Count Edmund was courtier enough to conceal the astonishment he most certainly felt, but as he went down the stairs he began to hum Figaro's song from the Barber of Seville:
"The falseness of women
One never can know,
One never can know!"
Countess Angela wrote that same evening to her grandfather. Ivan was right in saying the next day was his birthday, and this was her birthday greeting:
"I am not coming home. Adieu."
For two days every one in Pesth spoke of Ivan and his duel with Salista; the third day he was forgotten. Good-bye to him!
CHAPTER XVII
THE LAST REHEARSAL
On the morning of his birthday Prince Theobald received a letter. It was from his only grandchild, and ended with the word "Adieu."
The prince's birthday had been always a festival. From Angela's childhood up to the last anniversary of the day she had each year given him a remembrance. On this day it had been a bitter gift.