gh a ray of sunlight had
found its way into the mayor's dark office), she blushed a little, and
then made a courtesy, a real schoolgirl courtesy, awkward, and yet with
something of grace in it.

"Thank you, sir, for your kindness. I am doubly glad to have found it,
for I had given up all idea of ever seeing it again."

And taking it in her hand she gazed at it lovingly. She was a child
still, you could see it in every movement. Gyuri felt he ought to say
something, but found no suitable words.

This child disconcerted him, but there was something delightful in her
artless manner which quite charmed him. There he stood, helpless and
speechless, as though he were waiting for something. Was it the reward
he wanted? The silence was getting painful, and the position awkward. At
last the girl saw that the young man did not move, so she broke the
silence.

"Oh dear! I had nearly forgotten in my delight that I had offered ... I
mean ... how am I to say it?"

It now occurred to Gyuri that she was offering him the reward, so he
thought it time to make known his name.

"I am Dr. Wibra," he said, "from Besztercebanya."

"Oh, how lucky!" exclaimed the girl, clapping her hands gleefully. "We
are just in want of a doctor for poor madame."

This little misunderstanding was just what was wanted. Gyuri smiled.

"I am very sorry, my dear young lady; I am not a doctor of medicine, but
a doctor of law."

The young girl looked disappointed at this announcement, and blushed a
little at her mistake; but Mravucsan was quite excited.

"What's that I hear? You are young Wibra, the noted lawyer? Well, that
is nice! Who would have thought it? Now I understand. Of course, you are
here to try and find out particulars about one of your cases. I might
have thought of it when I met you at Mrs. Muencz's. Of course a gentleman
like you must have some special reason for buying an old umbrella. Well,
the fates must have sent you here now, for we are discussing such a very
difficult question in the next room, that our minds are too small for
it. How strange, Miss Veronica, that your earring should be found by
such a renowned lawyer."

Veronica stole a look at the "renowned lawyer," and noticed for the
first time how handsome he was, and how gentlemanly, and her heart
began to beat at the thought that she had nearly offered him the five
florins reward.

Mravucsan hastened to offer the lawyer a chair, and cast an anxious look
round his office,