第18章

Notwithstandingthismomentofgloom，however，hewasinanexaltedstateallday，andatdinnerkeptlookingathisbrotherandTraquairenigmatically。’Whatdotheyknowoflife？’hethought;’theymightbehereayearandgetnofarther。’Hemadejokes，andpinnedthemenutothewaiter’scoat—tails。"Ilikethisplace，"hesaid，"I

shallspendthreeweekshere。"James，whoselipswereonthepointoftakinginaplum，lookedathimuneasily。

IV

OnthedayofthedinnerSwithinsufferedagooddeal。HereflectedgloomilyonBoleskey’sclothes。Hehadfixedanearlyhour——therewouldbefewerpeopletoseethem。Whenthetimeapproachedheattiredhimselfwithacertainneatsplendour，andthoughhisarmwasstillsore，leftoffthesling……

NearlythreehoursafterwardshelefttheGoldeneAlpbetweenhisguests。Itwassunset，andalongtheriverbankthehousesstoodout，unsoftenedbythedusk;thestreetswerefullofpeoplehurryinghome。Swithinhadahazyvisionofemptybottles，ofthegroundbeforehisfeet，andtheaccessibilityofalltheworld。Dimrecollectionsofthegoodthingshehadsaid，ofhisbrotherandTraquairseatedinthebackgroundeatingordinarymealswithinquiring，acidvisages，causedperpetualsmilestobreakoutonhisface，andhesteeredhimselfstubbornly，toprovethathewasabettermanthaneither’ofhisguests。Heknew，vaguely，thathewasgoingsomewherewithanobject;Rozsi’sfacekeptdancingbeforehim，likeapromise。OnceortwicehegaveKastelizaglassystare。

TowardsBoleskey，ontheotherhand，hefeltquitewarm，andrecalledwithadmirationthewayhehadsethisglassdownempty，timeaftertime。’Iliketoseehimtakehisliquor，’hethought;’thefellow’sagentleman，afterall。’Boleskeystrodeon，savagelyinattentivetoeverything;andKastelizhadbecomemorelikeacatthanever。Itwasnearlydarkwhentheyreachedanarrowstreetclosetothecathedral。Theystoppedatadoorheldopenbyanoldwoman。Thechangefromthefreshairtoaheatedcorridor，thenoiseofthedoorclosedbehindhim，theoldwoman’sanxiousglances，soberedSwithin。

"Itellher，"saidBoleskey，"thatIreplyforyouasformyson。"

Swithinwasangry。Whatbusinesshadthismantoreplyforhim！

Theypassedintoalargeroom，crowdedwithmenallwomen;Swithinnoticedthattheyalllookedfithim。Hestaredattheminturn——

theyseemedofallclasses，someinblackcoatsorsilkdresses，othersintheclothesofwork—people;oneman，acobbler，stillworehisleatherapron，asifhehadrushedtherestraightfromhiswork。

LayinghishandonSwithin’sarm，Boleskeyevidentlybeganexplainingwhohewas;handswereextended，peoplebeyondreachbowedtohim。

Swithinacknowledgedthegreetingswithastiffmotionofhishead;

thenseeingotherpeopledroppingintoseats，he，too，satdown。

Someonewhisperedhisname——MargitandRozsiwerejustbehindhim。

"Welcome！"saidMargit;butSwithinwaslookingatRozsi。Herfacewassoaliveandquivering！’What’stheexcitementallabout？’hethought。’Howprettyshelooks！’Sheblushed，drewinherhandswithaquicktensemovement，andgazedagainbeyondhimintotheroom。’Whatisit？’thoughtSwithin;hehadalongingtoleanbackandkissherlips。Hetriedangrilytoseewhatshewasseeinginthosefacesturnedalloneway。

