he tried to cry out, he failed to utter a sound, +and only blood came from his mouth. And still that awful sensation of +strangulation oppressed him, so that he tugged at the kerchief about his +throat to get it off; it was the one Fruzsinka had worn. And the words +of the dead woman, her warning that none should come near her, came +back to him. + +The doctor he sent for, directly he saw his patient, exclaimed in +horror, "This is the oriental plague," for he recognised the symptoms of +the fell malady. + +And that word at once drove every living soul away from the unhappy man, +and he was left writhing in his agony behind the door till he was still, +for that meant he was dead. Then they sent two condemned felons to wrap +up the corpse in a horse-rug and carry it out into the cemetery there to +be buried like a dog. The only thing they troubled after was as to +whether enough quicklime had been thrown into the grave. + + * * * * * + +But Rby lay half-dead on the cobble-stones. There were no other houses +in the alley, save the monster barracks, the university hospital, and +the great stone rampart of the hinder part of the Assembly House. + +As a rule, only one person went up that alley every day, and that was an +old Jew named Abraham. He was no longer bound by law to wear the red +mantle, and could go about in his black gown and kaftan. With him was a +red-haired boy, his youngest son, an intelligent lad who had excellent +legs and could run with the best. + +But Abraham left him at the corner of the alley and went alone to the +little iron door. + +There he was accustomed to wait each morning till a heyduke appeared. +Then he would push a paper containing a piece of gold under the door, +and receive in exchange another morsel of paper. This contained the +latest news of Rab Rby, and Abraham promptly gave it to the youngster +waiting at the corner, who forthwith would run with it to Buda, where +Mariska was waiting for it. + +But on this particular morning, the Jew found no news of Rby, but +instead, the prisoner himself, lying on the stones, as one dead. + +The old man raised no alarm, nor did he utter a word, but bending over +the prostrate man, laid his hand on Rby's heart to see if it yet beat. + +When he had satisfied himself that Rby was still alive, Abraham wrapped +him up in his warm fur-lined mantle, took him in his arms, and carried +him to the corner of the alley, where he and his son between them +dragged him into a sedan-chair, and bore him off--whither no one knew! + + * * * * * + +A voice like the voice of the angels themselves (so it seemed to the +half-conscious man who heard it) sweet as the song of the spheres and +thrilling with some unwonted harmony which did not seem of this earth, +recalled the stricken soul of Mathias Rby back from the shadows of +death where it yet lingered. + +"May heaven preserve you to us, poor Rby," whispered the voice. + +The ex-prisoner awoke from his swoon to find himself in a warm room, +whose atmosphere was redolent with some refreshing fragrance, pillowed +on soft cushions, while above him were bending two blue eyes that seemed +as if they carried in their inmost depths, something of the light of +paradise itself. Such eyes, and who could forget them, once having seen +them? + + * * * * * + +But to this day the treasure-chest of Szent-Endre has never been found, +so effectually was it hidden from all men. + + +THE END. + +_Jarrold & Sons, Ltd., Printers, The Empire Press, Norwich._ + + + + +Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors present in the +original text have been corrected. + +In Chapter III, "based on a false premiss" was changed to "based on a +false premise". + +In Chapter V, "the gate of the vineyards were shut" was changed to "the +gates of the vineyards were shut". + +In Chapter VIII, periods was added after "others lay dormant" and "she +has become a fine girl". + +In Chapter XI, "_Did you call me, dear father?_ asked he girl" was +changed to "_Did you call me, dear father?_ asked the girl". + +In Chapter XIV, "Thereupon, he sent the wooer to Frulein, Fruzsinka" +was changed to "Thereupon, he sent the wooer to Frulein Fruzsinka". + +In Chapter XVI, "the csak on their heads" was changed to "the csk on +their heads". + +In Chapter XVII, _"Why do you call him a "worshipful gentleman," asked +the president._ was changed to _"Why do you call him a 'worshipful +gentleman,'" asked the president._, and a period was changed to a +question mark after "in order to save his fellow-citizens from beggary". + +In Chapter XIX, a period was changed to a question mark after "What +could be the reasons of his delay". + +In Chapter XX, "a coquettishly clad peasant from the Aldfld" was +changed to "a coquettishly clad peasant from the Alfld", a quotation +mark was added before "These registered formulas are falsified", and "He +fancied al Pesth" was changed to "He fancied all Pesth". + +In Chapter XXIII, "What for the children who are deserted by their +mothers?" was changed to "What, for the children who are deserted by +their mothers?" + +In Chapter XXIX, missing periods were added after "Where all the others +are" and "to demand an explanation". + +In Chapter XXXII, "said Raby, suiting the action to the word" was +changed to "said Rby, suiting the action to the word". + +In Chapter XXXIII, "They stopped the calvacade" was changed to "They +stopped the cavalcade". + +In Chapter XL, a period was changed to a question mark after "had not +the Emperor himself promised to come". + +In Chapter XLIV, "A wasted and attentuated figure" was changed to "A +wasted and attenuated figure". + +In Chapter XLVIII, a comma was added after "deceived by the patient's +symptoms". + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Strange Story of Rab Rby, by Mr Jkai + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RBY *** + +***** This file should be named 36739-8.txt or 36739-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/3/36739/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Strange Story of Rab Rby + +Author: Mr Jkai + +Commentator: Emil Reich + +Release Date: July 15, 2011 [EBook #36739] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RBY *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RÁBY</h1> + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<p class="center"><span class="biggertext">DR. MAURUS JÓKAI'S</span><br /> +<span class="bigtext">MORE FAMOUS WORKS</span><br /> +(<i>Authorised Translations</i>).</p> + +<p class="center">LIBRARY EDITION.<br /> +6/- each.</p> + +<div class="booklist"> +<span class="book">Black Diamonds.</span> +<span class="book">The Green Book; or, Freedom Under the Snow.</span> +<span class="book">Pretty Michal.</span> +<span class="book">The Lion of Janina; or, The Last Days of the Janissaries.</span> +<span class="book">An Hungarian Nabob.</span> +<span class="book">Dr. Dumany's Wife.</span> +<span class="book">The Nameless Castle.</span> +<span class="book">The Poor Plutocrats.</span> +<span class="book">Debts of Honour.</span> +<span class="book">Halil the Pedlar.</span> +<span class="book">The Day of Wrath.</span> +<span class="book">Eyes Like the Sea.</span> +<span class="book">'Midst the Wild Carpathians.</span> +<span class="book">The Slaves of the Padishah.</span> +<span class="book">Tales from Jókai.</span> +</div> + +<p class="center">NEW POPULAR EDITION.<br /> +2/6 Net each.</p> + +<div class="booklist"> +<span class="book">The Yellow Rose.</span> +<span class="book">Black Diamonds.</span> +<span class="book">The Green Book; or, Freedom Under the Snow.</span> +<span class="book">Pretty Michal.</span> +<span class="book">The Day of Wrath.</span> +</div> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">London</span>: JARROLD & SONS.</p> + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 360px;"> +<img src="images/jokai.png" width="360" height="516" alt="portrait of Mr Jkai" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<p class="center biggertext">THE STRANGE STORY<br />OF RAB RÁBY</p> + +<p class="center">BY<br /><span class="bigtext">MAURUS JÓKAI</span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 129px;"> +<img src="images/logo.png" width="129" height="180" alt="SANS PEUR ET SANS REPROCHE." title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="edition">THIRD EDITION</p> + +<p class="center">LONDON<br /> +JARROLD & SONS, 10 & 11, WARWICK LANE, E.C.</p> + +<p class="center">[<i>All Rights Reserved.</i>]</p> + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE<br /> +<span class="smalltext normal">TO JÓKAI'S "RAB RÁBY," IN ENGLISH,<br /> +<i>By Dr. Emil Reich.</i></span></h2> + + +<p>In "Rab Ráby," the famous Hungarian novelist gives us, in a manner quite +his own, a picture of the "old régime" in Hungary in the times of +Emperor Joseph II., 1780-1790. The novel, as to its plot and principal +persons, is based on facts, and the then manners and institutions of +Hungary are faithfully reflected in the various scenes from private, +judicial, and political life as it developed under the erroneous policy +of Joseph II.</p> + +<p>Briefly speaking, "Rab Ráby" is the story of one of those frightful +miscarriages of justice which at all times cropped up under the +influence of political motives. In our own time we have seen the Dreyfus +case, another instance of appalling injustice set in motion for +political reasons. "Rab Ráby" is thus very likely to give the English +reader a wrong idea of the backward and savage character of Hungarian +civilisation towards the end of the eighteenth century, unless he +carefully considers the peculiar circumstances of the case. I think I +can do the novel no better service than setting it in its right +historic frame, which Jókai, writing as he did for Hungarians, did not +feel induced to dwell upon.</p> + +<p>The Hungarians, alone of all Continental nations, have a political +Constitution of their own, the origin of which goes back to an age prior +to Magna Charta in England. Outside Hungary, it is generally believed +that Hungary is a mere annex of "Austria"; and the average Englishman in +particular is much surprised to hear that "Austria" is considerably +smaller than Hungary. In fact, "Austria" is merely a conventional +phrase. There is no Austria, in technical language. What is +conventionally called Austria has in reality a much longer name by which +alone it is technically recognised to exist. This name is, "The +countries represented in the <i>Reichsrath</i>." On the other hand, there is, +conventionally and technically, a Hungary, which has no "home-rule" +whatever from Austria, any more than Australia has "home-rule" from +England. In fact, Hungary is the equal partner of Austria; and no +Austrian official whatever can officially perform the slightest function +in Hungary. The person whom the people of "Austria" call "Emperor," the +Hungarians accept only as their King. There is not even a common +citizenship between Hungarians and Austrians; and a Hungarian to be +fully recognised in Austria as, say a lawyer, must first acquire the +Austrian rights of naturalisation, just as an Englishman would.</p> + +<p>The preceding remarks will enable the reader to see clearly that Hungary +never accepted, nor can ever accept Austrian rule in any shape +whatever; and that the entire business of political, judicial, and +administrative government in Hungary must legally be done by Hungarian +citizens only. The King alone happens to be an official in Austria as +well as in Hungary; but according to Hungarian constitutional law he +cannot command, nor reform things in Hungary except with the formal +consent of the Hungarian authorities, in Parliament and County. In +Austria indeed, the "Emperor" was, previous to 1867, quite autocratic; +and even at present he has a very large share of autocratic power.</p> + +<p>Now, Emperor Joseph II. desired to melt down Hungarian and Austrian +manners, laws, and institutions into one homogeneous mass of a +Germanised body-politic. With this view he commanded the Hungarians to +practically give up their own language, their ancient national +constitution, and old County institutions, thinking as he did, that such +an unification of the Austro-Hungarian peoples would make the Danubian +Monarchy much more powerful and prosperous than it had ever been before. +He sincerely believed that his scheme of unification would greatly +benefit his peoples; nor did he doubt that they would readily obey his +behests to that effect.</p> + +<p>However, the Emperor was quite mistaken as to the effect of his imperial +policy upon the Hungarians. Far from acquiescing in his plans, the +Hungarians at once showed fight in every possible form of passive +resistance, rebellion, scorn, or threats. To them their Constitution +was, as it still is, dearer by far than all material prosperity.</p> + +<p>The Emperor's ordinances were coolly shelved, not even read, and with a +few exceptions, all his commands proved abortive. Many Hungarians +admitted then, as others do now, that Joseph's reforms were in more than +one respect such as to benefit Hungary. Yet no Hungarian wanted to +purchase these reforms at the expense of the hoary and holy Constitution +of the country. Joseph, in commanding all those reforms, without so much +as asking for the consent of the Estates, violated the very fundamental +principle of the Hungarian Constitution. This the Hungarians were +determined to resist to the uttermost. In the end they vanquished the +ruler, who shortly before his death withdrew nearly all his ordinances, +and so confessed himself beaten.</p> + +<p>It is in the midst of these historic and psychological circumstances +that Jókai laid his fascinating novel. A young Hungarian nobleman, +indignant at the illegality and injustice of public officials of his +native town, who shamefully exploit the poor of the district, approaches +the Emperor with a view to get his authorisation for measures destined +to put an end to the criminal encroachments of the said officials. The +Emperor gives him that authority. But far from strengthening young +Ráby's case, the Emperor thereby exposes him to the unforgiving rancour +of both guilty and innocent officials who desperately resent the +Emperor's unconstitutional procedure.</p> + +<p>The novel is the story of the conflict between the young noble and the +Emperor on the one hand, and the wretched, but in the nature of the +case, more patriotic officials, on the other. As in all such cases, +where virtue appears either at the wrong time, or in the wrong shape, +the ruin of the virtuous is almost inevitable, while no student of human +nature can wholly condemn his otherwise corrupt and despicable enemies. +In that conflict lies both the charm of the novel and its tragic +character.</p> + +<p>As in all his stories, Jókai fills each page with a novel interest, and +his inexhaustible good humour and exuberant powers of description throw +even over the dark scenes of the story something of the soothing light +of mellow hilarity.</p> + +<p class="signature">EMIL REICH.</p> + +<p class="date">London, Nov. 1st, 1909.</p> + + + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<table class="figcenter" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum smallertext"> </td> +<td class="chappage smallertext">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER I.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER II.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">6</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER III.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER IV.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">16</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER V.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">27</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER VI.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">37</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER VII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">46</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER VIII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">50</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER IX.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">58</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER X.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">64</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XI.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">70</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">82</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XIII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">86</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XIV.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">96</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XV.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">104</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XVI.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">112</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XVII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">130</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XVIII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">141</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XIX.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">150</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XX.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">159</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXI.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">173</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">178</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXIII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">188</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXIV.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">197</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXV.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">204</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXVI.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">219</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXVII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">224</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXVIII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">234</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXIX.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">237</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXX.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">249</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXXI.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">255</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXXII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">259</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXXIII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">268</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXXIV.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">278</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXXV.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">286</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXXVI.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">289</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXXVII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">296</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXXVIII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">301</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XXXIX.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">308</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XL.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XL">317</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XLI.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLI">324</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XLII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLII">328</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XLIII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIII">335</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XLIV.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIV">339</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XLV.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLV">345</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XLVI.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLVI">349</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XLVII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLVII">352</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XLVIII.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLVIII">357</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER XLIX.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIX">360</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">CHAPTER L.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_L">364</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a>INTRODUCTION.</h2> + + +<p>Now it is not because the double name of "Rab Ráby" is merely a pretty +bit of alliteration that the author chose it for the title of his story, +but rather because the hero of it was, according to contemporary +witnesses of his doings, named Ráby, and in consequence of these same +doings, earned the epithet "Rab" ("culprit"). How he deserved the +appellation will be duly shown in what follows.</p> + +<p>A hundred years ago, there was no such thing as a lawyer, in the modern +sense, in the city of Buda-Pesth. Attorneys indeed there were, of all +sorts, but a lawyer who was at the public service was not to be found, +and when a country cousin came to town, to look for someone who should +"lie for money," he sought in vain.</p> + +<p>Why this demand for lawyers could not be supplied in Buda-Pesth a +hundred years back may best be explained by briefly describing the two +cities at that epoch.</p> + +<p>For two cities they really were, with their respective jurisdictions. +The Austrian magistrate persistently called Pesth "Old Buda," and the +Rascian city of Buda itself, "Pesth," but the Hungarians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span> recognised +"Pestinum Antiqua" as Pesth, and for them, Buda was "the new city."</p> + +<p>Pesth itself reaches from the Hatvan to the Waitz Gate. Where Hungary +Street now stretches was then to be seen the remains of the old city +wall, under which still nestled a few mud dwellings. The ancient Turkish +cemetery, to-day displaced by the National Theatre, was yet standing, +and further out still, lay kitchen gardens. On the other side, at the +end of what is now Franz-Deák Street, on the banks of the Danube, stood +the massive Rondell bastion, wherein, as a first sign of civilisation, a +theatrical company had pitched its abode, though, needless to say, it +was an Austrian one. At that epoch, it was prohibited by statute to +elect an Hungarian magistrate, and the law allowed no Hungarians but +tailors and boot-makers to be householders.</p> + +<p>Of the Leopold City, there was at that time no trace, and the spot where +now the Bank stands, was then the haunt of wild-ducks. Where Franz-Deák +Street now stretches, ran a marshy dyke, which was surmounted by a +rampart of mud. In the Joseph quarter only was there any sign of +planning out the area of building-plots and streets; to be sure, the +rough outline of the Theresa city was just beginning to show itself in a +cluster of houses huddled closely together, and the narrow street which +they were then building was called "The Jewry." In this same street, and +in this only, was it permitted to the Jews, on one day every week, by an +order of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span> magistrate, to expose for sale those articles which +remained in their possession as forfeited pledges. Within the city they +were not allowed to have shops, and when outside the Jews' quarter, they +were obliged to don a red mantle, with a yellow lappet attached, and any +Jew who failed to wear this distinctive garb was fined four deniers. +There was little scope for trade. Merchants, shop-keepers and brokers +bought and sold for ready-money only; no one might incur debt save in +pawning; and if the customer failed to pay up, the pledge was forfeited. +Thus there was no call for legal aid. If the citizens had a quarrel, +they carried their difference to the magistrate to be adjusted, and both +parties had to be satisfied with his decision, no counsel being +necessary. Affairs of honour and criminal cases however were referred to +the exchequer, with a principal attorney and a vice-attorney for the +prosecution and for the defence.</p> + +<p>At that time, there was in what is now Grenadier Street, a +single-storied house opposite the "hop-garden." This house was the +County Assembly House whence the provincial jurisdiction was exercised. +It had been the Austrian barracks, till finally, Maria Theresa promoted +it to the dignity of a law-court, and caused a huge double eagle with +the Hungarian escutcheon in the middle, to be painted thereon; from +which time, no soldier dare set foot in its precincts. Here it was only +permitted to the civilians and the prisoners confined there to enter. +Only the part of the building which faced east was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</a></span> then standing: this +wing comprised the officials' rooms and the subterranean dungeons.</p> + +<p>The magnates carried on their petty local dissensions, aided by their +own legal wisdom alone, yet every Hungarian nobleman was an expert in +jurisprudence in his own fashion. There were even women who had proved +themselves quite adepts in arranging legal difficulties. The Hungarian +constitution allowed the right to the magnate who did not wish the law +to take its course, of forcibly staying its execution, and the same +prerogative was extended to a woman land-owner. The commonweal also +demanded that each one should strive to make as rapid an end as possible +to lawsuits. Long legal processes were adjusted so that there should be +time for the judge as well as the contending parties to look after +building and harvest operations, as well as the vintage and pig-killing. +On these occasions lawsuits would be laid aside so as not to interfere +with such important business.</p> + +<p>But if the tax-paying peasant was at variance with his fellow-toiler, +the local magistrate, and the lord of the manor, were arbitrators. So +here likewise there was no room for a lawyer.</p> + +<p>But when the peasant had ground of complaint against his betters, he had +none to take his part. There was, however, one man willing to fill the +breach, although he had been up to this time little noticed, and that +man was Rab Ráby—or to give him his full title of honour, "Mathias Ráby +of Rába and Mura."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</a></span></p> + +<p>He it was who was the first to realise the ambition of becoming on his +own account the people's lawyer in the city of Pesth—and this without +local suffrages or the active support of powerful patrons—but only at +the humble entreaty of those whose individual complaints are unheard, +but in unison, become as the noise of thunder.</p> + +<p>The representative of this new profession did Ráby aim at being. It was +for this men called him "Rab Ráby," though he had, as we shall see, to +expiate his boldness most bitterly.</p> + +<p>In what follows, the reader will find for the most part, a true history +of eighteenth century Pesth. It will be worth his while to read it, in +order to understand how the world wagged in the days when there was no +lawyer in Pesth and Buda. Moreover, it will perhaps reconcile him to the +fact that we have so many of them to-day!</p> + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>They sit, the worshipful government authorities of Pesth, at the +ink-bespattered green table in the council room of the Assembly House, +the president himself in the chair; close beside him, the prefect, whom +his neighbour, the "overseer of granaries," was doing his best to +confuse by his talking. On his left is an empty chair, beside which sits +the auditor, busy sketching hussars with a red pencil on the back of a +bill. Opposite is the official tax-collector whose neck is already quite +stiff with looking up at the clock to see how far it is from +dinner-time. The rest of the party are consequential officials who +divide their time between discussing fine distinctions in Latinity, and +cutting toothpicks for the approaching mid-day meal.</p> + +<p>The eighth seat, which remains empty, is destined for the magistrate. +But empty it won't be for long.</p> + +<p>And indeed it is not empty because its owner is too lazy to fill it, but +because he is on official affairs intent in the actual court room, +whereof the door stands ajar, so that although he cannot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> hear all that +is going forward, he can have a voice in the discussion when the vote is +taken.</p> + +<p>From the court itself rises a malodorous steam from the damp sheepskin +cloaks, the reek of dirty boots and the pungent fumes of garlic—a +combined stench so thick that you could have cut it with a knife. +Peasants there are too there in plenty, Magyars, Rascians, and Swabians: +all of whom must get their "viginti solidos," otherwise their "twenty +strokes with the lash."</p> + +<p>For to-day is the fourth session of the local court of criminal appeal. +On this day, the serious cases are taken first, and after the +death-sentences have been passed, come a succession of lesser peasant +offenders for judgment.</p> + +<p>Some have broken open granaries, others have been guilty of assaults, +but there are three main groups. To one of these belong the settlers +from Izbegh who have been convicted of gathering wood in the forests of +the nobles. The second section embraces those culprits who were artful +enough during the vintage to cover the ripe grapes over with earth, (so +that the magnates should be cheated out of their tithes), and to evade +the heydukes who kept watch and ward over the vintagers. Thirdly, there +were the offenders who had formed a deputation to the chancery court, +and dared to pray for a revision of the public accounts for the past +twenty-five years, a request at once temerarious and stupid, for +twenty-five years is a long time—long enough<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> indeed for accounts to +become rotten and worm-eaten. But that they were in sufficiently good +order, the revenue for this particular year, 1783, testified, seeing it +amounted to sixty thousand gulden, of which six thousand were paid to +the ground landlord, and two thousand towards the internal expenses of +the province, with a balance in hand of fifty-two thousand gulden—not +an extravagant outlay, surely!</p> + +<p>But what remains for the peasant?</p> + +<p>Why just those twenty strokes with the lash. These solve the question of +"plus" and "minus."</p> + +<p>The presiding judge, Mr. Peter Petray, only records his vote through the +door, but he himself is doing his official part, for from the window of +the adjoining room he superintends the sentences carried out in the +improvised court below. There are the prisoners in the dock on whom the +vials of justice are being poured forth. They are by no means a +contemptible study either for the psychologist or the ethnographer. The +Rascians are the defaulters against the vintage rights, and loudly they +shriek and curse as the blows are administered, whilst the outragers of +the forestry laws are mostly Swabians, who take advantage of the pauses +between the lashes roundly to abuse the overseer. But there are many +other delinquents besides in that motley crowd, who simply clench their +teeth and await their chastisement.</p> + +<p>But the eye of the law must itself watch over the execution of judgment, +so that nothing in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> shape of an understanding between the heyduke +and the culprit, tending to mollify the punishment, may be arrived at. +Much depends on how the blows are laid on. Not only does the sentence +provide that the due number of lashes may be fulfilled, but likewise +that the strokes should be heavy. It is for this that the judge, if he +sees the heyduke falter in his work, urges him on to harder blows, by +calling out "Fortius!"</p> + +<p>But Judge Petray knows how to combine duty and pleasure. For Fräulein +Fruzsinka, the niece of the prefect, is also in the room, and their +whispered confidences and languishing glances show that the judge and +the young lady have not met here to discuss simply official questions.</p> + +<p>Whilst the notary in the next room is reading the indictment in a loud +enough tone for Petray to be able to follow him, this dignitary manages +to interpolate various interesting "asides" to his companion amid the +fire of cross questions, and only calls out his vote when asked for it.</p> + +<p>Only the prefect cannot just now leave his post as assessor, and it is +impossible for him to see all that goes on. In the pauses therefore +between the blows, the flirtation between these two goes on merrily.</p> + +<p>It was just then that Fräulein Fruzsinka whispered something to her +lover.</p> + +<p>"Willingly," he answers, "but while I do it the Fräulein must take my +place at the window, and count the strokes in my stead."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span>"And remember the heyduke's name is 'Fortius,'" added the judge to his +representative.</p> + +<p>Fräulein Fruzsinka leaned out of the window still laughing heartily, and +began to count as if she were noting a scale of music. The culprit, +seeing a girl's smiling face looking down on him, appealed to her for +mercy. And the young lady, who was by no means hard-hearted, called out +to the heyduke: "Don't beat the poor fellow so pitilessly, Fortius." But +that official only flogged all the harder.</p> + +<p>At the twelfth stroke, Petray came back and slipped something into the +hand of the girl as she leaned out of the window.</p> + +<p>This something she pressed to her lips as she withdrew again behind the +curtain, hiding it in the great locket she wore on her breast. The judge +counted on.</p> + +<p>Now it was the turn of a gipsy band, six of whose number had stolen a +goose, and were to receive half a dozen lashes apiece in consequence. +Later on they will provide the music at dinner, at the command of their +prosecutors: "Now we fiddle to you, then you will play to us!"</p> + +<p>Fräulein Fruzsinka, with a parting hand-clasp, hastens away to see to +the setting of the table, for the silver and glass and table-linen are +her special care. The judge raised her hand to his lips as she left.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>It was now time for dinner, whereat we may have the honour of making a +closer acquaintance with the host and hostess and their four guests.</p> + +<p>The prefect, Mr. John Zabváry, with his jaundiced complexion and bleared +eyes, is an excellent specimen of the perfect egoist. Whosoever it is +that comes to him, whether to ask, or to give something, is equally an +enemy in disguise. Does he ask a favour? what is it he wants? Does he +bring something? why is there not more of it? With that perpetual dry +cough of his, he always seems to be calling attention to the faults of +someone or other. He does not even dress like anyone else, but sits at +the end of the table in loose shirt-sleeves, his head nearly +extinguished by a huge red velvet cap, from which dangles an enormous +red tassel, that seems to mock at received Magyar modes. He is a +shocking speaker, and when he gets angry, words fail him, and he begins +to stammer. He is, however, the uncle and guardian of Fräulein +Fruzsinka, which fact perhaps accounts for his short temper.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>For Fräulein Fruzsinka, with her pretty face and arch ways, her bright +eyes and alluring smile, is none the less a domestic affliction in her +way. How the prefect longs for someone to rid him of her! How willingly +would he not give her to the first comer.</p> + +<p>But it is her own fault that no one marries her, for she flirts +desperately with each admirer in turn. You see it even as she sits at +the table, keeping up a cross-fire of bread-pellets with the judge in a +way that is anything but ladylike. The prefect coughs disapproval and +shakes his head each time he glances at his wayward niece, who, on her +part, only shrugs her shoulders defiantly.</p> + +<p>Yet is Judge Peter Petray a highly distinguished man. The dark Hungarian +dolman that he wears suits him admirably. His black curly hair is not +powdered in the Austrian mode, nor twisted into a cue, but curls over +his forehead in a most attractive fashion, and his short moustache +proclaims him a cavalier of the best type.</p> + +<p>His neighbour, the president of the court, Mr. Valentine Laskóy, is a +good specimen of the Magyar of the old school, with his squat little +rotund figure, short red dolman, variegated Hungarian hose, bright +yellow belt, and tan boots. The long fair moustache that droops either +side of his mouth, seems to vie with the bushy eyebrows half defiantly. +Yet it is a face that is always smiling, and the owner has a powerful +voice wherewith to express his feelings.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>The dinner lasted well into the twilight. How describe it? Everyone +knows what an Hungarian dinner implies. With other people, eating is a +pleasure, with the Magyar it is a veritable <i>cultus</i>.</p> + +<p>The meal was enlivened by anecdotes, and those of the most racy kind, +whilst the fragrant fumes of tobacco wrapped the company in a cloud of +smoke.</p> + +<p>When they at last rose from the table, the judge drew from under his +dolman a little note that Fräulein Fruzsinka had slipped into his hand +under the table—a missive that an onlooker might have taken perhaps for +a love-letter. The judge, however, pushed it over to the president, +exclaiming as he did so, "Worshipful friend, will you please verify this +little account?"</p> + +<p>"What is it? I can't see to read by candle-light." And with that the +president pushed the document over to the prefect.</p> + +<p>"It's only the statement of accounts," grumbled the host, as he thrust +the paper from him, while he growled: "That is my niece's affair and has +nothing to do with me!"</p> + +<p>"I can't see by candle-light," repeated the president. "I can't make out +the letters." For a good Hungarian never puts on spectacles. Whoever has +good eyes may read if he will.</p> + +<p>His worship, the judge, had good eyes as it happened. But Fräulein +Fruzsinka kicked his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> foot under the table, a hint her admirer well +understood.</p> + +<p>"Let us hear how much we four have eaten and drunk in four days." Here +it is:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">12 pounds of coffee.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">24 pounds of fine sugar.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">626 loaves of wheaten bread.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">534 decanters of wine.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">154 pounds of beef.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">4 sucking pigs.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">107 pairs of fowls, turkeys, and geese.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">54½ gallons of Obers beer.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">174½ pounds of fish.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">24½ pounds of almonds.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">18¼ pounds of raisins.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">422 eggs.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">3 hundred weight of finest wheat flour.</span><br /> +</div></div> + +<p>Each item was greeted with a roar of laughter from the company. What was +here set forth could not have been consumed. Moreover the expenditure +was the affair of Fräulein Fruzsinka, who superintended these payments.</p> + +<p>It was the judge's cue to be polite under the circumstances. Fräulein +Fruzsinka held her table-napkin before her face while it was being read, +in order to hide her blushes. Behind her stood the heyduke with the +inkstand, so that the document might be duly signed by the authorities. +Happily the item of the ink wherewith it was signed was not put down, +else, doubtless, it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> had amounted to a bucketful! Then they all +exchanged the greeting customary at the close of a meal. If anyone had +anything further to say, it was about the gipsy musicians who were just +beginning to play.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>A genuinely welcome guest does not take his leave at nightfall; the +prefect's visitors therefore put off their departure till the next day, +for the evening before they had sat long at the card-table, whereat the +prefect had won back from his guests, and that to the last kreutzer, all +that it had cost to entertain them.</p> + +<p>Fräulein Fruzsinka had played cards till daylight. She had at first no +luck whatever, willing as she was by some slight cheating, to bring it, +but since her fellow-players were ready to let a pretty girl have her +way, she won at last ten ducats. Mr. Laskóy, however, lost the whole of +his salary. But the money would at least be restored to him, for it was +the custom that whoever won most must refund the president his lost +money, in view of the possible wrath of that important official. The +master of the house smuggled the ten ducats through Fräulein Fruzsinka, +into the president's hand.</p> + +<p>"Take care," laughed the girl, "Gyöngyöm Miska does not rob you on the +way."</p> + +<p>"I shall hide it where no one can find it, in the lining of my cap. +There it will be safe enough.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> Besides, Gyöngyöm Miska is just now +prowling about the county of Somogy. Captain Lievenkopp himself, with +all his dragoons, would hardly succeed in driving him into our +neighbourhood."</p> + +<p>"Ah, well, I only say, look after your gold pieces!"</p> + +<p>The president laughed contemptuously. Lievenkopp was, it was well known, +one of Fräulein Fruzsinka's admirers.</p> + +<p>The president and the judge drove together as far as the next post +station, where their ways parted, and meantime chatted amicably.</p> + +<p>"Isn't our hostess a charming person?" began the president as they left +the inn.</p> + +<p>"I don't say she isn't."</p> + +<p>"I must admit you certainly show your good taste in that quarter."</p> + +<p>"Surely only like any other?"</p> + +<p>"Come, come, what avails evasion? When I look into the fair lady's eyes +I don't see the expression there, you do. Can you deny it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, and if I have looked into her eyes, what of it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we know all about that. Everyone knows that you and the lady of the +house were carrying on a flirtation whilst the sessions were going on."</p> + +<p>"Did I flirt?"</p> + +<p>"Most emphatically you did. I know everything. Last night, when I went +to my room, I heard voices through the door of our hostess' boudoir. I +waited in order to listen, and sure enough it was the prefect who was +holding forth angrily about you against a shrill<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> high-pitched voice, +which was obviously that of your Fräulein Fruzsinka. Thereupon, the lady +retorted that there was an understanding between you, and that the +affair was quite serious."</p> + +<p>"Bah! As if I meant to marry every girl to whom I have made a +declaration," laughed the judge.</p> + +<p>"Aha, that would be quite as difficult to bring about as if Fräulein +Fruzsinka wished to marry all those who had courted her. It cuts both +ways. Yet she is a charming girl! If she could only find some good man +who would marry her. Why not you, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Most certainly not. For if someone else marries her, I am certain that +she will be true to me. But if I, and not anyone else, wed her, then +sure enough she'll deceive me every day."</p> + +<p>"But if you don't mean to, then it were surely a great mistake, besides +a mere quibble of words, to leave in the fair lady's hands a pledge that +could be legally produced as argument for the plaintiff."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut. I haven't presided twenty years for nothing in criminal law; +I understand what tokens mean. What happened in the little ante-room? +What has the defendant to urge on his behalf?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I only superintended the carrying out of the law from the window."</p> + +<p>"And in the intervals taught your hostess how to conjugate the verb +<i>amo</i>, to love, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Stated but not proven—but if it were so?"</p> + +<p>"Consequently, the lady may be justified in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> urging: 'If he really and +truly loves me, let him give me a love token, a lock of his hair.'"</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly—now you stand convicted! Need I remind you that you only +sought a pair of scissors to cut off a curl of your hair, and while you +did that, your lady-love registered the blows for you as your <i>locum +tenens</i>. Yet you were giving the most dangerous blow of all to the +guileless loving heart which beat under your gift, for Fräulein +Fruzsinka hid the curl in her locket, and when we came away, I noted how +she leaned out of the window and kissed the locket over and over again. +Is the impeachment sufficient?"</p> + +<p>"No, I won't admit it is. It's based on a false premise. Up to the time +when I went for the scissors, I grant you it was a sound one, but here +the facts alter. As I stood before the looking-glass, with the scissors +in my hand, who should come in but the Fräulein's' little black poodle, +and as usual he put out his fore paws caressingly. Thereupon, a +brilliant idea struck me. The hair curled as well round the poodle's +neck as it did on my head. No sooner said than done. The Fräulein wasn't +looking; she was too busy with the sessions, so quickly nipping off a +superfluous curl from the dog's neck, I slipped it into my lady's soft +hand; into her locket it goes forthwith. But don't betray me! For if the +Fräulein knew it, she would poison us all at the next dinner."</p> + +<p>Mr. Valentine Laskóy was not given to groundless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> merriment, but he +could not fail to see the point of this jest; first that one of the +dog's curly locks had been transferred to the locket, and secondly, that +it had been kissed with transport by the owner. And thereupon he burst +into such a guffaw of laughter that the horses thought it was a volcanic +eruption, and began to shy and rear accordingly, so that the coachman +and the heyduke with him could not bring them to a standstill on the +bridge before the post-house, and the passengers were all but sent +flying from their seats. But at this point Mr. Laskóy had to get out to +await the companions he had left behind, who were coming on in the +coach.</p> + +<p>"But don't say a word to anyone," was the judge's parting injunction to +his companion.</p> + +<p>"Trust me! But, all the same, whenever I see a black poodle I shall +laugh at the thought."</p> + +<p>And off went the judge, for his time was up.</p> + +<p>At the bridge, where the roads branched off, Laskóy waited for the coach +to come up.</p> + +<p>But what a time the coach was coming, to be sure! He could not imagine +what had happened to it. It was past mid-day, his ever-growing hunger +made the delay of the diligence all the more wearisome. But in spite of +it all, he waited patiently.</p> + +<p>At last the famous vehicle came in sight, but only slowly, although the +road was quite good. What could have happened?</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>Now what had really happened to the coach was that it had lost one of +the big screws out of the hind wheel, so that the latter had come off. +For a whole hour had they hunted for the screw without success, and then +they tried to get on without it, but that was a difficult business. If a +peasant loses a wheel-nail, he can easily find a substitute; the screw +of a coach, however, is not so easily replaced. What straps and ropes +they had to hand were knotted and wound round the axle, but the quickly +rotating nave had in a few minutes torn all to shreds, and would not go +round properly, much to the detriment of the horses who now had to drag +the lumbering conveyance with a wheel that would not work, through the +tough, sticky morass, which made the way much more toilsome.</p> + +<p>Not that this affected the merry mood of the president as he took his +place inside. Every now and again he whistled for sheer lightness of +heart.</p> + +<p>"Fire away, there!" he cried to the driver.</p> + +<p>But the driver was not equal to the task, as he urged his steeds over +the morass through which the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> four slow old hacks dragged the rickety +vehicle with its broken-down wheel.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, on a hillock which rose tolerably steep from the roadside, +waited a horseman mounted on a strong wiry beast, that stood with his +muzzle snuffing the ground like a setter scenting the trail, with +watchful eyes and pricked ears, but so still that he did not even brush +off the flies that settled on his withers and flanks. The man himself in +the saddle was equally motionless; he was dark and hawk-eyed, with curly +hair, and a tapering pointed moustache. He wore a peasant's garb that +was scrupulously fine of its kind, his countryman's cloak being richly +embroidered, and his sleeves frilled with wide lace. In his cap he wore +a cluster of locks of women's hair and a knot of artificial flowers; at +his girdle gleamed a pair of silver inlaid Turkish pistols, while from +the pommel of his saddle hung another, double-barrelled, and in his +right hand he carried an axe. An alder-bush had hidden the stranger up +till now, so that he could not be seen by the coaching party till he +himself hailed them.</p> + +<p>"Now you traitor, you knave, are you going to stop or not?"</p> + +<p>Was the coachman going to stop? Yes indeed, he sprang down from his box +in terror, promptly crawled under the coach, and whimpered, "Alack, your +honour, it's Gyöngyöm Miska himself, it is indeed!"</p> + +<p>The mounted cavalier pranced up to the coach, the noble charger tossing +his proud head to and fro, so that the harness-fringe flew round him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>"Now we've got something to laugh at and no mistake," growled the +coachman. Yet he laughed too in spite of himself.</p> + +<p>The highwayman himself began to laugh as he accosted the president.</p> + +<p>"So you've recognised me, have you, for the celebrated Gyöngyöm Miska?"</p> + +<p>"How pray did you become Gyöngyöm Miska?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you remember me by that name? You yourself gave it me. Have you +forgotten how when, years ago, in the County Assembly, I had begun a +speech, you called out to me in the middle of it, 'Ay, Gyöngyöm (my +jewel), hold your peace; you understand no more of these things than +half a dozen oxen put together,' so that I could not get any 'forrader,' +for people laughing at me. Since those days the name has stuck to me. +Everywhere I go I am received with the greeting, 'Here's Gyöngyöm Miska, +worse luck!' So then, I say to myself, 'I'll be a Gyöngyöm Miska,' and +show them such things as no one else can. And people talk about me, +don't they?"</p> + +<p>"But you won't rob me, will you?" implored his victim. "Do you want my +horses?"</p> + +<p>"Make your mind easy. I rob nobody. I only take what is given me, and +carry off what the possessor does not value, and as for such wretched +nags as you drive, I tell you plainly I wouldn't have them at a gift. I +am pretty hard to please in horseflesh, I can tell you. So don't let's +waste time in talking. I ask for nothing that people have not got.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> I +know too that you are in a hurry. So just give me ten gold pieces, and +then you can drive on."</p> + +<p>The president did not wish to understand the hint, as he said sulkily, +"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Only those ten Kremnitz ducats that you drew as salary for your work on +the Bench."</p> + +<p>"True enough, friend, that I have received them, but the prefect won +them from me at cards last night, and I haven't one left. He did not +give me back the money he had won. Turn out my pockets, search me if you +will, and if you find there anything but a bad groschen, it shall be +yours. Here's my sword-pouch. See, there's nothing inside. And if you +like, you can take my boots off, but you'll find no gold there, I warn +you."</p> + +<p>The highwayman pressed his axe between his fingers, and tapped quite +gently with the butt end of it on the crown of the president's head, +where the velvet lining of his fur cap hung out. What was jingling +inside?</p> + +<p>The smile vanished from the lips of his victim. His round face became +suddenly square with astonishment.</p> + +<p>Now there must be something wrong about that. Who had betrayed him? No +man knew it but one.</p> + +<p>Gyöngyöm Miska did not let him waste time in further consideration. With +a pickpocket's dexterity he drew from under his cloak his hunting knife +from its sheath, ripped out the velvet lining, and possessed himself of +the ducats in a trice. Then, with a pressure of his knees, he turned +his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> horse round, and in the twinkling of an eye, horse and rider were +over the marsh. Only then did he turn round to utter as a parting +greeting the formula of the law courts: "I commend to you, my lord, my +official services," and disappeared through the poplar-trees.</p> + +<p>"It is a stupid business," grumbled the president, whose good humour had +been torn away with that cut into his cap-lining.</p> + +<p>And a stupid, not to say absurd business it certainly was.</p> + +<p>But Gyöngyöm Miska, cracking his hunting whip merrily, bounded away over +the sedge.</p> + +<p>It was already evening. The autumn sun cast long shadows over the level +plain. At the edge of a wood burned a herdsman's fire. By it sat a girl +in riding-gear, her head supported on her hands, at her feet two +greyhounds lay stretched out, her horse was tethered to the stem of a +poplar. At the cracking of the whip she sprang from her resting-place, +threw a bundle of dry faggots on the fire, mounted her horse, snatched +up her whip, and cracked it as a counter signal. Across the plain, +starred with wild anemones, the two met; bending down from the saddle, +they embraced and kissed each other, and were off once more, the one +eastwards, the other to the west.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Meanwhile, scarcely had the guests withdrawn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> from the Assembly House +than an official courier rode up the Old Buda Street into Pesth. A +courier of this kind was so unusual a sight, that everyone hastened to +his front door to see him. He wore a red frock coat, leather gaiters +over his boots which reached up to the knee, and a cocked hat with a +tuft of red feathers. Every postmaster is bound to provide him with a +fresh mount does he need it, and a blast from his horn will compel every +peasant to hold at his service as many oxen or horses as he possesses. +The sound of his horn is a well-known one, and as the courier gallops up +the street, the children, blowing through their hands, mimic the blast, +and the elders crane their necks to see what may be his errand. It was +for the prefecture he was bound.</p> + +<p>"Très-humble serviteur, Mamselle Oefrosine!" Thus the courier greeted +Fräulein Fruzsinka de Zabváry. "Postage not paid, but I ask three +kronen, because I've ridden well, to say nothing of having to go back! +There are a thousand gulden inside."</p> + +<p>It was the courier's way to recommend the letters he handed in as +containing a thousand gulden. So he was paid the fee; but there was +nothing like a thousand gulden in the letter thus sent to Fräulein +Fruzsinka, for it was from the captain of dragoons, Heinrich Lievenkopp, +and why there was nothing of the kind in the letter, may now be told.</p> + +<p>Fräulein Fruzsinka paid the courier, but ordered him to wait at the +prefecture so that she might give him the answer to take back. It was +likewise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> to the interest of the postman to urge the despatching of a +reply. Then she broke the seal and read the letter in question, written +in the stilted affected style just then so much in vogue, with +mythological phraseology mixed up with barrack slang. It ran as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"My most adored Lady,</p> + +<p>"By the winged feet of Mercury himself, do I address a +message, surely very agreeable to your grace. God Mars +has taken it into his head to complete the heroic +labours of Hercules. That scoundrel of a highwayman, +'Gyöngyöm Miska,' has, after escaping our annihilating +force on this side of the river, retreated across the +Danube, and has taken refuge in the Ráczkeve +Island—protected by Neptune and Hermes, those +divinities of the robber. Meantime, must we patiently +wait on the shore till we get a ferry to carry us +across. The wretched fellow was playing us off, since +he swam across the other arm of the Danube and reached +the farther side. Thereupon, the Viennese civilians +who were with us, declared, forsooth, that we might +not pursue him, because it would be crossing the +border of another county!</p> + +<p>"So we had to return to Pesth till the county of Pesth +should supersede the county of Weissenburg in its +strategic co-operation. But rumour has it that the +redoubtable robber has come back from Weissenburg +county to that of Pesth, and is haunting the Vörösvár +woods. Therefore have I received new<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> marching orders +from the commander-in-chief to march with my squadron +on to Vörösvár. To-morrow, at the first streak of dawn +shall we start on an expedition which brings me on the +wings of the Hours to the charmed circle of my +adorable Calypso in the beauteous Vörösvár Vale of +Tempe.</p> + +<p>"There is, however, a small but fatal incident that +must be recorded, that has much disquieted me, which I +will set forth to the Fräulein. Last week I was +amusing myself with Mr. Justice Petray (a good fellow +by the way), in dallying with Fortune's painted cards, +on which occasion a thousand dancing sprites turned +the wheel very unluckily for me, so that I lost twenty +ducats to the justice, and had to give him my <i>parole</i> +as an officer that I would pay him to-morrow. Item, he +insists on my redeeming my word, because to-morrow +there is to be an enquiry into the accounts, and among +other things will be missing the twenty ducats from +the treasury. But owing to the incredibly bad state of +the roads the allowance my aunt sends me has not +arrived, nor do I know how I can settle the affair. +And so for me there remains nothing but to take my +leave of the world with a pistol-shot, and embark in +the boat of Charon, or else to take refuge under the +protection of my good genius, and call her to my aid. +I humbly suggest that she might, for just this once, +be an intermediary with her rich uncle for me, and +borrow the above-mentioned sum on my behalf, which I +pledge my word, as a cavalier, gratefully to reimburse +directly I get my aunt's allowance.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>"May the Fräulein accept the most humble homage of +Heinrich von Lievenkopp."</p></div> + +<p>Off went Fräulein Fruzsinka, when she had read this letter, to her +uncle, the prefect.</p> + +<p>"I say, uncle, dear, will you advance me ten ducats out of my +allowance?"</p> + +<p>"Oho, my dear," answered Mr. Zabváry in a tone which suggested the +melancholy whine of a dog. "What's the matter? I really can't advance +any more money, for my account at the bank is already in danger of being +overdrawn. But what did you so suddenly want ducats for? Is the captain +of dragoons in difficulties? That seems to be a chronic ailment with +him. Yes, indeed, I know, he wants more pecuniary aid, that's it! +Otherwise he'll blow his brains out? Heaven grant he may! If he'd only +do it once for all! What does a dragoon captain matter to me? A man who +never means to marry, but just scares away the eligible suitors. I wish +the devil had taken him to Silesia. And, pray, if he means to marry, am +I to keep him? I should think not, indeed, considering he's got his old +aunt. But even if he has, it will fall upon me in the end. Just write +him the right sort of answer in proper Latin: 'Centurio' = Captain, +'pecunia' = money, 'non est' = is there none; 'si valves valeas' = if there's +no wine, then drink water!"</p> + +<p>"Very good, if you won't give me any, I'll ask someone else," said +Fräulein Fruzsinka defiantly, banging the door after her as she went +out.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>Mr. Zabváry did not think much of that, for it was quite customary for +Fräulein Fruzsinka to raise loans on all sides; from the overseer, from +the chief herdsman, nay, from the shepherd's man she would borrow, and +they never dared to ask the prefect for repayment, but probably then and +there reckoned—as the saying goes—that "discretion was the better part +of valour" in such a case (which is a wise conclusion if you can but +come thereto). Fräulein Fruzsinka, however, left all these possible +creditors unexploited, and calling for her horse, and her riding whip, +and two pet dogs, she went off on a hunting expedition into the open +country.</p> + +<p>She did not, certainly, appear to be troubling about game, but seemed +much more concerned to reach the wood; once there, she paced along the +side of the brook till she came to the thicket.</p> + +<p>There she took a path which led through it, till she reached a +picturesque circular glade on whose edge six armed men in their coloured +cloaks, lay encamped by a herdsman's fire. When the most gorgeously +garbed one among them perceived the Fräulein, he sprang forward to meet +her, and as she approached he hastened up to her, lifted the young lady +from her horse, and kissed her on both cheeks. Both the dogs appeared to +recognise the cavalier, for they sniffed at him in a decidedly friendly +way. Then, with their arms round each other's necks, they paced along +the flower-decked turf, speaking together in a low voice. And the end of +it was that the lordly cavalier, after whispering to the Fräulein, +mounted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> his horse, shouldered his weapons, and trotted off, with all +his accoutrements, in company with the young lady herself in the +direction of the high road.</p> + +<p>What then happened we have already seen.</p> + +<p>Fräulein Fruzsinka had her ducats when she came back. She put them with +the other ten, enclosed them in an envelope, gave them to the waiting +postman, and the red-coated courier was before nightfall on his return +journey, blowing the while the lustiest blast on his horn.</p> + +<p>And thus had Fräulein Fruzsinka, at one blow, accomplished three, to +her, eminently desirable ends.</p> + +<p>First she had made her adorer, Gyöngyöm Miska, aware on what side danger +threatened him; at the same time she had procured the ten ducats which +her other admirer needed to redeem his word and avoid the fatal shot; in +the third place, she had helped her third suitor, the judge, to verify +the municipal accounts and make them balance.</p> + +<p>But those ten ducats must have truly been bewitched, since they were +fated, in twenty-four hours, to pass through many pairs of hands, to +disappear, be stolen, disappear again, and again be stolen, and only +then to come to a stand-still.</p> + +<p>That Fräulein Fruzsinka had put all her admirers in a good temper, +however, and benefited all three, can we duly testify.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>In the Szent-Endre and the adjoining Izbegh vineyards the vintage was in +full swing. It was an excellent harvest, the wine promised to be +unusually good, and all the vineyards were filled with joyous labourers.</p> + +<p>But from the vineyards the new wine was conveyed away by one road only, +in great casks, while heydukes, armed with pikes and muskets, guarded +the route. For all that grows in the vineyard must first pay the +requisite tithes.</p> + +<p>At the entrance of the one open road four huts were erected, and before +each stood a huge vat. The first belonged to the Bishop of the diocese. +As the cart, laden with the casks of "must," or new wine, passes, the +episcopal steward takes out his tithe. Then the cart proceeds to the +second hut, where the court chamberlain deducts his share. Thence it +arrives in front of the two huts which, facing each other, bound the +narrow road, so none may pass unchallenged. No matter whether the owner +is hailed in German or Magyar, the sacristan of the parish acting for +the Catholic priest, appropriates his own tithe from the cask, or if he +speaks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> Rascian, it is for the Greek "pope," he takes his share.</p> + +<p>Only then can the convoy proceed. Yes, indeed, so it might, if there +were not a fifth hut in the way, where two heydukes seize the horses' +bridles, and on right and left the owner is hailed by officials who want +to know why he has broken the "portion" rule. (For thus in their +simplicity have the peasants abbreviated the word "proportion.")</p> + +<p>Such is the method in which the taxes are extorted.</p> + +<p>Whoever is in a position to do it, holds himself in readiness to +compound for the "Harács," as it was called in Hungary, from a Turkish +word, by opening his purse and paying up the arrears of the tithe in +groschen, which settled the matter, for to pay the tax in silver was +illegal. Consequently, on the table of the fifth hut fell many a +well-stuffed bag of copper coins, which the officials had squeezed out +of the vintagers. There were, however, many who were not well enough +provided with small change to satisfy this crowd of creditors, and so +had to pay up the arrears in kind. That is why the great vats stand +there in the road.</p> + +<p>But the "red Jew" carries his casks into the small Slovak carts that +take it down to the Danube, and ships it to Vienna, and pays, too, his +tax of two Rhenish gulden for his wine.</p> + +<p>It can well be imagined how to the overtaxed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> peasant wine-grower who +has run out of money, this same "red Jew" is a friend in need, quite +ready to help him out of his difficulty, for he will pay for his wine at +the rate of two gulden a kilderkin. But this did not happen in +well-regulated communities. Only the municipality had the privilege of +selling wine, and to it the citizen only dare retail his vintage. And +the price which he received for it was fixed by the law at one gulden.</p> + +<p>So the wine-grower pours likewise into the great vat his "deputy-tax," +wherein he reckons a gulden for a kilderkin, and the "red Jew" draws it +out again at two gulden a kilderkin.</p> + +<p>Thus it befalls that the owner of the vineyard brings the bottles which +he has brought with him empty to the vineyard, empty home again. And yet +that is called a first-rate vintage! But it was hard for the good man +himself to esteem it so, and no wonder he was doubtful!</p> + +<p>And thus the vintage went on till nightfall. Then the gates of the +vineyards were shut, and the judicial vintagers paused in their work, +yet not to betake themselves to rest, but to carry on further business +within doors.</p> + +<p>The judge and his deputy, the notary and the jurymen, all conferred +together, the notary being auditor and controller in one, whereby it may +be gathered that he was a very clever fellow.</p> + +<p>The Jew Abraham was likewise called into the council, in order to assist +in the money-changing.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>For at that epoch all kinds of money were current in the country, which +only came into evidence as they passed in daily exchange. To dispose of +them was not easy, so the Jew was bidden to give proper money in +exchange for them. When he got back to Vienna he could in his turn get +rid of it.</p> + +<p>During the money-reckoning transaction, Abraham appeared with the +accounts giving the amount of money taken over, the price of the wine, +and the bad money left behind.</p> + +<p>"Can't you buy this bad money too, father Abraham?" queried the notary.</p> + +<p>"No indeed, my lord, for if I change false money they will lock me up, +but you will quietly put it away in the cash-box, and pay out with it, +your servants' wages, your heydukes, messengers, and foresters. In due +time, these coins will again be in circulation at the tradesman's stall, +or the inn, and the public will be fingering it once more for fees and +fines, and so the bad money comes round again, just as the sun goes +round the earth, for it is not by any means lost."</p> + +<p>Everyone laughed at the Jew's explanation.</p> + +<p>Then Abraham stated how much he would give in gold for the small change +he had taken, and the business was settled without further ado.</p> + +<p>"But now, Mr. notary," proceeded the Jew, "just make me out a receipt to +attest that I have changed the money, and that we are quits, but write +it in Latin, not Rascian."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>"All right, Rothesel."</p> + +<p>"Also, I would ask you not to write my name 'Rothesel,' but 'Rotheisel,' +with an 'i' if it is just as easy to you."</p> + +<p>"But everybody calls you 'Rothesel'?"</p> + +<p>"You may call me what you like, but in writing at any rate, I am +'Rotheisel.' I had this favour granted me in Vienna, from the Kaiser +himself—that I might write it with an 'i.'"</p> + +<p>"And a nice round sum that very 'i' cost you in Vienna, Abraham, or I'm +much mistaken! Confess frankly, it did!"</p> + +<p>"Pray why should I confess anything about it? What does it matter +whether this 'i' cost me but a single heller, or a hundred thousand +gulden—you, not I, pay them, after all is said."</p> + +<p>When the Jew had gone, the notary packed up the ducats in stacks, and +placed them beside him round the inkstand, while the president began: +"Well, now the outsiders are off home, only the privileged councillors +and the members of the council remain, in order to be present at the +opening of the great coffer."</p> + +<p>Now it is not permitted to every official to glance at the contents of +the mysterious coffer. As the privy council alone remained, the notary +fetched out from the cupboard, as many night-caps as there were men, and +each one drew the covering thus provided over his head, so that only the +tip of his nose was visible. This was done so that none might see where +he was going.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> When all were thus blindfolded, the notary alone +excepted, the latter took a light from the table, and gave the end of +his stick into the judge's hand; the judge in his turn reaching the end +of his to the juryman behind him, and so on, till the chain of +blindfolded men were ready to start. Where? Ah, that was the notary's +secret, for he it was who directed their progress.</p> + +<p>"Now there come steps," he cried, "one, two, three," and so on, till he +had counted ten. Then a key creaked in an iron lock. "Stoop down so you +don't hurt your heads," came the word of command, and they passed +through a low door. "Here we are," cried their leader, "now you can +look."</p> + +<p>The jurymen had often been in this place before. It was a low-pitched +cellar, with a massive, vaulted arched roof, and in a corner of it, +there stood an iron coffer made fast to the wall.</p> + +<p>Beside this iron chest stood a Rascian "pope," whose hand they could +reverentially kiss if they wished. How he came there no one knew.</p> + +<p>The "pope" produced a large, curiously wrought key, and the notary a +second one like it.</p> + +<p>"These are the keys, open it who can!"</p> + +<p>Three or four times some jurymen made the attempt, yet without success; +in vain did the keys press right and left in the wards, but it opened +not.</p> + +<p>"We are wasting time," cried the "pope." "Do you try, Mr. notary, you +understand it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>Whereupon the notary turned the keys, and the coffer was opened.</p> + +<p>Everyone wanted to see inside.</p> + +<p>There were nothing but ducats there: ducats, indeed, by hundreds, in +fine transparent bladder bags, through which the yellow metal gleamed +seductively. The sacks stood as in battle array, like so many soldiers +close to each other. There must be a fabulous lot of gold there! Now +another row was to be added to it. Then from a side compartment of the +chest, a small book was fetched out wherein the notary entered all kinds +of accounts. And strange entries might those be, judging from the +frequent exclamations of the jurymen, which showed that the budget he +examined was a notable one.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut," cried the notary interrupting, "you don't want it published +to all the world."</p> + +<p>"But if it has to be, eh?"</p> + +<p>After which, certain accounts were duly registered in the little book, +and the great coffer was again closed. Then the "pope" spoke.</p> + +<p>"I see well enough that you have again husbanded your funds carefully, +and that the money has increased, but where does the blessing of Heaven +come in? You never give a thought to the Church! You promised to buy a +new church bell, to gild the church roof, and to build a house for the +parish priest. There's no money for all these things, but the coffer +gets fuller and fuller."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>"Make yourself easy, your reverence," answered the notary, "all that may +come next year, if we are spared. For that the small cash-box will +suffice."</p> + +<p>"So you think it will, do you? What has ruined the hospital? The poor +sick folk nearly perish of hunger in summer, and are nigh frozen in +winter, whilst you carry off the timber by cart-loads as presents to +Pesth, and then think of the amount of smoked sturgeon and caviare and +wine you send thither, and all for the magnates, but nothing for the +sick and needy!"</p> + +<p>"Let it be, your reverence, there's nothing so advantageous for the sick +as fresh air, and nothing so harmful as overloading their stomachs. But +it's far better that we should give firing for the magnates, than that +they should make it hot for us!"</p> + +<p>"And the poor-house which our revered Queen, Maria Theresa, endowed, is +it not still empty? What are we about that we do not find inmates for +it? But you find none."</p> + +<p>"The devil we do! Don't the blind and the lame stand each Sunday before +the church door, but if we want to befriend them, we've only to say: +'Come you, poor wretches, we'll show you the way into the poor-house,' +and off they run in a fright, so great a horror have they of the bread +of the State."</p> + +<p>"You children of the devil! And what of the poor Izbeghers whose forty +houses were burned down? The Emperor allowed them as much from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> the +treasury as the worth of the houses amounted to, but you raised the +rents of the remaining houses and then dunned them for the money."</p> + +<p>"That's natural enough, seeing the Emperor let the State annex the +burned part in order to pay so much the less to the ground-landlord. If +Peter has nothing, then pay Paul, that is the rule."</p> + +<p>"A godless rule too! Amend your ways, I say, for if next year as many +complaints reach my ear as have this, I'll denounce your coffer to the +Treasury."</p> + +<p>These words only provoked laughter.</p> + +<p>"Your reverence is not such a bad sort," ventured the judge in a +conciliatory tone.</p> + +<p>Thereupon, the keys were withdrawn, the night-caps again donned, and the +notary led his blind men again to the ground-floor of the council +chamber, where they congratulated one another on the risks run.</p> + +<p>"Only yon priest should not have it all his own way with his +maledictions," grumbled the judge. "But they are all like that. Each one +of them thinks that hardly earned money should be wasted on churches and +hospitals."</p> + +<p>"I also think, my lord, that it would be better that such an +unreasonably big sum of money should be divided to each one as he has +need," suggested a juryman bolder than the rest.</p> + +<p>The speaker might, from the assenting murmur which greeted his speech, +take it for granted that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> he had a good many on his side, but the +eloquence of the notary soon crushed such sympathy.</p> + +<p>"Ay, my dear friend, that would kill the goose which lays the golden +eggs. This coffer is our pledge of power, our shield of protection, our +bond of union. As long as it exists are we rulers in this city and in +all its dependencies. As long as this coffer answers for us, so long can +we get the laws made in our favour. As long as we have our money, they +won't take our sons for military service, or ask us for accounts, and if +a meadow or a plot of land is to be divided, we look after the +allotment. It is we who direct public works. It is we who fell the +timber in the forest, who cast the net into the Danube, and limit the +vintage; we buy and sell; and fix the tithes. As long as the key of that +coffer is in our hands, we must needs be great powers in the city, like +Kaiser Joseph in his palace at Vienna. At the end of that key we whistle +a tune to which all men must dance."</p> + +<p>"Quite right, quite right!" shouted the whole assembly.</p> + +<p>And who could contradict them?</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>The Jew Abraham was the father of twelve children, all sons, and all +red-haired. And each one equally resembled his father.</p> + +<p>Yet it will be well to explain matters from the beginning.</p> + +<p>Up till the Emperor Joseph's time, the Jews had been devoid of any +family names, as once in the Promised Land.</p> + +<p>But when Joseph II. admitted the Jews to the rights of citizens, he +stipulated that they should render military service if called upon, and +that they should choose a surname—and that a German one.</p> + +<p>To this end, royal commissions were despatched on all sides which should +provide the Jews with surnames. And a nice business it was! Whoever had +a well-filled purse had a free choice, if it so pleased him, but woe to +him who set about it empty handed, for the nickname wherewith his +mocking neighbours had christened him, stuck to him pitilessly.</p> + +<p>Because Abraham had not sufficiently opened his purse-strings, he still +had to go by his nickname of "Rothesel," wherewith he was known among +his neighbours.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>The epithet "roth" (red), he had received from the colour of his beard, +but he had been qualified as "esel" (ass), because he had done nothing +more enterprising with his wife's dowry of two hundred thalers, than buy +up wine with it. On this account everyone had decided he must be an ass. +And everyone, on the face of it, was right. For what could a Jew want +with wine? He dared not retail it, for the trading rights belonged only +to the communes, to say nothing of the difficulty of transporting it +over the frontier. Whence could he carry it? for in Hungary the law +forbade any Jew to trade in such wares.</p> + +<p>So that when his neighbours called Abraham an ass for laying out his +money in wine when he began life, they were not far out, for he hardly +earned salt to his bread by such a business.</p> + +<p>But Abraham was in his way a student of the times. Looking ahead, he saw +under the rule of the later Hapsburgs that many ancient laws, though +still unrepealed, had nevertheless fallen into desuetude, and +consequently that the statute forbidding Jews the commerce in wine, +might follow suit. Consequently, Abraham found means of transporting his +Hungarian vintages to Vienna. And as he was the first in the field his +enterprise was crowned with success. Nor did he deceive the customer as +to the difficulties of the Hungarian wine trade.</p> + +<p>In spite of all this, he did not part with his wealth too readily. The +commission had expected that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> would come out with ducats by the +thousand, but he produced nothing more than a cellar full of wine. In +retaliation for this they left him his nickname of "Rothesel."</p> + +<p>What did it matter to him, for what is a name after all? The name of the +creditor is always a good one, that of the debtor as surely a +disgraceful one.</p> + +<p>But his own family did not share his views on the subject. If it was +indifferent to the father what men called him, his wife and children +took a different view of "Rothesel," and, owing to their urgent +representations, Abraham determined to rid himself of this incubus, yet +without paying too dearly for it.</p> + +<p>He reckoned two hundred ducats would cover it, and with this sum off he +went to Vienna, ostensibly, on a question of his wine trade.</p> + +<p>Arrived there, he began to think out how best he could forward the +affair without getting too much fleeced in the process.</p> + +<p>He began at the beginning, that is to say, at the chancery court, where +all such problems have to be conciliated. And a long list it was! The +expediting of such business is a serious matter.</p> + +<p>But to the Jew there suddenly came a brilliant idea. He bethought him of +an acquaintance at Court. The title of this acquaintance was doubtful, +for he was only a young man, and whether to address him as a chancery +clerk or as chancellor, he knew not. He was the nephew of the +postmaster<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> of Szent-Endre, Mr. John Leányfalvy. This worthy had adopted +the orphan son of his sister, while yet a child, and had sent him to +Vienna that he might carve out a career for himself in the imperial +city. Each time that Abraham had made his business visits there, he had +spoken to the postmaster and asked him if he had any message for "young +Matyi." And when the uncle had taken this opportunity of sending his +nephew a gift of country produce, Abraham always carried out these +commissions faithfully, and was duly welcomed by "Mr. Matyi."</p> + +<p>The latter was quite at home at Court, and had employment in the palace +itself. What he did there, whether he had a voice in the Kaiser's +councils, or brushed his coat, Abraham did not know, perhaps the latter +was the likeliest supposition; in this case, he would be a patron to be +prized, for servants are worth propitiating.</p> + +<p>Consequently, the crafty Jew had determined to seek out the postmaster's +nephew at headquarters. And in order he might not appear empty-handed, +he took a pear with him. At that time there was a rage for pears carved +out of wood, whereof one half formed a musical box, being filled with a +mechanism which enabled him who put it to his mouth to produce quite a +respectable tune. Such a pear did Abraham buy in a shop at Nürnberg, but +he stuffed the hollow half of the pear with two hundred ducats. This +pear he had destined for the young man if he prospered his petition with +the Emperor. The said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> petition was drawn up neither by agent nor +attorney, but as concocted by Abraham, ran thus: "Your Imperial Majesty, +the high commissioners insisted on calling me 'Rothesel,' I only beg +permission to insert a humble little 'i' in the middle of my name."</p> + +<p>Furnished with this formula, Abraham set out for the palace. The +<i>entrée</i> there proved much easier than he had imagined. For was there +not a standing order that no petitioner should be denied admittance? So +he was allowed to enter the great corridor, where already many people +were assembled.</p> + +<p>Abraham had what you might call prodigious luck at the very outset. The +first person he met in the ante-chamber was "Mr. Matyi" himself. His +appearance was that of a refined handsome youth of about +four-and-twenty, with a red and white complexion like a girl's; he wore +his hair powdered, a pea-green silk coat turned up with red, an +embroidered waistcoat, a lace-frilled vest, with knee-breeches of +cherry-coloured velvet, silk stockings, and buckled shoes. At his side +hung an Italian rapier, and from his waistcoat pocket dangled a +watch-chain laden with all kinds of trinkets. Under his arm he carried +the tri-cornered hat of the period.</p> + +<p>Moreover, this elegant young dandy was not ashamed to recognise his old +acquaintance in the crowd; no sooner had he caught sight of his red +mantle than he went up to him, asked him how he fared, and how it was +with his uncle, and when he heard Abraham's errand, exclaimed, "Why +that's a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> mere trifle." Thereupon, taking his hand, he led the Jew +through three or four rooms in succession, which they traversed without +knocking, till they came to a fifth, where he hung his hat up on a peg, +as a sign that they had reached the presence-chamber, and told the Jew +to wait while he should announce him to the Emperor. Abraham's knees +nearly failed under him when he knew that only those folding doors +divided him from the Kaiser. Yet his friend could enter freely; he must +then be some kind of chamberlain.</p> + +<p>In half a minute the latter was back again.</p> + +<p>"You can enter, Abraham."</p> + +<p>And thereupon he pushed the Jew, with his petition in his hand, through +the door.</p> + +<p>Abraham saw indeed little more of the Emperor than his boots, but these, +he noted, had not certainly been blacked for a week; if "Mr. Matyi" was +really his servant, he didn't know his duties that was plain.</p> + +<p>Back came Abraham again into the ante-room.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Matyi" was busy at a writing-table; he seemed to have some +important correspondence to transact there.</p> + +<p>The Jew was radiant with delight; he hardly knew where to begin: "It's +right enough; the Emperor himself has countersigned the petition with +his 'fiat.' Here is his name! He himself has put in the 'i,' praised be +the Lord!"</p> + +<p>But suddenly he broke off in his thanksgiving as he regarded the +document. "Ay, woe's me!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>"What is the matter, friend?"</p> + +<p>"Why, his Majesty has clean forgotten to put the dot over the 'i,' and +without this, the 'i' looks exactly like an 'e,' and it only means from +being a short ass, I shall now be but a long one! Alas, I am a dead man. +I beseech you to be so very kind as to put the necessary little dot in +for me, so that it may be done with the same ink. You have the pen in +your hand ready."</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking of?" cried "Mr. Matyi" indignantly, "to correct +the imperial hand-writing, why, it would be a rank forgery! Give me the +petition, I'll take it back to the Emperor, so he may put it in."</p> + +<p>And thereupon, off he went through the folding doors with the paper.</p> + +<p>Abraham breathed freely, he had attained his end, and this without +laying out thousands of ducats; he had managed it for two hundred. He +fumbled in the money compartment of the musical pear, and laid the +ducats on the writing-table of "Mr. Matyi," so that the latter should +not fail to see them when he returned to his correspondence.</p> + +<p>The young man was soon back again.</p> + +<p>"Here you are! God be with you! Greet my uncle for me, and tell him I +have much to do, that I want for nothing, and send my good wishes, and a +happy journey to you!"</p> + +<p>Abraham put the petition in his pocket, crying over it like a child.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>"Mr. Matyi" accompanied his <i>protégé</i> to the next room, thence he +trusted him to find his way out.</p> + +<p>While the Jew was struggling with the door-handle, back came "Mr. +Matyi," red with rage, seized Abraham by the collar of his mantle, and +with the other thrust the pear under his nose, asking angrily: "What do +you mean by leaving this on my table?"</p> + +<p>Abraham took it as a jest.</p> + +<p>"Well now, I have only brought you some pears as usual."</p> + +<p>"But the ducats?"</p> + +<p>"They were for the gracious favour which the young gentleman has been so +kind as to show me."</p> + +<p>"I have shown you no kind of favour. You wanted justice and you have +obtained it. Take back your gold!"</p> + +<p>"Why should I take it back? Hasn't the young gentleman deserved it for +all his trouble? Did he not get the dot put on the 'i'?"</p> + +<p>"I will not accept a handful of gold for a dot over an 'i.'"</p> + +<p>"But it's worth it to me? It's not a bit too much. The young gentleman +needn't take offence. He can pay his debts with it."</p> + +<p>"I have no debts."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you have no debts, do you say? Don't tell me a Viennese dandy has +no debts. You owe neither the tailor nor the host anything? What, don't +you want to make your sweetheart a present?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>"I have none."</p> + +<p>"Who could ever believe it? How you blush. Well, take it, make merry +with it, gamble it away with good comrades. For I won't have it back."</p> + +<p>"I drink no wine, I don't gamble, I have no good comrades; this money +you will take, for it hurts me to receive it. Those I serve pay me for +what I do. He who does such work as mine asks for no reward but his +master's, and can take no bribe from another. Take your gold back."</p> + +<p>"As you will, Mr. Ráby," said the Jew, and he put the ducats in his +pocket.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<p>"Very good then, Mr. Ráby," pursued the Jew. (He no longer thought of +him as "young Mr. Matyi.") "But before I leave this place, nay, before +you send me packing, I must needs have three words with you."</p> + +<p>"All right, out with them!"</p> + +<p>"Now the first is this: since I first weathered winter's snow and +summer's dust on this good Mother Earth of ours, I never before met a +man who was frightened at money. I see him for the first time to-day. +You were positively averse to keeping my gold. Nay, I believe that you +wanted to break my head on account of it. And now I find you have no +sweetheart, you neither drink nor gamble; you fraternise with no one. +That again is something quite unheard-of. And finally, a man will not +dot the 'i' of another person's writing, that also is something out of +the common, let me tell you."</p> + +<p>"Well for one word I think that is long enough—what else?"</p> + +<p>"The second concerns myself. As truly as that I yesterday was +'Rothesel,' and to-day am 'Rotheisel,' so surely is it that Rotheisel +won't neglect a treasure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> which Rothesel has discovered. I know of a +treasure, in fine, for the carrying off of which, as in the fairy tales, +only clean hands can avail."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand what you are talking about."</p> + +<p>"Well, I do. There is a treasure lying buried in a certain place, a +solid heap of more than a hundred thousand ducats, on the track of which +I would set a champion."</p> + +<p>"I still do not understand. To whom does this goodly hoard belong?"</p> + +<p>"This money has been wrung from the sweat and blood of the poor and the +oppressed, nay, squeezed out of ragged and hunger-bitten wretches, +moistened by the tears of widows and orphans, purloined, and concealed +from the Crown. It is the people of your native town, good sir, whose +misery has augmented this treasure, and who starve and complain for the +lack of it, while beggars swarm throughout the country. If this sort of +thing goes on, the whole State must go to the dogs. I know what I am +talking about, and will gladly lead you to the hoard. When you are in a +position to rescue it from the dragon's clutches, two-thirds of it will +go back to the poor wretched folk it was wrung from, and a third to +enrich the man who restores it."</p> + +<p>"But if you know all this, why not do it yourself?" questioned his +listener.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut, my most respected sir, have you then studied to such little +purpose as not to know the laws of your native land? Does it not stand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +written that the plaintiff must be a Christian? The Jew can do nothing. +And, moreover, were I as good a Christian as the zealous old sacristan +who opens the church every morning single-handed and shuts it at +nightfall, I should not be the man for this business. For it is just +such a man as you is wanted, my respected sir, a man who, once he has +set his hand to the work, will not allow himself to be beaten out of the +field. For as long as the seven-headed dragon that guards the treasure +sees that no one attempts to raise it, he'll wag his seven heads more +boldly than ever. As soon as the delegates who are told off to take +charge of it, notice that by chance ten or twenty heaps of ducats have +been left perhaps on the table, they go back and verify that all is in +good order. They will resent the adventurous knight's interference, and +will give him his <i>quietus</i> if he is not wary. He must press on against +all foes, even if help fail him. How should a poor insignificant mortal +like myself be fitted for such an undertaking? For such a quest, a +powerful chivalrous man is needed, who has the <i>entrée</i> at Court, who is +likewise a noble himself, and can wield the pen as well as the sword, in +fine, one who has a heart open to the cry of the poor and oppressed, and +the faculty of sympathising with the people. They are not my people—I +am only a foreigner here, but it goes to my heart when I see how the +harrow tears and the clods are broken, how for others is the sowing that +these may reap. Then I thank God that He has not given me a portion in +this land, but that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> I am a stranger here. Believe me, Mr. Ráby, the +nobles always know how to oppress the vassals. The Turkish pacha at +most, has shorn his subjects: the Magyar landlord has fairly plucked +his, but the Szent-Endre council flay their victims of hide and hair +alike. So that's my third word!"</p> + +<p>"All right, just give me more precise details over all this, and come +and look me up at my lodgings; there we can talk it over; I shall be at +home the whole evening."</p> + +<p>So at the appointed time, Abraham went to discuss matters with Ráby, and +did not get home till morning. He literally talked the whole night long.</p> + +<p>Yet when he at last took leave, he bound his friend on his honour:</p> + +<p>"That you never betray how you knew all these things. The Spanish +Inquisition was mere child's play compared to what those good people +would do to me, if they knew that it was I who had made it so hot for +them."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>Mr. John Leányfalvy was a narrow-minded man. He was the postmaster of +Szent-Endre. He neither paid nor received visits; he had but one hobby, +and that was gardening. This he rode with a persistency worthy of a +Dutchman. He grew flowers of which no one had ever heard before—exotic +blooms almost extinct, but for the fostering shelter his garden walls +afforded.</p> + +<p>He was specially celebrated for his melons. At the time of the +melon-harvest, two great mastiffs guarded the melon-plot over which his +bedroom window looked. In this garden all his spare time was spent. He +was so busy one afternoon over his melon-beds, that he did not observe +how his mastiff, who by day was chained up, was growling at a man who +stood before the garden gate. He only became aware of the new-comer when +the latter wished him good day. He looked round and saw a stranger +dressed in the latest modish costume of Vienna, and finally, he +recognised in the apparition his nephew, young Matyi.</p> + +<p>"Why bless me if it isn't my nephew Matyi. I hardly recognised you in +this fashionable coat, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> declare. But very welcome you are all the +same."</p> + +<p>And the old man embraced his nephew heartily.</p> + +<p>"Ay, but you've become a man since I saw you last. You only want a +moustache," and he looked at Ráby's smooth-shaven face critically. "But +you are not in a hurry to be back in Vienna, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"Well, unless you want to send me away, I needn't be in a hurry to go +back, as I could stay here all the winter," answered Ráby.</p> + +<p>"Well, don't talk to me about sending you off. I know well enough you +are under someone else's orders."</p> + +<p>"Yes, uncle, under orders to stay here for some time."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I take it, you are here then for the taxation commission?"</p> + +<p>It was an office which had at that time but an unenviable reputation in +Hungary.</p> + +<p>"More pressing business still," answered the young man with a smile, as +he whispered something in the old gentleman's ear, which was evidently +an important disclosure.</p> + +<p>The features of the old man relaxed.</p> + +<p>"Now that's something like; that's capital! Now I can reckon you a man. +Only don't neglect the work."</p> + +<p>"Trust me!"</p> + +<p>"And then don't begin among the lesser folk, but get hold of the great +people. Go straight to the prefect himself; he's the one to tackle. Ay, +I could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> give you some good advice. Hear all, see all, and hold your +tongue, as the saying goes. But you know all about that, and have no +need of a plaster over your mouth."</p> + +<p>"Yet if I find the guilty, I shall not spare them, I warn you, whoever +they be."</p> + +<p>"You will see, my boy," said the old gentleman, rubbing his hands, "if +you tackle the prefect properly, you will be court judge of Visegrád, +year in and year out." And he clapped his nephew on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"What kind of a berth is it in Visegrád?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, my boy, that's the fattest plum in the neighbourhood; it's worth +more than a hundred county court magistracies, and it happens to be just +vacant."</p> + +<p>"How could I hope to get it?"</p> + +<p>"What a stiff-necked man it is to be sure! Didn't you get to Vienna? You +don't surely reckon yourself among those people who let themselves be +cajoled by the gift of a fine horse or a roll of ducats: a man like you +is worthy a bigger bribe."</p> + +<p>The young man became suddenly crimson.</p> + +<p>"But, my uncle, I don't come for that—for the sake of a horse or money, +or even a court magistracy, not to be bribed by the great, but rather to +redress the grievances of the folk who are oppressed, and to rectify +abuses."</p> + +<p>At this speech Mr. Leányfalvy shifted his zouave from the left to the +right shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know, my dear boy, that out of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> mouth of the poor, +complaints are not heard. There must be a God who hears them, +nevertheless. Yet the government is a power against which one man can +avail nothing. How can you protect the sown fields from the marmots? Man +is just such a marmot. Dismiss him who is now in office, and put another +in his place; you only change for the worse. As long as there are fools +and knaves in the world, so long will the one always rob the other."</p> + +<p>"Now if you reckon abuses of office among social ills, I can but tell +you that if you have a will, you can amend them. And this will have I."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but have you likewise the power? 'Whoso is wanting in strength is +powerless in wrath.' Besides, who stands behind you?"</p> + +<p>"The Emperor himself."</p> + +<p>"And who else?"</p> + +<p>"Isn't he enough?"</p> + +<p>"That doesn't suffice; you must have the presiding judge as a patron, or +the lord chancellor, or at least the district commissioner. If you can +only ensure the Emperor's favour, that doesn't go far. What can you say +to our Emperor, except 'May it please his Majesty,' and that he is +lampooned daily. Every day there come some such scurrilous pamphlets to +my notice."</p> + +<p>"The Kaiser believes in unlimited freedom of opinion."</p> + +<p>"Hang freedom of opinion! If I were Emperor, and anyone printed such +things about me, I would take my axe and play such a tune on the +writer's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> head with it, that he would not ask for a second one. And then +if the Hungarians see that the Austrians dare thus to insult the Kaiser, +what liberties will the Hungarian not allow himself?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed. All those who are shocked at his novelties, murmur against +him. They abuse him because the freedom hitherto only accorded to a +certain class and creed, will now be extended to all his subjects +indiscriminately."</p> + +<p>"Let us talk about the melons, my dear boy. Look at this one with the +mottled rind. When it's ready you can eat it without harm. But take a +bite, before it is ripe, and you get a horribly sore mouth. Now it's +just the same with liberty. When it is ripe, the grower can present it +to the people on a pewter plate. But cut it before it is ready, and the +melon and he who eats it, alike are done for. I know you will maintain +that one can force the melon to get ripe, if you have hot-beds and +green-houses. Now you and your friends, the philosophers and +philanthropists, are just such growers at the present time. Who could +get enough hot-beds and forcing-houses for the whole world? Wait till +the dog-days come, and the heat of the sun will let each one ripen in +its proper measure."</p> + +<p>"Good, uncle. I accept the melon allegory, and will answer you in your +own gardening terms: If you want melons, you must sow the seeds. Some +sprout, others lay dormant. Then comes the worm to devour them, and the +mildew and the frosts to blast the young shoots, yet, in spite of all, +your true<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> gardener tends them to the end. Such a sower am I, who plant +what is entrusted to me in the ground, that others may reap the +harvest."</p> + +<p>The simile pleased the old gentleman much; he stroked his moustache +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"You are the right sort, my boy. And if you feel equal to the task, +undertake it. But I fear you won't succeed! But you have not come here +to stir up a hornet's nest, have you?"</p> + +<p>"No, uncle. First of all, I shall procure the actual facts of the case, +and till I get them, I shall not say a word to anyone."</p> + +<p>"That's well and good. But how will you get those facts?"</p> + +<p>"I have reckoned for all that. I mean to settle down and buy myself a +house, with a field and vineyard. As an inhabitant of the city, I shall +have the right to mix myself up in local affairs."</p> + +<p>"That sounds like business. For that matter, I can recommend you a house +that belonged to the notary's brother. It's a fine property, with +garden, vineyard, and meadow attached. The owner is a drunken +good-for-nothing, and over head and ears in debt, but can, by realising +the property, pay his debts, and still have something left. Leave the +contract to me."</p> + +<p>"Agreed then, uncle. The money question can soon be settled, as I have +what will be necessary."</p> + +<p>"So far, so good. But after, when you have your facts, who is going to +be prosecutor?"</p> + +<p>"I myself will be."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>The old gentleman stroked his moustache doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Oho, my boy, that's a dangerous game. Do you know that the law won't +allow you to do it anonymously? The prosecutor must act in his own +name."</p> + +<p>"I shall lodge my complaint openly so that the guilty can recognise me."</p> + +<p>"Then be sure they will try and get rid of you."</p> + +<p>"That is the fortune of war."</p> + +<p>The old man smiled slily.</p> + +<p>"It has just occurred to me you can't be prosecutor."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Why, pray, have you not studied law in Vienna? Docs not the decree of +St. Stephen lay it down that the prosecutor must be a married man? If +you are single, you are not qualified to make the depositions."</p> + +<p>"All right, I'll marry."</p> + +<p>His hearer fairly shook with laughter.</p> + +<p>"My boy, I've heard many motives suggested for matrimony, but never one +like yours. You are going to marry to help the people to their rights! +Remember that—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0qq">"'He who takes himself a wife,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Does but heap up care and strife.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"But, uncle, what can you, who were never married, have to urge against +matrimony?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I've nothing against your marrying. Leave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> that also to me. I have +found you a house; now I'll find you a wife."</p> + +<p>"It is very good of you, I'm sure."</p> + +<p>"I'm not joking. I know of a right suitable maiden for you. You remember +when you were still a lawyer's clerk, pretty little Mariska, the +notary's daughter. Well, she has become a fine girl. Since her mother's +death she manages the household entirely, and nowhere is there one so +well ordered as Tárhalmy's. She spends no money beyond what she gives to +the poor, and knows how to save as well. She's none of your frilled and +furbelowed fine ladies, and does not frizz her hair in the latest +fashion, but just dresses like a modest Magyar maid; and when you talk +to her, you hardly know what colour her eyes are, so modestly are they +cast down. Nor does she waste time in chatter, but gives you a plain +answer to a plain question, with the prettiest blush imaginable. That's +the wife for you, my boy, and a right comely one, I promise you."</p> + +<p>"All right, uncle. When I've bought the house, and had time to look +round a little, I'll go and see her."</p> + +<p>And with that, Ráby took his leave.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>The postmaster did exactly as he had promised, and he did it promptly.</p> + +<p>"Now I have got the house, you've got to set up housekeeping, but don't +buy much furniture, the wife will see to that. Till you get a wife, I'll +lend you my maid-servant to keep house; she's also a good hand at +milking, for a cow you must have; and your cooking will have to be done +at home, for there is no café or hotel here, as at Vienna. And don't +trust your wine-cellar key to anyone else!"</p> + +<p>Mathias Ráby took this good advice, and arranged his new house as if he +were settling down for good in it. He had his fields sown with crops, +his vineyards overhauled, and laid in a stock of winter provisions. But +he encouraged no gossips, took no interest in outsiders, and was +reserved with acquaintances to the verge of taciturnity.</p> + +<p>But general rumour had it that the gentleman who had thus settled among +them, had been sent by the Kaiser himself to investigate matters of +state in Szent-Endre.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>Soon after this, Ráby made an excuse for going to Pesth so as to call on +the Tárhalmys.</p> + +<p>Tárhalmy was the county notary, and lived in the Assembly House assigned +him. Ráby knew it well, for when he was a clerk, he used to go there +every day. When he reached the door, the heyduke who stood sentry, +barred his way, with his musket under his arm, one foot crossed over the +other, and his shoulder against the door.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, my friend," for thus did Ráby accost the old heyduke, "is the +worshipful pronotary at home?"</p> + +<p>The man answered, his worship had just gone out, but his lady-daughter +was within, and would be delighted to see the honourable gentleman.</p> + +<p>Ráby hastened up the familiar wooden stairs, that were so well worn down +the middle.</p> + +<p>Our hero needed no guide through these rooms. He knew all the nooks and +corners of the house, and likewise the time at which callers might +come—between the hours of three and four in the afternoon. First he +betook himself to the ante-room, where he laid aside his sword and hat. +But there was no lackey there to announce him, he had to knock therefore +at the first door, to hear a "come in," before he ventured to enter +without further preamble.</p> + +<p>It was the familiar dining-room, where the women-folk were used to +betake themselves to their spinning-wheels.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>They sat there now, the Fräulein and the two maids. The spinning-wheel +was to our grandmothers what the cycle is to the women of to-day; nay, +it took also the place of the pianoforte itself.</p> + +<p>Mariska had certainly grown very pretty since Ráby had last seen her, +although, as Mr. Leányfalvy had remarked, she was quite simply dressed, +and did not curl her hair. He was also quite right about her blushing +when she was spoken to. In this instance, words indeed were not needed +to bring the colour into her cheeks, she no sooner saw the visitor, than +she crimsoned to the roots of her hair. The young girl rose respectfully +from the spinning-wheel, glanced shyly at the intruder, and ere he could +forbid it, had made him a childish curtsey and kissed his hand.</p> + +<p>Ráby was very nearly being angry.</p> + +<p>"But, Mariska, do you not recognise me?"</p> + +<p>"How should I help recognising you, Matyi?"</p> + +<p>"Why then do you kiss my hand?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, you have become a great man since those days."</p> + +<p>"Were I ever so great a man, I would not allow my hand to be kissed by a +lady."</p> + +<p>"But I am no lady, you see."</p> + +<p>"Nor am I a great man. And now please give me your hands that I may kiss +them."</p> + +<p>But the girl put both hands behind her back.</p> + +<p>"No, for then should I be a lady indeed. Please be seated."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>She motioned Ráby to the leather-covered sofa, and sat down again by the +spinning-wheel, as she deftly began afresh to twist the flax into fine +silky threads, so that they could talk if they wanted to.</p> + +<p>The two maid-servants did not leave the room, but just listened to all +that their mistress and her visitor said; it was but proper, they +thought.</p> + +<p>Ráby was meanwhile thinking how to baffle the maids. To this end he +asked in German what she was doing?</p> + +<p>The young girl gazed at him with her great blue eyes full of sorrowful +amazement. Fancy expecting that in the household of the pronotary of +Pesth, that stronghold of Magyar freedom, that anyone, much more the +daughter of the house, should speak German! She lowered her eyes, and +whispered timidly, "I do not understand German."</p> + +<p>"You do not understand German? Why, whatever would you do if you went to +a ball here in Pesth, and could not speak to your partners?"</p> + +<p>"I never go to any balls; I can't even dance," murmured the girl.</p> + +<p>"You mean to say, you don't dance? Well then, however do you amuse +yourself?"</p> + +<p>"When I have time for it, I read."</p> + +<p>"And what in the world do you read, if you only know Hungarian?" asked +Ráby.</p> + +<p>"Father has a fine library, and so he chooses books for me."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>"And how do you spend the whole day?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I have a small garden in the courtyard; I love flowers!"</p> + +<p>Tho two were silent, and Ráby looked around him.</p> + +<p>The whole room was eloquent to him of the past. There, by the +work-table, was still the little box containing thread, scissors, and +thimble, which he himself had made when he was a clerk. There over the +couch, hung a withered wreath of dried flowers which he recognised. +Nothing was lost; all had been carefully preserved, even the pen which +he had used for the last time in the office, rested still behind the +mirror with his name inscribed upon the holder.</p> + +<p>And yet they had not expected him; all these souvenirs had not been +spread out at the news of his coming. They were, everyone, abiding +witnesses to the way in which his memory was cherished in a guileless +maiden's heart which loves, while it yet hardly knows what love is.</p> + +<p>Mathias Ráby was surely strangely ungrateful to the fate which had +preserved such a treasure for him. But it is the way of youth, so +unregardful is it of the treasures true love spreads for its unheeding +eyes, to be its own for the asking.</p> + +<p>But his meditations were interrupted by the entrance of Miska, the +heyduke, who came to announce that his worship, the notary, was ready to +see Mr. Ráby if he would wait upon him in the bureau.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>Ráby rose from his seat, and took leave of his hostess, who accompanied +him to the door.</p> + +<p>There they exchanged the usual farewell greetings, and she laid her +little hand in his shyly, as if fearing the ceremonial kiss. As Ráby +took the small soft fingers in his, a magnetic shock, as it were, +thrilled his being, so that he would fain have asked the question which +was on his lips, the question the girl would have seen in his eyes, had +she but raised her own.</p> + +<p>And Mariska, too, yearned to ask him, "How long do you stay?" How gladly +would she have heard the answer that it was for some time, how naturally +would the invitation have risen to her lips to Ráby to come again often +and see them.</p> + +<p>But instead of all this, they did but hold each other's hands a moment +half-fearfully, as if each were afraid of the other's kiss.</p> + +<p>This once, at any rate, did Ráby have the chance of grasping that +invisible golden thread which runs once through the life of every +mortal. Well for him who seizes it, for it will lead him safely through +all perils, but woe to him who lets it go! He cannot pick it up again.</p> + +<p>Ráby did not seize the thread.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye!" they murmured. And a right good word it is this "God be with +you!" Yet what if man refuses the blessing the good God proffers him?</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>When Ráby went into the office, the clerk told him that the chief was +expecting him in the "state-room" as it was called, in which +distinguished guests were received. This apartment was much more richly +furnished than the rest; it was therefore intended as a compliment to +Ráby, that the pronotary should receive him there, rather than in his +bureau.</p> + +<p>The pronotary was a fine-looking man of distinguished bearing. His thick +grey hair was combed straight back from his brows, and except for his +short moustache, he was clean-shaven. His short embroidered dolman +reached to his hips, and was confined by a costly girdle, wherefrom +depended a little pouch containing pen and ink, while his watch-chain +dangled from his breeches' pocket.</p> + +<p>Ráby was rather doubtful as to what sort of greeting he should venture +on. The French style exacted a solemn posturing with sundry bows and +curtseys; the German fashion demanded you should shake your neighbour's +hand as lustily as possible, but old-fashioned Hungarian etiquette +prescribed that the younger should kiss the hand of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> the elder. Ráby +bethought him of the kiss he had received in coming thither, and that +decided him. He would pay it back now to the father. The face of the old +gentleman brightened at this greeting.</p> + +<p>"Look you, my friend," he exclaimed in a clear deep voice, "in former +times, I would have patted you on the head, but I cannot do that now for +fear of dishevelling the coiffure your friseur has arranged. Don't you +regret, by the way, wasting so much flour?"</p> + +<p>His guest was glad to catch the old man in such a good temper, and +determined to profit by it, so he kept up the jest.</p> + +<p>"Yet it is far better surely, that I should tumble into flour than +bran?"</p> + +<p>"I think not, my boy, besides you are not so far from tumbling into bran +as you seem to think."</p> + +<p>Ráby looked at him with astonishment.</p> + +<p>Tárhalmy's face became suddenly grave.</p> + +<p>"I know well enough why you are here!"</p> + +<p>(How could he know why he had come? wondered his guest.)</p> + +<p>"Not at my house, but why you are in this country. And if you will +permit me, I will tell you what I think about your mission."</p> + +<p>"Oh pray do!" exclaimed Ráby.</p> + +<p>"Well, my young friend, you know I have always loved you as my own son. +I recognised all your capabilities, and always said 'that boy will some +day do great things!' A better brought-up, better disposed youth than +you were, with a higher sense of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> honour, could not be found. I would +not hesitate to entrust you with untold millions—or an innocent maiden. +But I warn you, if you persist in the way you have marked out for +yourself, you will soon be rotting in one of our prisons; and I shall +hear your chains clanking, without being able to stir a finger to set +you free."</p> + +<p>"And all that because I am a friend of the people?"</p> + +<p>"Rather an enemy of the nation, say!"</p> + +<p>"Are not the people and the nation one and the same?"</p> + +<p>"No, not at all: the nation is the state. You idealists cannot see the +wood for the trees; you cannot see the nation for the people. Only make +the people believe that they fare better under a despotism than under a +constitution, and you are the right side of the hedge."</p> + +<p>"So you think it's a choice of being ruled by one tyrant or five hundred +thousand."</p> + +<p>"Wait, young man, the five hundred thousand are the defenders of the +country on the field of battle, judges, commanders, pastors of souls and +teachers."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was like that formerly. But time does not stand still, even if +conditions remain the same. The new age demands a better system of +defence, a more enlightened code of justice and government, as well as +better methods of instruction."</p> + +<p>"But you can't get all that in Hungary by just speaking the word! Nor +anywhere else, for that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> matter. We defend our much abused Asiatic +traditions, only through passive resistance."</p> + +<p>"Yet the question which once was asked of old from the oracle of Dodona, +is still the pressing problem for us: which is the most desirable, a +flourishing Hungarian nation according to the ancient idea of it, or +popular freedom?"</p> + +<p>At these words, the pronotary shook the young man cordially by the hand.</p> + +<p>"That was a pertinent question. I honour you for your candour. So many +proselytes of the Emperor that I have come across so far, will insist on +it that between these two antagonistic ideals a compromise is possible: +that, after the abolition of the privileges of the nobles, with an +equalisation of taxes, and a mutual obligation to bear the common +burden, the country can remain the same as it was. But you openly admit +there are only two alternatives, in the face of which we must needs +choose. You have chosen your part, I too have made up my mind. I believe +that in our part of the world it is more necessary for the +constitutional, patriotic Hungarian nation to endure, than for the +peasants to have one day a week more for idling; that it is better for +the aristocracy to give orders to the mob, than that the mob should give +orders to the aristocracy."</p> + +<p>The young man laughed aloud.</p> + +<p>"No, no, my honoured friend, I do not come here with the intention of +touching our hereditary constitution with my little finger. In this does +my whole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> mission consist—in rectifying abuses which cry aloud to +Heaven for redress in the Court of the County Assembly."</p> + +<p>"And pray who entrusts you with it?"</p> + +<p>"Firstly the Emperor, and then the oppressed people themselves."</p> + +<p>"That's just where the fault lies: neither the Emperor nor the people +have the right to lay such a duty on you. That right belongs alone to +the Pesth Assembly."</p> + +<p>"But the Crown has the right to demand that such a right be exercised."</p> + +<p>"Very likely. The Assembly will do whatever it be called upon to do."</p> + +<p>"And if the Assembly acquit itself badly? For its own officials are +guilty of the misery of the people."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is no secret. Our officials are in a body quite ready to +fleece the folk in the very way that has aroused your indignation. But +up till now, we have elected these officials ourselves, and we would +rather have them over us, even if they were stained with the seven +capital sins, than have the Emperor's nominees, were they angels from +heaven. This is no legal quibble, but a question of actual conditions. +Whatever the people suffer, they will recover sooner or later; if a man +dies, another is born in his place; but the constitution can neither +suffer nor die. You stand for the Emperor, I stand for the voice of the +nation. Both are mortal. We shall see which of the two survives. But I +warn you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> to reckon on no one's support in the work you have undertaken, +for everyone will regard you as an enemy."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Ráby. "Also, there is a satisfaction in remembering +that there is at least one man I can reckon on who won't desert me."</p> + +<p>"And who is that, pray?" asked Tárhalmy smiling rather grimly, for he +thought it was the Emperor he meant.</p> + +<p>"Why myself."</p> + +<p>The pronotary embraced him, exclaiming tenderly as he did so: "Poor +fellow, poor fellow!" Then he said gently: "Farewell, in case I never +see you again!"</p> + +<p>And Mathias Ráby went away without mentioning even a word of Mariska. +What a horrible thing these politics are, to be sure!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + + +<p>Ráby had scarcely left, than pretty Mariska put her little head in at +the opposite door which led from the reception-room to the +dining-parlour. Mr. von Tárhalmy was striding up and down the apartment +as if perturbed.</p> + +<p>"Did you call me, dear father?" asked the girl.</p> + +<p>"No, no, child; but come in."</p> + +<p>"You are not vexed, father?"</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it, my dear."</p> + +<p>"I thought you were quarrelling with someone."</p> + +<p>"Nothing of the sort. We have only been discussing some business +matters. So just come in."</p> + +<p>The girl nestled up to her father's side affectionately.</p> + +<p>"I quite thought you called me," she murmured, "and that you said, we +have a guest coming to-morrow, Mariska."</p> + +<p>"Aha, you are right enough," smiled Tárhalmy. "Of course I said so. Your +cousin Matyi will dine with us to-morrow. Bless me, if I hadn't quite +forgotten all about it."</p> + +<p>"And it's well I should know it in good time."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>"Yes, indeed, and see you have his favourite dishes for him. Have you +plenty of stores, or must any be procured?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, I have everything I want in the house."</p> + +<p>And therewith, Mariska kissed her father's hand, nay both of them, and +danced back into the next room as light-hearted as a bird.</p> + +<p>And the two maids at the spinning-wheel must be up and doing; one to +pound almonds in the mortar; the other to sift fine flour for fritters. +The Fräulein herself set about peeling lemons, seeing she was going to +make some of Matyi's favourite cakes, such as no Vienna pastry-cook +could turn out. And through the whole household there was the sound of +singing, for Mariska too could sing on occasion—and this was one.</p> + +<p>But the pronotary himself sent his heyduke to go and find Mr. Mathias +Ráby, and tell him, with his compliments, that he would expect him to +dinner the next day.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Ráby was meantime interviewing some of the high officials of Pesth.</p> + +<p>The first one he visited was the lord-lieutenant of the city.</p> + +<p>For this visit he had to put on court dress, as that official was a +direct representative of the Emperor.</p> + +<p>His Excellency was an unpopular person, disliked by everyone. He was a +hard man whom nothing softened. He sympathized with no one, and he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +in nobody's good graces. Yet he was a personality everyone had to reckon +with.</p> + +<p>His very appearance bespoke the man. The copper-coloured complexion and +ill-shaven face, with its deep frowning eyebrows, heightened the natural +defect of his neck, which was twisted towards the right shoulder. His +hair was lank and reddish; his dress a cross between the Hungarian and +Austrian mode, slovenly and dirty, and stained with snuff, while the +order of St. Stephen, which he wore round his neck, was defaced and half +torn away. His voice had a repellent snarl about it. He spoke German +with everybody, but it was a vile patois.</p> + +<p>When Ráby was ushered into his presence, his Excellency was drinking his +coffee, and his visitor had to stand till he had finished.</p> + +<p>When he had set his cup down, he got up, and turning abruptly to Ráby, +asked him if he were a count?</p> + +<p>His visitor could not imagine what prompted this question, but he +answered that he was only an untitled gentleman of good family.