knew he had only a free
list public to deal with) exclaimed: "Whoever has seen this piece before
and does not wish to see it again, will have his money returned to him
on applying at the ticket office."

These words were no sooner uttered than Vamhidy leaped from his seat,
rushed upon the stage, caught Franz Moor in his arms and kissed his
painted face crying with a voice trembling with joy: "Coloman!"

Franz Moor hesitated for an instant, then tore off his Spanish beard,
dropped his red wig, wiped the painted wrinkles from his forehead and
Szilard saw before him a pale, melancholy, childish countenance.

Leander Baberossy was young Coloman, Henrietta's brother.

The representation naturally ceased at once. Szilard hustled the
rediscovered "prodigal son" off the boards and never let him stop for an
instant till he had got him safe and sound into his own private room.
There he embraced him again, held him at arms' length and had a good
look at him. The lad seemed to be twenty years old at the very least,
yet really he was but fifteen. Play acting, want and premature shaving
soon make a youth look old. Moreover, in his whole bearing, in all his
movements, there was something precocious, a resolute, bold expression
which made one forget that he was a mere child--a sort of cynicism not
pleasant to behold.

Szilard soon had a good supper ready for him, which the youth fell to
work upon without ceremony.

"My dear Leander," said Vamhidy when the meal was over, "no doubt it is
a very fine thing when one can say that he is his own master, nor is it
so difficult to attain to such a position after all. All that is wanted
is a strength of character always true to itself. But you, my friend,
have committed follies which might easily make of you something very
different."

Coloman shrugged his shoulders.

"I have committed many follies no doubt, but I do not call to mind any
which I should be afraid to confess."

Szilard began to fancy that his suspicions were groundless.

"People are talking of a certain _bill_ which you have given in your
sister's name?"

At these words Coloman cast down his eyes upon his plate and his whole
face grew blood-red. In a scarcely audible voice he enquired: "And has
Henrietta refused to honour that bill?"

Vamhidy sighed deeply. Then it was really true that this thoughtless
child had committed the crime!

"My dear Coloman," said he, dropping the Leander now, "your sister is
the martyr