Boleskeyrosetospeak。Noonemoved;notasoundcouldbeheardbutthetoneofhisdeepvoice。Onandonhewent，fierceandsolemn，andwiththeriseofhisvoice，allthosefaces—fairorswarthy——

seemedtobeglowingwithoneandthesamefeeling。Swithinfeltthewhiteheatinthosefaces——itwasnotdecent！Inthatwholespeechheonlyunderstoodtheoneword——"Magyar"whichcameagainandagain。

Healmostdozedoffatlast。Thetwangofaczymbalwokehim。

’What？’hethought，’moreofthatinfernalmusic！’Margit，leaningoverhim，whispered:"Listen！Racoczy！Itisforbidden！"SwithinsawthatRozsiwasnolongerinherseat;itwasshewhowasstrikingthoseforbiddennotes。Helookedround——everywherethesameunmovingfaces，thesameentrancement，andfiercestillness。Themusicsoundedmuffled，asifit，too，wereburstingitsheartinsilence。

Swithinfeltwithinhimatouchofpanic。Wasthisadenoftigers？

Thewaythesepeoplelistened，theferocityoftheirstillness，wasfrightful……！Hegrippedhischairandbrokeintoaperspiration;

wastherenochancetogetaway？’Whenitstops，’hethought，’there’llbearush！’Buttherewasonlyagreatersilence。Itflashedacrosshimthatanyhostilepersoncominginthenwouldbetorntopieces。Awomansobbed。Thewholethingwasbeyondwordsunpleasant。Herose，andedgedhiswayfurtivelytowardsthedoorway。Therewasacryof"Police！"Thewholecrowdcamepressingafterhim。Swithinwouldsoonhavebeenout，butalittlebehindhecaughtsightofRozsisweptoffherfeet。Herfrightenedeyesangeredhim。’Shedoesn’tdeserveit，’hethoughtsulkily;’lettingallthisloose！’andforcedhiswaybacktoher。Sheclungtohim，andafeverwentstealingthroughhisveins;hebuttedforwardatthecrowd，holdinghertight。Whentheywereoutsidehelethergo。

"Iwasafraid，"shesaid。

"Afraid！"mutteredSwithin;"Ishouldthinkso。"Nolongertouchingher，hefelthisgrievancerevive。

"Butyouaresostrong，"shemurmured。

"Thisisnoplaceforyou，"growledSwithin，"I’mgoingtoseeyouhome。"

"Oh！"criedRozsi;"butpapaand——Margit！"

"That’stheirlook—out！"andhehurriedheraway。

Sheslidherhandunderhisarm;thesoftcurvesofherformbrushedhimgently，eachtouchonlyaugmentedhisill—humour。Heburnedwithaperverserage，asifallthepassionsinhimweresimmeringandreadytoboilover;itwasasifapoisonweretryingtoworkitswayoutofhim，throughthelayersofhisstolidflesh。Hemaintainedadoggedsilence;Rozsi，too，saidnothing，butwhentheyreachedthedoor，shedrewherhandaway。

"Youareangry！"shesaid。

"Angry，"mutteredSwithin;"no！Howd’youmakethatout？"Hehadatorturingdesiretokissher。

"Yes，youareangry，"sherepeated;"IwaithereforpapaandMargit。"

Swithinalsowaited，wedgedagainstthewall。Onceortwice，forhissightwassharp，hesawherstealalookathim，abeseechinglook，andhardenedhisheartwithakindofpleasure。AfterfiveminutesBoleskey，Margit，andKastelizappeared。SeeingRozsitheybrokeintoexclamationsofrelief，andKasteliz，withaglanceatSwithin，puthislipstoherhand。Rozsi’slooksaid，"Wouldn’tyouliketodothat？"Swithinturnedshortonhisheel，andwalkedaway。

V

Allnighthehardlyslept，sufferingfromfever，forthefirsttimeinhislife。Oncehejumpedoutofbed，lightedacandle，andgoingtotheglass，scrutinisedhimselflongandanxiously。Afterthishefellasleep，buthadfrightfuldreams。Hisfirstthoughtwhenhewokewas，’Myliver’soutoforder！’and，thrustinghisheadintocoldwater，hedressedhastilyandwentout。Hesoonleftthehousebehind。Dewcoveredeverything;blackbirdswhistledinthebushes;

theairwasfreshandsweet。Hehadnotbeenupsoearlysincehewasaboy。Whywashewalkingthroughadampwoodatthishourofthemorning？Somethingintolerableandunfamiliarmusthavesenthimout。Nofellowinhissenseswoulddosuchathing！Hecametoadeadstop，andbeganunsteadilytowalkback。Regainingthehotel，hewenttobedagain，anddreamedthatinsomewildcountryhewaslivinginaroomfullofinsects，whereahousemaid——Rozsi——holdingabroom，lookedathimwithmournfuleyes。Thereseemedanunexplainedneedforimmediatedeparture;hebeggedhertoforwardhisthings;

andshakethemoutcarefullybeforesheputthemintothetrunk。Heunderstoodthatthechargeforsendingwouldbetwenty—twoshillings，thoughtitagreatdeal，andhadthehorrorsofindecision。"No，"hemuttered，"pack，andtakethemmyself。"Thehousemaidturnedsuddenlyintoaleancreature;andheawokewithasorefeelinginhisheart。

Hiseyefellonhiswetboots。Thewholethingwasscaring，andjumpingup，hebegantothrowhisclothesintohistrunks。Itwastwelveo’clockbeforehewentdown，andfoundhisbrotherandTraquairstillatthetablearranginganitinerary;hesurprisedthembysayingthathetoowascoming;andwithoutfurtherexplanationsettoworktoeat。Jameshadheardthatthereweresalt—minesintheneighbourhood——hisproposalwastostart，andhaltanhourorsoontheroadfortheirinspection;hesaid:"Everybody’llaskyouifyou’veseenthesalt—mines:Ishouldn’tliketosayIhadn’tseenthesalt—mines。What’sthegood，they’dsay，ofyourgoingthereifyouhaven’tseenthesalt—mines？"Hewondered，too，iftheyneedfeethesecondwaiter——anidlechap！

Adiscussionfollowed;butSwithinateonglumly，consciousthathismindwassetonlargeraffairs。SuddenlyonthefarsideofthestreetRozsiandhersisterpassed，withlittlebasketsontheirarms。Hestartedup，andatthatmomentRozsilookedround——herfacewastheincarnationofenticement，thechintilted，thelowerlipthrustalittleforward，herroundneckcurvingbackoverhershoulder。Swithinmuttered，"Makeyourownarrangements——leavemeout！"andhurriedfromtheroom，leavingJamesbesidehimselfwithinterestandalarm。

Whenhereachedthestreet，however，thegirlshaddisappeared。Hehailedacarriage。"Drive！"hecalledtotheman，withaflourishofhisstick，andassoonasthewheelshadbeguntoclatteronthestonesheleanedback，lookingsharplytorightandleft。Hesoonhadtogiveupthoughtoffindingthem，butmadethecoachmanturnroundandroundagain。Alldayhedroveabout，farintothecountry，andkepturgingthedrivertousegreaterspeed。Hewasinastrangestateofhurryandelation。Finally，hedinedatalittlecountryinn;andthisgavethemeasureofhisdisturbance——thedinnerwasatrocious。

ReturninglateintheeveninghefoundanotewrittenbyTraquair。

"Areyouinyoursenses，man？"itasked;"wehavenomoretimetowasteidlingabouthere。Ifyouwanttorejoinus，comeontoDanielli’sHotel，Venice。"Swithinchuckledwhenhereadit，andfeelingfrightfullytired，wenttobedandsleptlikealog。

VI

ThreeweekslaterhewasstillinSalzburg，nolongerattheGoldeneAlp，butinroomsoverashopneartheBoleskeys’。Hehadspentasmallfortuneinthepurchaseofflowers。Margitwouldcroonoverthem，butRozsi，withasober"Manytanks！"asiftheywereherright，wouldlooklongatherselfintheglass，andpinoneintoherhair。Swithinceasedtowonder;heceasedtowonderatanythingtheydid。OneeveninghefoundBoleskeydeepinconversationwithapale，dishevelled—lookingperson。