</p> + +<p>Thereupon his Excellency pointed to Ráby's silk vest, and snapped:</p> + +<p>"Well, then, what do you mean by this? According to the prescription of +the 'dress regulations,' no one under the rank of a count may wear +embroidery."</p> + +<p>And in fact there was at this time a "dress regulation" in force to this +effect. Kaiser Joseph carried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> his paternal interest in his subjects so +far as to lay down rules as to how they should dress. Fashions and +ornaments which were permitted to the count, were not allowed the baron. +In this way, you could specify at first sight what rank a man held, for +even his hat revealed it. Only for princes and princesses was it +permitted to wear both black and white feathers; counts wore white +alone, barons black, and so forth down the scale. These sumptuary laws +even affected walking-sticks which had their mountings differentiated +according to the rank of the possessor.</p> + +<p>That was why Ráby had offended the lord-lieutenant. As a simple +gentleman, he had no right to either gold or silver embroidery.</p> + +<p>"This is the dress usually worn by the secretary of the imperial +cabinet," was the only explanation Ráby offered.</p> + +<p>"Ah, that is another thing. But I don't approve of these concessions +being allowed to those who are not men of rank."</p> + +<p>He scanned his caller mistrustfully from head to foot, and then went on +stiffly. "But I already have your credentials. Discharge your duty, but +take care what you are about, for you will find no one here to help you +out of a difficulty. So I have the honour to be your very humble +servant."</p> + +<p>But Ráby did not mean to let himself be dismissed in this fashion.</p> + +<p>"I too, am your Excellency's very humble servant," he answered. "But I +have a special mission to your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> Excellency which concerns both of us: my +duty is to speak, as it is likewise to present you with the imperial +warrant."</p> + +<p>The determined tone of the speaker levelled at once all distinctions of +age and rank. His Excellency vainly took refuge in walking up and down +the room, for Ráby kept pace with him, and he poured forth his whole +story into his ear, for he was determined that in such a high quarter, +the right side should be known.</p> + +<p>When he had finished his explanations, he raised his cocked hat with an +elaborate bow, bent his knee ceremoniously to the proper degree, and +withdrew, with the three paces prescribed by correct etiquette, to the +door.</p> + +<p>Mathias Ráby now hastened to the dwelling of the district commissioner, +who lived alone in an old house at Buda. Before it stood a sentry, and +at the entrance was also a porter who rang the bell if a visitor came in +a sedan-chair—the favourite means of locomotion. You could, if you +wished, have a carriage, but it was not so comfortable. Nor was it +advisable to go on foot, for in the covered ways which led round the +water-city, it was dark enough to cause ordinary pedestrians to dread +being robbed—as indeed they easily could have been.</p> + +<p>Ráby hastened up the steps of the district commissioner's house with +renewed confidence, for the commissioner had been one of his Vienna +acquaintances, and so when the lackey announced the visitor, ordered +Ráby to be admitted at once, though he had not finished his toilet.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>At that epoch, dress was no light matter even for a man. The <i>friseur</i> +was occupied in shaving his client; then from one box he took out some +white cosmetic, from another some red colouring, to apply them to the +proper place on the cheeks, for, at that era, not only women, but also +men of fashion painted their faces. Then the eyebrows were darkened, and +blue streaks were faintly outlined on the temples with a paint-brush +dipped in ultramarine; finally, a patch was applied with artful +dexterity on the right spot above the reddened lips. Only when all this +was done, could the final operation be carried out—that of powdering +the curled and twisted hair, the patient holding meanwhile a kind of +paper bag before his face, whilst the barber powdered the coiffure with +a large brush.</p> + +<p>"How are you, my friend?" was his host's greeting, as Ráby entered. +"I'll be done in a few minutes; meanwhile, sit down and read."</p> + +<p>On the writing-table, to which he motioned Ráby, lay some of the latest +pamphlets and pasquinades of the moment, mostly directed against the +Emperor.</p> + +<p>Ráby turned them over. "I've seen these before," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"And is not his Majesty very angry at them?" asked the commissioner.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it; he sends for the pamphlets, and not only does he make +me read them to him, but he is heartily amused."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>"Otherwise the author might find himself fastened to the wheel, eh!"</p> + +<p>"Joseph has thought of a more sensible punishment. A writer sold his +pasquinades at thirty kreutzers apiece, and built a house with his +profits. But recently the Kaiser, as soon as one of these productions +appeared, had it reprinted and sold for eight kreutzers. The result was +that the writer had the whole edition left on his hands, while everyone +bought that issued by the Kaiser. The proceeds were given to charity."</p> + +<p>"Not a very seemly trade for an Emperor, eh? It were far more becoming +to a prince to have the fellow's head off."</p> + +<p>"Yes, the Kaiser has distinctly plebeian ideas, it must be owned."</p> + +<p>"What too did he mean by putting in the pillory an officer of the Guard? +Only think of it, just for misappropriating from the treasury sixty-six +thousand gulden. And it was only to build an alchymist's laboratory. +Could he help it because it turned out a failure?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, well, now the ice is broken."</p> + +<p>Meantime the <i>friseur</i> had finished his work and gone, so it was easy +for Ráby to broach his errand, with such an opening:</p> + +<p>"The Emperor visits with extreme severity the embezzlement of public +funds; it is for this very purpose that he has sent me to bring to light +certain abuses connected with the Szent-Endre municipality."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>"I know, I know," said his Excellency, as he poured some eau de Cologne +over his hands, "it has come to my ears. But you will be a long time +finding your way out of that tangle, once you get into it; let me warn +you. By the way, is there a new opera company at the Vienna theatre?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, my good friend, I've no time to run after plays and players. I've +dramas of my own to look after, and they deal with the picking of other +people's pockets."</p> + +<p>"The deuce take your dramas! Does one still see pretty women at Vienna? +Where do you have your evening gatherings during the winter?"</p> + +<p>"We go to 'The Good Woman.' The sign-board is a woman without a head."</p> + +<p>"What does the hostess say to that, pray?"</p> + +<p>"I shall have no chance of asking her, seeing that I shall spend the +winter here, and pass my time in verifying accounts."</p> + +<p>"Stuff and nonsense! Cut it short, sir, and get back to Vienna as soon +as you can. Say you have found nothing. By the way, have you been in +Pozsony? They say they pay their theatrical companies far better than we +do; isn't it a shame?"</p> + +<p>"May I venture to ask if his Excellency will deign to listen to my +representations about the Szent-Endre affair?"</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow, just tell me everything. I am wholly at your service. +And don't mind my interruptions. I shall hear all. Have the officials +really so oppressed the poor? It's unheard-of!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> And the Rascian 'pope' +might well speak out. He's a good sort! Just such another as some of our +priests in Vienna. Did you ever hear how—oh, yes, I'm listening right +enough. I see quite well that you've discovered some sort of roguery. +The story of the hidden coffer sounds just like a play, doesn't it? 'The +Hidden Treasure,' or 'The Forty Thieves.' Go on! I declare that notary +ought to be placed in Dante's Inferno. What was that celebrated forgery +case, by the way, when some count or other, of high family, was put in +prison surely? You can't be too severe with that kind of thing. Yes, the +small fry, like your notary, don't get out of the net, but the man with +a handle to his name, gets clean off! We ought to make some examples in +high places."</p> + +<p>Ráby longed to express to his Excellency his conviction that the +Szent-Endre culprits would also elude justice; but it seemed wiser to be +silent till his loquacious friend had had his say.</p> + +<p>And now indeed the district commissioner, who was really a good sort of +fellow, showed that he had quite understood the whole business.</p> + +<p>"You leave it to me, my friend; I'll follow it up. You may reckon on my +help. If the councillors show themselves recalcitrant, we will know how +to make them dance! But now it's time for the theatre, my friend. What +do you say to coming with me? I have a box. You will be able to see all +the pretty girls of Pesth and Buda together."</p> + +<p>"Much beholden to you, but I regret I can't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> take advantage of your +offer," answered Ráby; "I must hasten homewards to send in my report to +the Emperor."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what's the good of drawing up reports? Take my advice and don't +send him any. And if you won't come to the theatre with me, then come +and dine to-morrow and we can talk things over."</p> + +<p>But Ráby went home to draw up his report.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Meantime, the lord-lieutenant was demanding of his secretary:</p> + +<p>"Which is the Statute that treats of <i>nobilis cum rusticis tumultuans</i>?"</p> + +<p>The secretary was a walking legal code. He not only knew that the law in +question was article thirty-three, of the year 1514, but could quote the +passage word for word: "Noblemen who take part in any risings of the +peasantry shall be banished, and shall forfeit the whole of their +estates."</p> + +<p>His Excellency uttered a growl of discontent; evidently the citation was +not an apt one.</p> + +<p>"What about that other statute of <i>Nota Conjurationis</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Article forty of 1536 pronounces sedition to be high-treason. See <i>Nota +Infidelitatis</i>."</p> + +<p>His Excellency shook his head.</p> + +<p>"And that of <i>Calumniator Consiliariorum</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Article of the year 1588 runs as follows:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>—Whosoever shall calumniate +and unjustly attaint any of the Empire's councillors, shall be condemned +to lose his head and forfeit all his goods."</p> + +<p>"That is better. You can go."</p> + +<p>The speaker was obviously contented this time.</p> + +<p>But immediately afterwards he recalled the secretary.</p> + +<p>"Which article is it that treats of the <i>Portatores Causarum</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Article sixty-three, of the year 1498. Whosoever shall bring his cause +before a tribunal other than that of his own country, shall be arrested +and imprisoned in the Dark Tower."</p> + +<p>"Now you can retire."</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>His worship, the district commissioner, who during Ráby's relation had +appeared to pay not the slightest attention to the Szent-Endre story, +had no sooner got to his box at the theatre, than he sent immediately +for pen, ink, and paper, and, quite oblivious of the play, hurriedly +drew up a missive to the prefect, wherein he set forth Mathias Ráby's +mission, and how he had been directly authorised by the Emperor to +revise the finances, pointing out that he was well informed as to +everything, even to the contents of the strong box. He would further +suggest that it would be wise for the prefect to go and look into things +for himself, otherwise disagreeable consequences might ensue.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>This note he sent by a special messenger to ensure its speedy delivery.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Tárhalmy's heyduke came back late in the evening with Ráby's refusal. He +could not come, because he was already pledged to dine with the district +commissioner.</p> + +<p>"You need not trouble about the almond-cakes, Mariska," said the +pronotary to his daughter, "Cousin Matyi will not be with us to-morrow, +he is flying higher game."</p> + +<p>And all at once the sound of singing ceased in the house.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>Hardly had Mathias Ráby returned to Szent-Endre than he realised that +everyone was aware of his mission. Gifts of all kinds poured in, and his +servant told him that in his absence two casks of wine had arrived—she +knew not from whom. In the courtyard, big stacks of firewood had already +been piled up—the gift of some anonymous donor, while the poultry-yard +was full of feathered stock which seemed to have flown down from the +skies.</p> + +<p>It was a pity the recipient did not appreciate them. Yet he knew the +time would come when all those who now plied him with gifts, would be +ready to deprive him of everything, if he ventured to set foot in their +streets. He forbade the maid to touch any of them under pain of instant +dismissal. The poor girl was quite dumbfoundered with surprise, for what +could one have better than such presents?</p> + +<p>On the day of his return, two well-known citizens appeared at his door +with a smart coach and four beautiful horses. One of them was Mr. Peter +Paprika; in former times he had himself fulfilled a term of office as +magistrate six years, so he understood the situation. The two had come +to wish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> Mr. Ráby good day, Peter Paprika adding that, as his worship +must have so many journeys to make in so many different directions, he +was sure he could not exist without a carriage and horses. For Ráby, +moreover, the price of the whole equipage, including horses, would only +be forty gulden! Nor need he be surprised at this abnormally cheap +price, for they were not stolen. The four horses were from the stud of +the State, the carriage was the best the local builder could turn out.</p> + +<p>Mathias Ráby thanked them for the offer, but refused to buy the +equipage, even at this price.</p> + +<p>However, they still pressed their bid, adding that fodder for the horses +would be provided gratis, whereupon Ráby told them point blank that +their bribes would not in the least avail to turn him from his purpose.</p> + +<p>Mr. Paprika returned dejectedly to the town council where his colleagues +waited to learn the result of his mission.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid," he announced to his fellow-councillors, "it won't avail us +to dip in the little chest for this. We have a difficult customer to +deal with. We must dive into the big one."</p> + +<p>They talked the matter over, and determined that if necessary, they +would sacrifice half the common wealth, and for this, bleed the treasure +itself, to such an end. And Peter Paprika was entrusted to find out a +new opportunity for proffering the bribe.</p> + +<p>So the next day they sought out Ráby, and put the whole thing before +him. They hinted broadly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> enough that you did not muzzle the ox that +trod out the corn, and that he who cut up a goose was justified in +keeping the best bit for himself, and other like arguments, and finally +laid on his table the sum of three thousand ducats.</p> + +<p>Even to-day three thousand ducats are not a sum to be despised: in those +days, indeed, they represented a respectable fortune. But Ráby nearly +drubbed the envoy who brought them out of the room. He was righteously +indignant, and angrily showed the messenger the door.</p> + +<p>"I never saw a man so angry," growled Peter Paprika, "I've heard men +often enough refuse money in so many words, but they contrived to pocket +the ducats discreetly, directly they have the chance." So they thought +it might happen this time. A week elapsed, and people already began to +smile knowingly at Ráby when they met him in the street, saying to +themselves, "He only wants a little bigger net, but he'll be caught in +the end."</p> + +<p>How greatly was popular opinion disconcerted, when in all the churches +the following Sunday, a "command" from the Emperor was read to the +effect "that the three thousand ducats which the worshipful town council +had given to Mr. Mathias Ráby for benevolent purposes, were to be +divided among the inhabitants whose homes the preceding year had been +destroyed by fire, and that each one would receive seventy-five gulden +apiece."</p> + +<p>What a procession it was that took its way to Ráby's house. The +unfortunate victims of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> conflagration came with their children and +chattels to thank their benefactor and to kiss his hand. The homes of +many of them had still to be made good, and the help could not have come +at a more seasonable time. But it set the officials against Ráby. They +could not tell the recipients of this bounty what had really happened. +But the latter guessed immediately that the town council had given Mr. +Ráby three thousand ducats, not for any charitable ends, but in order to +bribe him, and that he was making over to them these ill-gotten gains. +Well might the poor regard him as their deliverer!</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, the councillors began to shake in their shoes. Judge, +notary, and old Paprika hastened to the prefect, and announced with +anxiety and horror that a dragon had been set on to them, who would not +be pacified with the treasure itself.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll just fetch out a bigger one still to satisfy him."</p> + +<p>What that greater treasure was, we shall in the course of events now +learn.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + + +<p>For some days the great circuit had been in full swing in the city. It +was a new institution, inaugurated by the Emperor Joseph, whereby the +lord-lieutenant or his representative, annually had to make a tour +through the county to procure information of all kinds, and refer the +same to the district commissioner, of whom there were ten in all +throughout the country.</p> + +<p>The business was easily settled in some counties. But in that of Pesth, +which is as large as a German kingdom, the number of official +entertainments was so great that it demanded an ostrich's digestion. +These municipal officials, like the lord-lieutenant himself, must eat +and drink hard three or four days running, while, at the end, the whole +burden of the work fell on the substitute, the eldest and best qualified +magistrate. No one answered to this demand better than our old friend, +Mr. Laskóy.</p> + +<p>When the circuit came to Szent-Endre, it was naturally the turn of the +prefect to give an entertainment. To this the imperial court secretary, +Mr. Mathias Ráby of Rába and Mura, received a formal invitation in due +course.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>As it was so great an official gathering, he put on his Viennese dress, +and arrived at the prefecture by twelve o'clock, the hour appointed.</p> + +<p>He was received by a lordly looking lackey, who discreetly gave him to +understand that he was somewhat early, that the gentry were still in +council, but that till dinner-time, he might, if he would, go into the +garden where he would find Mademoiselle, the prefect's niece.</p> + +<p>Ráby instantly conceived a high opinion of the lady of the house, who, +thus immediately preceding a great banquet, could find leisure to walk +in the garden. She could not be wholly wrapped up in her housewifery.</p> + +<p>But how find a garden he had never seen and seek out a lady who was a +complete stranger to him? However, help was nigh. Just as if it had +scented him, a black poodle came running down the corridor wagging his +tail, as welcoming the guest, and finally took the end of Ráby's cane +between his teeth and drew him to the door that led into the garden. +Ráby, seeing the dog wanted to play with the cane, let him have it, +whereupon the cunning little beast seized it in the middle and preceded +Ráby down the garden path where Fräulein Fruzsinka was to be found. The +garden was laid out in the prevalent mode, in a maze composed of trees, +among which one had vainly sought for an outlet. There, indeed, Ráby had +never found the lady on his own account, for she had ensconced herself +in the innermost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> recess and was reading, seated on the mossy bank.</p> + +<p>She was no longer the Hungarian amazon who had worn the riding gear we +met her in, earlier in this story. She was now the Viennese "élégante," +whose toilette proclaimed her the lady of fashion, with her +walking-stick, her elaborate coiffure, and lace ruffles, all +irreproachably correct. Nor were cosmetics and patches wanting that the +mode demanded, and she answered Ráby's greeting with the prescribed +German formula: "Your servant, sir."</p> + +<p>The poodle broke the ice, by running up with his cane and laying it at +his mistress' feet.</p> + +<p>But Fräulein Fruzsinka picked it up gently and gave it back to Ráby. She +held a richly bound book, Wieland's "Oberon," which she showed to her +guest.</p> + +<p>Now with ladies who read Wieland you can talk of something else besides +ordinary themes. And in the first quarter of an hour of his conversation +with her, Mathias Ráby discovered that his hostess was a highly +cultivated woman who could discuss the French philosophers as an +ordinary provincial belle might the latest fashion in head dresses, and +speak German fluently.</p> + +<p>And her eyes, how marvellous they were!</p> + +<p>They came out of the maze pursuing the talk on literature, and bent +their steps towards the flower garden. Passing the flower-beds, Fräulein +Fruzsinka betrayed also her knowledge of that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> "language of flowers" +which just then was the rage in Vienna. The young lady broke off a twig +of evergreen, and gave it to Ráby, who well recollected the couplet +which set forth its symbolism:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0q">"The evergreen is always green, although it blossoms never,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So may the friendship 'twixt a man and woman last for ever."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But there was nothing of the coquette about her; she made no advances +whatever.</p> + +<p>The sound of the dinner-gong here breaking off their talk, his hostess +accompanied Ráby back to the house, where the company were impatiently +awaiting them. The dinner was already on the table.</p> + +<p>The Fräulein presented Ráby to the other guests who all greeted him +warmly.</p> + +<p>The meal threatened to be interminable, as course succeeded course, till +at last someone threw out a hint to the effect that a little exercise +would be good for the diners, who had a game of skittles awaiting them.</p> + +<p>"Skittles," indeed, was as it were the word of dismissal, and the +suggestion nearly spoiled the proposal made by another guest that after +dinner they should have a song from Fräulein Fruzsinka on the +clavichord.</p> + +<p>But the skittle players were in the majority though there was a keen +opposition.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>Finally matters were compromised by settling that they should have their +hostess' song first, and then the skittles. At first a few of the guests +loitered round the clavichord, at which Fräulein Fruzsinka, with her +really sweet voice, was commencing a ditty. But you could not well smoke +there, so one by one they stole out into the garden where the skittles +were already in full swing.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Fräulein Fruzsinka remained at the clavichord alone with +Mathias Ráby, who from his knowledge of music could turn over for her at +the right moment.</p> + +<p>The singer soon shut the music book, and rose impatiently from the +instrument.</p> + +<p>"What people these are!" she exclaimed with a little irritated gesture +of her hands. "Not a lofty idea, not a noble aspiration among them, as +far as one can judge. And that is our world!"</p> + +<p>Ráby, who had the instincts of a courtier, sought to excuse his fellow +guests.</p> + +<p>"Their own official concerns fill their minds entirely."</p> + +<p>"Their official concerns indeed! Yes, I should think so! Did you hear +the anecdotes with which they regaled each other at table? Quite +frankly, with the most shameless cynicism. Yet they were all true. Among +such people as ours, ignorance, idleness and greed counter-balance one +another. Not one of them knows his business: each neglects his duty. But +see if there is anything to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> be got out of any official function, and +everyone is ready to seize it for himself."</p> + +<p>Ráby held a brief for the accused.</p> + +<p>"With us, offices of that kind are ill-paid. The official's salary is +scant; he has, too, a house and family to keep up."</p> + +<p>Fruzsinka laughed aloud. "There is not a married man among all of them. +They are all a penniless lot who come to pay their court to me. Each of +them would marry me, were they not all afraid of me!"</p> + +<p>"Afraid of the Fräulein? You must make a strange impression on them."</p> + +<p>"Yes, think of it! Can you believe that anyone is frightened at me +because I wear a fashionable gown, read novels, am clever at music, but +indifferent to kitchen and cellar; thereat the wooer shudders. He says +to himself, 'he cannot possibly tolerate that,' and takes himself off +forthwith."</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, dainty toilettes and culture bespeak wealth, and that +alone should be one more spur for the suitors, surely."</p> + +<p>"Oh certainly, if they were sure that my uncle, who is rich, were going +to leave me his money. But that is a secret no one knows. There are two +things my wooer cannot find out, whether my uncle really loves me, and +whether I know how to flatter him well enough, so as not to forfeit his +affection. And truly I do not quite know myself."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>"And that surely is not difficult to decide. For your beautiful +toilettes and good education witness sufficiently to his affection for +you."</p> + +<p>"Ah, as far as my education goes, I have only to thank the gracious +Empress Maria Theresa, for I was educated at her Elizabeth Institute in +Buda, and my education cost no one a heller. And as regards my dress, my +uncle insists on my dressing well, in order to captivate each new-comer. +If it is an aristocratic cavalier who appears on the scene, forthwith I +must don my pearl-embroidered bodice and lace stomacher and the plumed +hat, but if it be an ordinary townsman, I wear the provincial dress of +the simple country girl. Yes, would you know everything at this, our +first meeting? And, indeed, as it is the first, so will it be the last. +But would you hear how that must be, come with me into my own +sitting-room, for here someone will overhear us."</p> + +<p>Ráby was already under the spell of the sorceress, and he followed her +willingly into her boudoir.</p> + +<p>"You are not the first, dear Ráby," pursued his hostess, "who has come +into this town vowing vengeance on us, to demand that justice be done. I +say 'us,' for as you see, I too am leagued with this confederacy. And +each of such emissaries in turn have I seen withdraw after a time, his +anger appeased. Now, once more, they hear that a man of iron has come to +set his foot down with inexorable rigour; he distributes the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> vast bribe +which has been offered him, among the poor, while to win him over, even +the great coffer is ransacked, but in vain. Thereupon, the authorities +bethink them of another treasure still, the prefect's niece. And they +trick her out as a fashionable lady, and leave her alone with the +incorruptible. You see I am quite frank! Do you not blush for me? I do +for myself, I can assure you. Take my advice, and fly from this place!"</p> + +<p>"But, Fräulein, all you tell me does but make me still more determined +to pursue the purpose for which I came hither."</p> + +<p>"I see you to-day for the first time; I know nothing of you but what I +have heard from your opponents; but what I have heard of you only makes +me take your side. You are no ordinary man. Go, I tell you, and save +yourself; flee from this place!"</p> + +<p>"I save myself?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed! You cannot imagine how evilly disposed to you are those +among whom you find yourself. Indeed, they have threatened to take your +life."</p> + +<p>What does she mean? Will she scare him away from the field of his +labours, so that intimidated by her words, he returns to Vienna? Or has +she measured her man, and seen that he is to be best caught by seeking +to divert him from his purpose? And does she know that for such a one, +the most powerful enticement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> of all will be to seek to turn him from +his goal?</p> + +<p>Ráby responded to the signal that his hostess made him, to come closer; +nay, he took the fan she held, and fanned her and himself with it.</p> + +<p>"That is splendid; why it will make my stay here quite a romantic +experience," he said.</p> + +<p>"You will rue it, however, and expose yourself to a thousand dangers +which you have not the power to withstand. I see you are confident of +your strength. But if you had to fight with someone, would it not +disquiet you to know your adversary was an excellent shot. Suppose the +moment you entered the field, someone whispered to you: 'Be on your +guard; your second is in league with your opponent, he has placed no +bullets in your pistol.' Would you not, in such a case, refuse to +fight?"</p> + +<p>"But the case is quite unthinkable."</p> + +<p>"So you deem it. But to prove to you, that I am not seeking, as your +enemies would have me do, to try and entangle you in my net, I will tear +asunder the snare already closing round you, and show you something +which shall enlighten you once and for all."</p> + +<p>She went to her writing-table and took out of a drawer a letter.</p> + +<p>"Say, do you know this handwriting?"</p> + +<p>"Very well, it is that of the district commissioner."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>"The note was addressed to me, in order to awaken no suspicion. Please +read it."</p> + +<p>It was the letter which the district commissioner had written at the +theatre.</p> + +<p>As he read it, Ráby fairly crimsoned with wrath. He was thunderstruck to +find that his official chief, who had promised to support his mission, +should have a secret understanding with those whom he was pledged to +punish. Whom should he trust, if this was the state of things?</p> + +<p>"Now will you not fly?" said Fräulein Fruzsinka. Her words urged him to +go, but her eyes held him back.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed! now will I remain," cried Ráby impetuously, as he rose to +go. And as if to prove that he had determined to do and dare all, he +hastily seized her hand and raised it passionately to his lips.</p> + +<p>And she did not withdraw hers, but vehemently returned its pressure, as +if to say: "This is the man I have long been looking for!"</p> + +<p>"Leave me now," she whispered; but her eyes seemed to say, "Come again, +soon!"</p> + +<p>Mathias Ráby knew now that fate had led him to a kindred soul at last!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + + +<p>Were this story a romance pure and simple, it would suffice to tell that +Fräulein Fruzsinka had fire in her eyes, and Mr. Mathias but a heart of +wax, that, consequently, when they met, the one melted the other.</p> + +<p>But since this history is, in the main, a true narrative, we do not +think it should be supposed that such was the case. Mathias Ráby being a +diplomatist as well as a philosopher, did not seek in the lady of his +dreams a Venus Anadyomene, but rather a fully equipped Minerva, and he +thought that he had before him a high-minded woman, whose insight +penetrated the evil intentions of his enemies, and whose hands should +serve to set him free from the snares their wickedness had woven around +him. To save such a woman from a degrading position was in itself surely +a knightly and a noble deed. And what a splendid help would it not be to +him, in the struggle that lay before him, to choose such a companion, +who could circumvent the designs of his enemies, and be to him a +guardian angel as well as a helpmate.</p> + +<p>So it came about that one day Mathias Ráby<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> sought out his uncle, Mr. +Leányfalvy, with this request.</p> + +<p>"I have come, my dear uncle, to remind you of your promise. I need a +'best man.'"</p> + +<p>"A 'best man'? All right, my boy, I'm ready; let's have the horses put +to."</p> + +<p>"It won't be necessary; it is only at the other end of the city. It is +to the prefecture I want to go."</p> + +<p>"It's the Fruzsinka, then," exclaimed the old gentleman, and he began to +scratch his head in deep perplexity. Finally, he blurted out, "Listen to +me, my boy, take my advice and choose anyone else."</p> + +<p>"Uncle, I forbid you to speak thus! She is my betrothed."</p> + +<p>"I will not say anything against the woman of your choice. I will only +say this: your father and mother were worthy God-fearing folk. If there +had been twenty commandments to keep instead of ten, they would have +observed them all scrupulously. And they loved each other so dearly, +that when your father died, your mother followed him the very next day. +And so it can be said to your own credit, that you are neither a +murderer nor a robber. Therefore, I want to know how it is that, since +neither you nor your parents have ever committed mortal sin, such a +punishment should be destined for you, as marrying Fräulein Fruzsinka?"</p> + +<p>"Uncle, I forbid you——"</p> + +<p>"If you only knew the woman she is!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>"I know quite well, she herself has told me all."</p> + +<p>"All, has she, what sort of an 'all' is it?"</p> + +<p>Mathias Ráby shrugged his shoulders as one who does not understand +grammatical subtleties. "Oh, with women, the world is an everyday +matter."</p> + +<p>"But these are not everyday matters."</p> + +<p>"Well, I will hear no evil of her."</p> + +<p>"May Heaven forgive me if I make a mistake! But what does it concern me +after all? Yet I found for you a nice, well-brought up girl to whom the +other one cannot hold a candle! What are the black gipsy eyes of the one +compared to the innocent blue ones of the other? But if such a wife +pleases you, there is nothing more to be said. Only you will have a wife +and no mistake, I'll warrant you!"</p> + +<p>"Now, dear uncle, I beg of you to come and accompany me in my wooing."</p> + +<p>Mr. Leányfalvy began to see that he must play a part in this pantomime +after all.</p> + +<p>"I've no clothes to go in," he explained. "In these I could not enter +such grand company."</p> + +<p>"I will bring you a new coat from Pesth."</p> + +<p>"It's no use, nephew. Among such grand folks a simple gentleman like me, +who am a mere nobody, has no business. Take the district commissioner +with you; he is a great man, and can write worshipful before his name."</p> + +<p>"I don't want any great men. I'd rather have you!"</p> + +<p>Now the postmaster came out with his true meaning.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>"I don't want to be your 'best man!'" he said bluntly.</p> + +<p>"You don't, and why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because I am exceedingly angry, and I should quarrel with you. I am +seriously vexed with you, not because you insist on marrying +Fruzsinka—you can be angry with yourself for that—but because you are +leaving that sweet, pretty, innocent child, to eat her heart out in +disappointment. I do not want to have anything more to do with you; you +are nothing to me. Now go, and take your grand friend with you!"</p> + +<p>"Very well, I won't take anyone. I'll go alone and ask for her myself."</p> + +<p>Thereupon, Ráby turned away and went. It would be indeed absurd that a +man, in such a high position, who had been educated at the Theresianum, +and was the trusted confidant of the Emperor himself, should let himself +be dissuaded from his purpose by a simple unlearned rustic.</p> + +<p>The contradiction only strengthened him in his determination.</p> + +<p>And then—those glorious eyes!</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Ráby was one of those men who, once having set themselves an end in +view, pursue it unflinchingly. He went straight away to the prefect, +stated plainly his errand, and asked for the hand of his niece.</p> + +<p>The prefect, however, pushed his cap back a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> little off his brows, and +demanded somewhat abruptly if his visitor understood Hungarian?</p> + +<p>Ráby was a little disconcerted by the question.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I can speak Hungarian," he answered shortly.</p> + +<p>"But, my friend, to speak Hungarian and to understand it are two very +different things, as we shall see directly. I ask you, what is it you +want? Do you want to take my niece Fruzsinka as your wife, or do you +wish to be the husband of my niece Fruzsinka?"</p> + +<p>"Surely that is one and the same thing," said the suitor.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it; they are quite distinct. Let's put it plainly. For +instance, you elect to be my niece's husband. In this case you come and +live here at the prefecture, and you get thrown in as a marriage +settlement, a coach and four, a coachman and lackey, and will have in +fact all the money you need. If you are tired of the chancery work in +Vienna, we can get you elected administrator of Visegrád, which post +happens to be vacant. You only need walk into it, or if you would prefer +to do so, you can easily keep your appointment at Court, and a deputy +will look after the Visegrád affairs for you, perhaps better than you +could yourself. All you have to do is to spend the income, if you come +to live here. This is one alternative. The other is that you take my +niece as your wife, and make your own little home for her, and the rest +is your concern, not mine. Now I have spoken plainly, do you understand +me?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>"Perfectly, and I am also ready with my answer. I ask for no prefecture, +no coach and four, no administratorship; I only ask for Fräulein +Fruzsinka, whom I love; I ask for the lady, not for the property."</p> + +<p>"Well, go and have a talk with her. If she is agreeable to the proposal, +I won't raise any objection."</p> + +<p>Thereupon, he sent the wooer to Fräulein Fruzsinka, who had previously +suggested to Ráby that he should come on this particular day and +formally propose for her hand.</p> + +<p>"You come without a 'best man,'" said Fruzsinka, as Ráby entered. "You +have found no one who would undertake the office, that is it. Each of +the friends you asked refused, and tried to set you against me?"</p> + +<p>"I assure you, Fräulein, that there is no man living from whom I would +listen to the slightest word against you, not even my own father. I will +tell you truthfully how the matter stands. I have one good old friend in +this world whom you know well, my uncle Leányfalvy. I begged him to bear +me company, but he refused solely, however, on this ground, that he had +already chosen a bride for me, a playmate of my childhood, and had so +set his heart on my having her, that he is angered at my making another +choice."</p> + +<p>"And why not marry the playmate of your childhood?"</p> + +<p>"That too will I tell you, and be as candid with you as you were with +me. This girl is a dear,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> gentle, little creature, whose life it were a +shame to link with my own stormy career. Why, I should have to transform +myself to marry her. If I were a man who simply swims with the stream, +and troubles not as to what passes outside his own house, then could I +woo such a bride indeed. But I am possessed by a demon of unrest that +will let me have no peace; the misery of the people is constantly before +me, urging me unceasingly to champion their cause against their +oppressors. Nothing shall stop my mouth from pleading their rights. My +life will be a perpetual struggle, I see that clearly. And can I fetter +to such a destiny, a mere child whose only strength is her inexhaustible +patience and gentleness? Every moment would it not be a torment to me, +that each woe I drew down upon my head would fall likewise upon that of +a guiltless and innocent being with a hundredfold weight. No, Fräulein, +when I reckoned up the obstacles to the career I had set before me, I +determined to ask no woman to share it. Till fate threw me across your +path, I had never thought of marriage. But at the first glance, I said +to myself, 'There is the complement of my own being; there is a woman +whose soul is consumed like mine with a restless consciousness of the +world's woes. No one can understand her as I do.' What shocks others in +you is just what attracts me. My destiny can only be shared by one who +has plenty of ambition and no dread of danger. If you are truly mine, +give me your answer."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>Fräulein Fruzsinka's only response was to throw herself on Ráby's breast +and take his face between her hands.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Three weeks later, the marriage ceremony took place. When the wedding +was over, the worthy prefect rubbed his hands and murmured, "Now thank +Heaven, Mathias Ráby has already the yoke round his neck. That is +something to be thankful for."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + + +<p>Wonder of wonders! Fruzsinka had become domesticated. Since her +marriage, she had been a different being. Her former rich dress was now +exchanged for a simple homespun gown, and she wore only the national +dress of the Hungarian woman. She rarely even looked in a book, for the +young matron was now wholly occupied with the things of the household.</p> + +<p>She made an ideal housewife, superintending everything herself, and +never parting with her keys. She kneaded the dough for the fritters +which no hand must touch but hers; she skimmed too the milk, and roasted +the coffee. She even had a spinning-wheel brought in and sat at it, +though the yarn spun did not amount to much, only the spinning-wheel +indeed knew whether it went backwards or forwards.</p> + +<p>But on her lord and master, Fruzsinka lavished the most passionate +devotion. Never did she allow him to leave the house without her +buttoning his coat for him, and had he the least ailment she made no end +of ado.</p> + +<p>She never dreamed of going out without him, and was, as a matter of +fact, jealous of every pretty woman,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> but Ráby liked to think that her +watchfulness had regard rather to the designs of his enemies than from +any other cause. He began to see that all women who love their husbands +are alike, and that those stories of the wives of heroes who themselves +spur their spouses on to fight and place the sword in their grasp, +belong to the domain of myth, not to that of reality.</p> + +<p>For the rest, Ráby's business seemed as if it was going to settle itself +smoothly. The municipality gave orders to the district commissioner who, +in his turn, forwarded directions to various subordinate officials, and +a deputation, which was entrusted with full judicial powers, was elected +to audit the accounts. All was ready for taking active steps, Ráby only +needed to come forward with the formal impeachment, for he now held the +threads of the business in his own hands.</p> + +<p>The various officials concerned strongly suspected that they themselves +were mixed up in the affair, but consoled themselves with the thought +that the commissioner would himself preside.</p> + +<p>But the district commissioner was very easy-going, had they known it, +and that was his failing. He did not like seeing his friends set by the +ears, therefore he betrayed the inimical intentions of each one to the +other, in order to frustrate strife. They should leave one another +alone; why quarrel, when you might live at peace with your neighbour, +was his philosophy.</p> + +<p>At last the important day dawned when the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> commission was to sit for the +investigation of the Szent-Endre accounts. The district commissioner did +not keep them long waiting. His impartiality was shown by his accepting +an invitation to the prefect's to dinner, and by inviting himself to +Ráby's to supper, for he too had been an old flame of Fruzsinka's.</p> + +<p>They assembled for the great work in the Town Hall, and had unearthed +accounts of years' standing—and nice models of book-keeping they were, +full of erasures and corrections, just where the most important entries +could be expected. Under such circumstances, the commissioner divided +the work up, so that each one might do his share of it without being +overlooked by the others. Ráby could have burst with indignation when he +regarded the commission's irregularities as to procedure.</p> + +<p>With the most unblushing impudence, all sorts of frauds, corruptions, +and tyrannical methods were simply ignored in the investigation.</p> + +<p>"Fiddlesticks!" exclaimed the commissioner to the protesting Ráby, "that +happens everywhere."</p> + +<p>And finally, when the worshipful commission of burghers who understood +about as much of finance as a hen does of the alphabet, summed up the +results of the revision, they gave out, that in spite of all efforts to +make them balance, there was a deficit amounting to eighty-six thousand +gulden, for which it was impossible to account.</p> + +<p>"Fiddlesticks," cried the commissioner again, "let's go on!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>"No, no, we cannot possibly pass that over, and we will not go on," +cried the indignant Ráby. "Does not your worship recollect that on +account of just such a deficit, a captain of the guard had, but a while +back, to stand in the pillory with a black board round his neck. Shall +an officer of the imperial body guard be thus punished, and these who +have hidden the gold, go free? These things are no trifles. Will you be +pleased to order that the secret treasure-chest be produced."</p> + +<p>The reference to the captain of the guard was not, it seemed, without +its effect on the commissioner. He struck the table with his long cane +as if to threaten the company, as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Hear, you people! This business passes all bearing. In the Emperor's +name, I herewith order you to fetch out yon secret treasure-chest, in +which the embezzled money is stored. And if it is not here by two +o'clock this afternoon, at which hour we have to be ready with our +report, I shall have you all clapped into the Dark Tower. So look you to +it! Now we'll go to dinner!"</p> + +<p>Ráby did not appear at the prefect's banquet; he never allowed his wife +to have her meals alone. It seemed a long while till two o'clock, the +hour named for the continuation of the investigation, when they promised +to let him know. And he remembered the question of the timber had not +been touched on. This must be worked in somehow.</p> + +<p>At last it was time to go to the Town Hall. The councillors sat round +the long table waiting for him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>"Now, you gentlemen," ordered the district commissioner, "out with your +secret chest."</p> + +<p>The notary rose obediently from his seat, and went into the adjoining +room, whence he came back with a small iron casket about the size of a +lady's workbox, which he brought and set down on the table.</p> + +<p>"Here, your lordship, is our secret chest, here too is the key; be +pleased to open it for yourself."</p> + +<p>The district commissioner looked in, and found inside the sum of two +gulden and forty-five kreutzers all told.</p> + +<p>"This is our treasure," cried the notary dejectedly. Everyone burst out +laughing, and even Ráby himself could not forbear joining in, though it +was no matter for jest.</p> + +<p>When the laugh had subsided, Ráby was the first to speak: "Now then, you +gentlemen of the council, that was a pleasant jest, but permit me to +remind you that it was a question not of this cash-box, but of the great +chest, the secret way to which only the notary knows how to find."</p> + +<p>"I know of a secret way?" exclaimed the notary. "Who dares say that of +me? I beg the commission to search the Town Hall thoroughly, to see +whether anyone can discover a secret passage there. If you find one, +well, there is my head, ready to lie on the block!"</p> + +<p>"I know well enough," said Ráby, "there is such a place: to brick it up +perhaps is not difficult. But there is another entrance. The Rascian +'pope' knows it, and will be able to show us where the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> entrance to this +stolen treasure is. I would suggest that he be cited."</p> + +<p>To this the district commissioner had an objection.</p> + +<p>"The Rascian 'pope' is an ecclesiastic, so cannot be summoned before a +secular tribunal. He is under the immediate jurisdiction of the +Patriarch of Carlovitz. The Patriarch will not understand the procedure +of the Hungarian commissioners, but is only responsible to the Croatian +and Slavonic tribunals. The Szent-Endre municipality can address a +memorial to the Archbishop of Carlovitz to cite the Greek pastor of +Szent-Endre at their tribunal, if he does not mind giving the +information."</p> + +<p>So this was settled.</p> + +<p>Ráby looked at the clock.</p> + +<p>"We had other circumstances to consider. There is still the question of +the timber. My indictment charges the municipality with aiding and +abetting great devastation in the woods. Whilst the poor are not allowed +to pick even dry brushwood in winter, and the sick in the hospital are +dying of cold, the overseers are allowed to sell timber, and to give +away hundreds of stacks as bribes. This cannot be gainsaid. There are +the felled trees to witness to it."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Mr. Ráby? That is all very well, but it may, or may +not be true. You just let us manage our own affairs," said the notary.</p> + +<p>The district commissioner here remarked that the thing must be looked +into, and if proven, this alone<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> would be cause enough to bar all those +concerned from holding office. He thereupon ordered a carriage should +come round directly, so that they could examine the wood while it was +yet daylight.</p> + +<p>Whilst they were waiting to start, suddenly a man rushed in white with +terror.</p> + +<p>"For Heaven's sake, come quickly, gentlemen, the wood is on fire!"</p> + +<p>All sprang up from the table, for sure enough the wood was on fire. In +vain did Ráby try to appease them, the conflagration could only have +just broken out, and it would be easy in the damp winter weather to +master it. No one listened to him; it was all up with the commission and +its enquiry.</p> + +<p>All made for the street, shouting "Fire!" and clamouring for ladders and +buckets to extinguish the flames. At last they produced the only +watering-cart the city possessed, but a hind wheel was off, and how to +get it along no one knew. Helpless confusion reigned. Crowds of +distracted citizens ran up and down the streets; the men shouted, the +women screamed. Amid the barking of the dogs, the cackling of hens, and +the ringing of bells, the townspeople tore hither and thither as if +possessed, while the dragoons galloped about trying to keep order.</p> + +<p>"Come along, my dear fellow," said the district commissioner to Ráby. +"Let's go to your poor wife, she will be distracted with fear and +anxiety: it's time you consoled her."</p> + +<p>And really it was the wisest thing Ráby could do.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>And sure enough, there was Fruzsinka awaiting them at the gate, and it +was touching to see how she fell on Ráby's neck, sobbing her heart out, +for she had feared some harm had come to him. Nor did she recover +herself, but the whole evening trembled every time the alarm bell rang, +and was inattentive to their distinguished guest's choicest anecdotes +which he told for their benefit during supper.</p> + +<p>Before he left, the news came that the wood was quite destroyed by the +fire.</p> + +<p>"It is all your fault," he cried to Ráby. "Had you never raised that +unlucky question about the timber, no one would have thought of setting +fire to the wood, and this enormous damage might have been avoided."</p> + +<p>Only the presence of his wife prevented Ráby coming to blows with the +district commissioner.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + + +<p>Ráby had said nothing to Fruzsinka of what had happened at the +commission. But when the guest had gone, he brought out his travelling +bag and began to pack up as if for a journey.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible you are going on a journey?" asked Fruzsinka +reproachfully, "without telling me? Don't you know that the wife packs +for her husband?"</p> + +<p>Ráby did not want his wife to guess whither he was bound. So he made her +believe he was only going as far as Tyrnau to take the official +depositions regarding the Szent-Endre affair; though since the +commission had reduced the whole business to such a farce, how to +produce his proofs and, as prosecutor, lay the matter before them at +head-quarters, he hardly knew himself. So he told her he could not take +her with him, because he would have to travel by diligence or in a +peasant's cart, and such a jaunt would be too trying in winter for a +delicate woman.</p> + +<p>"Now if I were you, I would not go to Tyrnau; I would rather go straight +to Vienna, and tell the Emperor himself what roguery is going forward +here."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>Ráby was astounded. This was precisely what he had intended to do, and +the journey to Tyrnau had only been a pretext.</p> + +<p>"I would lay the whole plot before him," went on Fruzsinka, "and would +say, 'Sire, send a man in my place who may bring these conspirators to +book, and make an end to their intrigues.'"</p> + +<p>Ráby began to understand. Then he said aloud: "But I don't know of any +man who would take on such an unthankful business."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible that you mean then to go on with the struggle?" asked +Fruzsinka plaintively. "Dearest, I beseech you, think of our position. +We are living among enemies. Those who were not ashamed to set fire to +the wood, to wipe out the proof of their guilt, will not shrink from +burning our own house over our heads. I tremble each time you go out, +and have no peace till I see you again. Every night I dream they have +murdered you. O Ráby, the very thought of living among these people +makes me shudder, there are surely no other such vindictive folk on the +face of the earth. Come away from this place. Let us go to Vienna! There +your career is made. Leave this thankless, malevolent people to their +fate!"</p> + +<p>Mathias Ráby's heart grew suddenly heavy, and a dark misgiving gripped +him in its clutches.</p> + +<p>"You would be the first to despise me," he exclaimed, "were I to be +weakened by your words, and quit my post to fly to another country."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean then to continue the struggle?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>"It is no question of struggle, but rather of right and wrong and just +punishment," he answered gloomily.</p> + +<p>"Ah, well! I suppose it is only womanly weakness that gets the best of +me. Yet I, too, have thought out the whole affair. You mean that the +embezzlements which you have brought to light shall be avenged?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is what I do mean!"</p> + +<p>"Now, has it ever occurred to you that if anyone investigates this +affair, at least a part of the odium which it incurs, may fall on your +wife?"</p> + +<p>"How can that be, Fruzsinka?"</p> + +<p>"You remember that absurd housekeeping account, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, the one we all laughed at so heartily. But how would your +name be mentioned in connection with such a business? The items were set +down by the head cook, and the prefect settled the account."</p> + +<p>"But everyone knows that it was to my advantage. Now suppose I was +confronted with the prefect and the cook, in the case of a formal +inquiry? Would not it be a disgrace for you?"</p> + +<p>"And pray would it not be a disgrace," returned Ráby, "if your husband +had to make this confession to the Emperor who sent him: 'Sire, I am no +better than all the others you have sent to right your subjects' wrongs, +and here I have come back to tell you that everywhere in this world +roguery reigns triumphant.' And if he answered me never a word but just +looked at me with those keen eyes of his,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> what shame should I not feel? +You shrink at being confronted with the prefect, because the least +morsel of the pitch which sticks to him may perchance darken the tip of +your little finger, but you do not blush that I may stand before the +Emperor and say: 'Sire, here is my wife, with whose paint I have daubed +the prefect white.'"</p> + +<p>Frau Fruzsinka at this changed her point of attack.</p> + +<p>"Remember," she urged, "that if we fly in the face of my uncle, we risk +losing a considerable property."</p> + +<p>Now it was Ráby's turn.</p> + +<p>"You fear the prospect of losing the property, but I tremble at the +chance of your possessing it."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand," faltered his wife.</p> + +<p>"I quite believe you," returned Ráby bitterly.</p> + +<p>Fruzsinka dared not pursue this tack further, it was time to try +another. She threw herself on her husband's neck, and gazed with those +wonderful eyes of hers straight into his.</p> + +<p>"Ráby, did we swear that we would make the people, or ourselves happy, +which was it, dear?"</p> + +<p>At those words, and that glance, Ráby's heart softened.</p> + +<p>What can one advance to those most unanswerable of arguments?</p> + +<p>Who will blame Mathias Ráby if he weakly gave way then, as many a strong +man had done before him, and threw his half-packed bag into a corner.</p> + +<p>And as the temptress had gone so far, now she proceeded still further:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>"Now I'll unpack for you," she cried merrily.</p> + +<p>Thereupon, she took the hunting-pouch from the wall and carefully filled +it with savoury spiced meat and flaky white bread; then she deftly +replenished the flask with wine, and cried: "Now go and enjoy yourself! +Don't stay mewed up in the house. You are bothered; well, go and get +some sport, and let the fresh air blow the cobwebs away."</p> + +<p>And so saying, she helped him on with his shooting coat, and handed him +his gun, and so it fell out that Ráby hung up his sword and knapsack, +and went neither to Tyrnau nor to Vienna, but just into the copse to try +and shoot hares. He heard behind him, as he left the house, the merry +song his wife was warbling to herself.</p> + +<p>As he sauntered along the street, it occurred to him that up till now he +had not met one of his former acquaintances in the town, nor seen a +single one of his old schoolmates.</p> + +<p>But just then, he ran on to a townsman, whose wasted bent frame and +dejected air did not prevent Ráby from recognising him as one of his old +contemporaries. The man wore a leathern apron, and carried carpenters' +tools. He returned Ráby's greeting politely and was about to shuffle +past him. But the latter stopped him.</p> + +<p>"Dacsó Marczi! Is it possible? Are you really Marczi? And won't you just +wait that we may have a word together; it is so long since we have +met."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>And he seized the limp hand of the stranger and held it fast.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am indeed glad to see your worship again," returned his new-found +friend.</p> + +<p>"Never mind 'my worship,' you can leave him out of it," said Ráby. +"Didn't we sit beside each other at school, and you would pass me +without a word? Tell me how things are going with you?"</p> + +<p>The man looked round to left and right, and in his eyes there lurked a +nameless fear.</p> + +<p>"Well, as far as that goes," he began, "but don't let us talk here, it +is not wise to discuss these things in the street."</p> + +<p>Ráby dropped his hand. "Ah, you are afraid suspicion may rest on you if +you are seen talking to me!"</p> + +<p>"It is not that. But I fear, on the contrary, that it might be +unpleasant for you, if you were seen talking to a mere carpenter. I am +just going to look after my mates in the lower town who are putting new +joists to the burned houses. May Heaven bless your efforts to help the +poor people!" added the man in a lower voice.</p> + +<p>"Good, I'll go with you," said Ráby, "it's all the same to me which way +I take."</p> + +<p>"But don't let yourself be drawn into talk with them. They are always +ready to complain, and there are always people ready to repeat all that +is said."</p> + +<p>So they walked together down the street—the dapper sportsman, and the +working-man in his leather apron.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>Ráby well remembered the houses they passed, and their owners, and asked +after the latter.</p> + +<p>"Yes, they all live there still, but the houses no longer belong to +them. The magistrate has bought one, the notary another, and Peter +Paprika a third. The original owners are only there as tenants, and now +they have put an execution in the houses."</p> + +<p>"And wherefore?"</p> + +<p>"For what was owing for tithes."</p> + +<p>"And is old Sajtós still there, who used to be so good to us boys when +we came home from school?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, you may see her any Sunday at the church door begging."</p> + +<p>"Sajtós begging? Why she was quite a well-to-do woman. What has happened +to her?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, the old story, 'bad times.' There are many more who have come to +beggary in the same way. Just go any Sunday morning past the door of the +Catholic church, where the beggars congregate, and you will see plenty +of your old acquaintances," said Marczi sorrowfully.</p> + +<p>"But what has brought them to it?"</p> + +<p>And Marczi told him many a sad record of oppression and misery that +wrung Ráby's heart as he listened.</p> + +<p>But now they had arrived at the lower town, where the ruins of the forty +houses burned out in the great fire still stood. The streets hereabouts +were nearly a morass and all but impassable.</p> + +<p>The men who were commencing to put the roofs on, greeted Ráby timidly, +as if half afraid, and they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> quickly drove indoors the women who stood +furtively about in the surrounding courts. Ráby's questions they only +answered with the greatest caution, fencing with his enquiries as to why +the work of restoration had been so long delayed. Marczi drew him away.</p> + +<p>"They will never tell you where the shoe pinches," he said, "whatever +bait you offer; they know too well what the end for them would be. You +would listen to their grievance and then retail it to the Emperor. He +would send to the town council to know why his subjects' wrongs were not +redressed? Thereupon the complainants would be arrested, get twenty +strokes with the lash, and the Kaiser would be told the grievances of +his subjects were amended. Oh, our people know better than to complain! +At no price would they confess why their houses are yet unfinished, or +how much of the compensation is still owing."</p> + +<p>"Surely their wrongs cry aloud to Heaven," said Ráby indignantly. "I +only wish I could get documentary evidence of it!"</p> + +<p>"Well, they won't give it to you, but if you really wish it, I could get +you many such testimonies by to-morrow, and bring them to your house."</p> + +<p>"And are you not afraid of the authorities being angry with you?"</p> + +<p>"I? What does their anger matter to me, I don't need them, but they +can't do without me. I've got them too much in my power. Listen, for you +are an honest man, to no other would I venture to say it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> One day they +summoned me to bring my masons' tools to the Town Hall. No sooner had I +arrived, than they bid me go to the secret passage with the notary, +which only he and I know of; the aperture was made during the Turkish +rule, and except the notary and the Rascian 'pope,' no one knows the +whereabouts. I had to wall up the opening."</p> + +<p>"So you know the entrance to the room which contains the secret +treasure?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, I know it; I have so managed it that no one save the +notary shall ever be able to find it again."</p> + +<p>"And would you be willing to take me to it?" Ráby ventured to ask.</p> + +<p>"No, for they have bound me by a terrible oath never, except at the +bidding of the notary, to break open the walled-up passage. What I have +sworn, I hold sacred, but this much will I say, that you can still +manage to get there."</p> + +<p>"Through the 'pope' who knows the other entrance, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Mark well, not through the first. It is as much as his life is worth to +betray that secret. But there is another way yet. If you can gain the +ear of the Emperor, persuade him to order the election of new +representatives in the council, then there would be neither the judge, +nor the notary, nor any at present in office to reckon with. If we get a +new notary, I could show him the secret passage without any difficulty, +since my oath compels me only to 'open it at the notary's bidding.'"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>"That is a good idea, Marczi, I will try and follow it out."</p> + +<p>"You too care for the rights of our poor oppressed folk. May the good +God reward you! But I will tell you where our greatest danger lies; it +is in the surveying of the land that the Emperor has ordered. The whole +work the surveyor performs is a sham. The best fields under his survey +become ownerless, and the municipality takes possession of them. The +common folk have to be satisfied with sterile, marshy waste land, and +the peasants have to sell their last cow, because they have no pasture +for it. Come with me a little way, and I will show you."</p> + +<p>So Ráby sauntered the livelong day with his old school-fellow through +the fields, and saw much. If the new surveying measures were taken, +four-fifths of the peasants' property was ruined, the remaining fifth +was devoured by their oppressors, and the owner became houseless and a +serf.</p> + +<p>Towards evening, Ráby turned homewards with an empty game-bag and a +heavy heart.</p> + +<p>His mood surely had not escaped Fruzsinka, for she welcomed him with +more than ordinary tenderness. She had prepared for his supper some of +his favourite dumplings, but somehow even these delicacies failed to +satisfy him, and he only wanted to go to bed.</p> + +<p>The next morning, Marczi was there quite early. He brought what he had +promised, a whole hoard of documents. Ráby took them into his study, and +was the whole day long deciphering them.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p><hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Marczi, meantime, went about his own business.</p> + +<p>As he came out towards the market-place, at the end of the long street, +he heard the tones of a bagpipe, and the strains of a violin fell on his +ear. But when he came up with the music, he saw what was going forward. +The recruiting officers were coming down the street.</p> + +<p>So the Emperor wanted soldiers, that was evident enough.</p> + +<p>And a right merry affair it was, this recruiting!</p> + +<p>They chose out from among the hussars the finest looking fellow, and he +was sent from town to town with a dozen comrades to enlist recruits.</p> + +<p>They played and sang some such song as this as they went:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0q">"Merry is the game we play,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">See, our uniforms so gay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the ensign that we bear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twas our sweethearts placed it there!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>They each carried a bottle of good wine in their hands, and every +citizen they met was promptly treated to a cup, till he noticed that +they wore the hussar uniform. But no human power, once he had tasted the +wine, could then free him, and he belonged thenceforth to the recruiting +sergeants.</p> + +<p>The recruiters reaped the best harvest in the market-place, where they +led a riotous dance. It was a regular Magyar measure, a wild, capricious +"Csardas," with a dash in it of defiant pride,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> every movement and +gesture suggesting reckless abandon. The clapping of hands, the clinking +of spurs, the stamping of feet, all helped towards it, and when the last +movement came, foot and heel vied with each other, as the tall figures +swayed hither and thither, with the sabre swinging jauntily at their +sides, and the "csákó" on their heads. No wonder that with a dozen such +warriors dancing in a row, the women's eyes sparkled as they watched, +and they beckoned to the tallest men in the crowd to come and join in.</p> + +<p>The recruiters had finished their dance, and were coming along the +street where Marczi was walking.</p> + +<p>In front was the recruiting-sergeant, and he seemed in a right merry +mood. Behind him came the piper, taking wild leaps and bounds as he +played an accompaniment to the dancers on his bagpipes; then followed +the rest, strutting along like peacocks, offering the bottle to all they +met.</p> + +<p>Marczi did not look at them; he was in too much of a hurry. But the +recruiting-sergeant stopped him.</p> + +<p>"Halloa, comrade, won't you stop for a word? Anyone would think you had +stolen something by the way you run."</p> + +<p>"I am in a hurry. I have a job I want to finish. You have done your +work, I see?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be a fool, man, we can only live once. Have a drink!"</p> + +<p>"The deuce take your drink. Don't you see that to-day I've carpentering +business on hand. It won't do for me to get giddy when I'm on the +ladder."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>"Well, a gulp of wine wouldn't do you any harm. You don't go any further +till you've had a swallow from my bottle, I tell you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, very well," and Marczi took the proffered drink.</p> + +<p>"Here's to our true friendship, comrade!" said the other as he followed +suit.</p> + +<p>Marczi was turning away, having thus gratified his interlocutor, when +the latter called him back.</p> + +<p>"Marczi, Marczi!" he called, "here's something for you. Here, hold out +your hand!"</p> + +<p>And the recruiting-sergeant pulled out a thaler from his coat-pocket, +and forced it into Marczi's hand, shaking it as he did so.</p> + +<p>This time the carpenter would have gone off in earnest, but the other +called him back in quite a peremptory tone.</p> + +<p>"Dacsó Marczi," he shouted, "you must stay, you can't go now. You have +drunk of the soldier's wine, and accepted the press-money, now there is +no drawing back, so off you march with the rest!"</p> + +<p>The carpenter stood dumbfoundered whilst they pressed an hussar's +"csákó" on his head. He felt for the handle of his saw in the belt of +his apron. For one instant he had a wild impulse to fall upon the +sergeant; but then he reflected, it was all his own fault. So he +resigned himself to his fate. What had he to regret, indeed, in leaving +this town? There was no one there who would weep for him. So he quietly +took off his apron.</p> + +<p>"If I am to be a soldier, let us see where the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> wine bottle is. Piper, +play my favourite song, 'A soldier's life for me!'"</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0q">"The Danube waters long shall flow<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Ere thou again my face shalt know."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Corporal, are you ready? Off we go, and walk and talk till +morning."</p> + +<p>And the newly-made soldier drank with the recruiters to his new +profession.</p> + +<p>On the morrow, the recruiting-sergeant went with the ex-carpenter to his +old home, so that he might arrange his affairs there before leaving. He +had an old aunt to whom he could safely entrust his belongings. Besides, +ten years after all, are not an eternity. They pass before one can look +round.</p> + +<p>The good old soul was busy tying up her nephew's bundle, when a +messenger appeared with an official air, and the order:</p> + +<p>"Dacsó Marczi, it is settled at head-quarters that the recruiters are to +stay a week here; during that time you are to stop here and not attempt +to go anywhere else; but you are to put your three horses to, and drive +to-day with relays to Pesth."</p> + +<p>Marczi was inclined to rebel, but it availed nothing.</p> + +<p>The sergeant only laughed.</p> + +<p>"It's no jest, Marczi. They reckon on you for the relays. A gulden for +every horse and each station, besides money for the driver, and for +drinks."</p> + +<p>"But why should I go with relays, when there are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> plenty of carriage +owners who have nothing better to do than to chatter with jackanapes?"</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow, this is why, so you shall not think we are getting the +best of you. You know that the surveyor has finished his work and is to +leave the town to-day. You know, too, how angry the mob are with him. +They will pelt him with stones. But if they see that you, whom they all +like, are the coachman, they won't do it for fear of hitting you."</p> + +<p>In half an hour from that time, a light carriage, drawn by three good +horses, stood at the gate of the prefect's residence, where the surveyor +was staying. On the box sat Dacsó Marczi himself. The orderlies carried +out the surveyor's documents, done up in large bundles, to lay them +under the leather covering of the back seat. The surveyor himself was +well guarded against the cold, having on a seasonable fur coat and warm +overshoes, while the lappets of his fur cap were fastened well under his +chin.</p> + +<p>"Now, Marczi, if you drive well, we'll drink to-day to any amount," he +cried.</p> + +<p>"Ay, that we will," agreed the driver as they dashed off.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Mathias Ráby was again pressed by his wife to go and get some shooting. +Perhaps he might be more lucky to-day, and bring home a hare.</p> + +<p>His spouse was all affection and anxiety. So he went.</p> + +<p>But the things Ráby had heard lately he could not get out of his head.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>Therefore he did not go far into the country, but turned back in the +direction of Pesth. There, he saw a mob of men, women, and children, who +all seemed to be waiting for someone.</p> + +<p>He would not ask for whom, for he knew they would not tell him.</p> + +<p>But hardly had Ráby gone a few hundred paces past them, than he noted a +carriage drawn by three horses, coming from the prefecture at a quick +gallop, whereupon the whole crowd of people, till now silent, burst +forth with loud cries, and placed themselves on either side of the road.</p> + +<p>The passenger inside the carriage he did not recognise; neither could he +make out what it was the mob were shouting to him. But their tone was +sufficiently menacing. As the equipage dashed between the rows of +people, the yells became still louder, whilst fists were raised and +sticks were brandished threateningly. The carriage did not stop, but +cleared the mob till it had left it far behind.</p> + +<p>When the carriage reached Ráby, he saw the surveyor cowering on the back +seat. Now he gathered what the people's cries had meant. But he did not +understand what it was till the carriage pulled up close to him, and he +recognised in the driver, Dacsó Marczi.</p> + +<p>"Your very humble servant," exclaimed the surveyor to Ráby. "Did you +hear the infernal row they made? That's the way they receive me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +everywhere. If Marczi had not been my coachman, I should have had stones +thrown at my head."</p> + +<p>"Your worship," cried Marczi, in a voice already thick with wine; "is +there still some brandy in the flask?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Marczi, here you are, drink!"</p> + +<p>The coachman took the bottle and emptied it.</p> + +<p>"Marczi, you will do yourself harm!" objected Ráby.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it," stammered the driver, whilst he set down the flask, +and with that he whipped up the horses, and off they flew, so that the +wheels scattered the mud on all sides.</p> + +<p>At one spot where the high road nears the Danube, a side-path winds in +the direction of the river towards the ferry. When Marczi's carriage had +reached this point, the coachman turned the horses and urged them with +the whip along the path. Then all at once the carriage dashed from the +steep bank into the river below.</p> + +<p>"Help, help!" yelled the driver, waving his hat; but horses and carriage +were already struggling against the strong tide of the river, now +swollen by its spring flood.</p> + +<p>But no help was forthcoming, and Ráby only saw a man muffled up in a fur +coat, struggling desperately to free himself from the sinking carriage, +but the heavy garment dragged him helplessly down. Soon the vehicle with +its passenger began to sink, and at last the horses' heads disappeared +in the stream. Coachman,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> surveyor, and documents all had gone to the +bottom of the Danube. Nor was any trace of them ever found.</p> + +<p>Mathias Ráby stood horror-stricken on the highway, while around him the +wintry wind swept over the stubble fields, and carried it with the sound +as of a howling of many voices that echoed afar off like the laughter of +despair.</p> + + +<p class="theend">END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + + +<p>This catastrophe was destined to affect Ráby's mood in a fateful way. +When he went home he told his wife all that had happened, and she +quickly guessed the sequel.</p> + +<p>"Now you will be more intent than ever on pursuing your mad enterprise," +she said.</p> + +<p>"And shall I let myself be shamed into abandoning it by the fate of an +ignorant boor, who, little idea as he had of the higher virtues, was +ready to sacrifice his life in order to save his fellow-citizens from +beggary?"</p> + +<p>"You will drive me to exasperation," cried Fruzsinka.</p> + +<p>"I would rather have your anger than your contempt, dearest."</p> + +<p>"And is our love nothing to you at all?"</p> + +<p>"Better that the whole world hate me for my determination, than to earn +your love through cowardice. I know that your very opposition to my work +is a proof of your love, and therefore, I pray you, my angel, Fruzsinka, +listen to me. If I leave this place, I shut every door to a future +career. It is now or never, I must go to Vienna. If I write and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> tell +the Emperor that the struggle is of no avail, he will dismiss me at once +from my post."</p> + +<p>But Fruzsinka answered nothing, she only wept.</p> + +<p>That meant of course that Ráby ought to have stayed at home, for only a +heart of stone could leave a weeping woman and refuse to comfort her. +But Mathias Ráby had just that heart of stone, and he was quite prepared +to leave his wife in tears, so to Vienna he went. For you could travel +there quickly enough, as there was a famous diligence which carried its +passengers in a day to the Austrian capital.</p> + +<p>Moreover, no one except Fruzsinka knew he had gone to Vienna.</p> + +<p>There he showed himself nowhere. He knew that the Emperor was accustomed +to walk every morning in the so-called "meadow garden," where, clad in a +simple short coat and plain hat, he was often taken for one of his own +equerries. There Ráby could speak to him, and tell him how matters stood +in Hungary.</p> + +<p>The Kaiser commended what Ráby had already done and encouraged him to go +on and prosper. He gave him every aid in his power to help him, +including a special pass, wherein all to whom he showed it, were adjured +to respect the bearer's person. But he advised Ráby only to show this +letter in a case of extreme necessity, and begged him not to tell anyone +of the interview he had just had.</p> + +<p>Then Ráby hastened homewards, feeling he had ordered his affairs for the +best.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>On the return journey he arranged to reach Pesth in time to attend the +meeting of the County Assembly.</p> + +<p>First, he proceeded to the Assembly House to look out certain documents.</p> + +<p>The first person he met was the pronotary, Tárhalmy.</p> + +<p>Tárhalmy was more friendly, yet more gruff than ever. He called Ráby +into his room, and when they were alone, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"You come at the right time, my friend, for we have already cited you as +a 'runaway noble,' as the legal phrase has it."</p> + +<p>"Cited me! What in the world for, I should like to know?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my friend, you are impeached. And guess wherefore! They say you +are Gyöngyöm Miska himself, and actually dare to accuse you of robbing +the Jew Rotheisel three days ago in the Styrian forest."</p> + +<p>Ráby hardly knew whether to laugh or to be indignant at such a charge.</p> + +<p>"But surely that is a very poor joke!" he protested.</p> + +<p>"I quite agree that it is. But they have only just brought the +accusation, and you can easily get out of it by proving an <i>alibi</i>."</p> + +<p>Ráby reddened in spite of himself.</p> + +<p>"But I cannot lower myself so far as to disprove so preposterous an +allegation," he said. "Besides, you have only to call Abraham Rotheisel +to give testimony that it was not I who robbed him. I shall prove no +<i>alibi</i>."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>"My dear fellow, I know you won't. Simply, because you won't own up to +where you have been for three days past, and the person who could prove +your <i>alibi</i> could not be called as a witness. I shall not be the judge: +you know that the chief notary only acts as referee of the tribunal in +such cases. You will naturally never confess where you have been these +last three days. But there are people who want to know, and that is the +serious side of the jest."</p> + +<p>"Rotheisel will be quite ready to disprove it; he knows me well enough."</p> + +<p>"I know it. But the testimony of a Jew only counts in our law when he is +sworn."</p> + +<p>"Won't Rotheisel swear?"</p> + +<p>"I am not so sure. The Jew very rarely takes an oath if he can help it. +The Talmud makes it very difficult for him. But you can depend upon it, +Abraham Rotheisel will be as anxious as possible to clear you from such +an absurd accusation, directly he hears of it."</p> + +<p>"He is a good kind of man," said Ráby, "and I am certain that he will +swear."</p> + +<p>"I hope he may. But anyhow, it will be decided to-day, as the tribunal +is sitting even now."</p> + +<p>"And shall I have to stand in the dock?" said Ráby anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am afraid you must. So I advise you to stay here and see the +business through."</p> + +<p>"With your permission I will first write a letter."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>"Pardon me, dear friend, but in this room you may neither write nor +despatch a letter."</p> + +<p>"Am I then a prisoner already?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly, but you are accused, so that I cannot officially be a +party to any correspondence you carry on. Meanwhile, I would suggest you +just go upstairs to my own private rooms, where you will find my +daughter who will give you pen, ink, and paper, wherewith to write; +moreover, she will gladly carry it to the post herself. Then, seeing +that the business will be prolonged till evening, you will, I hope, +share our homely dinner with us."</p> + +<p>A blow in the face could hardly have hurt Ráby more than this kindly +proposal. For would it not mean meeting Mariska again?</p> + +<p>But Ráby had a ready excuse for not accepting Tárhalmy's hospitable +offer.</p> + +<p>"I am grateful indeed for your kind invitation, but I am being strictly +dieted just now for a nervous complaint, and hardly dare eat anything +but dry bread."</p> + +<p>"Nervous complaint, eh? Why, what does that mean?"</p> + +<p>"Well, for one thing, I cannot sleep at night."</p> + +<p>Tárhalmy was just going to give him some good advice, when the tension +was broken by the entry of a heyduke coming to announce the arrival of +the Jew, who had to be carried in a litter to the court, as he was still +weak from the wounds he had received, and could not stand.</p> + +<p>At the announcement that Abraham was ready to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> give his testimony on +oath, the tribunal formally cited the defendant to appear before them.</p> + +<p>Ráby recognised a good many of his acquaintances sitting round the +table. The tribunal was presided over by Mr. von Laskóy, whose usually +merry mood had become serious for awhile. He asked the parties +implicated their creed and calling, and all the customary questions.</p> + +<p>Then a young man, in whom Ráby recognised an old school-fellow, rose, +and read out the formal indictment in which Mr. Mathias Ráby of Rába and +Mura, gentleman, and an inhabitant of Szent-Endre, was accused of +disguising himself as a highwayman named Gyöngyöm Miska, and of robbing +peaceable travellers. How on a particular day he had waylaid the Jew, +Abraham Rothesel <i>alias</i> Rotheisel, in the Styrian wood, had stunned him +with a blow on the head, and had stolen from him the sum of five +thousand gulden. The proof whereof being that whilst the said Mathias +Ráby was in the neighbourhood without anyone knowing his exact +whereabouts, the depredations of the redoubtable robber had been going +on. Moreover, it was known to all, that, though Mathias Ráby had +inherited no great wealth from his parents, he had, nevertheless, +scattered money lavishly on all sides—which fact greatly strengthened +suspicion against him. But the most convincing testimony of all would be +furnished by the Jew's own driver, who would swear to the identity of +the accused with Gyöngyöm Miska. The prosecutors now asked for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> the +witnesses to be sworn, and demanded that the said Mathias Ráby, if +convicted, might be hanged, or if his rank forbade that, beheaded.</p> + +<p>The reading of this impeachment was received by all present with the +seriousness befitting the situation. The president then turned to Ráby.</p> + +<p>"Will the accused deny this impeachment by proving an <i>alibi</i>?"</p> + +<p>"I abstain from making such a defence," answered Ráby, "and only ask to +be confronted with my accuser."</p> + +<p>The first witness for the prosecution stepped forward in the person of +the coachman, whose appearance betokened him to be a rogue of the first +water, and obviously ready to swear to anything, provided he were well +paid for it.</p> + +<p>According to the customary formula, he was questioned as to his +antecedents, and owned up unconcernedly to having himself been nine +times in prison.</p> + +<p>When asked if he recognised in Ráby the robber who had waylaid the Jew +Rotheisel, he answered promptly:</p> + +<p>"Recognise him again, I should just think so! There can be no question +of their not being one and the same. Only then he happened to be wearing +a black wig, and a curly moustache, with a peasant's cloak over his +shoulder. But I knew it was Mr. Ráby directly I heard his voice."</p> + +<p>Ráby, addressing the court, now spoke in Latin, knowing that the +peasants were ignorant of that language,</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>"I protest against the evidence of this witness; I know him for the +coachman who drove the official who came to bribe me. This witness +therefore is not impartial."</p> + +<p>The prosecutor replied that this could not be proven, but Ráby +interrupted him whilst he turned to the witness and said to him in +Magyar,</p> + +<p>"Pray how could you have recognised my voice since I have never spoken +to you in all my life?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, does not the worshipful gentleman remember that I drove Mr. Paprika +into his courtyard in the new coach and four. The gentleman talked so +loudly then, that the deafest man must have heard him."</p> + +<p>And thereby the case against Ráby fell to the ground.</p> + +<p>It must in fairness be admitted that on this, as on later occasions, +many upright and honourable men sat in the jury who were quite ready to +take Ráby's part, though they were in a minority. One such here +protested against such a witness being heard on oath, and the coachman +was consequently discharged.</p> + +<p>Now, however, old Abraham, supported by his two sons, entered the room, +his head still bound up on account of his wound, his legs trembling +visibly under him.</p> + +<p>"Abraham Rotheisel," said the president, "tell us plainly, how was the +attack on you made?"</p> + +<p>"I tell nothing of the kind," retorted the Jew. "I have not come here to +lay a complaint. Gyöngyöm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> Miska is not here. You have summoned me +simply to bear witness that it was not Mr. Ráby who robbed me, and that +I willingly do."</p> + +<p>"Think of what you are doing, Abraham! It was dark, you could not see +your assailant's face, remember."</p> + +<p>"Ay, if it had been but Egyptian darkness, and if I had been as blind as +Tobit, nay, if the highwayman and Mr. Ráby had been as like to one +another as two peas, yet I will swear it was not Mathias Ráby, whom I +have known from his childhood, ever since he was a baby. Moreover, +neither his face nor figure resembled in the least those of the man who +robbed me."</p> + +<p>Here the Jew was questioned as to his assailant's appearance, but +persisted that in no wise did the robber resemble Ráby. The "worshipful +gentleman" who robbed him was, he said, very different looking.</p> + +<p>"Why do you call him a 'worshipful gentleman,'" asked the president.</p> + +<p>"How do I know he might not have been one? I have seen highwaymen and +gentlemen very much alike indeed," answered the Jew, "and in time may +see still more. But I keep my convictions to myself."</p> + +<p>Ráby's counsel here observed that one witness contradicted another, and +thus tended to invalidate the evidence.</p> + +<p>"Naturally," returned Laskóy, "only kindly remember that according to +our laws, the testimony of a Jew against that of a Christian can only be +accepted on oath."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>At the sound of the word "oath," Abraham's two sons began to tear their +garments, and throwing themselves at the feet of the magistrate, they +implored him not to allow their father to be sworn, as it was contrary +to the Talmud.</p> + +<p>"I fear I cannot help you in this matter," answered Laskóy. "I must +carry out the law regarding Jews witnessing against Christians. If you +would free your father from the need of swearing, you must ask Mr. Ráby; +one word from him obviates the necessity of an oath. He has only to +prove an <i>alibi</i>, and the case is immediately dismissed."</p> + +<p>Whereupon the two young Jews dashed across to Ráby, fell on their knees +before him, and begged and implored him with might and main, to set up +this <i>alibi</i>—it was only a matter of speaking one word.</p> + +<p>But old Abraham flew into a mighty rage.</p> + +<p>"Get up both of you, and be off directly, and leave a brave man in +peace. Who called you to come hither, running after me as the foals +after the mare? Hold your miserable cackle, and away with you! Be kind +enough, Mr. heyduke, to turn these two noisy fellows out of the court. +Go home at once, you boys, I don't need your support, or your teaching +in this matter. And I beg pardon, gentlemen, for the behaviour of these +two good-for-nothings. Now I am ready to be sworn."</p> + +<p>So after the two young Jews had been turned out, Abraham was sworn, +though he took the oath<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> in Hebrew, so that none present could follow +the formula.</p> + +<p>When it was over, Abraham prepared to leave the court, for Mathias Ráby +was free. This time at least had he escaped the dungeon his enemies had +prepared for him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + + +<p>Ráby could hardly bear the delay in getting home. When the open verdict +was pronounced, a coach was already at the door of the Assembly House, +to bear him on his way: he threw himself into it, while the sparks flew +under the swift hoofs of his horses.</p> + +<p>Szent-Endre was not, after all, the other side of the world, but the +distance seemed endless. On the way, he racked his brains as to how he +would find Fruzsinka. Yet he could not have possibly dreamed of what his +actual home-coming would be.</p> + +<p>As he sprang from the vehicle, to knock at his house-door, he found the +summons of the court nailed under the knocker, with all the +misdemeanours and crimes whereof he had been falsely accused before the +tribunal, set forth at length. As is well known, these kind of summonses +were fixed to the house-door, were there no means of presenting them to +the person cited.</p> + +<p>Rage drove every other thought from Ráby's mind when he found this +disgraceful document fluttering over his door. He tore it down +indignantly, and beat with hand and foot at the entrance to gain +admission.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>Poor Böske, the maid-servant, at last opened it, looking white and +frightened. "Why had they allowed this thing to be fastened to the +door," he inquired angrily.</p> + +<p>"I humbly beg pardon," stammered the girl, "the gentleman who brought it +nailed it there with a hammer, and said if I tore it down I should be +hanged."</p> + +<p>"Why did your mistress not do it?"</p> + +<p>"The gracious lady-mistress?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my wife, where is she then?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, my dear kind master, how shall I tell you? Please don't kill me for +it! The gracious lady-mistress has left home."</p> + +<p>"Stuff and nonsense! She has only probably gone to pay a visit."</p> + +<p>"Ah, no indeed, she has not done that, she has, oh how shall I say it, +run away. The very day the gracious master went, the lady-mistress wrote +a letter and gave it to the gipsy Csicsa to carry. She did not wait for +an answer, but packed up, called a coach, loaded it with her luggage, +and drove off without saying a word about the dinner."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps she has gone to her uncle's at the prefecture?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, she went in the other direction; I watched her from the +street-door down the road, as far as I could see."</p> + +<p>Ráby went into the parlour. The girl had spoken the truth, that was +evident. All the chests stood open; Fruzsinka had packed up all her own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +belongings when she went; she had not even left a single souvenir +behind.</p> + +<p>Ráby was completely nonplussed; it was indeed a horrible situation for a +man who hastens home on the wings of love to find his house destitute of +all that made it home for him. He could think of nothing better than to +seek out his uncle, the old postmaster, from whom, since his marriage, +he had been somewhat estranged.</p> + +<p>Ráby entered the old man's room without speaking a word, where he sat +down and stretched out his legs in gloomy silence. He shrewdly suspected +that his host knew what had happened, and why he was there. How should +he not, considering everyone in Szent-Endre knew by this time. The old +gentleman shrugged first one, and then the other shoulder expressively, +whilst he coughed and cleared his throat in visible embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"H'm, h'm!" he said, significantly, "these fashionable ladies have not +much feeling. Besides, you can never take them seriously. Therefore you +must not let the grass grow under your feet."</p> + +<p>"If I did but know where she has gone to?" sighed Ráby.</p> + +<p>"Now just wait! I fancy I can help you to find out. For two days past a +letter has been lying here addressed to your wife. There—take it and +read it." And he handed Ráby a sealed missive.</p> + +<p>"I, how can I open a letter which is directed to my wife?" he asked +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, why not? Are not man and wife<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> according to the Hungarian +law one flesh? A letter addressed for the one can legally be opened by +the other, and I would do it, if I incurred the galleys for it, my +friend, if I were in your place. Just read it, and I will be the +guarantee that I delivered it into your hands."</p> + +<p>Ráby opened the note with trembling fingers.</p> + +<p>It was in the handwriting of the judge, Petray, and though short, was +quite intelligible.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"My darling Fruzsinka,</p> + +<p>"From your own letter I see that you find it +impossible to put up with your tyrant any longer. I +thought as much long since. You do quite right in +leaving him, and the sooner you get away from him the +better; the man will come to no good. My house, as you +know, will ever be a safe asylum for you. I await you +with open arms.</p> + +<p class="sig1">"Your devoted friend,</p> + +<p class="sig2">"Petray."</p></div> + +<p>Ráby's eyes were no longer glazed and staring as heretofore; they shot +sparks now.</p> + +<p>"Read it, my friend," he said, as he handed it to Mr. Leányfalvy.</p> + +<p>"Well, at any rate, now you know where you are."</p> + +<p>"Know it, indeed I do," answered Ráby, as he grimly folded up the note, +and placed it in his coat pocket.</p> + +<p>"And pray what do you mean to do?"</p> + +<p>"First, I would have a four-horse coach."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>"You shall have it sure enough. And then——?"</p> + +<p>"Then I'll go home and fetch my pistols and sword; look for a second, +and then—either he or I are dead men."</p> + +<p>"That's it! It's the only way. Only see to it that you think it out +accurately. Suppose your opponent wants to fight with swords? Perhaps +he's an out-and-out swordsman."</p> + +<p>"What does that matter? The sword will satisfy equally the duelling +regulations, and will merely prove which of us can fence the better."</p> + +<p>"Good! But take this much warning. The judge is a very cunning man; you +will have to be on your guard. Be careful not to be the first to draw +the sword, else he'll be hanging round your neck an attainder in +pursuance of an antiquated law which rules that 'he who first draws the +sword shall be held to incur blood-guiltiness.'"</p> + +<p>"Many thanks, I'll remember your good advice."</p> + +<p>"Ah! if you had always done so! Yet I am right glad that you don't look +askance at me any longer. You are another man since you made up your +mind to fight! How a wife demoralises a man to be sure! There is nothing +wanting now, except a sword and a pair of pistols. You need not go home +for those. I have a rare old blade which was used at the storming of +Buda, and will cut through iron itself; it is worth a good deal more +than your parade-sword. And here are my pistols, each is loaded with +three bullets; if you understand what shooting straight means, you can +kill three enemies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> at once. So good luck, my young friend, I am glad +you are going."</p> + +<p>The old gentleman embraced his nephew as if he were going to face the +enemy, and had his best horses put in for him, and they brought Ráby to +the judge's house in less than an hour.</p> + +<p>The uninvited guest just caught the judge going out.</p> + +<p>"Come back with me to the house," said his visitor, "I want to have a +word with you."</p> + +<p>Petray guessed from the speaker's tone that it was on no friendly +business that he had come, though he affected not to perceive it, and +treated Ráby with his accustomed familiarity.</p> + +<p>When they had come into Petray's parlour, Ráby drew the letter out of +his pocket and held it before his host's face.</p> + +<p>"Do you recognise this writing?"</p> + +<p>Petray drew himself up.</p> + +<p>"What presumption is this, pray? To open a letter directed to someone +else, it is unheard of!"</p> + +<p>"It is perfectly legal," said Ráby. "Your protest is useless. In the +eyes of the law, a letter written to my wife is a letter written to me."</p> + +<p>"It is, I say, a great piece of presumption, to attack a man like this +in his own house."</p> + +<p>"You need not make such a noise! You may see I carry pistols in my +belt." Then adopting a more familiar tone, Ráby added, "It comes to +this, either you take one of these two pistols, and we fire according to +the prescribed rules, or if you refuse me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> the satisfaction of a man of +honour, I shoot you dead without further ado, as I would a wolf who +attacks me on the highway."</p> + +<p>The cowardly bully grew pale with fear. To look at him, you would have +deemed him a powerful foe to be reckoned with, but he was a very coward +at heart, like the braggart that he was.</p> + +<p>"All right, I'm not afraid of you, or of anybody else, for that matter. +But all this is idle talk! A gentleman does not fight with pistols. That +kind of duel exacts no skill. A schoolboy can fire off a pistol. I only +fight with swords; so with my sword I am at your service to have it out +in proper fashion. Out with yours, and we'll see who is the best man of +the two."</p> + +<p>"Very well, with swords, so be it," said Ráby quietly, replacing his +pistols again in his belt.</p> + +<p>"And now you had better make your will, for you don't leave this place +alive."</p> + +<p>"That our weapons will decide. I have nothing further to say," answered +Ráby.</p> + +<p>"So, you will venture to draw your sword on me, will you, you silly +fellow?"</p> + +<p>"With you, or after you. I would not have it said that I drew my sword +on an unarmed man," answered his antagonist.</p> + +<p>"Don't provoke me, Ráby! I tell you we will have it out here."</p> + +<p>"Well, draw then!"</p> + +<p>Petray thus urged, endeavoured to draw his sword in earnest from his +belt, but that otherwise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> excellent weapon had never been used since the +last Prussian war, and stuck so fast in its sheath that the most +powerful tugs quite failed to move it.</p> + +<p>Come out it would not. Mr. Petray pulled and tugged to no avail; the +blade would not yield an inch.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens," cried Ráby impatiently, "hand it over to me, I will make +it come out."</p> + +<p>And hereupon the two opponents pulled away with might and main at the +refractory weapon; Ráby seizing the sheath, and Petray the handle, +indulged in a very tug-of-war, but to no purpose; the sword stuck where +it was, and did not budge, while the two adversaries were bathed in +perspiration with their unavailing efforts.</p> + +<p>Had anyone ever seen such an absurd struggle?</p> + +<p>Petray was foaming with rage.</p> + +<p>"Deuce take the thing! If you want to come to grips, let's fight it out +with our fists! There I can be sure of my resources. I'll smash you up, +I promise you, so there won't be anything left of you."</p> + +<p>"All right," retorted Ráby, and lifting up the sleeve of his dolman, he +put himself into a boxer's attitude, and struck Petray two ringing blows +with his bare muscular arm, that sent his opponent fairly reeling from +sheer astonishment.</p> + +<p>Now the judge set great store by his appearance. He therefore reflected +that by such methods as these, his enraged antagonist might end in +breaking his nose, or knocking out his teeth, and these were both +contingencies to be avoided.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>"Ah, leave me in peace," he cried piteously. "I am no boxer, I am a +judge, a man of the law. If you have anything to bring against me, let +it be at the tribunal, I'll meet you there fast enough. But I will +neither fence, nor shoot, nor box on your wife's account. If you think I +am the first whom your wife has fooled, I am not, by a long way. If you +want to fight, look up Captain Lievenkopp—he lives out yonder at +Zsámbék. You have a bigger score to settle with him than with me, if you +did but know it. He's ready for either swords or pistols. As judge, it's +my duty to hinder a fight, not to promote it by myself taking part in +one. Go to the tribunal, and I'll give you satisfaction there fast +enough."</p> + +<p>He spoke rapidly, but Ráby did not wait to hear the end. He clapped his +hat on, and jumped into his coach, and cried to the driver to drive to +Zsámbék.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + + +<p>Ráby only reached Zsámbék the next morning. The dragoon-captain's house +he found without any difficulty, for it stood close to the post-station.</p> + +<p>There were two other officers with the captain, and three horses stood +ready saddled in the courtyard. They were evidently on the point of +starting for some expedition, though there was no sign of soldiers going +with them.</p> + +<p>"Aha, who is this?" cried Lievenkopp as Ráby entered. "Why, bless me, +it's Mathias Ráby!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, captain. Perhaps you can guess my errand here?"</p> + +<p>"Truly, I cannot do any such thing."</p> + +<p>"Well, my wife has run away from me."</p> + +<p>"The deuce she has! What already? I did not think she would have gone +quite so soon."</p> + +<p>"I went first of all to Judge Petray to demand satisfaction of him. He +would not give it me, but referred me to you."</p> + +<p>"That was very kind of him."</p> + +<p>"Now you know why I come."</p> + +<p>"I know it, comrade, you want to fight me, sure enough? Very good; just +choose one of these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> gentlemen as your second, and we will decide with +him on the weapons. Only one thing delays our immediate meeting, and +that is, I have to fight Gyöngyöm Miska."</p> + +<p>Ráby was electrified as he heard the name.</p> + +<p>"Can't you leave him till later? You will never succeed in catching +him."</p> + +<p>"Aha, I've got him this time though; I am going at this very hour to +fight a duel with him."</p> + +<p>"Do you know who this Gyöngyöm Miska really is?" asked Ráby.</p> + +<p>"Why he lives at Szent-Torony, two hours' journey from here, where he +owns an estate, and is called Karcsatáji Miska. He is the notorious +robber, and no other. This is why he is never to be caught red-handed. +When he is everywhere driven into a corner, he goes quietly back home, +throws off the highwayman's gear, and whoever seeks him there, finds +instead of the fierce robber with lank locks and drooping moustaches, a +harmless country gentleman, with his powdered hair done in a neat cue, +whom twelve witnesses can swear to not having left home for weeks. No +one will ever succeed in convicting him. But this once I've caught my +gentleman nicely. Listen to how I did it. This very day when we had +planned our attack upon the band of Gyöngyöm Miska, we observed a +suspicious-looking fellow trying to get in between our railings. We +arrested him, searched him, and found sewn into the sole of his sandal, +this letter to Mr. Michael<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> Karcsatáji. You probably will know the +handwriting."</p> + +<p>Ráby recognised the writing of his wife.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you can read it, you will understand it better than we do."</p> + +<p>The letter ran thus:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Dear Miska,—Don't have any scruples about the affair +in the Styrian wood. The whole suspicion falls on +someone who will not be able to prove an <i>alibi</i>. +Thine own one."</p></div> + +<p>Ráby's arms fell helplessly at his side. It was as if he had suddenly +been stung by a cobra.</p> + +<p>His own wife was the traitor who had betrayed him to his enemies! A +dagger-thrust in the dark does not hurt one so much as such a discovery.</p> + +<p>Ráby distrusted his senses; he would not, could not believe it; he +thought he must be dreaming.</p> + +<p>"Sit down, comrade," said the captain. "You are a bit upset, and small +wonder too. The bolt didn't strike me quite so nearly, yet I too was +fairly staggered when I read the letter. Then I called up my two +comrades here, and sent my challenge over to Szent-Torony, where Mr. +Michael von Karcsatáji was in the courtyard, engaged in marking his +newly born lambs. In such a harmless fashion is he wont to spend his +leisure! My second presented him with my message: 'This letter which we +have intercepted proves that you have an intrigue with a lady to whom +Captain Lievenkopp is also paying court.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> Captain Lievenkopp will not +tolerate this sort of thing, and calls upon you to meet him to-morrow at +nine o'clock, by the ruined church of Zsámbék, to settle the matter +there in proper fashion.'</p> + +<p>"The highwayman did not deny that between us there lay ground for +quarrel, and he would be at the rendezvous at the time appointed. It is +now eight o'clock. We can get to the ruins in half an hour, and there +await my opponent. You, my friend, can remain here in my lodgings for an +hour longer, and follow on after us. From nine to ten I am at Mr. +Karcsatáji's service. As soon as I have finished with him, we two will +fire at each other till only one of us remains to tell the tale. But if +the highwayman kill me, then you and Karcsatáji will fight till one or +the other is a dead man. Is that in order?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly," cried the seconds; "it could not be better arranged!"</p> + +<p>Ráby had nothing against this settlement. When the captain had gone he +stretched himself on his host's camp-bed, and was fast asleep in a few +minutes, completely exhausted by his recent experiences.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>The Zsámbék ruins are a remarkable relic of the Gothic period. The nave +of the church, thickly over-grown by juniper-bushes, is an admirable +place for a duel, where two men, unseen by any outsider, can fire at one +another to their hearts' content.</p> + +<p>The officers tethered their steeds to a birch stem, and withdrew inside +the ruins so that their presence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> should not be remarked by the people +working in the fields.</p> + +<p>Meantime, Ráby had awakened and was making his way to the ruins. Nor did +he need a guide, for they had been well known to him since his boyhood.</p> + +<p>It was yet half an hour to the promised rendezvous, so he just wandered +round through the brushwood, which surrounded the church, listening for +shots. Perhaps the masonry dulled the sound, but surely he would see the +smoke, yet he could neither see nor hear anything.</p> + +<p>At last the remaining five minutes were up, and he strode into the +ruins. So well had he calculated time and distance, that the hand of his +watch pointed close on ten, as he pushed aside the juniper-bushes which +hid the entrance to the ruins, and went in.</p> + +<p>"Karcsatáji has not yet appeared," said Lievenkopp. "Punctuality is not +his strong point."</p> + +<p>"I fancy he doesn't mean to come."</p> + +<p>"Surely that is not thinkable! In that case we will just go for him in +his own house."</p> + +<p>"Now, meantime, what do you propose doing?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I think that we might get on with our own business and not wait +for him. By delay he has lost his right of precedence, and must take the +second place. I propose, gentlemen, therefore, that we take the second +appointment first."</p> + +<p>After a short discussion, the seconds agreed, and since the nature of +the quarrel barred all idea of reconciliation, they staked out the +barriers, and placed the opponents against the two opposite walls.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>The weapons which the seconds handed to them, were a pair of rough old +riding pistols, which were so constructed that the bullets fired into a +group of ten men, would have probably perforated the cloak of one of the +party, provided he had one on. The combatants shot at first at +five-and-twenty paces; they were honestly bent on hitting one another, +yet neither succeeded. At the second attempt they took aim at twenty +paces, again without result.</p> + +<p>"Wretched weapons, these pistols!" growled the captain, "if I haven't +brought down the vulture's nest in that wild pear-tree."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps mine are better," suggested Ráby. "My uncle Leányfalvy gave +them to me, and they are already loaded."</p> + +<p>So the seconds accepted Ráby's weapons. One of them remarked, however, +that the pistols were loaded to the muzzle, so that both of them, in +this case, would do well to stand behind a pillar, seeing if one +exploded, they would all be dead men, combatants and seconds alike.</p> + +<p>"It's quite safe," said Ráby, "the powder is good, and the charge is not +too strong; there are only three bullets in each charge."</p> + +<p>"Now then, fire! One, two, three."</p> + +<p>At "three" Ráby's pistols cracked.</p> + +<p>Pistols loaded with three bullets have very often this peculiarity of +not hitting the man they are fired at.</p> + +<p>After the two first terrible detonations everyone looked round extremely +amazed that he and the rest were still alive.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>"Re-load your pistols," cried one of the seconds, and they did so. But +when they were ready, an idea struck the other second.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, you have fired three times, and such being the case, honour +is entirely satisfied. It is my duty to suggest a reconciliation."</p> + +<p>The two antagonists looked at each other.</p> + +<p>Was it worth while to fight to the death over this matter? So without +more ado, they shook each other by the hand, and were friends.</p> + +<p>Now it would be Gyöngyöm Miska's turn, and he would have to reckon with +two adversaries instead of one.</p> + +<p>So they waited on; yet he came not. What could be the reasons of his +delay? Had a wheel come off? Could he not find the ruins?</p> + +<p>But these were a landmark, and even if he had gone astray, he must have +heard the shots.</p> + +<p>"He surely cannot be a coward," muttered Ráby between his teeth, for his +national pride was piqued by sundry contemptuous remarks the Austrian +officers began to let fall.</p> + +<p>At last they heard the trotting of horses' hoofs. He was coming then!</p> + +<p>The men rose from the sward whereon they had been lying, and listened +expectantly.</p> + +<p>The trotting stopped at the ruined wall, and it was obvious that it +belonged to one horse only.</p> + +<p>Was it possible he would come alone, without seconds, thinking to find +them here in the village?</p> + +<p>After awhile there was the sound as of several<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> horses' hoofs, but these +seemed as if they were going away, rather than nearing the ruins.</p> + +<p>"Friends," shouted Lievenkopp, "someone is stealing our horses!"</p> + +<p>And all four dashed out of the ruins.</p> + +<p>The captain had guessed rightly, their horses had been stolen.</p> + +<p>And the thief was Gyöngyöm Miska himself, who, mounted on his own fiery +courser, was driving before him the officers' three horses tethered +together by their bridles.</p> + +<p>"Stop you scoundrel," cried the captain and Ráby in unison.</p> + +<p>But he evidently had not the intention to run away. Fifty paces ahead he +pulled up and let his horse caracole.</p> + +<p>His two grim adversaries subjected him now to a cross fire, for each of +them had two pistols. First on one side, and then from the other they +fired, but not one of the shots so much as grazed the robber, for his +horse pranced about and turned round and round in such a bewildering way +while his master was being aimed at, that all four shots missed their +mark.</p> + +<p>When the firing ceased the horse remained standing at a sound from his +rider, as if cast in bronze.</p> + +<p>Then Gyöngyöm Miska, raising his musket with one hand to his face, took +aim at both, and one bullet whistled through the captain's helmet and +the other sent Ráby's cap flying from his head. Where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>upon the +highwayman raised his tufted hat and cried, "So fights Gyöngyöm Miska!"</p> + +<p>And with that he switched his whip, cracking it right and left over the +tethered horses, and galloped away with his prey.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + + +<p>When Mathias Ráby recounted this story to his uncle, the old gentleman +declared he had never read or heard any stranger. Then they had a +consultation as to what was to be done. It was evident that it was a +matter for a lawsuit.</p> + +<p>The ancient laws against a breach of the marriage vow were very +stringent; and even allowed a husband to put to death an unfaithful +wife. But Mathias Ráby found no consolation in such statutes. He did not +want to lose the woman still so dear to him for all the grievous injury +she had done him, and he was even ready to take her back again, and to +pardon her threefold treachery.</p> + +<p>"By the law," said his uncle, interrupting Ráby's meditations, "a wife +who runs away from her husband shall be restored to him. Now if there be +such a thing as justice on this earth of ours, you shall get her back. +But what are we to do with the seducer, Petray?"</p> + +<p>"We can accuse him on the ground of seduction." And the old gentleman +proceeded to quote to Ráby a law dating from the year 1522 which +provided for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> the decapitation of such misdemeanants. So it was plain +that Ráby might obtain the condemnation of Petray, and succeed in having +Fruzsinka restored to him. But the legal proceedings were very +complicated, and it was difficult to determine to which court the case +should be taken.</p> + +<p>At last they came to the conclusion it would be wise to carry it before +the higher court, since it was a question of a capital crime, though +much care would have to be exercised in quoting the law under which they +prosecuted, as the least difference in the wording might upset their +case.</p> + +<p>When the eventful day arrived for instituting the suit before the higher +court, Ráby was punctually in his place. Petray was also present, but +Fruzsinka was only represented by counsel.</p> + +<p>Ráby determined he would have no mercy on Petray. If the severe +Hungarian law prescribed that the man who seduced the wife of another +should lose his head, it should be satisfied.</p> + +<p>Petray, the defendant, heard the impeachment out to the end, without +once turning pale. He followed with his defence.</p> + +<p>He began by quoting old formularies and attacking certain technical +defects in the indictment, which, he maintained, should have been +carried to the spiritual consistory, as the tribunal for matrimonial +disputes. Also he maintained that the action of the plaintiff was not +valid, seeing that he demanded the restitution of his runaway wife, and +the punishment of the man who had given her an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> asylum, yet was himself +open to the charge of bigamy, since he now had three wives alive.</p> + +<p>"What in the world do you mean?" cried Ráby indignantly.</p> + +<p>"That you were already twice married before you took Fräulein Fruzsinka +to wife."</p> + +<p>"I twice married!" exclaimed Ráby. "What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"That they are still alive," answered Petray with a perfectly serious +face. "They both are here," he added, "and I beg that they may be +confronted with Mr. Ráby."</p> + +<p>"Well, I should like to see them."</p> + +<p>And thereupon through a side door they admitted two women into the +court. One was a pretty young Rascian in her picturesque national +costume, the other was a coquettishly clad peasant from the Alföld, of +imposingly tall stature. They were each cited by name, though Ráby had +never heard either before.</p> + +<p>"So these are my wives, are they?" he cried, half amused, half angry.</p> + +<p>"They are indeed," answered Petray unabashed, "and pray do not attempt +to deny it, for they are both ready to prove it."</p> + +<p>"Why, when have either of you ever seen me before?" demanded Ráby +sternly of the two women.</p> + +<p>The little Rascian was obviously ashamed of herself, for though the +paint on her cheeks effectually hid her blushes, she buried her face in +her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> handkerchief to suppress her confusion. But her companion was not +so easily daunted. Her arms akimbo, she placed herself in front of Ráby +and began to abuse him roundly.</p> + +<p>"So you mean to say you don't remember me, do you, my fine sir?" And she +forthwith began a string of voluble reminiscences which Ráby in vain +strove to stem, beside himself with indignation, but he could not get in +a word edgeways.</p> + +<p>At last the judge intervened. Till then he had contented himself with +pulling his moustache the better to control his ill-suppressed +amusement.</p> + +<p>"That will do, woman, we have had enough of your tongue. We must have +documentary evidence. Have the parties marriage-certificates to +produce?"</p> + +<p>The little Rascian drew out the desired document from her pocket, whilst +the rival claimant in great haste dived into a huge bag she carried, and +produced the certificate wrapped up in a coloured handkerchief.</p> + +<p>They were to all appearances genuine enough. One was drawn up by the +registrar at Szent-Pál, the other dated from the commune of Belovacz on +the military frontier. Both documents were countersigned by the parish +priests, and bore the official seal of the ecclesiastical authorities.</p> + +<p>"But I have never in my life even been in the neighbourhood of these +places," cried Ráby in desperation, fairly trembling with rage. "These<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +registered formulas are falsified; I charge the man who produces them +with forgery."</p> + +<p>The little Rascian girl here began to wring her hands and weep, but her +Hungarian rival gave her tongue its rein, and she poured forth such a +flood of abuse on Ráby that his every fibre thrilled with indignation.</p> + +<p>With much trouble the heydukes restored order, and the judge called on +the court to be quiet.</p> + +<p>"Silence, his honour is speaking; the judgment will now be given, so let +the litigants retire from the court," was the order.</p> + +<p>It was hardly five minutes before the contending parties were recalled +and the verdict given.</p> + +<p>"The case as heard by us is very complex. It lies between two parties +who prefer counter-accusations against each other. The one says his +opponent has robbed him of his wife, whilst the accused becomes +plaintiff in his turn, and incriminates his accuser as a bigamist, and +therefore incapacitated for demanding the restoration of his runaway +spouse. Therefore, we beg to refer the case to the united courts of the +provinces of Pesth, Pilis, and Solt, that they may adjust the relations +between the contending parties satisfactorily. Meantime the case is +dismissed." And herewith followed in legal phrase the reasons why the +said courts should be pressed to institute an inquiry into the whole +suit between Ráby and Petray, and its complications, and the parties +were adjured to leave the court.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>Ráby was sorry enough he had ever come, for what had it all availed him?</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the door of the court closed behind him than he heard the +end of it all, the horrible mocking laughter which burst forth from the +whole room, directly he had left it—a sound which followed him out into +the corridor.</p> + +<p>He was completely staggered. The shame, the exasperation, the deception +of it all, and this persistent persecution—how powerless he was against +them! His very senses seemed deserting him. So distracted was he in his +bewilderment, that when he reached the end of the passage, instead of +going straight out, he took the flight of steps which led down to the +cells. Through the prison doors came the sound of merriment. Even the +criminals were mocking him. And that was likely enough, seeing that the +two women who had impersonated his wives, had been requisitioned from +the ranks of the prisoners.