"Well, let us see—if—if we can invent no one else, there is myself!"
"You!" cried Paul, with evident and intense disgust, "you! But how? in what way?" and he broke into a laugh.
"That is my affair, sir; and if you have confidence in me——"
"Hush! I hear footsteps. Not another word now, I will contrive to see you again privately before I go from here. Just one thing more. I wonder whether you would undertake to do me a small service without telling the Mr. Szirmays, and without leaving this house."
"What am I to understand, sir?" asked the page, with marked attention.
And Paul explained that if he succeeded in arranging matters with Mistress Jolánta, he should want someone on whom he could depend, to keep him informed of all that went on in the house, in case, for instance, Master Stephen should be thinking of another match for his daughter, and—in fact, there might be many things which he ought to know; and then if he came again himself during the winter, he should want someone to see that he had comfortable quarters prepared for him on the road, and so on.
Libor was only too delighted to serve such a magnificent gentleman, a gentleman who was so open-handed and so condescending moreover, and the bargain was struck. Paul handed the page a well filled purse, telling him to keep a fourth part of the contents for himself, and to use the remainder to cover any expenses to which he might be put in sending messengers, etc.
"And look you here, Libor, from to-day you are in my service, remember—one of my honourable pages; and if ever you should wish to try your fortune elsewhere, there will be a place ready for you in my establishment."
Libor bowed himself to the ground as he answered, "With heart and soul, sir."
Meantime the footsteps had drawn nearer, and a tap at the door put a stop to the conversation.