"OurfriendMr。Forsyte——CountD……，"saidBoleskey。

Swithinexperiencedafaint，unavoidableemotion;butlookingattheCount’strousers，hethought:’Doesn’tlookmuchlikeone！’Andwithanironicbowtothesilentgirls，heturned，andtookhishat。Butwhenhehadreachedthebottomofthedarkstairsheheardfootsteps。

Rozsicamerunningdown，lookedoutatthedoor，andputherhandsuptoherbreastasifdisappointed;suddenlywithaquickglanceroundshesawhim。Swithincaughtherarm。Sheslippedaway，andherfaceseemedtobubblewithdefianceorlaughter;sheranupthreesteps，stopped，lookedathimacrosshershoulder，andfledonupthestairs。Swithinwentoutbewilderedandannoyed。

’Whatwasshegoingtosaytome？’hekeptthinking。Duringthesethreeweekshehadaskedhimselfallsortsofquestions:whetherhewerebeingmadeafoolof;whethershewereinlovewithhim;whathewasdoingthere，andsometimesatnight，withallhiscandlesburningasifhewantedlight，thebreezeblowingonhimthroughthewindow，hiscigar，half—smoked，inhishand，hesat，anhourormore，staringatthewall。’Enoughofthis！’hethoughteverymorning。Twicehepackedfully——onceheorderedhistravellingcarriage，butcountermandeditthefollowingday。Whatdefinitelyhehoped，intended，resolved，hecouldnothavesaid。HewasalwaysthinkingofRozsi，hecouldnotreadtheriddleinherface——sheheldhiminavice，notwithstandingthateverythingaboutherthreatenedtheveryfetishesofhisexistence。AndBoleskey！Wheneverhelookedathimhethought，’Ifhewereonlyclean？’andmechanicallyfingeredhisownwell—tiedcravatte。Totalkwiththefellow，too，waslikebeingforcedtolookatthingswhichhadnoplaceinthelightofday。

Freedom，equality，self—sacrifice！

’Whycan’thesettledownatsomebusiness，’hethought，’insteadofallthistalk？’Boleskey’ssuddendiffidences，self—depreciation，fitsofdespair，irritatedhim。"Morbidbeggar！"hewouldmutter;

"thankGodIhaven’tathinskin。"Andproudtoo！Extraordinary！

Animpecuniousfellowlikethat！Oneevening，moreover，Boleskeyhadreturnedhomedrunk。Swithinhadhustledhimawayintohisbedroom，helpedhimtoundress，andstayeduntilhewasasleep。’Toomuchofagoodthing！’hethought，’beforehisowndaughters，too！’Itwasafterthisthatheorderedhistravellingcarriage。Theotheroccasiononwhichhepackedwasoneevening，whennotonlyBoleskey，butRozsiherselfhadpickedchickenboneswithherfingers。

OfteninthemorningshewouldgototheMirabellGardentosmokehiscigar;there，instolidcontemplationofthestatues——rowsofhalf—

heroicmencarryingoffhalf—distressfulfemales——hewouldspendanhourpleasantly，hishattiltedtokeepthesunoffhisnose。ThedayafterRozsihadfledfromhimonthestairs，hecamethereasusual。Itwasamorningofblueskyandsunlightglowingontheoldprimgarden，onitsyew—trees，andserio—comicstatues，andwallscoveredwithapricotsandplums。WhenSwithinapproachedhisusualseat，whoshouldbesittingtherebutRozsi"Good—morning，"hestammered;"youknewthiswasmyseatthen？"

Rozsilookedattheground。"Yes，"sheanswered。

Swithinfeltbewildered。"Doyouknow，"hesaid，"youtreatmeveryfunnily？"

