and Banfy still over the country.

Teleki looked in confusion toward his son-in-law. The latter muttered
bitterly with clenched fists and tears in his eyes:

"Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo."

When the assembly had broken up Forval and Nicholas Bethlen met.

"So then there is no future hope of seeing Transylvania take up arms,"
said the Frenchman, somewhat dejectedly.

"On the contrary we just begin to hope with good reason," replied
Bethlen, laying his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Did you listen when the young man spoke?"

"He spoke beautifully."

"It is not a question of beautiful speaking. I think that is the man
you are looking for."

"A King of Hungary?"

"Or a fugitive fleeing from country to country, just as the dice
fall."

CHAPTER XVI

THE LEAGUE

In accordance with a good old custom every festivity must close with a
banquet, so this noisy Diet was closed with a still noisier revel at
which Michael Apafi again presided, and this time with justice, for
according to the old chronicles a skin of wine was not enough for him
at a sitting.

Wine gives a peculiar fire not only to love but also to hatred. If
ladies are at table we must look out for our hearts; but when men are
together then our heads are in danger.

After the feasting, in true Transylvanian fashion the drinking was
continued standing. The entertainment took on a livelier cast and the
Prince turned to each one of the lords as they stood, holding out a
full beaker to them and challenging them to drink.

"Drink! to my health! to the welfare of the country--or to whatever
else you please!" The men were all in good spirits, quarreling with
each other good-naturedly and becoming reconciled again. One man only
who never drank, Michael Teleki, remained sober.

Beware of those who remain sober when everybody gets drunk! Teleki
went round among the lords who were drinking together on a wager and
joking, and had for some time been moving stealthily about Banfy, when
Banfy noticed him and turned toward him jestingly.

"How sad you are!" he said, with a pitying laugh; "just like a man who
has lost a palatinate."

This remark came very aptly for Teleki. With a smile out of which
gleamed a deadly dagger, he replied:

"No thanks to you! If Paul Beldi had not been present you would have
been alone with your vote. But it has happened once more, in the
presence of so influential a man as Paul Beldi we must all bow. His