"If you kneel before a man," said Béldi, walking beside him, "at least do not weep like a child."
Before Béldi could reach the door he felt his hand warmly pressed by another hand. He looked in that direction, and there stood Feriz.
"Did you say that your wife was a captive?" asked the youth with an uncertain voice.
"And my child also."
The face of Feriz flushed.
"I will release them," he said impetuously. Béldi seized his hand. "Wait for me at the entrance."
The Hungarian refugees withdrew, everyone of them weaving for himself fresh hopes from the assurances of the Vizier. Only Ladislaus was not content with the result, and going to his quarters he immediately sat down and wrote two letters, one to the general of the Kaiser, and the other to the minister of the King of France, to both of whom he promised everything they could desire if they would help forward his private affairs, thinking to himself if the Sultan does not help me the Kaiser will, and if both fail me I can fall back upon the French King; at any rate a man ought to make himself safe all round.
Scarce had the refugees quitted the Diván when an Aga entered the audience-chamber and announced:
"The Magyar lords."