On being thus accosted, Mr. Gerzson bobbed up his head with a frightened
air and rubbed his eyes, like one who has been suddenly aroused from
slumber and knows not what is going on under his very nose.

"I am not asleep, 'pon my word I'm not. I was only nodding a little."

"Light a cigar."

"No I won't. I prefer to go out and have a turn in the open air and get
the cobwebs out of my head. I'll have a look round outside a bit."

And with that he planted both his arms on the table, laid his head upon
them and fell fast asleep.

Henrietta could not help smiling. Poor old gentleman, he had had a good
deal of exertion and no doubt that wine was uncommonly strong. Let him
rest a bit. He had had no sleep the night before. It would be quite
sufficient if one of them kept awake.

Then she took up the lamp and went out into the hall observing to her
great satisfaction that the door thereof was provided with a good lock.
So she locked and fastened it. With timid curiosity she then explored
every corner with the lamp and came upon nothing suspicious. Finally she
returned to the guest room, locked the door of that also and placed the
carriage lamp on the table, turning its shade towards the sleeping old
man so that he might not be awakened by the glare of the lamp; and there
she remained all alone, watching in the _csarda_ of the desolate
_puszta_, patiently waiting for the night to pass over her homeless
head.

So patient was she that only once did she take her watch from her bosom
to see what the time was.

* * * * *

It was now past midnight.

She began to calculate how long it would take the coachman to get to
Oroshaza and how much time he would require to reach this place. If he
had got horses at once he ought to be near now.

A short time afterwards she heard the tread of horses' feet in the
courtyard. Those must be our horses, thought she, and hastening to the
window looking out upon the courtyard, she pulled the blind a little to
one side and looked out.

The night was so light outside that she could see the four horses quite
plainly in the courtyard--but she observed that a man was sitting on
_each_ of them.

"This is very curious," thought she, "_two_ men would have been quite
sufficient to bring along the relay."

Three of the four men dismounted from their horses and a fifth came out
of the stable and had a short consultation with them; then the three
approached the _cs