fore my eyes."

"Doubtless," returned Szilard coldly.

"My friend, the girl did not make such a sour face over it as you are
doing. She was strong-minded and decided. I was amazed at the composure
with which she addressed her family, she was like the capitulating
commandant of a fortress dictating the terms of surrender. Not a tear
did she shed in their presence and yet I believe she suffered."

"Oh, she has lots of courage."

"I wish you had as much. Here is your absurd scribble, its surrender was
one of the conditions imposed. I am glad these mischievous exercises are
safely in our hands again. Don't bother your head about them any more!
The girl is going away, you will remain here, in a year's time you will
have forgotten each other."

Szilard smiled frostily.

"And that word which binds us together or tears us asunder?" said he.

"Yes, I thought of that, too. She looked me straight in the eyes for a
long time when I asked for it and I told her I wanted the real, the
genuine word. She has written it on the back of these papers, look!"

Szilard stretched forth a tremulous hand towards the papers, seized
them, turned them round, and cast one look at the word written there and
then fell at full length on the floor, striking his head against the
corner of the table so that the blood flowed.

Mr. Sipos, cursing the whole stupid business and wishing the papers at
the bottom of the sea, raised the young man tenderly and bathed his head
with cold water. He did not call for assistance (why should the whole
world be taken into his confidence?), but when the youth came to again,
he soothed and consoled him with loving words. And Szilard, unable to
contain himself any longer, hid his head in the good old man's bosom,
pressed his lips to his hand and wept long and bitterly.

* * * * *

A fortnight later the marriage of Baron Hatszegi and Henrietta Lapussa
was solemnized with great pomp and befitting splendour. The bride bore
herself bravely throughout the ceremony, and they tell me that her lace
and her diamonds were fully described in all the fashionable papers.

CHAPTER VI

BRINGING HOME THE BRIDE

In those days there were no railways in Hungary. It took a whole week to
travel post from Pest to the depths of Transylvania, with relays of
horses provided beforehand at every station. On the very day after the
wedding the young bride set out on her journey. She had only stipula