Part 57 (1/2)
”There we are! Well I have betrayed you now. But what is the ultimate good of secrecy here between good friends and relations? Yes, he is Lorand aronffy, a dear relation of ours. And you had not yet recognized him, Melanie?”
Melanie turned as white as the wall.
Lorand answered not a word.
Instead of answering he stepped nearer to Topandy, who grasped his hand, and drew him towards him.
Madame Balnokhazy did not allow anyone else to utter a word.
”I shall not be a burden long, my dear uncle. I have taken up my residence here in the neighborhood, with Mr. Sarvolgyi, who is going to buy our property; we have just won an important suit in chancery.”
”Indeed?”
Madame Balnokhazy did not explain the genesis of the suit in chancery any further to Topandy, who had himself now fallen into that bad habit of saying, ”indeed” to everything, as Lorand did.
”For that purpose I must enjoy myself a few days here.”
”Indeed?”
”I hope, dear uncle, you will not deny me the pleasure of being able to have Melanie all this time by my side. I should surely have found it much more proper to take up my quarters directly here in your house, if Sarvolgyi had not been kind enough to previously offer his hospitality.”
”Indeed?” (Topandy knew sometimes how to say very mocking ”indeeds.”)
”So please don't offer any objections to my request that I may take Melanie to myself for these few days. Later on I shall bring her back again, and leave her here until fortune desires you to let us go forever.”
At this point Madame Balnokhazy put on an extremely matronly face. She wished him to understand what she meant.
”I find your wish very natural,” said Topandy briefly, looking again in the woman's face as one who would say ”What else do you know for our amus.e.m.e.nt?”
”Till then I render you endless thanks for taking the part of my poor deserted orphan. Heaven will reward you for your goodness.”
”I didn't do it for payment.”
Madame Balnokhazy laughed modestly, as though in doubt whether to understand a joke when the inhabitants of higher spheres were under consideration.
”Dear uncle, you are still as jesting as ever in certain respects.”
”As G.o.dless--you wished to say, did you not? Indeed I have changed but little in my old age.”
”Oh we know you well!” said the lady in a voice of absolute grace: ”you only show that outwardly, but everyone knows your heart.”
”And runs before it when he can, does he not?”
”Oh, no: quite the contrary,” said Madame apologetically, ”don't misinterpret our present departures to prove how much we all think of that beneficial public life which you are leading. I shall whisper one word to you, which will convince you of our most sincere respect for you.”
That one word she did whisper to Topandy, resting her gloved hand on his shoulder--:
”I wish to ask my dear uncle to give Melanie away, when Heaven brings round the happy day.”
At these words Topandy smiled: and, putting Madame Balnokhazy's hand under his arm, said: