e--possibly
some time. At any rate you must not loiter about here with the horses
but go on to the priest and beg him, civilly, mind, to kindly
accommodate my nags in his stable and give them two bushels of maize. As
soon as I return I'll settle with him, but don't say anything about
payment, or else you will offend him. Kiss his hand, for he is a priest
and you are only a lazy vagabond. If you hear no news of me by to-morrow
morning, put the horses into the carriage again and return to Arad where
Count Kengyelesy will tell you what to do next."

Then he turned upon his heel and set off towards the castle.

It was already evening. In the upper story seven of the windows were lit
up and the moon shone into the eighth. That was Henrietta's bedroom.
Squire Gerzson knew it. He was quite at home in the castle.

At the hall entrance he encountered Leonard's huntsman, an impertinent,
bony, jowly loafer whom he had never been able to endure. The fellow
barred the way.

"Good evening your honour."

"Why should _you_ wish _me_ good evening, you stupid jackass! Do you
suppose I have travelled five and twenty miles for the pleasure of
wishing _you_ good evening? Who's at home?"

"Nobody."

"Go along with you, you sodden-headed son of a dog. Nobody at home and
seven windows in the upper story all alight!"

"It is true the rooms are lit up, but that is on account of her
ladyship--they are sitting up with her."

"Then where's your master?"

"He has trotted into Klausenburg for the learned doctor."

"What is the matter with her ladyship?"

"I don't know. They say she is mad."

"You are mad yourself, you stupid beast. Who told you that?"

"I saw it, I heard it myself, and others also have seen that she is
mad."

"Cannot I speak to her?"

"How can you? That's just the mischief of it, that she cannot be spoken
to."

"You rascal, I tell you your master _is_ at home. I am sure of it."

Long-legs shrugged his shoulders and began to whistle.

"Look ye here, my son," said Gerzson, scarcely able to contain himself,
"the fist that you see in my pocket here is pulling the trigger of a
revolver and I have a jolly good mind to send a bullet in between your
onion chawing teeth, so I should advise you not to try any of your
tom-foolery on me. On this occasion I have not come to pay your master
a visit but for other reasons. Speak the truth, sirrah! Is your master
at home or is he not?"

"I have just told you that there is n