Part 74 (2/2)
”Yes, indeed:--for two years at least. Ha ha! I have perpetrated such a mad jest that I am myself entirely contented. Of course they will imprison me, but that does not matter.”
”What have you done now, uncle?”
”Just listen, it is a long story. First I must begin by saying that Melanie is already married.”
”So much the better.”
”I only hope it is for her--for me it is. But it is the turning-point of my fate too: so just listen to the end, to all the little trifling incidents of the tale--as Mistress Boris related them to Czipra, and Czipra to me. They all belong to the complete picture.”
”I am all ears,” said Lorand, sitting down, and determining to show a very indifferent face when they related before him the tale of Melanie's marriage.
”Well, after you left here, they knowing nothing of your departure, Madame Balnokhazy said to her daughter: 'Just for mere obstinacy's sake you must marry Gyali: let these men see how much we care for their fables!'--therewith she wrote a letter herself to Gyali to come back immediately to Lankadomb, and show himself: they were awaiting him with open arms. He must not be afraid of the brothers aronffy. He must look into their faces as behooved a man of dignity. To provide against any possible insults, he must protect himself with a couple of pocket-pistols: such things he must always carry in his pocket, to display beneath the nose of anyone who attempted to frighten him with his gigantic stature!--Gyali shortly appeared in the village again, and very ostentatiously drove up and down before my window, driving the horses himself with the ladies sitting behind, as if he hoped to take the greatest revenge upon me in this way. I merely said: 'If you are satisfied with him, it is nothing to me.' It seems that in the world of to-day the ladies like the man, upon whom others have spat, whom others have insulted and kicked out!--they know all--well, I had no wish to quarrel with their taste.
”I determined just for that reason not to do anything mad. I would be clever. I would look down upon the world's madness with contemplative philosophy, and merely carry out the clever jest of annulling my previous will in which I had made Melanie my heiress, and which had been stored away in the county archive room, making another which I shall keep here at home, in which not a single mention is made of my niece.
”The wedding was solemnized with great pomp.
”Sarvolgyi did not complain of the expense incurred. He thought to revenge himself on me. He collected all the friends he could from the vicinity: I too received a lithographed invitation. Look at that!”
Topandy took the vellum from his pocket-book and handed it to Lorand.
DEAR MR. TOPaNDY:
It will give me great pleasure if you and your nephew Lorand aronffy will accept our invitation to the wedding of my daughter Melanie and Joseph Gyali, at Mr. Sarvolgyi's house.
EMILIA BaLNOKHaZY.
”Keep half for yourself.”
”Thanks: I don't want even the whole.”
”Well, it just happened to be Sunday. Sarvolgyi chose that day, because it would cost so much less to array the village folk in holiday garb. He had the bells rung, so did the Vicar: every window and door was full of curious on-lookers. I too took my seat on the verandah to see the sight.
”The long line of carriages started. First the bridegroom with Sarvolgyi, after them the bride, dressed in a white lawn robe, and wearing, if I am not mistaken, many theatrical jewels.”
Lorand interrupted impatiently:
”You evidently think, uncle, that I shall write all this for some fas.h.i.+on-paper, as you are telling me in such detail about the costumes.”
”I have learned it from English novel-writers: if a man wants to convince his hearers that something is true history and no fable, he must describe externals in detail, that they may see what an eye-witness he was.--Well, I shall leave out all description of the horses'
trappings.
”As the long convoy proceeded up the street, a carriage drawn by four horses clattered up from the opposite end, a county court official beside the coachman, behind, two gentlemen, one lean, the other thickset.
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