nail: "God recompense you for
what you intend to give, multiply your family like the sparrows in the
fields: may your life be like honey...."

"All right, foolish daddy," interrupted Sarvoelgyi. "A truce to your
blessings. Get you gone. Mistress Borcsa will give you a glass of wine
as a reward."

But the gypsy would not yield: he hobbled after the master into his
bedroom, opening the door vigorously, and thrusting in his shaggy head.

"But if God call from the world of shadows..."

"Go to hell: enough of your gratitude."

But the czimbalom-player merely closed the door from the inside and
followed his righteous benefactor.

"Golden-winged angels in a wagon of diamonds...."

"Get out this moment!" cried Sarvoelgyi, hastily looking for a stick to
drive the flatterer out of his room.

But at that moment the gypsy sprang upon him like a panther, grasping
his throat with one hand and placing a pointed knife against his chest
with the other.

"Oh!"--panted the astonished Sarvoelgyi. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Who am I?" murmured the fiend in reply, looking like the panther when
it has set its teeth in its victim's neck. "I am Kandur,[75] the mad
Kandur. Have you ever seen a mad Kandur? That is what I am. Don't you
know me now?"

[Footnote 75: Tom-cat.]

"What do you want?"

"What do I want? Your bones and your skin: your black blood. You
highwayman! You robber!"

So saying, he tore the bandage from his eye: there was nothing amiss
with that eye.

"Do you know me now, herdsman?"

It would have been in vain to scream. Outside the most uproarious music
could be heard: no one would have heard the cry for help. Besides the
assailed had another reason for holding his peace.

"Well, what do you want with me? What have I done to you? Why do you
attack me?"

"What have you done?" said the gypsy, gnashing his teeth so that
Sarvoelgyi shivered--this gnashing of human teeth is a terrible sound.
"What have you done? You ask that? Have you not robbed me? Eh?"

"I robbed you? Don't lose your senses. Let go of my throat. You see, I
am in your hands anyhow. Talk sense. What has happened to you?"

"What has happened to me? Oh yes--act as if you had not seen that
beautiful illumination the day before yesterday evening--that's
right--when the rick was burned down, and then the gunpowder dispersed
the fire, so that nothing but a black pit remained for mad Kandur."

"I saw it."

"That was your work," cried th