astonishment she beheld, not the gentleman from
Vienna, but the one from across the way, with a strange young gentleman.

"May I speak with the master?" inquired Lorand of the fiery Amazon.

"Of course. He is within. Haven't you brought the gentleman from
Vienna?"

"He will only come after dinner," said Lorand, who dared to jest even
with Mistress Boris.

Then they went in, leaving Mistress Boris behind, the prey of doubt.

"Was it real or in jest? What do _they_ want here? Why did they not
bring him whom they took away? Will they remain here long?"

The whole party had gathered in the grand salon.

They too thought that the steps they heard brought the one they were
expecting--and very impatiently too.

Gyali had informed them he would take a carriage and return, as soon as
he could escape from the revelry at Szolnok. Melanie and her mother were
dressed in silk: on Melanie's wavy curls could be seen the traces of a
mother's careful hand: and Madame Balnokhazy herself made a very
impressive picture, while Sarvoelgyi had put on his very best.

They must have prepared for a very great festival here to-day!

But when the door opened before the three figures that courteously
hastened to greet the new-comer, and the two brothers stepped in, all
three smiling faces turned to expressions of alarm.

"You still dare to approach me?"--that was Melanie's alarm.

"You are not dead yet?" inquired Madame Balnokhazy's look of Lorand.

"You have risen again?" was the question to be read in Sarvoelgyi's fixed
stare that settled on Desiderius' face.

"My brother, Desiderius,"--said Lorand in a tone of unembarrassed
confidence, introducing his brother. "He heard from me of the ladies
being here, so perhaps Mr. Sarvoelgyi will pardon us, if, in accordance
with my brother's request, we steal a few moments' visit."

"With pleasure: please sit down. I am very glad to see you," said
Sarvoelgyi, in a husky tone, as if some invisible hand were choking his
throat.

"Desiderius has grown a big boy, has he not?" said Lorand, taking a seat
between Madame Balnokhazy and Melanie, while Desiderius sat opposite
Sarvoelgyi, who could not take his eyes off the lad.

"Big and handsome," affirmed Madame Balnokhazy. "How small he was when
he danced with Melanie!"

"And how jealous he was of certain persons!"

At these words three people hinted to Lorand not to continue, Madame
Balnokhazy, Melanie and Desiderius. How indiscreet these co