Part 74 (1/2)
”Is it you, Janosh?” said he, addressing the new comer. ”What does this dress mean?”
”It's strange, isn't it? We are naked when we are born, and naked do we go to the grave, or at best they give us a gatya to sleep in. A soldier was a peasant at one time, and to a peasant's estate he returns; that's how the world goes. After all, my present dress is none of the worst, only I felt queer in it at first, accustomed as I am, you know, to be b.u.t.toned up in a tight hussar jacket. For some days I fancied I was not dressed at all!”
”But where did you come from, and what has brought you all this way from home?”
The old soldier, who had some secret misgivings about the honesty of his errand, felt uncomfortable at this question.
”Why,” said he, scratching his head, ”I wanted to call on you,--that is to say, I wanted to find you. I've some important matters to talk to you about. But don't be frightened, man!” added he, on seeing Viola's astonishment; ”I have indeed promised to find you, but I have not promised to tell them where you are. I'll have my palaver with you, that's all, and you may afterwards do as you please. As for the wors.h.i.+pful magistrates, they shall never get any thing out of me; no!
not even if they'd skin me alive! I'm not the man to blow upon a deserter! Bless you! I never did that sort of a thing!”
Viola's curiosity was heightened by the words and the manner of Janosh; and his desire for an account of the sudden and mysterious appearance of the latter was at length gratified by a circ.u.mstantial statement of all the events which had taken place at Dustbury and Tissaret, since the a.s.sa.s.sination of Mr. Catspaw. The impression which this news produced upon Viola was fearful.
When Janosh told him of Tengelyi's situation, he cast a despairing look to heaven, and cried:--
”I am a cursed being! I am born to destroy all who come near me, no matter whether they are my friends or my foes!”
And covering his eyes with his hands, he gave himself up to a transport of grief.
His distress moved the old hussar, who endeavoured to comfort him in his own rough manner.
”Don't you think,” said Janosh, ”that Mr. Tengelyi is very badly off!
Nonsense, man! he isn't even in gaol.”
”But where is he?”
”Why he is not exactly in gaol; but he's in a room of his own in the prison. He has plenty to eat and to drink, for it's I who wait upon him; and you might have known that I am not a man who would give Master Akosh's father-in-law cause to complain. He's all right and comfortable, and there's no reason why he should not walk away, if they had not got that accursed criminal process (for that's the name they give it, I believe,) against him. But there's the rub! Unless his innocence is proved, they'll sentence him--Heaven knows to what! And you see----”
”Did I not wish to serve him?” cried Viola, in a violent burst of grief.
”I'm in grat.i.tude bound to serve him! He gave shelter to my wife and children. I would have given my life to make him happy. I killed the attorney because I thought to do him good, and what has come of all my grat.i.tude?”
”Well?”
”Why, this has come of it! He's the honestest man on the face of the earth, and they accuse him of _my_ crime! and it's I who have got him into prison,--oh! and if you had not come and told me all, they would execute him in my place!”
”Viola! my boy,” said the hussar, ”you're wrong. The case is not half so bad as you make it out, I a.s.sure you.”
”Oh, Janos.h.!.+ why, when I was sentenced at Tissaret, did you come to my a.s.sistance? Why did you save my life? You see what I have come to! I'm ready to bless the day of my death. When a mad dog feels the distemper, he will run away from the house of his master, in order not to harm his benefactor! That's what a mad dog does,--but I, I am worse than a dog, for I am dangerous to those whom I love best!”
Janosh, who was deeply moved by Viola's remorse, endeavoured to comfort him, by protesting he was sure there must be some means of extricating the notary from his present dangerous position.
His words, rude and awkward as they were, had their effect upon Viola.
He became more composed, and said--
”As for the notary, he is safe. It will take us three days to go to Dustbury. The papers which I took from the attorney are in my hands; they are covered with blood, and when I tell them how the thing was brought about, they cannot possibly suspect Tengelyi.”
The old hussar shook his head.
”I don't think,” said he, ”you can do it in that way. You're not in a fit state to take a resolution. You are in despair, and what you intend to do ought to be well considered. Nothing is more easy than to go to Dustbury. 'Here I am! I'm Viola! I've killed that rascal, Catspaw!' Why it's mere child's-play to say the words. But the worst is behind. When they've once got you into gaol, I don't see how you can get out of it.”
”I don't care!”
”But you ought to care! Why, man! it's the very first thing you ought to think of! They have indeed promised not to take your life, and even the sheriff has pledged his word for your safety! But who can tell? I wouldn't advise you to rely on the promises of the gentry, and it's far more prudent to manage the business otherwise.”