he cold air he drew his
cloak about him. A paper fell at his feet and taking it up he read
the following words:

"My lord, you read hearts poorly. You have forfeited your power and
when all had forsaken you you thought me alone faithful, who loved in
you only your power. The man who rises I adore: I hate the falling.
You should have taken Corsar Bey's fate for warning." . . . Banfy
could not read it through. His face was darkened with shame to be so
degraded.

"It is cowardice and disgrace for a man who has lived as I have to be
willing to die this way; for a man who has always faced his enemy to
hide himself away now in his last moments--shame on him! That I could
forget the wife who freed me from my enemy's hands by the sacrifice of
herself! It is not too late. I cannot save my life now but I can my
pride. No one hereafter shall boast that he betrayed me. My enemies
shall not say that I tried to hide from them and they found me. I will
go boldly into their presence as I should have done at first."

With this decision Banfy went out into the hidden court where he had
left his horse. To his surprise he found that it was not there; the
odalisque had taken it. At that he could but smile.

"I should regret it very much if she had not stolen me too at the same
time."

He went back into the hall, lighted again the fuse, came out again,
closed the iron door and made his way along the bank of the Szamos.
Toward noon he sat down on the bank to rest and had sat there hardly a
quarter of an hour when he heard the sound of horses' hoofs
approaching and looked up. The thicket concealed him and at the head
of an armed band of men he saw Ladislaus Csaki and Azraele riding on
one horse. The girl seemed to be pointing out something to him in the
direction of the cliffs, at which the man was evidently delighted.
Banfy smiled scornfully:--Poor Tartar! As soon as the band had passed
Banfy continued on his way. Soon he met in the forest a poor peasant
cutting wood.

"Do you know in which direction those armed men have gone?" he asked
him.

"Yes, my lord, they have gone to seize Dionysius Banfy. A great price
is set on his head."

"How much?"

"If a nobleman takes him, he is to receive an estate; if a peasant,
two hundred ducats."

"That is not much though I suppose it will be enough for you. I am
Dionysius Banfy."

The peasant took off his cap.

"Is there any place you wish me to guide you to, my lord?"

"Guide me to th