[47] The name given to Desiderius' professor ("bread devourer").
There was a world of frank good-heartedness in these reproaches; besides I had to catch after the first straw to find a way of escape.
"Well, and what did my old colleague say?—You know the reason I call him 'colleague,' is that my hair always acts as if it were a wig, while his wig always acts as it if were hair."
"He said," I answered tremblingly, hanging on to his arm, "he knew more than I. Lorand has not merely run away, but has stolen my uncle's wife."
At these words Márton commenced to roar with laughter. He pressed his hands upon his stomach and just roared, then turned round, as if he wished to give the further end of the street a taste of his laughter; then he remarked that it was a splendid joke, at which remark I was sufficiently scandalized.
"And then he said—that Lorand had stolen his money."
At this Márton straightened himself and raised his head very seriously.
"That is bad. That is 'a mill,' as Father Fromm would say. Well, and what do you think of it, sir?"
"I think, it cannot be true; and I want to find my brother, no matter what has become of him.
"And when you have found him?"