</p> + +<p>For three days did Ráby remain in hiding at his inn, not daring to show +his face. He fancied all Pesth and Buda were making merry over his fall.</p> + +<p>Only on the evening of the third day did he venture to set out for home. +And even then he muffled himself up in his mantle so that he might pass +unrecognised.</p> + +<p>But as soon as he reached the open country, the fresh air exhilarated +his drooping spirits and he saw things in a different light. It was +certainly very impolitic to betray his vexation, for in this case he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +was sure to get the worst of it. It would be far wiser to disguise his +real feelings.</p> + +<p>The first person he sought out was his uncle.</p> + +<p>"Remember, my boy, it's just what I told you. Didn't I say that if you +would insist on marrying Fruzsinka you would have wife enough. And, sure +enough, here you have three! And by the time you have done, it may be a +great many more."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean, uncle?"</p> + +<p>"Why, as soon as the news spreads that the marriage certificates of +these women were forged, other 'wives' will be turning up from all +parts, and a nice dance they will lead you."</p> + +<p>Ráby, in spite of his real misery, could not forbear a grim smile.</p> + +<p>"Where did you say the two marriage articles came from, eh?"</p> + +<p>"One was from Szent-Pál, the other from Belovacz."</p> + +<p>"So that's it, is it? Well, Szent-Pál was utterly destroyed by the +insurrection of Hora-Kloska three years ago, and Belovacz is a haunt of +freebooters. In neither place is there priest or sexton, church or +register, as I happen to know, so seek all your life long, you'll never +find proof of the forgery."</p> + +<p>"Now I see why the witnesses came from so far afield; it was manifestly +a part of the plot."</p> + +<p>"By the way," said his uncle, "you'll want some one to look after your +house, for in your absence your maid Böske has been locked up."</p> + +<p>"Whatever do you mean?" demanded Ráby<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> indignantly. "My servant locked +up! why what is the meaning of it?"</p> + +<p>"H'm, it was by order of the municipality."</p> + +<p>"And pray what for?"</p> + +<p>"That, no one can say. I only knew through the neighbours coming round +to tell me that I ought to send my servant over, for your cows were +standing at the gate, and that there was no one to let them in, seeing +that poor Böske had been marched off between two officers to the +police-station."</p> + +<p>"The deuce she has!" cried Ráby, and he seized his sword. "But I won't +stand that!"</p> + +<p>And without another word he dashed out of the house and down the street +at full tilt, in the direction of the police-station, which was close to +the post office. He thrust open the door, without announcing himself, +and shouted so furiously to the unlucky porter that the latter nearly +died of fright.</p> + +<p>"Where is the jailer? In heaven's name, tell me," thundered Ráby.</p> + +<p>"He is drinking in there," said the man, pointing to a door.</p> + +<p>Ráby dashed into the room and found the jailer, seized him by the lappet +of his jacket, shook him, and yelled:</p> + +<p>"You brute, you scoundrel, what have you done with my servant, I want to +know?"</p> + +<p>"Your worship, the judge had her locked up in 'the Hole.'"</p> + +<p>"Let her out, then, at once, you hound! If you don't, I will slay you on +the spot, and willingly pay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> up the forty gulden fine I shall be mulcted +of for killing a peasant. Where is the cell, where are the keys? I tell +you, you are to give them to me directly."</p> + +<p>The frightened official said humbly that he would soon get the keys, but +Ráby held him by the scruff of the neck, and dragged him to the door of +"the Hole," made him open it, and called out, "Come out directly, +Böske!"</p> + +<p>Directly she appeared he seized the girl by the hand, and led her out of +her captivity. And he never let go her hand all the way home, in spite +of her wish to withdraw it.</p> + +<p>"You are a good, honest girl, Böske, who have only been persecuted on my +account; there, there, don't cry, they shall pay for this, sure enough!"</p> + +<p>And he flourished his sword so threateningly, that all who met them were +quite scared and hastened to clear out of their path.</p> + +<p>The gentry had robbed him of his wife, and now the burghers had stolen +away his servant; it was truly "adding insult to injury!"</p> + +<p>"And now just come in," said Ráby, "and tell me all about it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I've no time to," exclaimed Böske, "besides, it's a long story. +First of all I must run and look after my cows. I've not seen them for +two days. They weren't milked either, and perhaps they are starving."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's all right, the postmaster's maid tended them."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>"Ay, what does Susanne know about it, I should like to know? The dun +cow, she won't give a drop of milk if anyone else milks her, and the +dappled one, if she knows that a stranger is there instead of me, will +kick over both pail and milking-stool. And no one can feed them as I +can. Just listen, gracious master, how they begin to low when they hear +my voice."</p> + +<p>And away ran Böske into the cowhouse. Not for anything would she have +told her own story till the cows were looked after. They recognised her +also directly, and the dun cow licked her red arm affectionately, when +she went to tether her, and Böske made them a nice turnip "mash," in a +wooden bowl, and fed her favourites. Then she washed the pail clean, and +when she had put everything in order, she sat down to her milking, and +here Ráby found her.</p> + +<p>"Now you can tell me, while you are at work, all that has happened," he +said kindly.</p> + +<p>"If the gracious master does not mind listening to me in the cowhouse. +It was like this. When I was setting the yeast to rise the day before +yesterday, for baking, in the kitchen, in came two police-officers, +saying I must go with them to the police-court. I told them I had not +stolen anything. Thereupon, one said, I was not to make a noise, and he +threatened to lay his cane about my shoulders, and if I didn't go of my +own free will, he'd make me. I told him my master was away. He said that +would be all right, and that we could shut the door and leave the key<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +under a beam outside, where I could find it again. So what could I do? I +had to leave the yeast in the trough where it got all sour and mouldy, +and go off to the police-station. When I got there, I saw lots of men +sitting round a table, and they all looked at me and asked me questions, +and told me I'd got to be sworn. I thought they meant being married, so +said I didn't mind if there was anyone there I liked well enough to +marry. Then one of them said it wasn't a question of marrying, but that +I must swear to what I knew about the master."</p> + +<p>"A regular inquisition," muttered Ráby.</p> + +<p>"'I'll swear fast enough,' said I, 'that I know nought of him but what +is good.'</p> + +<p>"'Then,' says the notary, 'what about the peasants that he sets on to +rebel against their landlords?'</p> + +<p>"'Nothing of the kind,' says I; 'the man who says that ought to be +hanged.'</p> + +<p>"With that, he asks if my master did not throw Dacsó Marczi and the +surveyor into the river. So I told them it was a wicked lie."</p> + +<p>"That was quite true, Böske!"</p> + +<p>"Then they asked me if you were not a sorcerer, and did not call up evil +spirits at night-time."</p> + +<p>"And, pray, what did you say to that?"</p> + +<p>"Why I just laughed outright, and told them I had never even heard my +master say 'the devil take them,' much less call up evil spirits. But +they said the Devil himself would carry me off if I didn't tell the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +truth. And when they asked me to swear that the gracious master was a +sorcerer, I just swore by the Crucifix it was not true. But they were so +angry that they just packed me off to prison, then and there, and there +I was left without food or drink till the gracious master himself came +and fetched me out."</p> + +<p>Poor Böske finished her story with a burst of weeping, for up till now +she had not had the time for crying. But now she had got her tale over, +and the milking done, she cried her heart out into the corners of her +apron.</p> + +<p>"That was quite enough for once," muttered Ráby to himself. But he +deceived himself if he fancied it was enough, for there was yet more to +come.</p> + +<p>When they had recovered the key from its hiding-place under the beam, +Böske went first to open the house, but she started back in horror, and +dropped the pail of milk she was carrying, as she exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"Gracious master, just look, thieves have been in! We have been robbed!"</p> + +<p>Sure enough it was so; the whole house had been completely rifled of +valuables. So thoroughly had the work been done that only the empty +chairs and tables remained.</p> + +<p>Böske broke into a wail of despair.</p> + +<p>"Hush, be quiet," ordered Ráby sternly, putting his hand over her mouth.</p> + +<p>"But they've broken into my trunk," she cried; "they have stolen my new +petticoat, and best kerchief, and my shoes with the rosettes."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>"Never mind," said her master consolingly, "to-morrow I'll take you to +Buda, and buy you some fresh ones. These are trifles. The thieves +probably came after my papers, but those I luckily had with me."</p> + +<p>At this Böske was appeased, also she remarked it was a comfort the +lady-mistress had taken the embroidered quilt with her, so the thieves +were done out of that at any rate.</p> + +<p>"But where is the house-dog?"</p> + +<p>They found the poor beast, by the well, stiff and dead.</p> + +<p>"The brutes!" cried Böske, horrified; "they have drowned him, they have +not even left us the dog alive."</p> + +<p>Ráby drove the weeping girl into the house and spoke earnestly to her:</p> + +<p>"Now, Böske, listen to me. You must never tell anyone what has happened, +and that the house has been robbed, for if you do, they may put you in +prison again, and you may not get out for years."</p> + +<p>With which piece of parting advice Ráby repaired to his uncle's. Here he +collected his papers, and stowed them away in the pocket of his coat, he +likewise donned his fur mantle, told his uncle shortly what had +occurred, and then started to go back home.</p> + +<p>It was already nightfall when he took his way down the street to his own +home.</p> + +<p>As he passed Peter Paprika's house he heard a curious whizzing noise +near him, and at the same<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> moment was conscious of having been struck a +blow on the side, which so staggered him, it nearly made him lose his +balance. He looked round; there was not a soul in sight in the street. +He could not imagine from whence the mysterious report had come. But +after he had got home, he found a little round perforation on the left +side of his coat, which was plainly a bullet hole.</p> + +<p>When he drew his papers out of his breast-pocket, out fell a leaden +bullet which had evidently bored through so far and been turned aside by +the packet of documents.</p> + +<p>The whizzing sound our hero had heard had been the report of an air-gun, +and had he not placed the papers in his breast-pocket, it would have +been all over with him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + + +<p>The jest was surely now at an end, said Ráby to himself; it was no use +trifling with these people but best to go straight to the point with +them.</p> + +<p>So the next day he set out for Vienna, nor did he conceal the purport of +his journey. For he had to induce the Emperor to remove the Szent-Endre +authorities and order a new municipal body to be set up in their place. +As a land-owner, he had full right to demand this to be done.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, he left Böske to keep house, only stipulating she should have +someone to be with her in his absence.</p> + +<p>In Vienna all fell out as he had wished, and after forwarding his plans +there, he returned home.</p> + +<p>As he reached the gate of the town he wondered what new developments +would greet his return; he had a foreboding something strange was +preparing, nor was he mistaken.</p> + +<p>For when he came to his own house, there outside sat Böske in tears, +surrounded by various bits of furniture, which had evidently been thrown +out into the street.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>"Why, what in the world have you got there?" asked Ráby, amazed, of the +weeping maid-servant.</p> + +<p>"What have I got?" cried Böske, "why, honoured master, don't you know +your own furniture when you see it? These are all our things, and they +have turned them out here, and me with them."</p> + +<p>"What?" yelled Ráby, as he leapt from the coach.</p> + +<p>But no answer was needed, for just then the door opened, and out came +the notary.</p> + +<p>He leaned with the utmost sang-froid against the door, while he filled +with tobacco his clay pipe, from which he proceeded to puff eddies of +smoke right into Ráby's face. He was quite drunk, and behind him stood a +couple of boon companions.</p> + +<p>"Pray what has happened here?" inquired the astonished master of the +house.</p> + +<p>"Only that I am taking possession of my own property," was the insolent +answer.</p> + +<p>"Your property, why it's mine, considering I paid the price for it in +due form," retorted the puzzled Ráby.</p> + +<p>"But I repent of having sold it, and I've taken possession again," +rejoined the notary, as he re-lit his pipe. "And now since you, my fine +gentleman, have nothing further to look for in this town, and are no +longer the master here, you may just pack off and go!"</p> + +<p>"But I paid you ready-money," remonstrated Ráby, his voice fairly +shaking with rage and shame.</p> + +<p>"You'd better bring it before the tribunal," sneered the notary, and he +laughed so immoderately that the pipe dropped out of his mouth.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>Ráby heard the laughter echoed in the yard without by a dozen other +voices.</p> + +<p>He strove no longer. He told Böske he would send a coach to fetch her +and the furniture away, and till then, she must wait there. Then he +hurried off to his uncle's and told his story.</p> + +<p>"This is beyond a joke," said the old man. "We will not stand this sort +of thing from these insolent wretches."</p> + +<p>"But to whom can I complain?" asked Ráby. "To the judge, Petray, who is +my personal enemy; to the county court where I am accused of bigamy and +scoffed at?"</p> + +<p>"To none of the lot! There is an edict which provides that whoso +appropriates unlawfully the property of another, can himself be turned +out by the lawful owner."</p> + +<p>"But where can we procure the methods of force necessary to drive these +people out?" demanded Ráby. "The whole township is in their pay. The +municipality gives no formal help, and the military would not move in +the matter. If I myself incite the people to act, I shall be accused of +instigating to violence."</p> + +<p>"Leave all that to me, my boy; we old folks know more than you young +ones give us credit for. No need to go either to the tribunal or to the +barracks. We'll just get the good people of Bicske and Velencze to help +us. The gentry in these towns fight like dragons. But in all their +history there is not a single case of either having ever taken their +disputes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> before the county courts or the provincial tribunals. For, +being of noble descent, there is a tradition among them that all +quarrels which arise between them shall be settled by the military +officer who happens, for the time being, to be in command of the +defendant's town. They are satisfied with this judgment, and never do +either judge or lawyer have a fee out of their pockets."</p> + +<p>"That sounds quite patriarchal," remarked Ráby.</p> + +<p>"Now why can't we acquire just such a right among our people here?" +pursued his uncle. "In a fortnight's time there will be a fair at +Stuhlweissenburg. During this time I will go round and discuss the +matter with the heads of the departments. You yourself can remain here +in the meantime and look after my work in the post office. In Velencze +they are just electing Stephen Keö, Knight of Kadarcs, as the judge. You +ought to propound your plan to him. He has a fine fighting record behind +him, for he went through Rákóczi's campaigns with the great leader +himself, and still wears the shabby wolfskin coat in which he used to +parade in the old fighting days. He is very proud of his military +record, as well as of his ancestors, who came from Asia with the +horsemen of Arpád himself. Remember this point; it will be an excellent +passport to his good graces, and don't forget to give him his full +title, and always to address him as Knight of Kadarcs. As soon as I'm +ready with the legal points we'll go to Stuhlweissenburg and set our +scheme afoot. Meanwhile, have no fear, we'll soon drive those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> brutes +out of your house, my boy, and send them packing!"</p> + +<p>Ráby agreed to all of it. He was so exasperated that he positively +yearned for a fight of some kind, whatever it might be.</p> + +<p>So it was arranged he should stop and look after the post office, while +his uncle went to collect materials for his campaign.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + + +<p>It was Stuhlweissenburg fair. In the chaffering, chattering crowd of +market folk, cattle-drivers and swine-herds jostled country land-owners +accompanied by their lackeys, and shepherds in gay cloaks, while gipsy +horse-dealers, with their ragged coats bright with silver buttons, +trotted out their prancing nags to attract possible buyers. Here and +there flitted strangely clad figures—a Wallachian boyar with his +sheepskin cap, or a Servian with his scarlet fez, and turbanned Turks, +the remnant of the expelled Mussulman population, who had come to sell +their last sheep, and then follow the rest of their folk.</p> + +<p>The encampments begin with rows of shoemakers and furriers, then come +variegated groups of merchants from outlying provinces. Foreign wares +there are none, for the "dumping" of useless foreign commodities is +forbidden by an imperial edict. What are exposed here are all genuine +native products, whether it be in fabrics, pottery, or copper-ware, +while there is a great rush for the booths where pewter plates and +dishes are for sale.</p> + +<p>Everything is paid for in ready money, so that if a well-to-do purchaser +buys a herd of sheep and has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> not the price forthcoming, he leaves his +silver knife and fork (which he carries about with him) as a pledge, and +the seller knows well enough they will be redeemed in due course.</p> + +<p>Towards mid-day, the "market-kitchen" becomes thronged. Here too the +famous gipsy stew needs no advertising, for its savoury odour betrays +its whereabouts, and it only wants good wine to wash it down to make it +complete. But this same good wine is dear, and only for the gentry. The +Velencze people have already annexed a table near the bar, and sit round +it and listen to their favourite song:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0q">"See I will drink with you,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So I can clink with you<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A glass of good wine:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But if you do not choose,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To pledge, I'll not refuse<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Alone to empty mine."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But now come the Bicske contingent, each one of whom brandishes a huge +weighted stick, or copper axe, while their neighbours have already +deposited their weapons on the table.</p> + +<p>These late-comers observe that the others have already annexed the best +table, and proceed accordingly.</p> + +<p>"You gentlemen from Velencze have come early," growls Bognár Laczi, the +leader of the Bicske party.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and by this you must have caught plenty of mud-fish." (This is +intended as a graceful allusion to the Lake of Velencze.) "And what's +more, have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> swallowed them by this time," sneered a pugnacious looking, +thick-set fellow, who also belonged to the Bicske gang.</p> + +<p>As is well known, the worthy dwellers by the Velencze lake do not relish +this kind of reflection on their sport, and they resented it +accordingly.</p> + +<p>But the fight does not yet begin, for who is fool enough to fight over +the fish he eats? Besides, eating is the first and most important +business, so they sink differences in order to make a square meal.</p> + +<p>"Now, friends," says Bognár Laczi to the Velencze contingent, "what say +you to some music? We have brought our own piper and a cornet-player +with us, so I propose that we take it in turns; first your gipsies shall +play, and then our musicians."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed the others, and thereupon the noble representative +from Bicske had his favourite tune played on the bagpipes.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0q">"I've a house and a sweet little wife of my own,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And bread and bacon and crops that I've grown."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>And everything progressed smoothly, for while the music was going on, no +one could talk, and if one guest called to someone else at the other +table, he did not forget to address him as "noble friend." But at the +second round of wine the company began to sing with the music, and it +was not easy to stop their efforts. Finally, the two parties insisted on +singing different songs at the same time, the result being an uproar, +wherein cymbal, fiddle, bagpipe,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> and cornet strove for precedence in a +very rivalry of tumultuous discord.</p> + +<p>The Velencze leader could not stand such an annoyance, and he promptly +hurled an empty bottle at the wall just above the head of the Bicske +chief, so that the fragments fell on the latter's head. He then seized +his axe, struck the beam with it, and cried out defiantly, "Let's see +who is the better man?"</p> + +<p>The valorous Bicske men and their ten Velencze companions, were equally +ready to join in the fray thus begun. So they seized their axes and +clubs, and began to brandish these in a highly menacing fashion. For +there is no fighter like your Magyar when his blood is up.</p> + +<p>At this perilous juncture appeared the representatives of peace and +arbitration, in the person of Sir Stephen Keö, the "Knight of Kadarcs," +and his companion, Mr. Postmaster Leányfalvy, who led between them +Mathias Ráby, and presented him to the company.</p> + +<p>The old campaigner, with his shabby sheepskin over his shoulders, and a +short pipe between his teeth, pressed into the ranks of the combatants +as calmly as if the Geneva Red Cross had sheltered his breast. Not a bit +intimidated by the uproar, he brandished his pike, and cried out in a +shrill voice:</p> + +<p>"So you are at it again, are you! Be quiet, you fellows; and so early +too, for you can't have drunk much yet. But listen to me, friends. This +gallant gentleman whom you see here is Mr. Mathias Ráby of Rába and +Mura, the son of the late Stephen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> Ráby, that noble patriot, who so +often stood up for Magyar rights. During his absence from home some +bullies in Szent-Endre have ejected this noble gentleman from his own +house, and occupied it. Now he calls upon us, the patriots of Velencze +and Bicske, to come to his aid, and will pay us a salary of two gulden +per head, to drive out the illegal occupiers from his lawful domicile. +Therefore I suggest that you adjourn your mutual quarrel till the next +Stuhlweissenburg fair (and chalk it up so that you do not forget it); +but meantime, come with us, and help to right the wrong done him."</p> + +<p>Whereupon the twenty men present cheered loudly and signified their +readiness to go.</p> + +<p>"We have four carriages here," said Sir Stephen. "Four must stay with +the horses, so that there will be sixteen all told for the expedition."</p> + +<p>And so it was arranged.</p> + +<p>But Bognár Laczi urged immediate action. "Let's be off, all of us, only +let us send on a scout who shall warn the Szent-Endre people that we are +coming in full force. They shall not say that we take them unawares, but +should get their fighting gear in readiness."</p> + +<p>It took some time for Ráby, the postmaster, and the knight to agree to +this arrangement, for they deemed such a proceeding would be pure folly. +Szent-Endre might be too strong for them, if it had time to collect all +its forces. But at last they gave in, and sent on their scout ahead, +delaying their actual start till nightfall.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>By morning they had reached the "Pomázer" Inn safe and sound, so they +halted and baited the horses. The passengers sprang from the carriages, +and stretched their drowsy limbs. Then they roused the hostess and +ordered some coffee, and everyone knows what "Hungarian coffee" means; +it consists of red wine, ginger, and pepper, and is drunk boiling hot. +But this beverage kept them going all day, so invigorating was it.</p> + +<p>While the horses fed, the messenger they had dispatched to reconnoitre, +came back with the news that all Szent-Endre was agog, the municipality +having brought together a rabble armed with sticks, pitchforks, and +flails, who had collected in front of Ráby's house, while the townsmen +in the courtyard were armed and ready for the attack.</p> + +<p>"Heigh ho," shouted the assailants. "What joy! We shall have someone now +with whom we can fight! So let's drive on so that we can be soon in +fighting array."</p> + +<p>"Stop a bit, my noble friends," said Sir Stephen Keö. "First of all, let +us exercise a little strategy. For this will be the decisive struggle, +and remember I am in command! Before all, we must know the fortress we +are about to conquer. Now the house has two doors, the one opening on to +the Buda street, the other behind into the garden. Therefore we must +divide into two parties. The one must begin the frontal attack from the +street, the other will go round into the vineyard and take their chance +under shelter of the garden. The Velencze men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> will lead the one attack, +and those of Bicske the other."</p> + +<p>The old fire-eater was not only an accomplished strategist, but likewise +a great student of character. He knew his people, and that if he placed +the two factions side by side, they would quarrel at least over +precedence if over nothing else, that neither would give in, and that +all chance of success would consequently be ruined.</p> + +<p>"Now who will lead the attack from the street?" asked their +commander-in-chief.</p> + +<p>It was settled by drawing lots; the garden position falling to the +Bicske party.</p> + +<p>"So we are to go behind, are we?" questioned Bognár Laczi sulkily.</p> + +<p>"Noble friend," pleaded the old knight, "for those who tackle a +seven-headed dragon, there is no 'behind,' for on every side there is a +head. You will attack the enemy's rear-front."</p> + +<p>He was obliged, however, to make this concession to the Bicske +assailants, that they should travel first in two coaches to reach the +garden by a roundabout way, and yet be there at the same time as the +Velencze contingent.</p> + +<p>These delicate points of precedence being settled, they drove off in +fine style, two of the vehicles turning towards the vineyard, and the +other three to Szent-Endre.</p> + +<p>They could hear as they drew nearer that the whole place was in an +uproar. In the Buda Street the citizens had organized an impromptu +army.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> There they were in little national groups, the Magyars with +clubs, the Serbs armed with flails, the Rascians provided with +pitchforks. It looked as if it would be a hundred to one.</p> + +<p>The space in front of Ráby's house was occupied by a mixed mob of +hangers-on of all kinds, who were carrying sticks, and lances, and old +flint muskets.</p> + +<p>In front of this phalanx stood the lieutenant in full gala dress, with +the big drum slung round his neck, ready to give the storming signal, +and inciting the mob with warlike exhortations.</p> + +<p>But it was in reality no joke, and the antagonists, seeing the attacking +party, retreated into the house and endeavoured to close the door behind +them. Only when they felt themselves safe did they begin their defensive +operations.</p> + +<p>The crowd without did not take an active part in the fray, but only +looked on.</p> + +<p>The Velencze contingent tried first of all to break in the door, but it +was barricaded too fast from within. So a regular attack had to be +essayed.</p> + +<p>The old Knight of Kadarcs directed operations from the coach where he +still sat.</p> + +<p>"Just take the stakes out of the well-posts, and you can jam in the door +with them."</p> + +<p>Four of the party managed to wrench out the stakes, and jammed them +against the great door like a Roman battering-ram, whilst three others +worked at the smaller door with their stout clubs. But those inside +defended themselves bravely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> enough, it must be owned. In the court +stood logs of wood piled up, and these they hurled at the besiegers, who +naturally returned the projectiles back from whence they came.</p> + +<p>Within could be heard the directions of the defenders to those inside to +fire on the assailants if these effected an entrance.</p> + +<p>But all the attacks of the Velencze men had been perfectly futile, had +not the Bicske auxiliaries come up just in the nick of time to the +rescue.</p> + +<p>They, in fact, decided the issue of the battle. All at once they uttered +a tremendous yell which scared the enemy back into their entrenchments. +Hereupon, a frightful tumult ensued, the crowd without shouting and +seeking to find an outlet over the walls of the neighbouring houses, or +in the out-houses and stables. Then the Velencze party made a tremendous +dash for the barred door, and succeeded in effecting an entrance. What +followed is indeed difficult to describe.</p> + +<p>"Take care to hit them on the head," shouted the old commander-in-chief +from his perch in the coach, while the mob laughed loud and long, as one +after another member of the town council crawled out on all fours over +the neighbouring roofs into safety, whilst first one and then another of +the Szent-Endre worthies were thrown out like cats on to the ground +below. The last to be turned out was the notary, his clothes torn, his +temples bleeding, and his teeth knocked out, yet there was not a soul +who seemed to sympathise with him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>The mayor had bethought him of a refuge in the chimney, but they lighted +straw below, and he was forced to push his way out. But the chimney +being too narrow, he only succeeded in getting his head and arms out, +and there he stuck, gesticulating wildly like a jack-in-the-box, till +the siege being over, they could take off the chimney-pot and so free +the prisoner.</p> + +<p>When the coast was clear they opened the doors and re-installed Mathias +Ráby in his own house again.</p> + +<p>"Now, noble sir, what did you think of the operations?" asked the Knight +of Kadarcs, as he cleaned out his pipe for a smoke.</p> + +<p>"A nice piece of work; it's a pity that sort of fighting has gone out of +fashion!"</p> + +<p>But the worthy burghers had learned a twofold lesson. First, that when a +plebeian fights it out with a noble, it is the plebeian who gets the +worst of it; and secondly, that the people themselves, if they see their +superiors thrashed, not only turn their backs on them, but regard it as +a good joke.</p> + +<p>But after drinking to his health, the rescuers took leave of their host, +now settled again in his own home.</p> + +<p>"We shall be at your service whenever you want us," was their parting +salutation.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + + +<p>When Ráby was left alone he began to see that what had been done was +really a foolish proceeding.</p> + +<p>To attack a peaceful town with armed force, beat thirty or forty of its +citizens, to say nothing of its magistracy, black and blue—this was +beyond a joke in any civilised city.</p> + +<p>Besides, those who had their heads broken in the fray, would not be +silent about their grievances. For that matter, Böske had already seen +several vehicles full of people with bandaged heads, proceeding in the +direction of Buda.</p> + +<p>Mathias Ráby therefore determined to go himself to Pesth without waiting +to be sent for, and then to testify to what had occurred.</p> + +<p>Of course he could not think of leaving Böske behind alone in the empty +house, where there was nothing now left to take care of. The cows had +long since been turned into butcher's meat for the benefit of the +invaders, who had likewise drunk up every drop of wine in the cellar.</p> + +<p>And it was lucky Ráby took Böske with him, as we shall see later.</p> + +<p>Again he alighted at his old inn, and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> donning his official dress, he +caused himself to be taken in a sedan-chair to the palace of the +governor.</p> + +<p>When he entered the ante-chamber the first people he saw were the +Szent-Endre officials waiting likewise to see his Excellency, just as +they had come from the fight. One had his arm in a sling, another showed +a black eye, and a third a bandaged hand.</p> + +<p>But even these grievances were for the moment, it seemed, thrust aside +directly Ráby entered, for on seeing him they all began to talk and +gesticulate noisily. He could not follow what they said, for most of +them spoke Rascian, then the language of the Hungarian middle classes, +whereof he only knew a few words, but from their tone and gestures, he +gathered that the conversation concerned him, and that they were +preparing to make things hot for him.</p> + +<p>So he did not feel exactly comfortable as he turned his back on them and +withdrew to the window.</p> + +<p>All at once the noise ceased suddenly as the usher announced "His +Excellency is coming," while the audience began at once to cringe and +whine, and put on a woful air all round.</p> + +<p>The door of the ante-chamber was thrown open, and his Excellency came +in.</p> + +<p>He nodded grimly at the waiting crowd, for whose woes his face betrayed +no particular sympathy, but when he saw Ráby he went up to him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> slapped +him on the shoulder, and his face relaxed into a smile.</p> + +<p>This was indeed a rare event, for it took a lot to make his Excellency +smile! Moreover, he greeted his guest with a dignified cordiality.</p> + +<p>"Well met, my friend! I'm glad you've come. You are on the right road. +Walk in here, and don't let anyone disturb us," he added, turning to the +usher, "as long as his Imperial Majesty's representative is with me. But +you," and he turned to the expectant crowd of suppliants, "you can just +go to where you came from; you have only got what you deserved."</p> + +<p>But those left behind in the ante-room looked at one another, and did +not exactly know what to make of it, till his Excellency's secretary +told them that the hurts they had received were fully recognised by the +law, and that they would have redress later if they now went home +quietly.</p> + +<p>His Excellency, meanwhile, plunged into the matter straight away.</p> + +<p>"Now see here, my worthy sir, you can only obtain satisfaction in +Hungary from the Magyar laws themselves. The thing is to know how to +profit by them, for we have excellent statutes; there is no need to +supplement them. I should like to know if the collective tribunals of +Austria itself would settle your affair so thoroughly and effectually, +nay and cheaply, as the captain of the Velencze company has done. But +you have been to the Emperor again with your denunciations, and even +now, I daresay,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> have your pockets full of imperial instructions. Don't +take them out if your case is brought before me, for I warn you, I shall +not open them. I wonder if his Majesty knows, by the way, that I never +read the instructions he sends me."</p> + +<p>"But I now bring other orders from his Majesty," said Ráby, who did not +think it worth while to say all he knew. "His Majesty has thought a +great deal about his Hungarian subjects, and has great projects for +bettering this city."</p> + +<p>"What may such projects be, pray?"</p> + +<p>"First of all, he is giving permission to the Jewish community in Pesth +to build a synagogue."</p> + +<p>"A synagogue for the Jews!" cried his Excellency, springing up in horror +from his seat. "Impossible! Pesth will not be bettered by that, it will +be completely ruined. Why in a hundred years' time, if that is allowed, +the Jews will be having all the rights of citizens. Heaven forbid they +should be permitted a place in the Assembly, for they will want to get +in there. Well, that is enough for a beginning; is there anything else?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," pursued Ráby, and since his interlocutor was standing at +the window, he too went there and looked out at the view over the Danube +and Pesth. "Does your Excellency see the great square plain on the edge +of the Pesth woods, that is bordered on one side with willows?"</p> + +<p>"I see, and what of that?"</p> + +<p>"His Majesty has ordered that a large building two stories high, with +nine courts, and two thousand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> windows, shall be erected there. He has, +himself, shown me the plans of the edifice which is to be built at his +own expense."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens! What's that for? is his Majesty going to shut up there +all those who do not respect his edicts?"</p> + +<p>"No, it is for a hospital for the city of Pesth."</p> + +<p>"A hospital, indeed! As if the ordinary lazaretto was not enough."</p> + +<p>"It will also serve as a foundling asylum."</p> + +<p>"What, for the children who are deserted by their mothers? Why, there +are none such in Pesth. The citizens won't tolerate such worthless women +in their midst. Such folks must do penance as the Church directs, or +else be driven from the city."</p> + +<p>"It may be so now, but in course of time, when Pesth is raised to the +rank of great world-cities, the magistracy will have something else to +do than to control the private lives of its citizens."</p> + +<p>"Now, how in the world can Pesth become a great city, I should like to +know? Will the Emperor come and live here himself?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not now, but he means to make it a great place for trade."</p> + +<p>"Pesth a place for trade? Why! what are you thinking about? You will +never see any trade done in Pesth but by rag-merchants and swine-herds."</p> + +<p>Ráby smiled.</p> + +<p>"The Emperor means to raise Pesth to the level of a great commercial +centre by certain big schemes he has in view. He proposes, for instance, +to have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> a canal cut which shall connect Pesth with Trieste, and so +bring it into direct connection with the coast."</p> + +<p>"Connect Pesth with Trieste! Why my good young friend" (the speaker had +dropped his previous formalities in his astonishment), "don't take me +for a fool, I pray! Remember it is not the first of April. What is the +Emperor thinking of? What about the Carpathians, pray?"</p> + +<p>"The mountains will be tunnelled, and the canal is to run under them."</p> + +<p>"Now just listen to me, my good sir! If you do not respect my official +capacity, otherwise the Imperial Hungarian Presidency of the County +Assembly, which I represent, you should at least have regard to my grey +hairs, and find some other fool to impose on with your scheme. Why, this +would take millions of money."</p> + +<p>"The actual estimate amounts to sixty millions."</p> + +<p>"Sixty millions! What are you dreaming of? Why, the Emperor has not got +as much as that out of the whole Hungarian revenue in twenty years."</p> + +<p>"The financial provision for this undertaking lies ready to hand. A +syndicate has been formed which will answer for the needful funds, and +directly Pesth is brought into connection with the sea its commercial +possibilities can be developed. Imagine a water-way from Pesth to +Trieste, one of the great emporiums of the world's trade in the centre +of Hungary!"</p> + +<p>But his Excellency could not imagine it.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut," he cried, and his eyes flashed angrily.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> "What do you mean +by taking such a chimera seriously? A canal from the centre of Hungary +to the coast, what does it mean but foreign traders sucking the life and +strength out of this country to glut their markets with our wealth. We +won't have anything of the kind! The ruling classes of this country will +have something to say to that. We will not let the people of this nation +be plunged into misery thus. Why, foreign traders would just exploit our +mineral wealth to their hearts' content, and leave the poor folk of this +country starving. No, no, my friend, don't you think we will ever have +anything of the kind."</p> + +<p>Ráby would not give in; he was by this time quite at home on these +questions. He could, moreover, give excellent reasons why every land +that has a seaport is prosperous, for trade does not impoverish people, +it enriches them. To which his Excellency retorted that of course trade +was a good thing for nations who knew how to get the best of their +neighbours, but for a simple unsophisticated folk, like the Hungarians, +it meant ruin.</p> + +<p>In the midst of this heated controversy, the two did not perceive that +the district commissioner had entered without being announced, and was +listening with much amusement to the debate.</p> + +<p>The district commissioner could not abide wrangling, so he promptly +turned the conversation on to neutral topics.</p> + +<p>"Eh, what is all this about? We, at any rate, have nothing to do with +the nation's economics. Tell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> us rather what is going on in Vienna. For +remarkably funny events have happened surely since we met." And the +speaker laughed slily, as if struck by some comical reminiscence.</p> + +<p>Ráby knew well enough what caused his companion's mirth. He was +thinking, doubtless, of Fruzsinka and the two other "wives." And the +thought pierced him with a sudden stab of pain.</p> + +<p>The good-natured official suppressed his ill-timed laughter, however, as +he diverted the subject.</p> + +<p>"Now tell us something about the capital, my dear fellow? Have you been +to the National Theatre and seen the latest comedy there?"</p> + +<p>"I had no leisure," said Ráby drily, "to go to the theatre, and see what +the comedies were like. You will have more time for that probably than I +shall."</p> + +<p>Which retort surprised the worthy district commissioner not a little.</p> + +<p>Then Mathias Ráby turned to the governor with a deeply respectful bow, +only waved a careless "adieu" to the district commissioner, and +withdrew.</p> + +<p>"He is put out with you about something or other," remarked the governor +to his companion.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he snapped, didn't he, like a puppy when you tread on his tail."</p> + +<p>But just then, in came the secretary with despatches that had just +arrived by the last post.</p> + +<p>"One for you as well, worshipful sir," said the secretary to the +district commissioner. "Shall I send it into your office, or will you +have it here, seeing it is marked 'personal.'"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>"All right. Give it me here, please," was the careless answer.</p> + +<p>And the light-hearted official broke the seal and began to read the +missive, stretched at ease in his chair.</p> + +<p>But he did not remain so, for hardly had he perused its contents than he +got up, and his face grew suddenly pale under its cosmetic.</p> + +<p>"Be kind enough to read that," he stammered, embarrassed, "the Emperor +writes an autograph letter to summon me to Vienna, and I am dismissed +from my post as district commissioner."</p> + +<p>"And in my despatch your successor is already nominated."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand it."</p> + +<p>"But I do. Now, my friend, you will have time to judge for yourself what +the comedy at the National Theatre is like."</p> + +<p>The ex-official pressed his hand to his brow.</p> + +<p>But as his Excellency took a pinch of snuff he said drily: "It is not a +puppy who snaps, but a big dog who can bite when he wants to. And he has +flown at you, my friend, that's clear."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + + +<p>It was horribly hot and depressing at the "White Wolf" at Pesth, where +Ráby had elected to stay. The atmosphere was mephitic and close, and in +the dusty inn parlour the flies swarmed uncomfortably, while outside it +was horribly dusty, as it is even to-day.</p> + +<p>No wonder Ráby was glad to get out of it, and elected to take a stroll +in the direction of the wood outside the city, his head full of many +conflicting thoughts.</p> + +<p>Certainly, his plans for bettering the people were prospering. The +Emperor had recalled the easy-going district commissioner in consequence +of Ráby's representations, and had appointed to the post an able and +strenuous, yet cold and reserved man, a wealthy landlord, who undertook +the office on account of the honour it conferred on its holder. Perhaps +what best qualified him for the post was, that he was not on intimate +terms with anyone in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>His first care was, in view of Mathias Ráby's complaints, to suspend the +magistrate of Szent-Endre and his satellites, and to order a fresh +election of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> such representatives in that town, which meant a complete +clearing out of the old gang. Then the deposed notary would be either +compelled to show the new officials the bricked-up passage to the +treasure chamber, or, if he refused, the "pope" would reveal the secret +of the other entrance; this promise Ráby had succeeded in extorting from +the new authorities.</p> + +<p>Once the treasure-chest was unearthed, the oppressed townspeople, whose +money had been wrung from them to fill that coffer, could be compensated +for their wrongs. What rejoicing would there not be when the poor +starving husbandman could receive back the four or five hundred gulden +unjustly extorted from him, and one could tell him that though it had +been reft from him unjustly, now his wrongs were redressed. What a +splendid mission for him who undertook it!</p> + +<p>Ráby's soul revelled in the very thought of it: no sordid considerations +of selfish interest poisoned his joy, for he had renounced all personal +reward and only taken the work upon himself on the condition that he had +no share in the treasure when it was discovered. Legally, indeed, he was +entitled to such a share, but how much greater claim had he to be heard +if he was empty-handed in this affair!</p> + +<p>And if he rejoiced at the fulfilment of his aims, he, it must also be +admitted, felt a distinct satisfaction in the thought of revenge. The +great coffer held not only the secret treasure, but also the private +accounts which would make it clear which of the powerful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> officials were +concerned in the affair. The whole shameful story must then be brought +to light, and all, who up till now had pursued him with their malice and +mocked him to his face, must then stand as prisoners at the bar, however +high they had held their heads.</p> + +<p>Obsessed by these and the like reflections, our hero came to the edge of +the wood and there found stretched out before him the great waste plot +of land bordered with willows, which some hours before he had pointed +out from the window of the palace to his Excellency. The surveyors were +already working on it, taking measurements, and staking out the ground +where the first foundations for the new building should be laid.</p> + +<p>All at once Ráby's reverie was disturbed by someone addressing him. He +had not observed how the man who spoke to him had come up, but then he +had of course as much right as Ráby to walk there. The stranger appeared +to be a worthy Pesth citizen; he wore the Magyar dress and had the +consequential air of a man who cannot learn anything from other people, +however wise they be. His short curling moustachios lent his face a +genuine Magyar expression, but of Hungarian he apparently understood not +a word, but expressed himself in bad German. Ráby answered the "Guntag" +of the stranger politely.</p> + +<p>"Does the gentleman happen to know what the surveyors are planning +here?" asked the new-comer.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>Ráby was naturally ready to satisfy worthy curiosity.</p> + +<p>"That," he answered, "is a great hospital the Emperor is erecting. A +building we much need," he added.</p> + +<p>And they talked of various other things, in the course of which it came +out that the new-comer was a pork-dealer in Pesth, whereupon Ráby opined +that he had the honour of speaking to a member of the famous "Guild of +pork merchants." But this new friend talked of many things beside his +own trade.</p> + +<p>They had now come to the winding path which led along the side of the +wood, but the stranger's fund of conversation continued to be apparently +inexhaustible. He mentioned, among other things, that he preferred this +walk because the road was not yet made. Since it had been the fashion to +have the roads in the city paved, he said, he no longer cared to walk in +the streets. The whole paving scheme had been a hobby of the present +burgomaster, who, as everyone knew, had been a German shoemaker, and had +only introduced paving-stones so as to give the German shoemakers +preference over the Hungarian bootmakers, for since they had had +pavements to walk on, people naturally wore fewer boots, for you only +need shoes for the paving stones.</p> + +<p>It was not long before the two reached the little inn, which stood there +even then for the refreshment of travellers.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>"What do you say to turning in for a glass of beer?" asked his +companion, "you get a capital brand here."</p> + +<p>Ráby answered that he did not drink beer, whereupon the pork-dealer +pressed him to touch glasses with him, and promptly drew out his purse +as a proof of his readiness to pay the reckoning. But Ráby insisted that +he only drank water.</p> + +<p>"Well, if that is the case," returned his fellow-wayfarer, "you cannot +do better than have a glass; the water here is of unusual excellence. +Just wait here, and I will go in and get some beer for myself, and send +you out a glass of water. It comes from the famous Elias spring; there +is no such water in the world."</p> + +<p>Ráby gladly assented; tired and thirsty as he was with his walk, he +longed for just such a refreshing draught.</p> + +<p>So into the inn the good man hurried, but he soon reappeared, followed +by a neat little waitress bearing a wooden tray with a large pewter mug +of water on it. The girl looked at him while he drank, with her innocent +blue eyes, so that Ráby hardly noticed, as he returned her scrutiny, +that the water left a curiously bitter after-taste in his mouth. When he +set the mug down, he observed that there was a white sediment at the +bottom of it.</p> + +<p>Rather scared in spite of himself, he asked the girl if there was +anything in the water.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she answered, "if so, the gentleman who has just gone, +put it in."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>"Has he gone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he went out by the back door. He did not even wait to take the +change which I brought him."</p> + +<p>The man was no pork-dealer, but a hired assassin. Ráby had been +poisoned, that was clear. The trees already had begun to dance before +his eyes, the blue sky became blood-red, and his feet refused to carry +him, while his head was so heavy, it felt as if it would burst. He had +not even the strength to stagger as far as a sedan-chair, but bade the +inn people carry him back to the "White Wolf," which they promptly did +in terror.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Had not poor Böske been there, Mathias Ráby's history would have come to +an untimely end with that glass of water.</p> + +<p>The servant-girl was the only one who had the presence of mind to give +the patient some warm milk, and then tickled his throat with a feather, +so as to induce violent vomiting, while she applied hot fomentations.</p> + +<p>But in spite of her care it was needful to send for a doctor. Yet it was +not so easy to find one, for physicians in those days were few and far +between, and there were, as a matter of fact, but two in the whole city, +the municipal doctor and the town leech, and neither would come when +sent for. The municipal practitioner maintained that the law did not +allow of him seeing patients out of their own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> houses. The town +physician again found his excuse in the plea that he could not interfere +in cases which had already been referred to his municipal colleague.</p> + +<p>So there was no one to look after Ráby, since neither doctors would come +to him, even though his life was in danger. Thus for fully +four-and-twenty hours the poisoned man had no other assistance than that +rendered by a poor servant-maid. For only on the evening of the +following day, when it was getting dark, did a surgeon from Pilis +appear, who, it had fortunately occurred to Ráby, was likely to answer +the summons.</p> + +<p>He set about curing his patient immediately, but he bound Ráby on his +honour not to say a word as to who was treating him, otherwise it would +be ruinous to his professional career in the town. It was only through +the urgent prayers and tears, he said, of a good woman, that he had come +to do what he could for the sick man.</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact, the kind-hearted surgeon had to leave the city in +consequence of having succoured Ráby in this way. But it was ten weeks +before the patient fully recovered.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + + +<p>During those ten weeks, Ráby had abundant leisure to reflect on the +riddle these events presented. Who had thus attempted to poison him? Was +it the offended councillors who had thus intrigued against him, some +jealous courtier who had a grudge against him, or his own fugitive wife?</p> + +<p>But all that time, except the surgeon and Böske, not a living soul +knocked at his door to see him.</p> + +<p>His enemies were, of course, countless, but it was just as certain that +he had devoted friends. Where was his uncle, and Abraham Rotheisel, and +the Servian "pope"; where too the grateful crowd of poor people that he +had befriended?</p> + +<p>Over and over again too did he inquire if this or that one had yet +called, but Böske always answered that visitors had come only when the +gracious master was asleep, and she had not dared waken him, or that the +doctor had ordered that no one was to disturb the patient.</p> + +<p>"And why don't you let people come in and see me?" asked Ráby +querulously of his nurse. He was so cross that at last she lost +patience, and told<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> him plainly that during the whole course of his +illness, not a soul had been near.</p> + +<p>But Ráby would not believe it; it was impossible, and he asserted she +was lying and trying to deceive him.</p> + +<p>Which remark so upset poor Böske, that she burst into tears, and, in her +own justification, admitted that people shunned him on purpose, that +they were afraid of him, and spoke all imaginable evil of him. Nay, was +it not true that everyone was saying he deserved to lose his head for +being a traitor to his own country?</p> + +<p>The simple maid-servant had only spoken the truth. Her master was, as +she had hinted, virtually an outlaw, and his name was by all, from their +Excellencies to the shoemaker's apprentices, only mentioned with hatred +and scorn. But Ráby, incensed, was so indignant at Böske's well-meant +candour, that he gave her notice then and there, and paying her a year's +wages, refused to have her any longer in his service.</p> + +<p>Thus it was that Ráby dismissed his faithful domestic who had simply +told him what men said of him, and now he was absolutely alone in the +world.</p> + +<p>As soon as he had fully recovered, he set out for Vienna, but this time, +in a wine-freighted barge which was to be towed by horses to the +capital, for he was too weak to stand the tiring journey by road. They +took eight days to reach their destination, and the fresh air did much +to restore his shattered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> health. By the time he reached Vienna, Ráby +looked quite himself again, save that he was much thinner than of old.</p> + +<p>He related all that had befallen him to the Emperor, who advised him not +to bring the crime home to the culprit, as if it came before the courts, +he considered Ráby's cause would be ruined. Thereupon, he furnished him +with directions of all kinds, and gave him <i>carte-blanche</i> to take his +own line in all disturbances that might arise.</p> + +<p>When Ráby came back to Buda, he wore armour under his coat, for this +time his mission would be no jesting matter, that was evident.</p> + +<p>In pursuance of the Imperial instructions, when he arrived at Buda, he +handed the new district commissioner the Emperor's orders, and it was +duly signified to the prefect of Szent-Endre, that the court of inquiry +would meet on a given day, but in the prefecture.</p> + +<p>At the same time, the Szent-Endre magistracy and their underlings were +to be dismissed, and new officials were to be elected in their place. +That choice of fresh functionaries might be made in due order, a big +military force was held in readiness in case of disturbances arising.</p> + +<p>When the order to quit came to the officials, the prefect hurried to +find the notary, who was so angry that he forthwith broke his best +porcelain pipe, and flung his cap down on the table in a rage.</p> + +<p>"It's all up with us," admitted the prefect to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> crony. "Now they +will go ahead, and the enemy will spoil us utterly. The new district +commissioner doesn't know his place, he did not once say, 'Your humble +servant,' when I went to see him. All I could get out of him was that he +was 'going to act conformably to instructions.'"</p> + +<p>"That's well enough, if we knew what the 'instructions' were. But it's +the soldiers I don't like, with Lievenkopp at their head too."</p> + +<p>"But, surely, he is an old acquaintance."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's just the mischief of it. He knows a great deal too well the +ins and outs of my affairs."</p> + +<p>"I know he has had loans at one time or another from your worship."</p> + +<p>"But unluckily he's always paid me back. Hardly a fortnight ago, he paid +me up to the last ducat. I never dreamed an officer would remember his +debts so accurately. I wish he had forgotten them! The world is going to +the dogs, that's plain. And then just think what the commissioner has +said. That he, in consequence of the denunciation of this +good-for-nothing fellow, will insist on a strict search, not only in the +Town Hall, but also in your house and mine. They will go from top to +bottom in the prefecture."</p> + +<p>"They can ransack my place as much as they will; they won't succeed in +ferreting anything out. They will never find the great coffer; I can +answer for it."</p> + +<p>"With you perhaps they won't succeed; you hide<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> your savings so well. +But they are bound to scent out my chests."</p> + +<p>"Why, how can they know anything of them?"</p> + +<p>"How can they know? Don't be a fool! Just remember, Fruzsinka, doesn't +she know?"</p> + +<p>"Do you think she told Ráby?"</p> + +<p>"Not Ráby, but Lievenkopp. I heard her with my own ears as she was +wandering about one day in the maze with the captain, whom she wanted to +marry her. That is why she told him all about the coffer and what it +contained, so Lievenkopp knows all. But they can pounce upon the old +contracts which are in my possession and want to know how I procured the +money which, when I came here, I took for certain pledges left with me. +And if they convict me?"</p> + +<p>"We can easily prevent that; hide your chest so none may find it."</p> + +<p>"That I know without a fool telling me. But whom can we trust? All these +men here are knaves, anyone of them to whom I trust my treasure will +betray me directly he knows that a third of the money legally belongs to +whomsoever informs against the owner. If I bring the money here, someone +will see it, and know where I have hidden it. The whole world is full of +spies. We are the only two honest men in it, friend Kracskó."</p> + +<p>"Don't you trouble, I'll hide your little savings effectually for you. +Good! Well, go home, and come back soon with an empty box under your +cloak, so that everyone can see you are carrying something.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> Thus no +suspicions will be aroused when you go away again."</p> + +<p>Mathias Kracskó did as he was bidden; he went off, and returned shortly +with an empty municipal cash-box under his cloak.</p> + +<p>Mr. Zabváry had his own box ready, sealed not only at the lock, but at +the four corners.</p> + +<p>"Here it is. Hide it away by all means, and directly the commission is +off our track you can restore it to me again. And give me your written +promise to give it me back as soon as I ask for it. For it's a sad +world, and we are the only two honest men left in it."</p> + +<p>So the notary signed the document, tucked the chest of savings under his +cloak, and hid it carefully away.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Mathias Ráby was taking his way to Szent-Endre to attend the inquiry +into the municipal scandals. On the road he met his uncle, who appeared +to be looking for someone.</p> + +<p>"Halloa, uncle! what are you waiting for?"</p> + +<p>"I'm waiting for you, nephew, to have a talk with you. Remember, it's +some time since we met!"</p> + +<p>"Surely, uncle, that is not my fault," exclaimed Ráby, "considering that +you never once crossed my threshold during my illness."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed; small chance of doing so, seeing that every time I came, I +found a heyduke before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> your door, who told me that only the doctor was +allowed to see you."</p> + +<p>"A heyduke!" cried Ráby in amazement, "why who could have placed him +there?"</p> + +<p>"That was just what I asked him, and he told me the municipality had +done so."</p> + +<p>"But what does the municipality mean by planting a heyduke before my +door? And why did not Böske tell me?"</p> + +<p>"Because the good soul had only one idea in her head—as sweet +simplicity ordinarily has. She wormed out of the fellow why he stood +there, and he told her he was ordered to look after a maniac inside, +whom, if he tried to go out, he was to seize and bind. Had Böske told +you a man was waiting for you then, nervous and feeble as you were, you +would have sprung out of bed and had a hand-to-hand fight with him, and +he would have bound you, weak invalid as you were, and carried you away +to the mad-house, whence you were not likely to get out again. So Böske +was silent."</p> + +<p>"And I was so angry with her. But now we are good friends again, aren't +we?"</p> + +<p>"To be sure we are. But what shall we do with the others?"</p> + +<p>"With my enemies?"</p> + +<p>"No, with your friends! You can always be even with your foes, but your +friends are another matter. The heads of the magistracy have not been +idle during the ten weeks you were ill. To-day you appear with the +imperial orders to elect a new<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> municipality in Szent-Endre. Yet you +will see that the folks here will choose exactly the same lot again."</p> + +<p>"That surely is impossible!"</p> + +<p>"Unluckily, it's not at all so. The mob whom you befriended, have been +clearly bought over by the magistracy, who have not spared their wine +for the last three weeks to convince the townsfolk that the present +municipality are the best set of men going. They have befooled the +peasants into believing they won't have to pay tithes next year, and +blackened you in their eyes, so that the whole town is enraged against +you. They say you have come to 'rectify' the taxes, and instead of the +six thousand gulden it has paid up till now, Szent-Endre will have to +yield thirty thousand, and that is why you trouble about their money +matters."</p> + +<p>"But all this is surely midsummer madness!"</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow, the mob believes everything it is told, if it is only +dinned into its ears often enough. You will see for yourself how popular +feeling has changed towards you since you were last in Szent-Endre. Take +my advice, and don't allow yourself to be seen in the town before the +military arrive. But I know you will go your own way in spite of it!"</p> + +<p>The old gentleman was right. Anyone else would have profited by such a +warning, but it made Ráby only more keen for the fray.</p> + +<p>"I must be on the spot," he answered; "and that soon, for I must have +some talk with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> people before the others appear, so good day, +uncle!"</p> + +<p>"Well, adieu, but come again soon!"</p> + +<p>So Ráby hastened on to Szent-Endre to the big market-square, where the +forthcoming election was to take place. On the way, he noted many +suggestive signs, showing which way the wind was blowing. The +shopkeepers who lounged at their thresholds withdrew indoors directly +they caught sight of Ráby. Some acquaintances whom he met retreated to +the other side of the street as if they had not seen him.</p> + +<p>In the square, a large crowd had already assembled. In the front ranks +Ráby recognised many old friends who often had interceded with him for +the grievances of the common folk. Formerly, such men had hastened to +kiss his hand; to-day they did not even raise their hats, and when he +spoke to them they only ignored his greeting. One man to whom Ráby +stretched his hand, actually shook his fist at him, and answered the +question he put in Hungarian, in Rascian. Evidently no one here wished +to understand Magyar. In vain did Ráby try to address them, the crowd +only interrupted him with loud shouts, accompanied by threatening +gestures.</p> + +<p>His uncle was right, the mob had wholly changed, and by now believed +that Ráby had bought over the town for the Emperor. They yelled noisy +acclamations as his enemy, Kracskó, came across the market-square, +hailing him as their benefactor and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> the defender of their rights. So +Ráby thought the best thing was to go home and postpone his speech till +the commission should formally cite him to appear before them. In the +court he could have his say, and there he would have witnesses to +support him.</p> + +<p>So he went back to his deserted house to think over the situation.</p> + +<p>Whilst he paced through the empty rooms, he suddenly caught sight of +something sparkling on the floor. It was a metal button which had fallen +between a crevice in the boards. He picked it up, and it awoke memories +of Fruzsinka, for it was to one of her gowns that it had belonged. He +remembered so well the one; she had worn it that day when she had thrown +her arms round his neck and besought him not to sacrifice his own and +her happiness to an ungrateful people. Had he listened to her, perhaps +she would have remained a good and true wife to him, and peace and +happiness would have blessed his married life. Now it was all over and +done with, and there without the mob was howling for his destruction.</p> + +<p>He threw the button out of the window, hastening to do away with such +souvenirs.</p> + +<p>Presently from the market-square burst forth that indescribable murmur +which rises from a distant crowd. The minutes seemed hours as he waited.</p> + +<p>At last a trampling of hoofs was heard; it was a lieutenant with an +escort of half a dozen dragoons come to conduct Ráby to the court.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>"The magistrate, the notary, the councillors, are all re-elected," was +the news they came to announce.</p> + +<p>Ráby was much annoyed that they should send an armed escort for him.</p> + +<p>"I can find the way by myself, and am not afraid of anyone," he said, +and with that he took his documents under his arm, and set off to walk +to the Town Hall.</p> + +<p>His self-possession impressed the crowd who silently made way for him. +Besides, they stood in a wholesome awe of the dragoons who were drawn up +in the market-place.</p> + +<p>Ráby entered the court-room where the commission was sitting. It was +intolerably warm, and he could have fairly swooned as he entered the hot +oppressive atmosphere, yet his strength of mind conquered his physical +weakness and steeled his failing nerves.</p> + +<p>He began by making a formal and solemn protest against the way in which +the election had been conducted, but it was not listened to.</p> + +<p>Then the district commissioner read out Ráby's protest and asked the +complainant to formulate his grievance.</p> + +<p>Ráby laid his documents in order at the other end of the table, where +they had prepared a place for him, and began to state his case at +length; he quoted his documentary evidence, and promised to call +witnesses for the prosecution.</p> + +<p>It goes without saying that his statements did not pass unchallenged by +those most interested.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>After the case for the prosecution had been thus stated, the examination +of its witnesses followed, but these were not so satisfactory as they +might have been.</p> + +<p>None could tell much about the great treasure chest, except that they +had heard such an one existed, but they had never seen it, and only knew +of it by hearsay.</p> + +<p>Finally, no other evidence for the prosecution being forthcoming than +the incriminating bills and the collected taxation-accounts, it was left +for the municipality to justify themselves.</p> + +<p>For the defence of the officials collectively, the notary was called +upon to speak.</p> + +<p>In the whole of his discourse, however, there was not a single word of +justification of the officials concerned, or any refutation of the +impeachment; it consisted solely of a violent torrent of invective +against Ráby, who, according to his accuser, was a sorcerer who had +dealings with the devil, a bluebeard who kept seven wives, a +revolutionary who incited to revolt, to say nothing of being a +highwayman who robbed harmless travellers. In short, there was nothing +bad enough for Ráby, whom, finally, he denounced as a vampire who was +robbing the poor folk of their trade and fattening on their +labours—this last an indictment which fell rather flat, in view of poor +Ráby's attenuated appearance, for he looked little more than a skeleton.</p> + +<p>And so it went on, the heap of vile calumnies growing as he proceeded, +yet their victim listened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> with a smiling face, for Ráby was really +rejoicing in the absurdity of this collection of impossible +impeachments.</p> + +<p>But there is nothing that annoys an uneducated angry man more than +ridicule from his opponents. And the more he raged, the more did it +visibly excite Ráby's mirth.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the features of the notary became distorted and his face turned +livid, while his discoloured lips foamed and his eyes nearly started +from their sockets, as the man he was vilifying continued to smile at +his traducer unperturbed. At last the notary dealt his master stroke.</p> + +<p>"And what think you of this, worshipful sirs, I tell you that he has +actually boasted to the prefect that he has not only played bowls with +the Emperor, but that he has constantly put on his Majesty's +gold-embroidered coat and walked about in it. What say you to that?"</p> + +<p>At this, the crowning accusation, Ráby could restrain his mirth no +longer, and he burst out into a peal of hearty laughter which +reverberated through the hall.</p> + +<p>But at that sound, the speaker suddenly was silent, as if a shot had +struck him, his mouth remained open, but his head sank back, and his +eyes rolled till only the whites showed themselves; for an instant a +spasm convulsed him, then he fell back—dead!</p> + +<p>The laugh had killed him, as surely as if a bullet had been lodged in +his heart.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span>They seized him and dragged him out into the fresh air, believing it was +only a swoon, but in vain did they endeavour to restore life: it was all +over with him.</p> + +<p>When they were convinced that the notary was indeed dead, their despair +knew no bounds.</p> + +<p>But most of all was Mr. Zabváry quite desperate; wringing his hands, he +wailed: "Kracskó, Kracskó, do not die till you have told me where my +treasure is hidden. Wake up, I say, and tell me where you have put my +little money-chest."</p> + +<p>"But our big one," moaned the magistrate, "where's that? Haven't I +always said that if only one man knew, and the devil carried him off, +what should we do? Fetch a doctor, a surgeon, some of you. He must live +till he tells us where the great treasure-chest is."</p> + +<p>But no earthly aid could avail them for the man they called on lay there +dead, and he had hidden the treasure so effectually that no one would +ever find it.</p> + +<p>The despairing survivors ran fuming with wrath back into the court-room. +"Murder, murder," cried Zabváry as he rushed on Ráby. "I am a beggar, I +have been robbed! Hang the murderer who has killed the notary."</p> + +<p>"Not quite so fast," exclaimed Captain Lievenkopp, placing himself +before Ráby. "There are others here as well you might hang."</p> + +<p>"That's the man," shouted Zabváry, shaking his clenched fist at Ráby. +"String him up at once!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>Whereupon the district commissioner rose and insisted on a hearing.</p> + +<p>"It is quite true," he said, "that the notary died in consequence of Mr. +Ráby having laughed at him during his speech, but our law does not +reckon laughter as an instrument of manslaughter. I advise you not to +lift a hand against this gentleman, for whoever does so, will be taught +by the military to respect lawful authority. Now be off home with you!"</p> + +<p>This appeal to armed force effectually quelled the malcontents, who +sulkily beat a retreat.</p> + +<p>The district commissioner turned to Ráby when they were alone. "We must +prorogue the inquiry till all this has blown over. But if you, Mr. Ráby, +will take my advice, you will leave this town as soon as possible, and +will place yourself under Captain Lievenkopp's protection till you get +away."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + + +<p>After the foregoing experiments, it was time for Ráby to seek for +exterior means to attain his purpose, and he determined to extort an +avowal from the Rascian "pope," who alone now knew the hiding-place of +the great coffer, and if this was revealed, the whole intrigue could be +unmasqued. The heaped-up treasure and large number of bonds, which +represented a large amount of money, constituted irrefragable proof +against the guilty.</p> + +<p>It was to this end that Ráby sent for the "pope" to come and meet him at +Pesth.</p> + +<p>This time our hero did not alight at a frequented hostelry, but put up +at an inn where the country people were wont to go, and chartering a +room there, only went out at night.</p> + +<p>But none the less had his enemies ferreted him out, without his having +the slightest suspicion that two or three spies were on his track +wherever he went.</p> + +<p>One morning, Ráby was able to write to the Emperor and tell him that the +"pope" was ready to present himself in Vienna, and divulge all, as soon +as he received direct instructions from his Majesty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> He read the +missive to the "pope" before sealing it up, so that the good man might +approve of it throughout, and carried it himself to post, so that it +should pass through no strange hands. Then he invited the ecclesiastic +to dine with him, taking care to provide that worthy's favourite +national dishes, a savoury Paprika stew and the Servian "Csaja."</p> + +<p>As they sat there doing justice to them, who should come in but Judge +Petray.</p> + +<p>It was surely some unlucky chance which led Petray to Ráby's table.</p> + +<p>They exchanged greetings with a certain amount of embarrassment, and +Petray's contemptuous tone in opening up the conversation (which Ráby +had willingly avoided), was not lost on the other.</p> + +<p>"Well met, friend! I beg pardon for disturbing you, but you are the very +man I wanted to see," said Petray, as he sat down beside them. "Yes," he +went on, "about that letter which you have written to the Emperor."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" cried Ráby, beside himself with astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Why, you know well enough that the municipal council has forbidden +complaints to be formulated to the Emperor regarding any matter +affecting its internal regulations."</p> + +<p>"But who can possibly know what my correspondence contains, I should +like to know?"</p> + +<p>"Well we happen to know, because we intercepted the letter at the +post-office, you see."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>"What, you have dared to intercept my correspondence!" cried Ráby +enraged.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and what's more, we have opened the letter and read it, and have +submitted it to a committee of inquiry."</p> + +<p>"But this is an unheard-of insult!" exclaimed Ráby, rising from his seat +in uncontrollable anger.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are getting angry, are you? I guessed you would be, when you +heard it; that's why I begged your pardon when I came in. But it doesn't +alter the fact that I am sent to arrest you in the name of the +municipality, on a charge of treason against the authorities, and am +ordered to commit you to prison forthwith."</p> + +<p>Petray said all this in such a jesting tone, that the "pope" who had +kept his seat at table, imagined he was simply joking. He poured out a +glass of wine and offered it to the judge, saying as he did so:</p> + +<p>"Here have done with your jests, and drink this, your worship; no one +believes what you are saying! Come, let us toast one another!"</p> + +<p>The "pope" was a vigorous, dignified looking man in the prime of life, +with a round rosy face. He beamed again with benevolence as he pledged +the judge.</p> + +<p>Yet Petray did not take the proffered glass, but stiffened himself and +stood in a judicial attitude, with his hand on the hilt of his sword, +while he said in a stern tone:</p> + +<p>"Here there is no matter for jesting, I am sent by the Pesth County +Assembly to arrest Mr. Mathias Ráby as a criminal, wherever I may find +him."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>And with that he stepped to the door and pushed it open. Without, stood +half a dozen heydukes armed with swords and carbines and the town +provost.</p> + +<p>At the sight of them, the "pope" turned suddenly pale; his rubicund face +became a ghastly grey, his hairs seem to bristle in terror. There was a +rattling sound in his throat, and then he fell back senseless on the +floor in an apoplectic fit. In vain they strove to revive him. He was +dead! Fright, or rather the apoplexy had killed him. And as he was the +only living soul who had known the secret of the buried treasure, his +death forbade the entrance ever being discovered.</p> + +<p>Yet Ráby had not seen what had happened, for as soon as ever Petray had +opened the door, the provost had immediately arrested him with the +threat that if he did not yield, he would be put into irons.</p> + +<p>Ráby simply answered that he would not oppose armed force, and that he +put his trust in a Providence that would bring truth and justice to +light. And with that they marched him off, and led him down out into the +street.</p> + +<p>Before the gate stood three coaches. They made him take the front seat +in the first, and placed two guards opposite him with their swords +pointed against his breast. The others followed in the remaining +vehicles. So they drove through the streets of Pesth till they reached +the Assembly House, where Petray ordered Ráby's conductors to "obey +orders."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>So they proceeded to "obey orders." First they loosened his +silver-hilted sword from his side, took his purse and gold watch from +his pocket, drew the signet ring from off his finger, and searched him +from head to foot. In the breast-pocket they found the passport of the +Emperor, commanding that Mr. Mathias Ráby should pass unmolested +wherever he went. The provost read it through with a mocking laugh. Then +he brought out fetters, rivetted them on his prisoner's hands and feet, +opened a narrow iron-barred door, and without further ceremony, pushed +him into "cell number three."</p> + +<p>From that moment they called Mathias Ráby with justice, "Rab Ráby,"<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +for does not "Rab" mean in Hungarian, a prisoner?</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> I cannot but help feeling that the sudden death of the +"pope" in this last chapter will strike the reader as a somewhat bold +license, even for the novelist, seeing how closely it follows on that of +the notary. I am aware that as romance it could not be justified, but +seeing that this is a true story which I am telling, I cannot do +otherwise than follow the facts however extraordinary they may appear, +seeing they are set forth in the hero's own autobiography.—(<span class="smcap">Author's +Note.</span>)</p></div> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + + +<p>Nine feet long and six wide was the underground cellar wherein they had +plunged our hero.</p> + +<p>In this space, a select company was already assembled, eighteen +individuals all told. And Mathias Ráby now made the nineteenth in the +already overcrowded cell, and how he was to find a place there was a +knotty problem. It was lucky that the window over the door was not +filled with glass, but with an iron grating, which let in some air.</p> + +<p>As a matter-of-fact, this cell was the best in the whole Assembly House, +as could be testified to by old Tsajkos, the eldest of the prisoners, +who was now quartered here. He was an old acquaintance of our hero, by +the way, and Ráby had often provided the old man with tobacco, a luxury +which the prisoners were not allowed to smoke, but might chew, if they +could get it.</p> + +<p>Nor was Tsajkos long in recognising the new-comer. He limped up to him, +rattling the heavy chains he wore on his legs, and clapped Ráby on the +back in greeting, while the other occupants of the cell looked on in +wide-eyed amazement.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>"So you have come to it at last, have you, my young friend? Now who +would have thought the likes of you would ever have tumbled into this +company? Why, I've always known you to be a well-brought-up fellow, who +never eat an apple that was not peeled. What can they have against you, +I should like to know? 'Not guilty' may do well enough up above there, +but you know as well as I, it does not do down here. Folks don't come to +a place like this for nothing, we all know that! Now tell us what it +is."</p> + +<p>Disgust and repulsion almost choked Ráby's powers of speech. He covered +his face with his hands.</p> + +<p>"Come now, none of that sort of thing! We want no blubbering here. Don't +disgrace the company. If you want to cry, be off to the women's prison; +we know you've got two wives already there!"</p> + +<p>At this, the whole crew yelled with hoarse laughter.</p> + +<p>"Aha!" exclaimed a voice from the furthest corner. "So that's the +celebrated husband, is it? Well, I can tell you what he's here for; the +women themselves told me, and they had it from the heydukes; he is a +spy."</p> + +<p>At these words, the whole band were roused to sudden uproar. "A spy! a +traitor!" they yelled in chorus. "He'll strangle us at night. Let's +squeeze the life out of him now."</p> + +<p>"Be quiet, all of you," cried old Tsajkos, as he thrust the crowd back. +"You don't know what you're<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> talking about. Stop your barking and listen +to me. He may be a spy, but he only betrays the gentry, and he'll never +turn on us poor folk. If a great lord robs or steals, he's down upon +him, but never on us."</p> + +<p>"That's another matter," shouted the rest. "Then we'll be friends with +him."</p> + +<p>And Ráby had thereupon to submit to the rough greetings of his new +comrades in misfortune.</p> + +<p>"They are not a bad sort," remarked Tsajkos, and he proceeded to point +out each individual member of the crew to Ráby, specifying which was a +horse-stealer, and which a highwayman, identifying as well the thieves +and incendiaries among them. Most of them, however, it turned out, were +murderers.</p> + +<p>To Ráby the whole thing seemed more and more like a ghastly dream. Yet +his five senses warranted its reality: the low vault of the cell which +surrounded him, the fierce criminal faces of the prisoners, the clinking +of the fetters, the dirty grimy hands that grasped his own, the damp, +mouldy odour of the dungeon, the taste of the brackish water from the +prison well that the old man handed him to revive him—all these things +warned him that this was no dream, but a grim reality from which he must +find a speedy means of escaping.</p> + +<p>He looked round, but his companion misconstrued the glance.</p> + +<p>"You are wondering how you will manage to get forty winks here, eh, +comrade? Yes, it's a difficult<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> matter, I warrant you; all the places +are taken, and each one has a right to his own. Unless Pápis will let +you have his corner for the night, I really don't see how you are going +to manage it."</p> + +<p>"Why not, pray?" exclaimed a voice from another corner. "Of course I +will, if I get well paid for it!"</p> + +<p>Pápis was a gipsy felon, already pretty advanced in years, his +complexion wrinkled and tanned like parchment, yet his hair was quite +black, and his teeth shone like ivory.</p> + +<p>"Bravo, Pápis!" cried the old man, while the lithe gipsy crawled between +the others and grinned at Ráby.</p> + +<p>"Don't have any fear, Pápis," said Tsajkos, "the gentleman will pay you, +sure enough; he has no end of money. How much do you want for your +place?"</p> + +<p>The gipsy did not hesitate. "A ducat a day," he retorted promptly.</p> + +<p>Ráby began to enter into the humours of the situation. He reflected a +minute on the proposal.</p> + +<p>"That is not much, after all," he said politely.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you are the right sort, you are," cried old Tsajkos. "I only hope +you'll be long with us. You shall just see what a good place we'll make +for you against the wall with no one on the other side, and my knees can +be your pillow. We can't do feather beds down here, or even run to +straw, but one sleeps soundest on the bricks after all."</p> + +<p>"But where will Pápis sleep himself?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>For all his own misery, Ráby could not repress the question.</p> + +<p>The whole crew burst out laughing. As soon as they had stilled their +mirth, the prisoners looked at each other embarrassed, and then at their +leader to explain.</p> + +<p>The old man smiled slily.</p> + +<p>"Where will Pápis sleep? Why, in the bucket, to be sure, up above +there," he answered.</p> + +<p>Ráby looked up, and saw from the roof two chains hanging, through the +links of which two poles were thrust, and on these hung the great bucket +in which every evening the prisoners had to carry the water needed in +the kitchen of the Assembly House above.</p> + +<p>They showed him how Pápis got up. One of the prisoners seized the little +gipsy by the legs and hauled him up to the roof, after which, Pápis took +the cover off the bucket, crawled inside, and disappeared from sight.</p> + +<p>Ráby was still more astonished.</p> + +<p>"But how can the man sleep in that pail?" he asked, puzzled.</p> + +<p>Everyone laughed, but quickly suppressed it, and all looked again rather +sheepish.</p> + +<p>Tsajkos patted Ráby's cheek patronisingly with his greasy hand, and +cried,</p> + +<p>"Bless my stars! what a simple greenhorn it is; Pápis will sleep sounder +to-night, thanks to you, on a comfortable bed."</p> + +<p>"How may that be?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>"I'll whisper it in your ear. He will leave this place this evening on +your account."</p> + +<p>"On my account, how can that be?" cried Ráby astounded.</p> + +<p>"Ay, sure enough, and come back early to-morrow morning again."</p> + +<p>"Why, how is it possible?"</p> + +<p>"That's not our affair. All that matters is he will come back. He does +this whenever some poor devil has a message to send to anyone outside. +To-day Pápis will do it for you. Do you want to send a letter to anyone? +Have it ready, and he'll see they get it. And what is more, you can +trust him with gold; he'll bring back what you give him, even were it a +hundred ducats, all safe and sound. The Emperor himself has no more +trusty courier."</p> + +<p>Ráby's head began to whirl. How if he should take this means of +informing Joseph of his present situation?</p> + +<p>"Yes, but how can I write a letter?" he exclaimed anxiously; "they have +not left me a single morsel of paper, or even a pencil-end."</p> + +<p>"Ay, you shall have any amount, only turn your head away, and don't look +where I get it from; we don't want new-comers to learn these things all +at once."</p> + +<p>The prisoners were already bent on widening their dungeon by breaking +through the roof with implements which Pápis had procured for them. They +had removed first one stone and then another from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> the roof, and each +night and morning the stones were laid back in their places, in order to +arouse no suspicion, the clefts being hidden with bits of bread, and the +breach carefully strewn with mortar dust. The warder would thus not +notice it. In the cavity from which two of the stones had been removed, +they kept the more dangerous implements required for the work, and +likewise the writing materials.</p> + +<p>A table was also improvised for Ráby. At a sign from the old man, one of +the prisoners, a broad-backed fellow, placed himself on all fours in +front of him, so that Ráby could make a desk of his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"To whom is this letter addressed," inquired Tsajkos.</p> + +<p>"To Abraham Rotheisel, in the Jewry," returned Ráby.</p> + +<p>"It will be all right. Take it, Pápis!"</p> + +<p>The little gipsy stretched his arm from under the lid of the bucket, and +seized the letter.</p> + +<p>How he was ever going to get out with it was a mystery which Ráby did +not pretend to fathom, but the gipsy clambered down again from his +hiding-place. It was growing dark.</p> + +<p>The prisoners prepared a sleeping-place for Ráby in a corner, spreading +a bit of old sheepskin on the floor, so that he might not find it too +hard.</p> + +<p>When the guard was changed at six o'clock, and the great outer gate was +closed, a rattling of keys was heard without, and the gaoler came into +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> dungeon to visit the prisoners and bring them their food. He came +first to Ráby, tested the fetters on his hands and feet to see if they +were fast and then handed him a piece of black bread.</p> + +<p>But the new-comer did not feel hungry and threw it away.</p> + +<p>While the gaoler tried the fetters, two prisoners hauled the bucket +down, and the gipsy slipped into it under the lid.</p> + +<p>Then the two men took the poles on their shoulders, and accompanied by +an armed warder, their chains clanking as they went, marched to the +well, Ráby wondering the while how Pápis was feeling during this +expedition.</p> + +<p>He had leisure for reflection, for he did not get a wink of sleep the +whole night; how indeed could he close his eyes in this horrible place?</p> + +<p>He had full scope for his imagination, for he knew every nook and corner +of the building, so familiar to him since his boyhood's days, from the +great council hall to the dainty little parlour, where the +spinning-wheel had hummed its well-remembered song. Only up till now had +the subterranean part remained unexplored ground to him; now he had had +the chance of seeing it for himself. How long was he to remain here? +That was the question. It was certain the Emperor would take steps to +free him, once he had his letter. But it would take at least four days, +two there and two back, and a day more for Rotheisel to convey the +missive to the Kaiser. Full five days therefore he would have to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> spend +in that frightful hole. But what would have been his thoughts could he +have foreseen how long his captivity was to endure? He would surely have +dashed his head against the wall in despair.</p> + +<p>At last day began to break, and the rattling of keys and the gaoler's +footsteps were again audible outside. One night had gone!</p> + +<p>Then the orders for the day were given as to which of the prisoners were +to sweep the court, and which to carry water.</p> + +<p>Two of them thereupon lifted the bucket again on their shoulders, and +off they went, their fettered footsteps echoing along the corridor. +Those left had now more room, so they stretched themselves and tried to +sleep once again, for it would be some time before the others returned +to the cell.</p> + +<p>It would soon be the hour for the gaoler to come again on his rounds, +and Ráby began to dread lest he should note one of the party were +missing. But none were wanting. When the roll was called, the little +gipsy rose from a corner where he had apparently been huddled up, and +showed an abnormally distended grin on his brown face.</p> + +<p>Directly the gaoler's back was turned, the gipsy wriggled up to him and +produced from one side of his mouth a many folded note; from the other a +roll of fifty ducats. No wonder he had grinned so broadly. He lay both +in Ráby's hands.</p> + +<p>Ráby could fairly have embraced the mannikin, repulsive as he was. The +note, however, contained nothing more than these words: "To-day, steps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +will be taken," and by the side of it, the cipher which represented +fifty ducats. Moreover, not one of the latter was missing.</p> + +<p>How in the world had the fellow managed it all? But this demands another +chapter.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + + +<p>That a prisoner should break bounds in the evening, return again the +next morning, and be present each time the roll is called, with fetters +properly rivetted on hands and feet seems, humanly speaking, an +impossible feat to achieve.</p> + +<p>But Pápis was quite ready to tell how he had managed it. While the +gaoler had been occupied with testing the fetters of each prisoner, he +had crawled noiselessly into the bucket which stood close at hand. In +the half-dark cell no one could have noted his disappearance.</p> + +<p>When the examination was over, two prisoners lifted the bucket and +carried it to the well, which was one worked by means of a pulley, the +chains which let the bucket up and down clanked, and the axle creaked so +loudly that under cover of the noise, and unseen in the tub, Pápis could +strip off his fetters, for there were no rings too narrow for the pliant +gipsy to draw his hands and feet through. Then the carriers removed the +lid of the receptacle and began to fill it from that of the well-bucket, +taking care the while that the heydukes could not see there was anything +else inside. They had of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> course to pour the water over the gipsy, and +as it came up to his chin when the bucket was full, he held his missives +tightly between his jaws.</p> + +<p>The two prisoners then carried it into the assembly house, where it was +emptied into a water-tub. If a maidservant happened to be lounging in +the kitchen by any chance, the two men would deliberately frighten her +away by their foul talk. The water-tub stood close to the mouth of an +oven; whilst the two others transferred the water from the bucket into +the tub, the gipsy slipped away as nimbly as a squirrel into the oven, +clambered up the chimney, and waited there till the coast was clear.</p> + +<p>As soon as he heard the pass-word shouted from the guard in the +courtyard below, he knew that it must be ten o'clock. So he clambered up +out of the top of the chimney on to the roof of the Assembly House, as +far as the gable-end. In the yard of the building stood an ancient +pear-tree, which the governor would not cut down, as it bore an +excellent crop of pears every year, although it was obviously dangerous +in the neighbourhood of prisoners. Pápis swung himself dexterously from +the roof on to this tree, whose branches jutted out over the two fathoms +of wall which shut in the court towards the street, that had now to be +scaled.</p> + +<p>But the returning was a more difficult matter than the setting out in +this case, for Pápis had not only to break out of prison, but the next +morning to break in again, which is a different matter.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>And this was how he managed it. The pear-tree had a great hollow in its +trunk, and in this a rope-ladder was hidden; this, the gipsy wound round +an overhanging bough, laid himself flat on the edge of the wall, and +waited till the guard, who patrolled the space below, had turned his +back. Then he let down the ladder, and slid along it into the street +below.</p> + +<p>But this would doubtless have been seen by the sentry the next time he +passed by, so to obviate this peril, the cunning Pápis fastened a string +to the other end of the ladder. As soon as he reached <i>terra firma</i>, he +threw the ladder back. The dun-coloured string which fell down over the +wall no one was likely to notice in the dark.</p> + +<p>By the time the sentry had returned, the gipsy was in the neighbouring +street. From there it was easy to reach the Jewry direct, and find the +way to Abraham Rotheisel's.</p> + +<p>He returned by the way he had come up the ladder over the wall, over the +pear-tree on to the roof, through the chimney into the kitchen of the +Assembly House, and into the bucket again, and so back into the dungeon. +When the gaoler came for his morning rounds, Pápis lay fettered hand and +foot in his accustomed place.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + + +<p>Abraham Rotheisel hastened to Vienna as fast as the lumbering diligence +could carry him. He lost no time in presenting himself before the +Emperor.</p> + +<p>Before long, the courier was on his way back, furnished with a document +which the Emperor had signed and sealed himself, after he had heard of +the dismal situation in which Ráby found himself.</p> + +<p>This important missive soon found its way to the governor.</p> + +<p>"Eh, what is this?" demanded his Excellency, as he recognised the +superscription and private seal of the Kaiser. He was just in the act of +dictating to his secretary, so put the imperial missive into a basket, +which was filled with documents of all sorts, and went on with his +dictation, pacing up and down the room the while.</p> + +<p>He was just trying to finish, when the district commissioner entered +without any announcing.</p> + +<p>"Has your Excellency received a courier from his Majesty?" he asked +abruptly.</p> + +<p>"I have."</p> + +<p>"What does he say?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>"How should I know?"</p> + +<p>"Where is the letter?"</p> + +<p>"Where all the others are." And he lifted the cover from the basket and +pointed to the collection within of yet unopened correspondence.</p> + +<p>The district commissioner raised his hands with a little deprecating +gesture, as he whispered anxiously: "But your Excellency, these are in +the Emperor's handwriting; they should not lie here; they are urgent, +surely?"</p> + +<p>His Excellency looked at the speaker as a fencer measures his +antagonist.</p> + +<p>"Urgent, are they?"</p> + +<p>The district commissioner looked puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Your Excellency," he began, "this affair is not done with. His Majesty +has sent a second letter to me by special courier, and I have read it. +He orders me in it to come to you immediately, and express the gravest +disapproval that Mathias Ráby, notwithstanding the imperial safe +conduct, has been made a prisoner and placed in the dungeon of the +Assembly House, among the scum of convicted criminals. I am to take care +that he is released, and that he is allowed to defend himself as a free +man without hindrance."</p> + +<p>"That procedure won't be according to our laws."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not, but in view of the accusation brought against Ráby, his +Majesty orders that he be detained in a place of confinement more +befitting his rank and calling."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>"That shall be done," said his Excellency, and therewith he rang the +bell.</p> + +<p>The lackey answered it, and he gave him the order:</p> + +<p>"Go at once to the Assembly House at Pesth, and tell the lieutenant he +is to wait on me immediately."</p> + +<p>Then he turned to his interrupted dictation as a sign his guest could +go.</p> + +<p>An hour after this, Mr. Laskóy was announced. He had come to represent +the Council, as the latter was engaged over the vintage.</p> + +<p>His Excellency looked ready to eat his visitor.</p> + +<p>"What is all this foolery in the dungeon of the Assembly House, pray? Is +this the way you keep order? Mathias Ráby has only been imprisoned four +days, yet already the Emperor has had a letter from him, telling him all +about the thieves' den where he is shut up. Could you not manage things +better, and fetter him so that he could not write a letter, even if he +had pencil and paper?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Laskóy stammered and stuttered and lamely excused himself, and +finally got enraged, and vowed to himself he would soon find a way out +of this business.</p> + +<p>He tramped back to the Assembly House, and after a short confab with the +gaoler, new arrangements were soon made regarding Ráby.</p> + +<p>Among the underground vaults was a cell where wood was kept, but this +was hastily turned out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> The little vault had an iron door, with a tiny +air-hole in the middle, so small it could hardly be seen, and the door +could be locked fast. A more fitting place for Ráby could not be found.</p> + +<p>Our hero had already passed four days in the company of criminals, and +was counting the minutes and hours till the Emperor's orders should +arrive which were to free him from this frightful hole. And now the time +as it seemed had come.</p> + +<p>He was eating his supper of rice soaked in water—the usual prison +fare—when they came to fetch him. But they only rivetted shorter +fetters on his hands and feet alike, led him down into a deeper vault, +and thrust him into a cold, dark, mouldy cellar, wherein not a single +ray of sunlight, nor the sound of a human voice could penetrate.</p> + +<p>Yes, this was a worse place than that he had longed to escape from. +Above there, they might be evil men, but at least they had had human +faces. Their words had been hateful indeed, but they had been human +voices that uttered them.</p> + +<p>When they clanged the door behind him, and the cold, dark, deathlike +silence closed around him, Ráby lost consciousness.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>In the afternoon the district commissioner again called on his +Excellency, who was engaged in his favourite game of billiards.</p> + +<p>"Dare I venture?" began his visitor.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>"It is all right. Ráby is transferred into another cell. Now just watch, +my friend, what a good shot I shall make."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but perhaps they've put him in a worse one still?"</p> + +<p>But his Excellency was looking after his ball, for he knew what he was +about at billiards, and scored heavily.</p> + +<p>The next day the district commissioner went to the Assembly House to +investigate the sort of cell Ráby had been removed to. But when he could +not find it, and moreover, could, by no means whatever obtain from the +officials where the prisoner might be housed, he went again to the +governor to demand an explanation.</p> + +<p>This led to recriminations between the two functionaries as to the +respective limits of their jurisdictions, and they parted on very cool +terms.</p> + +<p>"I don't envy his next visitor," whispered the secretary to one of his +colleagues, "whoever it is, he won't get a warm welcome."</p> + +<p>And sure enough, one was just then announced.</p> + +<p>The governor was busy writing to the Kaiser, and he resented this +intrusion.</p> + +<p>"Excellency, it is a petitioner," ventured the secretary timidly.</p> + +<p>"Send him to the devil, then!"</p> + +<p>"But it is a young lady, Excellency."</p> + +<p>"I don't want any young ladies here. What the deuce does she want with +me, I should like to know?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>But the secretary whispered a name that caused the angry governor to +spring up hastily, and ask:</p> + +<p>"What is she doing here? Has anyone come with her?"</p> + +<p>"Excellency, she is alone."</p> + +<p>"Alone? Let her come in, then."</p> + +<p>It is easy to guess who the stranger lady was. She wore her ordinary +morning-gown, just as she had slipped out from her household duties, +without anyone knowing, but in her blue eyes lay woe unutterable.</p> + +<p>And it was only with those same eyes that she spoke; not a word did she +utter; not a gesture did she make. She sank at the feet of that hard +man, and seized his hands in both of hers, and hid her face and wept at +his feet.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, this won't do, little one! I can't have tears! Now, child, +tell me" (he was her godfather), "what brings you here alone? How if +anyone met you in the street? What is it? What is the matter? Can you +not say a word? Shall I have to talk instead? Shall I guess what it is +you want? You come here on behalf of that scoundrel, Ráby, eh? Nay, +there's no dungeon deep enough for him, the rogue, the graceless knave, +the good-for-nothing that he is——"</p> + +<p>But Mariska—for it was she—suddenly pressed both hands over the +speaker's mouth to stop his denunciations.</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed his Excellency maliciously. "So you've come in +case I am treating him too<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> harshly, have you? Never mind, he shall +carry fifty pounds weight of chains on his feet before we've done with +him."</p> + +<p>But at these words the poor girl pressed her hands to her heaving breast +in dumb entreaty, and her breath came in short gasps.</p> + +<p>"Come now, don't cry, it's all right," whispered the stern old man, as +softened by her grief, he kindly drew her to him. "Foolish child, were +you really so fond of him? There, there, rest easy, we will deal gently +with him. Eh? if you go on like this, I shall want to throttle the +fellow outright. Silly child, can't you forget him? Ah, Ráby, you may +thank your stars you've got such an advocate, otherwise the Emperor +himself hadn't been able to help you."</p> + +<p>His visitor uttered a little smothered cry of joy:</p> + +<p>"My dear, good, kind godfather!" she murmured, as she covered the horny +hand with grateful kisses.</p> + +<p>"Why, how pleased she is! Silly child that you are!"</p> + +<p>He rang the bell, and a secretary appeared.</p> + +<p>"Sit down and write thus:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"'<span class="smcap">To the Lieutenant of the Prison.</span></p> + +<p>"'By this present, I instruct your worship that you +cause the noble prisoner, Mathias Ráby, to be released +from the cell where he at present is confined, freed +from irons, and be forthwith put in a place of +honourable custody befitting his rank, till his trial +takes place.'</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span>"You will take the letter immediately to Pesth, and you will remain +there till you have seen with your own eyes that the prisoner is +transferred to proper custody, and further, will say, that I, myself, +shall follow in half an hour's time to see whether my orders have been +executed."</p> + +<p>The secretary hastened away to fulfil his commission.</p> + +<p>Mariska was beside herself with joy.</p> + +<p>"So my foolish god-daughter is satisfied at last, is she? Go back to +your pastry-making, for I want some cakes badly. Yet no more tears, +please! But come back with me," he added, "and I'll take you home. When +your father hears you've been to me to plead for Ráby, he'll be mighty +angry. So you had better let me take you back and smooth it over for you +at home. But I tell you, you must promise to put the fellow out of your +thoughts! No, no, I'm not going to say anything against him; for pity's +sake let's have no more weeping. Rest easy, no harm shall happen to him. +He'll soon be set at liberty, and go back to Vienna, and then he'll +cease to trouble us."</p> + +<p>The girl's only answer was a deep sigh.</p> + +<p>His Excellency led his god-daughter downstairs, and placed her in the +coach which was waiting for them. And little Mariska returned home in +state.</p> + +<p>Janosics, the castellan, met his Excellency at the gate of the Assembly +House, and bareheaded, bowed low before him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>"What about the prisoner, Ráby?" asked the governor shortly.</p> + +<p>"He is already conveyed to number three on the first floor, your +Excellency," was the respectful answer.</p> + +<p>His Excellency nodded, took his companion by the hand, and led her +indoors.</p> + +<p>Tárhalmy knew nothing, and was astonished beyond measure at seeing the +governor with his daughter.</p> + +<p>"I'm bringing your little deserter back," said her god-father, +jestingly. "Don't be angry with her! Judge the case for yourself; she +came upon me unawares with her cause, and who could withstand such +pleading, eh?"</p> + +<p>The head-notary now understood. Father and daughter looked for a minute +at each other, then the girl threw her arms round his neck.</p> + +<p>He kissed her forehead, and whispered:</p> + +<p>"You were the only one who could do it!"</p> + +<p>It was a consoling word for her. Yes, if everyone else in the world had +the right to persecute and vex the prisoner, she, at least, had the +equal right to protect and console him.</p> + +<p>She said nothing, but ran away into the kitchen.</p> + +<p>Their guest could hear that outside a hen was being killed, and guessed +what was going forward. He stopped on chatting with Tárhalmy, so that +Mariska should have time to fulfil her kindly task. When she re-entered +the room, after half an hour's absence, her face was red, as if she had +been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> standing over the fire—or was it some deeper cause? Her +god-father patted her cheek, and promised to come again, as he took his +leave.</p> + +<p>But he would not permit his host to accompany him, for he wanted to go +and see the culprit for himself, so he made his way to cell number +three.</p> + +<p>It was a pleasant spacious room, with two beds in it, as well as other +furniture. There was no one else in it but Ráby.</p> + +<p>He was seated at the table, and eating a freshly cooked fowl, which he +seemed to be relishing mightily.</p> + +<p>But when the governor entered, the prisoner rose, and was evidently +anxious to show a brave front.</p> + +<p>"Your humble servant," murmured his guest, as he looked round the room. +"Well, is your worship content with your new quarters, pray?"</p> + +<p>"As far as any man who is innocent of the crime whereof he is accused +can be content with his prison," answered Ráby.</p> + +<p>"Ah well, that will be proved at the trial. But at least as long as the +affair lasts you are well lodged here, I hope. Also you have something +to eat, I see, and some clean linen."</p> + +<p>"I fancy my former serving-maid must have brought it for me from home. +She was a very devoted servant."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you think it's she, do you? Well, there are other devoted people in +the world who remember Mr. Ráby's needs, I fancy, as well. Books too, I +see, and well-chosen ones. Well, there's a difference between this and +your earlier lodging at any rate."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>Ráby felt the blood mount to his head, but he would not betray his +resentment.</p> + +<p>"My arrest was a wholly unjust one," he said bitterly. "If no regard is +shown to the Hungarian nobleman, at least, the imperial mandate should +be respected."</p> + +<p>"So you think that the turn for the better your affairs have taken is +owing to the Emperor's intervention, do you?"</p> + +<p>"I am convinced that his Majesty would not allow his devoted servant to +perish," answered Ráby.</p> + +<p>"You are right in what you say of our illustrious sovereign; he is, +indeed, gracious. You soon found means, it seems, of advising the Kaiser +of your situation. I admire your promptness! The Emperor did not lose +time either; yesterday, early, I had his despatch in my hands."</p> + +<p>Ráby's cheeks grew red with indignation.</p> + +<p>"And why, then, in spite of this, was I yesterday afternoon cast into a +far worse dungeon than the one I was taken from—a cold, dark hole, +where I fainted."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know all about it. But I suppose you know what happened to the +Emperor's letter?"</p> + +<p>And his Excellency brought out of his pocket, the imperial missive, with +its great seal still unbroken, and held it out to the prisoner.</p> + +<p>"You have not even opened it!"</p> + +<p>"No, nor are any of them opened when they arrive. And I tell you +plainly, that all you write to the Emperor from here avails nothing. If +you have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> anything to quote from the Hungarian laws in your defence, do +it, and justify yourself. But every effort to act independently of those +same laws is worse than useless. It means only lost time and trouble, +and only rivets your fetters more closely. But at any rate your +captivity is bearable."</p> + +<p>Ráby shook his head, and as the door closed on his guest, he buried his +face in his hands.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + + +<p>One morning there was an unwonted stir in "Number 3" cell. Some women +came in to scour the room and fleck away the cobwebs. Moreover, they +placed a fine silken coverlet over the second bed, and the warder came +and fixed a nail in the wall. A new prisoner was expected, they said.</p> + +<p>Ráby was naturally curious to see what his room mate would be like; nor +had he long to wait.</p> + +<p>About eleven of the clock, arrived the expected captive; they could hear +him talking as he came along the corridor, and noted how the gaoler +kissed his hand respectfully, as he opened the door ceremoniously for +him.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Ráby as if he had seen his face somewhere before, but he +could not remember where. The new-comer had his hair carefully powdered +and dressed in the fashionable cue, and he wore his rather +fierce-looking moustachios stiffened in the Turkish fashion. His dress +was, however, distinctly Hungarian, for his green coat, variegated hose, +and gold-laced boots were all in the prevailing Magyar mode.</p> + +<p>The heydukes who accompanied him all seemed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> at his service. One drew +out his pipe from a large leathern case, a second handed him his +snuff-box, a third his pocket-handkerchief, whilst yet another spread a +bearskin by the side of his bed, and set out bottles and boxes of +cosmetics in a row. The stranger appeared quite oblivious of the +presence of another person in the room, and comported himself as if the +whole Assembly House had belonged to him.</p> + +<p>The worthy Janosics evidently thought it time to repeat his instructions +to the captive, so that he might recognise his limitations.</p> + +<p>"May it please your worship, the prisoners are forbidden to smoke," he +said obsequiously.</p> + +<p>But his worship, ignoring the observation, remarked with a lordly air: +"If the tobacco runs out, just cut me fresh, will you, Janosics? But +don't leave it to the heydukes, they don't understand it as well as you +do. Good tobacco, mind, and don't let them bring inferior. My cook must +have my orders," he went on, but the castellan interrupted him +respectfully:</p> + +<p>"May it please your worship, the prisoners' meals consist of pudding +three times a week, and meat three times, with vegetable broth on +Fridays."</p> + +<p>"My cook, I say, must have my orders," went on the other, not heeding, +"and must make me fish-soup on Fridays, and I must have my wine sent in +at once."</p> + +<p>"May it please your worship, the prisoners are not allowed to drink +wine."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>But his protest availed little, for the new-comer proceeded airily:</p> + +<p>"And please, Janosics, see that the wine is well re-corked once it has +been opened. And take care there is some fresh water in the wine-cooler, +as well as plenty of it for washing."</p> + +<p>Then he looked round him. "Tell my cook to provide two covers; I don't +like eating by myself, and don't want other people to look on while I +dine."</p> + +<p>"The gentleman here is on invalid diet, and has light meals served from +upstairs," said the gaoler.</p> + +<p>Ráby turned his back on the new-comer; he did not want him to think he +troubled his head about him.</p> + +<p>"Never mind that, let the dinner be served for two, I tell you, and +there will be all the more over for those who want it."</p> + +<p>"May it please your worship, the prisoners must go to bed at eight +o'clock every night, and make no noise, for the deputy-lieutenant lives +just overhead."</p> + +<p>"All right. But, Janosics, you must not let the prisoners go clanking up +and down the corridor with their chains; the noise gets on my nerves, I +can't stand it! Now you can go, and if I want anything, I'll just knock +on the door, so the guard had better be on the alert. But let them take +care to wipe their boots before coming in."</p> + +<p>The gaoler and heydukes blundered out of the room, and the new arrival +turned to look at his companion. He appeared a jovial sort of person, +and to be very genially disposed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>"So it is Mr. Mathias Ráby after all," murmured the stranger with a +smile.</p> + +<p>Ráby looked sharply at him. "You have the advantage of me," he said.</p> + +<p>The new-comer laughed slily. "Ah, I recognise you well enough, but +perhaps you don't remember me, though we have met before?"</p> + +<p>Ráby had to admit that he had no such recollection.</p> + +<p>"Ah, that's because I was—well, differently dressed, perhaps, yet it is +so, I can assure you, and what's more, I spoke four words to you, +although you have so short a memory for them."</p> + +<p>And the speaker sat down and began filling his pipe and lighting up for +a smoke.</p> + +<p>Ráby in vain sought for a solution to the mystery. After the smoker had +taken a couple of pulls at the pipe, he went back to where our hero sat, +and planted himself on the window-ledge letting his legs dangle, while +his spurs rattled.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible they didn't tell you who the prisoner was that was to +share your cell?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I did not even ask," admitted Ráby, "who it might be."</p> + +<p>"Then I will tell you—his name is Karcsatáji Miska."</p> + +<p>"Gyöngyöm Miska?"</p> + +<p>"Don't make a mistake!" pursued the highwayman, "and think I let myself +be taken: I am here solely through my own fault. It's a strange story,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +I'll tell you more about it later, I can't talk on an empty stomach!"</p> + +<p>And thereupon, he took out a big flask of brandy from a case, and +produced some glasses and white bread, and called upon his companion to +join him.</p> + +<p>But Ráby stood coldly aloof. He could not forget that before him stood +the man who had so cruelly wronged him, the man who had been the chosen +lover of Fruzsinka! All the manly pride of his nature revolted at the +thought. Yet he could not help a feeling of satisfaction that the man +for once had been judged on his deserts, and what those were, Ráby knew +only too well. But that his rival should be thus sharing his prison and +partaking the same fate—this was indeed a strange turn for events to +take.</p> + +<p>When dinner-time came the highwayman knocked on the wall for the +heydukes, who promptly responded to the signal, and hastened to serve +quite a luxurious meal, but Ráby excused himself on the score of his +dining at a later hour. His host did not press him, but so vigorously +tackled the good fare, that soon the dishes were cleared completely.</p> + +<p>Ráby, the while, had leisure to meditate on the course events had taken. +It gave an exquisite edge to his misery to be penned up in the same room +with a man he hated.</p> + +<p>Yet such a man, since he was still keeping up apparently his relations +with the world outside, could help him vastly, and would be a better<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> +prop to rely on than the gipsy-carrier: he had simply to give letters to +the heydukes, and they would deliver them as bidden. Yet his better self +revolted at the notion of being helped by Karcsatáji, for, in his inmost +soul, he had nothing but the bitterest contempt for this highway robber, +who had been the lover of Fruzsinka. No, he would receive no favours, +were it liberty itself, from such a hand!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + + +<p>As soon as Karcsatáji had finished his meal, he turned to Ráby.</p> + +<p>"Are you inclined for a chat, Mr. Ráby?" he said, as he lighted his +pipe. "Because if you are, this will be our chance to discuss the world +in general, and our own corner of it in particular."</p> + +<p>"I am all attention," answered Ráby coldly.</p> + +<p>"You will be still more so when you hear my story, I fancy. We two are +companions in adversity (only you have got over the worst of it), since +we are both the victims of a worthless woman, curse her!"</p> + +<p>"I will not curse her," said Ráby quietly.</p> + +<p>"No? Then you are a man out of a thousand, but I am only of very +ordinary clay, I fear. And I am not the only one she has fooled. If I +mistake not, Petray is also in the same boat. But the fellow can talk as +well as I can ride—which is saying a good deal. And it is that precious +tongue of his which bewitches the women. Yet I have more to complain of +than you, I consider. She took refuge under the wing of Petray, and +meantime the fatal letter she had written to me was intercepted, in +consequence of which Lievenkopp and you both challenged me to a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> duel +near the old Zsámbék Church. The end of it was that Petray, as soon as +he heard how matters stood, let the lady know some home-truths, so that +for sometime they lived as man and wife, though leading a cat and dog +life. At last my lady became sick of this honey-mooning, and one fine +day she left Petray and came to me."</p> + +<p>Ráby buried his face in his hands and groaned. How could he endure this +talk?