The first thing which surprised Timar was that the lease ran for twenty years instead of ten.
"Well, are you satisfied with the term."
Was he satisfied! The second surprising thing was his own name, "Michael Timar, Baron von Levetinczy."
"Do you like your title?"
CHAPTER IV.
MICHAEL TIMAR, BARON VON LEVETINCZY.
"The diploma of nobility shall be sent to you," said the great man with a gracious smile.
Timar signed his name, with the addition of his new title, to the contract.
"Do not be in a hurry," said his excellency, "I have something more to say. It is a duty of the government to distinguish those who have deserved it by their services to the nation. Especially in regard to such as have won universal recognition in the regions of commerce and political economy. Could you name any one whom I could recommend in the highest quarters for the decoration of the Iron Crown?"
His excellency was quite prepared to receive for answer—"Here is my own button-hole, sir; you can find no better place for your order of merit. If you only want an honest man, here am I." And the offer was made with this idea.
So much the greater was the astonishment of the minister when Michael Timar-Levetinczy after a brief pause replied—"Yes, sir, I will make so free as to point out a person who has long enjoyed universal respect, who has secretly been the benefactor of the district where he lives; it is no other than the Dean of Plesscovacz, Cyril Sandorovics, who deserves this distinction in an imminent degree."