beautiful young
woman waited in front of the jail, on a warm, moon-lit night in May,
for her husband's release, for, with an incomprehensible mutter, he
pursued his round, on which, during the next two hours, he repeatedly
passed Panna without troubling himself any farther about her.

All fatigue had now left the watcher and, after this disturbance, she
did not close her eyes a second time. She was once more calm and
strong, and constantly repeated in her mind that she was about to do a
good, needful work, pleasing to God. The moon had set, it was growing
noticeably cool, day was dawning in the east; she shivered, a slight
tremor ran through her whole frame, yet she remained motionless on her
stone seat. Gradually the light grew brighter and brighter, the great
city gave the first signs of awakening, a few sleepy-looking people
began to pass with echoing footsteps through the street, now and then a
carriage drove by, the matin bells pealed from the church steeples, and
the first rays of the rising sun flooded the roofs of the surrounding
houses with ruddy gold. Just at that moment a carriage rolled around
the corner, drove in a sharp curve to the door of the jail, and
stopped. Panna pressed farther back into her niche and hid her face in
her shawl. She had recognized Janos and an open carriage owned by
Abonyi.

The driver, who had not noticed the dark figure between the pillars,
sprang from his box, blanketed the steaming horses, and gave them some
bags of oats. Meanwhile the door of the jail had opened, for it was
five o'clock; a heiduck came out, yawning and stretching, and asked
Janos:

"For whom are you waiting so early, Brother?"'

"For my master, Herr von Abonyi, who will come presently."

"Yes, yes, you are to fetch his lordship; well, if you wish, I'll go in
and tell the gentleman that you're here."

"Do, we'll get away sooner."

The man vanished inside the building and Janos busied himself
industriously with his horses, while whistling a little song. It was
not ten minutes before steps and voices were heard in the doorway.
Janos raised his cap, called: "At your service," and sprang on the box.
Two men appeared on the threshold, both looking as though they had been
up all night--Abonyi and the steward.

"Cordial thanks and farewell till you see me in Kisfalu!" cried Abonyi,
shaking hands with his companion.

"Good-bye until then! And in Kisfalu I'll give you revenge for the
trifle you lost