</p> + +<p>"You need not bear me a grudge," said the other. "Know, by that time I +had given up robbery, and would have buried my ancient feud with the +law. I was seriously thinking about setting my house in order, and I +told my old companions to come no more to see me, and promised, if they +were in need, I would send out supplies to them in the forest. I was not +going to be 'Gyöngyöm Miska' any longer, for I had made up my mind to +reform my way of life. Then it was that your runaway wife fled to my +protection. You were well rid of her, yet how many times I have cursed +you in thought. I knew it was a deadly sin to take another man's wife. +Small wonder that Fruzsinka brought me nothing but ill-luck. I gave her +to understand from the first, that I was changing my life, and I set +about building a church in our village, moreover I repented of my sins, +fasted, and did penance and abjured my old evil ways. But easy as it is +to befool women-kind, it is difficult to deceive them, if we want to get +rid of them. Their suspicions are so easily aroused. If I were Emperor, +I would trust<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> the police-espionage to women. She began with +intercepting my correspondence. Good heavens! what an experience I had, +and I thought she would tear me to pieces. So angry was she that she +left me, and I naturally concluded she was going to be reconciled to +you."</p> + +<p>Ráby ground his teeth.</p> + +<p>"I know now that she was not. She began to work me further mischief. Do +you know, that to her I owed the denunciations which were shortly +afterwards, from some mysterious source, made to the ecclesiastical +authorities against me, of blasphemy and sacrilege, and though the +charges were true enough, I am sorry to say, I did not reckon in +expiating my past sins so sharply. For it was on these very charges that +I was arrested by order of high ecclesiastical dignitaries and condemned +to two years imprisonment; and many a thaler has it cost me already to +avoid being put into irons."</p> + +<p>At these words he blew into his big pipe-bowl so energetically, that the +sparks flew up and illuminated his face in the darkness with a strangely +sinister light.</p> + +<p>"And now, friend Ráby, who has the greater ground of complaint, you or +I?"</p> + +<p>He did not wait for an answer to his question, but began to curse away +furiously for some minutes with a virulence terrible to hear. When he +had finished his round of imprecations (and it was no limited one), he +threw himself on his bed and fell asleep.</p> + +<p>As for Ráby, he pondered long and deeply all he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> had heard about his +faithless wife, and once more she seemed to be spinning beside him, yet +there was a grim satisfaction that others had suffered beside himself. +Was he not avenged on the highwayman at last, seeing that the biter was +bitten!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + + +<p>The Emperor sent urgent orders to the governor to set Mathias Ráby free +immediately, so that the inquiry into the Szent-Endre frauds, +established on his accusation, could be brought to an end.</p> + +<p>The letter was laid by with the rest, as usual, unread. The governor +however hastened to answer that the orders would be executed in due +course—when the depositions of the municipality had been taken—an +explanation which satisfied the Emperor, who little knew what the "due +course" extended to.</p> + +<p>It really meant that the culprit Ráby was brought out of his prison, not +to be freed, but rather to be fettered hand and foot. That is usual when +a prisoner is to be tried, and this was his first examination.</p> + +<p>In the presence of the whole court, and of the district commissioner, +they subjected him to an insidious cross-examination for fully four +hours, till he was ready to drop from sheer exhaustion. Only half of the +accusations brought against him would have sufficed for his +condemnation.</p> + +<p>Finally, he was conducted back to prison. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> staggered into the room he +had left, but the gaoler called him back.</p> + +<p>"Oho, there, Mr. prisoner, that's not your cell. Those who wear irons +don't lodge there!"</p> + +<p>And he led him into a neighbouring cell whose door was furnished with +three massive locks, whilst the window was protected with iron bars and +a grating. The only furniture was a plank bed; of table or chairs, there +were none. The prisoner's books had not been sent in either.</p> + +<p>Although it was dinner-time, and he had eaten nothing, no dainty meal +awaited him, such as those he had been accustomed to, nor even was he +allowed the ordinary prison fare allotted to well-born culprits. A +heyduke brought in a great earthen pitcher with a crust of black bread.</p> + +<p>"Here you are, my fine sir," laughed the heyduke mockingly, but, as he +bent to set it down on the stone floor, he whispered, "The bottom comes +off!"</p> + +<p>Then he left him, carefully locking the door behind him.</p> + +<p>Now was Ráby's wish fulfilled, he was rid of unpleasant company and was +alone. But solitude had been more welcome if they had allowed him his +books. As it was, he only had his own thoughts for company, and these +were not cheerful companions.</p> + +<p>Ráby's soul was full of rage against the whole world, but most of all +was he angry with his own weak body that was so sensitive to hunger and +cold, that trembled at the thought of death, and felt the pressure of +its chains so keenly. Why could not he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> carry his body as defiantly as +he bore his soul within him?</p> + +<p>But he knew that he needed some support, therefore he began to eat +mechanically the black bread, but had it been the daintiest fare +possible, it had tasted all the same to him. Only when he raised the +pitcher to his lips, did he remember the words of the heyduke about the +"bottom coming off." He began to examine the pitcher, and presently, by +dint of close scrutiny, he found that it had a false bottom which +screwed on, and found a cavity in which was concealed a bottle of ink, +pen and paper. With them were some slices of cold meat, as well as a +note containing these words: "Fear nothing; the Emperor knows all. Your +friends will not forsake you. Write once more to the Emperor."</p> + +<p>Now he no longer feared solitude. The phantoms and fears which had +tormented him hitherto, vanished with the sight of pen and ink. A +written thought is a substantial friend. So he committed to paper all +that had befallen him, hid the writing again in the bottom of the +pitcher, and re-screwed it on. The meat, too, revived him, and the +consciousness that he was not left to his fate, and that he could still +communicate with the outer world, was strangely comforting. Who his +unknown friend might be, he could not conceive. It must be some one more +powerful than the weak girl whose part in this business his own heart +had already suggested to him.</p> + +<p>The next morning, in came the gaoler with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> same heyduke, who carried +away the pitcher, and at mid-day brought him his rations as before.</p> + +<p>Ráby could hardly wait till he had gone, to unscrew his pitcher. Sure +enough, he found some writing materials therein, and the money for +covering the fee of a special courier for his letter. His friends must +be wealthy people.</p> + +<p>He quickly hid all again, however, for steps were approaching his cell.</p> + +<p>The door opened, and three men came in, who proved to be Laskóy, Petray, +and the lieutenant of Szent-Endre. The latter handed to Ráby the bill of +his indictment.</p> + +<p>The prisoner immediately handed it back to him.</p> + +<p>"It is not you who are the accusers in this matter, but rather I," he +said haughtily. "It is for me to impeach you, not the reverse. I refuse +to accept it."</p> + +<p>"Take care," cried Laskóy. "Weigh well the consequences of this +rejection. If you do not receive the indictment, we will soon tackle you +as a contumacious criminal."</p> + +<p>"I dare you to do it," returned Ráby.</p> + +<p>"The man is a fool; he shall take it," cried Laskóy, beside himself with +rage.</p> + +<p>Ráby folded his arms proudly, so that they should not force it on him.</p> + +<p>"Mr. lieutenant, witness that he will not take it and draw up a warrant +of attainder for contumacity."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span>The lieutenant proceeded to carry out these instructions.</p> + +<p>"And while you are about it, certify that I threw the document out of +the room," said Ráby, suiting the action to the word.</p> + +<p>This was an unheard-of audacity. The three men withdrew uttering violent +threats.</p> + +<p>After a time, in came the castellan with a very long face.</p> + +<p>"Now I would not give a cracked nut for your chances," he cried. "They +are going to pronounce judgment immediately. The executioner has been +told to hold himself in readiness for to-morrow. We have martial law on +our side, and the Emperor himself cannot gainsay it."</p> + +<p>These words caused Ráby to think over what he had done. It was, of +course, only too likely that their legal right could be strained before +the Emperor had any chance of interfering; in this case, he would have +lost his head before the latter could prevent it. The thought tormented +him the whole night through. The strong soul in vain reminded the weak +body which held it that dying was not to be feared, but philosophy +availed nothing before the thought of imminent death.</p> + +<p>The next morning found the prisoner restless and wakeful. It was hardly +day ere he heard a number of footsteps approaching his dungeon. The iron +door was thrown open, and a whole crowd burst into his cell, the +magistrate and the lieutenant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> among them, whilst following them, came a +man he took to be the public executioner of Pesth.</p> + +<p>A sudden faintness overcame him; all seemed to swim before his eyes, +and he heard nothing of what they said. The man who looked like the +executioner began to undress and roll up his shirt-sleeves. Ráby +imagined they were going to execute him in prison. The +forbidding-looking wretch then called for assistance, and bid them bring +him his tools.</p> + +<p>Ráby heaved a deep sigh and folded his arms across his breast, whereat +the whole company burst out laughing. The tools which the man had asked +for were a hammer, a trowel, and a tub of mortar. He was, in fact, no +executioner, but an ordinary mason, who was going to block up the window +in Ráby's cell which overlooked the street, and bore an air-hole in the +ceiling. They were going to shut out the prisoner from the outside world +altogether. Henceforth his cell would receive no light but what fell +from the tiny opening over the door which gave into the court, and was +darkened with a narrow iron grating.</p> + +<p>Moreover, from this day forward, Ráby was subjected to daily +cross-examination, and every means was tried to entangle him and make +him contradict himself.</p> + +<p>The twenty indictments first formulated against him rapidly lengthened +to treble that number. And so it went on for a month, nor did they ever +succeed in incriminating him. But it was a painful process for the +accused.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span>One day the gaoler brought a bird into Ráby's cell, a magpie, who by his +chattering mightily cheered the captive. The feathered guest sat on his +hand, and pecked his finger in a playful way as if it had been an old +friend. And Ráby stroked the soft plumage tenderly, and he guessed it +was Mariska who had sent it to cheer his loneliness which had become +well-nigh unbearable, and he welcomed it as a comrade. Whilst he +listened to it, as it sat on his hand, he would almost forget the irons +that fettered them, and would, on his return from the court each day, +whistle to his little friend on re-entering his cell.</p> + +<p>But one day there was no answer to his greeting; all was silent. Ráby +sought for his pet in every corner of the cell, and at last found the +bird strangled, tied to the iron grating, killed by his enemies because +of the pleasure it had given him.</p> + +<p>Had Ráby seen one of his own kith and kin dead before him, he could not +have grieved more than he did for this feathered friend. Nor did he get +any sympathy from the gaoler, who only laughed when he heard of it. But +Ráby implored him not to tell Mariska of the fate of her pet.</p> + +<p>That official, however, promptly reported the whole affair to Mariska, +and took care to carry her the dead bird. Bitterly she wept over her +favourite, but remembering her father might see she had been crying, she +soon dried her eyes.</p> + +<p>But Ráby must not be alone; that was the main thing. So she did not long +delay in sending another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> feathered pet, a titmouse this time, in a +cage, which she intrusted to the gaoler to carry to the prisoner, but on +no account to let him know who sent it. As if Ráby would not guess!</p> + +<p>The warder placed the cage on the prisoner's bed, murmured some excuse +for bringing it, and left him. He did not see Ráby fall upon his knees +before the cage in a transport of almost hysterical joy. And the little +bird soon became as dear to him as the magpie had been.</p> + +<p>But one evening, when he came in from the wearisome cross-examination +that seemed as if it would never end, lo, and behold, there lay the +titmouse dead in his cage. Someone had fed him with poisoned flies.</p> + +<p>Ráby implored the gaoler not to bring him any more birds. Henceforth he +determined not to have these feathered friends sacrificed to him.</p> + +<p>All the same, he soon found another pet in the shape of a little mouse, +which, like himself, lived in captivity. At first it only timidly put +its head out of its hole, and glided shyly and warily along the side of +the wall; gradually, however, it perceived that the cell's occupant had +strewn bread-crumbs on the floor, and furtively yet nimbly it picked +them up. And by degrees it came nearer to the prisoner, and presently +ventured to run up his knees and dared to eat the crumbs that the +stranger hand held, and finally, in that same hand, sat on its hind +legs, looking at Ráby with the most whimsical expression imaginable on +its diminutive face.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span>Poor Ráby! The mouse might well look at him; perhaps it wondered who +this haggard, unkempt man was, with the tangled growth of unshaven beard +and lank hair drooping over the hollow eyes, framing a pale, lean face, +disfigured by suffering.</p> + +<p>This was the beginning of their strange friendship. The mouse would +sport round him the whole day, or gambol about on his shoulder, and at +night, would, as he lay on his plank bed, watch him from the ceiling, +with bright, friendly eyes. Did Ráby call to it, it would answer him +with a little responsive squeak, and try to gnaw the links of the chain +that bound the prisoner, with its tiny teeth. But did anyone enter, the +mouse would hurry back into its hole.</p> + +<p>But alas, there came a time when he had to lose even this humble +companion. One evening he missed him, and only found the poor little +beast dead in a corner—someone, apparently, having placed rat-poison in +its hole. What the prisoner's feelings were, words do not express; his +whole heart welled over with bitterness at this fresh proof of the +malice of his enemies. They were, indeed, evil hearts that could find +their pleasure in thus tormenting their victim.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + + +<p>When the points in Ráby's indictment had mounted up to eighty, he +thought it time to make his protest to the presiding judge:</p> + +<p>"I am shattered in mind and body alike; I desire to withdraw the +accusation I have made, seeing it in no wise profits the oppressed +people in whose interests I lodged it, but rather tends to their further +hurt."</p> + +<p>"That avails nothing," was the answer. "The accusation has been +presented to the Emperor, and the complainant must justify it. Is the +treasure to which the impeachment relates, found, a third of it falls to +the informer; is the information thus lodged proved to be false, the +informer forfeits his head forthwith. So out with your proofs!"</p> + +<p>"Proofs? How can I furnish them I should like to know, fettered as I am, +from a dungeon?" cried Ráby in desperation. "Are not all my documents in +the hands of my enemies? Have not the archives of Szent-Endre been +destroyed, and my private papers abstracted, so that I am denied all +means of procuring the proofs I need?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span>"How do you know that?" asked the judge, dumbfoundered.</p> + +<p>"I know it only too well. Nay, I know too, it happened at the +instigation of the authorities."</p> + +<p>"This is the gravest evidence we have yet had of your guilt," cried the +judge; "this shows you have held intercourse with the outside world, +although forbidden by the law to do so."</p> + +<p>"It only proves I am right," retorted the prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Pray who are your accomplices who helped you in your correspondence?" +demanded his accuser angrily.</p> + +<p>"No one and everyone body. The bare walls, the air itself, the iron +door, my fetters, my guards—all are my accomplices if you like to call +them so."</p> + +<p>"Well, we will just make your chains a little faster so you can't move +about quite so easily, my friend, that's all."</p> + +<p>"That avails you nothing," exclaimed Ráby. "Their clanking sounds even +now in the ears of one who is your imperial lord and master, and will +shortly be here in his city of Pesth to sit in judgment upon you. Let +the guilty tremble before him, I have no need to do so."</p> + +<p>These bold words enraged the judge beyond measure. How did Ráby know +that the Emperor was about to come to Pesth for the military manœuvres, +and there review the troops in person. Did he know as well that the +Szent-Endre people were only biding their time to send a deputation to +the Kaiser<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> to ask for Ráby's release, and to demand an inquiry into the +conduct of the Pesth authorities in imprisoning him. It never occurred +to them that an ordinary water-pitcher with a false bottom held the +letters which Ráby wrote and received, and that each heyduke who carried +it, was an involuntary courier.</p> + +<p>In vain did they interrogate the heyduke who brought it, and ordered him +to be beaten; for each stroke the man received, he was sent by some +unknown hand a gold piece, so he was not inclined to complain.</p> + +<p>When the Emperor did arrive in Pesth, the following August, he learned +with surprise that his emissary was still detained in prison. He +straightway sent for the head magistrate, expressed his displeasure, and +ordered Ráby's immediate release on pain of all the authorities of the +city being dismissed from office. This was an order which had to be +obeyed.</p> + +<p>So forthwith in the Emperor's presence, the mandate was sent that +Mathias Ráby be immediately released from custody. The command was +peremptory and admitted of no evasion.</p> + +<p>But the next night someone thrust under the door of Ráby's cell, a note +containing these words:</p> + +<p>"Be ready this night! Your true friends are coming to fetch you away. +They will overpower the gaoler, take away the keys from him, and set you +free."</p> + +<p>"But it is evident," reflected Ráby, "this is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> not from my friends; we +don't conduct our correspondence like this. They have heard the Emperor +has ordered my release, and now they want to convict me of trying to +escape by force." And he gave the letter to the gaoler.</p> + +<p>But, alas, it only made an excuse for a fresh inquisition, and they +based on it the pretence of "a plot against the public safety." +Moreover, it was held to justify a still more rigorous treatment of the +prisoner, who on this fresh charge of conspiring with bandits, was +declared to have merited imprisonment anew. And the inquiry which +followed lasted late into the autumn, whilst the Emperor was too much +occupied in his fresh war with the Turks to be aware of this new turn of +affairs.</p> + +<p>And Ráby's fetters were meantime rivetted more closely than ever, so +that he could not write any more, and his wretched prison fare grew +worse and worse. The winter too had come, and the prisoner was well-nigh +frozen in his cell, for the dungeon was not warmed, and he had only his +summer clothing which was now in tatters. On his complaining of the cold +to the judges, they gave orders that Ráby's cell should be heated three +times a day.</p> + +<p>The end of it was that they placed a stove in the cell which was so +violently overheated that it burst, and Ráby had to press his face to +the wall in desperation to cool his scorched brow. Yet he could have +escaped had he chosen, for the door of his cell was often left open, as +if to abet his flight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> But Ráby, when he did leave prison, meant to +leave it proudly and fearlessly, as an innocent man who is rightfully +acquitted before his country's tribunal, not as a fugitive.</p> + +<p>One day the gaoler came in to say that permission had been given for the +prisoner to be shaved, and for his irons to be removed—a grace for +which Ráby hardly knew how to be thankful enough. It was a deadly pale, +if clean-shaven face that the barber's mirror reflected, but small +wonder, seeing that Ráby had not seen the sunlight for a year and a +half. This luxury was followed by an amelioration of his prison fare, +and fresh bedding, for both of which benefits, especially the last, he +was duly grateful, for it meant a good night's rest.</p> + +<p>However, that very night, Ráby was awakened from his first sleep by a +tremendous rattling at his cell door, and the next minute it was burst +open, and the light of the full moon flooded his dungeon. The prisoner +thought he must be dreaming, but the same instant the cell was suddenly +filled by a band of masked men in Turkish attire, with huge turbans on +their heads, and armed with an array of weapons, including swords and +muskets.</p> + +<p>Ráby was wondering in what language to address his strange visitors, +when one of them accosted him in Serb, and then Hungarian.</p> + +<p>"Fear nothing, Mr. Ráby. We are true friends from Szent-Endre, and have +bribed the guard and occupied the Assembly House. We have come to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> set +you free from this wretched dungeon by the Emperor's orders."</p> + +<p>"But I do not wish to purchase my freedom by force," answered the +captive, "and if the Emperor wished to deliver me, it would surely not +be by masqueraders sent by night, but by his accredited emissaries in +the full light of day."</p> + +<p>"Here's the order signed by the Emperor," and the head of the band of +maskers handed Ráby a document which contained detailed and definite +instructions anent the Szent-Endre affair, set forth in Serb, which was +the Emperor's favourite language.</p> + +<p>Ráby protested against the idea of flight, but they overpowered his +resistance, and made a show of armed force. "Silence, or you are a dead +man," was their only answer to his protestations, and the prisoner, weak +and enfeebled as he was by his privations, and dazed by the sudden +surprise which had thus overtaken him, fell at last in a dead faint and +lost all consciousness.</p> + +<p>When he came to himself, he was dressed as a woman, in the coloured +bodice and embroidered apron of the Serb peasant girl, and his hair tied +with gay ribbons; it was for this, no doubt, that he had been shaven.</p> + +<p>Ráby's entreaties availed nothing. In vain he implored them to desist, +and reminded them the military would be sent to overtake them, and then +all would be over! His representations achieved nothing with his +rescuers, and finally a rough, but powerful-looking fellow of the party +seized Ráby<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> and carried him off on his back out of the cell, followed +by the whole crew shouting and howling. The inhabitants of the Assembly +House must have been stone deaf, had they not been aroused by the +tumult. The band dashed in the moonlight through the court and gateway, +past the guard-room where four-and-twenty were wont to sleep, without +being questioned by a single soul as to their escapade.</p> + +<p>It was towards the Kecskemét gate that they hurried, as the likeliest +one to be open, so as to get off thus with least delay, and thence away +to the river-bank.</p> + +<p>At that time, communication with the other side of the Danube was kept +up by a so-called "flying-bridge," that was a work of art in its archaic +way, consisting of a flat raft-like contrivance, whereto was attached a +thick cable, which half a dozen small boats served to keep out of the +water. Behind the last boat, at the so-called "Nun's Ferry," below Hare +Island, the cable was fast anchored. Linked to this cable, the raft was +towed by a single oar to and fro. At night the ferry was not generally +used and the ferry-men were not there, but this time they were at their +posts ready for the expected passengers. The masked Turks took their +places on it without delay, and off they drifted.</p> + +<p>Poor Ráby was trembling in every limb, principally from the bitter cold +of the December night, which, after his long confinement from the outer +air, struck his senses with the sharpness of a knife. Moreover, he was +not quite sure that these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> strange rescuers would not throw him +overboard into the river, to find there an unknown and unhonoured grave.</p> + +<p>However, they did nothing of the kind, but the party reached the other +side safely. There horses, ready saddled, awaited them, and a coach and +four. Three of the sham Turks sprang into the vehicle, and dragged Ráby +with them. The rest mounted the horses, and they took the way along the +Old Buda road.</p> + +<p>One of the escort had the kindness to throw his cloak over the freezing +prisoner, the coach leading the way, the riders following. But gradually +the horsemen dropped off till, when they reached Vörösvár, not one was +to be seen.</p> + +<p>By this time the released prisoner had succumbed to the unaccustomed +strain on his already exhausted and overwrought nerves, and had lost all +consciousness of what was going on around him, so that he had to be +lifted out of the carriage in a swoon when they stopped at an inn.</p> + +<p>When he awoke from his stupor late the next morning, he was in a +comfortable bed. Only two of his late companions were to be seen, and +they no longer wore Turkish dress, but the garb of the well-to-do Serb +peasant, and, indeed, turned out to be respectable peasant-proprietors +of Szent-Endre.</p> + +<p>Yet neither their names nor faces were known to Ráby.</p> + +<p>For the rest, his two guardians showed themselves full of consideration +for their patient. They procured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> him warm clothing, caused light +invalid food to be prepared for him, and begged him not to be too +anxious to try his strength with the journey. When Ráby had sufficiently +rested, the coachman received orders to drive slowly, so that it might +not exhaust the traveller, and they set out again, not without many +misgivings from the fugitive as to whether they could not be overtaken +and their flight intercepted.</p> + +<p>One of his companions, who told him his name was Kurovics, besought him +to make his mind easy on this score. He pointed out how they would get +the start of the authorities before these could mobilise their forces. +Then no one knew of the disguise in which Ráby had escaped; from the +description which the Pesth court would issue for his recovery, no one +would recognise him, so he had no cause for fear.</p> + +<p>They only made two stages a day, so that the journey to Pozsony (which +was their goal,) lasted eight days, through resting at the inns on the +road. His companions gave themselves out as pig-dealers, and said Ráby +was their cousin. The third day they fell in with a party of armed +heydukes who were searching for their charge. They stopped the +cavalcade, and told them of their quest. At each wayside inn Ráby could +read the notice which posted him up as a criminal and outlaw, for whose +identification a reward of two hundred ducats was offered. To his +relief, the description of him corresponded to the appearance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> he had +presented in prison, with an over-grown beard, tangled hair, and pale +face, wearing a faded silk coat. Little did his pursuers imagine that in +the shy Serb maiden, with her cheeks painted red, who understood nothing +but her native tongue, that the fugitive they sought stood before them. +More than once it even happened that Ráby and his pursuers slept under +the same roof.</p> + +<p>Meantime, he became more and more attached to his two friends, whose +worth he began to realise increasingly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + + +<p>The fugitives had only one more station to accomplish before they +reached the Austrian frontier, where the Hungarian jurisdiction ceased. +Was there trouble at the frontier over Ráby's identification, at least +it meant that he would be taken to Vienna to prove it, and not back to +Pesth.</p> + +<p>They heard from travellers they met on the way that the Emperor was back +in the capital, owing to the army being in winter quarters, and +hostilities against the Turks being suspended for the time being. Ráby, +thereupon grew more anxious than ever as to his possible reception by +the Kaiser, whose concurrence he still doubted in his forcible rescue, +though, by this, the Emperor had doubtless seen that his formal orders +availed nothing, and he probably thought it impolitic to use military +force to free his representative.</p> + +<p>It was revolving such thoughts in his mind, that Ráby and his guides +came to the wayside inn where they were to pass their last night on +Magyar territory. It was a poor little "csárda," as such hostelries are +called in Hungary, between Pozsony<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> and Hainburg, wherein only now and +again travellers passed the night, driven thereto by stress of weather. +The accommodation left much to be desired, and its reputation was none +of the best. It was whispered, indeed, that travellers had been murdered +and waylaid there, and even now the host was serving his term in the +Pozsony prison, where he was a frequent inmate. In his absence, his wife +looked after the inn.</p> + +<p>There was no proper sleeping-rooms, so the guests had to rest on the +straw thrown down for them in the public dining-room, where they forgot +their differences of rank as best they could, while the only light was a +single tallow candle suspended from the ceiling in a hanging +tin-candlestick.</p> + +<p>Laying about on the benches, or on the long table, were a crowd of +guests that included peasants and shepherds, pedlars and smugglers, +while the air was rank with odours of strong cheese, onions, and +tobacco-smoke. The hostess ministered herself to the wants of the +guests, and handed round the wine.</p> + +<p>It was among this company that Ráby and his companions took their +places; as there was no other woman present among the travellers, the +hostess expressed some fear that the pretended Serb maiden would find it +somewhat uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>The two men thanked her, but said they would look after their sister, +and ordered a stewed fowl and some wine, for which the party paid in +advance. The water was too bad for anyone to depend on, so Ráby had to +drink wine, which, unaccustomed as he was to it, soon made him feel +drowsy.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span>In a few minutes he was fast asleep, with his head pillowed on his +folded arms on the table.</p> + +<p>His slumbers, however, were soon to be disturbed, for there was a loud +noise heard outside as of the trampling of horses and the clash of +weapons. The hostess said it must be a party of heydukes, and sure +enough it was.</p> + +<p>Now Ráby had ceased to be fearful of discovery by these pursuers, as +from the description of him so industriously circulated, they could not +recognise him in his present disguise. Moreover, he had been carefully +shaven every day since his flight, and his face newly painted, the +better to sustain his rôle.</p> + +<p>But this time he had cause for anxiety, for the first voice he heard +without was a hatefully familiar one—that of the castellan, Janosics. +How did he come to be here, for they were now in the jurisdiction of +Pozsony not of Pesth. He heard the castellan giving orders for one man +to come in with him, and the other to remain with the horses.</p> + +<p>Ráby stole a glance at the door which was half open. A cold shudder +seized him as he caught sight of Janosics wearing the Pesth uniform, and +carrying a carbine in his hand and a sword at his belt.</p> + +<p>Ráby pressed his head down lower, so his face might not be seen. The big +sleeves of his bodice helped him to hide his features the more easily.</p> + +<p>"Up all of you fellows, and let me have a look at you!" shouted the +castellan. Those present immediately obeyed, and submitted to the +inspection.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span>"The man I want is not here," grumbled Janosics, as he rapidly ran over +the assembled faces, but when he came to Kurovics, he laughed aloud.</p> + +<p>"Aha, Master Kurovics, so you are here, are you? What brings you out +this bitter winter weather, pray?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we must look after our business you know," answered the other, +without the least embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"Where's your passport?"</p> + +<p>"What do I want with one? I don't cross the frontier."</p> + +<p>"Well," shouted the other, "what may you be doing here?"</p> + +<p>"Hush! not so loud," retorted Kurovics, with a glance at Ráby. "I've got +my little cousin to look after."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's the game, is it? Soho, I see; and a nice little baggage it +is, I'll be bound. Oh I don't want to wake her if she's tired."</p> + +<p>And the castellan sat down between Ráby and Kurovics, and asked the +latter for a bit of his tobacco. Then he smoked, but always keeping an +eye on Ráby.</p> + +<p>"Pretty, eh?" he asked, and he made as though he would raise the +coloured kerchief that half hid the sleeper's face.</p> + +<p>"Let her rest, Mr. castellan, I beg. She's wearied out with the +journey."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, let her be then, but you, hostess, bring us some wine, and +take some to the heyduke outside."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span>"And what may you be doing in this neighbourhood, if I may be so bold?" +inquired Kurovics.</p> + +<p>"Oh, an important police-mission. A dangerous felon, the notorious +Mathias Ráby broke out of Pesth prison last week, and the descriptions +circulated of him are not correct, as I could have told them had they +asked me. The fellow is not bearded as described, but he was shaved the +day before he got out, and had a face as smooth as any girl's."</p> + +<p>Ráby felt as if the beatings of his heart would burst his bodice, as the +new-comer went on:</p> + +<p>"When I heard of it, I went to the authorities and told them the mistake +they had made, and offered to make it good by riding after the runaway +myself to see if I could identify him. And there are two hundred ducats +for the man who brings him back alive."</p> + +<p>"A nice round sum! I only wish I could find him," answered Kurovics.</p> + +<p>"I mean to take him myself," said Janosics coolly. "But hark ye, +Kurovics, is it possible that you yourself are leading my prisoner away +in a girl's garb? Just let me have another look at her."</p> + +<p>Ráby would have swooned, only that the castellan was now smoking so +closely under his nose that he was nearly choked by it. He was on the +point of springing up and surrendering in sheer desperation; it was with +the greatest difficulty he mastered his feelings, above all his +inclination to cough, for raising his head would betray him directly. +And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> the suspicion too arose in him that perhaps, after all, his guides +were accomplices in a comedy which had for its <i>dénouement</i> the arrest +of the fugitive just as he was making sure of safety.</p> + +<p>"Now I must see her face," said Janosics, and Ráby felt his enemy's +clammy hand laid on his brow.</p> + +<p>"Won't you look at me, little one? I can speak Serb quite well," sneered +his persecutor. And the castellan forcibly raised Ráby's head, and +looked him in the face with a grin of malicious triumph.</p> + +<p>But just then the heyduke, who had been waiting outside, dashed into the +room in hot haste, crying excitedly, "Villám Pista is here!" With that +the scene was changed, and Janosics had to make way for a mightier +rival. The very name of the renowned robber-chief spread consternation, +and the carabineers, on hearing it, promptly threw their weapons away, +the better to run for their lives, while the whole company scattered +pell-mell, some out of the window, and others up the chimney, in their +hot haste to get off. There was no one finally left in the room but Ráby +and his two companions, and the hostess.</p> + +<p>Outside, they heard some shots fired, followed by a feeble groan that +seemed to come from Janosics. Then the door flew open, and Villám Pista +himself entered, accompanied by two comrades, his rifle in his hand +still smoking from the recent shot. He was a fine-looking young fellow, +with no trace of beard on his smooth, handsome face. His bearing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> and +air showed that he was accustomed to be master of the situation wherever +he was. His dress fitted him admirably, a richly embroidered cloak fell +across his shoulders, on his head was perched a jauntily feathered cap, +and a short pipe was in his mouth.</p> + +<p>"They are a cursed lot," he cried, as he threw the weapon on to the +table. "But I've paid them out; they won't ride quite so merrily back as +they did in coming, I'll be bound. I'm sorry, however, the shot did not +finish them."</p> + +<p>Then he looked round the room. "Bless me, what a miserable light! Is +that what you call lighting up?" And he whistled to the hostess, who +hurried up with a dozen candles, and promptly placed them on the table +in as many sticks.</p> + +<p>Ráby's companions had placed themselves before him, so that their +mantles rather screened him from the highwayman. But the latter spied +him out at once owing to his dress, and seizing Ráby by the hand, he +dragged him out into the middle of the room. For a moment, they looked +each other steadily in the face, and Ráby recognised in the +robber-leader, his wife, Fruzsinka!</p> + +<p>And thus it was that they met. But the supposed highwayman still did not +betray the situation. He drew Ráby closer to him, and whispered hastily +in his ear, "Pretend you are frightened, and make your escape by the +door."</p> + +<p>Ráby obeyed, and with a bound across the room, in a trice was outside. +Fruzsinka followed him, and grasped his hand in hers.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span>"We have no time for talking. A whole gang of heydukes from Pesth is on +your track. Come away immediately; here are the horses of your +persecutors; up and ride for your life till you have left the frontier +behind you. Do not trust even your companions who will follow you, but +do not wait for them."</p> + +<p>And so saying, she helped Ráby to mount, only he was so exhausted he +found it difficult to keep his seat, and was crying like a child.</p> + +<p>"Weep not thus, wretched man," she cried impatiently. "Shame on you for +your weakness! Why do you look at me like that? We have nothing more to +do with each other, you and I. But fly, and look not back, and beware of +ever setting foot in this accursed country again, for whose sake you +have made both me and yourself so miserable."</p> + +<p>While she spoke, she cast her cloak about him to protect him from the +bitter cold of the winter's night.</p> + +<p>Ráby would have spoken one last word, but she cut him short by switching +his horse's flanks with her riding whip, whereat the animal bounded away +over the ground, where the snow already lay a foot deep. And the last +sound Ráby heard from the "csárda" was the cracking of Villám Pista's +whip.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + + +<p>It really looked as if Ráby's flight had been a predetermined affair, so +that allowing him to get off in woman's clothes, the authorities might +recapture him to lead him back to Pesth in triumph, more degraded than +ever in the public eyes, only that the appearance of Villám Pista +somewhat disturbed this hypothesis.</p> + +<p>Villám Pista, otherwise Fruzsinka, in fact, had learned from spies that +Ráby had escaped from prison, having pitched her camp in the +neighbouring forest—a fitting abode for the half-crazed woman who now +lived at enmity with all the world, though she boasted that what she +robbed the rich of she divided among the poor—a sentiment which caused +the ten thousand ducats to be taken off Gyöngyöm Miska's head and set on +hers. But when she heard of the pursuit of Ráby, her heart smote her +with pity for the man she had so cruelly wronged, who was now a +persecuted fugitive.</p> + +<p>With her companions she had lain concealed in the forest near the inn, +till the arrival of the Pesth heydukes warned her that the time for +reprisals had come—with what results we have seen.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span>But she only learned in what disguise Ráby had fled, when she saw him. +In an instant her plan was formed. The Pesth pursuers were all around; +if Ráby escaped them, he would be taken at the Austrian frontier, where, +seeing the Hungarian trappings of his horse, they would relegate him to +the Pesth authorities to deal with. And meditating on this thought, she +re-entered the inn. "She has escaped me," she cried, "and has dashed off +on one of the heyduke's horses."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say my cousin has run away!" cried Kurovics +anxiously. And he made as though to follow the fugitive Serb maiden.</p> + +<p>"Not so fast, my friend," exclaimed the robber-chief, "besides you have +not told me your name." And she questioned the two closely as to their +antecedents—questions which they did their best to evade.</p> + +<p>"Well, by way of passing the time, suppose I teach you how to dance! +We'll just see what you can do?"</p> + +<p>And with that, the pretended brigand took out an axe from under his coat +and dexterously threw it at Kurovics, so that he jumped up nervously as +it fell with its edge close to him.</p> + +<p>But the noise of shots fired without, arrested these diversions. Villám +Pista did not stop even to pick up the axe, but snatching the rifle from +the table bounded out to face this new alarm.</p> + +<p>Outside there stood her horse, which quickly mounting, she shouted to +her followers who were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> awaiting her orders, and galloped away into the +night. The fresh party of heydukes, with this new enemy to run down, +forgot all about Ráby (for on his head only two hundred ducats were set, +while it was a matter of ten thousand with Villám Pista). And that +chieftain was thinking that this delay would give Ráby time to cross the +river, while the frontier guards' attention would be distracted by the +shots fired. Two of the pursuers at last succeeded in running down +Villám Pista, and in cutting him off from his comrades.</p> + +<p>They were closing upon him in a thicket, and no outlet remained.</p> + +<p>"Is it the ten thousand ducats you are seeking?" laughed their enemy +contemptuously, as she took two pistols out of the holster, and seized +the while her horse's bridle in her mouth. And just as the assailants +approached closer, the robber fired, aiming not at the riders, but at +their steeds. Both beasts fell, the one with his rider under him, the +other on his knees, so that the heyduke was thrown over the horse's +head.</p> + +<p>Villám Pista clapped his hands and laughed aloud. "Now you can overtake +my husband," cried the false highwayman, and for the moment the old +Fruzsinka asserted herself.</p> + +<p>Then she vanished into the thicket, the gathering fog hiding all trace +of her, even as might disappear some wild valkyr of the old legends.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + + +<p>Ráby succeeded in crossing the frontier, the thick mist which veiled the +moonlight favouring his escape. The shame of the situation nearly killed +him. To be freed by a woman masquerading as a robber-chieftain—and that +woman his wife! His wretched spouse had done him many wrongs, yet this +one, although intended to benefit him, smote him as with a lash, and the +memory of her last words stung him to the quick.</p> + +<p>But he had by this reached the adjacent river, whose waters were not +sufficiently frozen over to bear the weight of both himself and his +horse. So he had to dismount and leave the animal behind, and then cross +the ice on foot as best he could.</p> + +<p>This was undoubtedly better than arriving at the Austrian frontier on +horseback, for a woman riding alone at that time of night would +certainly arouse the suspicions of the Austrian officials, and they +would probably escort him back to whence he came. So he dragged himself +to the first wayside inn he could find, and explained his presence there +with a story of his brothers having fallen into a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> snow-drift. The +kind-hearted people believed him, and when it was light, set out to find +his kinsmen. But whom, strangely enough, should they come across but +Ráby's two friends, who, after the fight with the heydukes, had set out +to follow him, not without many mishaps in the snow which bore out +Ráby's tale.</p> + +<p>It was a right merry meeting, and the three could eat and sleep in +safety now that they were free from their pursuers. They thought it best +to say nothing of the heydukes, in case they might be cited as +witnesses. There still lay a two days' journey before them across bad +roads ere they could reach Vienna. His friends' readiness to accompany +him convinced Ráby that they were in the service of the Emperor, and not +mercenaries of the Pesth authorities. In view of chance separating them +again, Kurovics made over to Ráby thirty gulden so that he might not be +without money.</p> + +<p>On Austrian territory, Kurovics became quite communicative, and let out +that he was no Szent-Endre burgher, but a well-to-do landed proprietor, +whose father had been ennobled by Maria Theresa, and that he was in the +Emperor's confidence.</p> + +<p>"And won't I just give you a reception if you ever come back to our +country," he cried, "not with passports, but with police and dragoons at +your back. I promise you I'll kill my finest sheep and roast it whole in +your honour, and open a bottle of the best wine my cellar contains to +drink your health in."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>"How do I know if I shall ever return?" queried Ráby sadly.</p> + +<p>But at last they reached Vienna, and put up at the "Dun Stag" by the Red +Tower Gate. Kurovics was evidently well known in the capital, and Ráby's +doubts about him were henceforth set at rest for good and all.</p> + +<p>Our hero had willingly taken a few days' repose after all the fatigues +of his onerous journey, but Kurovics would not hear of it. "Get to work +directly," he urged, "the Emperor is anxiously awaiting your +explanations. Write down your indictment, and do not wait to change your +clothes, but just come as you are into the palace, and we will come with +you as far as the Hofburg. For you know here in Vienna, everyone who +comes into the city has to report himself immediately, and state his +business here. It is possible that the Vienna police have already +received instructions from Pesth, in this case they will perhaps lock +you up before you can get a hearing with his Majesty, so be beforehand +and get the start of your enemies."</p> + +<p>And Ráby thought it as well to take this advice, so he proceeded to put +on paper his report as simply and briefly as possible. He was, moreover, +convinced that Kurovics was a genuine friend of the people, for he gave +him many proofs of gross abuse of authority on the part of the Pesth +officials.</p> + +<p>Hardly was the ink on the paper dried, than they chartered a coach and +drove off to the Hofburg, in order to be in time for the daily audience +which the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> Emperor was accustomed to hold for those who sought a +hearing. The audience chamber led straight into the Emperor's own +private cabinet, and was daily, from the hours of ten in the morning +till one o'clock, filled by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of +people, who came furnished with written petitions, or preferring +requests, unannounced and in every-day dress, to seek a personal +audience of the Emperor, which was always granted to them in turn.</p> + +<p>Joseph spoke all the languages of the polyglot races he governed, and +was equally versed in all the various <i>patois</i>, though he usually +conversed in German with the petitioners of higher rank.</p> + +<p>It was a mixed crowd which now stood awaiting the imperial +pleasure—prelates, soldiers, Jews, mourning-clad widows, finely dressed +ladies, and peasants in their varied national costumes, jostled one +another in the ante-chamber in which Ráby and his friends found +themselves. There was no precedence of rank observed, for the Emperor +would speak to whomsoever he willed first, though none were overlooked.</p> + +<p>All at once a hush fell on the chattering crowd, and only a subdued +whisper was heard here and there, as the moment for the Emperor's +appearance had arrived. Ráby was not a little shocked to note how his +imperial master had altered: camp life had apparently not suited him. +His cheeks were hollowed as with sickness, and his features bore the +unmistakable marks of the ravages of both bodily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> and mental suffering; +only the clear blue eyes he remembered so well of old, were unchanged.</p> + +<p>Amid the crowd of suppliants, the Emperor seemed not to observe Ráby and +his companions. At last Ráby ventured to press into his hand his report.</p> + +<p>"What is this?" asked the Kaiser in German, as he pocketed the document +without looking at its contents.</p> + +<p>All those who had spoken with the Emperor had to withdraw directly the +audience was over, and Ráby and his friends were at last the only ones +left. The Emperor seeing that they still waited, demanded of Kurovics +what it was they sought?</p> + +<p>Kurovics thereupon with a low bow, gave him to understand they were only +accompanying the lady.</p> + +<p>"I have received her petition already," said Joseph, "what does the girl +want?"</p> + +<p>"Does not your Majesty remember me?" asked Ráby in a low voice.</p> + +<p>The Emperor scanned him sharply with no sign of recognition.</p> + +<p>"I have never seen you before," he exclaimed coldly. "What is your +name?"</p> + +<p>"Sire, I am Mathias Ráby!"</p> + +<p>His Majesty clasped his hands with a vivid gesture of surprise.</p> + +<p>"Ráby! is it possible? Have you lost your reason then that you dress +thus? Whence do you come in this masquerading attire?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>"From the dungeons of the Pesth Assembly House, Sire."</p> + +<p>The Emperor seized him by the hand, and drew him without a word into his +cabinet.</p> + +<p>Two secretaries there were very busy sorting documents. The Emperor led +the Serb peasant girl up to them.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen, say, do you recognise this lady?"</p> + +<p>The secretaries were perplexed, and denied all knowledge of the +new-comer.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, gentlemen," said the Emperor jestingly, "tell the truth, +for I'll wager that you have often met before, to say nothing of the +lively correspondence you have carried on of late."</p> + +<p>The secretaries called heaven and earth to witness they had never seen +the stranger in their lives before, and had not the slightest idea who +she might be.</p> + +<p>"This lady is no other than Mr. Mathias Ráby."</p> + +<p>At these words, in defiance of all court etiquette, both burst out +laughing, and in their merriment the Emperor himself joined heartily.</p> + +<p>Only Ráby looked grave, and did not share their amusement. Even now +through the paint on his cheeks, the angry colour flamed—a fact which +did not escape the Emperor.</p> + +<p>"But however did you manage to put on this disguise?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Simply because I heard your Majesty had ordered I should do so," +answered Ráby.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span>"I? Why whatever put such a thing into your head, I should like to +know?"</p> + +<p>"Here are the instructions I received," and Ráby handed him his friends' +paper.</p> + +<p>The Kaiser shook his head as he went through it. "Of course I understand +Serb," he said; "but I never wrote this. Where did you get it from?"</p> + +<p>"From the leader of the twenty-four men dressed as Turks, who, in your +Majesty's name, dragged me by night from out of the dungeon of the +Assembly House in Pesth. Two of them came hither with me. Your Majesty +saw them in the other room."</p> + +<p>"Bring them in here," ordered the Emperor.</p> + +<p>One of the two secretaries went then and there to fetch them in, but +returned immediately with the news that the two men had already left the +Hofburg.</p> + +<p>"The police must be notified," said Joseph.</p> + +<p>But all their trouble was in vain. The two unknowns on leaving the +palace had made direct for the river-bank, where a boat manned by four +oarsmen had awaited them, and carried them away in the fog which +overhung the river.</p> + +<p>Here was an enigma to clear up! Why the men had conducted him to the +palace; why they had waited for his meeting with the Emperor and then +deserted him entirely; whether they had been indeed friends or foes in +disguise, Ráby could not imagine. It remained an unsolved mystery.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + + +<p>That year saw the appearance of a strange and new phenomenon in Vienna, +namely the first Hungarian newspaper. Then for the first time did the +Magyar feel he had a purpose in life, and see that by providing the +world with a certain quantity of news (whether true or otherwise it +mattered not to him), he could get for that same news a certain amount +of money.</p> + +<p>Such was the <i>début</i> of the <i>Magyar Hiradó</i>; it was edited in Vienna, +and then circulated in Hungary forthwith. Little it mattered to its +readers what were the news it contained; as long as there was something +to read was the main concern of its eager public.</p> + +<p>And so it was that a copy of the <i>Magyar Hiradó</i> found its way to the +Assembly House in Pesth, for the head-notary, Tárhalmy, had been +extravagant enough to invest in one. His neighbours borrowed it freely, +and many were the messages that Mariska received to ask her to procure +for the senders the loan of the coveted news-sheet. And even the girl +herself was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> without curiosity to see what this famous journal +contained, though she was too ignorant of Hungarian to be able to +understand its contents. She fondly imagined that everything that +happened in the world would be written down there as news, and she often +tried to spell out the strange Magyar sentences.</p> + +<p>One day, however, after more futile efforts than usual, she summoned up +courage to ask her father the question she had at heart!</p> + +<p>"Father, is poor Mathias Ráby released?"</p> + +<p>Tárhalmy looked at her sadly, he guessed well enough the reason of her +study of the <i>Magyar Hiradó</i>.</p> + +<p>"This time he is free, child," he answered; "but if he runs into danger +again, he won't get off so easily."</p> + +<p>"Is he really a bad man, father?"</p> + +<p>"He is the best man alive, and both just and honourable."</p> + +<p>Mariska shook her head with a puzzled air, yet she would find out still +more now that the ice was broken.</p> + +<p>"And the men who prosecute him—are they just also?"</p> + +<p>Tárhalmy did not shirk the answer: "No, they are unjust men," he said +shortly.</p> + +<p>Mariska grew bolder still, "How is it that a man who is really good can +be ruined by those who are evil?"</p> + +<p>"Because it is the way of the world, my child," returned her father.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span>"Are you vexed with Mathias Ráby?" she inquired in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"No, I love him as if he were my own son," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"And yet you cannot defend him against those who intend him ill?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot."</p> + +<p>"And why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because I myself am on their side."</p> + +<p>The girl gazed at him in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"My father taking the part of the unjust against the just, how can that +be?"</p> + +<p>"It is a big question which cannot be judged by ordinary standards. +Besides, how should a child like you understand?"</p> + +<p>Yet Tárhalmy marvelled at the girl's questions; they reached their mark. +But he felt he owed her an explanation.</p> + +<p>"I will try and make it clear," he said. "Our Emperor is a very +well-meaning man who has the welfare of this country at heart. He +honestly wants to benefit the people he rules over. But one thing he +does not understand, and that is the love of the Magyar for his native +land and his Hungarian institutions. If our mother is sick, do we cease +to love her? And so it is with Hungary, we, her children, know her +weakness and her wants, but we do not cease to love her the less. The +Emperor does not understand us; he wishes to civilise us before we are +ready for it, to mould us to his own ideals of a nation. He does not +want, as other rulers have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> done, to crush us, but he would have us +develop by new and unfamiliar methods. Against force we could oppose +force, yet he does not attempt to coerce us, but seeks only to impose on +us the weight of his authority. Thus it is that he sends orders which no +one obeys, and there are none of his officials who dare carry them out. +The whole body of Hungarian opinion in this land is dead against his +reforms, and will continue to oppose them tooth and nail."</p> + +<p>Now all this did not trouble Mariska; she understood so little of it. +Moreover, what her father said must be true. Yet she could not see what +the Emperor's dealings with Hungary had to do with Ráby's imprisonment.</p> + +<p>"It is a bit difficult for my little girl to grasp, isn't it?" went on +Tárhalmy kindly. "Unfortunately the Emperor does not understand how to +deal with our constitution. For instance, the members of our governing +body are chosen every three years, so that if any among them are proven +to be unworthy of the office, they can be rejected at the end of their +term. But the Emperor stretches his prerogative, and rules that these +offices are to be held for life. And as long as he persists in tampering +with our constitution and interferes with the existing order in the +state, so long will Hungarians put every hindrance in the way of his +emissaries. Nay, they would rather condone the misdeeds of corrupt +officials than reach the hand of fellowship to an idealist like Ráby, +who is inspired by a noble belief in the righteousness of his mission, +and sincerely imagines he is going to free the people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> of this land from +long-standing ills. That is why they make him suffer for his boldness, +and will make him suffer yet more, if an evil chance brings him hither +once again. He will find the anger of the entire nation aroused against +him. Moreover, now that the whole nation is incensed with the Emperor +for carrying on the war against the Turks with his Russian allies, and +is refusing him both subsidies and recruits, it is less likely than ever +to view those who carry out his reforms with favour. And meantime, we +honest well-meaning folk who only desire to live at peace with God and +our neighbour as Christians should do, have to stand shoulder to +shoulder with rogues and vagabonds to protect our country's interests."</p> + +<p>The head-notary turned sadly away and left the room, and Mariska sunk +into a silent reverie. Her father returning, suddenly put his head in at +the door.</p> + +<p>"Are you quite sure, little one, that you understand all I have been +saying?" he asked somewhat anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Father dear, I am going to write it all down straight away," returned +the girl, "and may I send it to Ráby?" she added shyly.</p> + +<p>"You may if you like," whispered Tárhalmy, strangely touched at her +request.</p> + +<p>And Mariska set about making herself a new pen in order to do justice to +the projected document.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + + +<p>Mathias Ráby kept as far as possible out of Vienna society after his +arrival in the capital. He never appeared at Court, and rented a modest +apartment in Paternoster Street without giving his address to anyone. It +was not only that he wanted to be undisturbed so as to fulfil a +difficult and important work, but that he felt that a turning-point in +his life had come, which implied a momentous decision on his part.</p> + +<p>His common-sense told him that so far the tragedy which he had lived +through was only a huge jest for the Vienna public, who enjoy nothing so +well as a joke. That the bold Magyars had played off this trick on the +Emperor himself made the whole jest all the grimmer. For them it +mattered not one jot who the victim was, as long as they had their +laugh.</p> + +<p>So Ráby avoided his nearest friends, and even reading the papers +irritated him. With so many big affairs going on in the world, what did +people care about the Szent-Endre happenings, or the machinations of the +Pesth government authorities, at a time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> when in the East, Russia was +shaking the Ottoman power to its foundations, and the rising of the +German Netherlands was threatening Austria with the loss of her finest +province, whilst like an ever darkening storm-cloud, the French +Revolution was already lowering on the political horizon. With such +contingencies, Szent-Endre affairs might well go to the wall.</p> + +<p>Ráby worked so unremittingly at his task, that by the beginning of +January, he could hand over his report to the Emperor.</p> + +<p>It was a straggling and long-winded, but exhaustive, document. To make +the tangled threads hold together and get a grip of the facts was no +light business, but at last the bill of indictment was drawn up.</p> + +<p>Nor were the Pesth authorities, meantime, slow in preferring their +counter impeachment against Ráby, and a black one it was—instigator of +rebellion, breaker of the peace, calumniator of the council—he was all +these, and much more according to this weighty indictment which brought +forward as many arguments to prove the case against him, as Ráby had +adduced against his adversaries.</p> + +<p>It was between them the Emperor had now to judge, and that impartially, +as justice demanded, and not swayed by his own feelings.</p> + +<p>Ráby handed his report to his imperial master, and gave him a brief +sketch of the contents, and the proofs of his charges, the Emperor +listening<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> intently the while. Joseph held in his hand the +counter-indictment.</p> + +<p>Then he said: "I will consider the whole report carefully. Till I am +ready to see you again, take this document and read it at your leisure. +I have glanced through it, and by letting you read it, I shall show to +you that my trust in you is still unshaken. If you can bring it back to +me, faithfully deny all the charges it contains, and prove that they are +false, I will tell off two of my most trusted police-agents to look +after your personal safety, protect you against the wiles of your +enemies, and procure for you all the witnesses and documents you need to +establish your innocence. But if you find one serious indictment against +you which can be substantiated, then say no more about it; I promise you +I will not ask any questions, for what has hitherto happened may have +been through my own fault in dealing with this people. At the St. +Petersburg Embassy there will soon be a legation-secretary wanted; it +would be just the berth for you! I'll give you to the end of the month +to think it over. At our next meeting it depends on you to say whether +you go to Pesth or Petersburg."</p> + +<p>And with these words the Emperor dismissed Ráby.</p> + +<p>And what better offer could he have had? A new life in a new country +where all the old unhappy past could be for ever blotted out and +forgotten, with no remaining links to bind him to his old days.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> Nothing +more tempting could the Emperor have suggested.</p> + +<p>He took the fatal indictment with him, and returned home to study its +contents—and a bitter reading it made. By turns he laughed at the +horrible tragicomedy, and then ground his teeth in rage at the stupidity +and malice of it all; the whole thing was put together with such a +grotesque lack of reason. The heaped-up charges would have sufficed to +condemn the accused over and over again, and Ráby hardly recognised +himself in this double-dyed traitor, who had been guilty of almost every +crime. There would be no judge living who, had such charges been proven, +would not have passed on him without mercy the capital sentence. And to +think that this avalanche of lies had been heaped up by those for whom +he was labouring to free from oppression, those for whom he had suffered +so much, and was still suffering, who were now vilifying him as a +traitor.</p> + +<p>At that moment he was very nearly throwing over the cause of the people +for good and all, and fleeing to a country where he should never hear +the name of his native land again.</p> + +<p>And then a terrible struggle began in Ráby's soul. On one side all his +vanity and self-respect rose in arms to urge him to flight. Was he to +labour without reward for this miserable people, and make its most +distinguished leaders his enemies? Was his name to be dragged in the +mire through the length and breadth of the land to gratify their +malice?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> Could he not turn his back on it all, and find in a foreign +capital that field for his gifts where they would have a worthy scope +for their display, and be cherished and rewarded? Fame and wealth on the +one hand, misery and disgrace on the other, and at best, the doubtful +credit of the informer—that was the choice!</p> + +<p>Long did the two strive for mastery, and darker and more hateful grew +the picture of what he might expect if he returned to his self-imposed +work. Was it not better to root out from his soul all thoughts of his +fatherland?</p> + +<p>And in the midst of it all there arrived Mariska's letter, which was the +only one of all his missives he opened and read just then.</p> + +<p>Twice, thrice, he read it, with its too well-understood appeal: "Do not +come back again!" And her words decided him.</p> + +<p>And indeed if Ráby had not, after reading it, sprung up and cried, "Now +I will go back!" he had not been worthy of having his history written in +this record.</p> + +<p>What if he owed it not to his people or his prince to go back, at least +he owed it to Mariska, and he would remember his debt. To her, at least, +he would prove that he was a man who did not turn his back on danger, +but went boldly forth to brave it when duty and his country called, and +to justify himself at that country's tribunal.</p> + +<p>And what love did not the letter breathe for him for whom she wrote +it—no gross earthly passion,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> but rather the pure love of a devoted +sister for a brother, of a tender mother who seeks to ward danger from +the head of a dearly loved son—that was love as Mariska felt it.</p> + +<p>And Ráby thought sorrowfully how many anxious hours that letter must +have cost her poor little head, ere she could clothe her thoughts in +words and achieve the difficult task of reporting faithfully her +father's ideas—ideas which must of necessity have been hard for her +girlish mind to grasp in their fulness, much more to put on paper.</p> + +<p>And like a horrible nightmare arose the thought of that other woman who +had betrayed her husband, and as if to make herself still more unworthy +in his eyes, had flaunted her shamelessness by masquerading in man's +attire.</p> + +<p>And the temptation suddenly arose to procure the deed of separation +which the free and easy Protestant marriage laws made only too possible, +and forswear the solemn tie that bound him to Fruzsinka. But he put it +from him as one more temptation to be resisted, not less powerful +because it came from within instead of from without.</p> + +<p>Poor Mariska, how the aim of her well-meant letter had failed! It was to +have just the contrary effect she had intended.</p> + +<p>After reading it again, Ráby hesitated no longer, but took the documents +under his arm, hastened to the palace, sought the Emperor's presence, +and said simply, "All that stands written here is false<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> from beginning +to end! I beg your Majesty to send me back to Pesth."</p> + +<p>"Good," said the Emperor, "and if they dare to lay a hand on you, I will +come myself and set you free."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + + +<p>The Emperor sent Ráby two agents of the secret police, who were told off +to accompany him wherever he went; both had full powers to claim +admission everywhere, to arrest anyone they desired without respect to +rank, and to draw the requisite funds they might need from the public +banks.</p> + +<p>One of them, named Plötzlich, was a famous detective, and never so happy +as when he was tracking some notorious criminal to his lair, or +dexterously unravelling some-deep-laid plot. His personal courage was +everywhere recognised, and he had won high distinction in the +performance of his duties in Vienna, where he was generally respected +and feared; in fact, Ráby could hardly have had a better man to protect +him.</p> + +<p>However, even Mr. Plötzlich had his limitations, as Ráby found out by +the time they were fairly on the road in the diligence. The +police-commissioner had never been out of Vienna, and a country journey +was a new experience.</p> + +<p>At the sight of the sparrows (which had been exterminated in the towns) +he cried, "How very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> small the pigeons are here!" Then, seeing some +country peasants hunting marmots out of their holes, he asked what kind +of an animal they were, whereupon the farmer he addressed told him it +was an Hungarian mouse. From which it will be seen that the accomplished +detective's knowledge of zoology was limited, to say the least of it.</p> + +<p>When they put up for the night at an inn on the road, Ráby noted with +some surprise that Plötzlich drew his sword and laid it in the bed +beside him. Ráby assured him that no danger was to be apprehended, as +all the doors were barred against possible attacks from robbers.</p> + +<p>"Ah! that may be," returned the other, "but," pointing to a mouse hole, +"suppose an Hungarian mouse should get in!"</p> + +<p>Meantime the long formal document which officially announced Ráby's +readiness to appear before his judges to refute the charges against him, +had been drawn up and sent to Pesth, and the head of the police there, +as well as the district commissioner were properly notified of the same.</p> + +<p>It was growing dusk when Ráby and his two conductors arrived in Buda. +And this was just as well, so that they should not be recognised. So ere +the street lamps were lit they hastened to the police-station, where it +had been arranged they should stay. Over the door hung the great +Austrian eagle, and below a soldier guarded the great shield<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> bearing +the imperial coat of arms, which showed that here no Hungarian had +jurisdiction.</p> + +<p>But the chief of the police complained loudly when he heard who his +guest was, and made a very wry face at Ráby's name.</p> + +<p>"H'm," he said doubtfully, "I have received orders from the governor of +the city to deliver over to him the prisoner Ráby if he should come into +my power."</p> + +<p>"But we bring you the imperial mandate," exclaimed the others, "that you +give a shelter here to the noble gentleman, Mr. Mathias Ráby, who is one +of his Majesty's chamberlains."</p> + +<p>"Well, my friend," answered the Buda official, "remember that his +Majesty is far away, while his Excellency is near."</p> + +<p>"Surely the Emperor is a greater man than the governor of Pesth," cried +Mr. Plötzlich indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Well, you will see for yourselves," retorted the Buda chief, "you don't +know the Pesth authorities as well as I do."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but remember we have instructions from the Kaiser," they answered.</p> + +<p>"You had better go and interview him yourselves."</p> + +<p>And off they went, leaving Ráby under the shelter of the Austrian +authorities.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Arrived at the governor's palace, they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> received by his Excellency, +who, after seeing their credentials, asked abruptly what they desired.</p> + +<p>"We are commissioned by his Majesty to accompany hither Mr. Ráby, who is +to appear for the purpose of confronting his accusers at the Pesth +Assembly House shortly."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean the good-for-nothing fellow who ran away the other day from +prison?"</p> + +<p>"May it please your Excellency, he is authorised by the Emperor +himself."</p> + +<p>"And he is likewise my prisoner, don't forget that!"</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, he is under our special protection, with an imperial +safe-conduct and is here for the fulfilment of a perfectly lawful +purpose."</p> + +<p>"And I have already ordered that he shall be surrendered to the custody +of the Pesth magistracy."</p> + +<p>"Then I must emphatically protest in the Kaiser's name. Here is his +authorisation."</p> + +<p>"Then I recommend you to keep it," returned his Excellency drily. "The +Kaiser commands in Vienna, but it is my turn here."</p> + +<p>And with that the governor got up and rang the bell.</p> + +<p>It was answered by a secretary.</p> + +<p>"Go to the Assembly House and tell them to send an escort of police to +arrest the runaway prisoner Ráby," was the peremptory order.</p> + +<p>The Vienna police-agents both exclaimed loudly at this defiance of their +prerogative: "We protest,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> we protest!" they cried angrily. "This is +sheer rebellion."</p> + +<p>"Protest if you dare," retorted his Excellency. "I'll have you both +placed in irons if you don't make off, and you will have time enough to +remember Hungarian justice for the rest of your lives."</p> + +<p>And the two commissioners, seeing all protest was futile, thought +discretion was the better part of valour, and hastened away as fast as +they could, till they reached the shelter of the Austrian eagle. There a +council of war was held by the indignant officials and Ráby.</p> + +<p>But they had not much time for discussion, for not long after, the +provost of the Pesth prison arrived with an armed guard to arrest Ráby.</p> + +<p>His Austrian protectors insisted on accompanying their charge, whose +forcible removal they strongly resented, though their protests were +unavailing.</p> + +<p>The Vienna officers naturally thought they would cross from Buda to +Pesth by the bridge; what was their dismay, then, to find that the +expedition meant to ferry across, and this in spite of the drift-ice +which at that season of the year encumbered the Danube and made it +dangerous for navigation.</p> + +<p>"However shall we get across," they asked, as they gazed in +consternation at the river, which did not look inviting, it must be +owned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's soon done," said the provost airily. "You've only to get +into the boat here," and he led the way to the ferry-boat which was +fastened close at hand.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span>"Please be good enough to get in," said their conductor.</p> + +<p>The prisoner was pushed in first, and the two commissioners dutifully +prepared to follow him.</p> + +<p>"However are we going to make our way through the ice?" asked Plötzlich +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"You'll soon see," was the ready answer.</p> + +<p>The helmsman cut her adrift, and the rowers pushed from the shore; but +scarcely had they put off, before a huge ice-floe drove them back again.</p> + +<p>"Ship your oars," roared the ferry-man, and the rowers dexterously +trimmed the boat which had well-nigh capsized under the blow, but for +their skill.</p> + +<p>It was too much for the Vienna officials. "We protest in the Emperor's +name!" they yelled, whilst Plötzlich, in mingled fear and anger cried, +"I am bound under oath not to allow anyone to cross the river when it is +unnavigable through ice, and I won't transgress my own rules, so take us +back to the shore!"</p> + +<p>And so back they came, and the two Viennese speedily disembarked. "And +Mr. Ráby as well," they cried.</p> + +<p>"Not he!" laughed the provost triumphantly. "You needn't trouble your +heads about him. Whosoever is born to be hanged will not be drowned, of +that you may be sure."</p> + +<p>And once more they put off on their perilous journey, while the +police-agents took out their red pocket-books and made formal memoranda +of what had just happened. Meanwhile, with much trouble<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> and long delay, +Ráby and his custodians reached the other side, not without narrowly +escaping destruction.</p> + +<p>The next morning, the river being free from drift ice, the two +commissioners took their way to Pesth, and by dint of much threatening +and imploring, arrived at the door of the prisoner's dungeon, where they +could speak with him.</p> + +<p>"Are you there, Mr. Ráby?" they asked anxiously, "and what are you +doing?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm here sure enough, and clanking my chains for want of any other +amusement," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say you are in irons?" cried his questioners.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, both my hands and feet are fettered fast."</p> + +<p>"Well, have no fear, we will soon free you!"</p> + +<p>For this was more than the police commissioners could stand; and they +dashed off in hot haste to demand Ráby's release from the authorities, +but they found the latter perfectly obdurate to all their entreaties. +Finally, they tackled Laskóy, and extorted from that gentleman a promise +to remove the prisoner's fetters. They also were invited by him to +attend the inquiry next morning, when they might see Ráby for +themselves, he said, and escort him away a free man.</p> + +<p>So the following morning found the two Viennese again at the Assembly +House, but there was not a soul about, save a clerk who could give them +but scant information. So they determined to get their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> news at +first-hand, and make for Ráby's cell. On the way they fell in with +Janosics, carrying a brazier containing disinfectants, whose fumes +filled the corridor.</p> + +<p>"When does Mr. Ráby appear before the court?" they inquired eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Not to-day," said the gaoler, "the poor man is ill."</p> + +<p>"Let us see him and speak with him."</p> + +<p>"You cannot, he is much too bad; besides I have to fumigate the whole +place on account of his illness."</p> + +<p>"But what is his malady then?"</p> + +<p>"That I cannot tell you; ask the doctor when he comes out."</p> + +<p>And at that moment the cell-door opened and the doctor walked out, +carrying a shovel on which some aromatic gum was burning, in one hand, +and in the other a pocket-handkerchief soaked with spirits of lavender. +He spoke to no one till he had washed his hands in a bowl of vinegar and +water that a heyduke held for him, the commissioners looking on somewhat +aghast at all these precautions. Ráby's malady must be something very +contagious to demand them.</p> + +<p>At last Plötzlich summoned up courage to ask what was the matter with +the prisoner.</p> + +<p>The doctor took a long inhalation of the lavender and then whispered to +the official, nervously, "It's the oriental plague."</p> + +<p>It was enough for the Viennese. They thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> no more of the unfortunate +man they were leaving behind them, but without more ado, hastened out of +the infected building as fast as their legs could carry them, to take +the fatal news back to Vienna. As for Ráby he was as good as dead and +buried, as far as the world was concerned, for his death was a foregone +conclusion.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XL" id="CHAPTER_XL"></a>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + + +<p>What was really the matter with Ráby the police never learned; but we +can tell the reader.</p> + +<p>When at about three hours after midnight, they had brought him to the +Assembly House, the whole gang of his enemies was awaiting him, +including the gaoler.</p> + +<p>He was received with a shout of derisive laughter, as he came into the +room, thick with tobacco-smoke.</p> + +<p>"So the Emperor has given you decorations, has he?" thus they jeered at +him. "Well, we'll see what sort of ornaments we can procure for your +worship," and such like remarks, were freely fired off at him.</p> + +<p>But Ráby bore all the jeers of his tormentors in a dignified silence, +and quietly submitted to the searching process, whereby he was stripped +of all his valuables, and fetters slipped over his wrists and ankles, +the gold lace being cut off from his new coat so that he might not hang +himself with it! Then he was led back into the cell he had formerly +occupied, and left to himself.</p> + +<p>But, he reflected, his captivity could not last long. The two +police-officers must be still there, and when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> all was said, they were +the masters. And failing all else, had not the Emperor himself promised +to come? Up till then, he would have patience. The visit of his friends +on the following day did not give him much hope that their help would +avail him.</p> + +<p>On the third day, the prison doctor sought him out, and with the help of +the gaoler, began to subject him to a long process of disinfecting, +which he said, was necessary for every prisoner who came from across the +frontier, seeing that in Turkey the oriental plague was raging.</p> + +<p>We have seen how the two Viennese officers were smoked out of the city. +This left the coast clear for Ráby's examination the following day. His +earlier trial had taken place before the district commissioner as a +political offender: now he was haled before the ordinary assizes as a +common criminal.</p> + +<p>The indictment which set forth how Ráby by the help of diabolic arts, +had forcibly broken out of custody, and fled to another country, was +read. It called for five and twenty years' solitary imprisonment, +together with public chastisement; which should allow of his being at +appointed intervals set in the public stocks, with a placard showing the +nature of his crime hung round his neck.</p> + +<p>Ráby, in his defence, demanded that the judges should call one of the +twenty men who had forcibly seized him the night of his flight; this +was, he said, exacted by the Emperor in his instructions as to the +trial.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span>Laskóy struck the table with his fist. "That is not true," he said, "it +is not in his Majesty's instructions."</p> + +<p>"I have seen it myself," said Ráby, "the Emperor gave it into my own +hands to read."</p> + +<p>At these words there was a perfect outburst of wrath and indignation +from the whole company, so that Ráby could not speak for the uproar; +when the noise had quieted down, he went on:</p> + +<p>"The men who freed me are not forthcoming as witnesses. But there are +two at least, who must know what happened that night, and this is the +heyduke who stood before the door of my cell, and the other who kept the +gate. Though I did not see them I know what their names were, for I +heard the castellan address them as Sipos and Nagy."</p> + +<p>"Let them be brought in," said Laskóy to the castellan with a meaning +grimace.</p> + +<p>But it was Ráby's turn to be astonished when the witnesses entered. For +there before him, stood his two travelling companions, the pretended +pig-dealer, Kurovics, and his comrade, who had accompanied him to +Vienna! And these, it appeared, were the two heydukes who had been +commissioned to play this trick upon their unsuspecting victim. Ráby's +brain fairly reeled at the thought of the lying fraud to which he had +been forced to lend himself.</p> + +<p>But the examination of Sipos was beginning. "It seems you were the guard +at the door of the prisoner's cell, the night of his escape?" questioned +the judge. "Do you know what happened?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span>The witness groaned, and murmured something incoherent.</p> + +<p>"Tell us what you know. The truth, out with it!" as the man hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Ah, how can I say it!" exclaimed the fellow, while the gaoler shook his +fist at him menacingly.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell all," he said, "just as it happened. The gaoler ordered four +and twenty of us heydukes to disguise ourselves as Turks, then to break +open the door of the prisoner's cell, and put on him a peasant girl's +dress and escort him to Vienna in this disguise. He gave us money for +the journey, and told us the Pesth magistracy had ordered it."</p> + +<p>At this outspoken testimony, Ráby could hardly contain himself, he +stamped on the floor till his irons rang again. So the whole intrigue +was manifest! His enemies themselves had hatched this conspiracy against +him, and now they dared to condemn the victim of their own wicked plot!</p> + +<p>He attempted to protest, but the whole crew shouted him down. "Hold your +peace, traitor!" they cried! "Hold your peace! Not a word will we hear +from you!"</p> + +<p>And their anger was not less hot against the witness whom they called a +liar and false swearer, and then and there ordered him to receive fifty +strokes with the lash, and this was Sipos' reward for telling the truth.</p> + +<p>"Let the other witness appear," cried Laskóy. "Now, János Nagy, you are +an honest man, and will tell us what happened, so out with it!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span>Nagy, otherwise the false Kurovics, had the example of his comrade +before him, and bethought himself in time of what he might expect if he +was too truthful, so he took his line accordingly.</p> + +<p>"This is the true history, your worships. When, on the sixth of December +last, I was keeping guard before the door of the gate of the prison, and +my comrade stood before the prisoner's cell, I heard a loud cracking +noise; then the door of Mr. Ráby's dungeon flew open, and he came out in +a fiery chariot drawn by six black cats, whilst on the box sat a demon +in a red dolman, who gave first my comrade, and then me, such a switch +in the face with his long tail, that we could hear and see nothing +further—so stunned were we. And then with a noise like thunder, the +prisoner disappeared in a flash."</p> + +<p>Ráby was astounded—not at the witness, but at his hearers.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible, is it credible," he cried, "that you gentlemen, can +accept such testimony as this?"</p> + +<p>"Be silent, and don't interrupt the witness," yelled Laskóy, "we don't +want you to teach us. You know we have laws against witchcraft, and we +mean to enforce them. Mr. notary," he cried, turning to Tárhalmy, +"please take the depositions of the witness."</p> + +<p>And Ráby saw with amazement that Tárhalmy did not hesitate to do as he +was bidden. And suddenly there flashed across the prisoner what Mariska +had written to him. Here the wise and fools alike seemed to be leagued +against him. In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> vain he protested his innocence in the Emperor's name, +and that of the law and common-sense: it availed nothing. Finally they +led him out of the room while they debated on his sentence.</p> + +<p>It was not long before he was conducted back again to hear it. Of the +several indictments against him, several had not been verified, but one +at least they indeed had proved, and that was, that by diabolic agency +he had escaped from the dungeon. That was enough to condemn him, and +"death by the axe" was awarded accordingly.</p> + +<p>When Ráby heard it, he could contain his indignation no longer:</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, and you my most worshipful judges," he cried, "hear me +before I depart, for there is no tribunal on earth so tyrannical that it +will not allow the criminal to justify himself. Why am I condemned? Why +have such punishments, ending with the death-penalty itself, been meted +out to me? Why have I suffered thus? Simply because I strove to heal the +woes of the oppressed; just because the Emperor has sent me hither to +inquire into the grievances of the people, whose cry has reached him. +The poor were no rebels against the law; they sought only justice, and I +desired to help them to attain it. Do you remember what authority is +given to you, when you are placed in the seat of law? Is it not a divine +commission to defend the right of the individual, as of the people, +alike? If you are confident in the success of your cause, I am equally +so in that of mine, for my conscience is clear, I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> broken neither +the laws of God nor of man, and to my convictions I will never be false. +I only ask one thing for my people, that they may be freed from the yoke +of the oppressor. Is that a crime deserving the death penalty? Well, let +my head fall; my blood be on those who shed it!"</p> + +<p>Several of the judges could not restrain their tears. Tárhalmy hid his +face in his hands; was it that he could not face the prisoner?</p> + +<p>Ráby's last words rang with such intense sincerity that not one of those +present had dared to interrupt his speech. Laskóy was the only one to +speak when the accused had ended his defence, and all he said was, "Take +the prisoner away!"</p> + +<p>"I appeal then against the judgment of the court," said Ráby as he was +being led out.</p> + +<p>"That is permitted; meantime, he who is under sentence of death must be +heavily ironed till the hour of execution."</p> + +<p>"Against that likewise I protest," said Ráby firmly. And they led him +out and called for the prison locksmith.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XLI" id="CHAPTER_XLI"></a>CHAPTER XLI.</h2> + + +<p>Up till now, Ráby had been rigidly fettered, in that his right hand had +been fastened to his left foot, while another chain had bound his left +hand to his right foot. Now as an addition to this came the whole +equipment involved in "heavy irons." Two chains, consisting of six iron +rings linked together, weighing in all about a quarter of a hundred +weight, were now produced for the prisoner.</p> + +<p>These fetters were no longer fastened, as the lighter ones had been, +with a padlock, but were to be rivetted on an anvil, so that they could +only be sawn asunder when taken off.</p> + +<p>For the operation the prisoner was led into the yard of the Assembly +House, much to the excitement of the townspeople who gathered to witness +so unusual a spectacle, including all the women-folk. They were aghast +at seeing a young and richly clad gentleman being loaded with heavy +irons. In such a scene the crowd is on the side of the criminal, and +they were now.</p> + +<p>When they saw Ráby forced to sit down on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> paving-stones, and heard +him groan with pain as his already fettered ankle received the first +stroke of the heavy hammer on the anvil, a cry burst from the +bystanders, and they could not restrain their indignation.</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow! What has he done to deserve it?" they asked, and the women +wept freely. One of them took off her kerchief, and, kneeling down +beside him, was fain to bind it round the ankle-bone, so that the iron +should not cut it too severely, but the gaoler sternly thrust her away.</p> + +<p>"What do condemned criminals want with that sort of thing, you stupid? +Away with you and your silly feelings. Would you have his fetters lined +with velvet? He'll soon get accustomed to them, I'll warrant you."</p> + +<p>And he brutally tore the kerchief off Ráby's ankle.</p> + +<p>When at last the work was done, the prisoner had to rise. But this was +easier said than done, for with his fettered hands and feet, he was +almost powerless to move. Small wonder he fell back in the attempt.</p> + +<p>Janosics laughed aloud.</p> + +<p>But it is no laughing matter when a man in irons tries to walk.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the women became more sympathetic than ever with the prisoner, +and openly railed at the heydukes.</p> + +<p>"You murderers! It is a sin and a shame to treat him thus! And such a +pretty gentleman too!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> If we were only men we would soon teach you +gaolers to mend your manners. Why you are worse than the Turks +themselves."</p> + +<p>"Drive the women out of the yard," cried Janosics furiously, "and then +let us be getting on, for the cage is ready for the bird."</p> + +<p>And some of the heydukes promptly drove out the women, while the rest +looked after Ráby. In one of them, who helped him to rise, Ráby +recognised the man who had brought him the pitcher with the false bottom +when he was in prison. The man also evidently pitied him in his +stumbling efforts to drag one foot before the other, and showed him how +he could best do it by carefully measuring each step forward. But the +pain of the irons which had already begun to cut into his flesh, was +well-nigh unbearable, and it was with the greatest difficulty he +staggered to the cell prepared for him—a small damp dark hole with a +little grated orifice for air through which the falling snow was +drifting.</p> + +<p>No stove warmed the frozen depths of his dungeon, but there was a huge +stake in the wall to which was affixed an iron chain: to this the +fetters of the prisoner were made fast, so that he could stir no further +than the small tether it allowed, and had to lie or crouch day and night +in the heap of straw, which was his only bed. An earthen pitcher and a +wooden bowl held respectively the drinking water and black bread which +were to last him a week, for having provided them, they needed not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> to +trouble further for some days about the inmate of the cell. And there +was no pitcher this time with a false bottom!</p> + +<p>Now Ráby was to know what it meant to be a captive indeed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XLII" id="CHAPTER_XLII"></a>CHAPTER XLII.</h2> + + +<p>Poor Ráby, he was a prisoner in such surroundings that they would have +served for the wildest page of romance. No sound came to him from the +outer world, as he lay there chained to the blank wall in his living +grave—the underground dungeon whose door no key opened. Yet for all +this he was not forgotten.</p> + +<p>In the deathlike stillness of the night he heard what sounded like a +noise of scratching in the roof of his cell, as if someone were trying +to bore through the ceiling.</p> + +<p>All at once the sound ceased, and from above he heard a well-remembered +voice: "Poor Ráby!" it murmured.</p> + +<p>At the sound, a thrill of joy shook the prisoner, in spite of his +fetters; it spoke to him of life and hope.</p> + +<p>"Can you hear me?" asked the voice.</p> + +<p>"Perfectly," answered Ráby.</p> + +<p>"Trust in God, He will deliver you, He will not let you be lost. If +to-morrow you hear a sound of knocking, give heed. Good-bye."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span>Then there was again stillness. But Ráby slept in his heavy fetters +rocked by that hope, as peacefully as a child in its mother's arms.</p> + +<p>When he awoke at daybreak, it seemed like a dream, till he was reminded +of its reality by a light tapping on the ceiling of his cell.</p> + +<p>And then, just over his head, there appeared a long hollow cane thrust +down from a small aperture in the roof, and it came lower and lower till +it reached his fettered hands.</p> + +<p>"Have you got it?" asked the voice. "If so, open it carefully."</p> + +<p>Ráby carefully opened the sealed end and found a minute phial of ink, +and an equally slender pen made from a crow's feather. Round it was +rolled a sheet of paper.</p> + +<p>"Write, and I will wait to take it," said the voice, and the prisoner, +as might be imagined, was not long in obeying the request of his unseen +monitress. Carefully and minutely, in spite of his fettered hand, he +traced on the paper a letter to the Emperor, telling him all that had +happened, and in the relief of giving this welcome vent to his feelings, +he forgot his wretched surroundings. When it was done he rolled up the +paper, tucked it in the cane, and pushed it up again through the +ceiling.</p> + +<p>On the evening of the next day he heard the voice again: "Dear Ráby, +take courage. Your letter has gone to Vienna by the Jew Abraham."</p> + +<p>Ráby's heart warmed at this news, it would mean at the most only a week +more of his present captivity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span>—and for that time he had bread and water +enough.</p> + +<p>Meantime, before the said week came to an end, his Excellency the +governor sent for Mr. Laskóy.</p> + +<p>"We are in a nice quandary, my friend, and you will have to get us out +of it; hear what has happened," and his Excellency paused as if to +emphasise what was to follow. "Three days after Ráby was imprisoned, the +Emperor summoned me to Vienna. I went as fast as posts could carry me, +to hear, as his first question: 'What have the authorities done with +Ráby?'</p> + +<p>"I told him that Mathias Ráby had already had a fair hearing before the +magistracy, but that owing to a dangerous sickness which had suddenly +overtaken him, he was now in the hands of the doctor, pending being +confronted with his accusers. The Emperor did not interrupt me, but when +I had done, out he comes with a letter written by your prisoner in spite +of his irons and fast barred door, setting forth his grievances to his +master in very plain terms. And I can assure you he didn't spare either +of us."</p> + +<p>Laskóy was petrified with amazement. "That means," pursued his +Excellency, "that Ráby has found ways and means of writing to the Kaiser +from his dungeon. When I had read the letter through, the Emperor said: +'Mark my words, if Mathias Ráby is not released from prison by the day +after to-morrow (you will be back in Pesth by then), I shall give orders +that his custodians be themselves arrested and put in the Dark Tower for +the rest of their lives on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> bread and water. So you see what you have to +reckon with, and the best thing you can do is to set the prisoner free +at once.'"</p> + +<p>The lieutenant did not want urging, he rode to the prison in hot haste, +and demanded to see the head-gaoler. No sooner had Janosics appeared, +bearing his huge bunch of keys, than Laskóy sprang at him straight away +like a wild cat, seized him by the ears, and banged his head against the +door unmercifully, till the keys rattled again in his hands.</p> + +<p>"Take that for your pains," he cried, "I'll teach you how to look after +your prisoners! What do you mean by letting Ráby write to the Emperor +from his dungeon?"</p> + +<p>The castellan was dumbfoundered with pain and amazement. "All I can say +is, your worship," he cried, rubbing his head, "that Ráby must be in +league with the Devil."</p> + +<p>And though all the authorities of Pesth put their heads together, they +could not solve the mystery. The only thing they were clear upon was +that Janosics deserved fifty strokes with the lash, a punishment he +promptly received.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>The following day his Excellency went to the Assembly House, and two +letters were put into his hands by Laskóy with a crafty smile. Both were +in Ráby's handwriting. The one was dated from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> Szent-Endre; it contained +an expression of the writer's gratitude for his release by the Pesth +authorities, and his willingness to abide henceforth by the laws of the +land. Further, it announced his determination to withdraw from public +life and attend to his private concerns, and the writer begged that the +accompanying letter, if it met with the governor's approbation, might +be, after reading, forwarded by special messenger to the Emperor.</p> + +<p>The second missive contained a formal admission by the writer that he +had been led astray by false evidence, that the story of the +treasure-chest was a lying invention of the deceased "pope"; further it +expressed his regret at having caused the Pesth magistracy so much +inconvenience, and his determination not to return to Vienna but to pass +the rest of his life in the country, to which end he begged the pension +allotted to him might be sent to him at Szent-Endre.</p> + +<p>His Excellency immediately dispatched this missive to Vienna, and drove +back home. You do not imprison Pesth people so easily in the Dark Tower.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Yes, it was all very cleverly arranged, but perhaps the reader will not +be surprised to learn that Ráby still languished in his dungeon a closer +captive than ever. At the discovery of Ráby's letter to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> Emperor, a +contingent of heydukes had visited the prisoner in his cell, searched +the dungeon for ink and paper, but in vain, for the thick rime which +glazed the ceiling, effectually hid the small hole at the top. The +result was that, failing to get any light on the mystery, Ráby was +fettered closer than before, the door barred and sealed with the +lieutenant's own private seal, and the prisoner was once more left to +the solitude of his cell.</p> + +<p>And as for the supposed letters, why they were easily accounted for by +the fact that an accomplished forger then in prison, who was anxious to +please his judges to the best of his ability, which was great, had +written them at their bidding.</p> + +<p>So Ráby waited till his good angel again provided him, by means of the +hole in the ceiling, with ink and paper in the cane, but this time he +only wrote the words, "I am still here, your Majesty," and signed it +with his blood, for his foot was bleeding profusely through the chain +cutting into it. But even this was assuaged by his protectress by means +of a linen bandage concealed in the cane, with which Ráby was enabled to +bind up his ankle.</p> + +<p>Before the week was out, his dungeon-door was opened one morning, and an +unusually large allowance of bread, and two pitchers of water were +thrust into his cell. Then the man he had seen once before, whom he +recognised as a mason, appeared with his assistants, and with their +help, took his cell door off its hinges, and proceeded to brick it up.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> +And through Ráby's mind ran old stories he had read of people being +walled up alive in the Middle Ages, and a shuddering horror fell upon +him, at the fate reserved for him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XLIII" id="CHAPTER_XLIII"></a>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2> + + +<p>The Emperor received both of Ráby's letters—the forged and the genuine +one—nearly at the same time, for the latter had been sent by express +post. Shortly afterwards, it became known that his Majesty was going to +pay a visit to Pesth, ostensibly to review some troops. It was this news +that had hastened the walling up of Ráby's cell. The Emperor was not to +find him when he came, and when the Kaiser had gone, they meant to +restore the dungeon-door to its place. For they did not intend to kill +their victim outright by burying him alive.</p> + +<p>In order to dry the fresh masonry, they often let the window in the +corridor stand open, and so thick was the rime that you could not see +the walls for it. Nay, the hair and beard of the captive were white too +with it, and from the frozen ceiling, the icicles dropped down upon him +as he lay on his straw couch. But the greatest misfortune induced by the +cold was that he became so hoarse, he could not answer the voice from +above, but could only rattle his chains to show that he still lived.</p> + +<p>On the day of the Emperor's arrival, the voice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span> ceased, and he heard +men's footsteps above, as if re-arranging the room, in view perhaps of +the imperial visit.</p> + +<p>In fact the Kaiser had come, and by mid-day had inspected his troops and +was sitting down to a frugal mid-day meal in the Assembly House, as was +his custom, alone, giving orders the while to the crowd of +aides-de-camp, and the various functionaries who came and went. He left +untasted the glass of old Tokay, poured out for him by the obsequious +Laskóy in a glass of rare Venetian crystal, for to the date of its +vintage he was quite indifferent.</p> + +<p>"And now," said his Majesty, when he had finished, "tell me what has +happened to my commissioner, Mr. Mathias Ráby?"</p> + +<p>"Sire, he has gone back some time since to his home in Szent-Endre, and +we had a letter of thanks from him just lately."</p> + +<p>"I have seen that letter," returned the Emperor drily, "likewise another +written from the dungeon of the Assembly House, wherein I learn he is +still a prisoner."</p> + +<p>"Ah, sire, that is easily explained," answered the lieutenant airily. +"The fact is that we had imprisoned at the same time as Ráby, a renowned +forger, who has been deceiving even your Majesty by carefully forged +letters in your commissioner's handwriting."</p> + +<p>"What could he have gained by that?" said the Emperor.</p> + +<p>"Probably he knew," returned Laskóy, "that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span> Ráby enjoyed your Majesty's +favour, and reckoned that, as you were coming to visit the Pesth prison +in person, he would thus recall himself to your Majesty and gain a +hearing from you."</p> + +<p>"That reminds me," answered the Emperor, "that I have not yet seen the +prison, so I will trouble you to lead the way."</p> + +<p>And Laskóy proceeded to conduct the imperial guest to the dungeons, even +to the most noisome, regardless of the pestilential atmosphere which met +the visitor. The Emperor had every door unlocked, and insisted on seeing +everything, and it was plain from his sharp scrutiny that he did not +trust his guide.</p> + +<p>Then he inspected the cells where the "noble" culprits were confined, +and among them that formerly tenanted by Ráby. The bed which the +prisoner had occupied, was duly pointed out to the Emperor, and then he +proceeded to inspect the rest of the cells in order.</p> + +<p>Three times did he actually pass the door of Ráby's dungeon (and the +prisoner could hear the clink of his spurs overhead), yet did not +discover the one he sought. And no suspicion crossed the captive's mind +from behind his walled-up door that his would-be deliverer was close at +hand.</p> + +<p>The deception had been only too well carried out. Not even by coming in +person to free him, as the Emperor had promised his emissary, could he +succeed in delivering him.</p> + +<p>And there was not a single man of them all who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> would point to Ráby's +cell, and say boldly, "There lies the man whom you are seeking."</p> + +<p>As for Mariska, she had been sent that very day to her aunt's at Buda, +for some of the officers had been quartered at the head notary's, and it +was no longer the place for the daughter of the house.</p> + +<p>And the Emperor went that day into camp, but Ráby still languished in +his dungeon.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XLIV" id="CHAPTER_XLIV"></a>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2> + + +<p>Ráby's persecutors were getting tired of their unavailing efforts to +break the prisoner's spirit, so they determined on softer measures, and +three days after the Emperor had left Pesth, his dungeon was broken +open, and Laskóy and Petray arrived to make personal investigations into +their victim's state.</p> + +<p>Truly it was a pitiable spectacle that met their gaze when at last a +breach was made in the masonry and they penetrated into the cell. A +wasted and attenuated figure they saw half-buried under the snow that +had drifted in on to his straw bed through the grating—snow that was +stained red with the blood that had streamed from the captive's wounds.</p> + +<p>"Take the irons off!" ordered Petray, "and wrap the prisoner up in warm +coverings."</p> + +<p>And the order was not unnecessary, for it was some time ere the +locksmith could be found, and, meantime the victim was benumbed nearly +to death with cold.</p> + +<p>Even the locksmith, as he filed off the fetters from Ráby's bleeding +wrists and ankles, could not suppress a murmur of pity, for he was only +a public servant who did as he was told, and had a kind heart.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span>When at last Ráby was freed from his chains, he could not stand, and had +to be carried by two heydukes to a neighbouring cell, which was one of +those he had formerly occupied.</p> + +<p>"Let him rest for a little," ordered Petray, "and then I will have a +word with him, and meantime, you may bring him some egg-broth with +wine."</p> + +<p>And the broth revived the wretched prisoner, half-starved and frozen as +he was, with new life, and he eagerly swallowed it. He was conscious of +a feeling of anger against himself for thus being so ready to accept +alleviation for his miserable body, that so little emulated his strong, +unconquered soul. One thing alone lightened the memories of his +sufferings, and that was the voice that had cheered his loneliness with +its encouraging whisper. And lulled by the unaccustomed warmth, he sank +into a comforting slumber, and at his awakening, only had his bandaged +limbs to remind him of his irons. Yet the remembrance that it was to +Petray, of all people, that he owed this amelioration of his misery, +stung him as with a lash.</p> + +<p>But just then the door opened, and in walked his enemy himself. He came +up to Ráby's couch and asked the prisoner how he had slept, and whether +he felt better. But the captive answered these hypocritical enquiries by +never so much as a word.</p> + +<p>"You have to thank me for this change, you know," pursued Petray, "for I +have been chosen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> as your advocate when you appeal against your +sentence."</p> + +<p>"What?" cried Ráby, in his excitement springing up, in spite of his +weakness, from the couch. "You to be my defender! You who are already +gravely impeached in the indictment I have formulated! Why such a false +position is impossible; it is you who must stand at the bar. Do you mean +to say you, who are my worst enemy, are entrusted with my defence?"</p> + +<p>Petray smiled. He knew well enough he had a sick man to deal with, who +was physically incapable of attacking him.</p> + +<p>"Now you see how unjust it makes you, this misunderstanding. You shall +know that the accused must have a counsel when he is confronted by the +indictment. There are two of us, myself and the lieutenant, who have to +take your case in hand; which do you prefer, him or me?"</p> + +<p>"Neither," cried Ráby indignantly. "I am my own counsel, and I know how +to defend myself, and do not need any of your help."</p> + +<p>"My dear friend, be reasonable; see how unjust this is," said Petray in +a wheedling voice. "You think I would defend you badly. But it is +because I want to prevent you running your head against a wall that I am +doing this. Listen, I'll read you the points of your defence."</p> + +<p>And Petray proceeded to read the document in which he had set forth +Ráby's case with such cunning adroitness, that black appeared white in +his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> representations, and white wholly black. Such a web of sophistries, +in fact, had he woven, that it had been difficult for a hearer to +disentangle the truth. In it all the guilt was laid at the door of the +dead "pope," and Ráby appeared as a too confiding victim of his wiles +and misrepresentations. It was a tissue of false statements, yet Ráby +listened to the end.</p> + +<p>Then he said indignantly: "So you really believe I need all that for my +justification, do you, that the guiltless are to be blamed and the +criminal cleared, in order that the truth be made manifest; that I +withdraw the impeachment already made against you, that I allow +peaceable and harmless peasants to be attainted as rebels; that I +disavow the responsibility of redressing their grievances, and that for +this, a dead yet innocent man be blamed, and his memory be defamed. No +such defence for me, thank you!"</p> + +<p>Petray laughed patronisingly.</p> + +<p>"My good friend, you are an idealist and always will be. What does the +'pope's' reputation matter to you, since he is dead? Do you suppose he +troubles as to what men say of him now? And as for the peasants, we can +make short work of them by putting them in irons. The defence is +perfectly in order; you only have to sign that you accept it."</p> + +<p>"Let my hand wither in its chains first," cried the prisoner, "ere I +subscribe to such infamy!" and he stretched his wasted hand to heaven.</p> + +<p>"Think twice, Ráby, before you decide thus," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span> his tormentor. "If +you refuse, you may no longer rely on my help, and then you will just go +back to the place you came from."</p> + +<p>"Take me there," cried his victim, "but torture me no further, rather +kill me outright. But as long as my soul is master of my body, no pains +or persecutions shall cause me to forswear my honour and give the lie to +truth!"</p> + +<p>His anger lent the prisoner an unwonted energy, and Petray fairly +quailed as Ráby dashed up to him and attempted to tear the document from +his hand; between them it was torn in two, but the leaves were stained +with blood!</p> + +<p>Petray was beside himself with rage; he hastily called for the gaoler +and the heydukes, who shortly entered, followed by Laskóy.</p> + +<p>"He is an abandoned wretch, a traitor, a madman," cried Petray. "He has +flown at me, and tried to murder me. Put him in irons again directly!"</p> + +<p>"Out with the fetters," cried Laskóy. "Where are the heaviest ones?"</p> + +<p>And they tore off the bandages from Ráby's wounded limbs, and called the +locksmith to rivet them afresh.</p> + +<p>But that functionary revolted at this fresh act of cruelty against a +helpless invalid. "I won't do it," he said defiantly. "From this hour I +serve the authorities no longer; I will have no part in such cruel +injustice!" And so saying he left them, never to appear again.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span>At last, after searching Pesth in vain, they found a locksmith in Pilis +to do the work.</p> + +<p>But when they thrust Ráby back again into his icy dungeon, he cried, as +the door closed upon his tormentors, "I am not dead yet."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XLV" id="CHAPTER_XLV"></a>CHAPTER XLV.</h2> + + +<p>"But I'll take care that you soon will be," muttered the gaoler, as he +fettered the prisoner afresh to the wall, "and I've orders to visit you +twice every day, so that you may not carry on any of your accursed +necromancy in the cell."</p> + +<p>The next time his rations were brought him, it occurred to Ráby that the +bread was strewn with a white powder. He had often complained of it not +being salted, but this did not look like salt, and as he was not hungry, +he did not attempt to eat it.</p> + +<p>That evening when it was dark, he heard the well-remembered voice again +from the floor above.</p> + +<p>"Poor Ráby," it whispered, "are you there?"</p> + +<p>And on his ready answer, came the caution: "Do not eat of the bread they +have brought you, it is poisoned."</p> + +<p>The prisoner had suspected as much, but what was he to do? There was +nothing for it but to die of hunger, it seemed.</p> + +<p>"Examine the cane I am pushing down" came the voice again, and a minute +or two later, appeared the cane whose hollow had already brought him so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> +much. This time it was filled with chocolate, and there was enough to +last him till the morning. But what was he to drink?</p> + +<p>"Pour the water out of the pitcher, and through the cane I will fill it +with fresh," suggested the voice, and he hastened to obey.</p> + +<p>The next morning the gaoler saw with dismay that his prisoner was still +alive, and apparently uninjured by his supper, yet it would have killed +most men. However, he had not eaten much of it to be sure, judging by +the little that had disappeared.</p> + +<p>And when his back was turned, once more came the voice calling to Ráby, +and this time it brought bad news indeed.</p> + +<p>"The Emperor has gone," it said, "he sought for you, but could find no +trace of you. They told him you had been released, so he left in that +belief."</p> + +<p>"Only give me writing materials," pleaded Ráby earnestly.</p> + +<p>"I cannot, as soon as you are convicted of having them in the cell, you +are to be beheaded immediately. Besides, no one knows where the Emperor +is; they say he is in Turkey."</p> + +<p>The threat was for Ráby but one more spur to action, and he was defiant, +and pleaded no longer with his protectress. He had hidden a morsel of +paper in his wretched bed, and on this he wrote with a straw for pen, +with a drop of his own blood for ink, for he had no other. When it was +dry, he rolled it up and concealed it in a straw-stalk.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span>Then he waited till the next time his cell was being swept out by a +heyduke, who was the one who had formerly brought him the pitcher with +the false bottom. Ráby gave his missive to him, and whispered, "This is +worth a hundred ducats." The man understood, and took the straw.</p> + +<p>That was Mathias Ráby's last attempt at freedom.</p> + +<p>From that day forward, all sorts of threats were used to make him sign +Petray's paper, and sometimes they kept him so long under examination in +the court, that he fainted from sheer exhaustion.</p> + +<p>One night the door opened, and Janosics appeared with three men, one of +whom bore a brazier of burning coals, another a pair of pincers, and in +the third he recognised the public executioner of Pesth.</p> + +<p>"I'll soon make the stubborn fellow yield," cried the castellan +brutally; "let's see if this won't bend him! Now, gentlemen, do your +duty; strip him, and torture him till he confesses his crimes."</p> + +<p>Ráby was dumb with horror. They tore his clothes from him, but the sight +of the prisoner's haggard face and emaciated figure smote the heart even +of the executioner with a sudden pity.</p> + +<p>"My good Janosics," he said, "I won't torment the poor wretch, not if +you give me the whole Assembly House for doing such work."</p> + +<p>And with that, he put on his coat, seized the water-pitcher which stood +by Ráby's bed, and extinguished the coals, so that the cell was plunged +in sudden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> darkness. Then the whole crew withdrew quarrelling among +themselves.</p> + +<p>When Ráby brought the occurrence to the notice of the court the +following day, they only laughed, and said he had been dreaming!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XLVI" id="CHAPTER_XLVI"></a>CHAPTER XLVI.</h2> + + +<p>One of the thoughts that tortured Ráby most was the anxiety as to what +he should do for food, if his benefactress' daily supply of chocolate +should fail him. He saved up a little store of it hidden in his black +bread, and for water, he could trust to the ice which still, through the +severity of the season, constantly formed in his dungeon.</p> + +<p>And one day, what he had so long dreaded, happened, and the voice was +heard no longer, and he had to take refuge in his hardly saved store of +nourishment. Nor was there any sign of his protectress on the following +day. But that night in the room above he could hear men's footsteps and +the sound of a woman groaning, as if with pain, all the night long. A +fearful suspicion crossed his mind that he dared not face, even to +himself.</p> + +<p>It was obvious that overhead someone was dying, and that someone a +woman. He would not let his mind dwell on the presentiment that suddenly +arose; it could not be, it must be a nightmare conjured up by his own +fevered imagination.</p> + +<p>The next morning the groans had ceased, but he could not hear what was +being said by those talking.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span> By the afternoon, his fears were changed +into certainty, and he knew it was no dream.</p> + +<p>Then he heard the sound of singing, the melancholy droning that the +Calvinists use over the corpse, so charged with dreary forebodings, the +horrible gloom of which is in such contrast to the touching Catholic +ritual for the dead, where all tends to prayerful hope for the departed +and to consolation for the survivors.</p> + +<p>And then followed a series of dull thuds, as if they were nailing down a +coffin-lid, and Ráby shuddered, but not this time with the cold.</p> + +<p>Towards evening his gaoler came to visit his cell, and Ráby mastered his +feelings sufficiently as far as to ask who it was they were burying.</p> + +<p>The castellan read the real question in the prisoner's face as in an +open book. It betrayed his one vulnerable point, and his tormentor was +not slow to take advantage of his discovery.</p> + +<p>So he wiped his eye hypocritically, and murmured in a sorrowful tone, +"Alas, it is our beloved Fräulein Mariska, the head notary's daughter, +that they are carrying to the grave. Heaven rest her soul!"</p> + +<p>The prisoner uttered a sharp cry as if he had received his death-blow; +then he burst into tears. Truly the dart had gone home this time, and +nothing could ward it off. The gaoler laughed behind the prisoner's +back; he had done better than the executioner for once!</p> + +<p>But Ráby bowed his head on his knees, and clasped his fettered hands in +prayer for the soul<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span> that had so lately taken flight from this valley of +tears. But had he known it, Ráby was praying, not for the soul of +Mariska, but for that of his wretched wife, for it was she whom they +were bearing to the grave.</p> + +<p>Fruzsinka had been, all unknown to him, a prisoner like himself, and +this was the end. How she had come there we shall learn later, for +meantime there are other factors in this strange history to be reckoned +with, and Ráby is still languishing in his dungeon.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XLVII" id="CHAPTER_XLVII"></a>CHAPTER XLVII.</h2> + + +<p>Ráby no longer dreaded the poisoned food that he expected his gaoler to +bring him, but next morning, strange to say, Janosics appeared with +empty hands and a malicious leer on his ill-favoured features.</p> + +<p>"Do I have no food to-day?" asked the prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, my dear friend, from to-day you live like a prince. No +more bread and water for you, but just a jolly good dinner of the best, +and as much red wine as you like. And your fetters are to come off, and +you are to be moved into better quarters. You know, I daresay, as well +as I can tell you, what all this means."</p> + +<p>Ráby shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Well, it means that to-day your death-sentence is to be formally +approved in court, and that the scaffold is your destination. Till then, +you are to be kept in the condemned cell, and have everything you like +as befits a criminal under sentence of death, and enjoy yourself while +you may."</p> + +<p>It was too true, and no jest. The locksmith came and filed off the +prisoner's fetters once more, and then the barber shaved him, but the +closeness with which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span> his hair was cut, signified only too clearly it +was the "toilet of the condemned."</p> + +<p>They did not stand on ceremony, but just carried Ráby into the court +(for he could not walk), to hear that the capital sentence against which +he had previously appealed was now confirmed by the higher court, and +that he must prepare to die forthwith.