TohissurpriseRozsiputherlittlesofthanddownandtouchedhis;

then，withoutaword，sprangupandrushedaway。Ittookhimaminutetorecover。Therewerepeoplepresent;hedidnotliketorun，butovertookheronthebridge，andslippedherhandbeneathhisarm。

"Youshouldn’thavedonethat，"hesaid;"youshouldn’thaverunawayfromme，youknow。"

Rozsilaughed。Swithinwithdrewhisarm;adesiretoshakeherseizedhim。Hewalkedsomewaybeforehesaid，"Willyouhavethegoodnesstotellmewhatyoucametothatseatfor？"

Rozsiflashedalookathim。"To—morrowisthefete，"sheanswered。

Swithinmuttered，"Isthatall？"

"Ifyoudonottakeus，wecannotgo。"

"SupposeIrefuse，"hesaidsullenly，"thereareplentyofothers。"

Rozsibentherhead，scurryingalong。"No，"shemurmured，"ifyoudonotgo——Idonotwish。"

Swithindrewherhandbackwithinhisarm。Howroundandsoftitwas！Hetriedtoseeherface。Whenshewasnearlyhomehesaidgoodbye，notwishing，forsomedarkreason，tobeseenwithher。Hewatchedtillshehaddisappeared;thenslowlyretracedhisstepstotheMirabellGarden。Whenhecametowhereshehadbeensitting，heslowlylightedhiscigar，andforalongtimeafteritwassmokedoutremainedthereinthesilentpresenceofthestatues。

VII

Acrowdofpeoplewanderedroundthebooths，andSwithinfoundhimselfobligedtogivethegirlshisarms。’LikealittleCockneyclerk！’hethought。Hisindignationpassedunnoticed;theytalked，theylaughed，eachsightandsoundinallthehurly—burlyseemedtogostraightintotheirhearts。Heeyedthemironically——theireagervoices，andlittlecoosofsympathyseemedtohimvulgar。InthethickofthecrowdheslippedhisarmoutofMargit’s，but，justashethoughtthathewasfree，theunwelcomehandslidupagain。Hetriedagain，butagainMargitreappeared，serene，andfullofpleasanthumour;andhisfailurethistimeappearedtohiminacomiclight。ButwhenRozsileanedacrosshim，theglowofherroundcheek，hercurvinglip，theinscrutablegreygleamofhereyes，sentathrilloflongingthroughhim。Hewasobligedtostandbywhiletheyparleyedwithagipsy，whosemattedlocksandskinnyhandsinspiredhimwithanotunwarranteddisgust。"Folly！"hemuttered，asRozsiheldoutherpalm。Theoldwomanmumbled，andshotamalignantlookathim。Rozsidrewbackherhand，andcrossedherself。’Folly！’Swithinthoughtagain;andseizingthegirls’

arms，hehurriedthemaway。

"Whatdidtheoldhagsay？"heasked。

Rozsishookherhead。

"Youdon’tmeanthatyoubelieve？"

Hereyeswerefulloftears。"Thegipsiesarewise，"shemurmured。

"Come，whatdidshetellyou？"

ThistimeRozsilookedhurriedlyround，andslippedawayintothecrowd。Afterahunttheyfoundher，andSwithin，whowasscared，growled:"Youshouldn’tdosuchthings——it’snotrespectable。"

Onhigherground，inthecentreofaclearspace，amilitarybandwasplaying。FortheprivilegeofenteringthischarmedcircleSwithinpaidthreekronen，choosingnaturallythebestseats。Heorderedwine，too，watchingRozsioutofthecornerofhiseyeashepoureditout。Theprotectingtendernessofyesterdaywasalllostinthismedley。Itwaseverymanforhimself，afterall！Thecolourhaddeepenedagaininhercheeks，shelaughed，poutingherlips。

Suddenlysheputherglassaside。"Thankyou，verymuch，"shesaid，"itisenough！"

