And then again it occurred to her that she too could defend herself against terrors: she knew now how to pray. So she took refuge in the sanctuary of the Great Lord, and, embracing the pillars of his throne, prayed, and prayed, and prayed.
Scarce a quarter of an hour after the lawyer's departure, some one else came.
It was Michael Daruszegi, the magistrate.
The girl trembled as she saw him. The confessor had come!
Topándy sprang up from his seat and went to meet him.
Czipra plainly heard what he said in a subdued voice.
"The doctor has forbidden her to speak: in her present condition you cannot cross-question her."
Czipra breathed freely again. He was defending her!
"In any case I can answer for her, for I was present from the very beginning," said Lorand to the magistrate. "Czipra heard the noise in the garden, and was daring enough, as was her wont, to go out and see what was the matter. At the door she met the robber face to face: she barred his way, and immediately cried out for me: then she struggled with him until I came to her help."
How pleased Czipra was at that explanation, all the more because she saw by Lorand's face that he really believed it.