The trinket was a small round cameo cut out of mother-of-pearl and set in gold; it represented St. George and the dragon. Ödön felt unwilling to accept the gift.
"Thank you," said he, "but I have no faith in charms. I only trust to my stars, and they are—loving woman's eyes."
Leonin grasped his friend's hands. "Answer me one question: do you see two eyes or four among your stars?"
Ödön paused a moment, then pressed his comrade's hand and answered, "Four!"
"Good!" exclaimed Leonin, and he helped his companion into the sledge.
The driver pulled each of his horses by the forelock, kissed all three on the cheek, crossed himself, and then took his place on the front seat. In a moment more the sledge was flying through the snow-covered streets on its way southward.
CHAPTER IV.
THE TWO OTHERS.
"The King of Hungary" was, at the time of our narrative, one of the finest hotels in Vienna, and much frequented by aristocratic Hungarian travellers and by Hungarian army officers.
A young hussar officer was ascending the stairs to the second story. He was a handsome, well-built, broad-shouldered youth, and his uniform fitted his athletic figure well. His cheeks were ruddy, his face full, and on his upper lip he wore a mustache, the ends of which pointed upward with a sprightly air. His cap was tilted well forward over his eyes, and he carried his head as proudly as if he had been the only captain of horse in the whole wide world.