Margit，whoseprettymouthwasallsmiles，cried，"LieberGott！isitnotgood—life？"ItwasnotaquestionSwithincouldundertaketoanswer。Thebandbegantoplayawaltz。"Nowtheywilldance。

LieberGott！andarethelightsnotwonderful？"Lampswereflickeringbeneaththetreeslikeaswarmoffireflies。Therewasahumasfromagiganticbeehive。Passers—byliftedtheirfaces，thenvanishedintothecrowd;Rozsistoodgazingatthemspellbound，asiftheirverygoingandcomingwereadelight。

Thespacewassoonfullofwhirlingcouples。Rozsi’sheadbegantobeattime。"OMargit！"shewhispered。

Swithin’sfacehadassumedasolemn，uneasyexpression。Amanraisinghishat，offeredhisarmtoMargit。SheglancedbackacrosshershouldertoreassureSwithin。"Itisafriend，"shesaid。

SwithinlookedatRozsi——hereyeswerebright，herlipstremulous。

Heslippedhishandalongthetableandtouchedherfingers。Thensheflashedalookathim——appeal，reproach，tenderness，allwereexpressedinit。Wassheexpectinghimtodance？Didshewanttomixwiththerift—raffthere;wishhimtomakeanexhibitionofhimselfinthishurly—burly？Avoicesaid，"Good—evening！"BeforethemstoodKasteliz，inadarkcoattightlybuttonedatthewaist。

"Youarenotdancing，RozsiKozsanony？"（MissRozsi）。"Letme，then，havethepleasure。"Heheldouthisarm。Swithinstaredinfrontofhim。Intheveryactofgoingshegavehimalookthatsaidasplainaswords:"Willyounot？"Butforanswerheturnedhiseyesaway，andwhenhelookedagainshewasgone。Hepaidthescoreandmadehiswayintothecrowd。Butashewentshedancedbyclosetohim，allflushedandpanting。Shehungbackasiftostophim，andhecaughttheglisteningoftears。Thenhelostsightofheragain。Tobedesertedthefirstminutehewasalonewithher，andforthatjackanapeswiththesmallheadandthevolcanicglances！Itwastoomuch！AndsuddenlyitoccurredtohimthatshewasalonewithKasteliz——aloneatnight，andfarfromhome。’Well，’hethought，’whatdoIcare？’andshoulderedhiswayonthroughthecrowd。Itservedhimrightformixingwithsuchpeoplehere。Heleftthefair，butthefurtherhewent，themorehenursedhisrage，themoreheinousseemedheroffence，thesharpergrewhisjealousy。"A

beggarlybaron！"washisthought。

Afigurecamealongside——itwasBoleskey。OnelookshowedSwithinhiscondition。Drunkagain！Thiswasthelaststraw！

UnfortunatelyBoleskeyhadrecognisedhim。Heseemedviolentlyexcited。"Where——wherearemydaughters？"hebegan。

Swithinbrushedpast，butBoleskeycaughthisarm。"Listen——

brother！"hesaid;"newsofmycountry！Afterto—morrow……"

"Keepittoyourself！"growledSwithin，wrenchinghisarmfree。Hewentstraighttohislodgings，and，lyingonthehardsofaofhisunlightedsitting—room，gavehimselfuptobitterthoughts。Butinspiteofallhisanger，Rozsi’ssupply—movingfigure，withitspoutinglips，androguishappealingeyes，stillhauntedhim。

VIII

Nextmorningtherewasnotacarriagetobehad，andSwithinwascompelledtoputoffhisdeparturetillthemorrow。Thedaywasgreyandmisty;hewanderedaboutwiththestrained，inquiringlookofalostdoginhiseyes。

Lateintheafternoonhewentbacktohislodgings。Inacornerofthesitting—roomstoodRozsi。Thethrilloftriumph，thesenseofappeasement，theemotion，thatseizedonhim，creptthroughtohislipsinafaintsmile。Rozsimadenosound，herfacewashiddenbyherhands。AndthissilenceofhersweighedonSwithin。Shewasforcinghimtobreakit。Whatwasbehindherhands？Hisownfacewasvisible！Whydidn’tshespeak？Whywasshehere？Alone？Thatwasnotrightsurely。

