Part 58 (1/2)

”Yes.”

Meantime they had reached the gate of Sarvolgyi's house. Here Lorand stopped and would proceed no further.

Madame Balnokhazy clasped Melanie's hand that she might not go in front.

”Well, my dear Lorand, and are you not going to take leave of us even?”

Lorand gazed at Melanie, who did not even raise her eyes.

”Good-bye, Madame,” said Lorand briefly. He raised his hat and was gone.

Madame Balnokhazy cast one glance after him with those beautiful expressive eyes.--Those beautiful expressive eyes just then were full to the brim of relentless hatred.

When Lorand reached home Czipra was waiting for him at the door.

Raising her first finger, she whispered in his ear:

”That was the yellow-robed woman!”

Yet she had nothing yellow on her.

CHAPTER XVIII

THE FINGER-POST OF DEATH

Lorand threw himself exhausted into his arm-chair.

There was an end to every attempt at escape.

He had been recognized by the very woman who ought to detest him more bitterly than anyone in the world.

Nemesis! the liberal hand of everlasting justice!

He had deserted that woman in the middle of the road, on which they were flying together pa.s.sionately into degradation, and now that he wished to return to life, that woman blocked his way.

There was no hope of pity. Besides, who would accept it--from such a hand? At such a price? Such a present must be refused, were it life itself.

Farewell calm happy life! Farewell, intoxicating love!

There was only one way, a direct one--to the opened tomb.

They would laugh over the fallen, but at least not to his face.

The father had departed that way, albeit he had a loving wife, and growing children:--but he was alone in the world. He owed n.o.body any duty.

There were two enfeebled, frail shadows on earth, to which he owed a duty of care; but they would soon follow him, they had no very long course to run.

Fate must be accomplished.