"At the Plankenhorsts'."
"There now, I had forgotten all about it," exclaimed Richard, springing up and summoning his servant.
"Do tell me, Richard, why you have such an aversion to these people? They are so friendly and cordial, and one is always sure to pass a pleasant evening at their house."
"What's wanted now?" inquired Paul, appearing at the door.
"Come in, Paul, and shave me," returned his master.
The old hussar was barber as well as cook.
"Why don't you answer my question?" persisted Jenő, while old Paul beat up the lather. "What have you against the Plankenhorsts?"
"The deuce take me if I can tell," answered Richard; "but they are such tuft-hunters!"
"Better not talk now, or I shall be cutting your face," interposed the old servant. "Let the young gentleman go on ahead, and you can follow him as soon as I have made you presentable. You won't need any rope ladder or skeleton key to get into the Plankenhorst house."
Jenő adopted this suggestion, and half an hour later his brother joined him in the Plankenhorst parlours. Jenő hastened to present the newcomer to the hostess and her daughter, both of whom remembered that they had already had the pleasure of meeting him. The mother declared herself delighted to welcome him under her own roof, to which Richard replied with an appropriate compliment, and then made room for other arrivals.