Part 24 (2/2)

Kalman, who had listened to the last part of the conversation, looked greatly amazed. Akosh sat up and pondered for a few moments. At length he said:--

”Did you not tell me that Tengelyi suspects my mother of having hired the thief?”

”He said as much.”

”And do you think that it was Viola who committed the robbery?”

”It was either Viola or the Jew. But no papers have been found upon the latter.”

”Heaven knows I cannot bring myself to believe it,” said Akosh, shaking his head. ”But if Viola has the papers, I am sure he will return them.”

”So he will, unless he has used them for wadding.”

”Was it not you that told me of Viola's being seen with a certain Gulyash? Go to him at once, and promise any thing you like, to get the papers. This cursed wound of mine prevents my going to him, and yet it must be done. Make haste!”

Kalman had already seized his hat. ”What a big fool I was, not to think of it!” cried he. ”The Gulyash is sure to get us the papers.”

Akosh remained in a gloomy and nervous state, which was at length interrupted by the appearance of Janosh, who told him that Lady Rety was closeted with Mr. Catspaw. Shortly afterwards the tramp of Kalman's horse was heard, as he left the Castle in a gallop, doing which he pa.s.sed a carriage which the attorney was just about to enter.

NOTES TO VOL. I.

NOTE I.

COURTS-MARTIAL.

The _Statarium_ of the old Hungarian law is not exactly what is known in other European countries under the name of court-martial, though it has some affinity with that inst.i.tution. Whenever housebreaking, highway robberies, and arson were rife in any of the Hungarian counties, the Palatine was empowered to give them the right of statarium for any term of months not exceeding one year, for the more efficient prevention of crime, and for the apprehension and punishment of the malefactors.

The Statarium, as an exceptional court, was composed of seven judges, who were appointed for the year, and empowered to take cognizance of and give judgment in any cases of robbery and arson that were committed in the county, provided always that the culprit was taken ”_in flagranti delicto_,” or ”_in continua persecutione_,” either in the act or immediately after, he being incessantly pursued all the while. In these cases the court gave summary judgment without appeal, and the only verdict they were empowered to p.r.o.nounce was a capital sentence. The culprit, if convicted, was hanged on the spot.

To make out a conviction, it was necessary that all the judges should agree. A single dissentient voice was enough to overthrow the verdict and to bring the culprit within the jurisdiction of the ordinary courts.

The minutes of the proceedings of the courts-martial, and the depositions of the witnesses, were sent to the Palatine, and examined by a commissioner; and the judges of the Statarium were responsible for each case.

It was moreover an old popular prejudice, that a prisoner ought not to be ”roofed,” that is to say, that he ought not to be confined in a gaol or house, if he was to be judged by a Statarium. In compliance with this prejudice, which, however, had no foundation in the laws of Hungary, the culprits were usually chained to a post in the open air.

NOTE II.

JAROMIR AND ANGYALBANDI.

The name of Jaromir, the Bohemian brigand, is probably known to the readers of German romances of the last thirty years. The story of his n.o.ble descent, guilty love, and wretched end, no matter whether a mere fiction or founded on facts, has been handed down through successive generations. The adventures of Jaromir obtained their _acme_ of popularity by Grillparzer's drama, ”Die Ahnfrau,” and by the lines,--

”Ja, ich bin's den du genannt!

Bin's den jene Hascher suchen, Bin's dem alle Lippen fluchen!

Der in des Bauers Nachtgebet, Hart, nahe an dem Teufel steht.

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