"And what is more in Ebesfalva."
Apafi looked at the Reverend gentleman in astonishment.
"And I am not to know the skilful hands that busy themselves in this way!"
"Your Highness does know them. The name of the maker is in one corner of the handkerchief embroidered in beautiful Gothic letters."
Apafi looked at each corner of the handkerchief in turn; no two were embroidered alike; in one was a wreath of oak leaves, in one a trophy, in the third a Turkish, a Hungarian and a French sword fastened together with a ribbon, in the fourth under a Prince's crown was embroidered the name Apafi.
The Prince read the name aloud. The bystanders looked at him timidly expecting an outburst of anger. To the astonishment of all a smile played over the Prince's lips; he put the handkerchief in the Reverend gentleman's hat, put this on the ambassador's head, and said with very good humor:
"So you have succeeded in winning over my wife?"
The minister laughed at the ambiguous joke.
"But you will not win me," added Apafi, laughing.
The minister bowed low; then held his head erect and said significantly: