if that is all, we will relieve your distress at once," he
said. And he ordered the soldier waiting without to bring his own
dress boots in the carriage box for the Lieutenant.

Clement was just opening his lips to make some objections--the favor
shown him was too great--when he caught sight of the boots; they
pleased him greatly, for they were made of royal green morocco,
stitched with gold threads, trimmed on each side with broad gold
fringe and finished with enameled spurs.

"Put them on quickly," said Csaki to the Lieutenant. "You must be on
your way at once without delay."

Clement took one of the boots by the two straps and began to draw it
on, first looking in with a satisfied smile, but it was no small task
for Csaki wore a very narrow cavalier's boot. Clement, on the other
hand, moved on moderately large feet, so that he had to begin from the
very beginning as many as three times and give it up from the very
beginning as many times, thoroughly tired before he succeeded in
getting his foot into the leg of the boot; in these exertions he
worked his eyes and mouth so that Ladislaus Csaki had to put his head
out of the window, he was so overcome with laughter. Then he came to
the heel and there he stuck; he seized the foot gear firmly by both
straps and began to stamp himself into it, thumping about the room in
this bent position and groaning loudly at every push, till his eyes
stood out and the perspiration ran down his face, before he had worked
his way into the first boot. The same difficulties attended the second
boot; but after he had used six-horse power to get his foot into this
insufficient space he looked at his shining tight boots with a glow of
satisfaction, though they were not in perfect harmony with the rest of
his dusty, greasy, ink-spotted clothing.

"Now listen carefully to what I tell you," said Csaki, seating himself
on the only chair with an air of authority, while the student still
standing, lifted first one foot and then the other and his face turned
green and blue with pain, for the boots began to make havoc with his
corns.

"When did you make your last circuit?"

"I don't remember exactly."

"But you ought to know. Why did you not make a note of it? The Prince
wishes you to set out at once and make your round without delay,
paying special attention to the districts lying between Torocko,
Banfy-hunyad, and Bonczida; in addition to the usual questions you are
to add this one, Has anyb