Richard laughed aloud. "So that is the usury I am to pay?" said he.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Jenő, with vexation, rising from his seat.
"I mean that you would like to pay your court to Miss Alfonsine if her mother, who considers you a very raw youth as yet, were not in the way. Madame Antoinette herself claims to be not devoid of personal charms, and, if her friseur is to be believed, she is still a beautiful woman. When I was in the guard I used to dance with her often at the masked balls, and I recognised her under her domino more than once when she mistook me for an acquaintance and fell to chatting with me. You know all that very well, and you say to yourself: 'I'll take my brother along as elephant.' All right, brother; never fear, I am not going to hand back the five hundred florins. Your charges are high, but I'll be your elephant. Climb up on my back, and while you beguile the daughter I will keep the mother amused. But first I must impose one condition. If you really want my company at the reception, do me the favour to intercede with your chief on behalf of a poor priest who has been summoned to Vienna. Have him sent home in peace. I don't need to tell you he is our pastor at Nemesdomb, and he has been set upon because of the funeral prayer he saw fit to make."
"How did you learn all that?" asked Jenő, in surprise.
"Oh, I picked it up," replied the other; "and I tell you he is an honest man. Let him go."
Jenő assumed his official expression of countenance. "But really," said he, "I have reason to know that the chancellor is greatly incensed against him."
"Come, come!" cried the elder brother, impatiently; "don't try to impose on me with your great men. I have seen any number of them, in all sorts of undress, and I know that they are built just like other mortals,—eat and drink, yawn and snore exactly like the rest of mankind. Your great magistrate wrinkles his brow, talks in a harsh tone to the innocent victim before him, and when he has let him go, the mighty man laughs aloud at the terrible fright he gave the poor wretch. This priest is an honest fellow, but his tongue sometimes runs away with him. Yet he is a servant of God, and he must be allowed to depart in peace. May he long minister to his little flock!"
"Well, I will speak to his Excellency," returned Jenő.
"Thank you. Now sit down and drink with me, to seal our compact. Paul!"
The old hussar appeared.