f the headsman's sword. Whenever it is to
fall I shall be found between the blow and the victim; and you two
choice menials,--barons--you Szekeli and you Nalaczy who cannot
yourselves tell now how you so suddenly became great lords, remember
that the wheel goes down as often as up and that the judgment which
to-day you pass against others by to-morrow may be carried out against
yourselves. And the rest of you intriguing lords, who get courage for
your timid hearts out of the wine cups, remember, and shudder at the
thought, that in the bumpers in your hands not wine, but the blood of
the innocent, foams. Shame on you all, that you give your Prince wine
that you may demand of him blood! And now, your Highness, add two
weeks more to my term of exile."

With these words the Princess quickly left the hall. The lords were
silent and dared not look at each other. Teleki rose, closed the door,
dipped his quill and said:

"Let us continue from where we left off."

CHAPTER XVII

DEATH FOR A KISS

Paul Beldi took the direct route from Karlsburg to Bodola. All the way
he was tormented by the thought which Teleki's words had called up
again. In itself a kiss is a very innocent matter but if another knows
of it, has noticed it?--if this should be only one pole of the world
of distrust about which the soul revolves bringing up now this, now
that, which might have happened before and after,--and then too
another knows of it?--The husband thought that a kiss nobody knew
about caused no defect in his wife's virtue--but now it lived on the
lips of others; perhaps still more; perhaps the world was dragging his
honor in the dust while he supposed it well guarded, and the first
sound of the derision to him so deadly had just reached his ear, and
that too from his most hated foe. . . .

Night interrupted his thoughts. The horses were tired out, Beldi had
given them no rest, had had no fresh relays,--only on and on. He
wished to get home as quickly as possible--to have under his eyes that
wife who had cost him such disgrace--who knows how much!-- But is it
sufficient satisfaction to see a woman weep or die when a man still
lives on whom he might take revenge?--a man too who had been his enemy
from the time when they had both served as pages of Gabriel Bethlen
and who now sought out the most sensitive spot in his heart to tear it
with his ruthless hand.

"Turn about!" he shouted to the driver. "Take the road to
Klausenburg."