approached a bear's den with such beating of heart
as he now approached Hatszegi's chambers. His breath almost failed him
as he seized the handle of the street door and wished it might prove
locked in order that it might take a longer time to open it.

And locked indeed the door proved to be, he had to ring. Thus he had, at
any rate, a respite, for he must await the result of the ringing. And a
long time he had to wait too, so long indeed that it was necessary to
ring again. Even then there was no response. Then he rang a third time,
and after that he went on ring-ring-ringing for a good half hour. At
last the bellrope remained in his hand and he put it into his pocket
that it might testify to the fact that he had been there. Then, for the
first time, he noticed that the shutters were all up--the surest sign
that nobody was at home.

Gerzson explained the matter to his own satisfaction by supposing that
the whole household was at the races. It was the last day of the races
and he reached the course just as the betting was at its height and
everybody's attention was concentrated on the event of the moment. At
such time the crowd has no eyes for men, everyone is occupied with the
horses. Mr. Gerzson therefore had plenty of time to scrutinize all who
were present, but look as he would he could not see Leonard anywhere.

At last he could stand the suspense no longer, and during the interval
between two races, he descended from the grand-stand, in a corner of
which he had ensconced himself in order to get a better view of the
field, and mingled in the ring with his brother sportsmen awaiting
resignedly for the expression of amazed and horrified inquiry which he
expected to see in all faces the moment they perceived him.

But how taken aback was he when the first man who cast eyes on him gave
vent to a loud: Ha! ha! ha! whereupon everybody else began laughing also
and pointing their fingers at him and exclaiming: "Why here's Gerzson!
Gerzson has come back again!"

"Have you all gone mad?" cried Gerzson, confused by this inexplicable
hubbub.

He really fancied that he had fallen among a lot of lunatics, till at
last Count Kengyelesy forced his way through the crowd towards him, put
both his hands on his hips and began to quiz him: "Well, you are a
pretty fellow!--you are a pretty squire of dames, I must say!"

"But what's the matter? What has happened? Why do you laugh?"

"Listen to him!" cried the count, turning to t