untry people
are!

Desiderius found his task especially difficult, after such a beginning.

But Lorand was really in a good humor. The sight of his darling of
yesterday, dressed in such magnificence to celebrate the day on which
her poor wretched cast-off lover was to blow his brains out, roused such
a joy in his heart that it was impossible not to show it in his words.
So he continued:

"Yes, believe me: the lively scamp was actually jealous of me. He almost
killed me--yet we are very true to our memories."

Desiderius could not comprehend what madness had come over his brother,
that he wished to bring him and Melanie together into such a false
position. Perhaps it would be good to start the matter at once and
interrupt the conversation.

On Madame Balnokhazy's face could be read a certain contemptuous scorn,
when she looked at Lorand, as if she would say: "Well, after all, prose
has conquered the poetry of honor, a man may live after the day of his
death, if he has only the phlegm necessary thereto. Flight is shameful
but useful,--yet you are as good as killed for all that."

This scorn would soon be wiped away from that beautiful face.

"Mesdames," said Desiderius in cold tranquillity. "Beyond paying my
respects, I have another reason which made it my duty to come here. I
must explain why your solicitor has not returned to-day, and why he will
not return for some time."

"Great Heavens! No misfortune has befallen him?" cried Madame Balnokhazy
in nervous trepidation.

"On that point you may be quite reassured, Madame: he is hale and
healthy; only a slight change in his plans has taken place: he is just
now flying west instead of east."

"What can be the reason?"

"I am the cause, which drove him away, I must confess."

"You?" said Madame Balnokhazy, astonished.

"If you will allow me, and have the patience for it, I will go very far
back in history to account for this peculiar climax."

Lorand remarked that Melanie was not much interested to hear what they
were saying of Gyali. She was indifferent to him: why, they were already
affianced.

So he began to say pretty things to her: went into raptures about her
beautiful curls, her blooming complexion, and various other things which
it costs nothing to praise.

As long as he had been her lover, he had never told her how beautiful
she was. She might have understood his meaning. Those whom we flatter we
no longer love.

Desiderius continued the story