Part 8 (1/2)
”Never fear, Missie. Give him but a fair start, and he is not the man to be caught. But keep your counsel; your father would never pardon you!”
The Liptaka turned to Viola's hiding-place behind the casks. ”Now get thee gone,” said she. ”There is a fire at the sheriff's. Get out at the other side of the village, where n.o.body will stop your way. I can't help thinking the fire is on your account.”
”Listen to me!” said Viola. ”You know I owe the notary a debt of grat.i.tude. His family have taken my wife to his house: may G.o.d bless them for it! They have saved my life, too; and I mean to show my sense of it. Tell them I know that the notary keeps some papers in an iron safe. Those papers are of great value to him and to the parson. Tell him to find another place for them, and to keep a good look out. He has powerful enemies; I know of some people who would do any thing to get those papers. Tell this the notary, and may G.o.d be with you!”
The robber was in the act of leaving the garden, when a hand held him by his bunda. ”Who is it?” said he, raising his axe.
”It is I, Peti! What do you think of my illumination?”
”That it saved me for once. I knew it was your doing. Thanks! may G.o.d bless you!”
”Now let us be off to St. Vilmosh,” said Peti, crawling through the opening of the hedge. ”Look there,” he added, pointing to the next house; ”I'll lose my head if that fellow Catspaw does not stand there!”
”And if he were an incarnate devil I _will_ go on!” muttered Viola, as they turned the corner of the street. Mr. Catspaw, for it was he, had recognised the robber. He shook his head and walked leisurely up to the Manor-house.
CHAP. V.
The day which followed this eventful night was a Sunday. Already had the church-bells of Tissaret called the paris.h.i.+oners to prayers; and the lower cla.s.ses, obedient to the summons, crowded the little church, there to forget the disturbance of the night and the whole of their worldly cares. At the House, or Castle, as the family seat of the Retys was sometimes styled, preparations on a large scale were on foot for the reception of the guests who were expected to arrive that day. Akosh and his sister Etelka walked in the garden. Neither of them spoke, as they trod the paths which were already covered with the leaves of autumn; while Tunder, their favorite greyhound, bounded to and fro, now starting a bird, now hunting a falling leaf. The dog had its own way of enjoying the beauty of that bright day.
”What is the matter with you, Etelka?” said Akosh, at length. ”You are out of spirits to-day.”
”Am I?” replied Etelka, smiling, and with a slight stare. ”I dare say you are like Mr. Catspaw, who in his annual fits of jaundice flatters himself that the whole world is yellow.”
”Very true,” rejoined Akosh; ”I am a dreadful bore to-day.”
”Of course you are. To be a bore is one of the privileges of a Hungarian n.o.bleman. But do not put yourself under any restraint on _my_ account!”--saying which the young lady turned away, and busied herself in smoothing the shrivelled leaves of a half-faded flower. Thus pursuing their walk, they reached a hill in the plantation, from the summit of which they looked down on the village, the river, and the boundless plain.
”They are coming!” said Etelka, turning her eyes in the direction of St.
Vilmosh.
”I wish to G.o.d I were a hundred miles off!” sighed Akosh.
”Would not a lesser distance do? Shall we say the village, or the notary's house?”
”Don't mention it. It makes me weep to think of it. You know what has happened?”
”I should think so.”
”Well, I have no hope.”
”Do not say so! Vilma loves you. You are not likely to change your mind, and our father----”
”Our father,--oh, if there were no obstacle but his denial!” exclaimed Akosh. ”I venerate our father; but there are limits to my veneration,--and if he compels me to choose between Vilma's love and his, I am prepared to sacrifice the man who prefers his prejudices to his son's happiness. But is Vilma prepared to follow my example? And, believe me, old Tengelyi is far more inexorable than my father!”
”But he idolises his daughter----”
”You do not know him as I know him. Yes, he idolises his daughter! He would sacrifice any thing to her, except his honour. On that point he is inexorable. After that cursed conversation with my step-mother, in which she hinted that she would be well pleased to see his daughter less frequently at our house, Tengelyi came to me. He told me all that had happened, and asked me to discontinue my visits to his family, for--such was his bitter expression--it was not well for young gentlemen of rank to hold intercourse with poor girls. Ever since that day, when I meet him in the street and accompany him to his house, he bows me off at the door, and sends me about my business. I have spoken to his wife, but she tells me that she cannot do any thing to soften him. I have spoken to Vandory, but he, too, has no comfort for me. Now consider that Tengelyi is sure to lay the blame of that disgraceful scene of last night at our door, and that our party at the next election will do all to oppose his.
No! I tell you there is no hope left for me!”