The magistrate was astonished. Her ladyship busied herself with such things? When the sausage had disappeared, he made a remark about it.
"Yet no one would imagine that these delicate hands could busy themselves with other things than sewing, piano-playing, and the turning over of gold-bordered leaves. Have you read the almanacs of the parliament?"
At this question Topándy burst into loud laughter, while the lawyer covered his mouth with his napkin, the laughter stuck in his throat: the magistrate could not imagine what there could be to ridicule in this question.
Her ladyship answered quite unconsciously:
"Oh! there are some fine airs in it: I know them. If you will listen, I will sing them."
The magistrate thought there must be some misunderstanding: still, if her ladyship cared to sing, he would be only too delighted to listen.
"Which do you want 'Vienna Town' or 'Rose-bud?'"
"Both," said the host, "and into the bargain the latest parliamentary air, 'Come Down from the Cross, and Fly to the Poplar-tree.' But let us go out of the dining-room to hear the songs; the forks and plates are rattling too much here: we'll go to my sister's room. There she will sing to the accompaniment of a Magyar piano. Have you ever seen a Magyar piano, my friend?"
"I don't remember having done so."
"Well, it is beautiful: you must hear it. My sister plays it wonderfully."