to America."

"Newspaper lies. He is here, I know he is."

"And suppose he is, what harm can he do? This band has been cut off to
the very last man. They have all been sentenced heavily, the older men
to twenty years penal servitude, the younger men to penal servitude for
life. I had it from Hatszegi himself who was the president of the mixed
commission that tried them, and signed the judgment himself. The whole
fraternity is now sitting in chains in the trenches of Gyula Fehervar
and we have seen the last of it."

"What guarantee have you of that?"

"What guarantee?--why the security of the whole region ever since. Why,
everyone there can now sleep with open doors and if you yourself were to
lie dead drunk in the public thoroughfare you would not have your money
stolen from your pocket any more."

Squire Gerzson protested vehemently against the assumption that he was
in the habit of sprawling tipsily on the king's high road.

"I'll tell you," said he, "why everything is so secure just now. The
confiscated gold of Fatia Negra is still at Gyula Fehervar, as a forfeit
to the crown, and, sooner or later, must be sent to Vienna. Fatia Negra
is _not_ dead, his robber band has _not_ been captured and does _not_
sit in irons at Gyula Fehervar, and the present tranquillity and
imagined security suit their plans nicely. The band now pretends to have
vanished, but just you wait till the gold is sent under convoy from
Gyula Fehervar to Vienna--and you will see some fun."

"How do you know that?"

"I know it sir, because I know that this man, this brazen faced,
iron-fisted man is not such a chicken-hearted creature as to allow a
half-million or so to be snatched from him without stirring every nerve
and muscle to try and win it back again. For I know that hitherto he has
always triumphed over the power of the law and has always escaped from
the most dangerous ambushes."

"Well, all I can say is that I do not understand what you have to do
with this worthy man."

* * * * *

The falsely coined gold pieces deposited at Gyula Fehervar, had, after
the trial was over, to be sent to Hungary to be recoined. The precious
consignment filled two post-wagons and was of the estimated value of a
million and a half. Four and twenty Uhlans were told off to escort it.
This was a more than sufficient protection for the most costly treasure
at ordinary times. Moreover, in Hungary, cavalry has always inspire