"Hear, hear!" shouted many voices, and the loudest of all was Petray's.
"Justice for Ráby," exclaimed that worthy, "yes, it is right he should have it. I have always told the lieutenant here what a sin and a shame it was thus to compass his ruin."
"What?" cried Laskóy, "I, compassing Ráby's ruin? What do you mean? Who but you managed the whole business, I should like to know!"
"That's a lie!" retorted his antagonist, and the strife promised to be endless, for the others now joined in lustily, and swords were all but drawn.
Tárhalmy took his documents under his arm. "I am going," he said, "I prefer to choose my own company."
Meantime, the news of the royal proclamation had spread like wild-fire, and nothing else was talked of. Nagy (otherwise "Kurovics") hastened to Janosics to impart to him the news that the members of the council were quarrelling as to which one was guilty of Ráby's condemnation, and that it would be as well at any rate, it should not be laid at the door of the prison officials.
So the two made for the condemned cell, where Ráby had been dragged all but unconscious.
The prisoner imagined they had come to lead him to the galleys.
"No, my friend, thank your stars you are not going there," shouted Janosics, "you are reprieved! You are free!"