</p> + +<p>He heard the decision with strange indifference, but all now he longed +for, was that they should get it over as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>He was taken, not into his former cell, but into a small cheerful, +well-warmed room, where a table stood spread with all the delicacies +imaginable.</p> + +<p>This was the "condemned cell," and to it many a kind-hearted housewife +in those days was accustomed to send the pick of her larder, to provide +a good dinner for those whose earthly meals were numbered—a form of +charity at that time very much practised by the housekeepers of Pesth.</p> + +<p>"Now, Ráby, you can eat and drink to your heart's content," cried +Janosics. "But it's no good trying to take any away with you, remember." +And the gaoler pushed the table to the couch, so as to be within the +reach of the prisoner.</p> + +<p>But Ráby had no appetite, and had other preoccupations than those of the +table, to fill his mind just then.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span></p><hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Meanwhile, Ráby's message had not been forgotten by the heyduke to whom +he had entrusted it. Old Abraham had taken it to the Emperor who, he +heard, was laid up sick in the capital, and it had been promptly read +and acted upon. Three days later, Colonel Lievenkopp, just appointed the +commandant at Pesth, sought out the governor, and demanded immediate +audience on urgent matters of state.</p> + +<p>He had, in fact, a message from the Emperor. "Thanks, Colonel, leave it +there; I'll read it later on; there's no hurry," said his Excellency, +airily, on receiving the imperial missive.</p> + +<p>"Unfortunately, there is hurry, your Excellency! I have orders to have +the mandate read in my presence."</p> + +<p>The words staggered the governor. He, the virtual, if not the nominal +ruler of Hungary, to be spoken to like this, and to have the law laid +down in this fashion to him!</p> + +<p>"Hoity-toity! I have other things to do! Suppose, too, I am not inclined +to read it?"</p> + +<p>"Then your Excellency will permit me to observe that I am empowered to +proceed to extreme measures. In the event of your Excellency not reading +that letter at once, I am commissioned to call in half a dozen officers +of public health who are waiting outside, with a regimental surgeon, for +the purpose of placing your Excellency in a strait-waistcoat, and +escorting you to Vienna under surveillance—you will guess whither?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span>The governor's face became crimson with rage.</p> + +<p>"What do you say—For me, a strait-waistcoat? Me, the representative of +the crown? Do you mean to say the Emperor said that, that he has written +it? Impossible, man, impossible!"</p> + +<p>And he tore the letter out of the envelope, and read its contents.</p> + +<p>They were short, and his eyes became suddenly blood-shot as he read as +follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"From to-day you are relieved of your office: make +over your keys to the district commissioner at once.</p> + +<p class="sig2">"<span class="smcap">Joseph.</span>"</p></div> + +<p>"And I have Mathias Ráby to thank for this," groaned his Excellency.</p> + +<p>"Possibly," said Lievenkopp drily, "for his Majesty has entrusted me +with a patent for the Pesth magistracy, whereby he demands the instant +release of Mr. Mathias Ráby; in the case of non-obedience, by ten +o'clock to-morrow, I am ordered to enforce its execution by a battery +and a corresponding number of soldiers, and if the prisoner is not +brought out, to storm the Assembly House forthwith, and release Mr. Ráby +from captivity."</p> + +<p>"Storm the Assembly House?" stammered the magnate, dazed with the +suggestion. "Stir up civil war just for the sake of one miserable +culprit. Oh, that fellow will be the death of me!"</p> + +<p>And the wretched man staggered as with a sudden blow, and blindly clung +to a chair for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span> support to prevent him from falling. He was blue in the +face, his clenched hand still grasping the letter; it was the beginning +of an apoplectic fit.</p> + +<p>Lievenkopp hastened to send one of the secretaries for a doctor, but it +was already too late; when the surgeon arrived to bleed him, the +governor was beyond such help. Thus passed one more actor in this +memorable tragedy of Rab Ráby.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XLVIII" id="CHAPTER_XLVIII"></a>CHAPTER XLVIII.</h2> + + +<p>It is time to return to Frau Fruzsinka, and to explain how she had come +to be a prisoner under the same roof as her husband.</p> + +<p>When Fruzsinka found that Ráby was, in spite of the efforts she had made +to save him, a prisoner in Pesth, her rage and disgust knew no bounds. +The abandoned woman still carried on her miserable masquerade in man's +attire, and as a pretended highwayman, continued to strike terror into +the hearts of the countryside.</p> + +<p>One night, however, she was taken with what seemed a sudden faintness, +and seeking shelter in a peasant's hut, was betrayed by the owner to the +heydukes, and carried off by her captors to the prison in Pesth. By the +time she arrived there, she was evidently seriously ill, and appeared to +be in a high fever, although it never occurred to the prison authorities +that her malady might be infectious.</p> + +<p>Janosics, who had hailed her arrival with ill-concealed delight, +perceiving his prisoner wore a richly embroidered kerchief round her +neck, proceeded to annex it, and bind it round his own. But this rough +undressing, to which she was subjected as a culprit, was too much for +Fruzsinka, and she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span> soon betrayed her sex by her tears at the rough +treatment Janosics meted out to her.</p> + +<p>As might be expected, the news soon spread that this was no highwayman, +but a woman, and she too of noble family.</p> + +<p>Tárhalmy recognised her at once, and he tingled with shame at the +thought of Mathias Ráby's wife being treated as a common felon. And the +case of a woman of Fruzsinka's position being sent there was so rare +that there was literally no provision for such prisoners in the +building, and so it came to pass that the disused "archive-room," as it +was called, the room where Mariska had been able to communicate with +Ráby, was that now appointed for Fruzsinka.</p> + +<p>"You will be rewarded for this," gasped the wretched woman. "I shall not +trouble you long, for I shall not live over to-morrow."</p> + +<p>And when Tárhalmy, having found a maid to wait on her, was leaving the +room, she called him back to whisper:</p> + +<p>"I know you have a daughter you love dearly. Send her away immediately +from this house, so she escape the contagion I have brought with me."</p> + +<p>Tárhalmy hastened to warn Mariska that she might go to the house of her +aunt at Buda, and told her who the prisoner really was.</p> + +<p>But the girl was terrified at the thought of leaving Ráby, perhaps to +starve, nor did she shrink at the idea of nursing Fruzsinka, but begged +her father to let her remain at home, and tend the sick woman.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span>But Tárhalmy would not let her carry her self-abnegation so far.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the doctor came, and deceived by the patient's symptoms, which +seemed to him those of an ordinary fever, made a false diagnosis of +Fruzsinka's case, and failed to recognise her malady for what it really +was—the oriental plague, which was then raging in the near East.</p> + +<p>But the plague-stricken woman would not allow a soul to come near her, +and refused all attempt at help or consolation, for she, being a +Calvinist, would not even see the kindly Capuchin friar who came to +offer his services.</p> + +<p>And Mariska was allowed to remain till the news of Lievenkopp's +threatening mission determined her father to send her away.</p> + +<p>As for that officer's demand, it was, deemed Tárhalmy, a question to be +settled by the Pesth tribunal, and the still closed door of the +prisoner's dungeon would be the answer to the Emperor's mandate, whilst +the prisoner himself, when it came to the execution of justice, should +know who was master in Pesth!</p> + +<p>Surely Tárhalmy had good reasons for sending his daughter away.</p> + +<p>Thus was Ráby bereft of his guardian-angel, and so it came to pass that +his evil genius, his wretched wife, lay dying in the room over his +dungeon.</p> + +<p>But Fruzsinka's prophecy came true; she died the next day, and was +promptly buried. No one mourned the dead woman, as no one had excused +her.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XLIX" id="CHAPTER_XLIX"></a>CHAPTER XLIX.</h2> + + +<p>The fateful day broke at last and found the Pesth authorities still in +council; their vigil had lasted throughout the night. It was no light +question to be decided: nothing less than the authority of the Hungarian +constitution, and whether or not it should resist the armed force which +menaced it.</p> + +<p>Many among them pitied the prisoner and deemed him guiltless in their +own hearts, but the law had to be justified—at whatever cost—and +Ráby's acquittal would have embodied the breach of that law. Thus it was +that no voice was raised on his behalf, and his condemnation was a +foregone conclusion.</p> + +<p>It was with difficulty the prisoner could stand, so exhausted was he; +and when he looked in the faces of his judges, he found there no mercy.</p> + +<p>Tárhalmy had hidden his face in his hands, as, at the stroke of ten from +the great Franciscan church clock, the vice-notary (they spared Tárhalmy +the office) began to read the sentence of the court on Ráby.</p> + +<p>He read out the absurd charges which had been got up against the +culprit, the <i>résumé</i> of the former trials, the judge's verdict, the +prisoner's incitements to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span> the peasants to revolt, his association with +brigands, and resort to diabolical arts in order to escape from prison, +all of which had rendered him amenable to death by the axe. But this +sentence, said the speaker, could not be carried out, since the Emperor +had abolished capital punishment, and so it had been commuted by the +court into the galleys for life. Mathias Ráby was therefore adjudged to +be chained that very day to the oar, to work out his just sentence.</p> + +<p>"Chained to the oar!"</p> + +<p>For that broken emaciated form what a mockery the sentence seemed! And +Mariska, what had she said to it, had she heard it?</p> + +<p>Ráby had to be supported by two heydukes, as he was compelled to listen +standing to the sentence, but his face was deathly pale as he heard it.</p> + +<p>All at once the blare of trumpets and beating of drums was heard +without, and out of the neighbouring barracks came squadrons of infantry +and cavalry. The heavy roll of the cannon and the rattling of the +gun-carriages were distinctly audible as the latter rumbled along the +cobbles. And high above it, Lievenkopp's command to load was clearly +heard, and the rattle of the muskets as the soldiers obeyed.</p> + +<p>The pale face of the prisoner suddenly glowed with hope, and an electric +thrill of triumph convulsed his relaxed limbs, as he listened. Rescue +was at hand then!</p> + +<p>Now it is the turn of his judges to blench, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span> his persecutors to +tremble. The sword is suspended over the judge's head, not over the +culprit's. Who will first avert it?</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen," cried the vice-notary, "the sentence, you know, must +be read from the open window of the Assembly House, so all may hear it!"</p> + +<p>The speaker (he was quite a young man) suddenly paled with terror as he +took up the document, and hastily begged for a glass of water. Laskóy +was too terror-stricken to take upon him the task before which his +junior quailed.</p> + +<p>Tárhalmy stepped forward and seized the paper. "I will read it," he said +calmly.</p> + +<p>And turning to the castellan, he cried, "Close the doors, and tell the +heydukes to load their muskets at once."</p> + +<p>As Ráby heard that command he shuddered. The first shot fired, the door +of the Assembly House once shattered, would be the signal for the whole +country to be aflame with revolt. Such a course would hurl the nation +and the dynasty to the verge of ruin. And for what? For the sake of +ensuring freedom to one miserable man. Was it worth it?</p> + +<p>The prisoner suddenly broke away from his guards, and intercepting +Tárhalmy as he reached the window, he threw himself at his feet.</p> + +<p>"Your worship," he cried, "I recognise the justice of the sentence, I no +longer defy you, I am utterly broken; let me die, but do not let me be +further tortured or insulted. But do not on my account stir up bloodshed +and strife in this land; trample me,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span> kill me if you will, but do not +let the innocent suffer. You shall never hear a word of complaint from +me again!"</p> + +<p>Tárhalmy tore his coat lappet from Ráby's trembling grasp, and strode +firmly but proudly to the window. Below in the street, came the word of +command from the officer in charge: "Load your muskets!"</p> + +<p>Standing at the open window, Tárhalmy read aloud, in a clear unwavering +voice, the judgment on Ráby from beginning to end. The prisoner had +fainted. The cannon were in readiness, the muskets loaded; they only +awaited the order to fire. All at once, an imperial courier, galloping +at full tilt through the crowd, dashed through the trumpeters, rode up +to the commandant, and handed him a sealed missive, crying "In the +King's name!"</p> + +<p>Lievenkopp hastily broke the seal of the letter, read it, and stuck it +into his breast-pocket, then he shouted, "Shoulder your arms!"</p> + +<p>The trumpeters sounded a retreat; the cumbrous cannon were wheeled back +again, and the threatening convoy took their way back to the barracks, +from whence they had so lately come.</p> + +<p>But the red-coated courier stood beating on the door of the Assembly +House with the knob of his riding-whip, and calling, "Open, in the +King's name!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_L" id="CHAPTER_L"></a>CHAPTER L.</h2> + + +<p>At the sound of those few words, "In the King's name," the door of the +Assembly House was immediately opened; the formula acted like magic.</p> + +<p>There are two words which are often written down together, "Emperor" and +"King," wherein the outer world sees little difference, but for +Hungarians there is all the difference in the world. For the Magyar, the +first means only the foreign yoke, and all that it stands for; but the +second represents that rightful regal authority which in Hungary never +fails to win the loyalty and love of those to whom it appeals. And it is +a distinction which the world outside Hungary is sometimes slow to +recognise.</p> + +<p>And so it was that when the red-coated courier appeared before the Pesth +tribunal he was received with the utmost respect. It was the office of +the head notary to open and read the missive, which he did first to +himself. When he had finished, tears stood in the strong man's eyes. And +as he began to read it aloud, his voice trembled audibly, and he was +visibly moved.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Worshipful Citizens!</span></p> + +<p>"His Majesty the King herewith, by this present royal +rescript, withdraws all vexatious edicts hitherto +issued, with the exception of his edict of tolerance +and that for the freeing of the serfs. He revokes the +compulsory order for the use of a foreign language, +and rehabilitates your council and restores your +constitution. He concludes a war carried on against +the will of the nation by an honourable peace. He asks +you, the members of the Pesth magistracy, to call a +general council and promulgate the constitution in +Pesth, and further orders that the holy crown of +Hungary be brought from Vienna to Buda, after which he +will summon Parliament and will be crowned there."</p></div> + +<p>The last words were drowned by loud cries of "Long live the King!" while +the council members sprang up from their places huzzaing and cheering. +They seemed like changed beings. Even Tárhalmy, the grave phlegmatic +man, generally as cold as ice and a slave to duty, was transformed, and +his set, serious face flamed with a sudden enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen," he cried, "comes the new order, now we shall have +justice done. And before God and men can I now say, 'Woe to those who +have done this foul wrong to Mathias Ráby.' I will justify him at the +bar of our country, and none who helped to persecute this brave man +shall escape unpunished. The nation shall judge him."</p> + +<p>"Hear, hear!" shouted many voices, and the loudest of all was Petray's.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span>"Justice for Ráby," exclaimed that worthy, "yes, it is right he should +have it. I have always told the lieutenant here what a sin and a shame +it was thus to compass his ruin."</p> + +<p>"What?" cried Laskóy, "I, compassing Ráby's ruin? What do you mean? Who +but you managed the whole business, I should like to know!"</p> + +<p>"That's a lie!" retorted his antagonist, and the strife promised to be +endless, for the others now joined in lustily, and swords were all but +drawn.</p> + +<p>Tárhalmy took his documents under his arm. "I am going," he said, "I +prefer to choose my own company."</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>Meantime, the news of the royal proclamation had spread like wild-fire, +and nothing else was talked of. Nagy (otherwise "Kurovics") hastened to +Janosics to impart to him the news that the members of the council were +quarrelling as to which one was guilty of Ráby's condemnation, and that +it would be as well at any rate, it should not be laid at the door of +the prison officials.</p> + +<p>So the two made for the condemned cell, where Ráby had been dragged all +but unconscious.</p> + +<p>The prisoner imagined they had come to lead him to the galleys.</p> + +<p>"No, my friend, thank your stars you are not going there," shouted +Janosics, "you are reprieved! You are free!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span>And a sudden thrill of joy born of his regained liberty, shot through +the exhausted frame of the prisoner, remembering he was not to be +scourged at the oar. But then his unbending spirit reasserted itself, +and he exclaimed proudly, "I need no man's grace, and I accept none of +your favours, I would rather die here!"</p> + +<p>"You won't then do anything of the kind," retorted the gaoler, "but you +will just march! Here, thrust him out, you fellows," and he called up a +couple of warders who roughly seized the prisoner between them, and +carried him in spite of his struggles into the courtyard below. There +was a small iron door which led into a side thoroughfare, and this +Janosics opened and pushed Ráby through it, out into the street the +other side.</p> + +<p>There they left him on the cobbles, in a dead faint from the efforts he +had made, and there he lay like a lifeless log. The prison authorities +did not care on whom the blame for detaining Ráby fell, but they were +determined it should not lay with them.</p> + +<p>Janosics returned whistling into his room. But suddenly he ceased to +whistle; something seemed to be throttling him. His limbs too were +convulsed by a sudden tremor, and horrible spasms of pain shot through +his whole body. When he tried to cry out, he failed to utter a sound, +and only blood came from his mouth. And still that awful sensation of +strangulation oppressed him, so that he tugged at the kerchief about his +throat to get it off; it was the one Fruzsinka had worn. And the words +of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span> the dead woman, her warning that none should come near her, came +back to him.</p> + +<p>The doctor he sent for, directly he saw his patient, exclaimed in +horror, "This is the oriental plague," for he recognised the symptoms of +the fell malady.</p> + +<p>And that word at once drove every living soul away from the unhappy man, +and he was left writhing in his agony behind the door till he was still, +for that meant he was dead. Then they sent two condemned felons to wrap +up the corpse in a horse-rug and carry it out into the cemetery there to +be buried like a dog. The only thing they troubled after was as to +whether enough quicklime had been thrown into the grave.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>But Ráby lay half-dead on the cobble-stones. There were no other houses +in the alley, save the monster barracks, the university hospital, and +the great stone rampart of the hinder part of the Assembly House.</p> + +<p>As a rule, only one person went up that alley every day, and that was an +old Jew named Abraham. He was no longer bound by law to wear the red +mantle, and could go about in his black gown and kaftan. With him was a +red-haired boy, his youngest son, an intelligent lad who had excellent +legs and could run with the best.</p> + +<p>But Abraham left him at the corner of the alley and went alone to the +little iron door.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span>There he was accustomed to wait each morning till a heyduke appeared. +Then he would push a paper containing a piece of gold under the door, +and receive in exchange another morsel of paper. This contained the +latest news of Rab Ráby, and Abraham promptly gave it to the youngster +waiting at the corner, who forthwith would run with it to Buda, where +Mariska was waiting for it.</p> + +<p>But on this particular morning, the Jew found no news of Ráby, but +instead, the prisoner himself, lying on the stones, as one dead.</p> + +<p>The old man raised no alarm, nor did he utter a word, but bending over +the prostrate man, laid his hand on Ráby's heart to see if it yet beat.</p> + +<p>When he had satisfied himself that Ráby was still alive, Abraham wrapped +him up in his warm fur-lined mantle, took him in his arms, and carried +him to the corner of the alley, where he and his son between them +dragged him into a sedan-chair, and bore him off—whither no one knew!</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>A voice like the voice of the angels themselves (so it seemed to the +half-conscious man who heard it) sweet as the song of the spheres and +thrilling with some unwonted harmony which did not seem of this earth, +recalled the stricken soul of Mathias Ráby back from the shadows of +death where it yet lingered.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span>"May heaven preserve you to us, poor Ráby," whispered the voice.</p> + +<p>The ex-prisoner awoke from his swoon to find himself in a warm room, +whose atmosphere was redolent with some refreshing fragrance, pillowed +on soft cushions, while above him were bending two blue eyes that seemed +as if they carried in their inmost depths, something of the light of +paradise itself. Such eyes, and who could forget them, once having seen +them?</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>But to this day the treasure-chest of Szent-Endre has never been found, +so effectually was it hidden from all men.</p> + + +<p class="theend">THE END.</p> + +<p class="theend"><i>Jarrold & Sons, Ltd., Printers, The Empire Press, Norwich.</i></p> + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors present in the +original text have been corrected.</p> + +<p>In Chapter III, "based on a false premiss" was changed to "based on a +false premise".</p> + +<p>In Chapter V, "the gate of the vineyards were shut" was changed to "the +gates of the vineyards were shut".</p> + +<p>In Chapter VIII, periods was added after "others lay dormant" and "she +has become a fine girl".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XI, "<i>Did you call me, dear father?</i> asked he girl" was +changed to "<i>Did you call me, dear father?</i> asked the girl".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XIV, "Thereupon, he sent the wooer to Fräulein, Fruzsinka" +was changed to "Thereupon, he sent the wooer to Fräulein Fruzsinka".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XVI, "the csakó on their heads" was changed to "the csákó on +their heads".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XVII, <i>"Why do you call him a "worshipful gentleman," asked +the president.</i> was changed to <i>"Why do you call him a 'worshipful +gentleman,'" asked the president.</i>, and a period was changed to a +question mark after "in order to save his fellow-citizens from beggary".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XIX, a period was changed to a question mark after "What +could be the reasons of his delay".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XX, "a coquettishly clad peasant from the Aldföld" was +changed to "a coquettishly clad peasant from the Alföld", a quotation +mark was added before "These registered formulas are falsified", and "He +fancied al Pesth" was changed to "He fancied all Pesth".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XXIII, "What for the children who are deserted by their +mothers?" was changed to "What, for the children who are deserted by +their mothers?"</p> + +<p>In Chapter XXIX, missing periods were added after "Where all the others +are" and "to demand an explanation".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XXXII, "said Raby, suiting the action to the word" was +changed to "said Ráby, suiting the action to the word".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XXXIII, "They stopped the calvacade" was changed to "They +stopped the cavalcade".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XL, a period was changed to a question mark after "had not +the Emperor himself promised to come".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XLIV, "A wasted and attentuated figure" was changed to "A +wasted and attenuated figure".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XLVIII, a comma was added after "deceived by the patient's +symptoms".</p></div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Strange Story of Rab Rby, by Mr Jkai + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RBY *** + +***** This file should be named 36739-h.htm or 36739-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/3/36739/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Strange Story of Rab Rby + +Author: Mr Jkai + +Commentator: Emil Reich + +Release Date: July 15, 2011 [EBook #36739] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RBY *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RABY + + + + +DR. MAURUS JOKAI'S +MORE FAMOUS WORKS + +(Authorised Translations). + +LIBRARY EDITION. + +6/- each. + + Black Diamonds. + The Green Book; or, Freedom Under the Snow. + Pretty Michal. + The Lion of Janina; or, The Last Days of the Janissaries. + An Hungarian Nabob. + Dr. Dumany's Wife. + The Nameless Castle. + The Poor Plutocrats. + Debts of Honour. + Halil the Pedlar. + The Day of Wrath. + Eyes Like the Sea. + 'Midst the Wild Carpathians. + The Slaves of the Padishah. + Tales from Jokai. + + +NEW POPULAR EDITION. + +2/6 Net each. + + The Yellow Rose. + Black Diamonds. + The Green Book; or, Freedom Under the Snow. + Pretty Michal. + The Day of Wrath. + +LONDON: JARROLD & SONS. + + + + +[Illustration: portrait of Mor Jokai] + + + + +THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RABY + +BY MAURUS JOKAI + +[Illustration: SANS PEUR ET SANS REPROCHE.] + +THIRD EDITION + +LONDON +JARROLD & SONS, 10 & 11, WARWICK LANE, E.C. + +[All Rights Reserved.] + + + + +PREFACE + +TO JOKAI'S "RAB RABY," IN ENGLISH, + +By Dr. Emil Reich. + + +In "Rab Raby," the famous Hungarian novelist gives us, in a manner quite +his own, a picture of the "old regime" in Hungary in the times of +Emperor Joseph II., 1780-1790. The novel, as to its plot and principal +persons, is based on facts, and the then manners and institutions of +Hungary are faithfully reflected in the various scenes from private, +judicial, and political life as it developed under the erroneous policy +of Joseph II. + +Briefly speaking, "Rab Raby" is the story of one of those frightful +miscarriages of justice which at all times cropped up under the +influence of political motives. In our own time we have seen the Dreyfus +case, another instance of appalling injustice set in motion for +political reasons. "Rab Raby" is thus very likely to give the English +reader a wrong idea of the backward and savage character of Hungarian +civilisation towards the end of the eighteenth century, unless he +carefully considers the peculiar circumstances of the case. I think I +can do the novel no better service than setting it in its right +historic frame, which Jokai, writing as he did for Hungarians, did not +feel induced to dwell upon. + +The Hungarians, alone of all Continental nations, have a political +Constitution of their own, the origin of which goes back to an age prior +to Magna Charta in England. Outside Hungary, it is generally believed +that Hungary is a mere annex of "Austria"; and the average Englishman in +particular is much surprised to hear that "Austria" is considerably +smaller than Hungary. In fact, "Austria" is merely a conventional +phrase. There is no Austria, in technical language. What is +conventionally called Austria has in reality a much longer name by which +alone it is technically recognised to exist. This name is, "The +countries represented in the _Reichsrath_." On the other hand, there is, +conventionally and technically, a Hungary, which has no "home-rule" +whatever from Austria, any more than Australia has "home-rule" from +England. In fact, Hungary is the equal partner of Austria; and no +Austrian official whatever can officially perform the slightest function +in Hungary. The person whom the people of "Austria" call "Emperor," the +Hungarians accept only as their King. There is not even a common +citizenship between Hungarians and Austrians; and a Hungarian to be +fully recognised in Austria as, say a lawyer, must first acquire the +Austrian rights of naturalisation, just as an Englishman would. + +The preceding remarks will enable the reader to see clearly that Hungary +never accepted, nor can ever accept Austrian rule in any shape +whatever; and that the entire business of political, judicial, and +administrative government in Hungary must legally be done by Hungarian +citizens only. The King alone happens to be an official in Austria as +well as in Hungary; but according to Hungarian constitutional law he +cannot command, nor reform things in Hungary except with the formal +consent of the Hungarian authorities, in Parliament and County. In +Austria indeed, the "Emperor" was, previous to 1867, quite autocratic; +and even at present he has a very large share of autocratic power. + +Now, Emperor Joseph II. desired to melt down Hungarian and Austrian +manners, laws, and institutions into one homogeneous mass of a +Germanised body-politic. With this view he commanded the Hungarians to +practically give up their own language, their ancient national +constitution, and old County institutions, thinking as he did, that such +an unification of the Austro-Hungarian peoples would make the Danubian +Monarchy much more powerful and prosperous than it had ever been before. +He sincerely believed that his scheme of unification would greatly +benefit his peoples; nor did he doubt that they would readily obey his +behests to that effect. + +However, the Emperor was quite mistaken as to the effect of his imperial +policy upon the Hungarians. Far from acquiescing in his plans, the +Hungarians at once showed fight in every possible form of passive +resistance, rebellion, scorn, or threats. To them their Constitution +was, as it still is, dearer by far than all material prosperity. + +The Emperor's ordinances were coolly shelved, not even read, and with a +few exceptions, all his commands proved abortive. Many Hungarians +admitted then, as others do now, that Joseph's reforms were in more than +one respect such as to benefit Hungary. Yet no Hungarian wanted to +purchase these reforms at the expense of the hoary and holy Constitution +of the country. Joseph, in commanding all those reforms, without so much +as asking for the consent of the Estates, violated the very fundamental +principle of the Hungarian Constitution. This the Hungarians were +determined to resist to the uttermost. In the end they vanquished the +ruler, who shortly before his death withdrew nearly all his ordinances, +and so confessed himself beaten. + +It is in the midst of these historic and psychological circumstances +that Jokai laid his fascinating novel. A young Hungarian nobleman, +indignant at the illegality and injustice of public officials of his +native town, who shamefully exploit the poor of the district, approaches +the Emperor with a view to get his authorisation for measures destined +to put an end to the criminal encroachments of the said officials. The +Emperor gives him that authority. But far from strengthening young +Raby's case, the Emperor thereby exposes him to the unforgiving rancour +of both guilty and innocent officials who desperately resent the +Emperor's unconstitutional procedure. + +The novel is the story of the conflict between the young noble and the +Emperor on the one hand, and the wretched, but in the nature of the +case, more patriotic officials, on the other. As in all such cases, +where virtue appears either at the wrong time, or in the wrong shape, +the ruin of the virtuous is almost inevitable, while no student of human +nature can wholly condemn his otherwise corrupt and despicable enemies. +In that conflict lies both the charm of the novel and its tragic +character. + +As in all his stories, Jokai fills each page with a novel interest, and +his inexhaustible good humour and exuberant powers of description throw +even over the dark scenes of the story something of the soothing light +of mellow hilarity. + +EMIL REICH. + +_London, Nov. 1st, 1909._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + PAGE + CHAPTER I. 1 + CHAPTER II. 6 + CHAPTER III. 11 + CHAPTER IV. 16 + CHAPTER V. 27 + CHAPTER VI. 37 + CHAPTER VII. 46 + CHAPTER VIII. 50 + CHAPTER IX. 58 + CHAPTER X. 64 + CHAPTER XI. 70 + CHAPTER XII. 82 + CHAPTER XIII. 86 + CHAPTER XIV. 96 + CHAPTER XV. 104 + CHAPTER XVI. 112 + CHAPTER XVII. 130 + CHAPTER XVIII. 141 + CHAPTER XIX. 150 + CHAPTER XX. 159 + CHAPTER XXI. 173 + CHAPTER XXII. 178 + CHAPTER XXIII. 188 + CHAPTER XXIV. 197 + CHAPTER XXV. 204 + CHAPTER XXVI. 219 + CHAPTER XXVII. 224 + CHAPTER XXVIII. 234 + CHAPTER XXIX. 237 + CHAPTER XXX. 249 + CHAPTER XXXI. 255 + CHAPTER XXXII. 259 + CHAPTER XXXIII. 268 + CHAPTER XXXIV. 278 + CHAPTER XXXV. 286 + CHAPTER XXXVI. 289 + CHAPTER XXXVII. 296 + CHAPTER XXXVIII. 301 + CHAPTER XXXIX. 308 + CHAPTER XL. 317 + CHAPTER XLI. 324 + CHAPTER XLII. 328 + CHAPTER XLIII. 335 + CHAPTER XLIV. 339 + CHAPTER XLV. 345 + CHAPTER XLVI. 349 + CHAPTER XLVII. 352 + CHAPTER XLVIII. 357 + CHAPTER XLIX. 360 + CHAPTER L. 364 + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Now it is not because the double name of "Rab Raby" is merely a pretty +bit of alliteration that the author chose it for the title of his story, +but rather because the hero of it was, according to contemporary +witnesses of his doings, named Raby, and in consequence of these same +doings, earned the epithet "Rab" ("culprit"). How he deserved the +appellation will be duly shown in what follows. + +A hundred years ago, there was no such thing as a lawyer, in the modern +sense, in the city of Buda-Pesth. Attorneys indeed there were, of all +sorts, but a lawyer who was at the public service was not to be found, +and when a country cousin came to town, to look for someone who should +"lie for money," he sought in vain. + +Why this demand for lawyers could not be supplied in Buda-Pesth a +hundred years back may best be explained by briefly describing the two +cities at that epoch. + +For two cities they really were, with their respective jurisdictions. +The Austrian magistrate persistently called Pesth "Old Buda," and the +Rascian city of Buda itself, "Pesth," but the Hungarians recognised +"Pestinum Antiqua" as Pesth, and for them, Buda was "the new city." + +Pesth itself reaches from the Hatvan to the Waitz Gate. Where Hungary +Street now stretches was then to be seen the remains of the old city +wall, under which still nestled a few mud dwellings. The ancient Turkish +cemetery, to-day displaced by the National Theatre, was yet standing, +and further out still, lay kitchen gardens. On the other side, at the +end of what is now Franz-Deak Street, on the banks of the Danube, stood +the massive Rondell bastion, wherein, as a first sign of civilisation, a +theatrical company had pitched its abode, though, needless to say, it +was an Austrian one. At that epoch, it was prohibited by statute to +elect an Hungarian magistrate, and the law allowed no Hungarians but +tailors and boot-makers to be householders. + +Of the Leopold City, there was at that time no trace, and the spot where +now the Bank stands, was then the haunt of wild-ducks. Where Franz-Deak +Street now stretches, ran a marshy dyke, which was surmounted by a +rampart of mud. In the Joseph quarter only was there any sign of +planning out the area of building-plots and streets; to be sure, the +rough outline of the Theresa city was just beginning to show itself in a +cluster of houses huddled closely together, and the narrow street which +they were then building was called "The Jewry." In this same street, and +in this only, was it permitted to the Jews, on one day every week, by an +order of the magistrate, to expose for sale those articles which +remained in their possession as forfeited pledges. Within the city they +were not allowed to have shops, and when outside the Jews' quarter, they +were obliged to don a red mantle, with a yellow lappet attached, and any +Jew who failed to wear this distinctive garb was fined four deniers. +There was little scope for trade. Merchants, shop-keepers and brokers +bought and sold for ready-money only; no one might incur debt save in +pawning; and if the customer failed to pay up, the pledge was forfeited. +Thus there was no call for legal aid. If the citizens had a quarrel, +they carried their difference to the magistrate to be adjusted, and both +parties had to be satisfied with his decision, no counsel being +necessary. Affairs of honour and criminal cases however were referred to +the exchequer, with a principal attorney and a vice-attorney for the +prosecution and for the defence. + +At that time, there was in what is now Grenadier Street, a +single-storied house opposite the "hop-garden." This house was the +County Assembly House whence the provincial jurisdiction was exercised. +It had been the Austrian barracks, till finally, Maria Theresa promoted +it to the dignity of a law-court, and caused a huge double eagle with +the Hungarian escutcheon in the middle, to be painted thereon; from +which time, no soldier dare set foot in its precincts. Here it was only +permitted to the civilians and the prisoners confined there to enter. +Only the part of the building which faced east was then standing: this +wing comprised the officials' rooms and the subterranean dungeons. + +The magnates carried on their petty local dissensions, aided by their +own legal wisdom alone, yet every Hungarian nobleman was an expert in +jurisprudence in his own fashion. There were even women who had proved +themselves quite adepts in arranging legal difficulties. The Hungarian +constitution allowed the right to the magnate who did not wish the law +to take its course, of forcibly staying its execution, and the same +prerogative was extended to a woman land-owner. The commonweal also +demanded that each one should strive to make as rapid an end as possible +to lawsuits. Long legal processes were adjusted so that there should be +time for the judge as well as the contending parties to look after +building and harvest operations, as well as the vintage and pig-killing. +On these occasions lawsuits would be laid aside so as not to interfere +with such important business. + +But if the tax-paying peasant was at variance with his fellow-toiler, +the local magistrate, and the lord of the manor, were arbitrators. So +here likewise there was no room for a lawyer. + +But when the peasant had ground of complaint against his betters, he had +none to take his part. There was, however, one man willing to fill the +breach, although he had been up to this time little noticed, and that +man was Rab Raby--or to give him his full title of honour, "Mathias Raby +of Raba and Mura." + +He it was who was the first to realise the ambition of becoming on his +own account the people's lawyer in the city of Pesth--and this without +local suffrages or the active support of powerful patrons--but only at +the humble entreaty of those whose individual complaints are unheard, +but in unison, become as the noise of thunder. + +The representative of this new profession did Raby aim at being. It was +for this men called him "Rab Raby," though he had, as we shall see, to +expiate his boldness most bitterly. + +In what follows, the reader will find for the most part, a true history +of eighteenth century Pesth. It will be worth his while to read it, in +order to understand how the world wagged in the days when there was no +lawyer in Pesth and Buda. Moreover, it will perhaps reconcile him to the +fact that we have so many of them to-day! + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +They sit, the worshipful government authorities of Pesth, at the +ink-bespattered green table in the council room of the Assembly House, +the president himself in the chair; close beside him, the prefect, whom +his neighbour, the "overseer of granaries," was doing his best to +confuse by his talking. On his left is an empty chair, beside which sits +the auditor, busy sketching hussars with a red pencil on the back of a +bill. Opposite is the official tax-collector whose neck is already quite +stiff with looking up at the clock to see how far it is from +dinner-time. The rest of the party are consequential officials who +divide their time between discussing fine distinctions in Latinity, and +cutting toothpicks for the approaching mid-day meal. + +The eighth seat, which remains empty, is destined for the magistrate. +But empty it won't be for long. + +And indeed it is not empty because its owner is too lazy to fill it, but +because he is on official affairs intent in the actual court room, +whereof the door stands ajar, so that although he cannot hear all that +is going forward, he can have a voice in the discussion when the vote is +taken. + +From the court itself rises a malodorous steam from the damp sheepskin +cloaks, the reek of dirty boots and the pungent fumes of garlic--a +combined stench so thick that you could have cut it with a knife. +Peasants there are too there in plenty, Magyars, Rascians, and Swabians: +all of whom must get their "viginti solidos," otherwise their "twenty +strokes with the lash." + +For to-day is the fourth session of the local court of criminal appeal. +On this day, the serious cases are taken first, and after the +death-sentences have been passed, come a succession of lesser peasant +offenders for judgment. + +Some have broken open granaries, others have been guilty of assaults, +but there are three main groups. To one of these belong the settlers +from Izbegh who have been convicted of gathering wood in the forests of +the nobles. The second section embraces those culprits who were artful +enough during the vintage to cover the ripe grapes over with earth, (so +that the magnates should be cheated out of their tithes), and to evade +the heydukes who kept watch and ward over the vintagers. Thirdly, there +were the offenders who had formed a deputation to the chancery court, +and dared to pray for a revision of the public accounts for the past +twenty-five years, a request at once temerarious and stupid, for +twenty-five years is a long time--long enough indeed for accounts to +become rotten and worm-eaten. But that they were in sufficiently good +order, the revenue for this particular year, 1783, testified, seeing it +amounted to sixty thousand gulden, of which six thousand were paid to +the ground landlord, and two thousand towards the internal expenses of +the province, with a balance in hand of fifty-two thousand gulden--not +an extravagant outlay, surely! + +But what remains for the peasant? + +Why just those twenty strokes with the lash. These solve the question of +"plus" and "minus." + +The presiding judge, Mr. Peter Petray, only records his vote through the +door, but he himself is doing his official part, for from the window of +the adjoining room he superintends the sentences carried out in the +improvised court below. There are the prisoners in the dock on whom the +vials of justice are being poured forth. They are by no means a +contemptible study either for the psychologist or the ethnographer. The +Rascians are the defaulters against the vintage rights, and loudly they +shriek and curse as the blows are administered, whilst the outragers of +the forestry laws are mostly Swabians, who take advantage of the pauses +between the lashes roundly to abuse the overseer. But there are many +other delinquents besides in that motley crowd, who simply clench their +teeth and await their chastisement. + +But the eye of the law must itself watch over the execution of judgment, +so that nothing in the shape of an understanding between the heyduke +and the culprit, tending to mollify the punishment, may be arrived at. +Much depends on how the blows are laid on. Not only does the sentence +provide that the due number of lashes may be fulfilled, but likewise +that the strokes should be heavy. It is for this that the judge, if he +sees the heyduke falter in his work, urges him on to harder blows, by +calling out "Fortius!" + +But Judge Petray knows how to combine duty and pleasure. For Fraulein +Fruzsinka, the niece of the prefect, is also in the room, and their +whispered confidences and languishing glances show that the judge and +the young lady have not met here to discuss simply official questions. + +Whilst the notary in the next room is reading the indictment in a loud +enough tone for Petray to be able to follow him, this dignitary manages +to interpolate various interesting "asides" to his companion amid the +fire of cross questions, and only calls out his vote when asked for it. + +Only the prefect cannot just now leave his post as assessor, and it is +impossible for him to see all that goes on. In the pauses therefore +between the blows, the flirtation between these two goes on merrily. + +It was just then that Fraulein Fruzsinka whispered something to her +lover. + +"Willingly," he answers, "but while I do it the Fraulein must take my +place at the window, and count the strokes in my stead." + +"And remember the heyduke's name is 'Fortius,'" added the judge to his +representative. + +Fraulein Fruzsinka leaned out of the window still laughing heartily, and +began to count as if she were noting a scale of music. The culprit, +seeing a girl's smiling face looking down on him, appealed to her for +mercy. And the young lady, who was by no means hard-hearted, called out +to the heyduke: "Don't beat the poor fellow so pitilessly, Fortius." But +that official only flogged all the harder. + +At the twelfth stroke, Petray came back and slipped something into the +hand of the girl as she leaned out of the window. + +This something she pressed to her lips as she withdrew again behind the +curtain, hiding it in the great locket she wore on her breast. The judge +counted on. + +Now it was the turn of a gipsy band, six of whose number had stolen a +goose, and were to receive half a dozen lashes apiece in consequence. +Later on they will provide the music at dinner, at the command of their +prosecutors: "Now we fiddle to you, then you will play to us!" + +Fraulein Fruzsinka, with a parting hand-clasp, hastens away to see to +the setting of the table, for the silver and glass and table-linen are +her special care. The judge raised her hand to his lips as she left. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +It was now time for dinner, whereat we may have the honour of making a +closer acquaintance with the host and hostess and their four guests. + +The prefect, Mr. John Zabvary, with his jaundiced complexion and bleared +eyes, is an excellent specimen of the perfect egoist. Whosoever it is +that comes to him, whether to ask, or to give something, is equally an +enemy in disguise. Does he ask a favour? what is it he wants? Does he +bring something? why is there not more of it? With that perpetual dry +cough of his, he always seems to be calling attention to the faults of +someone or other. He does not even dress like anyone else, but sits at +the end of the table in loose shirt-sleeves, his head nearly +extinguished by a huge red velvet cap, from which dangles an enormous +red tassel, that seems to mock at received Magyar modes. He is a +shocking speaker, and when he gets angry, words fail him, and he begins +to stammer. He is, however, the uncle and guardian of Fraulein +Fruzsinka, which fact perhaps accounts for his short temper. + +For Fraulein Fruzsinka, with her pretty face and arch ways, her bright +eyes and alluring smile, is none the less a domestic affliction in her +way. How the prefect longs for someone to rid him of her! How willingly +would he not give her to the first comer. + +But it is her own fault that no one marries her, for she flirts +desperately with each admirer in turn. You see it even as she sits at +the table, keeping up a cross-fire of bread-pellets with the judge in a +way that is anything but ladylike. The prefect coughs disapproval and +shakes his head each time he glances at his wayward niece, who, on her +part, only shrugs her shoulders defiantly. + +Yet is Judge Peter Petray a highly distinguished man. The dark Hungarian +dolman that he wears suits him admirably. His black curly hair is not +powdered in the Austrian mode, nor twisted into a cue, but curls over +his forehead in a most attractive fashion, and his short moustache +proclaims him a cavalier of the best type. + +His neighbour, the president of the court, Mr. Valentine Laskoy, is a +good specimen of the Magyar of the old school, with his squat little +rotund figure, short red dolman, variegated Hungarian hose, bright +yellow belt, and tan boots. The long fair moustache that droops either +side of his mouth, seems to vie with the bushy eyebrows half defiantly. +Yet it is a face that is always smiling, and the owner has a powerful +voice wherewith to express his feelings. + +The dinner lasted well into the twilight. How describe it? Everyone +knows what an Hungarian dinner implies. With other people, eating is a +pleasure, with the Magyar it is a veritable _cultus_. + +The meal was enlivened by anecdotes, and those of the most racy kind, +whilst the fragrant fumes of tobacco wrapped the company in a cloud of +smoke. + +When they at last rose from the table, the judge drew from under his +dolman a little note that Fraulein Fruzsinka had slipped into his hand +under the table--a missive that an onlooker might have taken perhaps for +a love-letter. The judge, however, pushed it over to the president, +exclaiming as he did so, "Worshipful friend, will you please verify this +little account?" + +"What is it? I can't see to read by candle-light." And with that the +president pushed the document over to the prefect. + +"It's only the statement of accounts," grumbled the host, as he thrust +the paper from him, while he growled: "That is my niece's affair and has +nothing to do with me!" + +"I can't see by candle-light," repeated the president. "I can't make out +the letters." For a good Hungarian never puts on spectacles. Whoever has +good eyes may read if he will. + +His worship, the judge, had good eyes as it happened. But Fraulein +Fruzsinka kicked his foot under the table, a hint her admirer well +understood. + +"Let us hear how much we four have eaten and drunk in four days." Here +it is: + + 12 pounds of coffee. + 24 pounds of fine sugar. + 626 loaves of wheaten bread. + 534 decanters of wine. + 154 pounds of beef. + 4 sucking pigs. + 107 pairs of fowls, turkeys, and geese. + 54 1/2 gallons of Obers beer. + 174 1/2 pounds of fish. + 24 1/2 pounds of almonds. + 18 1/4 pounds of raisins. + 422 eggs. + 3 hundred weight of finest wheat flour. + +Each item was greeted with a roar of laughter from the company. What was +here set forth could not have been consumed. Moreover the expenditure +was the affair of Fraulein Fruzsinka, who superintended these payments. + +It was the judge's cue to be polite under the circumstances. Fraulein +Fruzsinka held her table-napkin before her face while it was being read, +in order to hide her blushes. Behind her stood the heyduke with the +inkstand, so that the document might be duly signed by the authorities. +Happily the item of the ink wherewith it was signed was not put down, +else, doubtless, it had amounted to a bucketful! Then they all +exchanged the greeting customary at the close of a meal. If anyone had +anything further to say, it was about the gipsy musicians who were just +beginning to play. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +A genuinely welcome guest does not take his leave at nightfall; the +prefect's visitors therefore put off their departure till the next day, +for the evening before they had sat long at the card-table, whereat the +prefect had won back from his guests, and that to the last kreutzer, all +that it had cost to entertain them. + +Fraulein Fruzsinka had played cards till daylight. She had at first no +luck whatever, willing as she was by some slight cheating, to bring it, +but since her fellow-players were ready to let a pretty girl have her +way, she won at last ten ducats. Mr. Laskoy, however, lost the whole of +his salary. But the money would at least be restored to him, for it was +the custom that whoever won most must refund the president his lost +money, in view of the possible wrath of that important official. The +master of the house smuggled the ten ducats through Fraulein Fruzsinka, +into the president's hand. + +"Take care," laughed the girl, "Gyongyom Miska does not rob you on the +way." + +"I shall hide it where no one can find it, in the lining of my cap. +There it will be safe enough. Besides, Gyongyom Miska is just now +prowling about the county of Somogy. Captain Lievenkopp himself, with +all his dragoons, would hardly succeed in driving him into our +neighbourhood." + +"Ah, well, I only say, look after your gold pieces!" + +The president laughed contemptuously. Lievenkopp was, it was well known, +one of Fraulein Fruzsinka's admirers. + +The president and the judge drove together as far as the next post +station, where their ways parted, and meantime chatted amicably. + +"Isn't our hostess a charming person?" began the president as they left +the inn. + +"I don't say she isn't." + +"I must admit you certainly show your good taste in that quarter." + +"Surely only like any other?" + +"Come, come, what avails evasion? When I look into the fair lady's eyes +I don't see the expression there, you do. Can you deny it?" + +"Well, and if I have looked into her eyes, what of it?" + +"Oh, we know all about that. Everyone knows that you and the lady of the +house were carrying on a flirtation whilst the sessions were going on." + +"Did I flirt?" + +"Most emphatically you did. I know everything. Last night, when I went +to my room, I heard voices through the door of our hostess' boudoir. I +waited in order to listen, and sure enough it was the prefect who was +holding forth angrily about you against a shrill high-pitched voice, +which was obviously that of your Fraulein Fruzsinka. Thereupon, the lady +retorted that there was an understanding between you, and that the +affair was quite serious." + +"Bah! As if I meant to marry every girl to whom I have made a +declaration," laughed the judge. + +"Aha, that would be quite as difficult to bring about as if Fraulein +Fruzsinka wished to marry all those who had courted her. It cuts both +ways. Yet she is a charming girl! If she could only find some good man +who would marry her. Why not you, eh?" + +"Most certainly not. For if someone else marries her, I am certain that +she will be true to me. But if I, and not anyone else, wed her, then +sure enough she'll deceive me every day." + +"But if you don't mean to, then it were surely a great mistake, besides +a mere quibble of words, to leave in the fair lady's hands a pledge that +could be legally produced as argument for the plaintiff." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Tut, tut. I haven't presided twenty years for nothing in criminal law; +I understand what tokens mean. What happened in the little ante-room? +What has the defendant to urge on his behalf?" + +"Why, I only superintended the carrying out of the law from the window." + +"And in the intervals taught your hostess how to conjugate the verb +_amo_, to love, eh?" + +"Stated but not proven--but if it were so?" + +"Consequently, the lady may be justified in urging: 'If he really and +truly loves me, let him give me a love token, a lock of his hair.'" + +"Why not?" + +"Exactly--now you stand convicted! Need I remind you that you only +sought a pair of scissors to cut off a curl of your hair, and while you +did that, your lady-love registered the blows for you as your _locum +tenens_. Yet you were giving the most dangerous blow of all to the +guileless loving heart which beat under your gift, for Fraulein +Fruzsinka hid the curl in her locket, and when we came away, I noted how +she leaned out of the window and kissed the locket over and over again. +Is the impeachment sufficient?" + +"No, I won't admit it is. It's based on a false premise. Up to the time +when I went for the scissors, I grant you it was a sound one, but here +the facts alter. As I stood before the looking-glass, with the scissors +in my hand, who should come in but the Fraulein's' little black poodle, +and as usual he put out his fore paws caressingly. Thereupon, a +brilliant idea struck me. The hair curled as well round the poodle's +neck as it did on my head. No sooner said than done. The Fraulein wasn't +looking; she was too busy with the sessions, so quickly nipping off a +superfluous curl from the dog's neck, I slipped it into my lady's soft +hand; into her locket it goes forthwith. But don't betray me! For if the +Fraulein knew it, she would poison us all at the next dinner." + +Mr. Valentine Laskoy was not given to groundless merriment, but he +could not fail to see the point of this jest; first that one of the +dog's curly locks had been transferred to the locket, and secondly, that +it had been kissed with transport by the owner. And thereupon he burst +into such a guffaw of laughter that the horses thought it was a volcanic +eruption, and began to shy and rear accordingly, so that the coachman +and the heyduke with him could not bring them to a standstill on the +bridge before the post-house, and the passengers were all but sent +flying from their seats. But at this point Mr. Laskoy had to get out to +await the companions he had left behind, who were coming on in the +coach. + +"But don't say a word to anyone," was the judge's parting injunction to +his companion. + +"Trust me! But, all the same, whenever I see a black poodle I shall +laugh at the thought." + +And off went the judge, for his time was up. + +At the bridge, where the roads branched off, Laskoy waited for the coach +to come up. + +But what a time the coach was coming, to be sure! He could not imagine +what had happened to it. It was past mid-day, his ever-growing hunger +made the delay of the diligence all the more wearisome. But in spite of +it all, he waited patiently. + +At last the famous vehicle came in sight, but only slowly, although the +road was quite good. What could have happened? + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Now what had really happened to the coach was that it had lost one of +the big screws out of the hind wheel, so that the latter had come off. +For a whole hour had they hunted for the screw without success, and then +they tried to get on without it, but that was a difficult business. If a +peasant loses a wheel-nail, he can easily find a substitute; the screw +of a coach, however, is not so easily replaced. What straps and ropes +they had to hand were knotted and wound round the axle, but the quickly +rotating nave had in a few minutes torn all to shreds, and would not go +round properly, much to the detriment of the horses who now had to drag +the lumbering conveyance with a wheel that would not work, through the +tough, sticky morass, which made the way much more toilsome. + +Not that this affected the merry mood of the president as he took his +place inside. Every now and again he whistled for sheer lightness of +heart. + +"Fire away, there!" he cried to the driver. + +But the driver was not equal to the task, as he urged his steeds over +the morass through which the four slow old hacks dragged the rickety +vehicle with its broken-down wheel. + +Meanwhile, on a hillock which rose tolerably steep from the roadside, +waited a horseman mounted on a strong wiry beast, that stood with his +muzzle snuffing the ground like a setter scenting the trail, with +watchful eyes and pricked ears, but so still that he did not even brush +off the flies that settled on his withers and flanks. The man himself in +the saddle was equally motionless; he was dark and hawk-eyed, with curly +hair, and a tapering pointed moustache. He wore a peasant's garb that +was scrupulously fine of its kind, his countryman's cloak being richly +embroidered, and his sleeves frilled with wide lace. In his cap he wore +a cluster of locks of women's hair and a knot of artificial flowers; at +his girdle gleamed a pair of silver inlaid Turkish pistols, while from +the pommel of his saddle hung another, double-barrelled, and in his +right hand he carried an axe. An alder-bush had hidden the stranger up +till now, so that he could not be seen by the coaching party till he +himself hailed them. + +"Now you traitor, you knave, are you going to stop or not?" + +Was the coachman going to stop? Yes indeed, he sprang down from his box +in terror, promptly crawled under the coach, and whimpered, "Alack, your +honour, it's Gyongyom Miska himself, it is indeed!" + +The mounted cavalier pranced up to the coach, the noble charger tossing +his proud head to and fro, so that the harness-fringe flew round him. + +"Now we've got something to laugh at and no mistake," growled the +coachman. Yet he laughed too in spite of himself. + +The highwayman himself began to laugh as he accosted the president. + +"So you've recognised me, have you, for the celebrated Gyongyom Miska?" + +"How pray did you become Gyongyom Miska?" + +"Don't you remember me by that name? You yourself gave it me. Have you +forgotten how when, years ago, in the County Assembly, I had begun a +speech, you called out to me in the middle of it, 'Ay, Gyongyom (my +jewel), hold your peace; you understand no more of these things than +half a dozen oxen put together,' so that I could not get any 'forrader,' +for people laughing at me. Since those days the name has stuck to me. +Everywhere I go I am received with the greeting, 'Here's Gyongyom Miska, +worse luck!' So then, I say to myself, 'I'll be a Gyongyom Miska,' and +show them such things as no one else can. And people talk about me, +don't they?" + +"But you won't rob me, will you?" implored his victim. "Do you want my +horses?" + +"Make your mind easy. I rob nobody. I only take what is given me, and +carry off what the possessor does not value, and as for such wretched +nags as you drive, I tell you plainly I wouldn't have them at a gift. I +am pretty hard to please in horseflesh, I can tell you. So don't let's +waste time in talking. I ask for nothing that people have not got. I +know too that you are in a hurry. So just give me ten gold pieces, and +then you can drive on." + +The president did not wish to understand the hint, as he said sulkily, +"What do you mean?" + +"Only those ten Kremnitz ducats that you drew as salary for your work on +the Bench." + +"True enough, friend, that I have received them, but the prefect won +them from me at cards last night, and I haven't one left. He did not +give me back the money he had won. Turn out my pockets, search me if you +will, and if you find there anything but a bad groschen, it shall be +yours. Here's my sword-pouch. See, there's nothing inside. And if you +like, you can take my boots off, but you'll find no gold there, I warn +you." + +The highwayman pressed his axe between his fingers, and tapped quite +gently with the butt end of it on the crown of the president's head, +where the velvet lining of his fur cap hung out. What was jingling +inside? + +The smile vanished from the lips of his victim. His round face became +suddenly square with astonishment. + +Now there must be something wrong about that. Who had betrayed him? No +man knew it but one. + +Gyongyom Miska did not let him waste time in further consideration. With +a pickpocket's dexterity he drew from under his cloak his hunting knife +from its sheath, ripped out the velvet lining, and possessed himself of +the ducats in a trice. Then, with a pressure of his knees, he turned +his horse round, and in the twinkling of an eye, horse and rider were +over the marsh. Only then did he turn round to utter as a parting +greeting the formula of the law courts: "I commend to you, my lord, my +official services," and disappeared through the poplar-trees. + +"It is a stupid business," grumbled the president, whose good humour had +been torn away with that cut into his cap-lining. + +And a stupid, not to say absurd business it certainly was. + +But Gyongyom Miska, cracking his hunting whip merrily, bounded away over +the sedge. + +It was already evening. The autumn sun cast long shadows over the level +plain. At the edge of a wood burned a herdsman's fire. By it sat a girl +in riding-gear, her head supported on her hands, at her feet two +greyhounds lay stretched out, her horse was tethered to the stem of a +poplar. At the cracking of the whip she sprang from her resting-place, +threw a bundle of dry faggots on the fire, mounted her horse, snatched +up her whip, and cracked it as a counter signal. Across the plain, +starred with wild anemones, the two met; bending down from the saddle, +they embraced and kissed each other, and were off once more, the one +eastwards, the other to the west. + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile, scarcely had the guests withdrawn from the Assembly House +than an official courier rode up the Old Buda Street into Pesth. A +courier of this kind was so unusual a sight, that everyone hastened to +his front door to see him. He wore a red frock coat, leather gaiters +over his boots which reached up to the knee, and a cocked hat with a +tuft of red feathers. Every postmaster is bound to provide him with a +fresh mount does he need it, and a blast from his horn will compel every +peasant to hold at his service as many oxen or horses as he possesses. +The sound of his horn is a well-known one, and as the courier gallops up +the street, the children, blowing through their hands, mimic the blast, +and the elders crane their necks to see what may be his errand. It was +for the prefecture he was bound. + +"Tres-humble serviteur, Mamselle Oefrosine!" Thus the courier greeted +Fraulein Fruzsinka de Zabvary. "Postage not paid, but I ask three +kronen, because I've ridden well, to say nothing of having to go back! +There are a thousand gulden inside." + +It was the courier's way to recommend the letters he handed in as +containing a thousand gulden. So he was paid the fee; but there was +nothing like a thousand gulden in the letter thus sent to Fraulein +Fruzsinka, for it was from the captain of dragoons, Heinrich Lievenkopp, +and why there was nothing of the kind in the letter, may now be told. + +Fraulein Fruzsinka paid the courier, but ordered him to wait at the +prefecture so that she might give him the answer to take back. It was +likewise to the interest of the postman to urge the despatching of a +reply. Then she broke the seal and read the letter in question, written +in the stilted affected style just then so much in vogue, with +mythological phraseology mixed up with barrack slang. It ran as follows: + + "My most adored Lady, + + "By the winged feet of Mercury himself, do I address a + message, surely very agreeable to your grace. God Mars + has taken it into his head to complete the heroic + labours of Hercules. That scoundrel of a highwayman, + 'Gyongyom Miska,' has, after escaping our annihilating + force on this side of the river, retreated across the + Danube, and has taken refuge in the Raczkeve + Island--protected by Neptune and Hermes, those + divinities of the robber. Meantime, must we patiently + wait on the shore till we get a ferry to carry us + across. The wretched fellow was playing us off, since + he swam across the other arm of the Danube and reached + the farther side. Thereupon, the Viennese civilians + who were with us, declared, forsooth, that we might + not pursue him, because it would be crossing the + border of another county! + + "So we had to return to Pesth till the county of Pesth + should supersede the county of Weissenburg in its + strategic co-operation. But rumour has it that the + redoubtable robber has come back from Weissenburg + county to that of Pesth, and is haunting the Vorosvar + woods. Therefore have I received new marching orders + from the commander-in-chief to march with my squadron + on to Vorosvar. To-morrow, at the first streak of dawn + shall we start on an expedition which brings me on the + wings of the Hours to the charmed circle of my + adorable Calypso in the beauteous Vorosvar Vale of + Tempe. + + "There is, however, a small but fatal incident that + must be recorded, that has much disquieted me, which I + will set forth to the Fraulein. Last week I was + amusing myself with Mr. Justice Petray (a good fellow + by the way), in dallying with Fortune's painted cards, + on which occasion a thousand dancing sprites turned + the wheel very unluckily for me, so that I lost twenty + ducats to the justice, and had to give him my _parole_ + as an officer that I would pay him to-morrow. Item, he + insists on my redeeming my word, because to-morrow + there is to be an enquiry into the accounts, and among + other things will be missing the twenty ducats from + the treasury. But owing to the incredibly bad state of + the roads the allowance my aunt sends me has not + arrived, nor do I know how I can settle the affair. + And so for me there remains nothing but to take my + leave of the world with a pistol-shot, and embark in + the boat of Charon, or else to take refuge under the + protection of my good genius, and call her to my aid. + I humbly suggest that she might, for just this once, + be an intermediary with her rich uncle for me, and + borrow the above-mentioned sum on my behalf, which I + pledge my word, as a cavalier, gratefully to reimburse + directly I get my aunt's allowance. + + "May the Fraulein accept the most humble homage of + Heinrich von Lievenkopp." + +Off went Fraulein Fruzsinka, when she had read this letter, to her +uncle, the prefect. + +"I say, uncle, dear, will you advance me ten ducats out of my +allowance?" + +"Oho, my dear," answered Mr. Zabvary in a tone which suggested the +melancholy whine of a dog. "What's the matter? I really can't advance +any more money, for my account at the bank is already in danger of being +overdrawn. But what did you so suddenly want ducats for? Is the captain +of dragoons in difficulties? That seems to be a chronic ailment with +him. Yes, indeed, I know, he wants more pecuniary aid, that's it! +Otherwise he'll blow his brains out? Heaven grant he may! If he'd only +do it once for all! What does a dragoon captain matter to me? A man who +never means to marry, but just scares away the eligible suitors. I wish +the devil had taken him to Silesia. And, pray, if he means to marry, am +I to keep him? I should think not, indeed, considering he's got his old +aunt. But even if he has, it will fall upon me in the end. Just write +him the right sort of answer in proper Latin: 'Centurio'=Captain, +'pecunia'=money, 'non est'=is there none; 'si valves valeas'=if there's +no wine, then drink water!" + +"Very good, if you won't give me any, I'll ask someone else," said +Fraulein Fruzsinka defiantly, banging the door after her as she went +out. + +Mr. Zabvary did not think much of that, for it was quite customary for +Fraulein Fruzsinka to raise loans on all sides; from the overseer, from +the chief herdsman, nay, from the shepherd's man she would borrow, and +they never dared to ask the prefect for repayment, but probably then and +there reckoned--as the saying goes--that "discretion was the better part +of valour" in such a case (which is a wise conclusion if you can but +come thereto). Fraulein Fruzsinka, however, left all these possible +creditors unexploited, and calling for her horse, and her riding whip, +and two pet dogs, she went off on a hunting expedition into the open +country. + +She did not, certainly, appear to be troubling about game, but seemed +much more concerned to reach the wood; once there, she paced along the +side of the brook till she came to the thicket. + +There she took a path which led through it, till she reached a +picturesque circular glade on whose edge six armed men in their coloured +cloaks, lay encamped by a herdsman's fire. When the most gorgeously +garbed one among them perceived the Fraulein, he sprang forward to meet +her, and as she approached he hastened up to her, lifted the young lady +from her horse, and kissed her on both cheeks. Both the dogs appeared to +recognise the cavalier, for they sniffed at him in a decidedly friendly +way. Then, with their arms round each other's necks, they paced along +the flower-decked turf, speaking together in a low voice. And the end of +it was that the lordly cavalier, after whispering to the Fraulein, +mounted his horse, shouldered his weapons, and trotted off, with all +his accoutrements, in company with the young lady herself in the +direction of the high road. + +What then happened we have already seen. + +Fraulein Fruzsinka had her ducats when she came back. She put them with +the other ten, enclosed them in an envelope, gave them to the waiting +postman, and the red-coated courier was before nightfall on his return +journey, blowing the while the lustiest blast on his horn. + +And thus had Fraulein Fruzsinka, at one blow, accomplished three, to +her, eminently desirable ends. + +First she had made her adorer, Gyongyom Miska, aware on what side danger +threatened him; at the same time she had procured the ten ducats which +her other admirer needed to redeem his word and avoid the fatal shot; in +the third place, she had helped her third suitor, the judge, to verify +the municipal accounts and make them balance. + +But those ten ducats must have truly been bewitched, since they were +fated, in twenty-four hours, to pass through many pairs of hands, to +disappear, be stolen, disappear again, and again be stolen, and only +then to come to a stand-still. + +That Fraulein Fruzsinka had put all her admirers in a good temper, +however, and benefited all three, can we duly testify. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +In the Szent-Endre and the adjoining Izbegh vineyards the vintage was in +full swing. It was an excellent harvest, the wine promised to be +unusually good, and all the vineyards were filled with joyous labourers. + +But from the vineyards the new wine was conveyed away by one road only, +in great casks, while heydukes, armed with pikes and muskets, guarded +the route. For all that grows in the vineyard must first pay the +requisite tithes. + +At the entrance of the one open road four huts were erected, and before +each stood a huge vat. The first belonged to the Bishop of the diocese. +As the cart, laden with the casks of "must," or new wine, passes, the +episcopal steward takes out his tithe. Then the cart proceeds to the +second hut, where the court chamberlain deducts his share. Thence it +arrives in front of the two huts which, facing each other, bound the +narrow road, so none may pass unchallenged. No matter whether the owner +is hailed in German or Magyar, the sacristan of the parish acting for +the Catholic priest, appropriates his own tithe from the cask, or if he +speaks Rascian, it is for the Greek "pope," he takes his share. + +Only then can the convoy proceed. Yes, indeed, so it might, if there +were not a fifth hut in the way, where two heydukes seize the horses' +bridles, and on right and left the owner is hailed by officials who want +to know why he has broken the "portion" rule. (For thus in their +simplicity have the peasants abbreviated the word "proportion.") + +Such is the method in which the taxes are extorted. + +Whoever is in a position to do it, holds himself in readiness to +compound for the "Haracs," as it was called in Hungary, from a Turkish +word, by opening his purse and paying up the arrears of the tithe in +groschen, which settled the matter, for to pay the tax in silver was +illegal. Consequently, on the table of the fifth hut fell many a +well-stuffed bag of copper coins, which the officials had squeezed out +of the vintagers. There were, however, many who were not well enough +provided with small change to satisfy this crowd of creditors, and so +had to pay up the arrears in kind. That is why the great vats stand +there in the road. + +But the "red Jew" carries his casks into the small Slovak carts that +take it down to the Danube, and ships it to Vienna, and pays, too, his +tax of two Rhenish gulden for his wine. + +It can well be imagined how to the overtaxed peasant wine-grower who +has run out of money, this same "red Jew" is a friend in need, quite +ready to help him out of his difficulty, for he will pay for his wine at +the rate of two gulden a kilderkin. But this did not happen in +well-regulated communities. Only the municipality had the privilege of +selling wine, and to it the citizen only dare retail his vintage. And +the price which he received for it was fixed by the law at one gulden. + +So the wine-grower pours likewise into the great vat his "deputy-tax," +wherein he reckons a gulden for a kilderkin, and the "red Jew" draws it +out again at two gulden a kilderkin. + +Thus it befalls that the owner of the vineyard brings the bottles which +he has brought with him empty to the vineyard, empty home again. And yet +that is called a first-rate vintage! But it was hard for the good man +himself to esteem it so, and no wonder he was doubtful! + +And thus the vintage went on till nightfall. Then the gates of the +vineyards were shut, and the judicial vintagers paused in their work, +yet not to betake themselves to rest, but to carry on further business +within doors. + +The judge and his deputy, the notary and the jurymen, all conferred +together, the notary being auditor and controller in one, whereby it may +be gathered that he was a very clever fellow. + +The Jew Abraham was likewise called into the council, in order to assist +in the money-changing. + +For at that epoch all kinds of money were current in the country, which +only came into evidence as they passed in daily exchange. To dispose of +them was not easy, so the Jew was bidden to give proper money in +exchange for them. When he got back to Vienna he could in his turn get +rid of it. + +During the money-reckoning transaction, Abraham appeared with the +accounts giving the amount of money taken over, the price of the wine, +and the bad money left behind. + +"Can't you buy this bad money too, father Abraham?" queried the notary. + +"No indeed, my lord, for if I change false money they will lock me up, +but you will quietly put it away in the cash-box, and pay out with it, +your servants' wages, your heydukes, messengers, and foresters. In due +time, these coins will again be in circulation at the tradesman's stall, +or the inn, and the public will be fingering it once more for fees and +fines, and so the bad money comes round again, just as the sun goes +round the earth, for it is not by any means lost." + +Everyone laughed at the Jew's explanation. + +Then Abraham stated how much he would give in gold for the small change +he had taken, and the business was settled without further ado. + +"But now, Mr. notary," proceeded the Jew, "just make me out a receipt to +attest that I have changed the money, and that we are quits, but write +it in Latin, not Rascian." + +"All right, Rothesel." + +"Also, I would ask you not to write my name 'Rothesel,' but 'Rotheisel,' +with an 'i' if it is just as easy to you." + +"But everybody calls you 'Rothesel'?" + +"You may call me what you like, but in writing at any rate, I am +'Rotheisel.' I had this favour granted me in Vienna, from the Kaiser +himself--that I might write it with an 'i.'" + +"And a nice round sum that very 'i' cost you in Vienna, Abraham, or I'm +much mistaken! Confess frankly, it did!" + +"Pray why should I confess anything about it? What does it matter +whether this 'i' cost me but a single heller, or a hundred thousand +gulden--you, not I, pay them, after all is said." + +When the Jew had gone, the notary packed up the ducats in stacks, and +placed them beside him round the inkstand, while the president began: +"Well, now the outsiders are off home, only the privileged councillors +and the members of the council remain, in order to be present at the +opening of the great coffer." + +Now it is not permitted to every official to glance at the contents of +the mysterious coffer. As the privy council alone remained, the notary +fetched out from the cupboard, as many night-caps as there were men, and +each one drew the covering thus provided over his head, so that only the +tip of his nose was visible. This was done so that none might see where +he was going. When all were thus blindfolded, the notary alone +excepted, the latter took a light from the table, and gave the end of +his stick into the judge's hand; the judge in his turn reaching the end +of his to the juryman behind him, and so on, till the chain of +blindfolded men were ready to start. Where? Ah, that was the notary's +secret, for he it was who directed their progress. + +"Now there come steps," he cried, "one, two, three," and so on, till he +had counted ten. Then a key creaked in an iron lock. "Stoop down so you +don't hurt your heads," came the word of command, and they passed +through a low door. "Here we are," cried their leader, "now you can +look." + +The jurymen had often been in this place before. It was a low-pitched +cellar, with a massive, vaulted arched roof, and in a corner of it, +there stood an iron coffer made fast to the wall. + +Beside this iron chest stood a Rascian "pope," whose hand they could +reverentially kiss if they wished. How he came there no one knew. + +The "pope" produced a large, curiously wrought key, and the notary a +second one like it. + +"These are the keys, open it who can!" + +Three or four times some jurymen made the attempt, yet without success; +in vain did the keys press right and left in the wards, but it opened +not. + +"We are wasting time," cried the "pope." "Do you try, Mr. notary, you +understand it." + +Whereupon the notary turned the keys, and the coffer was opened. + +Everyone wanted to see inside. + +There were nothing but ducats there: ducats, indeed, by hundreds, in +fine transparent bladder bags, through which the yellow metal gleamed +seductively. The sacks stood as in battle array, like so many soldiers +close to each other. There must be a fabulous lot of gold there! Now +another row was to be added to it. Then from a side compartment of the +chest, a small book was fetched out wherein the notary entered all kinds +of accounts. And strange entries might those be, judging from the +frequent exclamations of the jurymen, which showed that the budget he +examined was a notable one. + +"Tut, tut," cried the notary interrupting, "you don't want it published +to all the world." + +"But if it has to be, eh?" + +After which, certain accounts were duly registered in the little book, +and the great coffer was again closed. Then the "pope" spoke. + +"I see well enough that you have again husbanded your funds carefully, +and that the money has increased, but where does the blessing of Heaven +come in? You never give a thought to the Church! You promised to buy a +new church bell, to gild the church roof, and to build a house for the +parish priest. There's no money for all these things, but the coffer +gets fuller and fuller." + +"Make yourself easy, your reverence," answered the notary, "all that may +come next year, if we are spared. For that the small cash-box will +suffice." + +"So you think it will, do you? What has ruined the hospital? The poor +sick folk nearly perish of hunger in summer, and are nigh frozen in +winter, whilst you carry off the timber by cart-loads as presents to +Pesth, and then think of the amount of smoked sturgeon and caviare and +wine you send thither, and all for the magnates, but nothing for the +sick and needy!" + +"Let it be, your reverence, there's nothing so advantageous for the sick +as fresh air, and nothing so harmful as overloading their stomachs. But +it's far better that we should give firing for the magnates, than that +they should make it hot for us!" + +"And the poor-house which our revered Queen, Maria Theresa, endowed, is +it not still empty? What are we about that we do not find inmates for +it? But you find none." + +"The devil we do! Don't the blind and the lame stand each Sunday before +the church door, but if we want to befriend them, we've only to say: +'Come you, poor wretches, we'll show you the way into the poor-house,' +and off they run in a fright, so great a horror have they of the bread +of the State." + +"You children of the devil! And what of the poor Izbeghers whose forty +houses were burned down? The Emperor allowed them as much from the +treasury as the worth of the houses amounted to, but you raised the +rents of the remaining houses and then dunned them for the money." + +"That's natural enough, seeing the Emperor let the State annex the +burned part in order to pay so much the less to the ground-landlord. If +Peter has nothing, then pay Paul, that is the rule." + +"A godless rule too! Amend your ways, I say, for if next year as many +complaints reach my ear as have this, I'll denounce your coffer to the +Treasury." + +These words only provoked laughter. + +"Your reverence is not such a bad sort," ventured the judge in a +conciliatory tone. + +Thereupon, the keys were withdrawn, the night-caps again donned, and the +notary led his blind men again to the ground-floor of the council +chamber, where they congratulated one another on the risks run. + +"Only yon priest should not have it all his own way with his +maledictions," grumbled the judge. "But they are all like that. Each one +of them thinks that hardly earned money should be wasted on churches and +hospitals." + +"I also think, my lord, that it would be better that such an +unreasonably big sum of money should be divided to each one as he has +need," suggested a juryman bolder than the rest. + +The speaker might, from the assenting murmur which greeted his speech, +take it for granted that he had a good many on his side, but the +eloquence of the notary soon crushed such sympathy. + +"Ay, my dear friend, that would kill the goose which lays the golden +eggs. This coffer is our pledge of power, our shield of protection, our +bond of union. As long as it exists are we rulers in this city and in +all its dependencies. As long as this coffer answers for us, so long can +we get the laws made in our favour. As long as we have our money, they +won't take our sons for military service, or ask us for accounts, and if +a meadow or a plot of land is to be divided, we look after the +allotment. It is we who direct public works. It is we who fell the +timber in the forest, who cast the net into the Danube, and limit the +vintage; we buy and sell; and fix the tithes. As long as the key of that +coffer is in our hands, we must needs be great powers in the city, like +Kaiser Joseph in his palace at Vienna. At the end of that key we whistle +a tune to which all men must dance." + +"Quite right, quite right!" shouted the whole assembly. + +And who could contradict them? + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +The Jew Abraham was the father of twelve children, all sons, and all +red-haired. And each one equally resembled his father. + +Yet it will be well to explain matters from the beginning. + +Up till the Emperor Joseph's time, the Jews had been devoid of any +family names, as once in the Promised Land. + +But when Joseph II. admitted the Jews to the rights of citizens, he +stipulated that they should render military service if called upon, and +that they should choose a surname--and that a German one. + +To this end, royal commissions were despatched on all sides which should +provide the Jews with surnames. And a nice business it was! Whoever had +a well-filled purse had a free choice, if it so pleased him, but woe to +him who set about it empty handed, for the nickname wherewith his +mocking neighbours had christened him, stuck to him pitilessly. + +Because Abraham had not sufficiently opened his purse-strings, he still +had to go by his nickname of "Rothesel," wherewith he was known among +his neighbours. + +The epithet "roth" (red), he had received from the colour of his beard, +but he had been qualified as "esel" (ass), because he had done nothing +more enterprising with his wife's dowry of two hundred thalers, than buy +up wine with it. On this account everyone had decided he must be an ass. +And everyone, on the face of it, was right. For what could a Jew want +with wine? He dared not retail it, for the trading rights belonged only +to the communes, to say nothing of the difficulty of transporting it +over the frontier. Whence could he carry it? for in Hungary the law +forbade any Jew to trade in such wares. + +So that when his neighbours called Abraham an ass for laying out his +money in wine when he began life, they were not far out, for he hardly +earned salt to his bread by such a business. + +But Abraham was in his way a student of the times. Looking ahead, he saw +under the rule of the later Hapsburgs that many ancient laws, though +still unrepealed, had nevertheless fallen into desuetude, and +consequently that the statute forbidding Jews the commerce in wine, +might follow suit. Consequently, Abraham found means of transporting his +Hungarian vintages to Vienna. And as he was the first in the field his +enterprise was crowned with success. Nor did he deceive the customer as +to the difficulties of the Hungarian wine trade. + +In spite of all this, he did not part with his wealth too readily. The +commission had expected that he would come out with ducats by the +thousand, but he produced nothing more than a cellar full of wine. In +retaliation for this they left him his nickname of "Rothesel." + +What did it matter to him, for what is a name after all? The name of the +creditor is always a good one, that of the debtor as surely a +disgraceful one. + +But his own family did not share his views on the subject. If it was +indifferent to the father what men called him, his wife and children +took a different view of "Rothesel," and, owing to their urgent +representations, Abraham determined to rid himself of this incubus, yet +without paying too dearly for it. + +He reckoned two hundred ducats would cover it, and with this sum off he +went to Vienna, ostensibly, on a question of his wine trade. + +Arrived there, he began to think out how best he could forward the +affair without getting too much fleeced in the process. + +He began at the beginning, that is to say, at the chancery court, where +all such problems have to be conciliated. And a long list it was! The +expediting of such business is a serious matter. + +But to the Jew there suddenly came a brilliant idea. He bethought him of +an acquaintance at Court. The title of this acquaintance was doubtful, +for he was only a young man, and whether to address him as a chancery +clerk or as chancellor, he knew not. He was the nephew of the +postmaster of Szent-Endre, Mr. John Leanyfalvy. This worthy had adopted +the orphan son of his sister, while yet a child, and had sent him to +Vienna that he might carve out a career for himself in the imperial +city. Each time that Abraham had made his business visits there, he had +spoken to the postmaster and asked him if he had any message for "young +Matyi." And when the uncle had taken this opportunity of sending his +nephew a gift of country produce, Abraham always carried out these +commissions faithfully, and was duly welcomed by "Mr. Matyi." + +The latter was quite at home at Court, and had employment in the palace +itself. What he did there, whether he had a voice in the Kaiser's +councils, or brushed his coat, Abraham did not know, perhaps the latter +was the likeliest supposition; in this case, he would be a patron to be +prized, for servants are worth propitiating. + +Consequently, the crafty Jew had determined to seek out the postmaster's +nephew at headquarters. And in order he might not appear empty-handed, +he took a pear with him. At that time there was a rage for pears carved +out of wood, whereof one half formed a musical box, being filled with a +mechanism which enabled him who put it to his mouth to produce quite a +respectable tune. Such a pear did Abraham buy in a shop at Nurnberg, but +he stuffed the hollow half of the pear with two hundred ducats. This +pear he had destined for the young man if he prospered his petition with +the Emperor. The said petition was drawn up neither by agent nor +attorney, but as concocted by Abraham, ran thus: "Your Imperial Majesty, +the high commissioners insisted on calling me 'Rothesel,' I only beg +permission to insert a humble little 'i' in the middle of my name." + +Furnished with this formula, Abraham set out for the palace. The +_entree_ there proved much easier than he had imagined. For was there +not a standing order that no petitioner should be denied admittance? So +he was allowed to enter the great corridor, where already many people +were assembled. + +Abraham had what you might call prodigious luck at the very outset. The +first person he met in the ante-chamber was "Mr. Matyi" himself. His +appearance was that of a refined handsome youth of about +four-and-twenty, with a red and white complexion like a girl's; he wore +his hair powdered, a pea-green silk coat turned up with red, an +embroidered waistcoat, a lace-frilled vest, with knee-breeches of +cherry-coloured velvet, silk stockings, and buckled shoes. At his side +hung an Italian rapier, and from his waistcoat pocket dangled a +watch-chain laden with all kinds of trinkets. Under his arm he carried +the tri-cornered hat of the period. + +Moreover, this elegant young dandy was not ashamed to recognise his old +acquaintance in the crowd; no sooner had he caught sight of his red +mantle than he went up to him, asked him how he fared, and how it was +with his uncle, and when he heard Abraham's errand, exclaimed, "Why +that's a mere trifle." Thereupon, taking his hand, he led the Jew +through three or four rooms in succession, which they traversed without +knocking, till they came to a fifth, where he hung his hat up on a peg, +as a sign that they had reached the presence-chamber, and told the Jew +to wait while he should announce him to the Emperor. Abraham's knees +nearly failed under him when he knew that only those folding doors +divided him from the Kaiser. Yet his friend could enter freely; he must +then be some kind of chamberlain. + +In half a minute the latter was back again. + +"You can enter, Abraham." + +And thereupon he pushed the Jew, with his petition in his hand, through +the door. + +Abraham saw indeed little more of the Emperor than his boots, but these, +he noted, had not certainly been blacked for a week; if "Mr. Matyi" was +really his servant, he didn't know his duties that was plain. + +Back came Abraham again into the ante-room. + +"Mr. Matyi" was busy at a writing-table; he seemed to have some +important correspondence to transact there. + +The Jew was radiant with delight; he hardly knew where to begin: "It's +right enough; the Emperor himself has countersigned the petition with +his 'fiat.' Here is his name! He himself has put in the 'i,' praised be +the Lord!" + +But suddenly he broke off in his thanksgiving as he regarded the +document. "Ay, woe's me!" + +"What is the matter, friend?" + +"Why, his Majesty has clean forgotten to put the dot over the 'i,' and +without this, the 'i' looks exactly like an 'e,' and it only means from +being a short ass, I shall now be but a long one! Alas, I am a dead man. +I beseech you to be so very kind as to put the necessary little dot in +for me, so that it may be done with the same ink. You have the pen in +your hand ready." + +"What are you thinking of?" cried "Mr. Matyi" indignantly, "to correct +the imperial hand-writing, why, it would be a rank forgery! Give me the +petition, I'll take it back to the Emperor, so he may put it in." + +And thereupon, off he went through the folding doors with the paper. + +Abraham breathed freely, he had attained his end, and this without +laying out thousands of ducats; he had managed it for two hundred. He +fumbled in the money compartment of the musical pear, and laid the +ducats on the writing-table of "Mr. Matyi," so that the latter should +not fail to see them when he returned to his correspondence. + +The young man was soon back again. + +"Here you are! God be with you! Greet my uncle for me, and tell him I +have much to do, that I want for nothing, and send my good wishes, and a +happy journey to you!" + +Abraham put the petition in his pocket, crying over it like a child. + +"Mr. Matyi" accompanied his _protege_ to the next room, thence he +trusted him to find his way out. + +While the Jew was struggling with the door-handle, back came "Mr. +Matyi," red with rage, seized Abraham by the collar of his mantle, and +with the other thrust the pear under his nose, asking angrily: "What do +you mean by leaving this on my table?" + +Abraham took it as a jest. + +"Well now, I have only brought you some pears as usual." + +"But the ducats?" + +"They were for the gracious favour which the young gentleman has been so +kind as to show me." + +"I have shown you no kind of favour. You wanted justice and you have +obtained it. Take back your gold!" + +"Why should I take it back? Hasn't the young gentleman deserved it for +all his trouble? Did he not get the dot put on the 'i'?" + +"I will not accept a handful of gold for a dot over an 'i.'" + +"But it's worth it to me? It's not a bit too much. The young gentleman +needn't take offence. He can pay his debts with it." + +"I have no debts." + +"Oh, you have no debts, do you say? Don't tell me a Viennese dandy has +no debts. You owe neither the tailor nor the host anything? What, don't +you want to make your sweetheart a present?" + +"I have none." + +"Who could ever believe it? How you blush. Well, take it, make merry +with it, gamble it away with good comrades. For I won't have it back." + +"I drink no wine, I don't gamble, I have no good comrades; this money +you will take, for it hurts me to receive it. Those I serve pay me for +what I do. He who does such work as mine asks for no reward but his +master's, and can take no bribe from another. Take your gold back." + +"As you will, Mr. Raby," said the Jew, and he put the ducats in his +pocket. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +"Very good then, Mr. Raby," pursued the Jew. (He no longer thought of +him as "young Mr. Matyi.") "But before I leave this place, nay, before +you send me packing, I must needs have three words with you." + +"All right, out with them!" + +"Now the first is this: since I first weathered winter's snow and +summer's dust on this good Mother Earth of ours, I never before met a +man who was frightened at money. I see him for the first time to-day. +You were positively averse to keeping my gold. Nay, I believe that you +wanted to break my head on account of it. And now I find you have no +sweetheart, you neither drink nor gamble; you fraternise with no one. +That again is something quite unheard-of. And finally, a man will not +dot the 'i' of another person's writing, that also is something out of +the common, let me tell you." + +"Well for one word I think that is long enough--what else?" + +"The second concerns myself. As truly as that I yesterday was +'Rothesel,' and to-day am 'Rotheisel,' so surely is it that Rotheisel +won't neglect a treasure which Rothesel has discovered. I know of a +treasure, in fine, for the carrying off of which, as in the fairy tales, +only clean hands can avail." + +"I don't understand what you are talking about." + +"Well, I do. There is a treasure lying buried in a certain place, a +solid heap of more than a hundred thousand ducats, on the track of which +I would set a champion." + +"I still do not understand. To whom does this goodly hoard belong?" + +"This money has been wrung from the sweat and blood of the poor and the +oppressed, nay, squeezed out of ragged and hunger-bitten wretches, +moistened by the tears of widows and orphans, purloined, and concealed +from the Crown. It is the people of your native town, good sir, whose +misery has augmented this treasure, and who starve and complain for the +lack of it, while beggars swarm throughout the country. If this sort of +thing goes on, the whole State must go to the dogs. I know what I am +talking about, and will gladly lead you to the hoard. When you are in a +position to rescue it from the dragon's clutches, two-thirds of it will +go back to the poor wretched folk it was wrung from, and a third to +enrich the man who restores it." + +"But if you know all this, why not do it yourself?" questioned his +listener. + +"Tut, tut, my most respected sir, have you then studied to such little +purpose as not to know the laws of your native land? Does it not stand +written that the plaintiff must be a Christian? The Jew can do nothing. +And, moreover, were I as good a Christian as the zealous old sacristan +who opens the church every morning single-handed and shuts it at +nightfall, I should not be the man for this business. For it is just +such a man as you is wanted, my respected sir, a man who, once he has +set his hand to the work, will not allow himself to be beaten out of the +field. For as long as the seven-headed dragon that guards the treasure +sees that no one attempts to raise it, he'll wag his seven heads more +boldly than ever. As soon as the delegates who are told off to take +charge of it, notice that by chance ten or twenty heaps of ducats have +been left perhaps on the table, they go back and verify that all is in +good order. They will resent the adventurous knight's interference, and +will give him his _quietus_ if he is not wary. He must press on against +all foes, even if help fail him. How should a poor insignificant mortal +like myself be fitted for such an undertaking? For such a quest, a +powerful chivalrous man is needed, who has the _entree_ at Court, who is +likewise a noble himself, and can wield the pen as well as the sword, in +fine, one who has a heart open to the cry of the poor and oppressed, and +the faculty of sympathising with the people. They are not my people--I +am only a foreigner here, but it goes to my heart when I see how the +harrow tears and the clods are broken, how for others is the sowing that +these may reap. Then I thank God that He has not given me a portion in +this land, but that I am a stranger here. Believe me, Mr. Raby, the +nobles always know how to oppress the vassals. The Turkish pacha at +most, has shorn his subjects: the Magyar landlord has fairly plucked +his, but the Szent-Endre council flay their victims of hide and hair +alike. So that's my third word!" + +"All right, just give me more precise details over all this, and come +and look me up at my lodgings; there we can talk it over; I shall be at +home the whole evening." + +So at the appointed time, Abraham went to discuss matters with Raby, and +did not get home till morning. He literally talked the whole night long. + +Yet when he at last took leave, he bound his friend on his honour: + +"That you never betray how you knew all these things. The Spanish +Inquisition was mere child's play compared to what those good people +would do to me, if they knew that it was I who had made it so hot for +them." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Mr. John Leanyfalvy was a narrow-minded man. He was the postmaster of +Szent-Endre. He neither paid nor received visits; he had but one hobby, +and that was gardening. This he rode with a persistency worthy of a +Dutchman. He grew flowers of which no one had ever heard before--exotic +blooms almost extinct, but for the fostering shelter his garden walls +afforded. + +He was specially celebrated for his melons. At the time of the +melon-harvest, two great mastiffs guarded the melon-plot over which his +bedroom window looked. In this garden all his spare time was spent. He +was so busy one afternoon over his melon-beds, that he did not observe +how his mastiff, who by day was chained up, was growling at a man who +stood before the garden gate. He only became aware of the new-comer when +the latter wished him good day. He looked round and saw a stranger +dressed in the latest modish costume of Vienna, and finally, he +recognised in the apparition his nephew, young Matyi. + +"Why bless me if it isn't my nephew Matyi. I hardly recognised you in +this fashionable coat, I declare. But very welcome you are all the +same." + +And the old man embraced his nephew heartily. + +"Ay, but you've become a man since I saw you last. You only want a +moustache," and he looked at Raby's smooth-shaven face critically. "But +you are not in a hurry to be back in Vienna, I hope?" + +"Well, unless you want to send me away, I needn't be in a hurry to go +back, as I could stay here all the winter," answered Raby. + +"Well, don't talk to me about sending you off. I know well enough you +are under someone else's orders." + +"Yes, uncle, under orders to stay here for some time." + +"Oh! I take it, you are here then for the taxation commission?" + +It was an office which had at that time but an unenviable reputation in +Hungary. + +"More pressing business still," answered the young man with a smile, as +he whispered something in the old gentleman's ear, which was evidently +an important disclosure. + +The features of the old man relaxed. + +"Now that's something like; that's capital! Now I can reckon you a man. +Only don't neglect the work." + +"Trust me!" + +"And then don't begin among the lesser folk, but get hold of the great +people. Go straight to the prefect himself; he's the one to tackle. Ay, +I could give you some good advice. Hear all, see all, and hold your +tongue, as the saying goes. But you know all about that, and have no +need of a plaster over your mouth." + +"Yet if I find the guilty, I shall not spare them, I warn you, whoever +they be." + +"You will see, my boy," said the old gentleman, rubbing his hands, "if +you tackle the prefect properly, you will be court judge of Visegrad, +year in and year out." And he clapped his nephew on the shoulder. + +"What kind of a berth is it in Visegrad?" + +"Ay, my boy, that's the fattest plum in the neighbourhood; it's worth +more than a hundred county court magistracies, and it happens to be just +vacant." + +"How could I hope to get it?" + +"What a stiff-necked man it is to be sure! Didn't you get to Vienna? You +don't surely reckon yourself among those people who let themselves be +cajoled by the gift of a fine horse or a roll of ducats: a man like you +is worthy a bigger bribe." + +The young man became suddenly crimson. + +"But, my uncle, I don't come for that--for the sake of a horse or money, +or even a court magistracy, not to be bribed by the great, but rather to +redress the grievances of the folk who are oppressed, and to rectify +abuses." + +At this speech Mr. Leanyfalvy shifted his zouave from the left to the +right shoulder. + +"Don't you know, my dear boy, that out of the mouth of the poor, +complaints are not heard. There must be a God who hears them, +nevertheless. Yet the government is a power against which one man can +avail nothing. How can you protect the sown fields from the marmots? Man +is just such a marmot. Dismiss him who is now in office, and put another +in his place; you only change for the worse. As long as there are fools +and knaves in the world, so long will the one always rob the other." + +"Now if you reckon abuses of office among social ills, I can but tell +you that if you have a will, you can amend them. And this will have I." + +"Yes, but have you likewise the power? 'Whoso is wanting in strength is +powerless in wrath.' Besides, who stands behind you?" + +"The Emperor himself." + +"And who else?" + +"Isn't he enough?" + +"That doesn't suffice; you must have the presiding judge as a patron, or +the lord chancellor, or at least the district commissioner. If you can +only ensure the Emperor's favour, that doesn't go far. What can you say +to our Emperor, except 'May it please his Majesty,' and that he is +lampooned daily. Every day there come some such scurrilous pamphlets to +my notice." + +"The Kaiser believes in unlimited freedom of opinion." + +"Hang freedom of opinion! If I were Emperor, and anyone printed such +things about me, I would take my axe and play such a tune on the +writer's head with it, that he would not ask for a second one. And then +if the Hungarians see that the Austrians dare thus to insult the Kaiser, +what liberties will the Hungarian not allow himself?" + +"Yes, indeed. All those who are shocked at his novelties, murmur against +him. They abuse him because the freedom hitherto only accorded to a +certain class and creed, will now be extended to all his subjects +indiscriminately." + +"Let us talk about the melons, my dear boy. Look at this one with the +mottled rind. When it's ready you can eat it without harm. But take a +bite, before it is ripe, and you get a horribly sore mouth. Now it's +just the same with liberty. When it is ripe, the grower can present it +to the people on a pewter plate. But cut it before it is ready, and the +melon and he who eats it, alike are done for. I know you will maintain +that one can force the melon to get ripe, if you have hot-beds and +green-houses. Now you and your friends, the philosophers and +philanthropists, are just such growers at the present time. Who could +get enough hot-beds and forcing-houses for the whole world? Wait till +the dog-days come, and the heat of the sun will let each one ripen in +its proper measure." + +"Good, uncle. I accept the melon allegory, and will answer you in your +own gardening terms: If you want melons, you must sow the seeds. Some +sprout, others lay dormant. Then comes the worm to devour them, and the +mildew and the frosts to blast the young shoots, yet, in spite of all, +your true gardener tends them to the end. Such a sower am I, who plant +what is entrusted to me in the ground, that others may reap the +harvest." + +The simile pleased the old gentleman much; he stroked his moustache +thoughtfully. + +"You are the right sort, my boy. And if you feel equal to the task, +undertake it. But I fear you won't succeed! But you have not come here +to stir up a hornet's nest, have you?" + +"No, uncle. First of all, I shall procure the actual facts of the case, +and till I get them, I shall not say a word to anyone." + +"That's well and good. But how will you get those facts?" + +"I have reckoned for all that. I mean to settle down and buy myself a +house, with a field and vineyard. As an inhabitant of the city, I shall +have the right to mix myself up in local affairs." + +"That sounds like business. For that matter, I can recommend you a house +that belonged to the notary's brother. It's a fine property, with +garden, vineyard, and meadow attached. The owner is a drunken +good-for-nothing, and over head and ears in debt, but can, by realising +the property, pay his debts, and still have something left. Leave the +contract to me." + +"Agreed then, uncle. The money question can soon be settled, as I have +what will be necessary." + +"So far, so good. But after, when you have your facts, who is going to +be prosecutor?" + +"I myself will be." + +The old gentleman stroked his moustache doubtfully. + +"Oho, my boy, that's a dangerous game. Do you know that the law won't +allow you to do it anonymously? The prosecutor must act in his own +name." + +"I shall lodge my complaint openly so that the guilty can recognise me." + +"Then be sure they will try and get rid of you." + +"That is the fortune of war." + +The old man smiled slily. + +"It has just occurred to me you can't be prosecutor." + +"Why not?" + +"Why, pray, have you not studied law in Vienna? Docs not the decree of +St. Stephen lay it down that the prosecutor must be a married man? If +you are single, you are not qualified to make the depositions." + +"All right, I'll marry." + +His hearer fairly shook with laughter. + +"My boy, I've heard many motives suggested for matrimony, but never one +like yours. You are going to marry to help the people to their rights! +Remember that-- + + "'He who takes himself a wife, + Does but heap up care and strife.'" + +"But, uncle, what can you, who were never married, have to urge against +matrimony?" + +"Oh, I've nothing against your marrying. Leave that also to me. I have +found you a house; now I'll find you a wife." + +"It is very good of you, I'm sure." + +"I'm not joking. I know of a right suitable maiden for you. You remember +when you were still a lawyer's clerk, pretty little Mariska, the +notary's daughter. Well, she has become a fine girl. Since her mother's +death she manages the household entirely, and nowhere is there one so +well ordered as Tarhalmy's. She spends no money beyond what she gives to +the poor, and knows how to save as well. She's none of your frilled and +furbelowed fine ladies, and does not frizz her hair in the latest +fashion, but just dresses like a modest Magyar maid; and when you talk +to her, you hardly know what colour her eyes are, so modestly are they +cast down. Nor does she waste time in chatter, but gives you a plain +answer to a plain question, with the prettiest blush imaginable. That's +the wife for you, my boy, and a right comely one, I promise you." + +"All right, uncle. When I've bought the house, and had time to look +round a little, I'll go and see her." + +And with that, Raby took his leave. