Notwithstandingthismomentofgloom，however，hewasinanexaltedstateallday，andatdinnerkeptlookingathisbrotherandTraquairenigmatically。’Whatdotheyknowoflife？’hethought;’theymightbehereayearandgetnofarther。’Hemadejokes，andpinnedthemenutothewaiter’scoat—tails。\"Ilikethisplace，\"hesaid，\"I
shallspendthreeweekshere。\"James，whoselipswereonthepointoftakinginaplum，lookedathimuneasily。
IV
OnthedayofthedinnerSwithinsufferedagooddeal。HereflectedgloomilyonBoleskey’sclothes。Hehadfixedanearlyhour——therewouldbefewerpeopletoseethem。Whenthetimeapproachedheattiredhimselfwithacertainneatsplendour，andthoughhisarmwasstillsore，leftoffthesling……
NearlythreehoursafterwardshelefttheGoldeneAlpbetweenhisguests。Itwassunset，andalongtheriverbankthehousesstoodout，unsoftenedbythedusk;thestreetswerefullofpeoplehurryinghome。Swithinhadahazyvisionofemptybottles，ofthegroundbeforehisfeet，andtheaccessibilityofalltheworld。Dimrecollectionsofthegoodthingshehadsaid，ofhisbrotherandTraquairseatedinthebackgroundeatingordinarymealswithinquiring，acidvisages，causedperpetualsmilestobreakoutonhisface，andhesteeredhimselfstubbornly，toprovethathewasabettermanthaneither’ofhisguests。Heknew，vaguely，thathewasgoingsomewherewithanobject;Rozsi’sfacekeptdancingbeforehim，likeapromise。OnceortwicehegaveKastelizaglassystare。
TowardsBoleskey，ontheotherhand，hefeltquitewarm，andrecalledwithadmirationthewayhehadsethisglassdownempty，timeaftertime。’Iliketoseehimtakehisliquor，’hethought;’thefellow’sagentleman，afterall。’Boleskeystrodeon，savagelyinattentivetoeverything;andKastelizhadbecomemorelikeacatthanever。Itwasnearlydarkwhentheyreachedanarrowstreetclosetothecathedral。Theystoppedatadoorheldopenbyanoldwoman。Thechangefromthefreshairtoaheatedcorridor，thenoiseofthedoorclosedbehindhim，theoldwoman’sanxiousglances，soberedSwithin。
\"Itellher，\"saidBoleskey，\"thatIreplyforyouasformyson。\"
Swithinwasangry。Whatbusinesshadthismantoreplyforhim！
Theypassedintoalargeroom，crowdedwithmenallwomen;Swithinnoticedthattheyalllookedfithim。Hestaredattheminturn——
theyseemedofallclasses，someinblackcoatsorsilkdresses，othersintheclothesofwork—people;oneman，acobbler，stillworehisleatherapron，asifhehadrushedtherestraightfromhiswork。
LayinghishandonSwithin’sarm，Boleskeyevidentlybeganexplainingwhohewas;handswereextended，peoplebeyondreachbowedtohim。
Swithinacknowledgedthegreetingswithastiffmotionofhishead;
thenseeingotherpeopledroppingintoseats，he，too，satdown。
Someonewhisperedhisname——MargitandRozsiwerejustbehindhim。
\"Welcome！\"saidMargit;butSwithinwaslookingatRozsi。Herfacewassoaliveandquivering！’What’stheexcitementallabout？’hethought。’Howprettyshelooks！’Sheblushed，drewinherhandswithaquicktensemovement，andgazedagainbeyondhimintotheroom。’Whatisit？’thoughtSwithin;hehadalongingtoleanbackandkissherlips。Hetriedangrilytoseewhatshewasseeinginthosefacesturnedalloneway。
Boleskeyrosetospeak。Noonemoved;notasoundcouldbeheardbutthetoneofhisdeepvoice。Onandonhewent，fierceandsolemn，andwiththeriseofhisvoice，allthosefaces—fairorswarthy——
