nch ready," said he, "we will not go any
further."

Then he turned again to Vamhidy.

"Since we are obliged to capitulate to superior force, would you be so
good as to pick out with me a nice, round, shadowy spot in the forest
where we may encamp and share with each other our provisions which have
thus become the spoils of war?"

"Thank you, my lord," replied Vamhidy coldly, "but I have already had my
lunch."

His lunch, by the way, had consisted of a maize cake baked in the ashes.

"Then won't you allow your men to drink my health in a glass of wine,
since they are actually on my domains?"

"My _pandurs_ are not allowed to drink; they have to remain sober. They
must not leave the mill without my leave and your lordship must not camp
out here although the mill is your property. For just now I am
'verbiro,'[50] here with the right to open and close every door as I may
think fit."

[Footnote 50: A magistrate with the power of life and death in his
hands.]

"Then I shall know how to respect your authority. All the same, I do not
withdraw my offer. My castle and every house and shanty on my estate is
at your disposal and if you should not find me at home at Hidvar, as I
have to be off early to-morrow morning to Szeb, my wife will be
delighted to see you."

And with that he threw his gun across his shoulder and tripped away with
well bred nonchalance across the field, and, calling to his party to
follow him, disappeared in the depths of the forest from which he had
just emerged.

* * * * *

And now it was evening and the heavens were full of stars and Szilard
began to gaze at the stars and as he did so he forgot all about the
official burdens that weighed so heavily upon his shoulders, all about
Fatia Negra and the robbers. He fancied that his eyes encountered among
the stars the eyes of "another" whom slumber and happiness had deserted
just as they had deserted him.

How close to each other chance had brought them once more! He had only
to accept her husband's invitation in order to meet her face to face.
What would they not have to say to one another?

The night was quite still, the whole region was dumb save for the
gurgling of the water rushing through the sluices. The _pandurs_ were
snoring in the living room, for they were allowed to sleep till two
o'clock. Only Vamhidy kept watch with a single _pandur_ who was guarding
the prisoners in the cellar.

"The Lord God bless