rote some lines in the
album of a friend. A poem or some such stupidity; and that album has
somehow come into the hands of justice."

"And who gave it over?" enquired the lady passionately.

"As it happens, the owner of the album himself."

"Gyali?"

"The same, my dear. He too thought that one must use a good friend's
shoulders to elevate himself."

Madam Balnokhazy bit her pretty lips until blood came.

"Can you not help Lorand further?" she inquired, turning suddenly to her
husband.

"Why, that is just what I am racking my brain to do."

"Will you save him?"

"That I cannot do, but I shall allow him to escape."

"To escape?"

"Surely there is no other choice, than either to let himself be
arrested, or to escape secretly."

"But in this matter we have made no agreement. It was not this you
promised me."

"My darling, don't place any confidence in great men's promises. The
whole world over, diplomacy consists of deceit: you deceive me, I
deceive you: you betrayed Lorand's confidence, and Lorand deserved it:
why did he confide in you so? You cannot deny that I am the most polite
husband in the world. A young man pays his addresses to my wife: I see
it, and know it; I am not angry; I do not make him leap out of the
window, I do not point my pistol at him: I merely slap him on the
shoulder with perfect nonchalance, and say, 'my dear boy, you will be
arrested to-night in your bed.'"

Balnokhazy could laugh most jovially at such sallies of humor. The whole
of his beautiful white teeth could be seen as he roared with
laughter--(even the gold wire that held them in place.)

My lady Hermine rose from beside him, and seemed to be greatly
irritated.

"You are only playing the innocent before me, but I know quite surely
that you put Gyali up to handing over the album to the treasury."

"You only wish to make yourself believe that, my dear, so that when
Lorand disappears from the house, you may not be compelled to be angry
with Gyali, but with me; for of course somebody must remain in the
house."

"Your insults cannot hurt me."

"I did not wish to hurt you. My every effort was and always will be to
make your life, my dear, ever more agreeable. Have I ever showed
jealousy? Have I not behaved towards you like a father to a daughter
about to be married?"

"Don't remind me of that, sir. That is your most ungracious trait. It is
true that you yourself have introduced into our house young men of every
class o