seemedtobeglowingwithoneandthesamefeeling。Swithinfeltthewhiteheatinthosefaces——itwasnotdecent！Inthatwholespeechheonlyunderstoodtheoneword——\"Magyar\"whichcameagainandagain。
Healmostdozedoffatlast。Thetwangofaczymbalwokehim。
’What？’hethought，’moreofthatinfernalmusic！’Margit，leaningoverhim，whispered:\"Listen！Racoczy！Itisforbidden！\"SwithinsawthatRozsiwasnolongerinherseat;itwasshewhowasstrikingthoseforbiddennotes。Helookedround——everywherethesameunmovingfaces，thesameentrancement，andfiercestillness。Themusicsoundedmuffled，asifit，too，wereburstingitsheartinsilence。
Swithinfeltwithinhimatouchofpanic。Wasthisadenoftigers？
Thewaythesepeoplelistened，theferocityoftheirstillness，wasfrightful……！Hegrippedhischairandbrokeintoaperspiration;
wastherenochancetogetaway？’Whenitstops，’hethought，’there’llbearush！’Buttherewasonlyagreatersilence。Itflashedacrosshimthatanyhostilepersoncominginthenwouldbetorntopieces。Awomansobbed。Thewholethingwasbeyondwordsunpleasant。Herose，andedgedhiswayfurtivelytowardsthedoorway。Therewasacryof\"Police！\"Thewholecrowdcamepressingafterhim。Swithinwouldsoonhavebeenout，butalittlebehindhecaughtsightofRozsisweptoffherfeet。Herfrightenedeyesangeredhim。’Shedoesn’tdeserveit，’hethoughtsulkily;’lettingallthisloose！’andforcedhiswaybacktoher。Sheclungtohim，andafeverwentstealingthroughhisveins;hebuttedforwardatthecrowd，holdinghertight。Whentheywereoutsidehelethergo。
\"Iwasafraid，\"shesaid。
\"Afraid！\"mutteredSwithin;\"Ishouldthinkso。\"Nolongertouchingher，hefelthisgrievancerevive。
\"Butyouaresostrong，\"shemurmured。
\"Thisisnoplaceforyou，\"growledSwithin，\"I’mgoingtoseeyouhome。\"
\"Oh！\"criedRozsi;\"butpapaand——Margit！\"
\"That’stheirlook—out！\"andhehurriedheraway。
Sheslidherhandunderhisarm;thesoftcurvesofherformbrushedhimgently，eachtouchonlyaugmentedhisill—humour。Heburnedwithaperverserage，asifallthepassionsinhimweresimmeringandreadytoboilover;itwasasifapoisonweretryingtoworkitswayoutofhim，throughthelayersofhisstolidflesh。Hemaintainedadoggedsilence;Rozsi，too，saidnothing，butwhentheyreachedthedoor，shedrewherhandaway。
\"Youareangry！\"shesaid。
\"Angry，\"mutteredSwithin;\"no！Howd’youmakethatout？\"Hehadatorturingdesiretokissher。
\"Yes，youareangry，\"sherepeated;\"IwaithereforpapaandMargit。\"
Swithinalsowaited，wedgedagainstthewall。Onceortwice，forhissightwassharp，hesawherstealalookathim，abeseechinglook，andhardenedhisheartwithakindofpleasure。AfterfiveminutesBoleskey，Margit，andKastelizappeared。SeeingRozsitheybrokeintoexclamationsofrelief，andKasteliz，withaglanceatSwithin，puthislipstoherhand。Rozsi’slooksaid，\"Wouldn’tyouliketodothat？\"Swithinturnedshortonhisheel，andwalkedaway。
V
Allnighthehardlyslept，sufferingfromfever，forthefirsttimeinhislife。Oncehejumpedoutofbed，lightedacandle，andgoingtotheglass，scrutinisedhimselflongandanxiously。Afterthishefellasleep，buthadfrightfuldreams。Hisfirstthoughtwhenhewokewas，’Myliver’soutoforder！’and，thrustinghisheadintocoldwater，hedressedhastilyandwentout。Hesoonleftthehousebehind。Dewcoveredeverything;blackbirdswhistledinthebushes;
