"By my steward!" exclaimed the countess, in a tone of surprise.
"It is written in his style, and quite unfit for you to read. I will tell you what interests you. The steward says that your entire household, without any exception of sex, have made good their escape, and that he is following their example."
"My steward also! And for what reason?"
"He gives the reason in his letter. I suspect, however, it is only a pretext on his part to conceal a very criminal design. I am of opinion that he has robbed you."
"Robbed me!" repeated the countess.
"Do not alarm yourself; there are different sorts of robbery, such as being an unfaithful steward, injuring your land, making profit to himself to your disadvantage. This man, I imagine, played this game, and has now tried to give a humorous turn to his flight, so that the laugh may be turned against you. This is my idea."
The countess was obliged to acknowledge that her neighbor was both a clever and a kind-hearted man.
"In this letter," continued Ivan, "your steward states that after what has happened he could never dare to look you in the face again, as he could not convince you that the late scandals in the castle had gone on without his knowledge. I did not believe these words. I felt certain that you had dismissed your household on finding out how grossly they had deceived you; therefore, my first care on getting this letter was to send a messenger on horseback to the nearest telegraph-station with a message to your banker in Pesth, to tell him that the agent of the Bondavara estate had absconded, and on no account to honor his checks. I thought it was probable he had liberty to draw in your name."
"This was really very practical and thoughtful on your part," said the abbé. "The countess must feel most grateful to you."
Theudelinde bowed her head graciously.