her since her marriage and
both she and her husband have expressed themselves, at home, in the most
disrespectful terms imaginable concerning the old gentleman, even giving
it to be understood that they would be very glad if they had not to wait
too long for the curtain to fall on the fifth act of his life's drama.
He calls as his witness one Margari, who was formerly old Lapussa's
reader before the girl was married, and since then has been compelled
to act as secretary to Hatszegi, or rather as a spy upon him. This
fellow, who is now the mere tool of Mr. John, is quite prepared to
retail all sorts of horrors about the Hatszegis. As to the other
grandchild, the boy Koloman I mean, his uncle has saddled him with a
terrible charge. He has produced a bill for 40,000 florins which he
accuses the lad of forging in the name of his sister, the Baroness
Hatszegi."

"Ah!" exclaimed the countess in an incredulous voice.

"The thing is ridiculously incredible, I know, yet there the bill is; I
have seen it, for it has been sequestered by the Court. It is obviously
in the youth's handwriting as also is the very bad imitation of his
sister's signature. In connection therewith is the fact of the youth's
sudden disappearance (and every attempt to trace his whereabouts has
failed), for, on the very day when the subject of the bill was first
broached, he vanished from his college, and apparently he had been
preparing for flight some time before."

"But what could have induced a mere child to do such a thing, he is
scarcely thirteen years old?"

"He was always somewhat flighty by nature, though that, of course, is
not sufficient to explain how he came to forge his sister's name on a
draft for 40,000 florins."

"But why will not the baron tell his wife all about it?"

"Does not your ladyship see?--It is quite plain to me. Hatszegi
understands his wife thoroughly. He feels certain that as soon as the
baroness hears of what her brother is accused, she would not hesitate a
moment to acknowledge the forged signature as really her own."

"True, true. And then I suppose her brother could be saved."

"Completely."

"And then, I suppose, she would have to pay the money?"

"Either pay it or be sued for it."

"Poor woman! I know she has no money. A most awkward position, most
awkward. But it does not matter; if her jewels are under lock and key,
nobody guards mine."

At these words which came straight from the best of hearts, Szilard