thank you for your extreme kindness to me,
but I don't want to see my relations any more, not because I fear to
meet them, but because I have a holy horror of the very atmosphere they
breathe. My confession will suffice to rectify my fault. I am going on
the tramp again. The linen tent is my home. And then--there are
obligations in respect to the discharge whereof I am not my sister's
brother. I have taken nothing with me but four cigar ends from the
table, a liberty I hope you will pardon me. As I have given you my word
that I would not go out of the door without your knowledge, I have been
obliged to make my exit through the window. Adieu! Till death thy
faithful admirer. COLOMAN."

A couple of hours later Vamhidy learnt from the innkeeper that the
manager, without any previous leave-taking, had decamped leaving behind
him his decorations and theatrical wardrobe as some compensation for his
trifling debts. All he had taken away with him was what he actually had
on his person--and Miss Palmira.

And now Szilard understood the meaning of the passage "there are
obligations in respect to the discharge whereof I am not my sister's
brother."

This vagabond comedian had an equally vagabond childish ideal, and when
he had to make his choice, he flung his arm around her and fled away
with her--into the wide, wide world.

CHAPTER XVII

MR. MARGARI

Mr. Margari had got on in the world. He was now a real gentleman who had
a four-roomed domicile, paid house-rent, and had even gone the length of
marrying. And can you guess the lady of his choice?--why it was no other
than Miss Clementina. That worthy virgin was of just the proper age for
him, moreover a cosy little bit of cash might safely be assumed to go
with her, which exercised a strong attraction upon Mr. Margari--and goes
to prove that iron is not the only metal susceptible of the influence of
the magnet. The worthy maiden had persuaded her respected swain to
abduct her from Hidvar, an enterprise which he had nobly performed while
the lady of the house was travelling with her husband to Arad. It is
true there was no necessity whatever for an elopement, for the baroness
was very far from being one of those dragons in feminine shape who love
to tear asunder hearts that are burning for each other. If Mr. Margari
had respectfully solicited the hand of her lady-companion, there is no
reason to suppose he would have sued in vain; but Clementina was far too
romant