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The postmaster did exactly as he had promised, and he did it promptly. + +"Now I have got the house, you've got to set up housekeeping, but don't +buy much furniture, the wife will see to that. Till you get a wife, I'll +lend you my maid-servant to keep house; she's also a good hand at +milking, for a cow you must have; and your cooking will have to be done +at home, for there is no cafe or hotel here, as at Vienna. And don't +trust your wine-cellar key to anyone else!" + +Mathias Raby took this good advice, and arranged his new house as if he +were settling down for good in it. He had his fields sown with crops, +his vineyards overhauled, and laid in a stock of winter provisions. But +he encouraged no gossips, took no interest in outsiders, and was +reserved with acquaintances to the verge of taciturnity. + +But general rumour had it that the gentleman who had thus settled among +them, had been sent by the Kaiser himself to investigate matters of +state in Szent-Endre. + +Soon after this, Raby made an excuse for going to Pesth so as to call on +the Tarhalmys. + +Tarhalmy was the county notary, and lived in the Assembly House assigned +him. Raby knew it well, for when he was a clerk, he used to go there +every day. When he reached the door, the heyduke who stood sentry, +barred his way, with his musket under his arm, one foot crossed over the +other, and his shoulder against the door. + +"Tell me, my friend," for thus did Raby accost the old heyduke, "is the +worshipful pronotary at home?" + +The man answered, his worship had just gone out, but his lady-daughter +was within, and would be delighted to see the honourable gentleman. + +Raby hastened up the familiar wooden stairs, that were so well worn down +the middle. + +Our hero needed no guide through these rooms. He knew all the nooks and +corners of the house, and likewise the time at which callers might +come--between the hours of three and four in the afternoon. First he +betook himself to the ante-room, where he laid aside his sword and hat. +But there was no lackey there to announce him, he had to knock therefore +at the first door, to hear a "come in," before he ventured to enter +without further preamble. + +It was the familiar dining-room, where the women-folk were used to +betake themselves to their spinning-wheels. + +They sat there now, the Fraulein and the two maids. The spinning-wheel +was to our grandmothers what the cycle is to the women of to-day; nay, +it took also the place of the pianoforte itself. + +Mariska had certainly grown very pretty since Raby had last seen her, +although, as Mr. Leanyfalvy had remarked, she was quite simply dressed, +and did not curl her hair. He was also quite right about her blushing +when she was spoken to. In this instance, words indeed were not needed +to bring the colour into her cheeks, she no sooner saw the visitor, than +she crimsoned to the roots of her hair. The young girl rose respectfully +from the spinning-wheel, glanced shyly at the intruder, and ere he could +forbid it, had made him a childish curtsey and kissed his hand. + +Raby was very nearly being angry. + +"But, Mariska, do you not recognise me?" + +"How should I help recognising you, Matyi?" + +"Why then do you kiss my hand?" + +"Ah, you have become a great man since those days." + +"Were I ever so great a man, I would not allow my hand to be kissed by a +lady." + +"But I am no lady, you see." + +"Nor am I a great man. And now please give me your hands that I may kiss +them." + +But the girl put both hands behind her back. + +"No, for then should I be a lady indeed. Please be seated." + +She motioned Raby to the leather-covered sofa, and sat down again by the +spinning-wheel, as she deftly began afresh to twist the flax into fine +silky threads, so that they could talk if they wanted to. + +The two maid-servants did not leave the room, but just listened to all +that their mistress and her visitor said; it was but proper, they +thought. + +Raby was meanwhile thinking how to baffle the maids. To this end he +asked in German what she was doing? + +The young girl gazed at him with her great blue eyes full of sorrowful +amazement. Fancy expecting that in the household of the pronotary of +Pesth, that stronghold of Magyar freedom, that anyone, much more the +daughter of the house, should speak German! She lowered her eyes, and +whispered timidly, "I do not understand German." + +"You do not understand German? Why, whatever would you do if you went to +a ball here in Pesth, and could not speak to your partners?" + +"I never go to any balls; I can't even dance," murmured the girl. + +"You mean to say, you don't dance? Well then, however do you amuse +yourself?" + +"When I have time for it, I read." + +"And what in the world do you read, if you only know Hungarian?" asked +Raby. + +"Father has a fine library, and so he chooses books for me." + +"And how do you spend the whole day?" + +"Oh! I have a small garden in the courtyard; I love flowers!" + +Tho two were silent, and Raby looked around him. + +The whole room was eloquent to him of the past. There, by the +work-table, was still the little box containing thread, scissors, and +thimble, which he himself had made when he was a clerk. There over the +couch, hung a withered wreath of dried flowers which he recognised. +Nothing was lost; all had been carefully preserved, even the pen which +he had used for the last time in the office, rested still behind the +mirror with his name inscribed upon the holder. + +And yet they had not expected him; all these souvenirs had not been +spread out at the news of his coming. They were, everyone, abiding +witnesses to the way in which his memory was cherished in a guileless +maiden's heart which loves, while it yet hardly knows what love is. + +Mathias Raby was surely strangely ungrateful to the fate which had +preserved such a treasure for him. But it is the way of youth, so +unregardful is it of the treasures true love spreads for its unheeding +eyes, to be its own for the asking. + +But his meditations were interrupted by the entrance of Miska, the +heyduke, who came to announce that his worship, the notary, was ready to +see Mr. Raby if he would wait upon him in the bureau. + +Raby rose from his seat, and took leave of his hostess, who accompanied +him to the door. + +There they exchanged the usual farewell greetings, and she laid her +little hand in his shyly, as if fearing the ceremonial kiss. As Raby +took the small soft fingers in his, a magnetic shock, as it were, +thrilled his being, so that he would fain have asked the question which +was on his lips, the question the girl would have seen in his eyes, had +she but raised her own. + +And Mariska, too, yearned to ask him, "How long do you stay?" How gladly +would she have heard the answer that it was for some time, how naturally +would the invitation have risen to her lips to Raby to come again often +and see them. + +But instead of all this, they did but hold each other's hands a moment +half-fearfully, as if each were afraid of the other's kiss. + +This once, at any rate, did Raby have the chance of grasping that +invisible golden thread which runs once through the life of every +mortal. Well for him who seizes it, for it will lead him safely through +all perils, but woe to him who lets it go! He cannot pick it up again. + +Raby did not seize the thread. + +"Good-bye!" they murmured. And a right good word it is this "God be with +you!" Yet what if man refuses the blessing the good God proffers him? + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +When Raby went into the office, the clerk told him that the chief was +expecting him in the "state-room" as it was called, in which +distinguished guests were received. This apartment was much more richly +furnished than the rest; it was therefore intended as a compliment to +Raby, that the pronotary should receive him there, rather than in his +bureau. + +The pronotary was a fine-looking man of distinguished bearing. His thick +grey hair was combed straight back from his brows, and except for his +short moustache, he was clean-shaven. His short embroidered dolman +reached to his hips, and was confined by a costly girdle, wherefrom +depended a little pouch containing pen and ink, while his watch-chain +dangled from his breeches' pocket. + +Raby was rather doubtful as to what sort of greeting he should venture +on. The French style exacted a solemn posturing with sundry bows and +curtseys; the German fashion demanded you should shake your neighbour's +hand as lustily as possible, but old-fashioned Hungarian etiquette +prescribed that the younger should kiss the hand of the elder. Raby +bethought him of the kiss he had received in coming thither, and that +decided him. He would pay it back now to the father. The face of the old +gentleman brightened at this greeting. + +"Look you, my friend," he exclaimed in a clear deep voice, "in former +times, I would have patted you on the head, but I cannot do that now for +fear of dishevelling the coiffure your friseur has arranged. Don't you +regret, by the way, wasting so much flour?" + +His guest was glad to catch the old man in such a good temper, and +determined to profit by it, so he kept up the jest. + +"Yet it is far better surely, that I should tumble into flour than +bran?" + +"I think not, my boy, besides you are not so far from tumbling into bran +as you seem to think." + +Raby looked at him with astonishment. + +Tarhalmy's face became suddenly grave. + +"I know well enough why you are here!" + +(How could he know why he had come? wondered his guest.) + +"Not at my house, but why you are in this country. And if you will +permit me, I will tell you what I think about your mission." + +"Oh pray do!" exclaimed Raby. + +"Well, my young friend, you know I have always loved you as my own son. +I recognised all your capabilities, and always said 'that boy will some +day do great things!' A better brought-up, better disposed youth than +you were, with a higher sense of honour, could not be found. I would +not hesitate to entrust you with untold millions--or an innocent maiden. +But I warn you, if you persist in the way you have marked out for +yourself, you will soon be rotting in one of our prisons; and I shall +hear your chains clanking, without being able to stir a finger to set +you free." + +"And all that because I am a friend of the people?" + +"Rather an enemy of the nation, say!" + +"Are not the people and the nation one and the same?" + +"No, not at all: the nation is the state. You idealists cannot see the +wood for the trees; you cannot see the nation for the people. Only make +the people believe that they fare better under a despotism than under a +constitution, and you are the right side of the hedge." + +"So you think it's a choice of being ruled by one tyrant or five hundred +thousand." + +"Wait, young man, the five hundred thousand are the defenders of the +country on the field of battle, judges, commanders, pastors of souls and +teachers." + +"Yes, it was like that formerly. But time does not stand still, even if +conditions remain the same. The new age demands a better system of +defence, a more enlightened code of justice and government, as well as +better methods of instruction." + +"But you can't get all that in Hungary by just speaking the word! Nor +anywhere else, for that matter. We defend our much abused Asiatic +traditions, only through passive resistance." + +"Yet the question which once was asked of old from the oracle of Dodona, +is still the pressing problem for us: which is the most desirable, a +flourishing Hungarian nation according to the ancient idea of it, or +popular freedom?" + +At these words, the pronotary shook the young man cordially by the hand. + +"That was a pertinent question. I honour you for your candour. So many +proselytes of the Emperor that I have come across so far, will insist on +it that between these two antagonistic ideals a compromise is possible: +that, after the abolition of the privileges of the nobles, with an +equalisation of taxes, and a mutual obligation to bear the common +burden, the country can remain the same as it was. But you openly admit +there are only two alternatives, in the face of which we must needs +choose. You have chosen your part, I too have made up my mind. I believe +that in our part of the world it is more necessary for the +constitutional, patriotic Hungarian nation to endure, than for the +peasants to have one day a week more for idling; that it is better for +the aristocracy to give orders to the mob, than that the mob should give +orders to the aristocracy." + +The young man laughed aloud. + +"No, no, my honoured friend, I do not come here with the intention of +touching our hereditary constitution with my little finger. In this does +my whole mission consist--in rectifying abuses which cry aloud to +Heaven for redress in the Court of the County Assembly." + +"And pray who entrusts you with it?" + +"Firstly the Emperor, and then the oppressed people themselves." + +"That's just where the fault lies: neither the Emperor nor the people +have the right to lay such a duty on you. That right belongs alone to +the Pesth Assembly." + +"But the Crown has the right to demand that such a right be exercised." + +"Very likely. The Assembly will do whatever it be called upon to do." + +"And if the Assembly acquit itself badly? For its own officials are +guilty of the misery of the people." + +"Oh, that is no secret. Our officials are in a body quite ready to +fleece the folk in the very way that has aroused your indignation. But +up till now, we have elected these officials ourselves, and we would +rather have them over us, even if they were stained with the seven +capital sins, than have the Emperor's nominees, were they angels from +heaven. This is no legal quibble, but a question of actual conditions. +Whatever the people suffer, they will recover sooner or later; if a man +dies, another is born in his place; but the constitution can neither +suffer nor die. You stand for the Emperor, I stand for the voice of the +nation. Both are mortal. We shall see which of the two survives. But I +warn you to reckon on no one's support in the work you have undertaken, +for everyone will regard you as an enemy." + +"Thank you," said Raby. "Also, there is a satisfaction in remembering +that there is at least one man I can reckon on who won't desert me." + +"And who is that, pray?" asked Tarhalmy smiling rather grimly, for he +thought it was the Emperor he meant. + +"Why myself." + +The pronotary embraced him, exclaiming tenderly as he did so: "Poor +fellow, poor fellow!" Then he said gently: "Farewell, in case I never +see you again!" + +And Mathias Raby went away without mentioning even a word of Mariska. +What a horrible thing these politics are, to be sure! + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Raby had scarcely left, than pretty Mariska put her little head in at +the opposite door which led from the reception-room to the +dining-parlour. Mr. von Tarhalmy was striding up and down the apartment +as if perturbed. + +"Did you call me, dear father?" asked the girl. + +"No, no, child; but come in." + +"You are not vexed, father?" + +"Not a bit of it, my dear." + +"I thought you were quarrelling with someone." + +"Nothing of the sort. We have only been discussing some business +matters. So just come in." + +The girl nestled up to her father's side affectionately. + +"I quite thought you called me," she murmured, "and that you said, we +have a guest coming to-morrow, Mariska." + +"Aha, you are right enough," smiled Tarhalmy. "Of course I said so. Your +cousin Matyi will dine with us to-morrow. Bless me, if I hadn't quite +forgotten all about it." + +"And it's well I should know it in good time." + +"Yes, indeed, and see you have his favourite dishes for him. Have you +plenty of stores, or must any be procured?" + +"No, indeed, I have everything I want in the house." + +And therewith, Mariska kissed her father's hand, nay both of them, and +danced back into the next room as light-hearted as a bird. + +And the two maids at the spinning-wheel must be up and doing; one to +pound almonds in the mortar; the other to sift fine flour for fritters. +The Fraulein herself set about peeling lemons, seeing she was going to +make some of Matyi's favourite cakes, such as no Vienna pastry-cook +could turn out. And through the whole household there was the sound of +singing, for Mariska too could sing on occasion--and this was one. + +But the pronotary himself sent his heyduke to go and find Mr. Mathias +Raby, and tell him, with his compliments, that he would expect him to +dinner the next day. + + * * * * * + +Raby was meantime interviewing some of the high officials of Pesth. + +The first one he visited was the lord-lieutenant of the city. + +For this visit he had to put on court dress, as that official was a +direct representative of the Emperor. + +His Excellency was an unpopular person, disliked by everyone. He was a +hard man whom nothing softened. He sympathized with no one, and he was +in nobody's good graces. Yet he was a personality everyone had to reckon +with. + +His very appearance bespoke the man. The copper-coloured complexion and +ill-shaven face, with its deep frowning eyebrows, heightened the natural +defect of his neck, which was twisted towards the right shoulder. His +hair was lank and reddish; his dress a cross between the Hungarian and +Austrian mode, slovenly and dirty, and stained with snuff, while the +order of St. Stephen, which he wore round his neck, was defaced and half +torn away. His voice had a repellent snarl about it. He spoke German +with everybody, but it was a vile patois. + +When Raby was ushered into his presence, his Excellency was drinking his +coffee, and his visitor had to stand till he had finished. + +When he had set his cup down, he got up, and turning abruptly to Raby, +asked him if he were a count? + +His visitor could not imagine what prompted this question, but he +answered that he was only an untitled gentleman of good family. + +Thereupon his Excellency pointed to Raby's silk vest, and snapped: + +"Well, then, what do you mean by this? According to the prescription of +the 'dress regulations,' no one under the rank of a count may wear +embroidery." + +And in fact there was at this time a "dress regulation" in force to this +effect. Kaiser Joseph carried his paternal interest in his subjects so +far as to lay down rules as to how they should dress. Fashions and +ornaments which were permitted to the count, were not allowed the baron. +In this way, you could specify at first sight what rank a man held, for +even his hat revealed it. Only for princes and princesses was it +permitted to wear both black and white feathers; counts wore white +alone, barons black, and so forth down the scale. These sumptuary laws +even affected walking-sticks which had their mountings differentiated +according to the rank of the possessor. + +That was why Raby had offended the lord-lieutenant. As a simple +gentleman, he had no right to either gold or silver embroidery. + +"This is the dress usually worn by the secretary of the imperial +cabinet," was the only explanation Raby offered. + +"Ah, that is another thing. But I don't approve of these concessions +being allowed to those who are not men of rank." + +He scanned his caller mistrustfully from head to foot, and then went on +stiffly. "But I already have your credentials. Discharge your duty, but +take care what you are about, for you will find no one here to help you +out of a difficulty. So I have the honour to be your very humble +servant." + +But Raby did not mean to let himself be dismissed in this fashion. + +"I too, am your Excellency's very humble servant," he answered. "But I +have a special mission to your Excellency which concerns both of us: my +duty is to speak, as it is likewise to present you with the imperial +warrant." + +The determined tone of the speaker levelled at once all distinctions of +age and rank. His Excellency vainly took refuge in walking up and down +the room, for Raby kept pace with him, and he poured forth his whole +story into his ear, for he was determined that in such a high quarter, +the right side should be known. + +When he had finished his explanations, he raised his cocked hat with an +elaborate bow, bent his knee ceremoniously to the proper degree, and +withdrew, with the three paces prescribed by correct etiquette, to the +door. + +Mathias Raby now hastened to the dwelling of the district commissioner, +who lived alone in an old house at Buda. Before it stood a sentry, and +at the entrance was also a porter who rang the bell if a visitor came in +a sedan-chair--the favourite means of locomotion. You could, if you +wished, have a carriage, but it was not so comfortable. Nor was it +advisable to go on foot, for in the covered ways which led round the +water-city, it was dark enough to cause ordinary pedestrians to dread +being robbed--as indeed they easily could have been. + +Raby hastened up the steps of the district commissioner's house with +renewed confidence, for the commissioner had been one of his Vienna +acquaintances, and so when the lackey announced the visitor, ordered +Raby to be admitted at once, though he had not finished his toilet. + +At that epoch, dress was no light matter even for a man. The _friseur_ +was occupied in shaving his client; then from one box he took out some +white cosmetic, from another some red colouring, to apply them to the +proper place on the cheeks, for, at that era, not only women, but also +men of fashion painted their faces. Then the eyebrows were darkened, and +blue streaks were faintly outlined on the temples with a paint-brush +dipped in ultramarine; finally, a patch was applied with artful +dexterity on the right spot above the reddened lips. Only when all this +was done, could the final operation be carried out--that of powdering +the curled and twisted hair, the patient holding meanwhile a kind of +paper bag before his face, whilst the barber powdered the coiffure with +a large brush. + +"How are you, my friend?" was his host's greeting, as Raby entered. +"I'll be done in a few minutes; meanwhile, sit down and read." + +On the writing-table, to which he motioned Raby, lay some of the latest +pamphlets and pasquinades of the moment, mostly directed against the +Emperor. + +Raby turned them over. "I've seen these before," he remarked. + +"And is not his Majesty very angry at them?" asked the commissioner. + +"Not a bit of it; he sends for the pamphlets, and not only does he make +me read them to him, but he is heartily amused." + +"Otherwise the author might find himself fastened to the wheel, eh!" + +"Joseph has thought of a more sensible punishment. A writer sold his +pasquinades at thirty kreutzers apiece, and built a house with his +profits. But recently the Kaiser, as soon as one of these productions +appeared, had it reprinted and sold for eight kreutzers. The result was +that the writer had the whole edition left on his hands, while everyone +bought that issued by the Kaiser. The proceeds were given to charity." + +"Not a very seemly trade for an Emperor, eh? It were far more becoming +to a prince to have the fellow's head off." + +"Yes, the Kaiser has distinctly plebeian ideas, it must be owned." + +"What too did he mean by putting in the pillory an officer of the Guard? +Only think of it, just for misappropriating from the treasury sixty-six +thousand gulden. And it was only to build an alchymist's laboratory. +Could he help it because it turned out a failure?" + +"Ah, well, now the ice is broken." + +Meantime the _friseur_ had finished his work and gone, so it was easy +for Raby to broach his errand, with such an opening: + +"The Emperor visits with extreme severity the embezzlement of public +funds; it is for this very purpose that he has sent me to bring to light +certain abuses connected with the Szent-Endre municipality." + +"I know, I know," said his Excellency, as he poured some eau de Cologne +over his hands, "it has come to my ears. But you will be a long time +finding your way out of that tangle, once you get into it; let me warn +you. By the way, is there a new opera company at the Vienna theatre?" + +"Ah, my good friend, I've no time to run after plays and players. I've +dramas of my own to look after, and they deal with the picking of other +people's pockets." + +"The deuce take your dramas! Does one still see pretty women at Vienna? +Where do you have your evening gatherings during the winter?" + +"We go to 'The Good Woman.' The sign-board is a woman without a head." + +"What does the hostess say to that, pray?" + +"I shall have no chance of asking her, seeing that I shall spend the +winter here, and pass my time in verifying accounts." + +"Stuff and nonsense! Cut it short, sir, and get back to Vienna as soon +as you can. Say you have found nothing. By the way, have you been in +Pozsony? They say they pay their theatrical companies far better than we +do; isn't it a shame?" + +"May I venture to ask if his Excellency will deign to listen to my +representations about the Szent-Endre affair?" + +"My dear fellow, just tell me everything. I am wholly at your service. +And don't mind my interruptions. I shall hear all. Have the officials +really so oppressed the poor? It's unheard-of! And the Rascian 'pope' +might well speak out. He's a good sort! Just such another as some of our +priests in Vienna. Did you ever hear how--oh, yes, I'm listening right +enough. I see quite well that you've discovered some sort of roguery. +The story of the hidden coffer sounds just like a play, doesn't it? 'The +Hidden Treasure,' or 'The Forty Thieves.' Go on! I declare that notary +ought to be placed in Dante's Inferno. What was that celebrated forgery +case, by the way, when some count or other, of high family, was put in +prison surely? You can't be too severe with that kind of thing. Yes, the +small fry, like your notary, don't get out of the net, but the man with +a handle to his name, gets clean off! We ought to make some examples in +high places." + +Raby longed to express to his Excellency his conviction that the +Szent-Endre culprits would also elude justice; but it seemed wiser to be +silent till his loquacious friend had had his say. + +And now indeed the district commissioner, who was really a good sort of +fellow, showed that he had quite understood the whole business. + +"You leave it to me, my friend; I'll follow it up. You may reckon on my +help. If the councillors show themselves recalcitrant, we will know how +to make them dance! But now it's time for the theatre, my friend. What +do you say to coming with me? I have a box. You will be able to see all +the pretty girls of Pesth and Buda together." + +"Much beholden to you, but I regret I can't take advantage of your +offer," answered Raby; "I must hasten homewards to send in my report to +the Emperor." + +"Oh, what's the good of drawing up reports? Take my advice and don't +send him any. And if you won't come to the theatre with me, then come +and dine to-morrow and we can talk things over." + +But Raby went home to draw up his report. + + * * * * * + +Meantime, the lord-lieutenant was demanding of his secretary: + +"Which is the Statute that treats of _nobilis cum rusticis tumultuans_?" + +The secretary was a walking legal code. He not only knew that the law in +question was article thirty-three, of the year 1514, but could quote the +passage word for word: "Noblemen who take part in any risings of the +peasantry shall be banished, and shall forfeit the whole of their +estates." + +His Excellency uttered a growl of discontent; evidently the citation was +not an apt one. + +"What about that other statute of _Nota Conjurationis_?" + +"Article forty of 1536 pronounces sedition to be high-treason. See _Nota +Infidelitatis_." + +His Excellency shook his head. + +"And that of _Calumniator Consiliariorum_?" + +"Article of the year 1588 runs as follows:--Whosoever shall calumniate +and unjustly attaint any of the Empire's councillors, shall be condemned +to lose his head and forfeit all his goods." + +"That is better. You can go." + +The speaker was obviously contented this time. + +But immediately afterwards he recalled the secretary. + +"Which article is it that treats of the _Portatores Causarum_?" + +"Article sixty-three, of the year 1498. Whosoever shall bring his cause +before a tribunal other than that of his own country, shall be arrested +and imprisoned in the Dark Tower." + +"Now you can retire." + + * * * * * + +His worship, the district commissioner, who during Raby's relation had +appeared to pay not the slightest attention to the Szent-Endre story, +had no sooner got to his box at the theatre, than he sent immediately +for pen, ink, and paper, and, quite oblivious of the play, hurriedly +drew up a missive to the prefect, wherein he set forth Mathias Raby's +mission, and how he had been directly authorised by the Emperor to +revise the finances, pointing out that he was well informed as to +everything, even to the contents of the strong box. He would further +suggest that it would be wise for the prefect to go and look into things +for himself, otherwise disagreeable consequences might ensue. + +This note he sent by a special messenger to ensure its speedy delivery. + + * * * * * + +Tarhalmy's heyduke came back late in the evening with Raby's refusal. He +could not come, because he was already pledged to dine with the district +commissioner. + +"You need not trouble about the almond-cakes, Mariska," said the +pronotary to his daughter, "Cousin Matyi will not be with us to-morrow, +he is flying higher game." + +And all at once the sound of singing ceased in the house. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Hardly had Mathias Raby returned to Szent-Endre than he realised that +everyone was aware of his mission. Gifts of all kinds poured in, and his +servant told him that in his absence two casks of wine had arrived--she +knew not from whom. In the courtyard, big stacks of firewood had already +been piled up--the gift of some anonymous donor, while the poultry-yard +was full of feathered stock which seemed to have flown down from the +skies. + +It was a pity the recipient did not appreciate them. Yet he knew the +time would come when all those who now plied him with gifts, would be +ready to deprive him of everything, if he ventured to set foot in their +streets. He forbade the maid to touch any of them under pain of instant +dismissal. The poor girl was quite dumbfoundered with surprise, for what +could one have better than such presents? + +On the day of his return, two well-known citizens appeared at his door +with a smart coach and four beautiful horses. One of them was Mr. Peter +Paprika; in former times he had himself fulfilled a term of office as +magistrate six years, so he understood the situation. The two had come +to wish Mr. Raby good day, Peter Paprika adding that, as his worship +must have so many journeys to make in so many different directions, he +was sure he could not exist without a carriage and horses. For Raby, +moreover, the price of the whole equipage, including horses, would only +be forty gulden! Nor need he be surprised at this abnormally cheap +price, for they were not stolen. The four horses were from the stud of +the State, the carriage was the best the local builder could turn out. + +Mathias Raby thanked them for the offer, but refused to buy the +equipage, even at this price. + +However, they still pressed their bid, adding that fodder for the horses +would be provided gratis, whereupon Raby told them point blank that +their bribes would not in the least avail to turn him from his purpose. + +Mr. Paprika returned dejectedly to the town council where his colleagues +waited to learn the result of his mission. + +"I'm afraid," he announced to his fellow-councillors, "it won't avail us +to dip in the little chest for this. We have a difficult customer to +deal with. We must dive into the big one." + +They talked the matter over, and determined that if necessary, they +would sacrifice half the common wealth, and for this, bleed the treasure +itself, to such an end. And Peter Paprika was entrusted to find out a +new opportunity for proffering the bribe. + +So the next day they sought out Raby, and put the whole thing before +him. They hinted broadly enough that you did not muzzle the ox that +trod out the corn, and that he who cut up a goose was justified in +keeping the best bit for himself, and other like arguments, and finally +laid on his table the sum of three thousand ducats. + +Even to-day three thousand ducats are not a sum to be despised: in those +days, indeed, they represented a respectable fortune. But Raby nearly +drubbed the envoy who brought them out of the room. He was righteously +indignant, and angrily showed the messenger the door. + +"I never saw a man so angry," growled Peter Paprika, "I've heard men +often enough refuse money in so many words, but they contrived to pocket +the ducats discreetly, directly they have the chance." So they thought +it might happen this time. A week elapsed, and people already began to +smile knowingly at Raby when they met him in the street, saying to +themselves, "He only wants a little bigger net, but he'll be caught in +the end." + +How greatly was popular opinion disconcerted, when in all the churches +the following Sunday, a "command" from the Emperor was read to the +effect "that the three thousand ducats which the worshipful town council +had given to Mr. Mathias Raby for benevolent purposes, were to be +divided among the inhabitants whose homes the preceding year had been +destroyed by fire, and that each one would receive seventy-five gulden +apiece." + +What a procession it was that took its way to Raby's house. The +unfortunate victims of the conflagration came with their children and +chattels to thank their benefactor and to kiss his hand. The homes of +many of them had still to be made good, and the help could not have come +at a more seasonable time. But it set the officials against Raby. They +could not tell the recipients of this bounty what had really happened. +But the latter guessed immediately that the town council had given Mr. +Raby three thousand ducats, not for any charitable ends, but in order to +bribe him, and that he was making over to them these ill-gotten gains. +Well might the poor regard him as their deliverer! + +Nevertheless, the councillors began to shake in their shoes. Judge, +notary, and old Paprika hastened to the prefect, and announced with +anxiety and horror that a dragon had been set on to them, who would not +be pacified with the treasure itself. + +"Well, we'll just fetch out a bigger one still to satisfy him." + +What that greater treasure was, we shall in the course of events now +learn. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +For some days the great circuit had been in full swing in the city. It +was a new institution, inaugurated by the Emperor Joseph, whereby the +lord-lieutenant or his representative, annually had to make a tour +through the county to procure information of all kinds, and refer the +same to the district commissioner, of whom there were ten in all +throughout the country. + +The business was easily settled in some counties. But in that of Pesth, +which is as large as a German kingdom, the number of official +entertainments was so great that it demanded an ostrich's digestion. +These municipal officials, like the lord-lieutenant himself, must eat +and drink hard three or four days running, while, at the end, the whole +burden of the work fell on the substitute, the eldest and best qualified +magistrate. No one answered to this demand better than our old friend, +Mr. Laskoy. + +When the circuit came to Szent-Endre, it was naturally the turn of the +prefect to give an entertainment. To this the imperial court secretary, +Mr. Mathias Raby of Raba and Mura, received a formal invitation in due +course. + +As it was so great an official gathering, he put on his Viennese dress, +and arrived at the prefecture by twelve o'clock, the hour appointed. + +He was received by a lordly looking lackey, who discreetly gave him to +understand that he was somewhat early, that the gentry were still in +council, but that till dinner-time, he might, if he would, go into the +garden where he would find Mademoiselle, the prefect's niece. + +Raby instantly conceived a high opinion of the lady of the house, who, +thus immediately preceding a great banquet, could find leisure to walk +in the garden. She could not be wholly wrapped up in her housewifery. + +But how find a garden he had never seen and seek out a lady who was a +complete stranger to him? However, help was nigh. Just as if it had +scented him, a black poodle came running down the corridor wagging his +tail, as welcoming the guest, and finally took the end of Raby's cane +between his teeth and drew him to the door that led into the garden. +Raby, seeing the dog wanted to play with the cane, let him have it, +whereupon the cunning little beast seized it in the middle and preceded +Raby down the garden path where Fraulein Fruzsinka was to be found. The +garden was laid out in the prevalent mode, in a maze composed of trees, +among which one had vainly sought for an outlet. There, indeed, Raby had +never found the lady on his own account, for she had ensconced herself +in the innermost recess and was reading, seated on the mossy bank. + +She was no longer the Hungarian amazon who had worn the riding gear we +met her in, earlier in this story. She was now the Viennese "elegante," +whose toilette proclaimed her the lady of fashion, with her +walking-stick, her elaborate coiffure, and lace ruffles, all +irreproachably correct. Nor were cosmetics and patches wanting that the +mode demanded, and she answered Raby's greeting with the prescribed +German formula: "Your servant, sir." + +The poodle broke the ice, by running up with his cane and laying it at +his mistress' feet. + +But Fraulein Fruzsinka picked it up gently and gave it back to Raby. She +held a richly bound book, Wieland's "Oberon," which she showed to her +guest. + +Now with ladies who read Wieland you can talk of something else besides +ordinary themes. And in the first quarter of an hour of his conversation +with her, Mathias Raby discovered that his hostess was a highly +cultivated woman who could discuss the French philosophers as an +ordinary provincial belle might the latest fashion in head dresses, and +speak German fluently. + +And her eyes, how marvellous they were! + +They came out of the maze pursuing the talk on literature, and bent +their steps towards the flower garden. Passing the flower-beds, Fraulein +Fruzsinka betrayed also her knowledge of that "language of flowers" +which just then was the rage in Vienna. The young lady broke off a twig +of evergreen, and gave it to Raby, who well recollected the couplet +which set forth its symbolism: + + "The evergreen is always green, although it blossoms never, + So may the friendship 'twixt a man and woman last for ever." + +But there was nothing of the coquette about her; she made no advances +whatever. + +The sound of the dinner-gong here breaking off their talk, his hostess +accompanied Raby back to the house, where the company were impatiently +awaiting them. The dinner was already on the table. + +The Fraulein presented Raby to the other guests who all greeted him +warmly. + +The meal threatened to be interminable, as course succeeded course, till +at last someone threw out a hint to the effect that a little exercise +would be good for the diners, who had a game of skittles awaiting them. + +"Skittles," indeed, was as it were the word of dismissal, and the +suggestion nearly spoiled the proposal made by another guest that after +dinner they should have a song from Fraulein Fruzsinka on the +clavichord. + +But the skittle players were in the majority though there was a keen +opposition. + +Finally matters were compromised by settling that they should have their +hostess' song first, and then the skittles. At first a few of the guests +loitered round the clavichord, at which Fraulein Fruzsinka, with her +really sweet voice, was commencing a ditty. But you could not well smoke +there, so one by one they stole out into the garden where the skittles +were already in full swing. + +Meanwhile, Fraulein Fruzsinka remained at the clavichord alone with +Mathias Raby, who from his knowledge of music could turn over for her at +the right moment. + +The singer soon shut the music book, and rose impatiently from the +instrument. + +"What people these are!" she exclaimed with a little irritated gesture +of her hands. "Not a lofty idea, not a noble aspiration among them, as +far as one can judge. And that is our world!" + +Raby, who had the instincts of a courtier, sought to excuse his fellow +guests. + +"Their own official concerns fill their minds entirely." + +"Their official concerns indeed! Yes, I should think so! Did you hear +the anecdotes with which they regaled each other at table? Quite +frankly, with the most shameless cynicism. Yet they were all true. Among +such people as ours, ignorance, idleness and greed counter-balance one +another. Not one of them knows his business: each neglects his duty. But +see if there is anything to be got out of any official function, and +everyone is ready to seize it for himself." + +Raby held a brief for the accused. + +"With us, offices of that kind are ill-paid. The official's salary is +scant; he has, too, a house and family to keep up." + +Fruzsinka laughed aloud. "There is not a married man among all of them. +They are all a penniless lot who come to pay their court to me. Each of +them would marry me, were they not all afraid of me!" + +"Afraid of the Fraulein? You must make a strange impression on them." + +"Yes, think of it! Can you believe that anyone is frightened at me +because I wear a fashionable gown, read novels, am clever at music, but +indifferent to kitchen and cellar; thereat the wooer shudders. He says +to himself, 'he cannot possibly tolerate that,' and takes himself off +forthwith." + +"On the contrary, dainty toilettes and culture bespeak wealth, and that +alone should be one more spur for the suitors, surely." + +"Oh certainly, if they were sure that my uncle, who is rich, were going +to leave me his money. But that is a secret no one knows. There are two +things my wooer cannot find out, whether my uncle really loves me, and +whether I know how to flatter him well enough, so as not to forfeit his +affection. And truly I do not quite know myself." + +"And that surely is not difficult to decide. For your beautiful +toilettes and good education witness sufficiently to his affection for +you." + +"Ah, as far as my education goes, I have only to thank the gracious +Empress Maria Theresa, for I was educated at her Elizabeth Institute in +Buda, and my education cost no one a heller. And as regards my dress, my +uncle insists on my dressing well, in order to captivate each new-comer. +If it is an aristocratic cavalier who appears on the scene, forthwith I +must don my pearl-embroidered bodice and lace stomacher and the plumed +hat, but if it be an ordinary townsman, I wear the provincial dress of +the simple country girl. Yes, would you know everything at this, our +first meeting? And, indeed, as it is the first, so will it be the last. +But would you hear how that must be, come with me into my own +sitting-room, for here someone will overhear us." + +Raby was already under the spell of the sorceress, and he followed her +willingly into her boudoir. + +"You are not the first, dear Raby," pursued his hostess, "who has come +into this town vowing vengeance on us, to demand that justice be done. I +say 'us,' for as you see, I too am leagued with this confederacy. And +each of such emissaries in turn have I seen withdraw after a time, his +anger appeased. Now, once more, they hear that a man of iron has come to +set his foot down with inexorable rigour; he distributes the vast bribe +which has been offered him, among the poor, while to win him over, even +the great coffer is ransacked, but in vain. Thereupon, the authorities +bethink them of another treasure still, the prefect's niece. And they +trick her out as a fashionable lady, and leave her alone with the +incorruptible. You see I am quite frank! Do you not blush for me? I do +for myself, I can assure you. Take my advice, and fly from this place!" + +"But, Fraulein, all you tell me does but make me still more determined +to pursue the purpose for which I came hither." + +"I see you to-day for the first time; I know nothing of you but what I +have heard from your opponents; but what I have heard of you only makes +me take your side. You are no ordinary man. Go, I tell you, and save +yourself; flee from this place!" + +"I save myself?" + +"Yes, indeed! You cannot imagine how evilly disposed to you are those +among whom you find yourself. Indeed, they have threatened to take your +life." + +What does she mean? Will she scare him away from the field of his +labours, so that intimidated by her words, he returns to Vienna? Or has +she measured her man, and seen that he is to be best caught by seeking +to divert him from his purpose? And does she know that for such a one, +the most powerful enticement of all will be to seek to turn him from +his goal? + +Raby responded to the signal that his hostess made him, to come closer; +nay, he took the fan she held, and fanned her and himself with it. + +"That is splendid; why it will make my stay here quite a romantic +experience," he said. + +"You will rue it, however, and expose yourself to a thousand dangers +which you have not the power to withstand. I see you are confident of +your strength. But if you had to fight with someone, would it not +disquiet you to know your adversary was an excellent shot. Suppose the +moment you entered the field, someone whispered to you: 'Be on your +guard; your second is in league with your opponent, he has placed no +bullets in your pistol.' Would you not, in such a case, refuse to +fight?" + +"But the case is quite unthinkable." + +"So you deem it. But to prove to you, that I am not seeking, as your +enemies would have me do, to try and entangle you in my net, I will tear +asunder the snare already closing round you, and show you something +which shall enlighten you once and for all." + +She went to her writing-table and took out of a drawer a letter. + +"Say, do you know this handwriting?" + +"Very well, it is that of the district commissioner." + +"The note was addressed to me, in order to awaken no suspicion. Please +read it." + +It was the letter which the district commissioner had written at the +theatre. + +As he read it, Raby fairly crimsoned with wrath. He was thunderstruck to +find that his official chief, who had promised to support his mission, +should have a secret understanding with those whom he was pledged to +punish. Whom should he trust, if this was the state of things? + +"Now will you not fly?" said Fraulein Fruzsinka. Her words urged him to +go, but her eyes held him back. + +"No, indeed! now will I remain," cried Raby impetuously, as he rose to +go. And as if to prove that he had determined to do and dare all, he +hastily seized her hand and raised it passionately to his lips. + +And she did not withdraw hers, but vehemently returned its pressure, as +if to say: "This is the man I have long been looking for!" + +"Leave me now," she whispered; but her eyes seemed to say, "Come again, +soon!" + +Mathias Raby knew now that fate had led him to a kindred soul at last! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +Were this story a romance pure and simple, it would suffice to tell that +Fraulein Fruzsinka had fire in her eyes, and Mr. Mathias but a heart of +wax, that, consequently, when they met, the one melted the other. + +But since this history is, in the main, a true narrative, we do not +think it should be supposed that such was the case. Mathias Raby being a +diplomatist as well as a philosopher, did not seek in the lady of his +dreams a Venus Anadyomene, but rather a fully equipped Minerva, and he +thought that he had before him a high-minded woman, whose insight +penetrated the evil intentions of his enemies, and whose hands should +serve to set him free from the snares their wickedness had woven around +him. To save such a woman from a degrading position was in itself surely +a knightly and a noble deed. And what a splendid help would it not be to +him, in the struggle that lay before him, to choose such a companion, +who could circumvent the designs of his enemies, and be to him a +guardian angel as well as a helpmate. + +So it came about that one day Mathias Raby sought out his uncle, Mr. +Leanyfalvy, with this request. + +"I have come, my dear uncle, to remind you of your promise. I need a +'best man.'" + +"A 'best man'? All right, my boy, I'm ready; let's have the horses put +to." + +"It won't be necessary; it is only at the other end of the city. It is +to the prefecture I want to go." + +"It's the Fruzsinka, then," exclaimed the old gentleman, and he began to +scratch his head in deep perplexity. Finally, he blurted out, "Listen to +me, my boy, take my advice and choose anyone else." + +"Uncle, I forbid you to speak thus! She is my betrothed." + +"I will not say anything against the woman of your choice. I will only +say this: your father and mother were worthy God-fearing folk. If there +had been twenty commandments to keep instead of ten, they would have +observed them all scrupulously. And they loved each other so dearly, +that when your father died, your mother followed him the very next day. +And so it can be said to your own credit, that you are neither a +murderer nor a robber. Therefore, I want to know how it is that, since +neither you nor your parents have ever committed mortal sin, such a +punishment should be destined for you, as marrying Fraulein Fruzsinka?" + +"Uncle, I forbid you----" + +"If you only knew the woman she is!" + +"I know quite well, she herself has told me all." + +"All, has she, what sort of an 'all' is it?" + +Mathias Raby shrugged his shoulders as one who does not understand +grammatical subtleties. "Oh, with women, the world is an everyday +matter." + +"But these are not everyday matters." + +"Well, I will hear no evil of her." + +"May Heaven forgive me if I make a mistake! But what does it concern me +after all? Yet I found for you a nice, well-brought up girl to whom the +other one cannot hold a candle! What are the black gipsy eyes of the one +compared to the innocent blue ones of the other? But if such a wife +pleases you, there is nothing more to be said. Only you will have a wife +and no mistake, I'll warrant you!" + +"Now, dear uncle, I beg of you to come and accompany me in my wooing." + +Mr. Leanyfalvy began to see that he must play a part in this pantomime +after all. + +"I've no clothes to go in," he explained. "In these I could not enter +such grand company." + +"I will bring you a new coat from Pesth." + +"It's no use, nephew. Among such grand folks a simple gentleman like me, +who am a mere nobody, has no business. Take the district commissioner +with you; he is a great man, and can write worshipful before his name." + +"I don't want any great men. I'd rather have you!" + +Now the postmaster came out with his true meaning. + +"I don't want to be your 'best man!'" he said bluntly. + +"You don't, and why not?" + +"Because I am exceedingly angry, and I should quarrel with you. I am +seriously vexed with you, not because you insist on marrying +Fruzsinka--you can be angry with yourself for that--but because you are +leaving that sweet, pretty, innocent child, to eat her heart out in +disappointment. I do not want to have anything more to do with you; you +are nothing to me. Now go, and take your grand friend with you!" + +"Very well, I won't take anyone. I'll go alone and ask for her myself." + +Thereupon, Raby turned away and went. It would be indeed absurd that a +man, in such a high position, who had been educated at the Theresianum, +and was the trusted confidant of the Emperor himself, should let himself +be dissuaded from his purpose by a simple unlearned rustic. + +The contradiction only strengthened him in his determination. + +And then--those glorious eyes! + + * * * * * + +Raby was one of those men who, once having set themselves an end in +view, pursue it unflinchingly. He went straight away to the prefect, +stated plainly his errand, and asked for the hand of his niece. + +The prefect, however, pushed his cap back a little off his brows, and +demanded somewhat abruptly if his visitor understood Hungarian? + +Raby was a little disconcerted by the question. + +"Yes, I can speak Hungarian," he answered shortly. + +"But, my friend, to speak Hungarian and to understand it are two very +different things, as we shall see directly. I ask you, what is it you +want? Do you want to take my niece Fruzsinka as your wife, or do you +wish to be the husband of my niece Fruzsinka?" + +"Surely that is one and the same thing," said the suitor. + +"Not a bit of it; they are quite distinct. Let's put it plainly. For +instance, you elect to be my niece's husband. In this case you come and +live here at the prefecture, and you get thrown in as a marriage +settlement, a coach and four, a coachman and lackey, and will have in +fact all the money you need. If you are tired of the chancery work in +Vienna, we can get you elected administrator of Visegrad, which post +happens to be vacant. You only need walk into it, or if you would prefer +to do so, you can easily keep your appointment at Court, and a deputy +will look after the Visegrad affairs for you, perhaps better than you +could yourself. All you have to do is to spend the income, if you come +to live here. This is one alternative. The other is that you take my +niece as your wife, and make your own little home for her, and the rest +is your concern, not mine. Now I have spoken plainly, do you understand +me?" + +"Perfectly, and I am also ready with my answer. I ask for no prefecture, +no coach and four, no administratorship; I only ask for Fraulein +Fruzsinka, whom I love; I ask for the lady, not for the property." + +"Well, go and have a talk with her. If she is agreeable to the proposal, +I won't raise any objection." + +Thereupon, he sent the wooer to Fraulein Fruzsinka, who had previously +suggested to Raby that he should come on this particular day and +formally propose for her hand. + +"You come without a 'best man,'" said Fruzsinka, as Raby entered. "You +have found no one who would undertake the office, that is it. Each of +the friends you asked refused, and tried to set you against me?" + +"I assure you, Fraulein, that there is no man living from whom I would +listen to the slightest word against you, not even my own father. I will +tell you truthfully how the matter stands. I have one good old friend in +this world whom you know well, my uncle Leanyfalvy. I begged him to bear +me company, but he refused solely, however, on this ground, that he had +already chosen a bride for me, a playmate of my childhood, and had so +set his heart on my having her, that he is angered at my making another +choice." + +"And why not marry the playmate of your childhood?" + +"That too will I tell you, and be as candid with you as you were with +me. This girl is a dear, gentle, little creature, whose life it were a +shame to link with my own stormy career. Why, I should have to transform +myself to marry her. If I were a man who simply swims with the stream, +and troubles not as to what passes outside his own house, then could I +woo such a bride indeed. But I am possessed by a demon of unrest that +will let me have no peace; the misery of the people is constantly before +me, urging me unceasingly to champion their cause against their +oppressors. Nothing shall stop my mouth from pleading their rights. My +life will be a perpetual struggle, I see that clearly. And can I fetter +to such a destiny, a mere child whose only strength is her inexhaustible +patience and gentleness? Every moment would it not be a torment to me, +that each woe I drew down upon my head would fall likewise upon that of +a guiltless and innocent being with a hundredfold weight. No, Fraulein, +when I reckoned up the obstacles to the career I had set before me, I +determined to ask no woman to share it. Till fate threw me across your +path, I had never thought of marriage. But at the first glance, I said +to myself, 'There is the complement of my own being; there is a woman +whose soul is consumed like mine with a restless consciousness of the +world's woes. No one can understand her as I do.' What shocks others in +you is just what attracts me. My destiny can only be shared by one who +has plenty of ambition and no dread of danger. If you are truly mine, +give me your answer." + +Fraulein Fruzsinka's only response was to throw herself on Raby's breast +and take his face between her hands. + + * * * * * + +Three weeks later, the marriage ceremony took place. When the wedding +was over, the worthy prefect rubbed his hands and murmured, "Now thank +Heaven, Mathias Raby has already the yoke round his neck. That is +something to be thankful for." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +Wonder of wonders! Fruzsinka had become domesticated. Since her +marriage, she had been a different being. Her former rich dress was now +exchanged for a simple homespun gown, and she wore only the national +dress of the Hungarian woman. She rarely even looked in a book, for the +young matron was now wholly occupied with the things of the household. + +She made an ideal housewife, superintending everything herself, and +never parting with her keys. She kneaded the dough for the fritters +which no hand must touch but hers; she skimmed too the milk, and roasted +the coffee. She even had a spinning-wheel brought in and sat at it, +though the yarn spun did not amount to much, only the spinning-wheel +indeed knew whether it went backwards or forwards. + +But on her lord and master, Fruzsinka lavished the most passionate +devotion. Never did she allow him to leave the house without her +buttoning his coat for him, and had he the least ailment she made no end +of ado. + +She never dreamed of going out without him, and was, as a matter of +fact, jealous of every pretty woman, but Raby liked to think that her +watchfulness had regard rather to the designs of his enemies than from +any other cause. He began to see that all women who love their husbands +are alike, and that those stories of the wives of heroes who themselves +spur their spouses on to fight and place the sword in their grasp, +belong to the domain of myth, not to that of reality. + +For the rest, Raby's business seemed as if it was going to settle itself +smoothly. The municipality gave orders to the district commissioner who, +in his turn, forwarded directions to various subordinate officials, and +a deputation, which was entrusted with full judicial powers, was elected +to audit the accounts. All was ready for taking active steps, Raby only +needed to come forward with the formal impeachment, for he now held the +threads of the business in his own hands. + +The various officials concerned strongly suspected that they themselves +were mixed up in the affair, but consoled themselves with the thought +that the commissioner would himself preside. + +But the district commissioner was very easy-going, had they known it, +and that was his failing. He did not like seeing his friends set by the +ears, therefore he betrayed the inimical intentions of each one to the +other, in order to frustrate strife. They should leave one another +alone; why quarrel, when you might live at peace with your neighbour, +was his philosophy. + +At last the important day dawned when the commission was to sit for the +investigation of the Szent-Endre accounts. The district commissioner did +not keep them long waiting. His impartiality was shown by his accepting +an invitation to the prefect's to dinner, and by inviting himself to +Raby's to supper, for he too had been an old flame of Fruzsinka's. + +They assembled for the great work in the Town Hall, and had unearthed +accounts of years' standing--and nice models of book-keeping they were, +full of erasures and corrections, just where the most important entries +could be expected. Under such circumstances, the commissioner divided +the work up, so that each one might do his share of it without being +overlooked by the others. Raby could have burst with indignation when he +regarded the commission's irregularities as to procedure. + +With the most unblushing impudence, all sorts of frauds, corruptions, +and tyrannical methods were simply ignored in the investigation. + +"Fiddlesticks!" exclaimed the commissioner to the protesting Raby, "that +happens everywhere." + +And finally, when the worshipful commission of burghers who understood +about as much of finance as a hen does of the alphabet, summed up the +results of the revision, they gave out, that in spite of all efforts to +make them balance, there was a deficit amounting to eighty-six thousand +gulden, for which it was impossible to account. + +"Fiddlesticks," cried the commissioner again, "let's go on!" + +"No, no, we cannot possibly pass that over, and we will not go on," +cried the indignant Raby. "Does not your worship recollect that on +account of just such a deficit, a captain of the guard had, but a while +back, to stand in the pillory with a black board round his neck. Shall +an officer of the imperial body guard be thus punished, and these who +have hidden the gold, go free? These things are no trifles. Will you be +pleased to order that the secret treasure-chest be produced." + +The reference to the captain of the guard was not, it seemed, without +its effect on the commissioner. He struck the table with his long cane +as if to threaten the company, as he spoke. + +"Hear, you people! This business passes all bearing. In the Emperor's +name, I herewith order you to fetch out yon secret treasure-chest, in +which the embezzled money is stored. And if it is not here by two +o'clock this afternoon, at which hour we have to be ready with our +report, I shall have you all clapped into the Dark Tower. So look you to +it! Now we'll go to dinner!" + +Raby did not appear at the prefect's banquet; he never allowed his wife +to have her meals alone. It seemed a long while till two o'clock, the +hour named for the continuation of the investigation, when they promised +to let him know. And he remembered the question of the timber had not +been touched on. This must be worked in somehow. + +At last it was time to go to the Town Hall. The councillors sat round +the long table waiting for him. + +"Now, you gentlemen," ordered the district commissioner, "out with your +secret chest." + +The notary rose obediently from his seat, and went into the adjoining +room, whence he came back with a small iron casket about the size of a +lady's workbox, which he brought and set down on the table. + +"Here, your lordship, is our secret chest, here too is the key; be +pleased to open it for yourself." + +The district commissioner looked in, and found inside the sum of two +gulden and forty-five kreutzers all told. + +"This is our treasure," cried the notary dejectedly. Everyone burst out +laughing, and even Raby himself could not forbear joining in, though it +was no matter for jest. + +When the laugh had subsided, Raby was the first to speak: "Now then, you +gentlemen of the council, that was a pleasant jest, but permit me to +remind you that it was a question not of this cash-box, but of the great +chest, the secret way to which only the notary knows how to find." + +"I know of a secret way?" exclaimed the notary. "Who dares say that of +me? I beg the commission to search the Town Hall thoroughly, to see +whether anyone can discover a secret passage there. If you find one, +well, there is my head, ready to lie on the block!" + +"I know well enough," said Raby, "there is such a place: to brick it up +perhaps is not difficult. But there is another entrance. The Rascian +'pope' knows it, and will be able to show us where the entrance to this +stolen treasure is. I would suggest that he be cited." + +To this the district commissioner had an objection. + +"The Rascian 'pope' is an ecclesiastic, so cannot be summoned before a +secular tribunal. He is under the immediate jurisdiction of the +Patriarch of Carlovitz. The Patriarch will not understand the procedure +of the Hungarian commissioners, but is only responsible to the Croatian +and Slavonic tribunals. The Szent-Endre municipality can address a +memorial to the Archbishop of Carlovitz to cite the Greek pastor of +Szent-Endre at their tribunal, if he does not mind giving the +information." + +So this was settled. + +Raby looked at the clock. + +"We had other circumstances to consider. There is still the question of +the timber. My indictment charges the municipality with aiding and +abetting great devastation in the woods. Whilst the poor are not allowed +to pick even dry brushwood in winter, and the sick in the hospital are +dying of cold, the overseers are allowed to sell timber, and to give +away hundreds of stacks as bribes. This cannot be gainsaid. There are +the felled trees to witness to it." + +"What do you mean, Mr. Raby? That is all very well, but it may, or may +not be true. You just let us manage our own affairs," said the notary. + +The district commissioner here remarked that the thing must be looked +into, and if proven, this alone would be cause enough to bar all those +concerned from holding office. He thereupon ordered a carriage should +come round directly, so that they could examine the wood while it was +yet daylight. + +Whilst they were waiting to start, suddenly a man rushed in white with +terror. + +"For Heaven's sake, come quickly, gentlemen, the wood is on fire!" + +All sprang up from the table, for sure enough the wood was on fire. In +vain did Raby try to appease them, the conflagration could only have +just broken out, and it would be easy in the damp winter weather to +master it. No one listened to him; it was all up with the commission and +its enquiry. + +All made for the street, shouting "Fire!" and clamouring for ladders and +buckets to extinguish the flames. At last they produced the only +watering-cart the city possessed, but a hind wheel was off, and how to +get it along no one knew. Helpless confusion reigned. Crowds of +distracted citizens ran up and down the streets; the men shouted, the +women screamed. Amid the barking of the dogs, the cackling of hens, and +the ringing of bells, the townspeople tore hither and thither as if +possessed, while the dragoons galloped about trying to keep order. + +"Come along, my dear fellow," said the district commissioner to Raby. +"Let's go to your poor wife, she will be distracted with fear and +anxiety: it's time you consoled her." + +And really it was the wisest thing Raby could do. + +And sure enough, there was Fruzsinka awaiting them at the gate, and it +was touching to see how she fell on Raby's neck, sobbing her heart out, +for she had feared some harm had come to him. Nor did she recover +herself, but the whole evening trembled every time the alarm bell rang, +and was inattentive to their distinguished guest's choicest anecdotes +which he told for their benefit during supper. + +Before he left, the news came that the wood was quite destroyed by the +fire. + +"It is all your fault," he cried to Raby. "Had you never raised that +unlucky question about the timber, no one would have thought of setting +fire to the wood, and this enormous damage might have been avoided." + +Only the presence of his wife prevented Raby coming to blows with the +district commissioner. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +Raby had said nothing to Fruzsinka of what had happened at the +commission. But when the guest had gone, he brought out his travelling +bag and began to pack up as if for a journey. + +"Is it possible you are going on a journey?" asked Fruzsinka +reproachfully, "without telling me? Don't you know that the wife packs +for her husband?" + +Raby did not want his wife to guess whither he was bound. So he made her +believe he was only going as far as Tyrnau to take the official +depositions regarding the Szent-Endre affair; though since the +commission had reduced the whole business to such a farce, how to +produce his proofs and, as prosecutor, lay the matter before them at +head-quarters, he hardly knew himself. So he told her he could not take +her with him, because he would have to travel by diligence or in a +peasant's cart, and such a jaunt would be too trying in winter for a +delicate woman. + +"Now if I were you, I would not go to Tyrnau; I would rather go straight +to Vienna, and tell the Emperor himself what roguery is going forward +here." + +Raby was astounded. This was precisely what he had intended to do, and +the journey to Tyrnau had only been a pretext. + +"I would lay the whole plot before him," went on Fruzsinka, "and would +say, 'Sire, send a man in my place who may bring these conspirators to +book, and make an end to their intrigues.'" + +Raby began to understand. Then he said aloud: "But I don't know of any +man who would take on such an unthankful business." + +"Is it possible that you mean then to go on with the struggle?" asked +Fruzsinka plaintively. "Dearest, I beseech you, think of our position. +We are living among enemies. Those who were not ashamed to set fire to +the wood, to wipe out the proof of their guilt, will not shrink from +burning our own house over our heads. I tremble each time you go out, +and have no peace till I see you again. Every night I dream they have +murdered you. O Raby, the very thought of living among these people +makes me shudder, there are surely no other such vindictive folk on the +face of the earth. Come away from this place. Let us go to Vienna! There +your career is made. Leave this thankless, malevolent people to their +fate!" + +Mathias Raby's heart grew suddenly heavy, and a dark misgiving gripped +him in its clutches. + +"You would be the first to despise me," he exclaimed, "were I to be +weakened by your words, and quit my post to fly to another country." + +"Do you mean then to continue the struggle?" + +"It is no question of struggle, but rather of right and wrong and just +punishment," he answered gloomily. + +"Ah, well! I suppose it is only womanly weakness that gets the best of +me. Yet I, too, have thought out the whole affair. You mean that the +embezzlements which you have brought to light shall be avenged?" + +"Yes, that is what I do mean!" + +"Now, has it ever occurred to you that if anyone investigates this +affair, at least a part of the odium which it incurs, may fall on your +wife?" + +"How can that be, Fruzsinka?" + +"You remember that absurd housekeeping account, don't you?" + +"Yes, indeed, the one we all laughed at so heartily. But how would your +name be mentioned in connection with such a business? The items were set +down by the head cook, and the prefect settled the account." + +"But everyone knows that it was to my advantage. Now suppose I was +confronted with the prefect and the cook, in the case of a formal +inquiry? Would not it be a disgrace for you?" + +"And pray would it not be a disgrace," returned Raby, "if your husband +had to make this confession to the Emperor who sent him: 'Sire, I am no +better than all the others you have sent to right your subjects' wrongs, +and here I have come back to tell you that everywhere in this world +roguery reigns triumphant.' And if he answered me never a word but just +looked at me with those keen eyes of his, what shame should I not feel? +You shrink at being confronted with the prefect, because the least +morsel of the pitch which sticks to him may perchance darken the tip of +your little finger, but you do not blush that I may stand before the +Emperor and say: 'Sire, here is my wife, with whose paint I have daubed +the prefect white.'" + +Frau Fruzsinka at this changed her point of attack. + +"Remember," she urged, "that if we fly in the face of my uncle, we risk +losing a considerable property." + +Now it was Raby's turn. + +"You fear the prospect of losing the property, but I tremble at the +chance of your possessing it." + +"I do not understand," faltered his wife. + +"I quite believe you," returned Raby bitterly. + +Fruzsinka dared not pursue this tack further, it was time to try +another. She threw herself on her husband's neck, and gazed with those +wonderful eyes of hers straight into his. + +"Raby, did we swear that we would make the people, or ourselves happy, +which was it, dear?" + +At those words, and that glance, Raby's heart softened. + +What can one advance to those most unanswerable of arguments? + +Who will blame Mathias Raby if he weakly gave way then, as many a strong +man had done before him, and threw his half-packed bag into a corner. + +And as the temptress had gone so far, now she proceeded still further: + +"Now I'll unpack for you," she cried merrily. + +Thereupon, she took the hunting-pouch from the wall and carefully filled +it with savoury spiced meat and flaky white bread; then she deftly +replenished the flask with wine, and cried: "Now go and enjoy yourself! +Don't stay mewed up in the house. You are bothered; well, go and get +some sport, and let the fresh air blow the cobwebs away." + +And so saying, she helped him on with his shooting coat, and handed him +his gun, and so it fell out that Raby hung up his sword and knapsack, +and went neither to Tyrnau nor to Vienna, but just into the copse to try +and shoot hares. He heard behind him, as he left the house, the merry +song his wife was warbling to herself. + +As he sauntered along the street, it occurred to him that up till now he +had not met one of his former acquaintances in the town, nor seen a +single one of his old schoolmates. + +But just then, he ran on to a townsman, whose wasted bent frame and +dejected air did not prevent Raby from recognising him as one of his old +contemporaries. The man wore a leathern apron, and carried carpenters' +tools. He returned Raby's greeting politely and was about to shuffle +past him. But the latter stopped him. + +"Dacso Marczi! Is it possible? Are you really Marczi? And won't you just +wait that we may have a word together; it is so long since we have +met." + +And he seized the limp hand of the stranger and held it fast. + +"Oh, I am indeed glad to see your worship again," returned his new-found +friend. + +"Never mind 'my worship,' you can leave him out of it," said Raby. +"Didn't we sit beside each other at school, and you would pass me +without a word? Tell me how things are going with you?" + +The man looked round to left and right, and in his eyes there lurked a +nameless fear. + +"Well, as far as that goes," he began, "but don't let us talk here, it +is not wise to discuss these things in the street." + +Raby dropped his hand. "Ah, you are afraid suspicion may rest on you if +you are seen talking to me!" + +"It is not that. But I fear, on the contrary, that it might be +unpleasant for you, if you were seen talking to a mere carpenter. I am +just going to look after my mates in the lower town who are putting new +joists to the burned houses. May Heaven bless your efforts to help the +poor people!" added the man in a lower voice. + +"Good, I'll go with you," said Raby, "it's all the same to me which way +I take." + +"But don't let yourself be drawn into talk with them. They are always +ready to complain, and there are always people ready to repeat all that +is said." + +So they walked together down the street--the dapper sportsman, and the +working-man in his leather apron. + +Raby well remembered the houses they passed, and their owners, and asked +after the latter. + +"Yes, they all live there still, but the houses no longer belong to +them. The magistrate has bought one, the notary another, and Peter +Paprika a third. The original owners are only there as tenants, and now +they have put an execution in the houses." + +"And wherefore?" + +"For what was owing for tithes." + +"And is old Sajtos still there, who used to be so good to us boys when +we came home from school?" + +"Yes, indeed, you may see her any Sunday at the church door begging." + +"Sajtos begging? Why she was quite a well-to-do woman. What has happened +to her?" + +"Oh, the old story, 'bad times.' There are many more who have come to +beggary in the same way. Just go any Sunday morning past the door of the +Catholic church, where the beggars congregate, and you will see plenty +of your old acquaintances," said Marczi sorrowfully. + +"But what has brought them to it?" + +And Marczi told him many a sad record of oppression and misery that +wrung Raby's heart as he listened. + +But now they had arrived at the lower town, where the ruins of the forty +houses burned out in the great fire still stood. The streets hereabouts +were nearly a morass and all but impassable. + +The men who were commencing to put the roofs on, greeted Raby timidly, +as if half afraid, and they quickly drove indoors the women who stood +furtively about in the surrounding courts. Raby's questions they only +answered with the greatest caution, fencing with his enquiries as to why +the work of restoration had been so long delayed. Marczi drew him away. + +"They will never tell you where the shoe pinches," he said, "whatever +bait you offer; they know too well what the end for them would be. You +would listen to their grievance and then retail it to the Emperor. He +would send to the town council to know why his subjects' wrongs were not +redressed? Thereupon the complainants would be arrested, get twenty +strokes with the lash, and the Kaiser would be told the grievances of +his subjects were amended. Oh, our people know better than to complain! +At no price would they confess why their houses are yet unfinished, or +how much of the compensation is still owing." + +"Surely their wrongs cry aloud to Heaven," said Raby indignantly. "I +only wish I could get documentary evidence of it!" + +"Well, they won't give it to you, but if you really wish it, I could get +you many such testimonies by to-morrow, and bring them to your house." + +"And are you not afraid of the authorities being angry with you?" + +"I? What does their anger matter to me, I don't need them, but they +can't do without me. I've got them too much in my power. Listen, for you +are an honest man, to no other would I venture to say it. One day they +summoned me to bring my masons' tools to the Town Hall. No sooner had I +arrived, than they bid me go to the secret passage with the notary, +which only he and I know of; the aperture was made during the Turkish +rule, and except the notary and the Rascian 'pope,' no one knows the +whereabouts. I had to wall up the opening." + +"So you know the entrance to the room which contains the secret +treasure?" + +"Yes, indeed, I know it; I have so managed it that no one save the +notary shall ever be able to find it again." + +"And would you be willing to take me to it?" Raby ventured to ask. + +"No, for they have bound me by a terrible oath never, except at the +bidding of the notary, to break open the walled-up passage. What I have +sworn, I hold sacred, but this much will I say, that you can still +manage to get there." + +"Through the 'pope' who knows the other entrance, eh?" + +"Mark well, not through the first. It is as much as his life is worth to +betray that secret. But there is another way yet. If you can gain the +ear of the Emperor, persuade him to order the election of new +representatives in the council, then there would be neither the judge, +nor the notary, nor any at present in office to reckon with. If we get a +new notary, I could show him the secret passage without any difficulty, +since my oath compels me only to 'open it at the notary's bidding.'" + +"That is a good idea, Marczi, I will try and follow it out." + +"You too care for the rights of our poor oppressed folk. May the good +God reward you! But I will tell you where our greatest danger lies; it +is in the surveying of the land that the Emperor has ordered. The whole +work the surveyor performs is a sham. The best fields under his survey +become ownerless, and the municipality takes possession of them. The +common folk have to be satisfied with sterile, marshy waste land, and +the peasants have to sell their last cow, because they have no pasture +for it. Come with me a little way, and I will show you." + +So Raby sauntered the livelong day with his old school-fellow through +the fields, and saw much. If the new surveying measures were taken, +four-fifths of the peasants' property was ruined, the remaining fifth +was devoured by their oppressors, and the owner became houseless and a +serf. + +Towards evening, Raby turned homewards with an empty game-bag and a +heavy heart. + +His mood surely had not escaped Fruzsinka, for she welcomed him with +more than ordinary tenderness. She had prepared for his supper some of +his favourite dumplings, but somehow even these delicacies failed to +satisfy him, and he only wanted to go to bed. + +The next morning, Marczi was there quite early. He brought what he had +promised, a whole hoard of documents. Raby took them into his study, and +was the whole day long deciphering them. + + * * * * * + +Marczi, meantime, went about his own business. + +As he came out towards the market-place, at the end of the long street, +he heard the tones of a bagpipe, and the strains of a violin fell on his +ear. But when he came up with the music, he saw what was going forward. +The recruiting officers were coming down the street. + +So the Emperor wanted soldiers, that was evident enough. + +And a right merry affair it was, this recruiting! + +They chose out from among the hussars the finest looking fellow, and he +was sent from town to town with a dozen comrades to enlist recruits. + +They played and sang some such song as this as they went: + + "Merry is the game we play, + See, our uniforms so gay, + And the ensign that we bear, + 'Twas our sweethearts placed it there!" + +They each carried a bottle of good wine in their hands, and every +citizen they met was promptly treated to a cup, till he noticed that +they wore the hussar uniform. But no human power, once he had tasted the +wine, could then free him, and he belonged thenceforth to the recruiting +sergeants. + +The recruiters reaped the best harvest in the market-place, where they +led a riotous dance. It was a regular Magyar measure, a wild, capricious +"Csardas," with a dash in it of defiant pride, every movement and +gesture suggesting reckless abandon. The clapping of hands, the clinking +of spurs, the stamping of feet, all helped towards it, and when the last +movement came, foot and heel vied with each other, as the tall figures +swayed hither and thither, with the sabre swinging jauntily at their +sides, and the "csako" on their heads. No wonder that with a dozen such +warriors dancing in a row, the women's eyes sparkled as they watched, +and they beckoned to the tallest men in the crowd to come and join in. + +The recruiters had finished their dance, and were coming along the +street where Marczi was walking. + +In front was the recruiting-sergeant, and he seemed in a right merry +mood. Behind him came the piper, taking wild leaps and bounds as he +played an accompaniment to the dancers on his bagpipes; then followed +the rest, strutting along like peacocks, offering the bottle to all they +met. + +Marczi did not look at them; he was in too much of a hurry. But the +recruiting-sergeant stopped him. + +"Halloa, comrade, won't you stop for a word? Anyone would think you had +stolen something by the way you run." + +"I am in a hurry. I have a job I want to finish. You have done your +work, I see?" + +"Don't be a fool, man, we can only live once. Have a drink!" + +"The deuce take your drink. Don't you see that to-day I've carpentering +business on hand. It won't do for me to get giddy when I'm on the +ladder." + +"Well, a gulp of wine wouldn't do you any harm. You don't go any further +till you've had a swallow from my bottle, I tell you." + +"Oh, very well," and Marczi took the proffered drink. + +"Here's to our true friendship, comrade!" said the other as he followed +suit. + +Marczi was turning away, having thus gratified his interlocutor, when +the latter called him back. + +"Marczi, Marczi!" he called, "here's something for you. Here, hold out +your hand!" + +And the recruiting-sergeant pulled out a thaler from his coat-pocket, +and forced it into Marczi's hand, shaking it as he did so. + +This time the carpenter would have gone off in earnest, but the other +called him back in quite a peremptory tone. + +"Dacso Marczi," he shouted, "you must stay, you can't go now. You have +drunk of the soldier's wine, and accepted the press-money, now there is +no drawing back, so off you march with the rest!" + +The carpenter stood dumbfoundered whilst they pressed an hussar's +"csako" on his head. He felt for the handle of his saw in the belt of +his apron. For one instant he had a wild impulse to fall upon the +sergeant; but then he reflected, it was all his own fault. So he +resigned himself to his fate. What had he to regret, indeed, in leaving +this town? There was no one there who would weep for him. So he quietly +took off his apron. + +"If I am to be a soldier, let us see where the wine bottle is. Piper, +play my favourite song, 'A soldier's life for me!'" + + "The Danube waters long shall flow + 'Ere thou again my face shalt know." + +"Now, Mr. Corporal, are you ready? Off we go, and walk and talk till +morning." + +And the newly-made soldier drank with the recruiters to his new +profession. + +On the morrow, the recruiting-sergeant went with the ex-carpenter to his +old home, so that he might arrange his affairs there before leaving. He +had an old aunt to whom he could safely entrust his belongings. Besides, +ten years after all, are not an eternity. They pass before one can look +round. + +The good old soul was busy tying up her nephew's bundle, when a +messenger appeared with an official air, and the order: + +"Dacso Marczi, it is settled at head-quarters that the recruiters are to +stay a week here; during that time you are to stop here and not attempt +to go anywhere else; but you are to put your three horses to, and drive +to-day with relays to Pesth." + +Marczi was inclined to rebel, but it availed nothing. + +The sergeant only laughed. + +"It's no jest, Marczi. They reckon on you for the relays. A gulden for +every horse and each station, besides money for the driver, and for +drinks." + +"But why should I go with relays, when there are plenty of carriage +owners who have nothing better to do than to chatter with jackanapes?" + +"My dear fellow, this is why, so you shall not think we are getting the +best of you. You know that the surveyor has finished his work and is to +leave the town to-day. You know, too, how angry the mob are with him. +They will pelt him with stones. But if they see that you, whom they all +like, are the coachman, they won't do it for fear of hitting you." + +In half an hour from that time, a light carriage, drawn by three good +horses, stood at the gate of the prefect's residence, where the surveyor +was staying. On the box sat Dacso Marczi himself. The orderlies carried +out the surveyor's documents, done up in large bundles, to lay them +under the leather covering of the back seat. The surveyor himself was +well guarded against the cold, having on a seasonable fur coat and warm +overshoes, while the lappets of his fur cap were fastened well under his +chin. + +"Now, Marczi, if you drive well, we'll drink to-day to any amount," he +cried. + +"Ay, that we will," agreed the driver as they dashed off. + + * * * * * + +Mathias Raby was again pressed by his wife to go and get some shooting. +Perhaps he might be more lucky to-day, and bring home a hare. + +His spouse was all affection and anxiety. So he went. + +But the things Raby had heard lately he could not get out of his head. + +Therefore he did not go far into the country, but turned back in the +direction of Pesth. There, he saw a mob of men, women, and children, who +all seemed to be waiting for someone. + +He would not ask for whom, for he knew they would not tell him. + +But hardly had Raby gone a few hundred paces past them, than he noted a +carriage drawn by three horses, coming from the prefecture at a quick +gallop, whereupon the whole crowd of people, till now silent, burst +forth with loud cries, and placed themselves on either side of the road. + +The passenger inside the carriage he did not recognise; neither could he +make out what it was the mob were shouting to him. But their tone was +sufficiently menacing. As the equipage dashed between the rows of +people, the yells became still louder, whilst fists were raised and +sticks were brandished threateningly. The carriage did not stop, but +cleared the mob till it had left it far behind. + +When the carriage reached Raby, he saw the surveyor cowering on the back +seat. Now he gathered what the people's cries had meant. But he did not +understand what it was till the carriage pulled up close to him, and he +recognised in the driver, Dacso Marczi. + +"Your very humble servant," exclaimed the surveyor to Raby. "Did you +hear the infernal row they made? That's the way they receive me +everywhere. If Marczi had not been my coachman, I should have had stones +thrown at my head." + +"Your worship," cried Marczi, in a voice already thick with wine; "is +there still some brandy in the flask?" + +"Yes, Marczi, here you are, drink!" + +The coachman took the bottle and emptied it. + +"Marczi, you will do yourself harm!" objected Raby. + +"Not a bit of it," stammered the driver, whilst he set down the flask, +and with that he whipped up the horses, and off they flew, so that the +wheels scattered the mud on all sides. + +At one spot where the high road nears the Danube, a side-path winds in +the direction of the river towards the ferry. When Marczi's carriage had +reached this point, the coachman turned the horses and urged them with +the whip along the path. Then all at once the carriage dashed from the +steep bank into the river below. + +"Help, help!" yelled the driver, waving his hat; but horses and carriage +were already struggling against the strong tide of the river, now +swollen by its spring flood. + +But no help was forthcoming, and Raby only saw a man muffled up in a fur +coat, struggling desperately to free himself from the sinking carriage, +but the heavy garment dragged him helplessly down. Soon the vehicle with +its passenger began to sink, and at last the horses' heads disappeared +in the stream. Coachman, surveyor, and documents all had gone to the +bottom of the Danube. Nor was any trace of them ever found. + +Mathias Raby stood horror-stricken on the highway, while around him the +wintry wind swept over the stubble fields, and carried it with the sound +as of a howling of many voices that echoed afar off like the laughter of +despair. + + +END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +This catastrophe was destined to affect Raby's mood in a fateful way. +When he went home he told his wife all that had happened, and she +quickly guessed the sequel. + +"Now you will be more intent than ever on pursuing your mad enterprise," +she said. + +"And shall I let myself be shamed into abandoning it by the fate of an +ignorant boor, who, little idea as he had of the higher virtues, was +ready to sacrifice his life in order to save his fellow-citizens from +beggary?" + +"You will drive me to exasperation," cried Fruzsinka. + +"I would rather have your anger than your contempt, dearest." + +"And is our love nothing to you at all?" + +"Better that the whole world hate me for my determination, than to earn +your love through cowardice. I know that your very opposition to my work +is a proof of your love, and therefore, I pray you, my angel, Fruzsinka, +listen to me. If I leave this place, I shut every door to a future +career. It is now or never, I must go to Vienna. If I write and tell +the Emperor that the struggle is of no avail, he will dismiss me at once +from my post." + +But Fruzsinka answered nothing, she only wept. + +That meant of course that Raby ought to have stayed at home, for only a +heart of stone could leave a weeping woman and refuse to comfort her. +But Mathias Raby had just that heart of stone, and he was quite prepared +to leave his wife in tears, so to Vienna he went. For you could travel +there quickly enough, as there was a famous diligence which carried its +passengers in a day to the Austrian capital. + +Moreover, no one except Fruzsinka knew he had gone to Vienna. + +There he showed himself nowhere. He knew that the Emperor was accustomed +to walk every morning in the so-called "meadow garden," where, clad in a +simple short coat and plain hat, he was often taken for one of his own +equerries. There Raby could speak to him, and tell him how matters stood +in Hungary. + +The Kaiser commended what Raby had already done and encouraged him to go +on and prosper. He gave him every aid in his power to help him, +including a special pass, wherein all to whom he showed it, were adjured +to respect the bearer's person. But he advised Raby only to show this +letter in a case of extreme necessity, and begged him not to tell anyone +of the interview he had just had. + +Then Raby hastened homewards, feeling he had ordered his affairs for the +best. + +On the return journey he arranged to reach Pesth in time to attend the +meeting of the County Assembly. + +First, he proceeded to the Assembly House to look out certain documents. + +The first person he met was the pronotary, Tarhalmy. + +Tarhalmy was more friendly, yet more gruff than ever. He called Raby +into his room, and when they were alone, exclaimed: + +"You come at the right time, my friend, for we have already cited you as +a 'runaway noble,' as the legal phrase has it." + +"Cited me! What in the world for, I should like to know?" + +"Yes, my friend, you are impeached. And guess wherefore! They say you +are Gyongyom Miska himself, and actually dare to accuse you of robbing +the Jew Rotheisel three days ago in the Styrian forest." + +Raby hardly knew whether to laugh or to be indignant at such a charge. + +"But surely that is a very poor joke!" he protested. + +"I quite agree that it is. But they have only just brought the +accusation, and you can easily get out of it by proving an _alibi_." + +Raby reddened in spite of himself. + +"But I cannot lower myself so far as to disprove so preposterous an +allegation," he said. "Besides, you have only to call Abraham Rotheisel +to give testimony that it was not I who robbed him. I shall prove no +_alibi_." + +"My dear fellow, I know you won't. Simply, because you won't own up to +where you have been for three days past, and the person who could prove +your _alibi_ could not be called as a witness. I shall not be the judge: +you know that the chief notary only acts as referee of the tribunal in +such cases. You will naturally never confess where you have been these +last three days. But there are people who want to know, and that is the +serious side of the jest." + +"Rotheisel will be quite ready to disprove it; he knows me well enough." + +"I know it. But the testimony of a Jew only counts in our law when he is +sworn." + +"Won't Rotheisel swear?" + +"I am not so sure. The Jew very rarely takes an oath if he can help it. +The Talmud makes it very difficult for him. But you can depend upon it, +Abraham Rotheisel will be as anxious as possible to clear you from such +an absurd accusation, directly he hears of it." + +"He is a good kind of man," said Raby, "and I am certain that he will +swear." + +"I hope he may. But anyhow, it will be decided to-day, as the tribunal +is sitting even now." + +"And shall I have to stand in the dock?" said Raby anxiously. + +"Yes, I am afraid you must. So I advise you to stay here and see the +business through." + +"With your permission I will first write a letter." + +"Pardon me, dear friend, but in this room you may neither write nor +despatch a letter." + +"Am I then a prisoner already?" + +"Not exactly, but you are accused, so that I cannot officially be a +party to any correspondence you carry on. Meanwhile, I would suggest you +just go upstairs to my own private rooms, where you will find my +daughter who will give you pen, ink, and paper, wherewith to write; +moreover, she will gladly carry it to the post herself. Then, seeing +that the business will be prolonged till evening, you will, I hope, +share our homely dinner with us." + +A blow in the face could hardly have hurt Raby more than this kindly +proposal. For would it not mean meeting Mariska again? + +But Raby had a ready excuse for not accepting Tarhalmy's hospitable +offer. + +"I am grateful indeed for your kind invitation, but I am being strictly +dieted just now for a nervous complaint, and hardly dare eat anything +but dry bread." + +"Nervous complaint, eh? Why, what does that mean?" + +"Well, for one thing, I cannot sleep at night." + +Tarhalmy was just going to give him some good advice, when the tension +was broken by the entry of a heyduke coming to announce the arrival of +the Jew, who had to be carried in a litter to the court, as he was still +weak from the wounds he had received, and could not stand. + +At the announcement that Abraham was ready to give his testimony on +oath, the tribunal formally cited the defendant to appear before them. + +Raby recognised a good many of his acquaintances sitting round the +table. The tribunal was presided over by Mr. von Laskoy, whose usually +merry mood had become serious for awhile. He asked the parties +implicated their creed and calling, and all the customary questions. + +Then a young man, in whom Raby recognised an old school-fellow, rose, +and read out the formal indictment in which Mr. Mathias Raby of Raba and +Mura, gentleman, and an inhabitant of Szent-Endre, was accused of +disguising himself as a highwayman named Gyongyom Miska, and of robbing +peaceable travellers. How on a particular day he had waylaid the Jew, +Abraham Rothesel _alias_ Rotheisel, in the Styrian wood, had stunned him +with a blow on the head, and had stolen from him the sum of five +thousand gulden. The proof whereof being that whilst the said Mathias +Raby was in the neighbourhood without anyone knowing his exact +whereabouts, the depredations of the redoubtable robber had been going +on. Moreover, it was known to all, that, though Mathias Raby had +inherited no great wealth from his parents, he had, nevertheless, +scattered money lavishly on all sides--which fact greatly strengthened +suspicion against him. But the most convincing testimony of all would be +furnished by the Jew's own driver, who would swear to the identity of +the accused with Gyongyom Miska. The prosecutors now asked for the +witnesses to be sworn, and demanded that the said Mathias Raby, if +convicted, might be hanged, or if his rank forbade that, beheaded. + +The reading of this impeachment was received by all present with the +seriousness befitting the situation. The president then turned to Raby. + +"Will the accused deny this impeachment by proving an _alibi_?" + +"I abstain from making such a defence," answered Raby, "and only ask to +be confronted with my accuser." + +The first witness for the prosecution stepped forward in the person of +the coachman, whose appearance betokened him to be a rogue of the first +water, and obviously ready to swear to anything, provided he were well +paid for it. + +According to the customary formula, he was questioned as to his +antecedents, and owned up unconcernedly to having himself been nine +times in prison. + +When asked if he recognised in Raby the robber who had waylaid the Jew +Rotheisel, he answered promptly: + +"Recognise him again, I should just think so! There can be no question +of their not being one and the same. Only then he happened to be wearing +a black wig, and a curly moustache, with a peasant's cloak over his +shoulder. But I knew it was Mr. Raby directly I heard his voice." + +Raby, addressing the court, now spoke in Latin, knowing that the +peasants were ignorant of that language, + +"I protest against the evidence of this witness; I know him for the +coachman who drove the official who came to bribe me. This witness +therefore is not impartial." + +The prosecutor replied that this could not be proven, but Raby +interrupted him whilst he turned to the witness and said to him in +Magyar, + +"Pray how could you have recognised my voice since I have never spoken +to you in all my life?" + +"Ay, does not the worshipful gentleman remember that I drove Mr. Paprika +into his courtyard in the new coach and four. The gentleman talked so +loudly then, that the deafest man must have heard him." + +And thereby the case against Raby fell to the ground. + +It must in fairness be admitted that on this, as on later occasions, +many upright and honourable men sat in the jury who were quite ready to +take Raby's part, though they were in a minority. One such here +protested against such a witness being heard on oath, and the coachman +was consequently discharged. + +Now, however, old Abraham, supported by his two sons, entered the room, +his head still bound up on account of his wound, his legs trembling +visibly under him. + +"Abraham Rotheisel," said the president, "tell us plainly, how was the +attack on you made?" + +"I tell nothing of the kind," retorted the Jew. "I have not come here to +lay a complaint. Gyongyom Miska is not here. You have summoned me +simply to bear witness that it was not Mr. Raby who robbed me, and that +I willingly do." + +"Think of what you are doing, Abraham! It was dark, you could not see +your assailant's face, remember." + +"Ay, if it had been but Egyptian darkness, and if I had been as blind as +Tobit, nay, if the highwayman and Mr. Raby had been as like to one +another as two peas, yet I will swear it was not Mathias Raby, whom I +have known from his childhood, ever since he was a baby. Moreover, +neither his face nor figure resembled in the least those of the man who +robbed me." + +Here the Jew was questioned as to his assailant's appearance, but +persisted that in no wise did the robber resemble Raby. The "worshipful +gentleman" who robbed him was, he said, very different looking. + +"Why do you call him a 'worshipful gentleman,'" asked the president. + +"How do I know he might not have been one? I have seen highwaymen and +gentlemen very much alike indeed," answered the Jew, "and in time may +see still more. But I keep my convictions to myself." + +Raby's counsel here observed that one witness contradicted another, and +thus tended to invalidate the evidence. + +"Naturally," returned Laskoy, "only kindly remember that according to +our laws, the testimony of a Jew against that of a Christian can only be +accepted on oath." + +At the sound of the word "oath," Abraham's two sons began to tear their +garments, and throwing themselves at the feet of the magistrate, they +implored him not to allow their father to be sworn, as it was contrary +to the Talmud. + +"I fear I cannot help you in this matter," answered Laskoy. "I must +carry out the law regarding Jews witnessing against Christians. If you +would free your father from the need of swearing, you must ask Mr. Raby; +one word from him obviates the necessity of an oath. He has only to +prove an _alibi_, and the case is immediately dismissed." + +Whereupon the two young Jews dashed across to Raby, fell on their knees +before him, and begged and implored him with might and main, to set up +this _alibi_--it was only a matter of speaking one word. + +But old Abraham flew into a mighty rage. + +"Get up both of you, and be off directly, and leave a brave man in +peace. Who called you to come hither, running after me as the foals +after the mare? Hold your miserable cackle, and away with you! Be kind +enough, Mr. heyduke, to turn these two noisy fellows out of the court. +Go home at once, you boys, I don't need your support, or your teaching +in this matter. And I beg pardon, gentlemen, for the behaviour of these +two good-for-nothings. Now I am ready to be sworn." + +So after the two young Jews had been turned out, Abraham was sworn, +though he took the oath in Hebrew, so that none present could follow +the formula. + +When it was over, Abraham prepared to leave the court, for Mathias Raby +was free. This time at least had he escaped the dungeon his enemies had +prepared for him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Raby could hardly bear the delay in getting home. When the open verdict +was pronounced, a coach was already at the door of the Assembly House, +to bear him on his way: he threw himself into it, while the sparks flew +under the swift hoofs of his horses. + +Szent-Endre was not, after all, the other side of the world, but the +distance seemed endless. On the way, he racked his brains as to how he +would find Fruzsinka. Yet he could not have possibly dreamed of what his +actual home-coming would be. + +As he sprang from the vehicle, to knock at his house-door, he found the +summons of the court nailed under the knocker, with all the +misdemeanours and crimes whereof he had been falsely accused before the +tribunal, set forth at length. As is well known, these kind of summonses +were fixed to the house-door, were there no means of presenting them to +the person cited. + +Rage drove every other thought from Raby's mind when he found this +disgraceful document fluttering over his door. He tore it down +indignantly, and beat with hand and foot at the entrance to gain +admission. + +Poor Boske, the maid-servant, at last opened it, looking white and +frightened. "Why had they allowed this thing to be fastened to the +door," he inquired angrily. + +"I humbly beg pardon," stammered the girl, "the gentleman who brought it +nailed it there with a hammer, and said if I tore it down I should be +hanged." + +"Why did your mistress not do it?" + +"The gracious lady-mistress?" + +"Yes, my wife, where is she then?" + +"Ah, my dear kind master, how shall I tell you? Please don't kill me for +it! The gracious lady-mistress has left home." + +"Stuff and nonsense! She has only probably gone to pay a visit." + +"Ah, no indeed, she has not done that, she has, oh how shall I say it, +run away. The very day the gracious master went, the lady-mistress wrote +a letter and gave it to the gipsy Csicsa to carry. She did not wait for +an answer, but packed up, called a coach, loaded it with her luggage, +and drove off without saying a word about the dinner." + +"Perhaps she has gone to her uncle's at the prefecture?" + +"No, indeed, she went in the other direction; I watched her from the +street-door down the road, as far as I could see." + +Raby went into the parlour. The girl had spoken the truth, that was +evident. All the chests stood open; Fruzsinka had packed up all her own +belongings when she went; she had not even left a single souvenir +behind. + +Raby was completely nonplussed; it was indeed a horrible situation for a +man who hastens home on the wings of love to find his house destitute of +all that made it home for him. He could think of nothing better than to +seek out his uncle, the old postmaster, from whom, since his marriage, +he had been somewhat estranged. + +Raby entered the old man's room without speaking a word, where he sat +down and stretched out his legs in gloomy silence. He shrewdly suspected +that his host knew what had happened, and why he was there. How should +he not, considering everyone in Szent-Endre knew by this time. The old +gentleman shrugged first one, and then the other shoulder expressively, +whilst he coughed and cleared his throat in visible embarrassment. + +"H'm, h'm!" he said, significantly, "these fashionable ladies have not +much feeling. Besides, you can never take them seriously. Therefore you +must not let the grass grow under your feet." + +"If I did but know where she has gone to?" sighed Raby. + +"Now just wait! I fancy I can help you to find out. For two days past a +letter has been lying here addressed to your wife. There--take it and +read it." And he handed Raby a sealed missive. + +"I, how can I open a letter which is directed to my wife?" he asked +anxiously. + +"Yes, indeed, why not? Are not man and wife according to the Hungarian +law one flesh? A letter addressed for the one can legally be opened by +the other, and I would do it, if I incurred the galleys for it, my +friend, if I were in your place. Just read it, and I will be the +guarantee that I delivered it into your hands." + +Raby opened the note with trembling fingers. + +It was in the handwriting of the judge, Petray, and though short, was +quite intelligible. + + "My darling Fruzsinka, + + "From your own letter I see that you find it + impossible to put up with your tyrant any longer. I + thought as much long since. You do quite right in + leaving him, and the sooner you get away from him the + better; the man will come to no good. My house, as you + know, will ever be a safe asylum for you. I await you + with open arms. + + "Your devoted friend, + + "PETRAY." + +Raby's eyes were no longer glazed and staring as heretofore; they shot +sparks now. + +"Read it, my friend," he said, as he handed it to Mr. Leanyfalvy. + +"Well, at any rate, now you know where you are." + +"Know it, indeed I do," answered Raby, as he grimly folded up the note, +and placed it in his coat pocket. + +"And pray what do you mean to do?" + +"First, I would have a four-horse coach." + +"You shall have it sure enough. And then----?" + +"Then I'll go home and fetch my pistols and sword; look for a second, +and then--either he or I are dead men." + +"That's it! It's the only way. Only see to it that you think it out +accurately. Suppose your opponent wants to fight with swords? Perhaps +he's an out-and-out swordsman." + +"What does that matter? The sword will satisfy equally the duelling +regulations, and will merely prove which of us can fence the better." + +"Good! But take this much warning. The judge is a very cunning man; you +will have to be on your guard. Be careful not to be the first to draw +the sword, else he'll be hanging round your neck an attainder in +pursuance of an antiquated law which rules that 'he who first draws the +sword shall be held to incur blood-guiltiness.'" + +"Many thanks, I'll remember your good advice." + +"Ah! if you had always done so! Yet I am right glad that you don't look +askance at me any longer. You are another man since you made up your +mind to fight! How a wife demoralises a man to be sure! There is nothing +wanting now, except a sword and a pair of pistols. You need not go home +for those. I have a rare old blade which was used at the storming of +Buda, and will cut through iron itself; it is worth a good deal more +than your parade-sword. And here are my pistols, each is loaded with +three bullets; if you understand what shooting straight means, you can +kill three enemies at once. So good luck, my young friend, I am glad +you are going." + +The old gentleman embraced his nephew as if he were going to face the +enemy, and had his best horses put in for him, and they brought Raby to +the judge's house in less than an hour. + +The uninvited guest just caught the judge going out. + +"Come back with me to the house," said his visitor, "I want to have a +word with you." + +Petray guessed from the speaker's tone that it was on no friendly +business that he had come, though he affected not to perceive it, and +treated Raby with his accustomed familiarity. + +When they had come into Petray's parlour, Raby drew the letter out of +his pocket and held it before his host's face. + +"Do you recognise this writing?" + +Petray drew himself up. + +"What presumption is this, pray? To open a letter directed to someone +else, it is unheard of!" + +"It is perfectly legal," said Raby. "Your protest is useless. In the +eyes of the law, a letter written to my wife is a letter written to me." + +"It is, I say, a great piece of presumption, to attack a man like this +in his own house." + +"You need not make such a noise! You may see I carry pistols in my +belt." Then adopting a more familiar tone, Raby added, "It comes to +this, either you take one of these two pistols, and we fire according to +the prescribed rules, or if you refuse me the satisfaction of a man of +honour, I shoot you dead without further ado, as I would a wolf who +attacks me on the highway." + +The cowardly bully grew pale with fear. To look at him, you would have +deemed him a powerful foe to be reckoned with, but he was a very coward +at heart, like the braggart that he was. + +"All right, I'm not afraid of you, or of anybody else, for that matter. +But all this is idle talk! A gentleman does not fight with pistols. That +kind of duel exacts no skill. A schoolboy can fire off a pistol. I only +fight with swords; so with my sword I am at your service to have it out +in proper fashion. Out with yours, and we'll see who is the best man of +the two." + +"Very well, with swords, so be it," said Raby quietly, replacing his +pistols again in his belt. + +"And now you had better make your will, for you don't leave this place +alive." + +"That our weapons will decide. I have nothing further to say," answered +Raby. + +"So, you will venture to draw your sword on me, will you, you silly +fellow?" + +"With you, or after you. I would not have it said that I drew my sword +on an unarmed man," answered his antagonist. + +"Don't provoke me, Raby! I tell you we will have it out here." + +"Well, draw then!" + +Petray thus urged, endeavoured to draw his sword in earnest from his +belt, but that otherwise excellent weapon had never been used since the +last Prussian war, and stuck so fast in its sheath that the most +powerful tugs quite failed to move it. + +Come out it would not. Mr. Petray pulled and tugged to no avail; the +blade would not yield an inch. + +"Good heavens," cried Raby impatiently, "hand it over to me, I will make +it come out." + +And hereupon the two opponents pulled away with might and main at the +refractory weapon; Raby seizing the sheath, and Petray the handle, +indulged in a very tug-of-war, but to no purpose; the sword stuck where +it was, and did not budge, while the two adversaries were bathed in +perspiration with their unavailing efforts. + +Had anyone ever seen such an absurd struggle? + +Petray was foaming with rage. + +"Deuce take the thing! If you want to come to grips, let's fight it out +with our fists! There I can be sure of my resources. I'll smash you up, +I promise you, so there won't be anything left of you." + +"All right," retorted Raby, and lifting up the sleeve of his dolman, he +put himself into a boxer's attitude, and struck Petray two ringing blows +with his bare muscular arm, that sent his opponent fairly reeling from +sheer astonishment. + +Now the judge set great store by his appearance. He therefore reflected +that by such methods as these, his enraged antagonist might end in +breaking his nose, or knocking out his teeth, and these were both +contingencies to be avoided. + +"Ah, leave me in peace," he cried piteously. "I am no boxer, I am a +judge, a man of the law. If you have anything to bring against me, let +it be at the tribunal, I'll meet you there fast enough. But I will +neither fence, nor shoot, nor box on your wife's account. If you think I +am the first whom your wife has fooled, I am not, by a long way. If you +want to fight, look up Captain Lievenkopp--he lives out yonder at +Zsambek. You have a bigger score to settle with him than with me, if you +did but know it. He's ready for either swords or pistols. As judge, it's +my duty to hinder a fight, not to promote it by myself taking part in +one. Go to the tribunal, and I'll give you satisfaction there fast +enough." + +He spoke rapidly, but Raby did not wait to hear the end. He clapped his +hat on, and jumped into his coach, and cried to the driver to drive to +Zsambek. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Raby only reached Zsambek the next morning. The dragoon-captain's house +he found without any difficulty, for it stood close to the post-station. + +There were two other officers with the captain, and three horses stood +ready saddled in the courtyard. They were evidently on the point of +starting for some expedition, though there was no sign of soldiers going +with them. + +"Aha, who is this?" cried Lievenkopp as Raby entered. "Why, bless me, +it's Mathias Raby!" + +"Yes, indeed, captain. Perhaps you can guess my errand here?" + +"Truly, I cannot do any such thing." + +"Well, my wife has run away from me." + +"The deuce she has! What already? I did not think she would have gone +quite so soon." + +"I went first of all to Judge Petray to demand satisfaction of him. He +would not give it me, but referred me to you." + +"That was very kind of him." + +"Now you know why I come." + +"I know it, comrade, you want to fight me, sure enough? Very good; just +choose one of these gentlemen as your second, and we will decide with +him on the weapons. Only one thing delays our immediate meeting, and +that is, I have to fight Gyongyom Miska." + +Raby was electrified as he heard the name. + +"Can't you leave him till later? You will never succeed in catching +him." + +"Aha, I've got him this time though; I am going at this very hour to +fight a duel with him." + +"Do you know who this Gyongyom Miska really is?" asked Raby. + +"Why he lives at Szent-Torony, two hours' journey from here, where he +owns an estate, and is called Karcsataji Miska. He is the notorious +robber, and no other. This is why he is never to be caught red-handed. +When he is everywhere driven into a corner, he goes quietly back home, +throws off the highwayman's gear, and whoever seeks him there, finds +instead of the fierce robber with lank locks and drooping moustaches, a +harmless country gentleman, with his powdered hair done in a neat cue, +whom twelve witnesses can swear to not having left home for weeks. No +one will ever succeed in convicting him. But this once I've caught my +gentleman nicely. Listen to how I did it. This very day when we had +planned our attack upon the band of Gyongyom Miska, we observed a +suspicious-looking fellow trying to get in between our railings. We +arrested him, searched him, and found sewn into the sole of his sandal, +this letter to Mr. Michael Karcsataji. You probably will know the +handwriting." + +Raby recognised the writing of his wife. + +"Yes, you can read it, you will understand it better than we do." + +The letter ran thus: + + "Dear Miska,--Don't have any scruples about the affair + in the Styrian wood. The whole suspicion falls on + someone who will not be able to prove an _alibi_. + Thine own one." + +Raby's arms fell helplessly at his side. It was as if he had suddenly +been stung by a cobra. + +His own wife was the traitor who had betrayed him to his enemies! A +dagger-thrust in the dark does not hurt one so much as such a discovery. + +Raby distrusted his senses; he would not, could not believe it; he +thought he must be dreaming. + +"Sit down, comrade," said the captain. "You are a bit upset, and small +wonder too. The bolt didn't strike me quite so nearly, yet I too was +fairly staggered when I read the letter. Then I called up my two +comrades here, and sent my challenge over to Szent-Torony, where Mr. +Michael von Karcsataji was in the courtyard, engaged in marking his +newly born lambs. In such a harmless fashion is he wont to spend his +leisure! My second presented him with my message: 'This letter which we +have intercepted proves that you have an intrigue with a lady to whom +Captain Lievenkopp is also paying court. Captain Lievenkopp will not +tolerate this sort of thing, and calls upon you to meet him to-morrow at +nine o'clock, by the ruined church of Zsambek, to settle the matter +there in proper fashion.' + +"The highwayman did not deny that between us there lay ground for +quarrel, and he would be at the rendezvous at the time appointed. It is +now eight o'clock. We can get to the ruins in half an hour, and there +await my opponent. You, my friend, can remain here in my lodgings for an +hour longer, and follow on after us. From nine to ten I am at Mr. +Karcsataji's service. As soon as I have finished with him, we two will +fire at each other till only one of us remains to tell the tale. But if +the highwayman kill me, then you and Karcsataji will fight till one or +the other is a dead man. Is that in order?" + +"Perfectly," cried the seconds; "it could not be better arranged!" + +Raby had nothing against this settlement. When the captain had gone he +stretched himself on his host's camp-bed, and was fast asleep in a few +minutes, completely exhausted by his recent experiences. + + * * * * * + +The Zsambek ruins are a remarkable relic of the Gothic period. The nave +of the church, thickly over-grown by juniper-bushes, is an admirable +place for a duel, where two men, unseen by any outsider, can fire at one +another to their hearts' content. + +The officers tethered their steeds to a birch stem, and withdrew inside +the ruins so that their presence should not be remarked by the people +working in the fields. + +Meantime, Raby had awakened and was making his way to the ruins. Nor did +he need a guide, for they had been well known to him since his boyhood. + +It was yet half an hour to the promised rendezvous, so he just wandered +round through the brushwood, which surrounded the church, listening for +shots. Perhaps the masonry dulled the sound, but surely he would see the +smoke, yet he could neither see nor hear anything. + +At last the remaining five minutes were up, and he strode into the +ruins. So well had he calculated time and distance, that the hand of his +watch pointed close on ten, as he pushed aside the juniper-bushes which +hid the entrance to the ruins, and went in. + +"Karcsataji has not yet appeared," said Lievenkopp. "Punctuality is not +his strong point." + +"I fancy he doesn't mean to come." + +"Surely that is not thinkable! In that case we will just go for him in +his own house." + +"Now, meantime, what do you propose doing?" + +"Well, I think that we might get on with our own business and not wait +for him. By delay he has lost his right of precedence, and must take the +second place. I propose, gentlemen, therefore, that we take the second +appointment first." + +After a short discussion, the seconds agreed, and since the nature of +the quarrel barred all idea of reconciliation, they staked out the +barriers, and placed the opponents against the two opposite walls. + +The weapons which the seconds handed to them, were a pair of rough old +riding pistols, which were so constructed that the bullets fired into a +group of ten men, would have probably perforated the cloak of one of the +party, provided he had one on. The combatants shot at first at +five-and-twenty paces; they were honestly bent on hitting one another, +yet neither succeeded. At the second attempt they took aim at twenty +paces, again without result. + +"Wretched weapons, these pistols!" growled the captain, "if I haven't +brought down the vulture's nest in that wild pear-tree." + +"Perhaps mine are better," suggested Raby. "My uncle Leanyfalvy gave +them to me, and they are already loaded." + +So the seconds accepted Raby's weapons. One of them remarked, however, +that the pistols were loaded to the muzzle, so that both of them, in +this case, would do well to stand behind a pillar, seeing if one +exploded, they would all be dead men, combatants and seconds alike. + +"It's quite safe," said Raby, "the powder is good, and the charge is not +too strong; there are only three bullets in each charge." + +"Now then, fire! One, two, three." + +At "three" Raby's pistols cracked. + +Pistols loaded with three bullets have very often this peculiarity of +not hitting the man they are fired at. + +After the two first terrible detonations everyone looked round extremely +amazed that he and the rest were still alive. + +"Re-load your pistols," cried one of the seconds, and they did so. But +when they were ready, an idea struck the other second. + +"Gentlemen, you have fired three times, and such being the case, honour +is entirely satisfied. It is my duty to suggest a reconciliation." + +The two antagonists looked at each other. + +Was it worth while to fight to the death over this matter? So without +more ado, they shook each other by the hand, and were friends. + +Now it would be Gyongyom Miska's turn, and he would have to reckon with +two adversaries instead of one. + +So they waited on; yet he came not. What could be the reasons of his +delay? Had a wheel come off? Could he not find the ruins? + +But these were a landmark, and even if he had gone astray, he must have +heard the shots. + +"He surely cannot be a coward," muttered Raby between his teeth, for his +national pride was piqued by sundry contemptuous remarks the Austrian +officers began to let fall. + +At last they heard the trotting of horses' hoofs. He was coming then! + +The men rose from the sward whereon they had been lying, and listened +expectantly. + +The trotting stopped at the ruined wall, and it was obvious that it +belonged to one horse only. + +Was it possible he would come alone, without seconds, thinking to find +them here in the village? + +After awhile there was the sound as of several horses' hoofs, but these +seemed as if they were going away, rather than nearing the ruins. + +"Friends," shouted Lievenkopp, "someone is stealing our horses!" + +And all four dashed out of the ruins. + +The captain had guessed rightly, their horses had been stolen. + +And the thief was Gyongyom Miska himself, who, mounted on his own fiery +courser, was driving before him the officers' three horses tethered +together by their bridles. + +"Stop you scoundrel," cried the captain and Raby in unison. + +But he evidently had not the intention to run away. Fifty paces ahead he +pulled up and let his horse caracole. + +His two grim adversaries subjected him now to a cross fire, for each of +them had two pistols. First on one side, and then from the other they +fired, but not one of the shots so much as grazed the robber, for his +horse pranced about and turned round and round in such a bewildering way +while his master was being aimed at, that all four shots missed their +mark. + +When the firing ceased the horse remained standing at a sound from his +rider, as if cast in bronze. + +Then Gyongyom Miska, raising his musket with one hand to his face, took +aim at both, and one bullet whistled through the captain's helmet and +the other sent Raby's cap flying from his head. Whereupon the +highwayman raised his tufted hat and cried, "So fights Gyongyom Miska!" + +And with that he switched his whip, cracking it right and left over the +tethered horses, and galloped away with his prey. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +When Mathias Raby recounted this story to his uncle, the old gentleman +declared he had never read or heard any stranger. Then they had a +consultation as to what was to be done. It was evident that it was a +matter for a lawsuit. + +The ancient laws against a breach of the marriage vow were very +stringent; and even allowed a husband to put to death an unfaithful +wife. But Mathias Raby found no consolation in such statutes. He did not +want to lose the woman still so dear to him for all the grievous injury +she had done him, and he was even ready to take her back again, and to +pardon her threefold treachery. + +"By the law," said his uncle, interrupting Raby's meditations, "a wife +who runs away from her husband shall be restored to him. Now if there be +such a thing as justice on this earth of ours, you shall get her back. +But what are we to do with the seducer, Petray?" + +"We can accuse him on the ground of seduction." And the old gentleman +proceeded to quote to Raby a law dating from the year 1522 which +provided for the decapitation of such misdemeanants. So it was plain +that Raby might obtain the condemnation of Petray, and succeed in having +Fruzsinka restored to him. But the legal proceedings were very +complicated, and it was difficult to determine to which court the case +should be taken. + +At last they came to the conclusion it would be wise to carry it before +the higher court, since it was a question of a capital crime, though +much care would have to be exercised in quoting the law under which they +prosecuted, as the least difference in the wording might upset their +case. + +When the eventful day arrived for instituting the suit before the higher +court, Raby was punctually in his place. Petray was also present, but +Fruzsinka was only represented by counsel. + +Raby determined he would have no mercy on Petray. If the severe +Hungarian law prescribed that the man who seduced the wife of another +should lose his head, it should be satisfied. + +Petray, the defendant, heard the impeachment out to the end, without +once turning pale. He followed with his defence. + +He began by quoting old formularies and attacking certain technical +defects in the indictment, which, he maintained, should have been +carried to the spiritual consistory, as the tribunal for matrimonial +disputes. Also he maintained that the action of the plaintiff was not +valid, seeing that he demanded the restitution of his runaway wife, and +the punishment of the man who had given her an asylum, yet was himself +open to the charge of bigamy, since he now had three wives alive. + +"What in the world do you mean?" cried Raby indignantly. + +"That you were already twice married before you took Fraulein Fruzsinka +to wife." + +"I twice married!" exclaimed Raby. "What do you mean?" + +"That they are still alive," answered Petray with a perfectly serious +face. "They both are here," he added, "and I beg that they may be +confronted with Mr. Raby." + +"Well, I should like to see them." + +And thereupon through a side door they admitted two women into the +court. One was a pretty young Rascian in her picturesque national +costume, the other was a coquettishly clad peasant from the Alfold, of +imposingly tall stature. They were each cited by name, though Raby had +never heard either before. + +"So these are my wives, are they?" he cried, half amused, half angry. + +"They are indeed," answered Petray unabashed, "and pray do not attempt +to deny it, for they are both ready to prove it." + +"Why, when have either of you ever seen me before?" demanded Raby +sternly of the two women. + +The little Rascian was obviously ashamed of herself, for though the +paint on her cheeks effectually hid her blushes, she buried her face in +her handkerchief to suppress her confusion. But her companion was not +so easily daunted. Her arms akimbo, she placed herself in front of Raby +and began to abuse him roundly. + +"So you mean to say you don't remember me, do you, my fine sir?" And she +forthwith began a string of voluble reminiscences which Raby in vain +strove to stem, beside himself with indignation, but he could not get in +a word edgeways. + +At last the judge intervened. Till then he had contented himself with +pulling his moustache the better to control his ill-suppressed +amusement. + +"That will do, woman, we have had enough of your tongue. We must have +documentary evidence. Have the parties marriage-certificates to +produce?" + +The little Rascian drew out the desired document from her pocket, whilst +the rival claimant in great haste dived into a huge bag she carried, and +produced the certificate wrapped up in a coloured handkerchief. + +They were to all appearances genuine enough. One was drawn up by the +registrar at Szent-Pal, the other dated from the commune of Belovacz on +the military frontier. Both documents were countersigned by the parish +priests, and bore the official seal of the ecclesiastical authorities. + +"But I have never in my life even been in the neighbourhood of these +places," cried Raby in desperation, fairly trembling with rage. "These +registered formulas are falsified; I charge the man who produces them +with forgery." + +The little Rascian girl here began to wring her hands and weep, but her +Hungarian rival gave her tongue its rein, and she poured forth such a +flood of abuse on Raby that his every fibre thrilled with indignation. + +With much trouble the heydukes restored order, and the judge called on +the court to be quiet. + +"Silence, his honour is speaking; the judgment will now be given, so let +the litigants retire from the court," was the order. + +It was hardly five minutes before the contending parties were recalled +and the verdict given. + +"The case as heard by us is very complex. It lies between two parties +who prefer counter-accusations against each other. The one says his +opponent has robbed him of his wife, whilst the accused becomes +plaintiff in his turn, and incriminates his accuser as a bigamist, and +therefore incapacitated for demanding the restoration of his runaway +spouse. Therefore, we beg to refer the case to the united courts of the +provinces of Pesth, Pilis, and Solt, that they may adjust the relations +between the contending parties satisfactorily. Meantime the case is +dismissed." And herewith followed in legal phrase the reasons why the +said courts should be pressed to institute an inquiry into the whole +suit between Raby and Petray, and its complications, and the parties +were adjured to leave the court. + +Raby was sorry enough he had ever come, for what had it all availed him? + +Scarcely had the door of the court closed behind him than he heard the +end of it all, the horrible mocking laughter which burst forth from the +whole room, directly he had left it--a sound which followed him out into +the corridor. + +He was completely staggered. The shame, the exasperation, the deception +of it all, and this persistent persecution--how powerless he was against +them! His very senses seemed deserting him. So distracted was he in his +bewilderment, that when he reached the end of the passage, instead of +going straight out, he took the flight of steps which led down to the +cells. Through the prison doors came the sound of merriment. Even the +criminals were mocking him. And that was likely enough, seeing that the +two women who had impersonated his wives, had been requisitioned from +the ranks of the prisoners. + +For three days did Raby remain in hiding at his inn, not daring to show +his face. He fancied all Pesth and Buda were making merry over his fall. + +Only on the evening of the third day did he venture to set out for home. +And even then he muffled himself up in his mantle so that he might pass +unrecognised. + +But as soon as he reached the open country, the fresh air exhilarated +his drooping spirits and he saw things in a different light. It was +certainly very impolitic to betray his vexation, for in this case he +was sure to get the worst of it. It would be far wiser to disguise his +real feelings. + +The first person he sought out was his uncle. + +"Remember, my boy, it's just what I told you. Didn't I say that if you +would insist on marrying Fruzsinka you would have wife enough. And, sure +enough, here you have three! And by the time you have done, it may be a +great many more." + +"How do you mean, uncle?" + +"Why, as soon as the news spreads that the marriage certificates of +these women were forged, other 'wives' will be turning up from all +parts, and a nice dance they will lead you." + +Raby, in spite of his real misery, could not forbear a grim smile. + +"Where did you say the two marriage articles came from, eh?" + +"One was from Szent-Pal, the other from Belovacz." + +"So that's it, is it? Well, Szent-Pal was utterly destroyed by the +insurrection of Hora-Kloska three years ago, and Belovacz is a haunt of +freebooters. In neither place is there priest or sexton, church or +register, as I happen to know, so seek all your life long, you'll never +find proof of the forgery." + +"Now I see why the witnesses came from so far afield; it was manifestly +a part of the plot." + +"By the way," said his uncle, "you'll want some one to look after your +house, for in your absence your maid Boske has been locked up." + +"Whatever do you mean?" demanded Raby indignantly. "My servant locked +up! why what is the meaning of it?" + +"H'm, it was by order of the municipality." + +"And pray what for?" + +"That, no one can say. I only knew through the neighbours coming round +to tell me that I ought to send my servant over, for your cows were +standing at the gate, and that there was no one to let them in, seeing +that poor Boske had been marched off between two officers to the +police-station." + +"The deuce she has!" cried Raby, and he seized his sword. "But I won't +stand that!" + +And without another word he dashed out of the house and down the street +at full tilt, in the direction of the police-station, which was close to +the post office. He thrust open the door, without announcing himself, +and shouted so furiously to the unlucky porter that the latter nearly +died of fright. + +"Where is the jailer? In heaven's name, tell me," thundered Raby. + +"He is drinking in there," said the man, pointing to a door. + +Raby dashed into the room and found the jailer, seized him by the lappet +of his jacket, shook him, and yelled: + +"You brute, you scoundrel, what have you done with my servant, I want to +know?" + +"Your worship, the judge had her locked up in 'the Hole.'" + +"Let her out, then, at once, you hound! If you don't, I will slay you on +the spot, and willingly pay up the forty gulden fine I shall be mulcted +of for killing a peasant. Where is the cell, where are the keys? I tell +you, you are to give them to me directly." + +The frightened official said humbly that he would soon get the keys, but +Raby held him by the scruff of the neck, and dragged him to the door of +"the Hole," made him open it, and called out, "Come out directly, +Boske!" + +Directly she appeared he seized the girl by the hand, and led her out of +her captivity. And he never let go her hand all the way home, in spite +of her wish to withdraw it. + +"You are a good, honest girl, Boske, who have only been persecuted on my +account; there, there, don't cry, they shall pay for this, sure enough!" + +And he flourished his sword so threateningly, that all who met them were +quite scared and hastened to clear out of their path. + +The gentry had robbed him of his wife, and now the burghers had stolen +away his servant; it was truly "adding insult to injury!" + +"And now just come in," said Raby, "and tell me all about it." + +"Oh, but I've no time to," exclaimed Boske, "besides, it's a long story. +First of all I must run and look after my cows. I've not seen them for +two days. They weren't milked either, and perhaps they are starving." + +"Oh, it's all right, the postmaster's maid tended them." + +"Ay, what does Susanne know about it, I should like to know? The dun +cow, she won't give a drop of milk if anyone else milks her, and the +dappled one, if she knows that a stranger is there instead of me, will +kick over both pail and milking-stool. And no one can feed them as I +can. Just listen, gracious master, how they begin to low when they hear +my voice." + +And away ran Boske into the cowhouse. Not for anything would she have +told her own story till the cows were looked after. They recognised her +also directly, and the dun cow licked her red arm affectionately, when +she went to tether her, and Boske made them a nice turnip "mash," in a +wooden bowl, and fed her favourites. Then she washed the pail clean, and +when she had put everything in order, she sat down to her milking, and +here Raby found her. + +"Now you can tell me, while you are at work, all that has happened," he +said kindly. + +"If the gracious master does not mind listening to me in the cowhouse. +It was like this. When I was setting the yeast to rise the day before +yesterday, for baking, in the kitchen, in came two police-officers, +saying I must go with them to the police-court. I told them I had not +stolen anything. Thereupon, one said, I was not to make a noise, and he +threatened to lay his cane about my shoulders, and if I didn't go of my +own free will, he'd make me. I told him my master was away. He said that +would be all right, and that we could shut the door and leave the key +under a beam outside, where I could find it again. So what could I do? I +had to leave the yeast in the trough where it got all sour and mouldy, +and go off to the police-station. When I got there, I saw lots of men +sitting round a table, and they all looked at me and asked me questions, +and told me I'd got to be sworn. I thought they meant being married, so +said I didn't mind if there was anyone there I liked well enough to +marry. Then one of them said it wasn't a question of marrying, but that +I must swear to what I knew about the master." + +"A regular inquisition," muttered Raby. + +"'I'll swear fast enough,' said I, 'that I know nought of him but what +is good.' + +"'Then,' says the notary, 'what about the peasants that he sets on to +rebel against their landlords?' + +"'Nothing of the kind,' says I; 'the man who says that ought to be +hanged.' + +"With that, he asks if my master did not throw Dacso Marczi and the +surveyor into the river. So I told them it was a wicked lie." + +"That was quite true, Boske!" + +"Then they asked me if you were not a sorcerer, and did not call up evil +spirits at night-time." + +"And, pray, what did you say to that?" + +"Why I just laughed outright, and told them I had never even heard my +master say 'the devil take them,' much less call up evil spirits. But +they said the Devil himself would carry me off if I didn't tell the +truth. And when they asked me to swear that the gracious master was a +sorcerer, I just swore by the Crucifix it was not true. But they were so +angry that they just packed me off to prison, then and there, and there +I was left without food or drink till the gracious master himself came +and fetched me out." + +Poor Boske finished her story with a burst of weeping, for up till now +she had not had the time for crying. But now she had got her tale over, +and the milking done, she cried her heart out into the corners of her +apron. + +"That was quite enough for once," muttered Raby to himself. But he +deceived himself if he fancied it was enough, for there was yet more to +come. + +When they had recovered the key from its hiding-place under the beam, +Boske went first to open the house, but she started back in horror, and +dropped the pail of milk she was carrying, as she exclaimed, + +"Gracious master, just look, thieves have been in! We have been robbed!" + +Sure enough it was so; the whole house had been completely rifled of +valuables. So thoroughly had the work been done that only the empty +chairs and tables remained. + +Boske broke into a wail of despair. + +"Hush, be quiet," ordered Raby sternly, putting his hand over her mouth. + +"But they've broken into my trunk," she cried; "they have stolen my new +petticoat, and best kerchief, and my shoes with the rosettes." + +"Never mind," said her master consolingly, "to-morrow I'll take you to +Buda, and buy you some fresh ones. These are trifles. The thieves +probably came after my papers, but those I luckily had with me." + +At this Boske was appeased, also she remarked it was a comfort the +lady-mistress had taken the embroidered quilt with her, so the thieves +were done out of that at any rate. + +"But where is the house-dog?" + +They found the poor beast, by the well, stiff and dead. + +"The brutes!" cried Boske, horrified; "they have drowned him, they have +not even left us the dog alive." + +Raby drove the weeping girl into the house and spoke earnestly to her: + +"Now, Boske, listen to me. You must never tell anyone what has happened, +and that the house has been robbed, for if you do, they may put you in +prison again, and you may not get out for years." + +With which piece of parting advice Raby repaired to his uncle's. Here he +collected his papers, and stowed them away in the pocket of his coat, he +likewise donned his fur mantle, told his uncle shortly what had +occurred, and then started to go back home. + +It was already nightfall when he took his way down the street to his own +home. + +As he passed Peter Paprika's house he heard a curious whizzing noise +near him, and at the same moment was conscious of having been struck a +blow on the side, which so staggered him, it nearly made him lose his +balance. He looked round; there was not a soul in sight in the street. +He could not imagine from whence the mysterious report had come. But +after he had got home, he found a little round perforation on the left +side of his coat, which was plainly a bullet hole. + +When he drew his papers out of his breast-pocket, out fell a leaden +bullet which had evidently bored through so far and been turned aside by +the packet of documents. + +The whizzing sound our hero had heard had been the report of an air-gun, +and had he not placed the papers in his breast-pocket, it would have +been all over with him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +The jest was surely now at an end, said Raby to himself; it was no use +trifling with these people but best to go straight to the point with +them. + +So the next day he set out for Vienna, nor did he conceal the purport of +his journey. For he had to induce the Emperor to remove the Szent-Endre +authorities and order a new municipal body to be set up in their place. +As a land-owner, he had full right to demand this to be done. + +Meanwhile, he left Boske to keep house, only stipulating she should have +someone to be with her in his absence. + +In Vienna all fell out as he had wished, and after forwarding his plans +there, he returned home. + +As he reached the gate of the town he wondered what new developments +would greet his return; he had a foreboding something strange was +preparing, nor was he mistaken. + +For when he came to his own house, there outside sat Boske in tears, +surrounded by various bits of furniture, which had evidently been thrown +out into the street. + +"Why, what in the world have you got there?" asked Raby, amazed, of the +weeping maid-servant. + +"What have I got?" cried Boske, "why, honoured master, don't you know +your own furniture when you see it? These are all our things, and they +have turned them out here, and me with them." + +"What?" yelled Raby, as he leapt from the coach. + +But no answer was needed, for just then the door opened, and out came +the notary. + +He leaned with the utmost sang-froid against the door, while he filled +with tobacco his clay pipe, from which he proceeded to puff eddies of +smoke right into Raby's face. He was quite drunk, and behind him stood a +couple of boon companions. + +"Pray what has happened here?" inquired the astonished master of the +house. + +"Only that I am taking possession of my own property," was the insolent +answer. + +"Your property, why it's mine, considering I paid the price for it in +due form," retorted the puzzled Raby. + +"But I repent of having sold it, and I've taken possession again," +rejoined the notary, as he re-lit his pipe. "And now since you, my fine +gentleman, have nothing further to look for in this town, and are no +longer the master here, you may just pack off and go!" + +"But I paid you ready-money," remonstrated Raby, his voice fairly +shaking with rage and shame. + +"You'd better bring it before the tribunal," sneered the notary, and he +laughed so immoderately that the pipe dropped out of his mouth. + +Raby heard the laughter echoed in the yard without by a dozen other +voices. + +He strove no longer. He told Boske he would send a coach to fetch her +and the furniture away, and till then, she must wait there. Then he +hurried off to his uncle's and told his story. + +"This is beyond a joke," said the old man. "We will not stand this sort +of thing from these insolent wretches." + +"But to whom can I complain?" asked Raby. "To the judge, Petray, who is +my personal enemy; to the county court where I am accused of bigamy and +scoffed at?" + +"To none of the lot! There is an edict which provides that whoso +appropriates unlawfully the property of another, can himself be turned +out by the lawful owner." + +"But where can we procure the methods of force necessary to drive these +people out?" demanded Raby. "The whole township is in their pay. The +municipality gives no formal help, and the military would not move in +the matter. If I myself incite the people to act, I shall be accused of +instigating to violence." + +"Leave all that to me, my boy; we old folks know more than you young +ones give us credit for. No need to go either to the tribunal or to the +barracks. We'll just get the good people of Bicske and Velencze to help +us. The gentry in these towns fight like dragons. But in all their +history there is not a single case of either having ever taken their +disputes before the county courts or the provincial tribunals. For, +being of noble descent, there is a tradition among them that all +quarrels which arise between them shall be settled by the military +officer who happens, for the time being, to be in command of the +defendant's town. They are satisfied with this judgment, and never do +either judge or lawyer have a fee out of their pockets." + +"That sounds quite patriarchal," remarked Raby. + +"Now why can't we acquire just such a right among our people here?" +pursued his uncle. "In a fortnight's time there will be a fair at +Stuhlweissenburg. During this time I will go round and discuss the +matter with the heads of the departments. You yourself can remain here +in the meantime and look after my work in the post office. In Velencze +they are just electing Stephen Keo, Knight of Kadarcs, as the judge. You +ought to propound your plan to him. He has a fine fighting record behind +him, for he went through Rakoczi's campaigns with the great leader +himself, and still wears the shabby wolfskin coat in which he used to +parade in the old fighting days. He is very proud of his military +record, as well as of his ancestors, who came from Asia with the +horsemen of Arpad himself. Remember this point; it will be an excellent +passport to his good graces, and don't forget to give him his full +title, and always to address him as Knight of Kadarcs. As soon as I'm +ready with the legal points we'll go to Stuhlweissenburg and set our +scheme afoot. Meanwhile, have no fear, we'll soon drive those brutes +out of your house, my boy, and send them packing!" + +Raby agreed to all of it. He was so exasperated that he positively +yearned for a fight of some kind, whatever it might be. + +So it was arranged he should stop and look after the post office, while +his uncle went to collect materials for his campaign. