"Why gloss over the truth? Why not say straight out that I do not drink wine because the Koran forbids it, because I am a Mussulman?"
Beldi shook his head at his wife and pointed at the children in order to give another turn to the conversation.
"It looks as if your son were already quite at home with us, Kucsuk. You shall see, when you come back, what a Magyar we have made of him."
Kucsuk and Feriz exchanged a proud and rapid glance, and then both of them looked at Beldi.
The child's features had suddenly and completely changed; at that moment he looked wondrously like his father. There was the same hard, stony glance, the same defiant bearing, the same haughty elevation of the brows.
"So thou dost imagine, Beldi," said Kucsuk severely, "that I only brought my son hither to leave him with thee?"
"But surely you do not mean to take that child with you to battle?"
"Child dost thou call him! He is already the commander of four hundred mounted Spahis; has already been in three engagements; has had two horses shot under him, and is to command the left wing of my forces in the impending battle."
The Beldis looked with amazement at the child, who, with all eyes fixed upon him, assumed his most manly air.
"But I hope that you will at least keep him by your side in the heat of the fight?" said Lady Beldi, much disturbed.