"What are you doing here, sir?" asked Rudolf, who was the first to recover his composure, drawing nearer to the pedestal.
Alexander recognized the voice, he knew that it was Rudolf, and could not understand why he should have come to that place at that hour.
"Count Szentirmay," he said gently, "I am that artisan to whom you showed a kindness once upon a time; be so good as to show yet another kindness to me by leaving me here alone and asking no questions."
Then Rudolf recognized the young man, and it suddenly flashed across his mind that the dead woman before she became Dame Kárpáthy had
been engaged to a poor young artisan who had so bravely, so chivalrously, exposed himself to death for her sake.
Now he understood everything.
He took the young man's hand and pressed it.
"You loved this lady? You have come hither to mourn over her?"
"Yes, sir. There's nothing to be ashamed of in that. One may love the dead. I loved that woman, I love her now, and I shall never love another."
Rudolf's heart went out to the young man.