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +It was Stuhlweissenburg fair. In the chaffering, chattering crowd of +market folk, cattle-drivers and swine-herds jostled country land-owners +accompanied by their lackeys, and shepherds in gay cloaks, while gipsy +horse-dealers, with their ragged coats bright with silver buttons, +trotted out their prancing nags to attract possible buyers. Here and +there flitted strangely clad figures--a Wallachian boyar with his +sheepskin cap, or a Servian with his scarlet fez, and turbanned Turks, +the remnant of the expelled Mussulman population, who had come to sell +their last sheep, and then follow the rest of their folk. + +The encampments begin with rows of shoemakers and furriers, then come +variegated groups of merchants from outlying provinces. Foreign wares +there are none, for the "dumping" of useless foreign commodities is +forbidden by an imperial edict. What are exposed here are all genuine +native products, whether it be in fabrics, pottery, or copper-ware, +while there is a great rush for the booths where pewter plates and +dishes are for sale. + +Everything is paid for in ready money, so that if a well-to-do purchaser +buys a herd of sheep and has not the price forthcoming, he leaves his +silver knife and fork (which he carries about with him) as a pledge, and +the seller knows well enough they will be redeemed in due course. + +Towards mid-day, the "market-kitchen" becomes thronged. Here too the +famous gipsy stew needs no advertising, for its savoury odour betrays +its whereabouts, and it only wants good wine to wash it down to make it +complete. But this same good wine is dear, and only for the gentry. The +Velencze people have already annexed a table near the bar, and sit round +it and listen to their favourite song: + + "See I will drink with you, + So I can clink with you + A glass of good wine: + But if you do not choose, + To pledge, I'll not refuse + Alone to empty mine." + +But now come the Bicske contingent, each one of whom brandishes a huge +weighted stick, or copper axe, while their neighbours have already +deposited their weapons on the table. + +These late-comers observe that the others have already annexed the best +table, and proceed accordingly. + +"You gentlemen from Velencze have come early," growls Bognar Laczi, the +leader of the Bicske party. + +"Yes, and by this you must have caught plenty of mud-fish." (This is +intended as a graceful allusion to the Lake of Velencze.) "And what's +more, have swallowed them by this time," sneered a pugnacious looking, +thick-set fellow, who also belonged to the Bicske gang. + +As is well known, the worthy dwellers by the Velencze lake do not relish +this kind of reflection on their sport, and they resented it +accordingly. + +But the fight does not yet begin, for who is fool enough to fight over +the fish he eats? Besides, eating is the first and most important +business, so they sink differences in order to make a square meal. + +"Now, friends," says Bognar Laczi to the Velencze contingent, "what say +you to some music? We have brought our own piper and a cornet-player +with us, so I propose that we take it in turns; first your gipsies shall +play, and then our musicians." + +"All right," agreed the others, and thereupon the noble representative +from Bicske had his favourite tune played on the bagpipes. + + "I've a house and a sweet little wife of my own, + And bread and bacon and crops that I've grown." + +And everything progressed smoothly, for while the music was going on, no +one could talk, and if one guest called to someone else at the other +table, he did not forget to address him as "noble friend." But at the +second round of wine the company began to sing with the music, and it +was not easy to stop their efforts. Finally, the two parties insisted on +singing different songs at the same time, the result being an uproar, +wherein cymbal, fiddle, bagpipe, and cornet strove for precedence in a +very rivalry of tumultuous discord. + +The Velencze leader could not stand such an annoyance, and he promptly +hurled an empty bottle at the wall just above the head of the Bicske +chief, so that the fragments fell on the latter's head. He then seized +his axe, struck the beam with it, and cried out defiantly, "Let's see +who is the better man?" + +The valorous Bicske men and their ten Velencze companions, were equally +ready to join in the fray thus begun. So they seized their axes and +clubs, and began to brandish these in a highly menacing fashion. For +there is no fighter like your Magyar when his blood is up. + +At this perilous juncture appeared the representatives of peace and +arbitration, in the person of Sir Stephen Keo, the "Knight of Kadarcs," +and his companion, Mr. Postmaster Leanyfalvy, who led between them +Mathias Raby, and presented him to the company. + +The old campaigner, with his shabby sheepskin over his shoulders, and a +short pipe between his teeth, pressed into the ranks of the combatants +as calmly as if the Geneva Red Cross had sheltered his breast. Not a bit +intimidated by the uproar, he brandished his pike, and cried out in a +shrill voice: + +"So you are at it again, are you! Be quiet, you fellows; and so early +too, for you can't have drunk much yet. But listen to me, friends. This +gallant gentleman whom you see here is Mr. Mathias Raby of Raba and +Mura, the son of the late Stephen Raby, that noble patriot, who so +often stood up for Magyar rights. During his absence from home some +bullies in Szent-Endre have ejected this noble gentleman from his own +house, and occupied it. Now he calls upon us, the patriots of Velencze +and Bicske, to come to his aid, and will pay us a salary of two gulden +per head, to drive out the illegal occupiers from his lawful domicile. +Therefore I suggest that you adjourn your mutual quarrel till the next +Stuhlweissenburg fair (and chalk it up so that you do not forget it); +but meantime, come with us, and help to right the wrong done him." + +Whereupon the twenty men present cheered loudly and signified their +readiness to go. + +"We have four carriages here," said Sir Stephen. "Four must stay with +the horses, so that there will be sixteen all told for the expedition." + +And so it was arranged. + +But Bognar Laczi urged immediate action. "Let's be off, all of us, only +let us send on a scout who shall warn the Szent-Endre people that we are +coming in full force. They shall not say that we take them unawares, but +should get their fighting gear in readiness." + +It took some time for Raby, the postmaster, and the knight to agree to +this arrangement, for they deemed such a proceeding would be pure folly. +Szent-Endre might be too strong for them, if it had time to collect all +its forces. But at last they gave in, and sent on their scout ahead, +delaying their actual start till nightfall. + +By morning they had reached the "Pomazer" Inn safe and sound, so they +halted and baited the horses. The passengers sprang from the carriages, +and stretched their drowsy limbs. Then they roused the hostess and +ordered some coffee, and everyone knows what "Hungarian coffee" means; +it consists of red wine, ginger, and pepper, and is drunk boiling hot. +But this beverage kept them going all day, so invigorating was it. + +While the horses fed, the messenger they had dispatched to reconnoitre, +came back with the news that all Szent-Endre was agog, the municipality +having brought together a rabble armed with sticks, pitchforks, and +flails, who had collected in front of Raby's house, while the townsmen +in the courtyard were armed and ready for the attack. + +"Heigh ho," shouted the assailants. "What joy! We shall have someone now +with whom we can fight! So let's drive on so that we can be soon in +fighting array." + +"Stop a bit, my noble friends," said Sir Stephen Keo. "First of all, let +us exercise a little strategy. For this will be the decisive struggle, +and remember I am in command! Before all, we must know the fortress we +are about to conquer. Now the house has two doors, the one opening on to +the Buda street, the other behind into the garden. Therefore we must +divide into two parties. The one must begin the frontal attack from the +street, the other will go round into the vineyard and take their chance +under shelter of the garden. The Velencze men will lead the one attack, +and those of Bicske the other." + +The old fire-eater was not only an accomplished strategist, but likewise +a great student of character. He knew his people, and that if he placed +the two factions side by side, they would quarrel at least over +precedence if over nothing else, that neither would give in, and that +all chance of success would consequently be ruined. + +"Now who will lead the attack from the street?" asked their +commander-in-chief. + +It was settled by drawing lots; the garden position falling to the +Bicske party. + +"So we are to go behind, are we?" questioned Bognar Laczi sulkily. + +"Noble friend," pleaded the old knight, "for those who tackle a +seven-headed dragon, there is no 'behind,' for on every side there is a +head. You will attack the enemy's rear-front." + +He was obliged, however, to make this concession to the Bicske +assailants, that they should travel first in two coaches to reach the +garden by a roundabout way, and yet be there at the same time as the +Velencze contingent. + +These delicate points of precedence being settled, they drove off in +fine style, two of the vehicles turning towards the vineyard, and the +other three to Szent-Endre. + +They could hear as they drew nearer that the whole place was in an +uproar. In the Buda Street the citizens had organized an impromptu +army. There they were in little national groups, the Magyars with +clubs, the Serbs armed with flails, the Rascians provided with +pitchforks. It looked as if it would be a hundred to one. + +The space in front of Raby's house was occupied by a mixed mob of +hangers-on of all kinds, who were carrying sticks, and lances, and old +flint muskets. + +In front of this phalanx stood the lieutenant in full gala dress, with +the big drum slung round his neck, ready to give the storming signal, +and inciting the mob with warlike exhortations. + +But it was in reality no joke, and the antagonists, seeing the attacking +party, retreated into the house and endeavoured to close the door behind +them. Only when they felt themselves safe did they begin their defensive +operations. + +The crowd without did not take an active part in the fray, but only +looked on. + +The Velencze contingent tried first of all to break in the door, but it +was barricaded too fast from within. So a regular attack had to be +essayed. + +The old Knight of Kadarcs directed operations from the coach where he +still sat. + +"Just take the stakes out of the well-posts, and you can jam in the door +with them." + +Four of the party managed to wrench out the stakes, and jammed them +against the great door like a Roman battering-ram, whilst three others +worked at the smaller door with their stout clubs. But those inside +defended themselves bravely enough, it must be owned. In the court +stood logs of wood piled up, and these they hurled at the besiegers, who +naturally returned the projectiles back from whence they came. + +Within could be heard the directions of the defenders to those inside to +fire on the assailants if these effected an entrance. + +But all the attacks of the Velencze men had been perfectly futile, had +not the Bicske auxiliaries come up just in the nick of time to the +rescue. + +They, in fact, decided the issue of the battle. All at once they uttered +a tremendous yell which scared the enemy back into their entrenchments. +Hereupon, a frightful tumult ensued, the crowd without shouting and +seeking to find an outlet over the walls of the neighbouring houses, or +in the out-houses and stables. Then the Velencze party made a tremendous +dash for the barred door, and succeeded in effecting an entrance. What +followed is indeed difficult to describe. + +"Take care to hit them on the head," shouted the old commander-in-chief +from his perch in the coach, while the mob laughed loud and long, as one +after another member of the town council crawled out on all fours over +the neighbouring roofs into safety, whilst first one and then another of +the Szent-Endre worthies were thrown out like cats on to the ground +below. The last to be turned out was the notary, his clothes torn, his +temples bleeding, and his teeth knocked out, yet there was not a soul +who seemed to sympathise with him. + +The mayor had bethought him of a refuge in the chimney, but they lighted +straw below, and he was forced to push his way out. But the chimney +being too narrow, he only succeeded in getting his head and arms out, +and there he stuck, gesticulating wildly like a jack-in-the-box, till +the siege being over, they could take off the chimney-pot and so free +the prisoner. + +When the coast was clear they opened the doors and re-installed Mathias +Raby in his own house again. + +"Now, noble sir, what did you think of the operations?" asked the Knight +of Kadarcs, as he cleaned out his pipe for a smoke. + +"A nice piece of work; it's a pity that sort of fighting has gone out of +fashion!" + +But the worthy burghers had learned a twofold lesson. First, that when a +plebeian fights it out with a noble, it is the plebeian who gets the +worst of it; and secondly, that the people themselves, if they see their +superiors thrashed, not only turn their backs on them, but regard it as +a good joke. + +But after drinking to his health, the rescuers took leave of their host, +now settled again in his own home. + +"We shall be at your service whenever you want us," was their parting +salutation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +When Raby was left alone he began to see that what had been done was +really a foolish proceeding. + +To attack a peaceful town with armed force, beat thirty or forty of its +citizens, to say nothing of its magistracy, black and blue--this was +beyond a joke in any civilised city. + +Besides, those who had their heads broken in the fray, would not be +silent about their grievances. For that matter, Boske had already seen +several vehicles full of people with bandaged heads, proceeding in the +direction of Buda. + +Mathias Raby therefore determined to go himself to Pesth without waiting +to be sent for, and then to testify to what had occurred. + +Of course he could not think of leaving Boske behind alone in the empty +house, where there was nothing now left to take care of. The cows had +long since been turned into butcher's meat for the benefit of the +invaders, who had likewise drunk up every drop of wine in the cellar. + +And it was lucky Raby took Boske with him, as we shall see later. + +Again he alighted at his old inn, and, donning his official dress, he +caused himself to be taken in a sedan-chair to the palace of the +governor. + +When he entered the ante-chamber the first people he saw were the +Szent-Endre officials waiting likewise to see his Excellency, just as +they had come from the fight. One had his arm in a sling, another showed +a black eye, and a third a bandaged hand. + +But even these grievances were for the moment, it seemed, thrust aside +directly Raby entered, for on seeing him they all began to talk and +gesticulate noisily. He could not follow what they said, for most of +them spoke Rascian, then the language of the Hungarian middle classes, +whereof he only knew a few words, but from their tone and gestures, he +gathered that the conversation concerned him, and that they were +preparing to make things hot for him. + +So he did not feel exactly comfortable as he turned his back on them and +withdrew to the window. + +All at once the noise ceased suddenly as the usher announced "His +Excellency is coming," while the audience began at once to cringe and +whine, and put on a woful air all round. + +The door of the ante-chamber was thrown open, and his Excellency came +in. + +He nodded grimly at the waiting crowd, for whose woes his face betrayed +no particular sympathy, but when he saw Raby he went up to him, slapped +him on the shoulder, and his face relaxed into a smile. + +This was indeed a rare event, for it took a lot to make his Excellency +smile! Moreover, he greeted his guest with a dignified cordiality. + +"Well met, my friend! I'm glad you've come. You are on the right road. +Walk in here, and don't let anyone disturb us," he added, turning to the +usher, "as long as his Imperial Majesty's representative is with me. But +you," and he turned to the expectant crowd of suppliants, "you can just +go to where you came from; you have only got what you deserved." + +But those left behind in the ante-room looked at one another, and did +not exactly know what to make of it, till his Excellency's secretary +told them that the hurts they had received were fully recognised by the +law, and that they would have redress later if they now went home +quietly. + +His Excellency, meanwhile, plunged into the matter straight away. + +"Now see here, my worthy sir, you can only obtain satisfaction in +Hungary from the Magyar laws themselves. The thing is to know how to +profit by them, for we have excellent statutes; there is no need to +supplement them. I should like to know if the collective tribunals of +Austria itself would settle your affair so thoroughly and effectually, +nay and cheaply, as the captain of the Velencze company has done. But +you have been to the Emperor again with your denunciations, and even +now, I daresay, have your pockets full of imperial instructions. Don't +take them out if your case is brought before me, for I warn you, I shall +not open them. I wonder if his Majesty knows, by the way, that I never +read the instructions he sends me." + +"But I now bring other orders from his Majesty," said Raby, who did not +think it worth while to say all he knew. "His Majesty has thought a +great deal about his Hungarian subjects, and has great projects for +bettering this city." + +"What may such projects be, pray?" + +"First of all, he is giving permission to the Jewish community in Pesth +to build a synagogue." + +"A synagogue for the Jews!" cried his Excellency, springing up in horror +from his seat. "Impossible! Pesth will not be bettered by that, it will +be completely ruined. Why in a hundred years' time, if that is allowed, +the Jews will be having all the rights of citizens. Heaven forbid they +should be permitted a place in the Assembly, for they will want to get +in there. Well, that is enough for a beginning; is there anything else?" + +"Of course," pursued Raby, and since his interlocutor was standing at +the window, he too went there and looked out at the view over the Danube +and Pesth. "Does your Excellency see the great square plain on the edge +of the Pesth woods, that is bordered on one side with willows?" + +"I see, and what of that?" + +"His Majesty has ordered that a large building two stories high, with +nine courts, and two thousand windows, shall be erected there. He has, +himself, shown me the plans of the edifice which is to be built at his +own expense." + +"Good heavens! What's that for? is his Majesty going to shut up there +all those who do not respect his edicts?" + +"No, it is for a hospital for the city of Pesth." + +"A hospital, indeed! As if the ordinary lazaretto was not enough." + +"It will also serve as a foundling asylum." + +"What, for the children who are deserted by their mothers? Why, there +are none such in Pesth. The citizens won't tolerate such worthless women +in their midst. Such folks must do penance as the Church directs, or +else be driven from the city." + +"It may be so now, but in course of time, when Pesth is raised to the +rank of great world-cities, the magistracy will have something else to +do than to control the private lives of its citizens." + +"Now, how in the world can Pesth become a great city, I should like to +know? Will the Emperor come and live here himself?" + +"Perhaps not now, but he means to make it a great place for trade." + +"Pesth a place for trade? Why! what are you thinking about? You will +never see any trade done in Pesth but by rag-merchants and swine-herds." + +Raby smiled. + +"The Emperor means to raise Pesth to the level of a great commercial +centre by certain big schemes he has in view. He proposes, for instance, +to have a canal cut which shall connect Pesth with Trieste, and so +bring it into direct connection with the coast." + +"Connect Pesth with Trieste! Why my good young friend" (the speaker had +dropped his previous formalities in his astonishment), "don't take me +for a fool, I pray! Remember it is not the first of April. What is the +Emperor thinking of? What about the Carpathians, pray?" + +"The mountains will be tunnelled, and the canal is to run under them." + +"Now just listen to me, my good sir! If you do not respect my official +capacity, otherwise the Imperial Hungarian Presidency of the County +Assembly, which I represent, you should at least have regard to my grey +hairs, and find some other fool to impose on with your scheme. Why, this +would take millions of money." + +"The actual estimate amounts to sixty millions." + +"Sixty millions! What are you dreaming of? Why, the Emperor has not got +as much as that out of the whole Hungarian revenue in twenty years." + +"The financial provision for this undertaking lies ready to hand. A +syndicate has been formed which will answer for the needful funds, and +directly Pesth is brought into connection with the sea its commercial +possibilities can be developed. Imagine a water-way from Pesth to +Trieste, one of the great emporiums of the world's trade in the centre +of Hungary!" + +But his Excellency could not imagine it. + +"Tut, tut," he cried, and his eyes flashed angrily. "What do you mean +by taking such a chimera seriously? A canal from the centre of Hungary +to the coast, what does it mean but foreign traders sucking the life and +strength out of this country to glut their markets with our wealth. We +won't have anything of the kind! The ruling classes of this country will +have something to say to that. We will not let the people of this nation +be plunged into misery thus. Why, foreign traders would just exploit our +mineral wealth to their hearts' content, and leave the poor folk of this +country starving. No, no, my friend, don't you think we will ever have +anything of the kind." + +Raby would not give in; he was by this time quite at home on these +questions. He could, moreover, give excellent reasons why every land +that has a seaport is prosperous, for trade does not impoverish people, +it enriches them. To which his Excellency retorted that of course trade +was a good thing for nations who knew how to get the best of their +neighbours, but for a simple unsophisticated folk, like the Hungarians, +it meant ruin. + +In the midst of this heated controversy, the two did not perceive that +the district commissioner had entered without being announced, and was +listening with much amusement to the debate. + +The district commissioner could not abide wrangling, so he promptly +turned the conversation on to neutral topics. + +"Eh, what is all this about? We, at any rate, have nothing to do with +the nation's economics. Tell us rather what is going on in Vienna. For +remarkably funny events have happened surely since we met." And the +speaker laughed slily, as if struck by some comical reminiscence. + +Raby knew well enough what caused his companion's mirth. He was +thinking, doubtless, of Fruzsinka and the two other "wives." And the +thought pierced him with a sudden stab of pain. + +The good-natured official suppressed his ill-timed laughter, however, as +he diverted the subject. + +"Now tell us something about the capital, my dear fellow? Have you been +to the National Theatre and seen the latest comedy there?" + +"I had no leisure," said Raby drily, "to go to the theatre, and see what +the comedies were like. You will have more time for that probably than I +shall." + +Which retort surprised the worthy district commissioner not a little. + +Then Mathias Raby turned to the governor with a deeply respectful bow, +only waved a careless "adieu" to the district commissioner, and +withdrew. + +"He is put out with you about something or other," remarked the governor +to his companion. + +"Yes, he snapped, didn't he, like a puppy when you tread on his tail." + +But just then, in came the secretary with despatches that had just +arrived by the last post. + +"One for you as well, worshipful sir," said the secretary to the +district commissioner. "Shall I send it into your office, or will you +have it here, seeing it is marked 'personal.'" + +"All right. Give it me here, please," was the careless answer. + +And the light-hearted official broke the seal and began to read the +missive, stretched at ease in his chair. + +But he did not remain so, for hardly had he perused its contents than he +got up, and his face grew suddenly pale under its cosmetic. + +"Be kind enough to read that," he stammered, embarrassed, "the Emperor +writes an autograph letter to summon me to Vienna, and I am dismissed +from my post as district commissioner." + +"And in my despatch your successor is already nominated." + +"I do not understand it." + +"But I do. Now, my friend, you will have time to judge for yourself what +the comedy at the National Theatre is like." + +The ex-official pressed his hand to his brow. + +But as his Excellency took a pinch of snuff he said drily: "It is not a +puppy who snaps, but a big dog who can bite when he wants to. And he has +flown at you, my friend, that's clear." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +It was horribly hot and depressing at the "White Wolf" at Pesth, where +Raby had elected to stay. The atmosphere was mephitic and close, and in +the dusty inn parlour the flies swarmed uncomfortably, while outside it +was horribly dusty, as it is even to-day. + +No wonder Raby was glad to get out of it, and elected to take a stroll +in the direction of the wood outside the city, his head full of many +conflicting thoughts. + +Certainly, his plans for bettering the people were prospering. The +Emperor had recalled the easy-going district commissioner in consequence +of Raby's representations, and had appointed to the post an able and +strenuous, yet cold and reserved man, a wealthy landlord, who undertook +the office on account of the honour it conferred on its holder. Perhaps +what best qualified him for the post was, that he was not on intimate +terms with anyone in the neighbourhood. + +His first care was, in view of Mathias Raby's complaints, to suspend the +magistrate of Szent-Endre and his satellites, and to order a fresh +election of such representatives in that town, which meant a complete +clearing out of the old gang. Then the deposed notary would be either +compelled to show the new officials the bricked-up passage to the +treasure chamber, or, if he refused, the "pope" would reveal the secret +of the other entrance; this promise Raby had succeeded in extorting from +the new authorities. + +Once the treasure-chest was unearthed, the oppressed townspeople, whose +money had been wrung from them to fill that coffer, could be compensated +for their wrongs. What rejoicing would there not be when the poor +starving husbandman could receive back the four or five hundred gulden +unjustly extorted from him, and one could tell him that though it had +been reft from him unjustly, now his wrongs were redressed. What a +splendid mission for him who undertook it! + +Raby's soul revelled in the very thought of it: no sordid considerations +of selfish interest poisoned his joy, for he had renounced all personal +reward and only taken the work upon himself on the condition that he had +no share in the treasure when it was discovered. Legally, indeed, he was +entitled to such a share, but how much greater claim had he to be heard +if he was empty-handed in this affair! + +And if he rejoiced at the fulfilment of his aims, he, it must also be +admitted, felt a distinct satisfaction in the thought of revenge. The +great coffer held not only the secret treasure, but also the private +accounts which would make it clear which of the powerful officials were +concerned in the affair. The whole shameful story must then be brought +to light, and all, who up till now had pursued him with their malice and +mocked him to his face, must then stand as prisoners at the bar, however +high they had held their heads. + +Obsessed by these and the like reflections, our hero came to the edge of +the wood and there found stretched out before him the great waste plot +of land bordered with willows, which some hours before he had pointed +out from the window of the palace to his Excellency. The surveyors were +already working on it, taking measurements, and staking out the ground +where the first foundations for the new building should be laid. + +All at once Raby's reverie was disturbed by someone addressing him. He +had not observed how the man who spoke to him had come up, but then he +had of course as much right as Raby to walk there. The stranger appeared +to be a worthy Pesth citizen; he wore the Magyar dress and had the +consequential air of a man who cannot learn anything from other people, +however wise they be. His short curling moustachios lent his face a +genuine Magyar expression, but of Hungarian he apparently understood not +a word, but expressed himself in bad German. Raby answered the "Guntag" +of the stranger politely. + +"Does the gentleman happen to know what the surveyors are planning +here?" asked the new-comer. + +Raby was naturally ready to satisfy worthy curiosity. + +"That," he answered, "is a great hospital the Emperor is erecting. A +building we much need," he added. + +And they talked of various other things, in the course of which it came +out that the new-comer was a pork-dealer in Pesth, whereupon Raby opined +that he had the honour of speaking to a member of the famous "Guild of +pork merchants." But this new friend talked of many things beside his +own trade. + +They had now come to the winding path which led along the side of the +wood, but the stranger's fund of conversation continued to be apparently +inexhaustible. He mentioned, among other things, that he preferred this +walk because the road was not yet made. Since it had been the fashion to +have the roads in the city paved, he said, he no longer cared to walk in +the streets. The whole paving scheme had been a hobby of the present +burgomaster, who, as everyone knew, had been a German shoemaker, and had +only introduced paving-stones so as to give the German shoemakers +preference over the Hungarian bootmakers, for since they had had +pavements to walk on, people naturally wore fewer boots, for you only +need shoes for the paving stones. + +It was not long before the two reached the little inn, which stood there +even then for the refreshment of travellers. + +"What do you say to turning in for a glass of beer?" asked his +companion, "you get a capital brand here." + +Raby answered that he did not drink beer, whereupon the pork-dealer +pressed him to touch glasses with him, and promptly drew out his purse +as a proof of his readiness to pay the reckoning. But Raby insisted that +he only drank water. + +"Well, if that is the case," returned his fellow-wayfarer, "you cannot +do better than have a glass; the water here is of unusual excellence. +Just wait here, and I will go in and get some beer for myself, and send +you out a glass of water. It comes from the famous Elias spring; there +is no such water in the world." + +Raby gladly assented; tired and thirsty as he was with his walk, he +longed for just such a refreshing draught. + +So into the inn the good man hurried, but he soon reappeared, followed +by a neat little waitress bearing a wooden tray with a large pewter mug +of water on it. The girl looked at him while he drank, with her innocent +blue eyes, so that Raby hardly noticed, as he returned her scrutiny, +that the water left a curiously bitter after-taste in his mouth. When he +set the mug down, he observed that there was a white sediment at the +bottom of it. + +Rather scared in spite of himself, he asked the girl if there was +anything in the water. + +"I don't know," she answered, "if so, the gentleman who has just gone, +put it in." + +"Has he gone?" + +"Yes, he went out by the back door. He did not even wait to take the +change which I brought him." + +The man was no pork-dealer, but a hired assassin. Raby had been +poisoned, that was clear. The trees already had begun to dance before +his eyes, the blue sky became blood-red, and his feet refused to carry +him, while his head was so heavy, it felt as if it would burst. He had +not even the strength to stagger as far as a sedan-chair, but bade the +inn people carry him back to the "White Wolf," which they promptly did +in terror. + + * * * * * + +Had not poor Boske been there, Mathias Raby's history would have come to +an untimely end with that glass of water. + +The servant-girl was the only one who had the presence of mind to give +the patient some warm milk, and then tickled his throat with a feather, +so as to induce violent vomiting, while she applied hot fomentations. + +But in spite of her care it was needful to send for a doctor. Yet it was +not so easy to find one, for physicians in those days were few and far +between, and there were, as a matter of fact, but two in the whole city, +the municipal doctor and the town leech, and neither would come when +sent for. The municipal practitioner maintained that the law did not +allow of him seeing patients out of their own houses. The town +physician again found his excuse in the plea that he could not interfere +in cases which had already been referred to his municipal colleague. + +So there was no one to look after Raby, since neither doctors would come +to him, even though his life was in danger. Thus for fully +four-and-twenty hours the poisoned man had no other assistance than that +rendered by a poor servant-maid. For only on the evening of the +following day, when it was getting dark, did a surgeon from Pilis +appear, who, it had fortunately occurred to Raby, was likely to answer +the summons. + +He set about curing his patient immediately, but he bound Raby on his +honour not to say a word as to who was treating him, otherwise it would +be ruinous to his professional career in the town. It was only through +the urgent prayers and tears, he said, of a good woman, that he had come +to do what he could for the sick man. + +As a matter of fact, the kind-hearted surgeon had to leave the city in +consequence of having succoured Raby in this way. But it was ten weeks +before the patient fully recovered. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +During those ten weeks, Raby had abundant leisure to reflect on the +riddle these events presented. Who had thus attempted to poison him? Was +it the offended councillors who had thus intrigued against him, some +jealous courtier who had a grudge against him, or his own fugitive wife? + +But all that time, except the surgeon and Boske, not a living soul +knocked at his door to see him. + +His enemies were, of course, countless, but it was just as certain that +he had devoted friends. Where was his uncle, and Abraham Rotheisel, and +the Servian "pope"; where too the grateful crowd of poor people that he +had befriended? + +Over and over again too did he inquire if this or that one had yet +called, but Boske always answered that visitors had come only when the +gracious master was asleep, and she had not dared waken him, or that the +doctor had ordered that no one was to disturb the patient. + +"And why don't you let people come in and see me?" asked Raby +querulously of his nurse. He was so cross that at last she lost +patience, and told him plainly that during the whole course of his +illness, not a soul had been near. + +But Raby would not believe it; it was impossible, and he asserted she +was lying and trying to deceive him. + +Which remark so upset poor Boske, that she burst into tears, and, in her +own justification, admitted that people shunned him on purpose, that +they were afraid of him, and spoke all imaginable evil of him. Nay, was +it not true that everyone was saying he deserved to lose his head for +being a traitor to his own country? + +The simple maid-servant had only spoken the truth. Her master was, as +she had hinted, virtually an outlaw, and his name was by all, from their +Excellencies to the shoemaker's apprentices, only mentioned with hatred +and scorn. But Raby, incensed, was so indignant at Boske's well-meant +candour, that he gave her notice then and there, and paying her a year's +wages, refused to have her any longer in his service. + +Thus it was that Raby dismissed his faithful domestic who had simply +told him what men said of him, and now he was absolutely alone in the +world. + +As soon as he had fully recovered, he set out for Vienna, but this time, +in a wine-freighted barge which was to be towed by horses to the +capital, for he was too weak to stand the tiring journey by road. They +took eight days to reach their destination, and the fresh air did much +to restore his shattered health. By the time he reached Vienna, Raby +looked quite himself again, save that he was much thinner than of old. + +He related all that had befallen him to the Emperor, who advised him not +to bring the crime home to the culprit, as if it came before the courts, +he considered Raby's cause would be ruined. Thereupon, he furnished him +with directions of all kinds, and gave him _carte-blanche_ to take his +own line in all disturbances that might arise. + +When Raby came back to Buda, he wore armour under his coat, for this +time his mission would be no jesting matter, that was evident. + +In pursuance of the Imperial instructions, when he arrived at Buda, he +handed the new district commissioner the Emperor's orders, and it was +duly signified to the prefect of Szent-Endre, that the court of inquiry +would meet on a given day, but in the prefecture. + +At the same time, the Szent-Endre magistracy and their underlings were +to be dismissed, and new officials were to be elected in their place. +That choice of fresh functionaries might be made in due order, a big +military force was held in readiness in case of disturbances arising. + +When the order to quit came to the officials, the prefect hurried to +find the notary, who was so angry that he forthwith broke his best +porcelain pipe, and flung his cap down on the table in a rage. + +"It's all up with us," admitted the prefect to his crony. "Now they +will go ahead, and the enemy will spoil us utterly. The new district +commissioner doesn't know his place, he did not once say, 'Your humble +servant,' when I went to see him. All I could get out of him was that he +was 'going to act conformably to instructions.'" + +"That's well enough, if we knew what the 'instructions' were. But it's +the soldiers I don't like, with Lievenkopp at their head too." + +"But, surely, he is an old acquaintance." + +"Yes, that's just the mischief of it. He knows a great deal too well the +ins and outs of my affairs." + +"I know he has had loans at one time or another from your worship." + +"But unluckily he's always paid me back. Hardly a fortnight ago, he paid +me up to the last ducat. I never dreamed an officer would remember his +debts so accurately. I wish he had forgotten them! The world is going to +the dogs, that's plain. And then just think what the commissioner has +said. That he, in consequence of the denunciation of this +good-for-nothing fellow, will insist on a strict search, not only in the +Town Hall, but also in your house and mine. They will go from top to +bottom in the prefecture." + +"They can ransack my place as much as they will; they won't succeed in +ferreting anything out. They will never find the great coffer; I can +answer for it." + +"With you perhaps they won't succeed; you hide your savings so well. +But they are bound to scent out my chests." + +"Why, how can they know anything of them?" + +"How can they know? Don't be a fool! Just remember, Fruzsinka, doesn't +she know?" + +"Do you think she told Raby?" + +"Not Raby, but Lievenkopp. I heard her with my own ears as she was +wandering about one day in the maze with the captain, whom she wanted to +marry her. That is why she told him all about the coffer and what it +contained, so Lievenkopp knows all. But they can pounce upon the old +contracts which are in my possession and want to know how I procured the +money which, when I came here, I took for certain pledges left with me. +And if they convict me?" + +"We can easily prevent that; hide your chest so none may find it." + +"That I know without a fool telling me. But whom can we trust? All these +men here are knaves, anyone of them to whom I trust my treasure will +betray me directly he knows that a third of the money legally belongs to +whomsoever informs against the owner. If I bring the money here, someone +will see it, and know where I have hidden it. The whole world is full of +spies. We are the only two honest men in it, friend Kracsko." + +"Don't you trouble, I'll hide your little savings effectually for you. +Good! Well, go home, and come back soon with an empty box under your +cloak, so that everyone can see you are carrying something. Thus no +suspicions will be aroused when you go away again." + +Mathias Kracsko did as he was bidden; he went off, and returned shortly +with an empty municipal cash-box under his cloak. + +Mr. Zabvary had his own box ready, sealed not only at the lock, but at +the four corners. + +"Here it is. Hide it away by all means, and directly the commission is +off our track you can restore it to me again. And give me your written +promise to give it me back as soon as I ask for it. For it's a sad +world, and we are the only two honest men left in it." + +So the notary signed the document, tucked the chest of savings under his +cloak, and hid it carefully away. + + * * * * * + +Mathias Raby was taking his way to Szent-Endre to attend the inquiry +into the municipal scandals. On the road he met his uncle, who appeared +to be looking for someone. + +"Halloa, uncle! what are you waiting for?" + +"I'm waiting for you, nephew, to have a talk with you. Remember, it's +some time since we met!" + +"Surely, uncle, that is not my fault," exclaimed Raby, "considering that +you never once crossed my threshold during my illness." + +"No, indeed; small chance of doing so, seeing that every time I came, I +found a heyduke before your door, who told me that only the doctor was +allowed to see you." + +"A heyduke!" cried Raby in amazement, "why who could have placed him +there?" + +"That was just what I asked him, and he told me the municipality had +done so." + +"But what does the municipality mean by planting a heyduke before my +door? And why did not Boske tell me?" + +"Because the good soul had only one idea in her head--as sweet +simplicity ordinarily has. She wormed out of the fellow why he stood +there, and he told her he was ordered to look after a maniac inside, +whom, if he tried to go out, he was to seize and bind. Had Boske told +you a man was waiting for you then, nervous and feeble as you were, you +would have sprung out of bed and had a hand-to-hand fight with him, and +he would have bound you, weak invalid as you were, and carried you away +to the mad-house, whence you were not likely to get out again. So Boske +was silent." + +"And I was so angry with her. But now we are good friends again, aren't +we?" + +"To be sure we are. But what shall we do with the others?" + +"With my enemies?" + +"No, with your friends! You can always be even with your foes, but your +friends are another matter. The heads of the magistracy have not been +idle during the ten weeks you were ill. To-day you appear with the +imperial orders to elect a new municipality in Szent-Endre. Yet you +will see that the folks here will choose exactly the same lot again." + +"That surely is impossible!" + +"Unluckily, it's not at all so. The mob whom you befriended, have been +clearly bought over by the magistracy, who have not spared their wine +for the last three weeks to convince the townsfolk that the present +municipality are the best set of men going. They have befooled the +peasants into believing they won't have to pay tithes next year, and +blackened you in their eyes, so that the whole town is enraged against +you. They say you have come to 'rectify' the taxes, and instead of the +six thousand gulden it has paid up till now, Szent-Endre will have to +yield thirty thousand, and that is why you trouble about their money +matters." + +"But all this is surely midsummer madness!" + +"My dear fellow, the mob believes everything it is told, if it is only +dinned into its ears often enough. You will see for yourself how popular +feeling has changed towards you since you were last in Szent-Endre. Take +my advice, and don't allow yourself to be seen in the town before the +military arrive. But I know you will go your own way in spite of it!" + +The old gentleman was right. Anyone else would have profited by such a +warning, but it made Raby only more keen for the fray. + +"I must be on the spot," he answered; "and that soon, for I must have +some talk with the people before the others appear, so good day, +uncle!" + +"Well, adieu, but come again soon!" + +So Raby hastened on to Szent-Endre to the big market-square, where the +forthcoming election was to take place. On the way, he noted many +suggestive signs, showing which way the wind was blowing. The +shopkeepers who lounged at their thresholds withdrew indoors directly +they caught sight of Raby. Some acquaintances whom he met retreated to +the other side of the street as if they had not seen him. + +In the square, a large crowd had already assembled. In the front ranks +Raby recognised many old friends who often had interceded with him for +the grievances of the common folk. Formerly, such men had hastened to +kiss his hand; to-day they did not even raise their hats, and when he +spoke to them they only ignored his greeting. One man to whom Raby +stretched his hand, actually shook his fist at him, and answered the +question he put in Hungarian, in Rascian. Evidently no one here wished +to understand Magyar. In vain did Raby try to address them, the crowd +only interrupted him with loud shouts, accompanied by threatening +gestures. + +His uncle was right, the mob had wholly changed, and by now believed +that Raby had bought over the town for the Emperor. They yelled noisy +acclamations as his enemy, Kracsko, came across the market-square, +hailing him as their benefactor and the defender of their rights. So +Raby thought the best thing was to go home and postpone his speech till +the commission should formally cite him to appear before them. In the +court he could have his say, and there he would have witnesses to +support him. + +So he went back to his deserted house to think over the situation. + +Whilst he paced through the empty rooms, he suddenly caught sight of +something sparkling on the floor. It was a metal button which had fallen +between a crevice in the boards. He picked it up, and it awoke memories +of Fruzsinka, for it was to one of her gowns that it had belonged. He +remembered so well the one; she had worn it that day when she had thrown +her arms round his neck and besought him not to sacrifice his own and +her happiness to an ungrateful people. Had he listened to her, perhaps +she would have remained a good and true wife to him, and peace and +happiness would have blessed his married life. Now it was all over and +done with, and there without the mob was howling for his destruction. + +He threw the button out of the window, hastening to do away with such +souvenirs. + +Presently from the market-square burst forth that indescribable murmur +which rises from a distant crowd. The minutes seemed hours as he waited. + +At last a trampling of hoofs was heard; it was a lieutenant with an +escort of half a dozen dragoons come to conduct Raby to the court. + +"The magistrate, the notary, the councillors, are all re-elected," was +the news they came to announce. + +Raby was much annoyed that they should send an armed escort for him. + +"I can find the way by myself, and am not afraid of anyone," he said, +and with that he took his documents under his arm, and set off to walk +to the Town Hall. + +His self-possession impressed the crowd who silently made way for him. +Besides, they stood in a wholesome awe of the dragoons who were drawn up +in the market-place. + +Raby entered the court-room where the commission was sitting. It was +intolerably warm, and he could have fairly swooned as he entered the hot +oppressive atmosphere, yet his strength of mind conquered his physical +weakness and steeled his failing nerves. + +He began by making a formal and solemn protest against the way in which +the election had been conducted, but it was not listened to. + +Then the district commissioner read out Raby's protest and asked the +complainant to formulate his grievance. + +Raby laid his documents in order at the other end of the table, where +they had prepared a place for him, and began to state his case at +length; he quoted his documentary evidence, and promised to call +witnesses for the prosecution. + +It goes without saying that his statements did not pass unchallenged by +those most interested. + +After the case for the prosecution had been thus stated, the examination +of its witnesses followed, but these were not so satisfactory as they +might have been. + +None could tell much about the great treasure chest, except that they +had heard such an one existed, but they had never seen it, and only knew +of it by hearsay. + +Finally, no other evidence for the prosecution being forthcoming than +the incriminating bills and the collected taxation-accounts, it was left +for the municipality to justify themselves. + +For the defence of the officials collectively, the notary was called +upon to speak. + +In the whole of his discourse, however, there was not a single word of +justification of the officials concerned, or any refutation of the +impeachment; it consisted solely of a violent torrent of invective +against Raby, who, according to his accuser, was a sorcerer who had +dealings with the devil, a bluebeard who kept seven wives, a +revolutionary who incited to revolt, to say nothing of being a +highwayman who robbed harmless travellers. In short, there was nothing +bad enough for Raby, whom, finally, he denounced as a vampire who was +robbing the poor folk of their trade and fattening on their +labours--this last an indictment which fell rather flat, in view of poor +Raby's attenuated appearance, for he looked little more than a skeleton. + +And so it went on, the heap of vile calumnies growing as he proceeded, +yet their victim listened with a smiling face, for Raby was really +rejoicing in the absurdity of this collection of impossible +impeachments. + +But there is nothing that annoys an uneducated angry man more than +ridicule from his opponents. And the more he raged, the more did it +visibly excite Raby's mirth. + +Suddenly the features of the notary became distorted and his face turned +livid, while his discoloured lips foamed and his eyes nearly started +from their sockets, as the man he was vilifying continued to smile at +his traducer unperturbed. At last the notary dealt his master stroke. + +"And what think you of this, worshipful sirs, I tell you that he has +actually boasted to the prefect that he has not only played bowls with +the Emperor, but that he has constantly put on his Majesty's +gold-embroidered coat and walked about in it. What say you to that?" + +At this, the crowning accusation, Raby could restrain his mirth no +longer, and he burst out into a peal of hearty laughter which +reverberated through the hall. + +But at that sound, the speaker suddenly was silent, as if a shot had +struck him, his mouth remained open, but his head sank back, and his +eyes rolled till only the whites showed themselves; for an instant a +spasm convulsed him, then he fell back--dead! + +The laugh had killed him, as surely as if a bullet had been lodged in +his heart. + +They seized him and dragged him out into the fresh air, believing it was +only a swoon, but in vain did they endeavour to restore life: it was all +over with him. + +When they were convinced that the notary was indeed dead, their despair +knew no bounds. + +But most of all was Mr. Zabvary quite desperate; wringing his hands, he +wailed: "Kracsko, Kracsko, do not die till you have told me where my +treasure is hidden. Wake up, I say, and tell me where you have put my +little money-chest." + +"But our big one," moaned the magistrate, "where's that? Haven't I +always said that if only one man knew, and the devil carried him off, +what should we do? Fetch a doctor, a surgeon, some of you. He must live +till he tells us where the great treasure-chest is." + +But no earthly aid could avail them for the man they called on lay there +dead, and he had hidden the treasure so effectually that no one would +ever find it. + +The despairing survivors ran fuming with wrath back into the court-room. +"Murder, murder," cried Zabvary as he rushed on Raby. "I am a beggar, I +have been robbed! Hang the murderer who has killed the notary." + +"Not quite so fast," exclaimed Captain Lievenkopp, placing himself +before Raby. "There are others here as well you might hang." + +"That's the man," shouted Zabvary, shaking his clenched fist at Raby. +"String him up at once!" + +Whereupon the district commissioner rose and insisted on a hearing. + +"It is quite true," he said, "that the notary died in consequence of Mr. +Raby having laughed at him during his speech, but our law does not +reckon laughter as an instrument of manslaughter. I advise you not to +lift a hand against this gentleman, for whoever does so, will be taught +by the military to respect lawful authority. Now be off home with you!" + +This appeal to armed force effectually quelled the malcontents, who +sulkily beat a retreat. + +The district commissioner turned to Raby when they were alone. "We must +prorogue the inquiry till all this has blown over. But if you, Mr. Raby, +will take my advice, you will leave this town as soon as possible, and +will place yourself under Captain Lievenkopp's protection till you get +away." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +After the foregoing experiments, it was time for Raby to seek for +exterior means to attain his purpose, and he determined to extort an +avowal from the Rascian "pope," who alone now knew the hiding-place of +the great coffer, and if this was revealed, the whole intrigue could be +unmasqued. The heaped-up treasure and large number of bonds, which +represented a large amount of money, constituted irrefragable proof +against the guilty. + +It was to this end that Raby sent for the "pope" to come and meet him at +Pesth. + +This time our hero did not alight at a frequented hostelry, but put up +at an inn where the country people were wont to go, and chartering a +room there, only went out at night. + +But none the less had his enemies ferreted him out, without his having +the slightest suspicion that two or three spies were on his track +wherever he went. + +One morning, Raby was able to write to the Emperor and tell him that the +"pope" was ready to present himself in Vienna, and divulge all, as soon +as he received direct instructions from his Majesty. He read the +missive to the "pope" before sealing it up, so that the good man might +approve of it throughout, and carried it himself to post, so that it +should pass through no strange hands. Then he invited the ecclesiastic +to dine with him, taking care to provide that worthy's favourite +national dishes, a savoury Paprika stew and the Servian "Csaja." + +As they sat there doing justice to them, who should come in but Judge +Petray. + +It was surely some unlucky chance which led Petray to Raby's table. + +They exchanged greetings with a certain amount of embarrassment, and +Petray's contemptuous tone in opening up the conversation (which Raby +had willingly avoided), was not lost on the other. + +"Well met, friend! I beg pardon for disturbing you, but you are the very +man I wanted to see," said Petray, as he sat down beside them. "Yes," he +went on, "about that letter which you have written to the Emperor." + +"What do you mean?" cried Raby, beside himself with astonishment. + +"Why, you know well enough that the municipal council has forbidden +complaints to be formulated to the Emperor regarding any matter +affecting its internal regulations." + +"But who can possibly know what my correspondence contains, I should +like to know?" + +"Well we happen to know, because we intercepted the letter at the +post-office, you see." + +"What, you have dared to intercept my correspondence!" cried Raby +enraged. + +"Yes, and what's more, we have opened the letter and read it, and have +submitted it to a committee of inquiry." + +"But this is an unheard-of insult!" exclaimed Raby, rising from his seat +in uncontrollable anger. + +"Oh, you are getting angry, are you? I guessed you would be, when you +heard it; that's why I begged your pardon when I came in. But it doesn't +alter the fact that I am sent to arrest you in the name of the +municipality, on a charge of treason against the authorities, and am +ordered to commit you to prison forthwith." + +Petray said all this in such a jesting tone, that the "pope" who had +kept his seat at table, imagined he was simply joking. He poured out a +glass of wine and offered it to the judge, saying as he did so: + +"Here have done with your jests, and drink this, your worship; no one +believes what you are saying! Come, let us toast one another!" + +The "pope" was a vigorous, dignified looking man in the prime of life, +with a round rosy face. He beamed again with benevolence as he pledged +the judge. + +Yet Petray did not take the proffered glass, but stiffened himself and +stood in a judicial attitude, with his hand on the hilt of his sword, +while he said in a stern tone: + +"Here there is no matter for jesting, I am sent by the Pesth County +Assembly to arrest Mr. Mathias Raby as a criminal, wherever I may find +him." + +And with that he stepped to the door and pushed it open. Without, stood +half a dozen heydukes armed with swords and carbines and the town +provost. + +At the sight of them, the "pope" turned suddenly pale; his rubicund face +became a ghastly grey, his hairs seem to bristle in terror. There was a +rattling sound in his throat, and then he fell back senseless on the +floor in an apoplectic fit. In vain they strove to revive him. He was +dead! Fright, or rather the apoplexy had killed him. And as he was the +only living soul who had known the secret of the buried treasure, his +death forbade the entrance ever being discovered. + +Yet Raby had not seen what had happened, for as soon as ever Petray had +opened the door, the provost had immediately arrested him with the +threat that if he did not yield, he would be put into irons. + +Raby simply answered that he would not oppose armed force, and that he +put his trust in a Providence that would bring truth and justice to +light. And with that they marched him off, and led him down out into the +street. + +Before the gate stood three coaches. They made him take the front seat +in the first, and placed two guards opposite him with their swords +pointed against his breast. The others followed in the remaining +vehicles. So they drove through the streets of Pesth till they reached +the Assembly House, where Petray ordered Raby's conductors to "obey +orders." + +So they proceeded to "obey orders." First they loosened his +silver-hilted sword from his side, took his purse and gold watch from +his pocket, drew the signet ring from off his finger, and searched him +from head to foot. In the breast-pocket they found the passport of the +Emperor, commanding that Mr. Mathias Raby should pass unmolested +wherever he went. The provost read it through with a mocking laugh. Then +he brought out fetters, rivetted them on his prisoner's hands and feet, +opened a narrow iron-barred door, and without further ceremony, pushed +him into "cell number three." + +From that moment they called Mathias Raby with justice, "Rab Raby,"[1] +for does not "Rab" mean in Hungarian, a prisoner? + +[Footnote 1: I cannot but help feeling that the sudden death of the +"pope" in this last chapter will strike the reader as a somewhat bold +license, even for the novelist, seeing how closely it follows on that of +the notary. I am aware that as romance it could not be justified, but +seeing that this is a true story which I am telling, I cannot do +otherwise than follow the facts however extraordinary they may appear, +seeing they are set forth in the hero's own autobiography.--(AUTHOR'S +NOTE.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +Nine feet long and six wide was the underground cellar wherein they had +plunged our hero. + +In this space, a select company was already assembled, eighteen +individuals all told. And Mathias Raby now made the nineteenth in the +already overcrowded cell, and how he was to find a place there was a +knotty problem. It was lucky that the window over the door was not +filled with glass, but with an iron grating, which let in some air. + +As a matter-of-fact, this cell was the best in the whole Assembly House, +as could be testified to by old Tsajkos, the eldest of the prisoners, +who was now quartered here. He was an old acquaintance of our hero, by +the way, and Raby had often provided the old man with tobacco, a luxury +which the prisoners were not allowed to smoke, but might chew, if they +could get it. + +Nor was Tsajkos long in recognising the new-comer. He limped up to him, +rattling the heavy chains he wore on his legs, and clapped Raby on the +back in greeting, while the other occupants of the cell looked on in +wide-eyed amazement. + +"So you have come to it at last, have you, my young friend? Now who +would have thought the likes of you would ever have tumbled into this +company? Why, I've always known you to be a well-brought-up fellow, who +never eat an apple that was not peeled. What can they have against you, +I should like to know? 'Not guilty' may do well enough up above there, +but you know as well as I, it does not do down here. Folks don't come to +a place like this for nothing, we all know that! Now tell us what it +is." + +Disgust and repulsion almost choked Raby's powers of speech. He covered +his face with his hands. + +"Come now, none of that sort of thing! We want no blubbering here. Don't +disgrace the company. If you want to cry, be off to the women's prison; +we know you've got two wives already there!" + +At this, the whole crew yelled with hoarse laughter. + +"Aha!" exclaimed a voice from the furthest corner. "So that's the +celebrated husband, is it? Well, I can tell you what he's here for; the +women themselves told me, and they had it from the heydukes; he is a +spy." + +At these words, the whole band were roused to sudden uproar. "A spy! a +traitor!" they yelled in chorus. "He'll strangle us at night. Let's +squeeze the life out of him now." + +"Be quiet, all of you," cried old Tsajkos, as he thrust the crowd back. +"You don't know what you're talking about. Stop your barking and listen +to me. He may be a spy, but he only betrays the gentry, and he'll never +turn on us poor folk. If a great lord robs or steals, he's down upon +him, but never on us." + +"That's another matter," shouted the rest. "Then we'll be friends with +him." + +And Raby had thereupon to submit to the rough greetings of his new +comrades in misfortune. + +"They are not a bad sort," remarked Tsajkos, and he proceeded to point +out each individual member of the crew to Raby, specifying which was a +horse-stealer, and which a highwayman, identifying as well the thieves +and incendiaries among them. Most of them, however, it turned out, were +murderers. + +To Raby the whole thing seemed more and more like a ghastly dream. Yet +his five senses warranted its reality: the low vault of the cell which +surrounded him, the fierce criminal faces of the prisoners, the clinking +of the fetters, the dirty grimy hands that grasped his own, the damp, +mouldy odour of the dungeon, the taste of the brackish water from the +prison well that the old man handed him to revive him--all these things +warned him that this was no dream, but a grim reality from which he must +find a speedy means of escaping. + +He looked round, but his companion misconstrued the glance. + +"You are wondering how you will manage to get forty winks here, eh, +comrade? Yes, it's a difficult matter, I warrant you; all the places +are taken, and each one has a right to his own. Unless Papis will let +you have his corner for the night, I really don't see how you are going +to manage it." + +"Why not, pray?" exclaimed a voice from another corner. "Of course I +will, if I get well paid for it!" + +Papis was a gipsy felon, already pretty advanced in years, his +complexion wrinkled and tanned like parchment, yet his hair was quite +black, and his teeth shone like ivory. + +"Bravo, Papis!" cried the old man, while the lithe gipsy crawled between +the others and grinned at Raby. + +"Don't have any fear, Papis," said Tsajkos, "the gentleman will pay you, +sure enough; he has no end of money. How much do you want for your +place?" + +The gipsy did not hesitate. "A ducat a day," he retorted promptly. + +Raby began to enter into the humours of the situation. He reflected a +minute on the proposal. + +"That is not much, after all," he said politely. + +"Ah, you are the right sort, you are," cried old Tsajkos. "I only hope +you'll be long with us. You shall just see what a good place we'll make +for you against the wall with no one on the other side, and my knees can +be your pillow. We can't do feather beds down here, or even run to +straw, but one sleeps soundest on the bricks after all." + +"But where will Papis sleep himself?" + +For all his own misery, Raby could not repress the question. + +The whole crew burst out laughing. As soon as they had stilled their +mirth, the prisoners looked at each other embarrassed, and then at their +leader to explain. + +The old man smiled slily. + +"Where will Papis sleep? Why, in the bucket, to be sure, up above +there," he answered. + +Raby looked up, and saw from the roof two chains hanging, through the +links of which two poles were thrust, and on these hung the great bucket +in which every evening the prisoners had to carry the water needed in +the kitchen of the Assembly House above. + +They showed him how Papis got up. One of the prisoners seized the little +gipsy by the legs and hauled him up to the roof, after which, Papis took +the cover off the bucket, crawled inside, and disappeared from sight. + +Raby was still more astonished. + +"But how can the man sleep in that pail?" he asked, puzzled. + +Everyone laughed, but quickly suppressed it, and all looked again rather +sheepish. + +Tsajkos patted Raby's cheek patronisingly with his greasy hand, and +cried, + +"Bless my stars! what a simple greenhorn it is; Papis will sleep sounder +to-night, thanks to you, on a comfortable bed." + +"How may that be?" + +"I'll whisper it in your ear. He will leave this place this evening on +your account." + +"On my account, how can that be?" cried Raby astounded. + +"Ay, sure enough, and come back early to-morrow morning again." + +"Why, how is it possible?" + +"That's not our affair. All that matters is he will come back. He does +this whenever some poor devil has a message to send to anyone outside. +To-day Papis will do it for you. Do you want to send a letter to anyone? +Have it ready, and he'll see they get it. And what is more, you can +trust him with gold; he'll bring back what you give him, even were it a +hundred ducats, all safe and sound. The Emperor himself has no more +trusty courier." + +Raby's head began to whirl. How if he should take this means of +informing Joseph of his present situation? + +"Yes, but how can I write a letter?" he exclaimed anxiously; "they have +not left me a single morsel of paper, or even a pencil-end." + +"Ay, you shall have any amount, only turn your head away, and don't look +where I get it from; we don't want new-comers to learn these things all +at once." + +The prisoners were already bent on widening their dungeon by breaking +through the roof with implements which Papis had procured for them. They +had removed first one stone and then another from the roof, and each +night and morning the stones were laid back in their places, in order to +arouse no suspicion, the clefts being hidden with bits of bread, and the +breach carefully strewn with mortar dust. The warder would thus not +notice it. In the cavity from which two of the stones had been removed, +they kept the more dangerous implements required for the work, and +likewise the writing materials. + +A table was also improvised for Raby. At a sign from the old man, one of +the prisoners, a broad-backed fellow, placed himself on all fours in +front of him, so that Raby could make a desk of his shoulders. + +"To whom is this letter addressed," inquired Tsajkos. + +"To Abraham Rotheisel, in the Jewry," returned Raby. + +"It will be all right. Take it, Papis!" + +The little gipsy stretched his arm from under the lid of the bucket, and +seized the letter. + +How he was ever going to get out with it was a mystery which Raby did +not pretend to fathom, but the gipsy clambered down again from his +hiding-place. It was growing dark. + +The prisoners prepared a sleeping-place for Raby in a corner, spreading +a bit of old sheepskin on the floor, so that he might not find it too +hard. + +When the guard was changed at six o'clock, and the great outer gate was +closed, a rattling of keys was heard without, and the gaoler came into +the dungeon to visit the prisoners and bring them their food. He came +first to Raby, tested the fetters on his hands and feet to see if they +were fast and then handed him a piece of black bread. + +But the new-comer did not feel hungry and threw it away. + +While the gaoler tried the fetters, two prisoners hauled the bucket +down, and the gipsy slipped into it under the lid. + +Then the two men took the poles on their shoulders, and accompanied by +an armed warder, their chains clanking as they went, marched to the +well, Raby wondering the while how Papis was feeling during this +expedition. + +He had leisure for reflection, for he did not get a wink of sleep the +whole night; how indeed could he close his eyes in this horrible place? + +He had full scope for his imagination, for he knew every nook and corner +of the building, so familiar to him since his boyhood's days, from the +great council hall to the dainty little parlour, where the +spinning-wheel had hummed its well-remembered song. Only up till now had +the subterranean part remained unexplored ground to him; now he had had +the chance of seeing it for himself. How long was he to remain here? +That was the question. It was certain the Emperor would take steps to +free him, once he had his letter. But it would take at least four days, +two there and two back, and a day more for Rotheisel to convey the +missive to the Kaiser. Full five days therefore he would have to spend +in that frightful hole. But what would have been his thoughts could he +have foreseen how long his captivity was to endure? He would surely have +dashed his head against the wall in despair. + +At last day began to break, and the rattling of keys and the gaoler's +footsteps were again audible outside. One night had gone! + +Then the orders for the day were given as to which of the prisoners were +to sweep the court, and which to carry water. + +Two of them thereupon lifted the bucket again on their shoulders, and +off they went, their fettered footsteps echoing along the corridor. +Those left had now more room, so they stretched themselves and tried to +sleep once again, for it would be some time before the others returned +to the cell. + +It would soon be the hour for the gaoler to come again on his rounds, +and Raby began to dread lest he should note one of the party were +missing. But none were wanting. When the roll was called, the little +gipsy rose from a corner where he had apparently been huddled up, and +showed an abnormally distended grin on his brown face. + +Directly the gaoler's back was turned, the gipsy wriggled up to him and +produced from one side of his mouth a many folded note; from the other a +roll of fifty ducats. No wonder he had grinned so broadly. He lay both +in Raby's hands. + +Raby could fairly have embraced the mannikin, repulsive as he was. The +note, however, contained nothing more than these words: "To-day, steps +will be taken," and by the side of it, the cipher which represented +fifty ducats. Moreover, not one of the latter was missing. + +How in the world had the fellow managed it all? But this demands another +chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + +That a prisoner should break bounds in the evening, return again the +next morning, and be present each time the roll is called, with fetters +properly rivetted on hands and feet seems, humanly speaking, an +impossible feat to achieve. + +But Papis was quite ready to tell how he had managed it. While the +gaoler had been occupied with testing the fetters of each prisoner, he +had crawled noiselessly into the bucket which stood close at hand. In +the half-dark cell no one could have noted his disappearance. + +When the examination was over, two prisoners lifted the bucket and +carried it to the well, which was one worked by means of a pulley, the +chains which let the bucket up and down clanked, and the axle creaked so +loudly that under cover of the noise, and unseen in the tub, Papis could +strip off his fetters, for there were no rings too narrow for the pliant +gipsy to draw his hands and feet through. Then the carriers removed the +lid of the receptacle and began to fill it from that of the well-bucket, +taking care the while that the heydukes could not see there was anything +else inside. They had of course to pour the water over the gipsy, and +as it came up to his chin when the bucket was full, he held his missives +tightly between his jaws. + +The two prisoners then carried it into the assembly house, where it was +emptied into a water-tub. If a maidservant happened to be lounging in +the kitchen by any chance, the two men would deliberately frighten her +away by their foul talk. The water-tub stood close to the mouth of an +oven; whilst the two others transferred the water from the bucket into +the tub, the gipsy slipped away as nimbly as a squirrel into the oven, +clambered up the chimney, and waited there till the coast was clear. + +As soon as he heard the pass-word shouted from the guard in the +courtyard below, he knew that it must be ten o'clock. So he clambered up +out of the top of the chimney on to the roof of the Assembly House, as +far as the gable-end. In the yard of the building stood an ancient +pear-tree, which the governor would not cut down, as it bore an +excellent crop of pears every year, although it was obviously dangerous +in the neighbourhood of prisoners. Papis swung himself dexterously from +the roof on to this tree, whose branches jutted out over the two fathoms +of wall which shut in the court towards the street, that had now to be +scaled. + +But the returning was a more difficult matter than the setting out in +this case, for Papis had not only to break out of prison, but the next +morning to break in again, which is a different matter. + +And this was how he managed it. The pear-tree had a great hollow in its +trunk, and in this a rope-ladder was hidden; this, the gipsy wound round +an overhanging bough, laid himself flat on the edge of the wall, and +waited till the guard, who patrolled the space below, had turned his +back. Then he let down the ladder, and slid along it into the street +below. + +But this would doubtless have been seen by the sentry the next time he +passed by, so to obviate this peril, the cunning Papis fastened a string +to the other end of the ladder. As soon as he reached _terra firma_, he +threw the ladder back. The dun-coloured string which fell down over the +wall no one was likely to notice in the dark. + +By the time the sentry had returned, the gipsy was in the neighbouring +street. From there it was easy to reach the Jewry direct, and find the +way to Abraham Rotheisel's. + +He returned by the way he had come up the ladder over the wall, over the +pear-tree on to the roof, through the chimney into the kitchen of the +Assembly House, and into the bucket again, and so back into the dungeon. +When the gaoler came for his morning rounds, Papis lay fettered hand and +foot in his accustomed place. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + +Abraham Rotheisel hastened to Vienna as fast as the lumbering diligence +could carry him. He lost no time in presenting himself before the +Emperor. + +Before long, the courier was on his way back, furnished with a document +which the Emperor had signed and sealed himself, after he had heard of +the dismal situation in which Raby found himself. + +This important missive soon found its way to the governor. + +"Eh, what is this?" demanded his Excellency, as he recognised the +superscription and private seal of the Kaiser. He was just in the act of +dictating to his secretary, so put the imperial missive into a basket, +which was filled with documents of all sorts, and went on with his +dictation, pacing up and down the room the while. + +He was just trying to finish, when the district commissioner entered +without any announcing. + +"Has your Excellency received a courier from his Majesty?" he asked +abruptly. + +"I have." + +"What does he say?" + +"How should I know?" + +"Where is the letter?" + +"Where all the others are." And he lifted the cover from the basket and +pointed to the collection within of yet unopened correspondence. + +The district commissioner raised his hands with a little deprecating +gesture, as he whispered anxiously: "But your Excellency, these are in +the Emperor's handwriting; they should not lie here; they are urgent, +surely?" + +His Excellency looked at the speaker as a fencer measures his +antagonist. + +"Urgent, are they?" + +The district commissioner looked puzzled. + +"Your Excellency," he began, "this affair is not done with. His Majesty +has sent a second letter to me by special courier, and I have read it. +He orders me in it to come to you immediately, and express the gravest +disapproval that Mathias Raby, notwithstanding the imperial safe +conduct, has been made a prisoner and placed in the dungeon of the +Assembly House, among the scum of convicted criminals. I am to take care +that he is released, and that he is allowed to defend himself as a free +man without hindrance." + +"That procedure won't be according to our laws." + +"Perhaps not, but in view of the accusation brought against Raby, his +Majesty orders that he be detained in a place of confinement more +befitting his rank and calling." + +"That shall be done," said his Excellency, and therewith he rang the +bell. + +The lackey answered it, and he gave him the order: + +"Go at once to the Assembly House at Pesth, and tell the lieutenant he +is to wait on me immediately." + +Then he turned to his interrupted dictation as a sign his guest could +go. + +An hour after this, Mr. Laskoy was announced. He had come to represent +the Council, as the latter was engaged over the vintage. + +His Excellency looked ready to eat his visitor. + +"What is all this foolery in the dungeon of the Assembly House, pray? Is +this the way you keep order? Mathias Raby has only been imprisoned four +days, yet already the Emperor has had a letter from him, telling him all +about the thieves' den where he is shut up. Could you not manage things +better, and fetter him so that he could not write a letter, even if he +had pencil and paper?" + +Mr. Laskoy stammered and stuttered and lamely excused himself, and +finally got enraged, and vowed to himself he would soon find a way out +of this business. + +He tramped back to the Assembly House, and after a short confab with the +gaoler, new arrangements were soon made regarding Raby. + +Among the underground vaults was a cell where wood was kept, but this +was hastily turned out. The little vault had an iron door, with a tiny +air-hole in the middle, so small it could hardly be seen, and the door +could be locked fast. A more fitting place for Raby could not be found. + +Our hero had already passed four days in the company of criminals, and +was counting the minutes and hours till the Emperor's orders should +arrive which were to free him from this frightful hole. And now the time +as it seemed had come. + +He was eating his supper of rice soaked in water--the usual prison +fare--when they came to fetch him. But they only rivetted shorter +fetters on his hands and feet alike, led him down into a deeper vault, +and thrust him into a cold, dark, mouldy cellar, wherein not a single +ray of sunlight, nor the sound of a human voice could penetrate. + +Yes, this was a worse place than that he had longed to escape from. +Above there, they might be evil men, but at least they had had human +faces. Their words had been hateful indeed, but they had been human +voices that uttered them. + +When they clanged the door behind him, and the cold, dark, deathlike +silence closed around him, Raby lost consciousness. + + * * * * * + +In the afternoon the district commissioner again called on his +Excellency, who was engaged in his favourite game of billiards. + +"Dare I venture?" began his visitor. + +"It is all right. Raby is transferred into another cell. Now just watch, +my friend, what a good shot I shall make." + +"Yes, but perhaps they've put him in a worse one still?" + +But his Excellency was looking after his ball, for he knew what he was +about at billiards, and scored heavily. + +The next day the district commissioner went to the Assembly House to +investigate the sort of cell Raby had been removed to. But when he could +not find it, and moreover, could, by no means whatever obtain from the +officials where the prisoner might be housed, he went again to the +governor to demand an explanation. + +This led to recriminations between the two functionaries as to the +respective limits of their jurisdictions, and they parted on very cool +terms. + +"I don't envy his next visitor," whispered the secretary to one of his +colleagues, "whoever it is, he won't get a warm welcome." + +And sure enough, one was just then announced. + +The governor was busy writing to the Kaiser, and he resented this +intrusion. + +"Excellency, it is a petitioner," ventured the secretary timidly. + +"Send him to the devil, then!" + +"But it is a young lady, Excellency." + +"I don't want any young ladies here. What the deuce does she want with +me, I should like to know?" + +But the secretary whispered a name that caused the angry governor to +spring up hastily, and ask: + +"What is she doing here? Has anyone come with her?" + +"Excellency, she is alone." + +"Alone? Let her come in, then." + +It is easy to guess who the stranger lady was. She wore her ordinary +morning-gown, just as she had slipped out from her household duties, +without anyone knowing, but in her blue eyes lay woe unutterable. + +And it was only with those same eyes that she spoke; not a word did she +utter; not a gesture did she make. She sank at the feet of that hard +man, and seized his hands in both of hers, and hid her face and wept at +his feet. + +"Come, come, this won't do, little one! I can't have tears! Now, child, +tell me" (he was her godfather), "what brings you here alone? How if +anyone met you in the street? What is it? What is the matter? Can you +not say a word? Shall I have to talk instead? Shall I guess what it is +you want? You come here on behalf of that scoundrel, Raby, eh? Nay, +there's no dungeon deep enough for him, the rogue, the graceless knave, +the good-for-nothing that he is----" + +But Mariska--for it was she--suddenly pressed both hands over the +speaker's mouth to stop his denunciations. + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed his Excellency maliciously. "So you've come in +case I am treating him too harshly, have you? Never mind, he shall +carry fifty pounds weight of chains on his feet before we've done with +him." + +But at these words the poor girl pressed her hands to her heaving breast +in dumb entreaty, and her breath came in short gasps. + +"Come now, don't cry, it's all right," whispered the stern old man, as +softened by her grief, he kindly drew her to him. "Foolish child, were +you really so fond of him? There, there, rest easy, we will deal gently +with him. Eh? if you go on like this, I shall want to throttle the +fellow outright. Silly child, can't you forget him? Ah, Raby, you may +thank your stars you've got such an advocate, otherwise the Emperor +himself hadn't been able to help you." + +His visitor uttered a little smothered cry of joy: + +"My dear, good, kind godfather!" she murmured, as she covered the horny +hand with grateful kisses. + +"Why, how pleased she is! Silly child that you are!" + +He rang the bell, and a secretary appeared. + +"Sit down and write thus: + + "'TO THE LIEUTENANT OF THE PRISON. + + "'By this present, I instruct your worship that you + cause the noble prisoner, Mathias Raby, to be released + from the cell where he at present is confined, freed + from irons, and be forthwith put in a place of + honourable custody befitting his rank, till his trial + takes place.' + +"You will take the letter immediately to Pesth, and you will remain +there till you have seen with your own eyes that the prisoner is +transferred to proper custody, and further, will say, that I, myself, +shall follow in half an hour's time to see whether my orders have been +executed." + +The secretary hastened away to fulfil his commission. + +Mariska was beside herself with joy. + +"So my foolish god-daughter is satisfied at last, is she? Go back to +your pastry-making, for I want some cakes badly. Yet no more tears, +please! But come back with me," he added, "and I'll take you home. When +your father hears you've been to me to plead for Raby, he'll be mighty +angry. So you had better let me take you back and smooth it over for you +at home. But I tell you, you must promise to put the fellow out of your +thoughts! No, no, I'm not going to say anything against him; for pity's +sake let's have no more weeping. Rest easy, no harm shall happen to him. +He'll soon be set at liberty, and go back to Vienna, and then he'll +cease to trouble us." + +The girl's only answer was a deep sigh. + +His Excellency led his god-daughter downstairs, and placed her in the +coach which was waiting for them. And little Mariska returned home in +state. + +Janosics, the castellan, met his Excellency at the gate of the Assembly +House, and bareheaded, bowed low before him. + +"What about the prisoner, Raby?" asked the governor shortly. + +"He is already conveyed to number three on the first floor, your +Excellency," was the respectful answer. + +His Excellency nodded, took his companion by the hand, and led her +indoors. + +Tarhalmy knew nothing, and was astonished beyond measure at seeing the +governor with his daughter. + +"I'm bringing your little deserter back," said her god-father, +jestingly. "Don't be angry with her! Judge the case for yourself; she +came upon me unawares with her cause, and who could withstand such +pleading, eh?" + +The head-notary now understood. Father and daughter looked for a minute +at each other, then the girl threw her arms round his neck. + +He kissed her forehead, and whispered: + +"You were the only one who could do it!" + +It was a consoling word for her. Yes, if everyone else in the world had +the right to persecute and vex the prisoner, she, at least, had the +equal right to protect and console him. + +She said nothing, but ran away into the kitchen. + +Their guest could hear that outside a hen was being killed, and guessed +what was going forward. He stopped on chatting with Tarhalmy, so that +Mariska should have time to fulfil her kindly task. When she re-entered +the room, after half an hour's absence, her face was red, as if she had +been standing over the fire--or was it some deeper cause? Her +god-father patted her cheek, and promised to come again, as he took his +leave. + +But he would not permit his host to accompany him, for he wanted to go +and see the culprit for himself, so he made his way to cell number +three. + +It was a pleasant spacious room, with two beds in it, as well as other +furniture. There was no one else in it but Raby. + +He was seated at the table, and eating a freshly cooked fowl, which he +seemed to be relishing mightily. + +But when the governor entered, the prisoner rose, and was evidently +anxious to show a brave front. + +"Your humble servant," murmured his guest, as he looked round the room. +"Well, is your worship content with your new quarters, pray?" + +"As far as any man who is innocent of the crime whereof he is accused +can be content with his prison," answered Raby. + +"Ah well, that will be proved at the trial. But at least as long as the +affair lasts you are well lodged here, I hope. Also you have something +to eat, I see, and some clean linen." + +"I fancy my former serving-maid must have brought it for me from home. +She was a very devoted servant." + +"Oh, you think it's she, do you? Well, there are other devoted people in +the world who remember Mr. Raby's needs, I fancy, as well. Books too, I +see, and well-chosen ones. Well, there's a difference between this and +your earlier lodging at any rate." + +Raby felt the blood mount to his head, but he would not betray his +resentment. + +"My arrest was a wholly unjust one," he said bitterly. "If no regard is +shown to the Hungarian nobleman, at least, the imperial mandate should +be respected." + +"So you think that the turn for the better your affairs have taken is +owing to the Emperor's intervention, do you?" + +"I am convinced that his Majesty would not allow his devoted servant to +perish," answered Raby. + +"You are right in what you say of our illustrious sovereign; he is, +indeed, gracious. You soon found means, it seems, of advising the Kaiser +of your situation. I admire your promptness! The Emperor did not lose +time either; yesterday, early, I had his despatch in my hands." + +Raby's cheeks grew red with indignation. + +"And why, then, in spite of this, was I yesterday afternoon cast into a +far worse dungeon than the one I was taken from--a cold, dark hole, +where I fainted." + +"Yes, I know all about it. But I suppose you know what happened to the +Emperor's letter?" + +And his Excellency brought out of his pocket, the imperial missive, with +its great seal still unbroken, and held it out to the prisoner. + +"You have not even opened it!" + +"No, nor are any of them opened when they arrive. And I tell you +plainly, that all you write to the Emperor from here avails nothing. If +you have anything to quote from the Hungarian laws in your defence, do +it, and justify yourself. But every effort to act independently of those +same laws is worse than useless. It means only lost time and trouble, +and only rivets your fetters more closely. But at any rate your +captivity is bearable." + +Raby shook his head, and as the door closed on his guest, he buried his +face in his hands. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + +One morning there was an unwonted stir in "Number 3" cell. Some women +came in to scour the room and fleck away the cobwebs. Moreover, they +placed a fine silken coverlet over the second bed, and the warder came +and fixed a nail in the wall. A new prisoner was expected, they said. + +Raby was naturally curious to see what his room mate would be like; nor +had he long to wait. + +About eleven of the clock, arrived the expected captive; they could hear +him talking as he came along the corridor, and noted how the gaoler +kissed his hand respectfully, as he opened the door ceremoniously for +him. + +It seemed to Raby as if he had seen his face somewhere before, but he +could not remember where. The new-comer had his hair carefully powdered +and dressed in the fashionable cue, and he wore his rather +fierce-looking moustachios stiffened in the Turkish fashion. His dress +was, however, distinctly Hungarian, for his green coat, variegated hose, +and gold-laced boots were all in the prevailing Magyar mode. + +The heydukes who accompanied him all seemed at his service. One drew +out his pipe from a large leathern case, a second handed him his +snuff-box, a third his pocket-handkerchief, whilst yet another spread a +bearskin by the side of his bed, and set out bottles and boxes of +cosmetics in a row. The stranger appeared quite oblivious of the +presence of another person in the room, and comported himself as if the +whole Assembly House had belonged to him. + +The worthy Janosics evidently thought it time to repeat his instructions +to the captive, so that he might recognise his limitations. + +"May it please your worship, the prisoners are forbidden to smoke," he +said obsequiously. + +But his worship, ignoring the observation, remarked with a lordly air: +"If the tobacco runs out, just cut me fresh, will you, Janosics? But +don't leave it to the heydukes, they don't understand it as well as you +do. Good tobacco, mind, and don't let them bring inferior. My cook must +have my orders," he went on, but the castellan interrupted him +respectfully: + +"May it please your worship, the prisoners' meals consist of pudding +three times a week, and meat three times, with vegetable broth on +Fridays." + +"My cook, I say, must have my orders," went on the other, not heeding, +"and must make me fish-soup on Fridays, and I must have my wine sent in +at once." + +"May it please your worship, the prisoners are not allowed to drink +wine." + +But his protest availed little, for the new-comer proceeded airily: + +"And please, Janosics, see that the wine is well re-corked once it has +been opened. And take care there is some fresh water in the wine-cooler, +as well as plenty of it for washing." + +Then he looked round him. "Tell my cook to provide two covers; I don't +like eating by myself, and don't want other people to look on while I +dine." + +"The gentleman here is on invalid diet, and has light meals served from +upstairs," said the gaoler. + +Raby turned his back on the new-comer; he did not want him to think he +troubled his head about him. + +"Never mind that, let the dinner be served for two, I tell you, and +there will be all the more over for those who want it." + +"May it please your worship, the prisoners must go to bed at eight +o'clock every night, and make no noise, for the deputy-lieutenant lives +just overhead." + +"All right. But, Janosics, you must not let the prisoners go clanking up +and down the corridor with their chains; the noise gets on my nerves, I +can't stand it! Now you can go, and if I want anything, I'll just knock +on the door, so the guard had better be on the alert. But let them take +care to wipe their boots before coming in." + +The gaoler and heydukes blundered out of the room, and the new arrival +turned to look at his companion. He appeared a jovial sort of person, +and to be very genially disposed. + +"So it is Mr. Mathias Raby after all," murmured the stranger with a +smile. + +Raby looked sharply at him. "You have the advantage of me," he said. + +The new-comer laughed slily. "Ah, I recognise you well enough, but +perhaps you don't remember me, though we have met before?" + +Raby had to admit that he had no such recollection. + +"Ah, that's because I was--well, differently dressed, perhaps, yet it is +so, I can assure you, and what's more, I spoke four words to you, +although you have so short a memory for them." + +And the speaker sat down and began filling his pipe and lighting up for +a smoke. + +Raby in vain sought for a solution to the mystery. After the smoker had +taken a couple of pulls at the pipe, he went back to where our hero sat, +and planted himself on the window-ledge letting his legs dangle, while +his spurs rattled. + +"Is it possible they didn't tell you who the prisoner was that was to +share your cell?" he asked. + +"I did not even ask," admitted Raby, "who it might be." + +"Then I will tell you--his name is Karcsataji Miska." + +"Gyongyom Miska?" + +"Don't make a mistake!" pursued the highwayman, "and think I let myself +be taken: I am here solely through my own fault. It's a strange story, +I'll tell you more about it later, I can't talk on an empty stomach!" + +And thereupon, he took out a big flask of brandy from a case, and +produced some glasses and white bread, and called upon his companion to +join him. + +But Raby stood coldly aloof. He could not forget that before him stood +the man who had so cruelly wronged him, the man who had been the chosen +lover of Fruzsinka! All the manly pride of his nature revolted at the +thought. Yet he could not help a feeling of satisfaction that the man +for once had been judged on his deserts, and what those were, Raby knew +only too well. But that his rival should be thus sharing his prison and +partaking the same fate--this was indeed a strange turn for events to +take. + +When dinner-time came the highwayman knocked on the wall for the +heydukes, who promptly responded to the signal, and hastened to serve +quite a luxurious meal, but Raby excused himself on the score of his +dining at a later hour. His host did not press him, but so vigorously +tackled the good fare, that soon the dishes were cleared completely. + +Raby, the while, had leisure to meditate on the course events had taken. +It gave an exquisite edge to his misery to be penned up in the same room +with a man he hated. + +Yet such a man, since he was still keeping up apparently his relations +with the world outside, could help him vastly, and would be a better +prop to rely on than the gipsy-carrier: he had simply to give letters to +the heydukes, and they would deliver them as bidden. Yet his better self +revolted at the notion of being helped by Karcsataji, for, in his inmost +soul, he had nothing but the bitterest contempt for this highway robber, +who had been the lover of Fruzsinka. No, he would receive no favours, +were it liberty itself, from such a hand! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + +As soon as Karcsataji had finished his meal, he turned to Raby. + +"Are you inclined for a chat, Mr. Raby?" he said, as he lighted his +pipe. "Because if you are, this will be our chance to discuss the world +in general, and our own corner of it in particular." + +"I am all attention," answered Raby coldly. + +"You will be still more so when you hear my story, I fancy. We two are +companions in adversity (only you have got over the worst of it), since +we are both the victims of a worthless woman, curse her!" + +"I will not curse her," said Raby quietly. + +"No? Then you are a man out of a thousand, but I am only of very +ordinary clay, I fear. And I am not the only one she has fooled. If I +mistake not, Petray is also in the same boat. But the fellow can talk as +well as I can ride--which is saying a good deal. And it is that precious +tongue of his which bewitches the women. Yet I have more to complain of +than you, I consider. She took refuge under the wing of Petray, and +meantime the fatal letter she had written to me was intercepted, in +consequence of which Lievenkopp and you both challenged me to a duel +near the old Zsambek Church. The end of it was that Petray, as soon as +he heard how matters stood, let the lady know some home-truths, so that +for sometime they lived as man and wife, though leading a cat and dog +life. At last my lady became sick of this honey-mooning, and one fine +day she left Petray and came to me." + +Raby buried his face in his hands and groaned. How could he endure this +talk? + +"You need not bear me a grudge," said the other. "Know, by that time I +had given up robbery, and would have buried my ancient feud with the +law. I was seriously thinking about setting my house in order, and I +told my old companions to come no more to see me, and promised, if they +were in need, I would send out supplies to them in the forest. I was not +going to be 'Gyongyom Miska' any longer, for I had made up my mind to +reform my way of life. Then it was that your runaway wife fled to my +protection. You were well rid of her, yet how many times I have cursed +you in thought. I knew it was a deadly sin to take another man's wife. +Small wonder that Fruzsinka brought me nothing but ill-luck. I gave her +to understand from the first, that I was changing my life, and I set +about building a church in our village, moreover I repented of my sins, +fasted, and did penance and abjured my old evil ways. But easy as it is +to befool women-kind, it is difficult to deceive them, if we want to get +rid of them. Their suspicions are so easily aroused. If I were Emperor, +I would trust the police-espionage to women. She began with +intercepting my correspondence. Good heavens! what an experience I had, +and I thought she would tear me to pieces. So angry was she that she +left me, and I naturally concluded she was going to be reconciled to +you." + +Raby ground his teeth. + +"I know now that she was not. She began to work me further mischief. Do +you know, that to her I owed the denunciations which were shortly +afterwards, from some mysterious source, made to the ecclesiastical +authorities against me, of blasphemy and sacrilege, and though the +charges were true enough, I am sorry to say, I did not reckon in +expiating my past sins so sharply. For it was on these very charges that +I was arrested by order of high ecclesiastical dignitaries and condemned +to two years imprisonment; and many a thaler has it cost me already to +avoid being put into irons." + +At these words he blew into his big pipe-bowl so energetically, that the +sparks flew up and illuminated his face in the darkness with a strangely +sinister light. + +"And now, friend Raby, who has the greater ground of complaint, you or +I?" + +He did not wait for an answer to his question, but began to curse away +furiously for some minutes with a virulence terrible to hear. When he +had finished his round of imprecations (and it was no limited one), he +threw himself on his bed and fell asleep. + +As for Raby, he pondered long and deeply all he had heard about his +faithless wife, and once more she seemed to be spinning beside him, yet +there was a grim satisfaction that others had suffered beside himself. +Was he not avenged on the highwayman at last, seeing that the biter was +bitten! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + +The Emperor sent urgent orders to the governor to set Mathias Raby free +immediately, so that the inquiry into the Szent-Endre frauds, +established on his accusation, could be brought to an end. + +The letter was laid by with the rest, as usual, unread. The governor +however hastened to answer that the orders would be executed in due +course--when the depositions of the municipality had been taken--an +explanation which satisfied the Emperor, who little knew what the "due +course" extended to. + +It really meant that the culprit Raby was brought out of his prison, not +to be freed, but rather to be fettered hand and foot. That is usual when +a prisoner is to be tried, and this was his first examination. + +In the presence of the whole court, and of the district commissioner, +they subjected him to an insidious cross-examination for fully four +hours, till he was ready to drop from sheer exhaustion. Only half of the +accusations brought against him would have sufficed for his +condemnation. + +Finally, he was conducted back to prison. He staggered into the room he +had left, but the gaoler called him back. + +"Oho, there, Mr. prisoner, that's not your cell. Those who wear irons +don't lodge there!" + +And he led him into a neighbouring cell whose door was furnished with +three massive locks, whilst the window was protected with iron bars and +a grating. The only furniture was a plank bed; of table or chairs, there +were none. The prisoner's books had not been sent in either. + +Although it was dinner-time, and he had eaten nothing, no dainty meal +awaited him, such as those he had been accustomed to, nor even was he +allowed the ordinary prison fare allotted to well-born culprits. A +heyduke brought in a great earthen pitcher with a crust of black bread. + +"Here you are, my fine sir," laughed the heyduke mockingly, but, as he +bent to set it down on the stone floor, he whispered, "The bottom comes +off!" + +Then he left him, carefully locking the door behind him. + +Now was Raby's wish fulfilled, he was rid of unpleasant company and was +alone. But solitude had been more welcome if they had allowed him his +books. As it was, he only had his own thoughts for company, and these +were not cheerful companions. + +Raby's soul was full of rage against the whole world, but most of all +was he angry with his own weak body that was so sensitive to hunger and +cold, that trembled at the thought of death, and felt the pressure of +its chains so keenly. Why could not he carry his body as defiantly as +he bore his soul within him? + +But he knew that he needed some support, therefore he began to eat +mechanically the black bread, but had it been the daintiest fare +possible, it had tasted all the same to him. Only when he raised the +pitcher to his lips, did he remember the words of the heyduke about the +"bottom coming off." He began to examine the pitcher, and presently, by +dint of close scrutiny, he found that it had a false bottom which +screwed on, and found a cavity in which was concealed a bottle of ink, +pen and paper. With them were some slices of cold meat, as well as a +note containing these words: "Fear nothing; the Emperor knows all. Your +friends will not forsake you. Write once more to the Emperor." + +Now he no longer feared solitude. The phantoms and fears which had +tormented him hitherto, vanished with the sight of pen and ink. A +written thought is a substantial friend. So he committed to paper all +that had befallen him, hid the writing again in the bottom of the +pitcher, and re-screwed it on. The meat, too, revived him, and the +consciousness that he was not left to his fate, and that he could still +communicate with the outer world, was strangely comforting. Who his +unknown friend might be, he could not conceive. It must be some one more +powerful than the weak girl whose part in this business his own heart +had already suggested to him. + +The next morning, in came the gaoler with the same heyduke, who carried +away the pitcher, and at mid-day brought him his rations as before. + +Raby could hardly wait till he had gone, to unscrew his pitcher. Sure +enough, he found some writing materials therein, and the money for +covering the fee of a special courier for his letter. His friends must +be wealthy people. + +He quickly hid all again, however, for steps were approaching his cell. + +The door opened, and three men came in, who proved to be Laskoy, Petray, +and the lieutenant of Szent-Endre. The latter handed to Raby the bill of +his indictment. + +The prisoner immediately handed it back to him. + +"It is not you who are the accusers in this matter, but rather I," he +said haughtily. "It is for me to impeach you, not the reverse. I refuse +to accept it." + +"Take care," cried Laskoy. "Weigh well the consequences of this +rejection. If you do not receive the indictment, we will soon tackle you +as a contumacious criminal." + +"I dare you to do it," returned Raby. + +"The man is a fool; he shall take it," cried Laskoy, beside himself with +rage. + +Raby folded his arms proudly, so that they should not force it on him. + +"Mr. lieutenant, witness that he will not take it and draw up a warrant +of attainder for contumacity." + +The lieutenant proceeded to carry out these instructions. + +"And while you are about it, certify that I threw the document out of +the room," said Raby, suiting the action to the word. + +This was an unheard-of audacity. The three men withdrew uttering violent +threats. + +After a time, in came the castellan with a very long face. + +"Now I would not give a cracked nut for your chances," he cried. "They +are going to pronounce judgment immediately. The executioner has been +told to hold himself in readiness for to-morrow. We have martial law on +our side, and the Emperor himself cannot gainsay it." + +These words caused Raby to think over what he had done. It was, of +course, only too likely that their legal right could be strained before +the Emperor had any chance of interfering; in this case, he would have +lost his head before the latter could prevent it. The thought tormented +him the whole night through. The strong soul in vain reminded the weak +body which held it that dying was not to be feared, but philosophy +availed nothing before the thought of imminent death. + +The next morning found the prisoner restless and wakeful. It was hardly +day ere he heard a number of footsteps approaching his dungeon. The iron +door was thrown open, and a whole crowd burst into his cell, the +magistrate and the lieutenant among them, whilst following them, came a +man he took to be the public executioner of Pesth. + +A sudden faintness overcame him; all seemed to swim before his eyes, +and he heard nothing of what they said. The man who looked like the +executioner began to undress and roll up his shirt-sleeves. Raby +imagined they were going to execute him in prison. The +forbidding-looking wretch then called for assistance, and bid them bring +him his tools. + +Raby heaved a deep sigh and folded his arms across his breast, whereat +the whole company burst out laughing. The tools which the man had asked +for were a hammer, a trowel, and a tub of mortar. He was, in fact, no +executioner, but an ordinary mason, who was going to block up the window +in Raby's cell which overlooked the street, and bore an air-hole in the +ceiling. They were going to shut out the prisoner from the outside world +altogether. Henceforth his cell would receive no light but what fell +from the tiny opening over the door which gave into the court, and was +darkened with a narrow iron grating. + +Moreover, from this day forward, Raby was subjected to daily +cross-examination, and every means was tried to entangle him and make +him contradict himself. + +The twenty indictments first formulated against him rapidly lengthened +to treble that number. And so it went on for a month, nor did they ever +succeed in incriminating him. But it was a painful process for the +accused. + +One day the gaoler brought a bird into Raby's cell, a magpie, who by his +chattering mightily cheered the captive. The feathered guest sat on his +hand, and pecked his finger in a playful way as if it had been an old +friend. And Raby stroked the soft plumage tenderly, and he guessed it +was Mariska who had sent it to cheer his loneliness which had become +well-nigh unbearable, and he welcomed it as a comrade. Whilst he +listened to it, as it sat on his hand, he would almost forget the irons +that fettered them, and would, on his return from the court each day, +whistle to his little friend on re-entering his cell. + +But one day there was no answer to his greeting; all was silent. Raby +sought for his pet in every corner of the cell, and at last found the +bird strangled, tied to the iron grating, killed by his enemies because +of the pleasure it had given him. + +Had Raby seen one of his own kith and kin dead before him, he could not +have grieved more than he did for this feathered friend. Nor did he get +any sympathy from the gaoler, who only laughed when he heard of it. But +Raby implored him not to tell Mariska of the fate of her pet. + +That official, however, promptly reported the whole affair to Mariska, +and took care to carry her the dead bird. Bitterly she wept over her +favourite, but remembering her father might see she had been crying, she +soon dried her eyes. + +But Raby must not be alone; that was the main thing. So she did not long +delay in sending another feathered pet, a titmouse this time, in a +cage, which she intrusted to the gaoler to carry to the prisoner, but on +no account to let him know who sent it. As if Raby would not guess! + +The warder placed the cage on the prisoner's bed, murmured some excuse +for bringing it, and left him. He did not see Raby fall upon his knees +before the cage in a transport of almost hysterical joy. And the little +bird soon became as dear to him as the magpie had been. + +But one evening, when he came in from the wearisome cross-examination +that seemed as if it would never end, lo, and behold, there lay the +titmouse dead in his cage. Someone had fed him with poisoned flies. + +Raby implored the gaoler not to bring him any more birds. Henceforth he +determined not to have these feathered friends sacrificed to him. + +All the same, he soon found another pet in the shape of a little mouse, +which, like himself, lived in captivity. At first it only timidly put +its head out of its hole, and glided shyly and warily along the side of +the wall; gradually, however, it perceived that the cell's occupant had +strewn bread-crumbs on the floor, and furtively yet nimbly it picked +them up. And by degrees it came nearer to the prisoner, and presently +ventured to run up his knees and dared to eat the crumbs that the +stranger hand held, and finally, in that same hand, sat on its hind +legs, looking at Raby with the most whimsical expression imaginable on +its diminutive face. + +Poor Raby! The mouse might well look at him; perhaps it wondered who +this haggard, unkempt man was, with the tangled growth of unshaven beard +and lank hair drooping over the hollow eyes, framing a pale, lean face, +disfigured by suffering. + +This was the beginning of their strange friendship. The mouse would +sport round him the whole day, or gambol about on his shoulder, and at +night, would, as he lay on his plank bed, watch him from the ceiling, +with bright, friendly eyes. Did Raby call to it, it would answer him +with a little responsive squeak, and try to gnaw the links of the chain +that bound the prisoner, with its tiny teeth. But did anyone enter, the +mouse would hurry back into its hole. + +But alas, there came a time when he had to lose even this humble +companion. One evening he missed him, and only found the poor little +beast dead in a corner--someone, apparently, having placed rat-poison in +its hole. What the prisoner's feelings were, words do not express; his +whole heart welled over with bitterness at this fresh proof of the +malice of his enemies. They were, indeed, evil hearts that could find +their pleasure in thus tormenting their victim. