Part 24 (1/2)
”Vilma, I say, is a pretty woman; and as for you, young man, it would be too hard upon you if we would quarrel with you for taking what is freely offered. If the young woman does not care for her honour, why should you?”
”My lady!” said Akosh; ”I entreat you, do not speak in this tone!
Vilma----”
”Is a pretty woman,” said the lady, with a sneer; ”she is less correct than I thought she was, but that's her mother's affair, not mine. They over-educate these girls, and put strange fancies into their heads.
Tengelyi ought to have known that such an education is not fit for a notary's daughter.”
”Vilma is my betrothed,” replied Akosh, who struggled manfully to keep his temper.
”Indeed?” said his step-mother, with a forced smile. ”Pray how many _fiancees_ has your sultans.h.i.+p got?”
”She is the first,” said Akosh, calmly, ”and, I swear it, she shall be my last.”
Lady Rety cast her eyes down, and was silent.
”You talk wildly,” said she at length, with her former gracious smile.
”Only think, Vilma to be a Lady Rety, and after such a scene!”
”Vilma being, as I told you, my betrothed, there is nothing extraordinary in the whole occurrence.”
”My father used to say to my brother, 'Whenever you marry, pray don't take a woman who prefers you to her honour; for such a woman is likely to prefer another man to her husband.'”
Akosh frowned. ”I entreat you, don't rail at your own s.e.x, by speaking in this manner of a virtuous girl.”
”Of course she is a virtuous girl. Master Akosh says it, and he ought to know!”
”Do as you please! Why should you not be allowed to talk of your daughter-in-law in any terms you like best?”
”_My_ daughter-in-law! Are you aware that Tengelyi's n.o.ble descent is a matter of doubt?”
”I know it; but when Vilma is my wife she does not want any proofs of n.o.bility. To tell you the truth, that is another reason for me to marry her.”
”Tengelyi protests that he has papers by which he can prove his descent----”
”He _had_ the papers, but they are gone. The Tengelyis have no one to rely on but me!”
”But I understand,” said Lady Rety, anxiously, ”that the robbery did not take place,--that the robber did not get the papers.”
”On the contrary,” replied Akosh, watching her emotion; ”they left the money, and took the papers.”
Strive as she would, Lady Rety's face was radiant with joy.
”Who do you think is the thief?” said she.
Akosh, who had never once taken his eyes from her, said that everybody suspected Viola of the robbery. Lady Rety rose at once, saying she was called away by business of very great importance.