By degrees Gáspár Gregorics got all particulars out of the man; and now the ground seemed to be burning under his feet, so he went straight into the town to look for the man with the three hairs on his nose.
It was not difficult to find him, and at the first place he asked at, three voices answered at once:
"That must be András Prepelicza. His mustache made a mistake, and grew on the top of his nose instead of on his lip."
After that it was mere child's play, for every workman knew that Prepelicza was "building Pest," as they expressed it. He was working at a large house in the Kerepesi Street.
Gáspár immediately had the horses harnessed, and drove to Pest, not stopping till he reached the capital; and there he set to work to find Prepelicza among the Slovak workmen. The mason was just going up on a pulley to the third story when he found him, and Gáspár shuddered as he thought: "Supposing the cords were to give way now!"
"Hallo, Prepelicza!" he shouted. "Wait a bit, I was just looking for you. I want to have a talk with you."
"All right," called out the mason, examining the newcomer from above. "Come up if you want to talk."
"You come down to me, it is very important."
"Well, shout it out, I can hear it all right up here."
"I can't do that, I must speak to you in private at any cost."