her presence of mind entirely. The thought that her
husband might assent to Teleki's plan made it impossible for her to
comprehend the situation. She forgot that even the best man is ashamed
to have it publicly known that he is under the control of his wife,
and merely to prove the contrary would be inclined to be untrue to the
very convictions he would have followed without compulsion.
Consequently Madame Beldi rushed into the room, sank down at her
husband's feet, clung to his knees and called out in an impassioned
voice:

"Sweet lord of my heart! By the Almighty God, I implore you, do not
believe this man. Do not be influenced by him to bring innocent blood
on your head. You have always been just. You cannot turn hangman!"

"Wife, you are mad!"

"I know what I am saying. I saw him on his knees before you. He who
believes in God does not kneel before any man. He means through you to
ruin Dionysius Banfy. Woe to us if you do that, for if he is the first
you will be the second."

When Teleki saw his secret disclosed in this way he was furious.

"If my wife did that to me," he said, violently, "I would tear her
eyes out of her head. If anybody wished to help me for my own safety I
should thank him for it rather than leave him to be met by my wife in
an insulting way."

Beldi called out angrily to his wife to leave at once.

"I shall stay even if you kill me: for this is a case of life and
death. Here the peace of your family is at stake and in that I have a
right. I too may speak. I beg, I entreat you, undertake nothing
against Banfy."

Beldi was ashamed of this attack upon his manly supremacy and could
hardly control himself. When his wife mentioned Banfy he started as if
a viper had stung him. The effect of this name did not escape Teleki
and he said ironically and with meaning:

"It seems women pardon certain things more readily than their
husbands." The sharp allusion went through Beldi's soul like
lightning. The kiss came into his mind. The kiss! Pale and speechless
he seized his wife by the arm and her sob only serving to fan his
jealousy, he dragged her through the arras door and locked it behind
her. There she lay sobbing violently, cursing the princely counsellor
loudly and beating against the closed door with her hand. Beldi sat
down white as death and with teeth set, called out to Teleki:

"Where is the document?"

Teleki spread it out before him on the table. Without a word Beldi
took his pen