SuddenlyRozsidroppedherhands;herflushedfacewasquivering——itseemedasthoughaword，asign，even，mightbringaburstoftears。

Hewalkedovertothewindow。’Imustgivehertime！’hethought;

thenseizedbyunreasoningterroratthissilence，spunround，andcaughtherbythearms。Rozsiheldbackfromhim，swayedforwardandburiedherfaceonhisbreast……

HalfanhourlaterSwithinwaspacingupanddownhisroom。Thescentofroseleaveshadnotyetdiedaway。Aglovelayonthefloor;hepickeditup，andforalongtimestoodweighingitinhishand。Allsortsofconfusedthoughtsandfeelingshauntedhim。Itwasthepurestandleastselfishmomentofhislife，thismomentaftershehadyielded。Butthatpuregratitudeatherfiery，simpleabnegationdidnotlast;itwasfollowedbyapettysenseoftriumph，andbyuneasiness。Hewasstillweighingthelittlegloveinhishand，whenhehadanothervisitor。ItwasKasteliz。

"WhatcanIdoforyou？"Swithinaskedironically。

TheHungarianseemedsufferingfromexcitement。WhyhadSwithinlefthischargesthenightbefore？Whatexcusehadhetomake？Whatsortofconductdidhecallthis？

Swithin，verylikeabull—dogatthatmoment，answered:Whatbusinesswasitofhis？

Thebusinessofagentleman！WhatrighthadtheEnglishmantopursueayounggirl？

"Pursue？"saidSwithin;"you’vebeenspying，then？"

"Spying——I——Kasteliz——MaurusJohann——aninsult！"

"Insult！"sneeredSwithin;d’youmeantotellmeyouweren’tinthestreetjustnow？"

Kastelizansweredwithahiss，"IfyoudonotleavethecityIwillmakeyou，withmysword——doyouunderstand？"

"AndifyoudonotleavemyroomIwillthrowyououtofthewindow！"

ForsomeminutesKastelizspokeinpureHungarianwhileSwithinwaited，withaforcedsmileandafixedlookinhiseye。HedidnotunderstandHungarian。

"Ifyouarestillinthecityto—morrowevening，"saidKastelizatlastinEnglish，"Iwillspityouinthestreet。"

Swithinturnedtothewindowandwatchedhisvisitor’sretiringbackwithaqueermixtureofamusement，stubbornness，andanxiety。

’Well，’hethought，’Isupposehe’llrunmethrough！’Thethoughtwasunpleasant;anditkeptrecurring，butitonlyservedtohardenhisdetermination。HisheadwasbusywithplansforseeingRozsi;

hisbloodonfirewiththekissesshehadgivenhim。

IX

Swithinwaslongindecidingtogoforthnextday。HehadmadeuphismindnottogotoRozsitillfiveo’clock。’Mustn’tmakemyselftoocheap，’hethought。Itwasalittlepastthathourwhenheatlastsalliedout，andwithabeatingheartwalkedtowardsBoleskey’s。

Helookedupatthewindow，morethanhalfexpectingtoseeRozsithere;butshewasnot，andhenoticedwithfaintsurprisethatthewindowwasnotopen;theplants，too，outside，lookedsingularlyarid。Heknocked。Noonecame。Hebeatafiercetatto。Atlastthedoorwasopenedbyamanwithareddishbeard，andoneofthosesardonicfacesonlytobeseenonshoemakersofTeutonicorigin。

