"No gibes, please. The lair of the monster is discovered. Do you understand me now?"
"I understand your Highness. But 'twas a pity to put my lord Csaky to so much inconvenience for such a trifle. So 'twas he then who discovered the pleasure-house which I built over a hot spring among the rocks? Well, I don't think even such a discovery as that will earn for him the title of a Columbus."
"You persist in sneering then? Will nothing make you bow your haughty head? Suppose now I knew the secret of that mysterious cave, what then?"
Banfi began to change colour, and he answered in a low, husky voice, like a man who finds it very difficult not to speak the truth.
"'Tis a very simple matter, sir. It was I who discovered Börvolgy; but as soon as the rumour of the hot spring spread abroad, the public tried to take possession of it. Now, I had also discovered a rich mineral vein beneath the Gradina Dracului, and to prevent it from being appropriated, I had a little private pleasure-house built there among the rocks for the exclusive use of my wife."
By these last words Banfi wished to make the Prince understand that he ought to spare his wife, but they produced exactly the contrary effect.
"Oh, you vile hypocrite!" cried the Prince, starting up and striking the table with his clenched fist. "You would use your wife as a cloak, well knowing all the time that you keep there a Turkish girl on whose account the Sultan is about to ravage the land with fire and sword!"
Lady Banfi uttered a piercing shriek. Her sister whispered in her ear—
"Be strong! Now is the time to show what you are made of."
Banfi furiously bit his lips, but controlled himself with a mighty effort, and answered calmly—