essing that urged him to
his difficult duty.

"Go--and wreak vengeance."

CHAPTER XXIV

THE MAD JEST

Let us leave the happy ones to rejoice.

Let us follow that other youth, in whom all that sweet strength for
action, which might have brought a mutually-loving heart into the
ecstasy of happiness, had changed into a bitter passion, capable of
driving a mutually-hating soul to destruction.

It was evening when he reached Lankadomb.

Topandy was already very impatient. Czipra informed him she would not
give Lorand even time to rest himself, but took him at once with her to
the laboratory, where they had been wont to be together, to study alone
the mysteries of mankind and nature.

The old fellow seemed to be in an extraordinarily good humor, which in
his case was generally a sign of excitement.

"Well, my dear boy," he said, "I have succeeded in getting myself
tangled up in a mess. I will explain it to you. I have always desired to
make the acquaintance of the county prison by reason of some meritorious
stupidity; so finally I have committed something which will aid my
purpose."

"Indeed?"

"Yes, indeed:--for two years at least. Ha ha! I have perpetrated such a
mad jest that I am myself entirely contented. Of course they will
imprison me, but that does not matter."

"What have you done now, uncle?"

"Just listen, it is a long story. First I must begin by saying that
Melanie is already married."

"So much the better."

"I only hope it is for her--for me it is. But it is the turning-point
of my fate too: so just listen to the end, to all the little trifling
incidents of the tale--as Mistress Boris related them to Czipra, and
Czipra to me. They all belong to the complete picture."

"I am all ears," said Lorand, sitting down, and determining to show a
very indifferent face when they related before him the tale of Melanie's
marriage.

"Well, after you left here, they knowing nothing of your departure,
Madame Balnokhazy said to her daughter: 'Just for mere obstinacy's sake
you must marry Gyali: let these men see how much we care for their
fables!'--therewith she wrote a letter herself to Gyali to come back
immediately to Lankadomb, and show himself: they were awaiting him with
open arms. He must not be afraid of the brothers Aronffy. He must look
into their faces as behooved a man of dignity. To provide against any
possible insults, he must protect himself with a couple of
pocket-pistols: such t