ing it contained
something important? Somebody once said (I think it was Istvan Pazar who
had served in the war), that the umbrella contained all sorts of notes,
telegrams, and papers written in his spying days, and that they were in
the handle of the umbrella, which was hollow. Well, perhaps it was true.

The other members of the Gregorics family looked with little favor on
the small boy in the Gregorics's household, and never rested till they
had looked through all the baptismal registers they could lay hands on.
At last they came upon the entry they wanted, "Gyoergy Wibra,
illegitimate; mother, Anna Wibra."

He was a pretty little fellow, so full of life and spirits that every
one took a fancy to him.

CHAPTER II.

DUBIOUS SIGNS.

Little Gyuri Wibra grew to be a fine lad, strong and broad chested. Pal
Gregorics was always saying, "Where on earth does he take that chest
from?"

He was so narrow-chested himself that he always gazed with admiration at
the boy's sturdy frame, and was so taken up in the contemplation of it,
that he hardly interested himself in the child's studies. And he was a
clever boy too. An old pensioned professor, Marton Kupeczky, gave him
lessons every day, and was full of his praises.

"There's plenty in him, sir," he used to say. "He'll be a great man,
sir. What will you bet, sir?"

Gregorics was always delighted, for he loved the boy, though he never
showed it. On these occasions he would smile and answer:

"I'll bet you a cigar, and we'll consider I've lost it."

And then he would offer the old professor, who was very fond of
betting, one of his choicest cigars.

"I never had such a clever pupil before," the old professor used to say.
"I have had to teach very ordinary minds all my life, and have wasted my
talents on them. A sad thing to say, sir. I feel like that nugget of
gold which was lost at the Mint. You know the tale, sir? What, you have
never heard it? Why, a large nugget of gold was once lost at the Mint.
It was searched for everywhere, but could not be found. Well, after a
long examination of all the clerks, it turned out that the gold had been
melted by accident with the copper for the kreutzers. You understand me,
sir? I have been pouring my soul into two or three generations of fools,
but, thank goodness, I have at last found a worthy recipient for my
knowledge. Of course, you understand me, sir?"

But Pal Gregorics needed no spurring on in this case; he had