Part 96 (1/2)
And curiously Topandy felt no pain in his heart as he thought over it.
”Death is after all the best solution of life!”
He did not shed a single tear upon the letter he wrote: he sealed it and looked for a servant to despatch it.
But other thoughts occupied him.
He sought the magistrate.
”My dear sir, when do you want to lock me up?”
”When you like, sir.”
”Would you not take me to gaol immediately?”
”With pleasure, sir.”
”How many years have they given me?”
”Only two.”
”I expected more. Well, then I can take this letter myself into the town.”
”Will Mr. aronffy remain here?”
”No. He will take his dead love home to the country. I have asked the doctor to embalm her, and I have a lead casket which I prepared for myself with the intention of continuing my opposition to the ordinance of G.o.d within it: now I have no need of it. I will lend it to Czipra.
That is her dowry.”
An hour later he went in search of Lorand, who was still guarding his dead darling. The magistrate was there too.
”My dear sir,” he said to the officer. ”I am not going to the gaol now.”
”Not yet?” inquired Daruszegi. ”Very well.”
”Not now, nor at any other time. A greater master has given me orders--in a different direction.”
They began to look at him in astonishment.
His face was much paler than usual: but still that good-humored irony and light-hearted smile was there.
”Lorand, my boy, there will be two funerals here.”
”Who is the second dead person?” asked Daruszegi.
”I am.”
Then he drew from his breast his left hand which he had hitherto held thrust in his coat.
”An hour ago I wrote a letter to your mother. As I was sealing it the hot wax dripped onto my nail, and see how my hand has blackened since.”