Part 60 (1/2)

The young cavalier who had thus hastened to find him was not his brother Desi, but--Pepi Gyali.

Pepi was no taller, no more manly-looking than he had been ten years before; he had still that childish face, those tiny features, the same refined movements. He was still as strict an adherent to fas.h.i.+on: and if time had wrought a change in him, it was only to be seen in a certain, distinguished bearing,--that of those who often have the opportunity of playing the protector toward their former friends.

”Good day, dear Lorand,” he said in a gay tone, antic.i.p.ating Lorand. ”Do you still recognize me?”

(”Ah,” thought Lorand: ”you are here as the finger-post of death.”)

”I did not want to avoid you: as soon as I knew from the Balnokhazys that you were here, I came to find you.”

After all it was ”_she_” that had put him on Lorand's track!

”I have business here with Sarvolgyi in Madame Balnokhazy's interest--a legal agreement.”

Lorand's only thought, while Gyali was uttering these words, was--how to behave himself in the presence of this man.

”I hope,” said the visitor tenderly extending his hand to Lorand, ”that that old wrangle which happened ten years ago has long been forgotten by you--as it has by me.”

(”He wishes to make me recollect it, if perchance I had forgotten.”)

”And we shall again be faithful comrades and true.”

One thought ran like lightning in a moment through Lorand's brain. ”If I kick this fellow out now as would be my method, everyone would clearly understand the origin of the catastrophe, and take it as satisfaction for an insult. No, they must have no such triumph: this wretch must see that the man who is gazing into the face of his own death is in no way behind him, who burns to persecute him to the end with exquisiteness, in cheerful mood.”

So Lorand did not get angry, did not show any sullenness or melancholy, but, as he was wont to do in student days of yore, slapped the dandy's open hand and grasped it in manly fas.h.i.+on.

”So glad to see you, Pepi. Why the devil should I not have recognised you? Only I imagined that you would have aged as much as I have since that time, and now you stand before me the same as ever. I almost asked you what we had to learn for to-morrow?”

”I am glad of that! Nothing has caused me any displeasure in my life except the fact that we parted in anger--we, the gay comrades!--and quarrelled!--why? for a dirty newspaper! The devil take them all!--Taken all together they are not worth a quarrel between two comrades. Well, not a word more about it!”

”Well, my boy, very well, if your intentions are good. In any case we are country fellows who can stand a good deal from one another. To-day we calumniate each other, to-morrow we carouse together.”

Ha, ha, ha!

”But you must introduce me to the old man. I hear he is a gay old fool.

He does not like priests. Why I can tell him enough tales about priests to keep him going for a week. Come, introduce me. I know his mouth will never cease laughing, once I begin upon him.”

”Naturally it is understood that you will remain here with us.”

”Of course. Old Sarvolgyi, as it is, had made sour faces enough at the unusual invasion of guests: and he has a cursedly sullen housekeeper.

Besides it is disagreeable always to have to say nice things to the two ladies: that's not why a fellow comes to the country. _A propos_, I hear you have a beautiful gypsy girl here.”

”You know that too, already?”

”I hope you are not jealous of her?”

”What, the devil! of a gypsy girl?”

(”Well just try it with her,” thought Lorand, ”at any rate you will get 'per procura,' that box on the ears which I cannot give you.”)