theairwasfreshandsweet。Hehadnotbeenupsoearlysincehewasaboy。Whywashewalkingthroughadampwoodatthishourofthemorning？Somethingintolerableandunfamiliarmusthavesenthimout。Nofellowinhissenseswoulddosuchathing！Hecametoadeadstop，andbeganunsteadilytowalkback。Regainingthehotel，hewenttobedagain，anddreamedthatinsomewildcountryhewaslivinginaroomfullofinsects，whereahousemaid——Rozsi——holdingabroom，lookedathimwithmournfuleyes。Thereseemedanunexplainedneedforimmediatedeparture;hebeggedhertoforwardhisthings;
andshakethemoutcarefullybeforesheputthemintothetrunk。Heunderstoodthatthechargeforsendingwouldbetwenty—twoshillings，thoughtitagreatdeal，andhadthehorrorsofindecision。\"No，\"hemuttered，\"pack，andtakethemmyself。\"Thehousemaidturnedsuddenlyintoaleancreature;andheawokewithasorefeelinginhisheart。
Hiseyefellonhiswetboots。Thewholethingwasscaring，andjumpingup，hebegantothrowhisclothesintohistrunks。Itwastwelveo’clockbeforehewentdown，andfoundhisbrotherandTraquairstillatthetablearranginganitinerary;hesurprisedthembysayingthathetoowascoming;andwithoutfurtherexplanationsettoworktoeat。Jameshadheardthatthereweresalt—minesintheneighbourhood——hisproposalwastostart，andhaltanhourorsoontheroadfortheirinspection;hesaid:\"Everybody’llaskyouifyou’veseenthesalt—mines:Ishouldn’tliketosayIhadn’tseenthesalt—mines。What’sthegood，they’dsay，ofyourgoingthereifyouhaven’tseenthesalt—mines？\"Hewondered，too，iftheyneedfeethesecondwaiter——anidlechap！
Adiscussionfollowed;butSwithinateonglumly，consciousthathismindwassetonlargeraffairs。SuddenlyonthefarsideofthestreetRozsiandhersisterpassed，withlittlebasketsontheirarms。Hestartedup，andatthatmomentRozsilookedround——herfacewastheincarnationofenticement，thechintilted，thelowerlipthrustalittleforward，herroundneckcurvingbackoverhershoulder。Swithinmuttered，\"Makeyourownarrangements——leavemeout！\"andhurriedfromtheroom，leavingJamesbesidehimselfwithinterestandalarm。
Whenhereachedthestreet，however，thegirlshaddisappeared。Hehailedacarriage。\"Drive！\"hecalledtotheman，withaflourishofhisstick，andassoonasthewheelshadbeguntoclatteronthestonesheleanedback，lookingsharplytorightandleft。Hesoonhadtogiveupthoughtoffindingthem，butmadethecoachmanturnroundandroundagain。Alldayhedroveabout，farintothecountry，andkepturgingthedrivertousegreaterspeed。Hewasinastrangestateofhurryandelation。Finally，hedinedatalittlecountryinn;andthisgavethemeasureofhisdisturbance——thedinnerwasatrocious。
ReturninglateintheeveninghefoundanotewrittenbyTraquair。
\"Areyouinyoursenses，man？\"itasked;\"wehavenomoretimetowasteidlingabouthere。Ifyouwanttorejoinus，comeontoDanielli’sHotel，Venice。\"Swithinchuckledwhenhereadit，andfeelingfrightfullytired，wenttobedandsleptlikealog。
VI
ThreeweekslaterhewasstillinSalzburg，nolongerattheGoldeneAlp，butinroomsoverashopneartheBoleskeys’。Hehadspentasmallfortuneinthepurchaseofflowers。Margitwouldcroonoverthem，butRozsi，withasober\"Manytanks！\"asiftheywereherright，wouldlooklongatherselfintheglass，andpinoneintoherhair。Swithinceasedtowonder;heceasedtowonderatanythingtheydid。OneeveninghefoundBoleskeydeepinconversationwithapale，dishevelled—lookingperson。
