ot dance," said the hero, with
impertinent familiarity. And he sat down beside Lady Karpathy as if he
were an intimate friend, throwing back his dress-coat on both sides, and
nursing one of his legs in both hands. "Will it bore your ladyship if we
have a little talk together?"

"I am a good listener."

"During the last few days a joyous rumour has flashed through our
capital which has made every one happy who has heard it."

"What rumour is that?"

"That your ladyship intends to spend the coming winter in the capital."

"It is not yet certain."

"You drive me to despair. Surely, my friend Karpathy is not such an
ungallant husband? Why, he should fly to execute his wife's wishes!"

"I have never told anybody that I wanted to reside at Pest."

"The lady is secretive," thought Kecskerey. "I know that they are making
their palace at Pest habitable. We shall get to the bottom of it
presently."

"Yet the Pest saloons will be very attractive this winter, and we shall
form some very elegant sets. The Szepkiesdys are coming up, and we may
also expect to see there Count Gergely with his mother, young Eugene
Darvay, the handsome Rezsoe Csendey, and that genial prince of buffoons,
Mike Kis."

Fanny toyed indifferently with her fan; not one of all these persons
interested her in the least.

"And I know it as a fact, that our feted friend Rudolf is also going to
spend the winter there, with his handsome wife."

Hah! what impression will that make? Will she be able to conceal the
smarting pain she felt at that moment? But no, she did not betray
herself; she merely said, "I don't fancy we shall go to Pest."

With that she rose from her seat. The dance was over, and Flora,
hastening to her friend, passed her arm round her waist, and they took a
turn together round the room.

Mr. Kecskerey began to rock himself gently to and fro on the sofa and
draw conclusions.

"Why did she sigh so deeply when she said, 'I don't fancy we shall go to
Pest'?"

Just then Rudolf drew near, and Mr. Kecskerey seizing his opportunity,
put his arm through Rudolf's, and paced with him up and down the
splendid saloon, as if they had been the very best friends in the world.
And here we should do well to remember that Mr. Kecskerey was a
personage of remarkable consideration in the highest circles, and
enjoyed a position of distinction there peculiarly his own.

The worthy cavalier--I mean Mr. Kecskerey--had just drawn Rudolf
underneath a ch