f society. It is true that you have never guarded me against
them:--but then in a short time, when you began to remark that I felt
some affection towards some of them, you discovered always choice
methods to make me despise and abhor them. Had you shut me up and
guarded me with the severity of a convent, you would have shown me more
consideration. But you are playing a dangerous game, sir: maybe the time
will come when I shall not cast out him whom I have hated!"

"Well, that will be your own business, my dear. But the first business
is to tell our relation Lorand that by ten o'clock this evening he must
not be found here: for at that hour they will come to arrest him."

Hermine walked up and down her room in anger.

"And it is all your work: it is useless for you to defend yourself,"
said she, tossing away her husband's hat from the arm-chair, and then
throwing herself in a spiritless manner into it.

"Why, I have no intention of defending myself," said Balnokhazy,
good-humoredly picking up his rolling hat. "Of course I had a little
share in it: why, you know it well enough, my dear. A man's first
business is to create a career. I have to rise: you approve of that
yourself; it is a man's duty to make use of every circumstance that
comes to hand. Had I not done so, I should be a mere magistrate,
somewhere in Szabolcs, who at the end of every three years kisses the
hands of all the 'powers that be,' that they may not turn him out of
office.[45] The present chancellor, Adam Reviczky, was one class ahead
of me in the school. He too was the head of his class, as I was of mine.
Every year I took his place: at every desk, where I sat in the first
place, I found his name carved, and always carved, it out, putting mine
in its place. He reached the height of the 'parabola,' and is now about
to descend. Who knows what may happen next? At such times we must not
mind if we make celebrated men of a few lads, whom at other times we did
not remark."

[Footnote 45: Every three years new magistrates and officials were
elected to the various posts in the counties.]

"But consider, Lorand is a relation of ours."

"That only concerns me, not you."

"It is, notwithstanding, terrible to ruin the career of a young man."

"What will happen to him? He will fly away to the country to some friend
of his, where no one will search for him. At most he will be prohibited
from being 'called to the bar.' But it will not prevent him from being