earing to lose his purchaser, took five florins more off
the price, and Moricz, being a sensible man, at once struck the bargain;
he always bought of an evening from such as had not been able to sell
their cattle during the day, and gave it for a low price to save their
having to drive it home again.

"What can I do for you, sir?"

"I should like to buy something of you, which belongs neither to you nor
to me."

"There are plenty of things in the world answering to that description,"
said Moricz, "and I can assure you, I will let you have it as cheap as
possible."

"Let us move on a bit."

Gyuri led him out of the crowd to the village pump, near which grew an
elder-tree. This tree, round which they had put some palings, was also a
part of the future greatness of Babaszek, for the green, evil-smelling
insects which housed in its branches, and which are used in various
medicines (Spanish flies), induced them to believe that they might, once
upon a time, have a chemist in Babaszek. The young girls of the town
used to collect the insects, and sell them to the chemist at Zolyom for
a few kreutzers; but that was forbidden now, for the people had decided:
"Near that tree there will once be a chemist's shop, so we will not have
the insects taken away."

They evidently considered them the foundation of the future chemist's
store.

Gyuri told the Jew what he wanted; that he was interested in his
father's favorite umbrella, and would buy it if he could find it. Did
Moricz know anything about it?

"Yes, I do," was the disappointed answer, for now he knew what a trifle
it was, he saw the price fall in proportion.

"I will give you fifty florins for any information that will lead to its
discovery."

Moricz quickly took off his cap, which until now he had not considered
it necessary to remove. Fifty florins for an old umbrella! Why, this
young man must be the Prince of Coburg himself from Szent-Antal! Now he
noticed for the first time how very elegantly he was dressed.

"The umbrella can be found," he said; and then added more doubtfully, "I
think."

"Tell me all you know."

"Let me see, where shall I begin? It is now about fourteen years since
my father disappeared, and I have forgotten most of the details, but
this much I remember, that I started to look for him with my brother
Sami, and in Podhragy I found the first trace of him, and following this
up, I was told that when there he was still quite in his right min