Part 25 (1/2)
”Partly. You are referring to the matter of secret journalism?”
”Yes, my dear, and to other matters which I have heard from you.”
”Yes, from me. I told you frankly, what Lorand related to me in confidence, believing that I shared his enthusiastic ideas. I told you that you might use your knowledge for your own elevation. They were gifts of honor, as far as you are concerned, but I bound you not to bring any disgrace upon him from whom I learned the facts, and to inform me if any danger should threaten him.”
Balnokhazy bent nearer to his wife and whispered in her ear:
”To-night arrests will take place.”
”Whom will they arrest?”
”Several leaders of the Parliamentary youths, particularly those responsible for the dissemination of the written newspaper.”
”How can that affect Lorand? He has burned every writing; no piece of paper can be found in his room. The newspaper fragments, if they have come into strange hands, cannot be compared with his handwriting. If hitherto he wrote with letters leaning forwards, he will now lean them backwards: no one will be able to find any similarity in the handwritings. His brother, who copied them, has confessed nothing against him.”
”True enough; but I am inclined to think that he has not destroyed everything he has written in this town. Once he wrote some lines in the alb.u.m of a friend. A poem or some such stupidity; and that alb.u.m has somehow come into the hands of justice.”
”And who gave it over?” enquired the lady pa.s.sionately.
”As it happens, the owner of the alb.u.m himself.”
”Gyali?”
”The same, my dear. He too thought that one must use a good friend's shoulders to elevate himself.”
Madam Balnokhazy bit her pretty lips until blood came.
”Can you not help Lorand further?” she inquired, turning suddenly to her husband.
”Why, that is just what I am racking my brain to do.”
”Will you save him?”
”That I cannot do, but I shall allow him to escape.”
”To escape?”
”Surely there is no other choice, than either to let himself be arrested, or to escape secretly.”
”But in this matter we have made no agreement. It was not this you promised me.”
”My darling, don't place any confidence in great men's promises. The whole world over, diplomacy consists of deceit: you deceive me, I deceive you: you betrayed Lorand's confidence, and Lorand deserved it: why did he confide in you so? You cannot deny that I am the most polite husband in the world. A young man pays his addresses to my wife: I see it, and know it; I am not angry; I do not make him leap out of the window, I do not point my pistol at him: I merely slap him on the shoulder with perfect nonchalance, and say, 'my dear boy, you will be arrested to-night in your bed.'”
Balnokhazy could laugh most jovially at such sallies of humor. The whole of his beautiful white teeth could be seen as he roared with laughter--(even the gold wire that held them in place.)
My lady Hermine rose from beside him, and seemed to be greatly irritated.
”You are only playing the innocent before me, but I know quite surely that you put Gyali up to handing over the alb.u.m to the treasury.”
”You only wish to make yourself believe that, my dear, so that when Lorand disappears from the house, you may not be compelled to be angry with Gyali, but with me; for of course somebody must remain in the house.”