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + +When the points in Raby's indictment had mounted up to eighty, he +thought it time to make his protest to the presiding judge: + +"I am shattered in mind and body alike; I desire to withdraw the +accusation I have made, seeing it in no wise profits the oppressed +people in whose interests I lodged it, but rather tends to their further +hurt." + +"That avails nothing," was the answer. "The accusation has been +presented to the Emperor, and the complainant must justify it. Is the +treasure to which the impeachment relates, found, a third of it falls to +the informer; is the information thus lodged proved to be false, the +informer forfeits his head forthwith. So out with your proofs!" + +"Proofs? How can I furnish them I should like to know, fettered as I am, +from a dungeon?" cried Raby in desperation. "Are not all my documents in +the hands of my enemies? Have not the archives of Szent-Endre been +destroyed, and my private papers abstracted, so that I am denied all +means of procuring the proofs I need?" + +"How do you know that?" asked the judge, dumbfoundered. + +"I know it only too well. Nay, I know too, it happened at the +instigation of the authorities." + +"This is the gravest evidence we have yet had of your guilt," cried the +judge; "this shows you have held intercourse with the outside world, +although forbidden by the law to do so." + +"It only proves I am right," retorted the prisoner. + +"Pray who are your accomplices who helped you in your correspondence?" +demanded his accuser angrily. + +"No one and everyone body. The bare walls, the air itself, the iron +door, my fetters, my guards--all are my accomplices if you like to call +them so." + +"Well, we will just make your chains a little faster so you can't move +about quite so easily, my friend, that's all." + +"That avails you nothing," exclaimed Raby. "Their clanking sounds even +now in the ears of one who is your imperial lord and master, and will +shortly be here in his city of Pesth to sit in judgment upon you. Let +the guilty tremble before him, I have no need to do so." + +These bold words enraged the judge beyond measure. How did Raby know +that the Emperor was about to come to Pesth for the military manoeuvres, +and there review the troops in person. Did he know as well that the +Szent-Endre people were only biding their time to send a deputation to +the Kaiser to ask for Raby's release, and to demand an inquiry into the +conduct of the Pesth authorities in imprisoning him. It never occurred +to them that an ordinary water-pitcher with a false bottom held the +letters which Raby wrote and received, and that each heyduke who carried +it, was an involuntary courier. + +In vain did they interrogate the heyduke who brought it, and ordered him +to be beaten; for each stroke the man received, he was sent by some +unknown hand a gold piece, so he was not inclined to complain. + +When the Emperor did arrive in Pesth, the following August, he learned +with surprise that his emissary was still detained in prison. He +straightway sent for the head magistrate, expressed his displeasure, and +ordered Raby's immediate release on pain of all the authorities of the +city being dismissed from office. This was an order which had to be +obeyed. + +So forthwith in the Emperor's presence, the mandate was sent that +Mathias Raby be immediately released from custody. The command was +peremptory and admitted of no evasion. + +But the next night someone thrust under the door of Raby's cell, a note +containing these words: + +"Be ready this night! Your true friends are coming to fetch you away. +They will overpower the gaoler, take away the keys from him, and set you +free." + +"But it is evident," reflected Raby, "this is not from my friends; we +don't conduct our correspondence like this. They have heard the Emperor +has ordered my release, and now they want to convict me of trying to +escape by force." And he gave the letter to the gaoler. + +But, alas, it only made an excuse for a fresh inquisition, and they +based on it the pretence of "a plot against the public safety." +Moreover, it was held to justify a still more rigorous treatment of the +prisoner, who on this fresh charge of conspiring with bandits, was +declared to have merited imprisonment anew. And the inquiry which +followed lasted late into the autumn, whilst the Emperor was too much +occupied in his fresh war with the Turks to be aware of this new turn of +affairs. + +And Raby's fetters were meantime rivetted more closely than ever, so +that he could not write any more, and his wretched prison fare grew +worse and worse. The winter too had come, and the prisoner was well-nigh +frozen in his cell, for the dungeon was not warmed, and he had only his +summer clothing which was now in tatters. On his complaining of the cold +to the judges, they gave orders that Raby's cell should be heated three +times a day. + +The end of it was that they placed a stove in the cell which was so +violently overheated that it burst, and Raby had to press his face to +the wall in desperation to cool his scorched brow. Yet he could have +escaped had he chosen, for the door of his cell was often left open, as +if to abet his flight. But Raby, when he did leave prison, meant to +leave it proudly and fearlessly, as an innocent man who is rightfully +acquitted before his country's tribunal, not as a fugitive. + +One day the gaoler came in to say that permission had been given for the +prisoner to be shaved, and for his irons to be removed--a grace for +which Raby hardly knew how to be thankful enough. It was a deadly pale, +if clean-shaven face that the barber's mirror reflected, but small +wonder, seeing that Raby had not seen the sunlight for a year and a +half. This luxury was followed by an amelioration of his prison fare, +and fresh bedding, for both of which benefits, especially the last, he +was duly grateful, for it meant a good night's rest. + +However, that very night, Raby was awakened from his first sleep by a +tremendous rattling at his cell door, and the next minute it was burst +open, and the light of the full moon flooded his dungeon. The prisoner +thought he must be dreaming, but the same instant the cell was suddenly +filled by a band of masked men in Turkish attire, with huge turbans on +their heads, and armed with an array of weapons, including swords and +muskets. + +Raby was wondering in what language to address his strange visitors, +when one of them accosted him in Serb, and then Hungarian. + +"Fear nothing, Mr. Raby. We are true friends from Szent-Endre, and have +bribed the guard and occupied the Assembly House. We have come to set +you free from this wretched dungeon by the Emperor's orders." + +"But I do not wish to purchase my freedom by force," answered the +captive, "and if the Emperor wished to deliver me, it would surely not +be by masqueraders sent by night, but by his accredited emissaries in +the full light of day." + +"Here's the order signed by the Emperor," and the head of the band of +maskers handed Raby a document which contained detailed and definite +instructions anent the Szent-Endre affair, set forth in Serb, which was +the Emperor's favourite language. + +Raby protested against the idea of flight, but they overpowered his +resistance, and made a show of armed force. "Silence, or you are a dead +man," was their only answer to his protestations, and the prisoner, weak +and enfeebled as he was by his privations, and dazed by the sudden +surprise which had thus overtaken him, fell at last in a dead faint and +lost all consciousness. + +When he came to himself, he was dressed as a woman, in the coloured +bodice and embroidered apron of the Serb peasant girl, and his hair tied +with gay ribbons; it was for this, no doubt, that he had been shaven. + +Raby's entreaties availed nothing. In vain he implored them to desist, +and reminded them the military would be sent to overtake them, and then +all would be over! His representations achieved nothing with his +rescuers, and finally a rough, but powerful-looking fellow of the party +seized Raby and carried him off on his back out of the cell, followed +by the whole crew shouting and howling. The inhabitants of the Assembly +House must have been stone deaf, had they not been aroused by the +tumult. The band dashed in the moonlight through the court and gateway, +past the guard-room where four-and-twenty were wont to sleep, without +being questioned by a single soul as to their escapade. + +It was towards the Kecskemet gate that they hurried, as the likeliest +one to be open, so as to get off thus with least delay, and thence away +to the river-bank. + +At that time, communication with the other side of the Danube was kept +up by a so-called "flying-bridge," that was a work of art in its archaic +way, consisting of a flat raft-like contrivance, whereto was attached a +thick cable, which half a dozen small boats served to keep out of the +water. Behind the last boat, at the so-called "Nun's Ferry," below Hare +Island, the cable was fast anchored. Linked to this cable, the raft was +towed by a single oar to and fro. At night the ferry was not generally +used and the ferry-men were not there, but this time they were at their +posts ready for the expected passengers. The masked Turks took their +places on it without delay, and off they drifted. + +Poor Raby was trembling in every limb, principally from the bitter cold +of the December night, which, after his long confinement from the outer +air, struck his senses with the sharpness of a knife. Moreover, he was +not quite sure that these strange rescuers would not throw him +overboard into the river, to find there an unknown and unhonoured grave. + +However, they did nothing of the kind, but the party reached the other +side safely. There horses, ready saddled, awaited them, and a coach and +four. Three of the sham Turks sprang into the vehicle, and dragged Raby +with them. The rest mounted the horses, and they took the way along the +Old Buda road. + +One of the escort had the kindness to throw his cloak over the freezing +prisoner, the coach leading the way, the riders following. But gradually +the horsemen dropped off till, when they reached Vorosvar, not one was +to be seen. + +By this time the released prisoner had succumbed to the unaccustomed +strain on his already exhausted and overwrought nerves, and had lost all +consciousness of what was going on around him, so that he had to be +lifted out of the carriage in a swoon when they stopped at an inn. + +When he awoke from his stupor late the next morning, he was in a +comfortable bed. Only two of his late companions were to be seen, and +they no longer wore Turkish dress, but the garb of the well-to-do Serb +peasant, and, indeed, turned out to be respectable peasant-proprietors +of Szent-Endre. + +Yet neither their names nor faces were known to Raby. + +For the rest, his two guardians showed themselves full of consideration +for their patient. They procured him warm clothing, caused light +invalid food to be prepared for him, and begged him not to be too +anxious to try his strength with the journey. When Raby had sufficiently +rested, the coachman received orders to drive slowly, so that it might +not exhaust the traveller, and they set out again, not without many +misgivings from the fugitive as to whether they could not be overtaken +and their flight intercepted. + +One of his companions, who told him his name was Kurovics, besought him +to make his mind easy on this score. He pointed out how they would get +the start of the authorities before these could mobilise their forces. +Then no one knew of the disguise in which Raby had escaped; from the +description which the Pesth court would issue for his recovery, no one +would recognise him, so he had no cause for fear. + +They only made two stages a day, so that the journey to Pozsony (which +was their goal,) lasted eight days, through resting at the inns on the +road. His companions gave themselves out as pig-dealers, and said Raby +was their cousin. The third day they fell in with a party of armed +heydukes who were searching for their charge. They stopped the +cavalcade, and told them of their quest. At each wayside inn Raby could +read the notice which posted him up as a criminal and outlaw, for whose +identification a reward of two hundred ducats was offered. To his +relief, the description of him corresponded to the appearance he had +presented in prison, with an over-grown beard, tangled hair, and pale +face, wearing a faded silk coat. Little did his pursuers imagine that in +the shy Serb maiden, with her cheeks painted red, who understood nothing +but her native tongue, that the fugitive they sought stood before them. +More than once it even happened that Raby and his pursuers slept under +the same roof. + +Meantime, he became more and more attached to his two friends, whose +worth he began to realise increasingly. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + +The fugitives had only one more station to accomplish before they +reached the Austrian frontier, where the Hungarian jurisdiction ceased. +Was there trouble at the frontier over Raby's identification, at least +it meant that he would be taken to Vienna to prove it, and not back to +Pesth. + +They heard from travellers they met on the way that the Emperor was back +in the capital, owing to the army being in winter quarters, and +hostilities against the Turks being suspended for the time being. Raby, +thereupon grew more anxious than ever as to his possible reception by +the Kaiser, whose concurrence he still doubted in his forcible rescue, +though, by this, the Emperor had doubtless seen that his formal orders +availed nothing, and he probably thought it impolitic to use military +force to free his representative. + +It was revolving such thoughts in his mind, that Raby and his guides +came to the wayside inn where they were to pass their last night on +Magyar territory. It was a poor little "csarda," as such hostelries are +called in Hungary, between Pozsony and Hainburg, wherein only now and +again travellers passed the night, driven thereto by stress of weather. +The accommodation left much to be desired, and its reputation was none +of the best. It was whispered, indeed, that travellers had been murdered +and waylaid there, and even now the host was serving his term in the +Pozsony prison, where he was a frequent inmate. In his absence, his wife +looked after the inn. + +There was no proper sleeping-rooms, so the guests had to rest on the +straw thrown down for them in the public dining-room, where they forgot +their differences of rank as best they could, while the only light was a +single tallow candle suspended from the ceiling in a hanging +tin-candlestick. + +Laying about on the benches, or on the long table, were a crowd of +guests that included peasants and shepherds, pedlars and smugglers, +while the air was rank with odours of strong cheese, onions, and +tobacco-smoke. The hostess ministered herself to the wants of the +guests, and handed round the wine. + +It was among this company that Raby and his companions took their +places; as there was no other woman present among the travellers, the +hostess expressed some fear that the pretended Serb maiden would find it +somewhat uncomfortable. + +The two men thanked her, but said they would look after their sister, +and ordered a stewed fowl and some wine, for which the party paid in +advance. The water was too bad for anyone to depend on, so Raby had to +drink wine, which, unaccustomed as he was to it, soon made him feel +drowsy. + +In a few minutes he was fast asleep, with his head pillowed on his +folded arms on the table. + +His slumbers, however, were soon to be disturbed, for there was a loud +noise heard outside as of the trampling of horses and the clash of +weapons. The hostess said it must be a party of heydukes, and sure +enough it was. + +Now Raby had ceased to be fearful of discovery by these pursuers, as +from the description of him so industriously circulated, they could not +recognise him in his present disguise. Moreover, he had been carefully +shaven every day since his flight, and his face newly painted, the +better to sustain his role. + +But this time he had cause for anxiety, for the first voice he heard +without was a hatefully familiar one--that of the castellan, Janosics. +How did he come to be here, for they were now in the jurisdiction of +Pozsony not of Pesth. He heard the castellan giving orders for one man +to come in with him, and the other to remain with the horses. + +Raby stole a glance at the door which was half open. A cold shudder +seized him as he caught sight of Janosics wearing the Pesth uniform, and +carrying a carbine in his hand and a sword at his belt. + +Raby pressed his head down lower, so his face might not be seen. The big +sleeves of his bodice helped him to hide his features the more easily. + +"Up all of you fellows, and let me have a look at you!" shouted the +castellan. Those present immediately obeyed, and submitted to the +inspection. + +"The man I want is not here," grumbled Janosics, as he rapidly ran over +the assembled faces, but when he came to Kurovics, he laughed aloud. + +"Aha, Master Kurovics, so you are here, are you? What brings you out +this bitter winter weather, pray?" + +"Oh, we must look after our business you know," answered the other, +without the least embarrassment. + +"Where's your passport?" + +"What do I want with one? I don't cross the frontier." + +"Well," shouted the other, "what may you be doing here?" + +"Hush! not so loud," retorted Kurovics, with a glance at Raby. "I've got +my little cousin to look after." + +"Oh, that's the game, is it? Soho, I see; and a nice little baggage it +is, I'll be bound. Oh I don't want to wake her if she's tired." + +And the castellan sat down between Raby and Kurovics, and asked the +latter for a bit of his tobacco. Then he smoked, but always keeping an +eye on Raby. + +"Pretty, eh?" he asked, and he made as though he would raise the +coloured kerchief that half hid the sleeper's face. + +"Let her rest, Mr. castellan, I beg. She's wearied out with the +journey." + +"Well, well, let her be then, but you, hostess, bring us some wine, and +take some to the heyduke outside." + +"And what may you be doing in this neighbourhood, if I may be so bold?" +inquired Kurovics. + +"Oh, an important police-mission. A dangerous felon, the notorious +Mathias Raby broke out of Pesth prison last week, and the descriptions +circulated of him are not correct, as I could have told them had they +asked me. The fellow is not bearded as described, but he was shaved the +day before he got out, and had a face as smooth as any girl's." + +Raby felt as if the beatings of his heart would burst his bodice, as the +new-comer went on: + +"When I heard of it, I went to the authorities and told them the mistake +they had made, and offered to make it good by riding after the runaway +myself to see if I could identify him. And there are two hundred ducats +for the man who brings him back alive." + +"A nice round sum! I only wish I could find him," answered Kurovics. + +"I mean to take him myself," said Janosics coolly. "But hark ye, +Kurovics, is it possible that you yourself are leading my prisoner away +in a girl's garb? Just let me have another look at her." + +Raby would have swooned, only that the castellan was now smoking so +closely under his nose that he was nearly choked by it. He was on the +point of springing up and surrendering in sheer desperation; it was with +the greatest difficulty he mastered his feelings, above all his +inclination to cough, for raising his head would betray him directly. +And the suspicion too arose in him that perhaps, after all, his guides +were accomplices in a comedy which had for its _denouement_ the arrest +of the fugitive just as he was making sure of safety. + +"Now I must see her face," said Janosics, and Raby felt his enemy's +clammy hand laid on his brow. + +"Won't you look at me, little one? I can speak Serb quite well," sneered +his persecutor. And the castellan forcibly raised Raby's head, and +looked him in the face with a grin of malicious triumph. + +But just then the heyduke, who had been waiting outside, dashed into the +room in hot haste, crying excitedly, "Villam Pista is here!" With that +the scene was changed, and Janosics had to make way for a mightier +rival. The very name of the renowned robber-chief spread consternation, +and the carabineers, on hearing it, promptly threw their weapons away, +the better to run for their lives, while the whole company scattered +pell-mell, some out of the window, and others up the chimney, in their +hot haste to get off. There was no one finally left in the room but Raby +and his two companions, and the hostess. + +Outside, they heard some shots fired, followed by a feeble groan that +seemed to come from Janosics. Then the door flew open, and Villam Pista +himself entered, accompanied by two comrades, his rifle in his hand +still smoking from the recent shot. He was a fine-looking young fellow, +with no trace of beard on his smooth, handsome face. His bearing and +air showed that he was accustomed to be master of the situation wherever +he was. His dress fitted him admirably, a richly embroidered cloak fell +across his shoulders, on his head was perched a jauntily feathered cap, +and a short pipe was in his mouth. + +"They are a cursed lot," he cried, as he threw the weapon on to the +table. "But I've paid them out; they won't ride quite so merrily back as +they did in coming, I'll be bound. I'm sorry, however, the shot did not +finish them." + +Then he looked round the room. "Bless me, what a miserable light! Is +that what you call lighting up?" And he whistled to the hostess, who +hurried up with a dozen candles, and promptly placed them on the table +in as many sticks. + +Raby's companions had placed themselves before him, so that their +mantles rather screened him from the highwayman. But the latter spied +him out at once owing to his dress, and seizing Raby by the hand, he +dragged him out into the middle of the room. For a moment, they looked +each other steadily in the face, and Raby recognised in the +robber-leader, his wife, Fruzsinka! + +And thus it was that they met. But the supposed highwayman still did not +betray the situation. He drew Raby closer to him, and whispered hastily +in his ear, "Pretend you are frightened, and make your escape by the +door." + +Raby obeyed, and with a bound across the room, in a trice was outside. +Fruzsinka followed him, and grasped his hand in hers. + +"We have no time for talking. A whole gang of heydukes from Pesth is on +your track. Come away immediately; here are the horses of your +persecutors; up and ride for your life till you have left the frontier +behind you. Do not trust even your companions who will follow you, but +do not wait for them." + +And so saying, she helped Raby to mount, only he was so exhausted he +found it difficult to keep his seat, and was crying like a child. + +"Weep not thus, wretched man," she cried impatiently. "Shame on you for +your weakness! Why do you look at me like that? We have nothing more to +do with each other, you and I. But fly, and look not back, and beware of +ever setting foot in this accursed country again, for whose sake you +have made both me and yourself so miserable." + +While she spoke, she cast her cloak about him to protect him from the +bitter cold of the winter's night. + +Raby would have spoken one last word, but she cut him short by switching +his horse's flanks with her riding whip, whereat the animal bounded away +over the ground, where the snow already lay a foot deep. And the last +sound Raby heard from the "csarda" was the cracking of Villam Pista's +whip. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + +It really looked as if Raby's flight had been a predetermined affair, so +that allowing him to get off in woman's clothes, the authorities might +recapture him to lead him back to Pesth in triumph, more degraded than +ever in the public eyes, only that the appearance of Villam Pista +somewhat disturbed this hypothesis. + +Villam Pista, otherwise Fruzsinka, in fact, had learned from spies that +Raby had escaped from prison, having pitched her camp in the +neighbouring forest--a fitting abode for the half-crazed woman who now +lived at enmity with all the world, though she boasted that what she +robbed the rich of she divided among the poor--a sentiment which caused +the ten thousand ducats to be taken off Gyongyom Miska's head and set on +hers. But when she heard of the pursuit of Raby, her heart smote her +with pity for the man she had so cruelly wronged, who was now a +persecuted fugitive. + +With her companions she had lain concealed in the forest near the inn, +till the arrival of the Pesth heydukes warned her that the time for +reprisals had come--with what results we have seen. + +But she only learned in what disguise Raby had fled, when she saw him. +In an instant her plan was formed. The Pesth pursuers were all around; +if Raby escaped them, he would be taken at the Austrian frontier, where, +seeing the Hungarian trappings of his horse, they would relegate him to +the Pesth authorities to deal with. And meditating on this thought, she +re-entered the inn. "She has escaped me," she cried, "and has dashed off +on one of the heyduke's horses." + +"You don't mean to say my cousin has run away!" cried Kurovics +anxiously. And he made as though to follow the fugitive Serb maiden. + +"Not so fast, my friend," exclaimed the robber-chief, "besides you have +not told me your name." And she questioned the two closely as to their +antecedents--questions which they did their best to evade. + +"Well, by way of passing the time, suppose I teach you how to dance! +We'll just see what you can do?" + +And with that, the pretended brigand took out an axe from under his coat +and dexterously threw it at Kurovics, so that he jumped up nervously as +it fell with its edge close to him. + +But the noise of shots fired without, arrested these diversions. Villam +Pista did not stop even to pick up the axe, but snatching the rifle from +the table bounded out to face this new alarm. + +Outside there stood her horse, which quickly mounting, she shouted to +her followers who were awaiting her orders, and galloped away into the +night. The fresh party of heydukes, with this new enemy to run down, +forgot all about Raby (for on his head only two hundred ducats were set, +while it was a matter of ten thousand with Villam Pista). And that +chieftain was thinking that this delay would give Raby time to cross the +river, while the frontier guards' attention would be distracted by the +shots fired. Two of the pursuers at last succeeded in running down +Villam Pista, and in cutting him off from his comrades. + +They were closing upon him in a thicket, and no outlet remained. + +"Is it the ten thousand ducats you are seeking?" laughed their enemy +contemptuously, as she took two pistols out of the holster, and seized +the while her horse's bridle in her mouth. And just as the assailants +approached closer, the robber fired, aiming not at the riders, but at +their steeds. Both beasts fell, the one with his rider under him, the +other on his knees, so that the heyduke was thrown over the horse's +head. + +Villam Pista clapped his hands and laughed aloud. "Now you can overtake +my husband," cried the false highwayman, and for the moment the old +Fruzsinka asserted herself. + +Then she vanished into the thicket, the gathering fog hiding all trace +of her, even as might disappear some wild valkyr of the old legends. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + +Raby succeeded in crossing the frontier, the thick mist which veiled the +moonlight favouring his escape. The shame of the situation nearly killed +him. To be freed by a woman masquerading as a robber-chieftain--and that +woman his wife! His wretched spouse had done him many wrongs, yet this +one, although intended to benefit him, smote him as with a lash, and the +memory of her last words stung him to the quick. + +But he had by this reached the adjacent river, whose waters were not +sufficiently frozen over to bear the weight of both himself and his +horse. So he had to dismount and leave the animal behind, and then cross +the ice on foot as best he could. + +This was undoubtedly better than arriving at the Austrian frontier on +horseback, for a woman riding alone at that time of night would +certainly arouse the suspicions of the Austrian officials, and they +would probably escort him back to whence he came. So he dragged himself +to the first wayside inn he could find, and explained his presence there +with a story of his brothers having fallen into a snow-drift. The +kind-hearted people believed him, and when it was light, set out to find +his kinsmen. But whom, strangely enough, should they come across but +Raby's two friends, who, after the fight with the heydukes, had set out +to follow him, not without many mishaps in the snow which bore out +Raby's tale. + +It was a right merry meeting, and the three could eat and sleep in +safety now that they were free from their pursuers. They thought it best +to say nothing of the heydukes, in case they might be cited as +witnesses. There still lay a two days' journey before them across bad +roads ere they could reach Vienna. His friends' readiness to accompany +him convinced Raby that they were in the service of the Emperor, and not +mercenaries of the Pesth authorities. In view of chance separating them +again, Kurovics made over to Raby thirty gulden so that he might not be +without money. + +On Austrian territory, Kurovics became quite communicative, and let out +that he was no Szent-Endre burgher, but a well-to-do landed proprietor, +whose father had been ennobled by Maria Theresa, and that he was in the +Emperor's confidence. + +"And won't I just give you a reception if you ever come back to our +country," he cried, "not with passports, but with police and dragoons at +your back. I promise you I'll kill my finest sheep and roast it whole in +your honour, and open a bottle of the best wine my cellar contains to +drink your health in." + +"How do I know if I shall ever return?" queried Raby sadly. + +But at last they reached Vienna, and put up at the "Dun Stag" by the Red +Tower Gate. Kurovics was evidently well known in the capital, and Raby's +doubts about him were henceforth set at rest for good and all. + +Our hero had willingly taken a few days' repose after all the fatigues +of his onerous journey, but Kurovics would not hear of it. "Get to work +directly," he urged, "the Emperor is anxiously awaiting your +explanations. Write down your indictment, and do not wait to change your +clothes, but just come as you are into the palace, and we will come with +you as far as the Hofburg. For you know here in Vienna, everyone who +comes into the city has to report himself immediately, and state his +business here. It is possible that the Vienna police have already +received instructions from Pesth, in this case they will perhaps lock +you up before you can get a hearing with his Majesty, so be beforehand +and get the start of your enemies." + +And Raby thought it as well to take this advice, so he proceeded to put +on paper his report as simply and briefly as possible. He was, moreover, +convinced that Kurovics was a genuine friend of the people, for he gave +him many proofs of gross abuse of authority on the part of the Pesth +officials. + +Hardly was the ink on the paper dried, than they chartered a coach and +drove off to the Hofburg, in order to be in time for the daily audience +which the Emperor was accustomed to hold for those who sought a +hearing. The audience chamber led straight into the Emperor's own +private cabinet, and was daily, from the hours of ten in the morning +till one o'clock, filled by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of +people, who came furnished with written petitions, or preferring +requests, unannounced and in every-day dress, to seek a personal +audience of the Emperor, which was always granted to them in turn. + +Joseph spoke all the languages of the polyglot races he governed, and +was equally versed in all the various _patois_, though he usually +conversed in German with the petitioners of higher rank. + +It was a mixed crowd which now stood awaiting the imperial +pleasure--prelates, soldiers, Jews, mourning-clad widows, finely dressed +ladies, and peasants in their varied national costumes, jostled one +another in the ante-chamber in which Raby and his friends found +themselves. There was no precedence of rank observed, for the Emperor +would speak to whomsoever he willed first, though none were overlooked. + +All at once a hush fell on the chattering crowd, and only a subdued +whisper was heard here and there, as the moment for the Emperor's +appearance had arrived. Raby was not a little shocked to note how his +imperial master had altered: camp life had apparently not suited him. +His cheeks were hollowed as with sickness, and his features bore the +unmistakable marks of the ravages of both bodily and mental suffering; +only the clear blue eyes he remembered so well of old, were unchanged. + +Amid the crowd of suppliants, the Emperor seemed not to observe Raby and +his companions. At last Raby ventured to press into his hand his report. + +"What is this?" asked the Kaiser in German, as he pocketed the document +without looking at its contents. + +All those who had spoken with the Emperor had to withdraw directly the +audience was over, and Raby and his friends were at last the only ones +left. The Emperor seeing that they still waited, demanded of Kurovics +what it was they sought? + +Kurovics thereupon with a low bow, gave him to understand they were only +accompanying the lady. + +"I have received her petition already," said Joseph, "what does the girl +want?" + +"Does not your Majesty remember me?" asked Raby in a low voice. + +The Emperor scanned him sharply with no sign of recognition. + +"I have never seen you before," he exclaimed coldly. "What is your +name?" + +"Sire, I am Mathias Raby!" + +His Majesty clasped his hands with a vivid gesture of surprise. + +"Raby! is it possible? Have you lost your reason then that you dress +thus? Whence do you come in this masquerading attire?" + +"From the dungeons of the Pesth Assembly House, Sire." + +The Emperor seized him by the hand, and drew him without a word into his +cabinet. + +Two secretaries there were very busy sorting documents. The Emperor led +the Serb peasant girl up to them. + +"Now, gentlemen, say, do you recognise this lady?" + +The secretaries were perplexed, and denied all knowledge of the +new-comer. + +"Come, come, gentlemen," said the Emperor jestingly, "tell the truth, +for I'll wager that you have often met before, to say nothing of the +lively correspondence you have carried on of late." + +The secretaries called heaven and earth to witness they had never seen +the stranger in their lives before, and had not the slightest idea who +she might be. + +"This lady is no other than Mr. Mathias Raby." + +At these words, in defiance of all court etiquette, both burst out +laughing, and in their merriment the Emperor himself joined heartily. + +Only Raby looked grave, and did not share their amusement. Even now +through the paint on his cheeks, the angry colour flamed--a fact which +did not escape the Emperor. + +"But however did you manage to put on this disguise?" he asked. + +"Simply because I heard your Majesty had ordered I should do so," +answered Raby. + +"I? Why whatever put such a thing into your head, I should like to +know?" + +"Here are the instructions I received," and Raby handed him his friends' +paper. + +The Kaiser shook his head as he went through it. "Of course I understand +Serb," he said; "but I never wrote this. Where did you get it from?" + +"From the leader of the twenty-four men dressed as Turks, who, in your +Majesty's name, dragged me by night from out of the dungeon of the +Assembly House in Pesth. Two of them came hither with me. Your Majesty +saw them in the other room." + +"Bring them in here," ordered the Emperor. + +One of the two secretaries went then and there to fetch them in, but +returned immediately with the news that the two men had already left the +Hofburg. + +"The police must be notified," said Joseph. + +But all their trouble was in vain. The two unknowns on leaving the +palace had made direct for the river-bank, where a boat manned by four +oarsmen had awaited them, and carried them away in the fog which +overhung the river. + +Here was an enigma to clear up! Why the men had conducted him to the +palace; why they had waited for his meeting with the Emperor and then +deserted him entirely; whether they had been indeed friends or foes in +disguise, Raby could not imagine. It remained an unsolved mystery. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + +That year saw the appearance of a strange and new phenomenon in Vienna, +namely the first Hungarian newspaper. Then for the first time did the +Magyar feel he had a purpose in life, and see that by providing the +world with a certain quantity of news (whether true or otherwise it +mattered not to him), he could get for that same news a certain amount +of money. + +Such was the _debut_ of the _Magyar Hirado_; it was edited in Vienna, +and then circulated in Hungary forthwith. Little it mattered to its +readers what were the news it contained; as long as there was something +to read was the main concern of its eager public. + +And so it was that a copy of the _Magyar Hirado_ found its way to the +Assembly House in Pesth, for the head-notary, Tarhalmy, had been +extravagant enough to invest in one. His neighbours borrowed it freely, +and many were the messages that Mariska received to ask her to procure +for the senders the loan of the coveted news-sheet. And even the girl +herself was not without curiosity to see what this famous journal +contained, though she was too ignorant of Hungarian to be able to +understand its contents. She fondly imagined that everything that +happened in the world would be written down there as news, and she often +tried to spell out the strange Magyar sentences. + +One day, however, after more futile efforts than usual, she summoned up +courage to ask her father the question she had at heart! + +"Father, is poor Mathias Raby released?" + +Tarhalmy looked at her sadly, he guessed well enough the reason of her +study of the _Magyar Hirado_. + +"This time he is free, child," he answered; "but if he runs into danger +again, he won't get off so easily." + +"Is he really a bad man, father?" + +"He is the best man alive, and both just and honourable." + +Mariska shook her head with a puzzled air, yet she would find out still +more now that the ice was broken. + +"And the men who prosecute him--are they just also?" + +Tarhalmy did not shirk the answer: "No, they are unjust men," he said +shortly. + +Mariska grew bolder still, "How is it that a man who is really good can +be ruined by those who are evil?" + +"Because it is the way of the world, my child," returned her father. + +"Are you vexed with Mathias Raby?" she inquired in a low voice. + +"No, I love him as if he were my own son," was the answer. + +"And yet you cannot defend him against those who intend him ill?" + +"I cannot." + +"And why not?" + +"Because I myself am on their side." + +The girl gazed at him in astonishment. + +"My father taking the part of the unjust against the just, how can that +be?" + +"It is a big question which cannot be judged by ordinary standards. +Besides, how should a child like you understand?" + +Yet Tarhalmy marvelled at the girl's questions; they reached their mark. +But he felt he owed her an explanation. + +"I will try and make it clear," he said. "Our Emperor is a very +well-meaning man who has the welfare of this country at heart. He +honestly wants to benefit the people he rules over. But one thing he +does not understand, and that is the love of the Magyar for his native +land and his Hungarian institutions. If our mother is sick, do we cease +to love her? And so it is with Hungary, we, her children, know her +weakness and her wants, but we do not cease to love her the less. The +Emperor does not understand us; he wishes to civilise us before we are +ready for it, to mould us to his own ideals of a nation. He does not +want, as other rulers have done, to crush us, but he would have us +develop by new and unfamiliar methods. Against force we could oppose +force, yet he does not attempt to coerce us, but seeks only to impose on +us the weight of his authority. Thus it is that he sends orders which no +one obeys, and there are none of his officials who dare carry them out. +The whole body of Hungarian opinion in this land is dead against his +reforms, and will continue to oppose them tooth and nail." + +Now all this did not trouble Mariska; she understood so little of it. +Moreover, what her father said must be true. Yet she could not see what +the Emperor's dealings with Hungary had to do with Raby's imprisonment. + +"It is a bit difficult for my little girl to grasp, isn't it?" went on +Tarhalmy kindly. "Unfortunately the Emperor does not understand how to +deal with our constitution. For instance, the members of our governing +body are chosen every three years, so that if any among them are proven +to be unworthy of the office, they can be rejected at the end of their +term. But the Emperor stretches his prerogative, and rules that these +offices are to be held for life. And as long as he persists in tampering +with our constitution and interferes with the existing order in the +state, so long will Hungarians put every hindrance in the way of his +emissaries. Nay, they would rather condone the misdeeds of corrupt +officials than reach the hand of fellowship to an idealist like Raby, +who is inspired by a noble belief in the righteousness of his mission, +and sincerely imagines he is going to free the people of this land from +long-standing ills. That is why they make him suffer for his boldness, +and will make him suffer yet more, if an evil chance brings him hither +once again. He will find the anger of the entire nation aroused against +him. Moreover, now that the whole nation is incensed with the Emperor +for carrying on the war against the Turks with his Russian allies, and +is refusing him both subsidies and recruits, it is less likely than ever +to view those who carry out his reforms with favour. And meantime, we +honest well-meaning folk who only desire to live at peace with God and +our neighbour as Christians should do, have to stand shoulder to +shoulder with rogues and vagabonds to protect our country's interests." + +The head-notary turned sadly away and left the room, and Mariska sunk +into a silent reverie. Her father returning, suddenly put his head in at +the door. + +"Are you quite sure, little one, that you understand all I have been +saying?" he asked somewhat anxiously. + +"Father dear, I am going to write it all down straight away," returned +the girl, "and may I send it to Raby?" she added shyly. + +"You may if you like," whispered Tarhalmy, strangely touched at her +request. + +And Mariska set about making herself a new pen in order to do justice to +the projected document. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + +Mathias Raby kept as far as possible out of Vienna society after his +arrival in the capital. He never appeared at Court, and rented a modest +apartment in Paternoster Street without giving his address to anyone. It +was not only that he wanted to be undisturbed so as to fulfil a +difficult and important work, but that he felt that a turning-point in +his life had come, which implied a momentous decision on his part. + +His common-sense told him that so far the tragedy which he had lived +through was only a huge jest for the Vienna public, who enjoy nothing so +well as a joke. That the bold Magyars had played off this trick on the +Emperor himself made the whole jest all the grimmer. For them it +mattered not one jot who the victim was, as long as they had their +laugh. + +So Raby avoided his nearest friends, and even reading the papers +irritated him. With so many big affairs going on in the world, what did +people care about the Szent-Endre happenings, or the machinations of the +Pesth government authorities, at a time when in the East, Russia was +shaking the Ottoman power to its foundations, and the rising of the +German Netherlands was threatening Austria with the loss of her finest +province, whilst like an ever darkening storm-cloud, the French +Revolution was already lowering on the political horizon. With such +contingencies, Szent-Endre affairs might well go to the wall. + +Raby worked so unremittingly at his task, that by the beginning of +January, he could hand over his report to the Emperor. + +It was a straggling and long-winded, but exhaustive, document. To make +the tangled threads hold together and get a grip of the facts was no +light business, but at last the bill of indictment was drawn up. + +Nor were the Pesth authorities, meantime, slow in preferring their +counter impeachment against Raby, and a black one it was--instigator of +rebellion, breaker of the peace, calumniator of the council--he was all +these, and much more according to this weighty indictment which brought +forward as many arguments to prove the case against him, as Raby had +adduced against his adversaries. + +It was between them the Emperor had now to judge, and that impartially, +as justice demanded, and not swayed by his own feelings. + +Raby handed his report to his imperial master, and gave him a brief +sketch of the contents, and the proofs of his charges, the Emperor +listening intently the while. Joseph held in his hand the +counter-indictment. + +Then he said: "I will consider the whole report carefully. Till I am +ready to see you again, take this document and read it at your leisure. +I have glanced through it, and by letting you read it, I shall show to +you that my trust in you is still unshaken. If you can bring it back to +me, faithfully deny all the charges it contains, and prove that they are +false, I will tell off two of my most trusted police-agents to look +after your personal safety, protect you against the wiles of your +enemies, and procure for you all the witnesses and documents you need to +establish your innocence. But if you find one serious indictment against +you which can be substantiated, then say no more about it; I promise you +I will not ask any questions, for what has hitherto happened may have +been through my own fault in dealing with this people. At the St. +Petersburg Embassy there will soon be a legation-secretary wanted; it +would be just the berth for you! I'll give you to the end of the month +to think it over. At our next meeting it depends on you to say whether +you go to Pesth or Petersburg." + +And with these words the Emperor dismissed Raby. + +And what better offer could he have had? A new life in a new country +where all the old unhappy past could be for ever blotted out and +forgotten, with no remaining links to bind him to his old days. Nothing +more tempting could the Emperor have suggested. + +He took the fatal indictment with him, and returned home to study its +contents--and a bitter reading it made. By turns he laughed at the +horrible tragicomedy, and then ground his teeth in rage at the stupidity +and malice of it all; the whole thing was put together with such a +grotesque lack of reason. The heaped-up charges would have sufficed to +condemn the accused over and over again, and Raby hardly recognised +himself in this double-dyed traitor, who had been guilty of almost every +crime. There would be no judge living who, had such charges been proven, +would not have passed on him without mercy the capital sentence. And to +think that this avalanche of lies had been heaped up by those for whom +he was labouring to free from oppression, those for whom he had suffered +so much, and was still suffering, who were now vilifying him as a +traitor. + +At that moment he was very nearly throwing over the cause of the people +for good and all, and fleeing to a country where he should never hear +the name of his native land again. + +And then a terrible struggle began in Raby's soul. On one side all his +vanity and self-respect rose in arms to urge him to flight. Was he to +labour without reward for this miserable people, and make its most +distinguished leaders his enemies? Was his name to be dragged in the +mire through the length and breadth of the land to gratify their +malice? Could he not turn his back on it all, and find in a foreign +capital that field for his gifts where they would have a worthy scope +for their display, and be cherished and rewarded? Fame and wealth on the +one hand, misery and disgrace on the other, and at best, the doubtful +credit of the informer--that was the choice! + +Long did the two strive for mastery, and darker and more hateful grew +the picture of what he might expect if he returned to his self-imposed +work. Was it not better to root out from his soul all thoughts of his +fatherland? + +And in the midst of it all there arrived Mariska's letter, which was the +only one of all his missives he opened and read just then. + +Twice, thrice, he read it, with its too well-understood appeal: "Do not +come back again!" And her words decided him. + +And indeed if Raby had not, after reading it, sprung up and cried, "Now +I will go back!" he had not been worthy of having his history written in +this record. + +What if he owed it not to his people or his prince to go back, at least +he owed it to Mariska, and he would remember his debt. To her, at least, +he would prove that he was a man who did not turn his back on danger, +but went boldly forth to brave it when duty and his country called, and +to justify himself at that country's tribunal. + +And what love did not the letter breathe for him for whom she wrote +it--no gross earthly passion, but rather the pure love of a devoted +sister for a brother, of a tender mother who seeks to ward danger from +the head of a dearly loved son--that was love as Mariska felt it. + +And Raby thought sorrowfully how many anxious hours that letter must +have cost her poor little head, ere she could clothe her thoughts in +words and achieve the difficult task of reporting faithfully her +father's ideas--ideas which must of necessity have been hard for her +girlish mind to grasp in their fulness, much more to put on paper. + +And like a horrible nightmare arose the thought of that other woman who +had betrayed her husband, and as if to make herself still more unworthy +in his eyes, had flaunted her shamelessness by masquerading in man's +attire. + +And the temptation suddenly arose to procure the deed of separation +which the free and easy Protestant marriage laws made only too possible, +and forswear the solemn tie that bound him to Fruzsinka. But he put it +from him as one more temptation to be resisted, not less powerful +because it came from within instead of from without. + +Poor Mariska, how the aim of her well-meant letter had failed! It was to +have just the contrary effect she had intended. + +After reading it again, Raby hesitated no longer, but took the documents +under his arm, hastened to the palace, sought the Emperor's presence, +and said simply, "All that stands written here is false from beginning +to end! I beg your Majesty to send me back to Pesth." + +"Good," said the Emperor, "and if they dare to lay a hand on you, I will +come myself and set you free." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + +The Emperor sent Raby two agents of the secret police, who were told off +to accompany him wherever he went; both had full powers to claim +admission everywhere, to arrest anyone they desired without respect to +rank, and to draw the requisite funds they might need from the public +banks. + +One of them, named Plotzlich, was a famous detective, and never so happy +as when he was tracking some notorious criminal to his lair, or +dexterously unravelling some-deep-laid plot. His personal courage was +everywhere recognised, and he had won high distinction in the +performance of his duties in Vienna, where he was generally respected +and feared; in fact, Raby could hardly have had a better man to protect +him. + +However, even Mr. Plotzlich had his limitations, as Raby found out by +the time they were fairly on the road in the diligence. The +police-commissioner had never been out of Vienna, and a country journey +was a new experience. + +At the sight of the sparrows (which had been exterminated in the towns) +he cried, "How very small the pigeons are here!" Then, seeing some +country peasants hunting marmots out of their holes, he asked what kind +of an animal they were, whereupon the farmer he addressed told him it +was an Hungarian mouse. From which it will be seen that the accomplished +detective's knowledge of zoology was limited, to say the least of it. + +When they put up for the night at an inn on the road, Raby noted with +some surprise that Plotzlich drew his sword and laid it in the bed +beside him. Raby assured him that no danger was to be apprehended, as +all the doors were barred against possible attacks from robbers. + +"Ah! that may be," returned the other, "but," pointing to a mouse hole, +"suppose an Hungarian mouse should get in!" + +Meantime the long formal document which officially announced Raby's +readiness to appear before his judges to refute the charges against him, +had been drawn up and sent to Pesth, and the head of the police there, +as well as the district commissioner were properly notified of the same. + +It was growing dusk when Raby and his two conductors arrived in Buda. +And this was just as well, so that they should not be recognised. So ere +the street lamps were lit they hastened to the police-station, where it +had been arranged they should stay. Over the door hung the great +Austrian eagle, and below a soldier guarded the great shield bearing +the imperial coat of arms, which showed that here no Hungarian had +jurisdiction. + +But the chief of the police complained loudly when he heard who his +guest was, and made a very wry face at Raby's name. + +"H'm," he said doubtfully, "I have received orders from the governor of +the city to deliver over to him the prisoner Raby if he should come into +my power." + +"But we bring you the imperial mandate," exclaimed the others, "that you +give a shelter here to the noble gentleman, Mr. Mathias Raby, who is one +of his Majesty's chamberlains." + +"Well, my friend," answered the Buda official, "remember that his +Majesty is far away, while his Excellency is near." + +"Surely the Emperor is a greater man than the governor of Pesth," cried +Mr. Plotzlich indignantly. + +"Well, you will see for yourselves," retorted the Buda chief, "you don't +know the Pesth authorities as well as I do." + +"Yes, but remember we have instructions from the Kaiser," they answered. + +"You had better go and interview him yourselves." + +And off they went, leaving Raby under the shelter of the Austrian +authorities. + + * * * * * + +Arrived at the governor's palace, they were received by his Excellency, +who, after seeing their credentials, asked abruptly what they desired. + +"We are commissioned by his Majesty to accompany hither Mr. Raby, who is +to appear for the purpose of confronting his accusers at the Pesth +Assembly House shortly." + +"Do you mean the good-for-nothing fellow who ran away the other day from +prison?" + +"May it please your Excellency, he is authorised by the Emperor +himself." + +"And he is likewise my prisoner, don't forget that!" + +"Pardon me, he is under our special protection, with an imperial +safe-conduct and is here for the fulfilment of a perfectly lawful +purpose." + +"And I have already ordered that he shall be surrendered to the custody +of the Pesth magistracy." + +"Then I must emphatically protest in the Kaiser's name. Here is his +authorisation." + +"Then I recommend you to keep it," returned his Excellency drily. "The +Kaiser commands in Vienna, but it is my turn here." + +And with that the governor got up and rang the bell. + +It was answered by a secretary. + +"Go to the Assembly House and tell them to send an escort of police to +arrest the runaway prisoner Raby," was the peremptory order. + +The Vienna police-agents both exclaimed loudly at this defiance of their +prerogative: "We protest, we protest!" they cried angrily. "This is +sheer rebellion." + +"Protest if you dare," retorted his Excellency. "I'll have you both +placed in irons if you don't make off, and you will have time enough to +remember Hungarian justice for the rest of your lives." + +And the two commissioners, seeing all protest was futile, thought +discretion was the better part of valour, and hastened away as fast as +they could, till they reached the shelter of the Austrian eagle. There a +council of war was held by the indignant officials and Raby. + +But they had not much time for discussion, for not long after, the +provost of the Pesth prison arrived with an armed guard to arrest Raby. + +His Austrian protectors insisted on accompanying their charge, whose +forcible removal they strongly resented, though their protests were +unavailing. + +The Vienna officers naturally thought they would cross from Buda to +Pesth by the bridge; what was their dismay, then, to find that the +expedition meant to ferry across, and this in spite of the drift-ice +which at that season of the year encumbered the Danube and made it +dangerous for navigation. + +"However shall we get across," they asked, as they gazed in +consternation at the river, which did not look inviting, it must be +owned. + +"Oh, that's soon done," said the provost airily. "You've only to get +into the boat here," and he led the way to the ferry-boat which was +fastened close at hand. + +"Please be good enough to get in," said their conductor. + +The prisoner was pushed in first, and the two commissioners dutifully +prepared to follow him. + +"However are we going to make our way through the ice?" asked Plotzlich +anxiously. + +"You'll soon see," was the ready answer. + +The helmsman cut her adrift, and the rowers pushed from the shore; but +scarcely had they put off, before a huge ice-floe drove them back again. + +"Ship your oars," roared the ferry-man, and the rowers dexterously +trimmed the boat which had well-nigh capsized under the blow, but for +their skill. + +It was too much for the Vienna officials. "We protest in the Emperor's +name!" they yelled, whilst Plotzlich, in mingled fear and anger cried, +"I am bound under oath not to allow anyone to cross the river when it is +unnavigable through ice, and I won't transgress my own rules, so take us +back to the shore!" + +And so back they came, and the two Viennese speedily disembarked. "And +Mr. Raby as well," they cried. + +"Not he!" laughed the provost triumphantly. "You needn't trouble your +heads about him. Whosoever is born to be hanged will not be drowned, of +that you may be sure." + +And once more they put off on their perilous journey, while the +police-agents took out their red pocket-books and made formal memoranda +of what had just happened. Meanwhile, with much trouble and long delay, +Raby and his custodians reached the other side, not without narrowly +escaping destruction. + +The next morning, the river being free from drift ice, the two +commissioners took their way to Pesth, and by dint of much threatening +and imploring, arrived at the door of the prisoner's dungeon, where they +could speak with him. + +"Are you there, Mr. Raby?" they asked anxiously, "and what are you +doing?" + +"Yes, I'm here sure enough, and clanking my chains for want of any other +amusement," was the answer. + +"You don't mean to say you are in irons?" cried his questioners. + +"Yes, indeed, both my hands and feet are fettered fast." + +"Well, have no fear, we will soon free you!" + +For this was more than the police commissioners could stand; and they +dashed off in hot haste to demand Raby's release from the authorities, +but they found the latter perfectly obdurate to all their entreaties. +Finally, they tackled Laskoy, and extorted from that gentleman a promise +to remove the prisoner's fetters. They also were invited by him to +attend the inquiry next morning, when they might see Raby for +themselves, he said, and escort him away a free man. + +So the following morning found the two Viennese again at the Assembly +House, but there was not a soul about, save a clerk who could give them +but scant information. So they determined to get their news at +first-hand, and make for Raby's cell. On the way they fell in with +Janosics, carrying a brazier containing disinfectants, whose fumes +filled the corridor. + +"When does Mr. Raby appear before the court?" they inquired eagerly. + +"Not to-day," said the gaoler, "the poor man is ill." + +"Let us see him and speak with him." + +"You cannot, he is much too bad; besides I have to fumigate the whole +place on account of his illness." + +"But what is his malady then?" + +"That I cannot tell you; ask the doctor when he comes out." + +And at that moment the cell-door opened and the doctor walked out, +carrying a shovel on which some aromatic gum was burning, in one hand, +and in the other a pocket-handkerchief soaked with spirits of lavender. +He spoke to no one till he had washed his hands in a bowl of vinegar and +water that a heyduke held for him, the commissioners looking on somewhat +aghast at all these precautions. Raby's malady must be something very +contagious to demand them. + +At last Plotzlich summoned up courage to ask what was the matter with +the prisoner. + +The doctor took a long inhalation of the lavender and then whispered to +the official, nervously, "It's the oriental plague." + +It was enough for the Viennese. They thought no more of the unfortunate +man they were leaving behind them, but without more ado, hastened out of +the infected building as fast as their legs could carry them, to take +the fatal news back to Vienna. As for Raby he was as good as dead and +buried, as far as the world was concerned, for his death was a foregone +conclusion. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + +What was really the matter with Raby the police never learned; but we +can tell the reader. + +When at about three hours after midnight, they had brought him to the +Assembly House, the whole gang of his enemies was awaiting him, +including the gaoler. + +He was received with a shout of derisive laughter, as he came into the +room, thick with tobacco-smoke. + +"So the Emperor has given you decorations, has he?" thus they jeered at +him. "Well, we'll see what sort of ornaments we can procure for your +worship," and such like remarks, were freely fired off at him. + +But Raby bore all the jeers of his tormentors in a dignified silence, +and quietly submitted to the searching process, whereby he was stripped +of all his valuables, and fetters slipped over his wrists and ankles, +the gold lace being cut off from his new coat so that he might not hang +himself with it! Then he was led back into the cell he had formerly +occupied, and left to himself. + +But, he reflected, his captivity could not last long. The two +police-officers must be still there, and when all was said, they were +the masters. And failing all else, had not the Emperor himself promised +to come? Up till then, he would have patience. The visit of his friends +on the following day did not give him much hope that their help would +avail him. + +On the third day, the prison doctor sought him out, and with the help of +the gaoler, began to subject him to a long process of disinfecting, +which he said, was necessary for every prisoner who came from across the +frontier, seeing that in Turkey the oriental plague was raging. + +We have seen how the two Viennese officers were smoked out of the city. +This left the coast clear for Raby's examination the following day. His +earlier trial had taken place before the district commissioner as a +political offender: now he was haled before the ordinary assizes as a +common criminal. + +The indictment which set forth how Raby by the help of diabolic arts, +had forcibly broken out of custody, and fled to another country, was +read. It called for five and twenty years' solitary imprisonment, +together with public chastisement; which should allow of his being at +appointed intervals set in the public stocks, with a placard showing the +nature of his crime hung round his neck. + +Raby, in his defence, demanded that the judges should call one of the +twenty men who had forcibly seized him the night of his flight; this +was, he said, exacted by the Emperor in his instructions as to the +trial. + +Laskoy struck the table with his fist. "That is not true," he said, "it +is not in his Majesty's instructions." + +"I have seen it myself," said Raby, "the Emperor gave it into my own +hands to read." + +At these words there was a perfect outburst of wrath and indignation +from the whole company, so that Raby could not speak for the uproar; +when the noise had quieted down, he went on: + +"The men who freed me are not forthcoming as witnesses. But there are +two at least, who must know what happened that night, and this is the +heyduke who stood before the door of my cell, and the other who kept the +gate. Though I did not see them I know what their names were, for I +heard the castellan address them as Sipos and Nagy." + +"Let them be brought in," said Laskoy to the castellan with a meaning +grimace. + +But it was Raby's turn to be astonished when the witnesses entered. For +there before him, stood his two travelling companions, the pretended +pig-dealer, Kurovics, and his comrade, who had accompanied him to +Vienna! And these, it appeared, were the two heydukes who had been +commissioned to play this trick upon their unsuspecting victim. Raby's +brain fairly reeled at the thought of the lying fraud to which he had +been forced to lend himself. + +But the examination of Sipos was beginning. "It seems you were the guard +at the door of the prisoner's cell, the night of his escape?" questioned +the judge. "Do you know what happened?" + +The witness groaned, and murmured something incoherent. + +"Tell us what you know. The truth, out with it!" as the man hesitated. + +"Ah, how can I say it!" exclaimed the fellow, while the gaoler shook his +fist at him menacingly. + +"I'll tell all," he said, "just as it happened. The gaoler ordered four +and twenty of us heydukes to disguise ourselves as Turks, then to break +open the door of the prisoner's cell, and put on him a peasant girl's +dress and escort him to Vienna in this disguise. He gave us money for +the journey, and told us the Pesth magistracy had ordered it." + +At this outspoken testimony, Raby could hardly contain himself, he +stamped on the floor till his irons rang again. So the whole intrigue +was manifest! His enemies themselves had hatched this conspiracy against +him, and now they dared to condemn the victim of their own wicked plot! + +He attempted to protest, but the whole crew shouted him down. "Hold your +peace, traitor!" they cried! "Hold your peace! Not a word will we hear +from you!" + +And their anger was not less hot against the witness whom they called a +liar and false swearer, and then and there ordered him to receive fifty +strokes with the lash, and this was Sipos' reward for telling the truth. + +"Let the other witness appear," cried Laskoy. "Now, Janos Nagy, you are +an honest man, and will tell us what happened, so out with it!" + +Nagy, otherwise the false Kurovics, had the example of his comrade +before him, and bethought himself in time of what he might expect if he +was too truthful, so he took his line accordingly. + +"This is the true history, your worships. When, on the sixth of December +last, I was keeping guard before the door of the gate of the prison, and +my comrade stood before the prisoner's cell, I heard a loud cracking +noise; then the door of Mr. Raby's dungeon flew open, and he came out in +a fiery chariot drawn by six black cats, whilst on the box sat a demon +in a red dolman, who gave first my comrade, and then me, such a switch +in the face with his long tail, that we could hear and see nothing +further--so stunned were we. And then with a noise like thunder, the +prisoner disappeared in a flash." + +Raby was astounded--not at the witness, but at his hearers. + +"Is it possible, is it credible," he cried, "that you gentlemen, can +accept such testimony as this?" + +"Be silent, and don't interrupt the witness," yelled Laskoy, "we don't +want you to teach us. You know we have laws against witchcraft, and we +mean to enforce them. Mr. notary," he cried, turning to Tarhalmy, +"please take the depositions of the witness." + +And Raby saw with amazement that Tarhalmy did not hesitate to do as he +was bidden. And suddenly there flashed across the prisoner what Mariska +had written to him. Here the wise and fools alike seemed to be leagued +against him. In vain he protested his innocence in the Emperor's name, +and that of the law and common-sense: it availed nothing. Finally they +led him out of the room while they debated on his sentence. + +It was not long before he was conducted back again to hear it. Of the +several indictments against him, several had not been verified, but one +at least they indeed had proved, and that was, that by diabolic agency +he had escaped from the dungeon. That was enough to condemn him, and +"death by the axe" was awarded accordingly. + +When Raby heard it, he could contain his indignation no longer: + +"Gentlemen, and you my most worshipful judges," he cried, "hear me +before I depart, for there is no tribunal on earth so tyrannical that it +will not allow the criminal to justify himself. Why am I condemned? Why +have such punishments, ending with the death-penalty itself, been meted +out to me? Why have I suffered thus? Simply because I strove to heal the +woes of the oppressed; just because the Emperor has sent me hither to +inquire into the grievances of the people, whose cry has reached him. +The poor were no rebels against the law; they sought only justice, and I +desired to help them to attain it. Do you remember what authority is +given to you, when you are placed in the seat of law? Is it not a divine +commission to defend the right of the individual, as of the people, +alike? If you are confident in the success of your cause, I am equally +so in that of mine, for my conscience is clear, I have broken neither +the laws of God nor of man, and to my convictions I will never be false. +I only ask one thing for my people, that they may be freed from the yoke +of the oppressor. Is that a crime deserving the death penalty? Well, let +my head fall; my blood be on those who shed it!" + +Several of the judges could not restrain their tears. Tarhalmy hid his +face in his hands; was it that he could not face the prisoner? + +Raby's last words rang with such intense sincerity that not one of those +present had dared to interrupt his speech. Laskoy was the only one to +speak when the accused had ended his defence, and all he said was, "Take +the prisoner away!" + +"I appeal then against the judgment of the court," said Raby as he was +being led out. + +"That is permitted; meantime, he who is under sentence of death must be +heavily ironed till the hour of execution." + +"Against that likewise I protest," said Raby firmly. And they led him +out and called for the prison locksmith. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + + +Up till now, Raby had been rigidly fettered, in that his right hand had +been fastened to his left foot, while another chain had bound his left +hand to his right foot. Now as an addition to this came the whole +equipment involved in "heavy irons." Two chains, consisting of six iron +rings linked together, weighing in all about a quarter of a hundred +weight, were now produced for the prisoner. + +These fetters were no longer fastened, as the lighter ones had been, +with a padlock, but were to be rivetted on an anvil, so that they could +only be sawn asunder when taken off. + +For the operation the prisoner was led into the yard of the Assembly +House, much to the excitement of the townspeople who gathered to witness +so unusual a spectacle, including all the women-folk. They were aghast +at seeing a young and richly clad gentleman being loaded with heavy +irons. In such a scene the crowd is on the side of the criminal, and +they were now. + +When they saw Raby forced to sit down on the paving-stones, and heard +him groan with pain as his already fettered ankle received the first +stroke of the heavy hammer on the anvil, a cry burst from the +bystanders, and they could not restrain their indignation. + +"Poor fellow! What has he done to deserve it?" they asked, and the women +wept freely. One of them took off her kerchief, and, kneeling down +beside him, was fain to bind it round the ankle-bone, so that the iron +should not cut it too severely, but the gaoler sternly thrust her away. + +"What do condemned criminals want with that sort of thing, you stupid? +Away with you and your silly feelings. Would you have his fetters lined +with velvet? He'll soon get accustomed to them, I'll warrant you." + +And he brutally tore the kerchief off Raby's ankle. + +When at last the work was done, the prisoner had to rise. But this was +easier said than done, for with his fettered hands and feet, he was +almost powerless to move. Small wonder he fell back in the attempt. + +Janosics laughed aloud. + +But it is no laughing matter when a man in irons tries to walk. + +Meantime, the women became more sympathetic than ever with the prisoner, +and openly railed at the heydukes. + +"You murderers! It is a sin and a shame to treat him thus! And such a +pretty gentleman too! If we were only men we would soon teach you +gaolers to mend your manners. Why you are worse than the Turks +themselves." + +"Drive the women out of the yard," cried Janosics furiously, "and then +let us be getting on, for the cage is ready for the bird." + +And some of the heydukes promptly drove out the women, while the rest +looked after Raby. In one of them, who helped him to rise, Raby +recognised the man who had brought him the pitcher with the false bottom +when he was in prison. The man also evidently pitied him in his +stumbling efforts to drag one foot before the other, and showed him how +he could best do it by carefully measuring each step forward. But the +pain of the irons which had already begun to cut into his flesh, was +well-nigh unbearable, and it was with the greatest difficulty he +staggered to the cell prepared for him--a small damp dark hole with a +little grated orifice for air through which the falling snow was +drifting. + +No stove warmed the frozen depths of his dungeon, but there was a huge +stake in the wall to which was affixed an iron chain: to this the +fetters of the prisoner were made fast, so that he could stir no further +than the small tether it allowed, and had to lie or crouch day and night +in the heap of straw, which was his only bed. An earthen pitcher and a +wooden bowl held respectively the drinking water and black bread which +were to last him a week, for having provided them, they needed not to +trouble further for some days about the inmate of the cell. And there +was no pitcher this time with a false bottom! + +Now Raby was to know what it meant to be a captive indeed. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + + +Poor Raby, he was a prisoner in such surroundings that they would have +served for the wildest page of romance. No sound came to him from the +outer world, as he lay there chained to the blank wall in his living +grave--the underground dungeon whose door no key opened. Yet for all +this he was not forgotten. + +In the deathlike stillness of the night he heard what sounded like a +noise of scratching in the roof of his cell, as if someone were trying +to bore through the ceiling. + +All at once the sound ceased, and from above he heard a well-remembered +voice: "Poor Raby!" it murmured. + +At the sound, a thrill of joy shook the prisoner, in spite of his +fetters; it spoke to him of life and hope. + +"Can you hear me?" asked the voice. + +"Perfectly," answered Raby. + +"Trust in God, He will deliver you, He will not let you be lost. If +to-morrow you hear a sound of knocking, give heed. Good-bye." + +Then there was again stillness. But Raby slept in his heavy fetters +rocked by that hope, as peacefully as a child in its mother's arms. + +When he awoke at daybreak, it seemed like a dream, till he was reminded +of its reality by a light tapping on the ceiling of his cell. + +And then, just over his head, there appeared a long hollow cane thrust +down from a small aperture in the roof, and it came lower and lower till +it reached his fettered hands. + +"Have you got it?" asked the voice. "If so, open it carefully." + +Raby carefully opened the sealed end and found a minute phial of ink, +and an equally slender pen made from a crow's feather. Round it was +rolled a sheet of paper. + +"Write, and I will wait to take it," said the voice, and the prisoner, +as might be imagined, was not long in obeying the request of his unseen +monitress. Carefully and minutely, in spite of his fettered hand, he +traced on the paper a letter to the Emperor, telling him all that had +happened, and in the relief of giving this welcome vent to his feelings, +he forgot his wretched surroundings. When it was done he rolled up the +paper, tucked it in the cane, and pushed it up again through the +ceiling. + +On the evening of the next day he heard the voice again: "Dear Raby, +take courage. Your letter has gone to Vienna by the Jew Abraham." + +Raby's heart warmed at this news, it would mean at the most only a week +more of his present captivity--and for that time he had bread and water +enough. + +Meantime, before the said week came to an end, his Excellency the +governor sent for Mr. Laskoy. + +"We are in a nice quandary, my friend, and you will have to get us out +of it; hear what has happened," and his Excellency paused as if to +emphasise what was to follow. "Three days after Raby was imprisoned, the +Emperor summoned me to Vienna. I went as fast as posts could carry me, +to hear, as his first question: 'What have the authorities done with +Raby?' + +"I told him that Mathias Raby had already had a fair hearing before the +magistracy, but that owing to a dangerous sickness which had suddenly +overtaken him, he was now in the hands of the doctor, pending being +confronted with his accusers. The Emperor did not interrupt me, but when +I had done, out he comes with a letter written by your prisoner in spite +of his irons and fast barred door, setting forth his grievances to his +master in very plain terms. And I can assure you he didn't spare either +of us." + +Laskoy was petrified with amazement. "That means," pursued his +Excellency, "that Raby has found ways and means of writing to the Kaiser +from his dungeon. When I had read the letter through, the Emperor said: +'Mark my words, if Mathias Raby is not released from prison by the day +after to-morrow (you will be back in Pesth by then), I shall give orders +that his custodians be themselves arrested and put in the Dark Tower for +the rest of their lives on bread and water. So you see what you have to +reckon with, and the best thing you can do is to set the prisoner free +at once.'" + +The lieutenant did not want urging, he rode to the prison in hot haste, +and demanded to see the head-gaoler. No sooner had Janosics appeared, +bearing his huge bunch of keys, than Laskoy sprang at him straight away +like a wild cat, seized him by the ears, and banged his head against the +door unmercifully, till the keys rattled again in his hands. + +"Take that for your pains," he cried, "I'll teach you how to look after +your prisoners! What do you mean by letting Raby write to the Emperor +from his dungeon?" + +The castellan was dumbfoundered with pain and amazement. "All I can say +is, your worship," he cried, rubbing his head, "that Raby must be in +league with the Devil." + +And though all the authorities of Pesth put their heads together, they +could not solve the mystery. The only thing they were clear upon was +that Janosics deserved fifty strokes with the lash, a punishment he +promptly received. + + * * * * * + +The following day his Excellency went to the Assembly House, and two +letters were put into his hands by Laskoy with a crafty smile. Both were +in Raby's handwriting. The one was dated from Szent-Endre; it contained +an expression of the writer's gratitude for his release by the Pesth +authorities, and his willingness to abide henceforth by the laws of the +land. Further, it announced his determination to withdraw from public +life and attend to his private concerns, and the writer begged that the +accompanying letter, if it met with the governor's approbation, might +be, after reading, forwarded by special messenger to the Emperor. + +The second missive contained a formal admission by the writer that he +had been led astray by false evidence, that the story of the +treasure-chest was a lying invention of the deceased "pope"; further it +expressed his regret at having caused the Pesth magistracy so much +inconvenience, and his determination not to return to Vienna but to pass +the rest of his life in the country, to which end he begged the pension +allotted to him might be sent to him at Szent-Endre. + +His Excellency immediately dispatched this missive to Vienna, and drove +back home. You do not imprison Pesth people so easily in the Dark Tower. + + * * * * * + +Yes, it was all very cleverly arranged, but perhaps the reader will not +be surprised to learn that Raby still languished in his dungeon a closer +captive than ever. At the discovery of Raby's letter to the Emperor, a +contingent of heydukes had visited the prisoner in his cell, searched +the dungeon for ink and paper, but in vain, for the thick rime which +glazed the ceiling, effectually hid the small hole at the top. The +result was that, failing to get any light on the mystery, Raby was +fettered closer than before, the door barred and sealed with the +lieutenant's own private seal, and the prisoner was once more left to +the solitude of his cell. + +And as for the supposed letters, why they were easily accounted for by +the fact that an accomplished forger then in prison, who was anxious to +please his judges to the best of his ability, which was great, had +written them at their bidding. + +So Raby waited till his good angel again provided him, by means of the +hole in the ceiling, with ink and paper in the cane, but this time he +only wrote the words, "I am still here, your Majesty," and signed it +with his blood, for his foot was bleeding profusely through the chain +cutting into it. But even this was assuaged by his protectress by means +of a linen bandage concealed in the cane, with which Raby was enabled to +bind up his ankle. + +Before the week was out, his dungeon-door was opened one morning, and an +unusually large allowance of bread, and two pitchers of water were +thrust into his cell. Then the man he had seen once before, whom he +recognised as a mason, appeared with his assistants, and with their +help, took his cell door off its hinges, and proceeded to brick it up. +And through Raby's mind ran old stories he had read of people being +walled up alive in the Middle Ages, and a shuddering horror fell upon +him, at the fate reserved for him. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + + +The Emperor received both of Raby's letters--the forged and the genuine +one--nearly at the same time, for the latter had been sent by express +post. Shortly afterwards, it became known that his Majesty was going to +pay a visit to Pesth, ostensibly to review some troops. It was this news +that had hastened the walling up of Raby's cell. The Emperor was not to +find him when he came, and when the Kaiser had gone, they meant to +restore the dungeon-door to its place. For they did not intend to kill +their victim outright by burying him alive. + +In order to dry the fresh masonry, they often let the window in the +corridor stand open, and so thick was the rime that you could not see +the walls for it. Nay, the hair and beard of the captive were white too +with it, and from the frozen ceiling, the icicles dropped down upon him +as he lay on his straw couch. But the greatest misfortune induced by the +cold was that he became so hoarse, he could not answer the voice from +above, but could only rattle his chains to show that he still lived. + +On the day of the Emperor's arrival, the voice ceased, and he heard +men's footsteps above, as if re-arranging the room, in view perhaps of +the imperial visit. + +In fact the Kaiser had come, and by mid-day had inspected his troops and +was sitting down to a frugal mid-day meal in the Assembly House, as was +his custom, alone, giving orders the while to the crowd of +aides-de-camp, and the various functionaries who came and went. He left +untasted the glass of old Tokay, poured out for him by the obsequious +Laskoy in a glass of rare Venetian crystal, for to the date of its +vintage he was quite indifferent. + +"And now," said his Majesty, when he had finished, "tell me what has +happened to my commissioner, Mr. Mathias Raby?" + +"Sire, he has gone back some time since to his home in Szent-Endre, and +we had a letter of thanks from him just lately." + +"I have seen that letter," returned the Emperor drily, "likewise another +written from the dungeon of the Assembly House, wherein I learn he is +still a prisoner." + +"Ah, sire, that is easily explained," answered the lieutenant airily. +"The fact is that we had imprisoned at the same time as Raby, a renowned +forger, who has been deceiving even your Majesty by carefully forged +letters in your commissioner's handwriting." + +"What could he have gained by that?" said the Emperor. + +"Probably he knew," returned Laskoy, "that Raby enjoyed your Majesty's +favour, and reckoned that, as you were coming to visit the Pesth prison +in person, he would thus recall himself to your Majesty and gain a +hearing from you." + +"That reminds me," answered the Emperor, "that I have not yet seen the +prison, so I will trouble you to lead the way." + +And Laskoy proceeded to conduct the imperial guest to the dungeons, even +to the most noisome, regardless of the pestilential atmosphere which met +the visitor. The Emperor had every door unlocked, and insisted on seeing +everything, and it was plain from his sharp scrutiny that he did not +trust his guide. + +Then he inspected the cells where the "noble" culprits were confined, +and among them that formerly tenanted by Raby. The bed which the +prisoner had occupied, was duly pointed out to the Emperor, and then he +proceeded to inspect the rest of the cells in order. + +Three times did he actually pass the door of Raby's dungeon (and the +prisoner could hear the clink of his spurs overhead), yet did not +discover the one he sought. And no suspicion crossed the captive's mind +from behind his walled-up door that his would-be deliverer was close at +hand. + +The deception had been only too well carried out. Not even by coming in +person to free him, as the Emperor had promised his emissary, could he +succeed in delivering him. + +And there was not a single man of them all who would point to Raby's +cell, and say boldly, "There lies the man whom you are seeking." + +As for Mariska, she had been sent that very day to her aunt's at Buda, +for some of the officers had been quartered at the head notary's, and it +was no longer the place for the daughter of the house. + +And the Emperor went that day into camp, but Raby still languished in +his dungeon. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + + +Raby's persecutors were getting tired of their unavailing efforts to +break the prisoner's spirit, so they determined on softer measures, and +three days after the Emperor had left Pesth, his dungeon was broken +open, and Laskoy and Petray arrived to make personal investigations into +their victim's state. + +Truly it was a pitiable spectacle that met their gaze when at last a +breach was made in the masonry and they penetrated into the cell. A +wasted and attenuated figure they saw half-buried under the snow that +had drifted in on to his straw bed through the grating--snow that was +stained red with the blood that had streamed from the captive's wounds. + +"Take the irons off!" ordered Petray, "and wrap the prisoner up in warm +coverings." + +And the order was not unnecessary, for it was some time ere the +locksmith could be found, and, meantime the victim was benumbed nearly +to death with cold. + +Even the locksmith, as he filed off the fetters from Raby's bleeding +wrists and ankles, could not suppress a murmur of pity, for he was only +a public servant who did as he was told, and had a kind heart. + +When at last Raby was freed from his chains, he could not stand, and had +to be carried by two heydukes to a neighbouring cell, which was one of +those he had formerly occupied. + +"Let him rest for a little," ordered Petray, "and then I will have a +word with him, and meantime, you may bring him some egg-broth with +wine." + +And the broth revived the wretched prisoner, half-starved and frozen as +he was, with new life, and he eagerly swallowed it. He was conscious of +a feeling of anger against himself for thus being so ready to accept +alleviation for his miserable body, that so little emulated his strong, +unconquered soul. One thing alone lightened the memories of his +sufferings, and that was the voice that had cheered his loneliness with +its encouraging whisper. And lulled by the unaccustomed warmth, he sank +into a comforting slumber, and at his awakening, only had his bandaged +limbs to remind him of his irons. Yet the remembrance that it was to +Petray, of all people, that he owed this amelioration of his misery, +stung him as with a lash. + +But just then the door opened, and in walked his enemy himself. He came +up to Raby's couch and asked the prisoner how he had slept, and whether +he felt better. But the captive answered these hypocritical enquiries by +never so much as a word. + +"You have to thank me for this change, you know," pursued Petray, "for I +have been chosen as your advocate when you appeal against your +sentence." + +"What?" cried Raby, in his excitement springing up, in spite of his +weakness, from the couch. "You to be my defender! You who are already +gravely impeached in the indictment I have formulated! Why such a false +position is impossible; it is you who must stand at the bar. Do you mean +to say you, who are my worst enemy, are entrusted with my defence?" + +Petray smiled. He knew well enough he had a sick man to deal with, who +was physically incapable of attacking him. + +"Now you see how unjust it makes you, this misunderstanding. You shall +know that the accused must have a counsel when he is confronted by the +indictment. There are two of us, myself and the lieutenant, who have to +take your case in hand; which do you prefer, him or me?" + +"Neither," cried Raby indignantly. "I am my own counsel, and I know how +to defend myself, and do not need any of your help." + +"My dear friend, be reasonable; see how unjust this is," said Petray in +a wheedling voice. "You think I would defend you badly. But it is +because I want to prevent you running your head against a wall that I am +doing this. Listen, I'll read you the points of your defence." + +And Petray proceeded to read the document in which he had set forth +Raby's case with such cunning adroitness, that black appeared white in +his representations, and white wholly black. Such a web of sophistries, +in fact, had he woven, that it had been difficult for a hearer to +disentangle the truth. In it all the guilt was laid at the door of the +dead "pope," and Raby appeared as a too confiding victim of his wiles +and misrepresentations. It was a tissue of false statements, yet Raby +listened to the end. + +Then he said indignantly: "So you really believe I need all that for my +justification, do you, that the guiltless are to be blamed and the +criminal cleared, in order that the truth be made manifest; that I +withdraw the impeachment already made against you, that I allow +peaceable and harmless peasants to be attainted as rebels; that I +disavow the responsibility of redressing their grievances, and that for +this, a dead yet innocent man be blamed, and his memory be defamed. No +such defence for me, thank you!" + +Petray laughed patronisingly. + +"My good friend, you are an idealist and always will be. What does the +'pope's' reputation matter to you, since he is dead? Do you suppose he +troubles as to what men say of him now? And as for the peasants, we can +make short work of them by putting them in irons. The defence is +perfectly in order; you only have to sign that you accept it." + +"Let my hand wither in its chains first," cried the prisoner, "ere I +subscribe to such infamy!" and he stretched his wasted hand to heaven. + +"Think twice, Raby, before you decide thus," said his tormentor. "If +you refuse, you may no longer rely on my help, and then you will just go +back to the place you came from." + +"Take me there," cried his victim, "but torture me no further, rather +kill me outright. But as long as my soul is master of my body, no pains +or persecutions shall cause me to forswear my honour and give the lie to +truth!" + +His anger lent the prisoner an unwonted energy, and Petray fairly +quailed as Raby dashed up to him and attempted to tear the document from +his hand; between them it was torn in two, but the leaves were stained +with blood! + +Petray was beside himself with rage; he hastily called for the gaoler +and the heydukes, who shortly entered, followed by Laskoy. + +"He is an abandoned wretch, a traitor, a madman," cried Petray. "He has +flown at me, and tried to murder me. Put him in irons again directly!" + +"Out with the fetters," cried Laskoy. "Where are the heaviest ones?" + +And they tore off the bandages from Raby's wounded limbs, and called the +locksmith to rivet them afresh. + +But that functionary revolted at this fresh act of cruelty against a +helpless invalid. "I won't do it," he said defiantly. "From this hour I +serve the authorities no longer; I will have no part in such cruel +injustice!" And so saying he left them, never to appear again. + +At last, after searching Pesth in vain, they found a locksmith in Pilis +to do the work. + +But when they thrust Raby back again into his icy dungeon, he cried, as +the door closed upon his tormentors, "I am not dead yet." + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + + +"But I'll take care that you soon will be," muttered the gaoler, as he +fettered the prisoner afresh to the wall, "and I've orders to visit you +twice every day, so that you may not carry on any of your accursed +necromancy in the cell." + +The next time his rations were brought him, it occurred to Raby that the +bread was strewn with a white powder. He had often complained of it not +being salted, but this did not look like salt, and as he was not hungry, +he did not attempt to eat it. + +That evening when it was dark, he heard the well-remembered voice again +from the floor above. + +"Poor Raby," it whispered, "are you there?" + +And on his ready answer, came the caution: "Do not eat of the bread they +have brought you, it is poisoned." + +The prisoner had suspected as much, but what was he to do? There was +nothing for it but to die of hunger, it seemed. + +"Examine the cane I am pushing down" came the voice again, and a minute +or two later, appeared the cane whose hollow had already brought him so +much. This time it was filled with chocolate, and there was enough to +last him till the morning. But what was he to drink? + +"Pour the water out of the pitcher, and through the cane I will fill it +with fresh," suggested the voice, and he hastened to obey. + +The next morning the gaoler saw with dismay that his prisoner was still +alive, and apparently uninjured by his supper, yet it would have killed +most men. However, he had not eaten much of it to be sure, judging by +the little that had disappeared. + +And when his back was turned, once more came the voice calling to Raby, +and this time it brought bad news indeed. + +"The Emperor has gone," it said, "he sought for you, but could find no +trace of you. They told him you had been released, so he left in that +belief." + +"Only give me writing materials," pleaded Raby earnestly. + +"I cannot, as soon as you are convicted of having them in the cell, you +are to be beheaded immediately. Besides, no one knows where the Emperor +is; they say he is in Turkey." + +The threat was for Raby but one more spur to action, and he was defiant, +and pleaded no longer with his protectress. He had hidden a morsel of +paper in his wretched bed, and on this he wrote with a straw for pen, +with a drop of his own blood for ink, for he had no other. When it was +dry, he rolled it up and concealed it in a straw-stalk. + +Then he waited till the next time his cell was being swept out by a +heyduke, who was the one who had formerly brought him the pitcher with +the false bottom. Raby gave his missive to him, and whispered, "This is +worth a hundred ducats." The man understood, and took the straw. + +That was Mathias Raby's last attempt at freedom. + +From that day forward, all sorts of threats were used to make him sign +Petray's paper, and sometimes they kept him so long under examination in +the court, that he fainted from sheer exhaustion. + +One night the door opened, and Janosics appeared with three men, one of +whom bore a brazier of burning coals, another a pair of pincers, and in +the third he recognised the public executioner of Pesth. + +"I'll soon make the stubborn fellow yield," cried the castellan +brutally; "let's see if this won't bend him! Now, gentlemen, do your +duty; strip him, and torture him till he confesses his crimes." + +Raby was dumb with horror. They tore his clothes from him, but the sight +of the prisoner's haggard face and emaciated figure smote the heart even +of the executioner with a sudden pity. + +"My good Janosics," he said, "I won't torment the poor wretch, not if +you give me the whole Assembly House for doing such work." + +And with that, he put on his coat, seized the water-pitcher which stood +by Raby's bed, and extinguished the coals, so that the cell was plunged +in sudden darkness. Then the whole crew withdrew quarrelling among +themselves. + +When Raby brought the occurrence to the notice of the court the +following day, they only laughed, and said he had been dreaming! + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + + +One of the thoughts that tortured Raby most was the anxiety as to what +he should do for food, if his benefactress' daily supply of chocolate +should fail him. He saved up a little store of it hidden in his black +bread, and for water, he could trust to the ice which still, through the +severity of the season, constantly formed in his dungeon. + +And one day, what he had so long dreaded, happened, and the voice was +heard no longer, and he had to take refuge in his hardly saved store of +nourishment. Nor was there any sign of his protectress on the following +day. But that night in the room above he could hear men's footsteps and +the sound of a woman groaning, as if with pain, all the night long. A +fearful suspicion crossed his mind that he dared not face, even to +himself. + +It was obvious that overhead someone was dying, and that someone a +woman. He would not let his mind dwell on the presentiment that suddenly +arose; it could not be, it must be a nightmare conjured up by his own +fevered imagination. + +The next morning the groans had ceased, but he could not hear what was +being said by those talking. By the afternoon, his fears were changed +into certainty, and he knew it was no dream. + +Then he heard the sound of singing, the melancholy droning that the +Calvinists use over the corpse, so charged with dreary forebodings, the +horrible gloom of which is in such contrast to the touching Catholic +ritual for the dead, where all tends to prayerful hope for the departed +and to consolation for the survivors. + +And then followed a series of dull thuds, as if they were nailing down a +coffin-lid, and Raby shuddered, but not this time with the cold. + +Towards evening his gaoler came to visit his cell, and Raby mastered his +feelings sufficiently as far as to ask who it was they were burying. + +The castellan read the real question in the prisoner's face as in an +open book. It betrayed his one vulnerable point, and his tormentor was +not slow to take advantage of his discovery. + +So he wiped his eye hypocritically, and murmured in a sorrowful tone, +"Alas, it is our beloved Fraulein Mariska, the head notary's daughter, +that they are carrying to the grave. Heaven rest her soul!" + +The prisoner uttered a sharp cry as if he had received his death-blow; +then he burst into tears. Truly the dart had gone home this time, and +nothing could ward it off. The gaoler laughed behind the prisoner's +back; he had done better than the executioner for once! + +But Raby bowed his head on his knees, and clasped his fettered hands in +prayer for the soul that had so lately taken flight from this valley of +tears. But had he known it, Raby was praying, not for the soul of +Mariska, but for that of his wretched wife, for it was she whom they +were bearing to the grave. + +Fruzsinka had been, all unknown to him, a prisoner like himself, and +this was the end. How she had come there we shall learn later, for +meantime there are other factors in this strange history to be reckoned +with, and Raby is still languishing in his dungeon. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + + +Raby no longer dreaded the poisoned food that he expected his gaoler to +bring him, but next morning, strange to say, Janosics appeared with +empty hands and a malicious leer on his ill-favoured features. + +"Do I have no food to-day?" asked the prisoner. + +"Yes, indeed, my dear friend, from to-day you live like a prince. No +more bread and water for you, but just a jolly good dinner of the best, +and as much red wine as you like. And your fetters are to come off, and +you are to be moved into better quarters. You know, I daresay, as well +as I can tell you, what all this means." + +Raby shrugged his shoulders. + +"Well, it means that to-day your death-sentence is to be formally +approved in court, and that the scaffold is your destination. Till then, +you are to be kept in the condemned cell, and have everything you like +as befits a criminal under sentence of death, and enjoy yourself while +you may." + +It was too true, and no jest. The locksmith came and filed off the +prisoner's fetters once more, and then the barber shaved him, but the +closeness with which his hair was cut, signified only too clearly it +was the "toilet of the condemned." + +They did not stand on ceremony, but just carried Raby into the court +(for he could not walk), to hear that the capital sentence against which +he had previously appealed was now confirmed by the higher court, and +that he must prepare to die forthwith. + +He heard the decision with strange indifference, but all now he longed +for, was that they should get it over as quickly as possible. + +He was taken, not into his former cell, but into a small cheerful, +well-warmed room, where a table stood spread with all the delicacies +imaginable. + +This was the "condemned cell," and to it many a kind-hearted housewife +in those days was accustomed to send the pick of her larder, to provide +a good dinner for those whose earthly meals were numbered--a form of +charity at that time very much practised by the housekeepers of Pesth. + +"Now, Raby, you can eat and drink to your heart's content," cried +Janosics. "But it's no good trying to take any away with you, remember." +And the gaoler pushed the table to the couch, so as to be within the +reach of the prisoner. + +But Raby had no appetite, and had other preoccupations than those of the +table, to fill his mind just then. + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile, Raby's message had not been forgotten by the heyduke to whom +he had entrusted it. Old Abraham had taken it to the Emperor who, he +heard, was laid up sick in the capital, and it had been promptly read +and acted upon. Three days later, Colonel Lievenkopp, just appointed the +commandant at Pesth, sought out the governor, and demanded immediate +audience on urgent matters of state. + +He had, in fact, a message from the Emperor. "Thanks, Colonel, leave it +there; I'll read it later on; there's no hurry," said his Excellency, +airily, on receiving the imperial missive. + +"Unfortunately, there is hurry, your Excellency! I have orders to have +the mandate read in my presence." + +The words staggered the governor. He, the virtual, if not the nominal +ruler of Hungary, to be spoken to like this, and to have the law laid +down in this fashion to him! + +"Hoity-toity! I have other things to do! Suppose, too, I am not inclined +to read it?" + +"Then your Excellency will permit me to observe that I am empowered to +proceed to extreme measures. In the event of your Excellency not reading +that letter at once, I am commissioned to call in half a dozen officers +of public health who are waiting outside, with a regimental surgeon, for +the purpose of placing your Excellency in a strait-waistcoat, and +escorting you to Vienna under surveillance--you will guess whither?" + +The governor's face became crimson with rage. + +"What do you say--For me, a strait-waistcoat? Me, the representative of +the crown? Do you mean to say the Emperor said that, that he has written +it? Impossible, man, impossible!" + +And he tore the letter out of the envelope, and read its contents. + +They were short, and his eyes became suddenly blood-shot as he read as +follows: + + "From to-day you are relieved of your office: make + over your keys to the district commissioner at once. + + "JOSEPH." + +"And I have Mathias Raby to thank for this," groaned his Excellency. + +"Possibly," said Lievenkopp drily, "for his Majesty has entrusted me +with a patent for the Pesth magistracy, whereby he demands the instant +release of Mr. Mathias Raby; in the case of non-obedience, by ten +o'clock to-morrow, I am ordered to enforce its execution by a battery +and a corresponding number of soldiers, and if the prisoner is not +brought out, to storm the Assembly House forthwith, and release Mr. Raby +from captivity." + +"Storm the Assembly House?" stammered the magnate, dazed with the +suggestion. "Stir up civil war just for the sake of one miserable +culprit. Oh, that fellow will be the death of me!" + +And the wretched man staggered as with a sudden blow, and blindly clung +to a chair for support to prevent him from falling. He was blue in the +face, his clenched hand still grasping the letter; it was the beginning +of an apoplectic fit. + +Lievenkopp hastened to send one of the secretaries for a doctor, but it +was already too late; when the surgeon arrived to bleed him, the +governor was beyond such help. Thus passed one more actor in this +memorable tragedy of Rab Raby. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + + +It is time to return to Frau Fruzsinka, and to explain how she had come +to be a prisoner under the same roof as her husband. + +When Fruzsinka found that Raby was, in spite of the efforts she had made +to save him, a prisoner in Pesth, her rage and disgust knew no bounds. +The abandoned woman still carried on her miserable masquerade in man's +attire, and as a pretended highwayman, continued to strike terror into +the hearts of the countryside. + +One night, however, she was taken with what seemed a sudden faintness, +and seeking shelter in a peasant's hut, was betrayed by the owner to the +heydukes, and carried off by her captors to the prison in Pesth. By the +time she arrived there, she was evidently seriously ill, and appeared to +be in a high fever, although it never occurred to the prison authorities +that her malady might be infectious. + +Janosics, who had hailed her arrival with ill-concealed delight, +perceiving his prisoner wore a richly embroidered kerchief round her +neck, proceeded to annex it, and bind it round his own. But this rough +undressing, to which she was subjected as a culprit, was too much for +Fruzsinka, and she soon betrayed her sex by her tears at the rough +treatment Janosics meted out to her. + +As might be expected, the news soon spread that this was no highwayman, +but a woman, and she too of noble family. + +Tarhalmy recognised her at once, and he tingled with shame at the +thought of Mathias Raby's wife being treated as a common felon. And the +case of a woman of Fruzsinka's position being sent there was so rare +that there was literally no provision for such prisoners in the +building, and so it came to pass that the disused "archive-room," as it +was called, the room where Mariska had been able to communicate with +Raby, was that now appointed for Fruzsinka. + +"You will be rewarded for this," gasped the wretched woman. "I shall not +trouble you long, for I shall not live over to-morrow." + +And when Tarhalmy, having found a maid to wait on her, was leaving the +room, she called him back to whisper: + +"I know you have a daughter you love dearly. Send her away immediately +from this house, so she escape the contagion I have brought with me." + +Tarhalmy hastened to warn Mariska that she might go to the house of her +aunt at Buda, and told her who the prisoner really was. + +But the girl was terrified at the thought of leaving Raby, perhaps to +starve, nor did she shrink at the idea of nursing Fruzsinka, but begged +her father to let her remain at home, and tend the sick woman. + +But Tarhalmy would not let her carry her self-abnegation so far. + +Meantime, the doctor came, and deceived by the patient's symptoms, which +seemed to him those of an ordinary fever, made a false diagnosis of +Fruzsinka's case, and failed to recognise her malady for what it really +was--the oriental plague, which was then raging in the near East. + +But the plague-stricken woman would not allow a soul to come near her, +and refused all attempt at help or consolation, for she, being a +Calvinist, would not even see the kindly Capuchin friar who came to +offer his services. + +And Mariska was allowed to remain till the news of Lievenkopp's +threatening mission determined her father to send her away. + +As for that officer's demand, it was, deemed Tarhalmy, a question to be +settled by the Pesth tribunal, and the still closed door of the +prisoner's dungeon would be the answer to the Emperor's mandate, whilst +the prisoner himself, when it came to the execution of justice, should +know who was master in Pesth! + +Surely Tarhalmy had good reasons for sending his daughter away. + +Thus was Raby bereft of his guardian-angel, and so it came to pass that +his evil genius, his wretched wife, lay dying in the room over his +dungeon. + +But Fruzsinka's prophecy came true; she died the next day, and was +promptly buried. No one mourned the dead woman, as no one had excused +her. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + + +The fateful day broke at last and found the Pesth authorities still in +council; their vigil had lasted throughout the night. It was no light +question to be decided: nothing less than the authority of the Hungarian +constitution, and whether or not it should resist the armed force which +menaced it. + +Many among them pitied the prisoner and deemed him guiltless in their +own hearts, but the law had to be justified--at whatever cost--and +Raby's acquittal would have embodied the breach of that law. Thus it was +that no voice was raised on his behalf, and his condemnation was a +foregone conclusion. + +It was with difficulty the prisoner could stand, so exhausted was he; +and when he looked in the faces of his judges, he found there no mercy. + +Tarhalmy had hidden his face in his hands, as, at the stroke of ten from +the great Franciscan church clock, the vice-notary (they spared Tarhalmy +the office) began to read the sentence of the court on Raby. + +He read out the absurd charges which had been got up against the +culprit, the _resume_ of the former trials, the judge's verdict, the +prisoner's incitements to the peasants to revolt, his association with +brigands, and resort to diabolical arts in order to escape from prison, +all of which had rendered him amenable to death by the axe. But this +sentence, said the speaker, could not be carried out, since the Emperor +had abolished capital punishment, and so it had been commuted by the +court into the galleys for life. Mathias Raby was therefore adjudged to +be chained that very day to the oar, to work out his just sentence. + +"Chained to the oar!" + +For that broken emaciated form what a mockery the sentence seemed! And +Mariska, what had she said to it, had she heard it? + +Raby had to be supported by two heydukes, as he was compelled to listen +standing to the sentence, but his face was deathly pale as he heard it. + +All at once the blare of trumpets and beating of drums was heard +without, and out of the neighbouring barracks came squadrons of infantry +and cavalry. The heavy roll of the cannon and the rattling of the +gun-carriages were distinctly audible as the latter rumbled along the +cobbles. And high above it, Lievenkopp's command to load was clearly +heard, and the rattle of the muskets as the soldiers obeyed. + +The pale face of the prisoner suddenly glowed with hope, and an electric +thrill of triumph convulsed his relaxed limbs, as he listened. Rescue +was at hand then! + +Now it is the turn of his judges to blench, for his persecutors to +tremble. The sword is suspended over the judge's head, not over the +culprit's. Who will first avert it? + +"Now, gentlemen," cried the vice-notary, "the sentence, you know, must +be read from the open window of the Assembly House, so all may hear it!" + +The speaker (he was quite a young man) suddenly paled with terror as he +took up the document, and hastily begged for a glass of water. Laskoy +was too terror-stricken to take upon him the task before which his +junior quailed. + +Tarhalmy stepped forward and seized the paper. "I will read it," he said +calmly. + +And turning to the castellan, he cried, "Close the doors, and tell the +heydukes to load their muskets at once." + +As Raby heard that command he shuddered. The first shot fired, the door +of the Assembly House once shattered, would be the signal for the whole +country to be aflame with revolt. Such a course would hurl the nation +and the dynasty to the verge of ruin. And for what? For the sake of +ensuring freedom to one miserable man. Was it worth it? + +The prisoner suddenly broke away from his guards, and intercepting +Tarhalmy as he reached the window, he threw himself at his feet. + +"Your worship," he cried, "I recognise the justice of the sentence, I no +longer defy you, I am utterly broken; let me die, but do not let me be +further tortured or insulted. But do not on my account stir up bloodshed +and strife in this land; trample me, kill me if you will, but do not +let the innocent suffer. You shall never hear a word of complaint from +me again!" + +Tarhalmy tore his coat lappet from Raby's trembling grasp, and strode +firmly but proudly to the window. Below in the street, came the word of +command from the officer in charge: "Load your muskets!" + +Standing at the open window, Tarhalmy read aloud, in a clear unwavering +voice, the judgment on Raby from beginning to end. The prisoner had +fainted. The cannon were in readiness, the muskets loaded; they only +awaited the order to fire. All at once, an imperial courier, galloping +at full tilt through the crowd, dashed through the trumpeters, rode up +to the commandant, and handed him a sealed missive, crying "In the +King's name!" + +Lievenkopp hastily broke the seal of the letter, read it, and stuck it +into his breast-pocket, then he shouted, "Shoulder your arms!" + +The trumpeters sounded a retreat; the cumbrous cannon were wheeled back +again, and the threatening convoy took their way back to the barracks, +from whence they had so lately come. + +But the red-coated courier stood beating on the door of the Assembly +House with the knob of his riding-whip, and calling, "Open, in the +King's name!" + + + + +CHAPTER L. + + +At the sound of those few words, "In the King's name," the door of the +Assembly House was immediately opened; the formula acted like magic. + +There are two words which are often written down together, "Emperor" and +"King," wherein the outer world sees little difference, but for +Hungarians there is all the difference in the world. For the Magyar, the +first means only the foreign yoke, and all that it stands for; but the +second represents that rightful regal authority which in Hungary never +fails to win the loyalty and love of those to whom it appeals. And it is +a distinction which the world outside Hungary is sometimes slow to +recognise. + +And so it was that when the red-coated courier appeared before the Pesth +tribunal he was received with the utmost respect. It was the office of +the head notary to open and read the missive, which he did first to +himself. When he had finished, tears stood in the strong man's eyes. And +as he began to read it aloud, his voice trembled audibly, and he was +visibly moved. + + "WORSHIPFUL CITIZENS! + + "His Majesty the King herewith, by this present royal + rescript, withdraws all vexatious edicts hitherto + issued, with the exception of his edict of tolerance + and that for the freeing of the serfs. He revokes the + compulsory order for the use of a foreign language, + and rehabilitates your council and restores your + constitution. He concludes a war carried on against + the will of the nation by an honourable peace. He asks + you, the members of the Pesth magistracy, to call a + general council and promulgate the constitution in + Pesth, and further orders that the holy crown of + Hungary be brought from Vienna to Buda, after which he + will summon Parliament and will be crowned there." + +The last words were drowned by loud cries of "Long live the King!" while +the council members sprang up from their places huzzaing and cheering. +They seemed like changed beings. Even Tarhalmy, the grave phlegmatic +man, generally as cold as ice and a slave to duty, was transformed, and +his set, serious face flamed with a sudden enthusiasm. + +"Now, gentlemen," he cried, "comes the new order, now we shall have +justice done. And before God and men can I now say, 'Woe to those who +have done this foul wrong to Mathias Raby.' I will justify him at the +bar of our country, and none who helped to persecute this brave man +shall escape unpunished. The nation shall judge him." + +"Hear, hear!" shouted many voices, and the loudest of all was Petray's. + +"Justice for Raby," exclaimed that worthy, "yes, it is right he should +have it. I have always told the lieutenant here what a sin and a shame +it was thus to compass his ruin." + +"What?" cried Laskoy, "I, compassing Raby's ruin? What do you mean? Who +but you managed the whole business, I should like to know!" + +"That's a lie!" retorted his antagonist, and the strife promised to be +endless, for the others now joined in lustily, and swords were all but +drawn. + +Tarhalmy took his documents under his arm. "I am going," he said, "I +prefer to choose my own company." + + * * * * * + +Meantime, the news of the royal proclamation had spread like wild-fire, +and nothing else was talked of. Nagy (otherwise "Kurovics") hastened to +Janosics to impart to him the news that the members of the council were +quarrelling as to which one was guilty of Raby's condemnation, and that +it would be as well at any rate, it should not be laid at the door of +the prison officials. + +So the two made for the condemned cell, where Raby had been dragged all +but unconscious. + +The prisoner imagined they had come to lead him to the galleys. + +"No, my friend, thank your stars you are not going there," shouted +Janosics, "you are reprieved! You are free!" + +And a sudden thrill of joy born of his regained liberty, shot through +the exhausted frame of the prisoner, remembering he was not to be +scourged at the oar. But then his unbending spirit reasserted itself, +and he exclaimed proudly, "I need no man's grace, and I accept none of +your favours, I would rather die here!" + +"You won't then do anything of the kind," retorted the gaoler, "but you +will just march! Here, thrust him out, you fellows," and he called up a +couple of warders who roughly seized the prisoner between them, and +carried him in spite of his struggles into the courtyard below. There +was a small iron door which led into a side thoroughfare, and this +Janosics opened and pushed Raby through it, out into the street the +other side. + +There they left him on the cobbles, in a dead faint from the efforts he +had made, and there he lay like a lifeless log. The prison authorities +did not care on whom the blame for detaining Raby fell, but they were +determined it should not lay with them. + +Janosics returned whistling into his room. But suddenly he ceased to +whistle; something seemed to be throttling him. His limbs too were +convulsed by a sudden tremor, and horrible spasms of pain shot through +his whole body. When he tried to cry out, he failed to utter a sound, +and only blood came from his mouth. And still that awful sensation of +strangulation oppressed him, so that he tugged at the kerchief about his +throat to get it off; it was the one Fruzsinka had worn. And the words +of the dead woman, her warning that none should come near her, came +back to him. + +The doctor he sent for, directly he saw his patient, exclaimed in +horror, "This is the oriental plague," for he recognised the symptoms of +the fell malady. + +And that word at once drove every living soul away from the unhappy man, +and he was left writhing in his agony behind the door till he was still, +for that meant he was dead. Then they sent two condemned felons to wrap +up the corpse in a horse-rug and carry it out into the cemetery there to +be buried like a dog. The only thing they troubled after was as to +whether enough quicklime had been thrown into the grave. + + * * * * * + +But Raby lay half-dead on the cobble-stones. There were no other houses +in the alley, save the monster barracks, the university hospital, and +the great stone rampart of the hinder part of the Assembly House. + +As a rule, only one person went up that alley every day, and that was an +old Jew named Abraham. He was no longer bound by law to wear the red +mantle, and could go about in his black gown and kaftan. With him was a +red-haired boy, his youngest son, an intelligent lad who had excellent +legs and could run with the best. + +But Abraham left him at the corner of the alley and went alone to the +little iron door. + +There he was accustomed to wait each morning till a heyduke appeared. +Then he would push a paper containing a piece of gold under the door, +and receive in exchange another morsel of paper. This contained the +latest news of Rab Raby, and Abraham promptly gave it to the youngster +waiting at the corner, who forthwith would run with it to Buda, where +Mariska was waiting for it. + +But on this particular morning, the Jew found no news of Raby, but +instead, the prisoner himself, lying on the stones, as one dead. + +The old man raised no alarm, nor did he utter a word, but bending over +the prostrate man, laid his hand on Raby's heart to see if it yet beat. + +When he had satisfied himself that Raby was still alive, Abraham wrapped +him up in his warm fur-lined mantle, took him in his arms, and carried +him to the corner of the alley, where he and his son between them +dragged him into a sedan-chair, and bore him off--whither no one knew! + + * * * * * + +A voice like the voice of the angels themselves (so it seemed to the +half-conscious man who heard it) sweet as the song of the spheres and +thrilling with some unwonted harmony which did not seem of this earth, +recalled the stricken soul of Mathias Raby back from the shadows of +death where it yet lingered. + +"May heaven preserve you to us, poor Raby," whispered the voice. + +The ex-prisoner awoke from his swoon to find himself in a warm room, +whose atmosphere was redolent with some refreshing fragrance, pillowed +on soft cushions, while above him were bending two blue eyes that seemed +as if they carried in their inmost depths, something of the light of +paradise itself. Such eyes, and who could forget them, once having seen +them? + + * * * * * + +But to this day the treasure-chest of Szent-Endre has never been found, +so effectually was it hidden from all men. + + +THE END. + +_Jarrold & Sons, Ltd., Printers, The Empire Press, Norwich._ + + + + +Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors present in the +original text have been corrected. + +In Chapter III, "based on a false premiss" was changed to "based on a +false premise". + +In Chapter V, "the gate of the vineyards were shut" was changed to "the +gates of the vineyards were shut". + +In Chapter VIII, periods was added after "others lay dormant" and "she +has become a fine girl". + +In Chapter XI, "_Did you call me, dear father?_ asked he girl" was +changed to "_Did you call me, dear father?_ asked the girl". + +In Chapter XIV, "Thereupon, he sent the wooer to Fraulein, Fruzsinka" +was changed to "Thereupon, he sent the wooer to Fraulein Fruzsinka". + +In Chapter XVI, "the csako on their heads" was changed to "the csako on +their heads". + +In Chapter XVII, _"Why do you call him a "worshipful gentleman," asked +the president._ was changed to _"Why do you call him a 'worshipful +gentleman,'" asked the president._, and a period was changed to a +question mark after "in order to save his fellow-citizens from beggary". + +In Chapter XIX, a period was changed to a question mark after "What +could be the reasons of his delay". + +In Chapter XX, "a coquettishly clad peasant from the Aldfold" was +changed to "a coquettishly clad peasant from the Alfold", a quotation +mark was added before "These registered formulas are falsified", and "He +fancied al Pesth" was changed to "He fancied all Pesth". + +In Chapter XXIII, "What for the children who are deserted by their +mothers?" was changed to "What, for the children who are deserted by +their mothers?" + +In Chapter XXIX, missing periods were added after "Where all the others +are" and "to demand an explanation". + +In Chapter XXXII, "said Raby, suiting the action to the word" was +changed to "said Raby, suiting the action to the word". + +In Chapter XXXIII, "They stopped the calvacade" was changed to "They +stopped the cavalcade". + +In Chapter XL, a period was changed to a question mark after "had not +the Emperor himself promised to come". + +In Chapter XLIV, "A wasted and attentuated figure" was changed to "A +wasted and attenuated figure". + +In Chapter XLVIII, a comma was added after "deceived by the patient's +symptoms". + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Strange Story of Rab Rby, by Mr Jkai + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRANGE STORY OF RAB RBY *** + +***** This file should be named 36739.txt or 36739.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/3/36739/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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