Part 17 (1/2)

”I have come to you only at the bidding of the Prince. His Highness has intrusted me with a very delicate affair in which I need your help. The affair must be managed with the utmost secrecy and for that reason I could have wished that you should come to me.”

At this explanation Clement suddenly lost his insolent manner.

”I beg your pardon,” he stammered confusedly and with head humbly bowed. ”I did not know-- I pray you be seated.”

But as the chair in which he sat was the only specimen of the kind in the room, he jumped up to make room for the Count, and in so doing displayed his feet without their customary covering, at which Csaki burst into a hearty laugh.

”What the devil does this mean, Lieutenant,” he exclaimed. ”Are you like the Turks who take off their boots in excess of reverence?”

”I beg your pardon. I have not taken them off but they were stolen from me by my servant while I slept. This was my only reason for making your Grace such a rude reply. But I dare hope that your Grace has already pardoned me.”

Csaki's good-humor was only increased by this explanation.

”Certainly, if that is all, we will relieve your distress at once,” he said. And he ordered the soldier waiting without to bring his own dress boots in the carriage box for the Lieutenant.

Clement was just opening his lips to make some objections--the favor shown him was too great--when he caught sight of the boots; they pleased him greatly, for they were made of royal green morocco, st.i.tched with gold threads, trimmed on each side with broad gold fringe and finished with enameled spurs.

”Put them on quickly,” said Csaki to the Lieutenant. ”You must be on your way at once without delay.”

Clement took one of the boots by the two straps and began to draw it on, first looking in with a satisfied smile, but it was no small task for Csaki wore a very narrow cavalier's boot. Clement, on the other hand, moved on moderately large feet, so that he had to begin from the very beginning as many as three times and give it up from the very beginning as many times, thoroughly tired before he succeeded in getting his foot into the leg of the boot; in these exertions he worked his eyes and mouth so that Ladislaus Csaki had to put his head out of the window, he was so overcome with laughter. Then he came to the heel and there he stuck; he seized the foot gear firmly by both straps and began to stamp himself into it, thumping about the room in this bent position and groaning loudly at every push, till his eyes stood out and the perspiration ran down his face, before he had worked his way into the first boot. The same difficulties attended the second boot; but after he had used six-horse power to get his foot into this insufficient s.p.a.ce he looked at his s.h.i.+ning tight boots with a glow of satisfaction, though they were not in perfect harmony with the rest of his dusty, greasy, ink-spotted clothing.

”Now listen carefully to what I tell you,” said Csaki, seating himself on the only chair with an air of authority, while the student still standing, lifted first one foot and then the other and his face turned green and blue with pain, for the boots began to make havoc with his corns.

”When did you make your last circuit?”

”I don't remember exactly.”

”But you ought to know. Why did you not make a note of it? The Prince wishes you to set out at once and make your round without delay, paying special attention to the districts lying between Torocko, Banfy-hunyad, and Bonczida; in addition to the usual questions you are to add this one, Has anybody seen any foreign animals in the surrounding woods?”

”'Foreign animals,'” repeated mechanically the doleful official.

”And if anywhere you receive the reply that such have been seen, you are to go through that locality and examine carefully until you get track of them.”

”I beg your pardon, but what kind of animals will they be?” asked the student, timorously.

”Oh, have no fear, it is neither a seven-headed dragon nor a minotaur.

At the worst a young panther.”

”Panther”--stammered Clement in terror.

”You are not expected to catch him,” said Csaki, consolingly. ”You are to hunt out where he stays and then let us know.”

”Suppose that beast of prey, whose presence in Transylvania I doubt greatly, should happen to be in the territory of Dionysius Banfy, what shall I do then?”

”Follow him up.”

”I beg your pardon, but his territory is baronial, where my authority does not extend.”

”Don't be such a simpleton, Clement,” said Csaki. ”I did not say, did I, that you were to go with an armed guard? The entire expedition must be kept a secret. You and your guide alone are to get track of the beast. We have positive information that he is somewhere in this vicinity. Now a careful investigation is demanded of your skill. The rest will be given over to more fearless workers.”

The entire mission seemed to Clement a very strange one, but he did not dare make any objection, and bowed with a deep sigh.