could not restrain himself from impressing a burning kiss on the
countess's hand so affected was he by this outburst of generosity.

"Ah, ha!" cackled the count behind his back, "so we have got as far as
that already, eh! Capital, capital, upon my word! Nay, nay, my young
friend, don't be afraid of me. Do not put yourself out in the least on
my account! God bless you, my boy!"

"To-morrow, we'll plan it all out, I'll be waiting for you at one
o'clock," whispered the countess to Szilard, "now I must go, the
cotillion is beginning."

"Don't you dance then?" enquired the count of Szilard. "Nonsense!
they'll say you are mourning somebody. Thank God, old Lapussa was not
_your_ father-in-law, but Hatszegi's. It is for him to pull a long face,
but you go and dance!"

CHAPTER XIII

TIT FOR TAT

It may seem strange to us that the rumour of Fatia Negra's nocturnal
adventure was not spread abroad in these parts, but as a matter of fact
nobody did speak of it. It seemed as if everybody who knew anything
about it, died out of the world before he could pass the news on to his
neighbour.

The dwellers in the hut in the Ice Valley had vanished without leaving a
trace behind them. The herd, untended by a shepherd, was scattered to
the winds by wolves. Nobody could say what had become of Juon Tare and
Mariora. The person who shewed least of all tell that she knew anything
about this midnight adventure was Anicza herself. She had sobbed out the
whole story before Henrietta, but after that she kept her own counsel
and kept a good countenance also when folks looked at her. But there was
venom at the bottom of her heart, and she nourished it there.

In a fortnight's time Fatia Negra visited her again. There was now
nothing the matter with him, all traces of the life and death struggle
had disappeared. Anicza was more affectionate towards him than ever. She
did not even ask him where he had been all this time, nor did she notice
the scar on his neck which had not been there before.

Fatia Negra came to her at night, as he always did. The famous
adventurer was very cautious. Anicza knew for certain that whenever he
came to visit her in a populous place like this, before him and behind
him went faithful henchmen who stood on guard at the corners of the
streets and gave a signal at the approach of any danger. Only amongst
the snowy mountains was he wont to go alone. He was also very wary in
other ways. Thus, he never drank wi