Part 34 (1/2)
”I wonder, then, he didn't wait to say good-bye to me.”
”Perhaps he'll meet you at the station.”
”Perhaps he will. Now then, gentlemen,” added the old Jew as he once more turned to the two men.
Indeed Andor felt that the spell had been lifted from him. He was quite calm now, and that feeling of being in dreamland had descended still more forcibly upon his mind.
”You have nothing more to say to me, have you, my good Andor?” said Bela, with a final look of insolent swagger directed at his rival.
”No,” replied Andor slowly and deliberately. ”Nothing.”
”Then good-night, my friend!” concluded the other, with a sarcastic laugh. ”Why not go to the barn, and dance with Elsa, and sup at my expense like the others do? You'll be made royally welcome there, I a.s.sure you.”
”Thank you. I am going home.”
”Well! as you like! I shall just look in there myself now for half an hour--but I am engaged later on for supper elsewhere, you know.”
”So I understand!”
”Gentlemen! My dear friends! I shall miss my train!” pleaded old Ignacz Goldstein querulously.
He manoeuvred the two men toward the door and then prepared to follow them.
”Klara!” he called again.
”Coming, father,” she replied.
She came running out of the room, and as she reached the door she called to Andor.
”Andor, you have not said good-night,” she said significantly.
”Never mind about that now,” said Ignacz Goldstein fretfully, ”I shall miss my train.”
He kissed his daughter perfunctorily, then said:
”There's no one in the tap-room now, is there? I didn't notice.”
”No,” she replied, ”no one just now.”
”Then I'd keep the door shut, if I were you. I'd rather those fellows back from Arad didn't come in to-night. The open door would attract them--a closed one might have the effect of speeding them on their way.”
”Very well, father,” she said indifferently, ”I'll keep the door closed.”
”And mind you push all the bolts home to both the doors,” he added sternly. ”A girl alone in a house cannot be too careful.”
”All right, father,” she rejoined impatiently, ”I'll see to everything.
Haven't I been alone like this before?”