"Whatdoyouwant，makingallthisnoise？"heaskedinGerman。

Swithinpointedupthestairs。Themangrinned，andshookhishead。

"Iwanttogoup，"saidSwithin。

Thecobblershruggedhisshoulders，andSwithinrushedupstairs。Theroomswereempty。Thefurnitureremained，butallsignsoflifeweregone。Oneofhisownbouquets，faded，stoodinaglass;theashesofafirewerebarelycold;littlescrapsofpaperstrewedthehearth;

alreadytheroomsmeltmusty。Hewentintothebedrooms，andwithafeelingofstupefactionstoodstaringatthegirls’beds，sidebysideagainstthewall。Abitofribboncaughthiseye;hepickeditupandputitinhispocket——itwasapieceofevidencethatshehadonceexisted。Bythemirrorsomepinsweredroppedabout;alittlepowderhadbeenspilled。Helookedathisowndisquietfaceandthought，’I’vebeencheated！’

Theshoemaker’svoicearousedhim。"TausendTeufel！EilenSie，nur！

ZeitisGeld！Kannnich’Langerwarten！"Slowlyhedescended。

"Wherehavetheygone？"askedSwithinpainfully。"ApoundforeveryEnglishwordyouspeak。Apound！"andhemadeanOwithhisfingers。

Thecornersoftheshoemaker’slipscurled。"Geld！Mf！EilenSie，nur！"

ButinSwithinasullenangerhadbeguntoburn。"Ifyoudon’ttellme，"hesaid，"it’llbetheworseforyou。"

"SindeinkomischerKerl！"remarkedtheshoemaker。"HieristmeineFrau！"

Abattered—lookingwomancamehurryingdownthepassage，callingoutinGerman，"Don’tlethimgo！"

Withasnarlingsoundtheshoemakerturnedhisback，andshambledoff。

ThewomanfurtivelythrustaletterintoSwithin’shand，andfurtivelywaited。

TheletterwasfromRozsi。

"Forgiveme"——itran——"thatIleaveyouanddonotsaygoodbye。To—

dayourfatherhadthecallfromourdearFather—townsolongawaited。Intwohoursweareready。IpraytotheVirgintokeepyoueversafe，andthatyoudonotquiteforgetme。——Yourunforgettinggoodfriend，ROZSI

WhenSwithinreadithisfirstsensationwasthatofamansinkinginabog;thenhisobstinacystiffened。’Iwon’tbedone，’hethought。

Takingoutasovereignhetriedtomakethewomancomprehendthatshecouldearnit，bytellinghimwheretheyhadgone。Hegotherfinallytowritethewordsoutinhispocket—book，gaveherthesovereign，andhurriedtotheGoldeneAlp，wheretherewasawaiterwhospokeEnglish。Thetranslationgivenhimwasthis:

"Atthreeo’clocktheystartinacarriageontheroadtoLinz——theyhavebadhorses——theHerralsoridesawhitehorse。"

SwithinatoncehailedacarriageandstartedatfullgallopontheroadtoLinz。OutsidetheMirabellGardenhecaughtsightofKastelizandgrinnedathim。’I’vesoldhimanyway，’hethought;

’foralltheirtalk，they’renogood，theseforeigners！’

Hisspiritsrose，butsoonfellagain。Whatchancehadheofcatchingthem？Theyhadthreehours’start！Still，theroadswereheavyfromtherainofthelasttwonights——theyhadluggageandbadhorses;hisownweregood，hisdriverbribed——hemightovertakethembyteno’clock！Butdidhewantto？Whatafoolhehadbeennottobringhisluggage;hewouldthenhavehadarespectableposition。

Whatabrutehewouldlookwithoutachangeofshirt，oranythingtoshavewith！Hesawhimselfwithhorror，allbristly，andinsoiledlinen。Peoplewouldthinkhimmad。’I’vegivenmyselfaway，’

flashedacrosshim，’whatthedevilcanIsaytothem？’andhestaredsullenlyatthedriver’sback。HereadRozsi’sletteragain;ithadascentofher。Andinthegrowingdarkness，joltedbytheswingingofthecarriage，hesufferedtorturesfromhisprudence，torturesfromhispassion。