I cannot help it, if you have made a heretic of
me."

Czipra turned her head aside and gazed down into the water with eyes of
insulted pride: while Lorand, who was standing behind Gyali, thought
within himself:

("If I take you by the neck and drown you in that water, you would
deserve it, and it will do good to my soul: but I should know I had
murdered you: and no one should ever be able to boast of _that_? My name
shall never be connected with yours in death.")

For Lorand might well have known that Gyali's appearance on that day
had no other object than that of reminding Lorand of his awful
obligation.

"My dear boy," said Lorand patting Gyali's shoulder playfully, "I must
show what a general I should have made. I have an important journey this
afternoon to Szolnok."

"Well, go; don't bother yourself on my account. Do exactly as you
please."

"That's not how matters lie, Pepi: you must not stay here in the
meantime."

"The devil! Perhaps you will turn me out?"

"Oh dear no! To-night we shall have a glorious carnival at Szolnok, in
honor of my regeneration. All the gay fellows of the neighborhood are
invited to it. You must come with us too."

"Ha! Your regeneration carnival!" cried Gyali, in a voice of ecstasy,
the while gazing at Czipra apologetically. "Albeit other magnets draw me
hither with overpowering force--I must go there without fail. I must
deliver a 'toast' at your 'regeneration' festival, Lorand."

"My brother Desi will also be there."

"Oho! little Desi? That little rebel. Well all the better. We shall have
much in common with him; of old he was an amusing boy, with his serious
face. Well I shall go with you. I sacrifice myself. I capitulate. Well
we shall go to Szolnok to-night."

Why, anyone might have seen plainly--had he not come that day just to
revel in the agony of Lorand?

"Yes, Pepi," Lorand assured him, "we shall be gay as we were once ten
years ago. Much hidden joy awaits us: we shall break in suddenly upon
it. Well, you are coming with us."

"Without fail: only be so good as to send some one next door for my
traveling-cloak. I shall go with you to your 'regeneration' fete!"

And once again he grasped Lorand's hand tenderly, as one who was
incapable of expressing in words all the good wishes with which his
heart was brimming over.

"You see I should have been a good general after all," said Lorand
smiling. "How beautifully I captured the besieging army."

"Oh, not at al