In those days there were two bastions on the walls of the castle of Buda, towards Zugliget. They were used as magazines, but in case of a siege—which at that time Buda had little cause to dread—they would be garrisoned with soldiers, and were therefore already provided with guns.
These two bastions, one of which remains, though in an altered form, to the present day, were about a couple of fathoms apart; and now the king gave orders that both were to be set in order and made fit for dwelling-houses.
There was no opening on three of the sides, with the exception of some small windows high up, which let in the light, but would give the intended inmates no outlook; but on the fourth side, where the bastions faced each other, there were four long, narrow windows in each, guarded by strong iron bars.
The king was just now staying in Buda, and had given Michael command of part of the castle garrison; and he was so well satisfied with the way in which he discharged his duties, that hardly a week passed without his giving him some fresh mark of his favour.
As for Michael's passionate attachment to the king, it increased daily; every hint from him was a command, and he was always on the watch to try to interpret his wishes before they were put into words.
One morning he was summoned to the king's presence.
"Michael," said the king, in a good-humoured tone, "I am angry with you, and I am going to punish you."
"How have I been so unfortunate as to deserve the anger of the best of kings and masters?" asked the young man.
"Well, what do you think?" Matthias went on, laughing. "Am I very angry, and am I going to pass a severe sentence?"