the sake of which I could lend my head
to such a blow."

The countess interrupted her _roulades_ for a moment:

"You saw it, eh? And did anybody else see it?"

Hatszegi was strangely surprised by this question.

"What is in your mind, Countess?" he asked.

"I am thinking, my dear friend, that you have some particular reason for
playing the injured man, and I have read the whole tale of the Maccabees
in some history or other of the Jews which you would now palm off upon
the world as something new."

"Your jests are most unmerciful, Countess; but may I beg of you to give
that piano a little rest, especially as it wants tuning. I should like
to speak seriously to you for a moment or two."

"About the Maccabees, eh?" enquired the countess, laughing.

"No. About myself. I am quite serious when I say I have had losses.
Your ladyship need not know how. But for all that I know what a
gentleman ought to do after such a revelation as that with which the
countess has just honoured me and which I accept as a most flattering
mark of confidence."

"Impossible."

"What I say is never impossible; but what that student fellow has chosen
to palm off on your ladyship that _is_ impossible. He will not be able
to help your ladyship without a great scandal. Naturally a mere attorney
looks upon that as a matter of course. He does not understand that there
are cases in which a person would rather spring into a well than risk
her reputation in the eyes of the world by appealing to the courts for
redress. I make your ladyship another proposal: I will exchange a bond
of my own against the bond of the countess to an equal amount. I feel
confident that the usurers will lend readily on my paper and will jump
at the exchange."

"Oh, many thanks, many thanks! But, first of all, I should like to know
what interest you mean to charge me; for I am not going to pay anything
usurious again."

"Legal and Christian interest, I assure you. But I must impose one
condition: your ladyship's doors must henceforth be closed against this
lawyer fellow."

"Are you serious, Baron?"

"Perfectly so."

"Are you not afraid I shall take you at your word?"

"By doing so you will satisfy my desires. Look, Countess! I consider
myself as one of your most sincere admirers and it wounds me to hear all
this tittle-tattle circulating in our set which links your ladyship's
name with that of young Vamhidy."

"But will it not injure the respect you entertain f