"I see, and what of that?"
"His Majesty has ordered that a large building two stories high, with nine courts, and two thousand windows, shall be erected there. He has, himself, shown me the plans of the edifice which is to be built at his own expense."
"Good heavens! What's that for? is his Majesty going to shut up there all those who do not respect his edicts?"
"No, it is for a hospital for the city of Pesth."
"A hospital, indeed! As if the ordinary lazaretto was not enough."
"It will also serve as a foundling asylum."
"What, for the children who are deserted by their mothers? Why, there are none such in Pesth. The citizens won't tolerate such worthless women in their midst. Such folks must do penance as the Church directs, or else be driven from the city."
"It may be so now, but in course of time, when Pesth is raised to the rank of great world-cities, the magistracy will have something else to do than to control the private lives of its citizens."
"Now, how in the world can Pesth become a great city, I should like to know? Will the Emperor come and live here himself?"
"Perhaps not now, but he means to make it a great place for trade."