"Oh no, gypsy; do you turn aside to yonder fold. Don't go just now to the farm, but wait a week for me; when I shall come back; then you can fiddle my favorite tune, and I'll give you ten florins for it."
"I am no musician," replied the horseman, extending his chest.
"What's that rural fife doing at your side?" The gypsy roared at the idea of calling his musket a "rural fife!" Many had paid dearly so as not to hear its notes!
"You student, you are a deuce of a fellow. Take a draught from my 'noggin.'"
"No, thanks, gypsy; it isn't spiritual enough to go with my sermon."[55]
[55] Lorand really quoted a sentence from a popular ditty, but it is impossible in such cases to do proper justice to the original.
The whole passage between Lorand and the gypsy is full of allusions intelligible only to Hungarians, in Hungarian, a proper rendering of which, in my opinion, baffles all attempts. Of course the force of the original is lost, but it is unavoidable.
The gypsy laughed still more loudly.
"Well, good night, student."
He drove his spurs into his horse and galloped on along the high-road.