business of inn-keeper for the
sake of gain (he would not have been able to make a living out of it if
he had tried), but from sheer goodheartedness and good-fellowship. His
charges therefore were extremely moderate. A traveller on foot who asked
for a night's lodging, had to pay twopence, a traveller on horseback a
shilling; if he required wine and brandy for supper as well, still he
was only charged a shilling. Who would go to the trouble of totting up
extra figures for trifles of that sort? A carriage and four was not
taxed at all, those who came in it paid what they chose. If anybody did
not ask what he had to pay but simply shook hands and went on his way,
mine host simply wished him a happy journey and never said a word about
his account.

For Makkabesku was a proud man in his way and thought a great deal of
his gentility. He expected to be addressed as "Domnule!"[32] and was
delighted when his guests took notice of his coat of arms hanging up in
the guest chamber,--to-wit, a black bear with three darts in its
heel--and enquired as to its meaning; when he would explain that that
black bear with the three darts which was also painted on a sheet of
lead and swung backwards and forwards in front of the house between two
iron rods was not a sign-board, but his family crest.

[Footnote 32: Sir.]

Late one afternoon Baron Leonard Hatszegi might have been seen on foot
crossing the bridge which led to the Mikalai _csarda_, and entering its
courtyard. He came on foot with a small box under his arm and his
double-barrelled gun across his shoulder. Makkabesku greeted him from
the verandah while he was still a long way off.

"God be with your lordship! Is anything amiss that your lordship comes
on foot?"

"Yes, at that cursed _tyira lupului_[33] the axle of my coach gave way.
I have always said that that bad bit of road ought to be seen to, this
is at least the sixth time that this accident has befallen me."

[Footnote 33: Wolf-corner.]

"God is the cause thereof, your lordship. Whenever the stream overflows
it damages the road."

"That is no consolation for me. My fellows are struggling with the coach
yonder and cannot set it upright again, so badly damaged it is. It is a
good job I was driving my own horses, for otherwise my neck might have
been broken. As it is one of my heydukes has sprained his hand. Send
help to them at once, or they are likely to remain there all night.
Where's your little girl?"

"Ah, my l