shed after the man and pommelled him for daring to go
out before he had been told to go. Finally he dashed out and, for the
lowest silver coin he could make up his mind to part with, hired a
hackney coach to take him to his villa near the park, for thither he had
resolved to fly.

On arriving there he recovered himself somewhat.

So Coloman had been discovered and had confessed about his own doings
and Margari's. Well he must simply disavow Margari, that's all. But
suppose Margari were to make a clean breast of it? Well he could
repudiate the whole thing of course. But then that wretched royal
mandate? He must either swear or pay the court fine every day. It would
be best perhaps to fly, to leave the capital of the magistrate behind
him and set out on his travels. Perhaps then they would forget all about
it. But then there was the law-suit! And suppose it should be decided in
the meantime and decided against him! It was an absurd dilemma! To
remain here was dangerous and to go away was also dangerous. What a good
job it would be if that cursed forged-bill business could disappear from
the face of the earth. The bill ought to be withdrawn. But that was
impossible because it was already in the magistrate's hands, and
therefore could not be ignored. And then the oath required of him.
Either he must confess that he was personally interested in the matter
and then he would not be required to swear but would at the same time
make himself an object of suspicion, or else he must go on paying this
infernal toll money in order to be able to cross the non-juratory
bridge, so to speak. It was an absolutely desperating syllogism, and
after tossing about sleeplessly all night in the midst of this vicious
circle, Mr. John resolved in the morning to set off at once for the
vineyards of Promontor,[41] tell his servants that he meant to remain
there and enjoy himself, and immediately afterwards get into a
post-chaise and drive to his Sarfeneki property. Nobody should know his
real address but his lawyer, and there he would await developments, only
emerging in case of the most urgent necessity.

[Footnote 41: A village a few miles out of Pest.]

So he hastily swallowed his chocolate, wrapped himself in his mantle and
fancied that now he might safely fly; but he reckoned without his host,
for, on the very doorstep, he came face to face with Margari!

"What do you want here, eh?" he inquired fiercely of the humble man he
feared so much