, swallowing them down into her capacious belly. She
has several daughters, very handsome, and with plenty of money. Happy
the young Mujik who catches and marries one of them, for they make
excellent wives.

'Many thanks,' said I, 'for the information you have afforded me. This
is rather poor wine,' I observed as I poured out a glass. 'I suppose you
have better wine in Hungary?'

'Yes we have better wine in Hungary. First of all there is Tokay, the
most celebrated in the world, though I confess I prefer the wine of
Eger--Tokay is too sweet.'

'Have you ever been at Tokay?'

'I have,' said the Hungarian.

'What kind of place is Tokay?'

'A small town situated on the Tyzza, a rapid river descending from the
north; the Tokay Mountain is just behind the town, which stands on the
right bank. The top of the mountain is called Kopacs Teto, or the bald
tip; the hill is so steep that during thunder-storms pieces of it
frequently fall down upon the roofs of the houses. It was planted with
vines by King Lajos, who ascended the throne in the year 1342. The best
wine called Tokay is, however, not made at Tokay, but at Kassau, two
leagues farther into the Carpathians, of which Tokay is a spur. If you
wish to drink the best Tokay, you must go to Vienna, to which place all
the prime is sent. For the third time I ask you, O young man of
Horncastle! why does your Government always send fools to represent it at
Vienna?'

'And for the third time I tell you, O son of Almus! that I cannot say;
perhaps, however, to drink the Tokay wine. Fools, you know, always like
sweet things.'

'Good,' said the Hungarian; 'it must be so, and when I return to Hungary
I will state to my countrymen your explanation of a circumstance which
has frequently caused them great perplexity. Oh! the English are a
clever people, and have a deep meaning in all they do. What a vision of
deep policy opens itself to my view: they do not send their fool to
Vienna in order to gape at processions, and to bow and scrape at a base
Papist court, but to drink at the great dinners the celebrated Tokay of
Hungary, which the Hungarians, though they do not drink it, are very
proud of, and by doing so to intimate the sympathy which the English
entertain for their fellow religionists of Hungary. Oh! the English are
a deep people.'

CHAPTER XL

THE HORNCASTLE WELCOME--TZERNEBOCK AND BIELEBOCK

The pipe of the Hungarian had, for some time past, exhibi