r one fine day it suddenly
occurred to Gaspar it was strange Mrs. Panyoki showed no signs of taking
part in the auction. She evidently knew nothing of the existence of the
treasure; Prepelicza had not told her the secret, and had thus proved
himself a clever man, for if he had told her too, his part in the play
was over. Whereas now, when the two brothers had the caldron in their
possession, they would be obliged to pay him hush-money to hold his
tongue. As Gaspar turned all this over in his mind, he began to find it
ridiculous for him and Boldizsar to keep on outbidding each other, thus
attracting every one's attention to them, putting money into the boy's
pocket, and awakening Mrs. Panyoki's suspicions. And whichever bought
"Lebanon" at last would certainly not be left to enjoy it unmolested. So
he decided it would be cheaper if they were to work together, buy the
estate, share the contents of the caldron, and pay Prepelicza a certain
sum yearly to hold his tongue.

So one day the brothers came to terms, and Sztolarik was very surprised
when, the next day, the door opened, and in walked Boldizsar and
announced that he had thought things over, and come to the conclusion
that "Lebanon" was decidedly not worth 50,000 florins, and he had given
up all idea of buying it.

"That does not matter," said Sztolarik, "your brother will give us
48,000 for it."

And he waited impatiently till he had a chance of speaking to Gaspar
about it. But that good man calmly answered:

"It was very stupid of me to offer so much for it, and I am really
grateful to you, Sztolarik, for not taking me at my word at once. Why, I
can buy a good-sized estate for the money I offered for it."

The lawyer hardly knew what to do next. He was afraid he had made them
go back on their bargain, by letting them carry it on so long, and felt
sure he would be the laughing stock of the town, and that Gyuri would
reproach him with not looking after his interests properly. So off he
rushed to Boldizsar and offered him "Lebanon" for 45,000 florins; but
Boldizsar only laughed, and said:

"Do you take me for a fool?"

Whereupon he went to Gaspar and said:

"Well, you may have 'Lebanon' for 40,000 florins."

Gaspar shook his head and answered:

"I'm not quite mad yet."

And now the auction began again, but this time it went _backward_, until
at last, with the greatest difficulty, Sztolarik got 15,000 florins out
of them. They bought it together, and both