\"OurfriendMr。Forsyte——CountD……，\"saidBoleskey。
Swithinexperiencedafaint，unavoidableemotion;butlookingattheCount’strousers，hethought:’Doesn’tlookmuchlikeone！’Andwithanironicbowtothesilentgirls，heturned，andtookhishat。Butwhenhehadreachedthebottomofthedarkstairsheheardfootsteps。
Rozsicamerunningdown，lookedoutatthedoor，andputherhandsuptoherbreastasifdisappointed;suddenlywithaquickglanceroundshesawhim。Swithincaughtherarm。Sheslippedaway，andherfaceseemedtobubblewithdefianceorlaughter;sheranupthreesteps，stopped，lookedathimacrosshershoulder，andfledonupthestairs。Swithinwentoutbewilderedandannoyed。
’Whatwasshegoingtosaytome？’hekeptthinking。Duringthesethreeweekshehadaskedhimselfallsortsofquestions:whetherhewerebeingmadeafoolof;whethershewereinlovewithhim;whathewasdoingthere，andsometimesatnight，withallhiscandlesburningasifhewantedlight，thebreezeblowingonhimthroughthewindow，hiscigar，half—smoked，inhishand，hesat，anhourormore，staringatthewall。’Enoughofthis！’hethoughteverymorning。Twicehepackedfully——onceheorderedhistravellingcarriage，butcountermandeditthefollowingday。Whatdefinitelyhehoped，intended，resolved，hecouldnothavesaid。HewasalwaysthinkingofRozsi，hecouldnotreadtheriddleinherface——sheheldhiminavice，notwithstandingthateverythingaboutherthreatenedtheveryfetishesofhisexistence。AndBoleskey！Wheneverhelookedathimhethought，’Ifhewereonlyclean？’andmechanicallyfingeredhisownwell—tiedcravatte。Totalkwiththefellow，too，waslikebeingforcedtolookatthingswhichhadnoplaceinthelightofday。
Freedom，equality，self—sacrifice！
’Whycan’thesettledownatsomebusiness，’hethought，’insteadofallthistalk？’Boleskey’ssuddendiffidences，self—depreciation，fitsofdespair，irritatedhim。\"Morbidbeggar！\"hewouldmutter;
\"thankGodIhaven’tathinskin。\"Andproudtoo！Extraordinary！
Animpecuniousfellowlikethat！Oneevening，moreover，Boleskeyhadreturnedhomedrunk。Swithinhadhustledhimawayintohisbedroom，helpedhimtoundress，andstayeduntilhewasasleep。’Toomuchofagoodthing！’hethought，’beforehisowndaughters，too！’Itwasafterthisthatheorderedhistravellingcarriage。Theotheroccasiononwhichhepackedwasoneevening，whennotonlyBoleskey，butRozsiherselfhadpickedchickenboneswithherfingers。
OfteninthemorningshewouldgototheMirabellGardentosmokehiscigar;there，instolidcontemplationofthestatues——rowsofhalf—
heroicmencarryingoffhalf—distressfulfemales——hewouldspendanhourpleasantly，hishattiltedtokeepthesunoffhisnose。ThedayafterRozsihadfledfromhimonthestairs，hecamethereasusual。Itwasamorningofblueskyandsunlightglowingontheoldprimgarden，onitsyew—trees，andserio—comicstatues，andwallscoveredwithapricotsandplums。WhenSwithinapproachedhisusualseat，whoshouldbesittingtherebutRozsi\"Good—morning，\"hestammered;\"youknewthiswasmyseatthen？\"
Rozsilookedattheground。\"Yes，\"sheanswered。
Swithinfeltbewildered。\"Doyouknow，\"hesaid，\"youtreatmeveryfunnily？\"
TohissurpriseRozsiputherlittlesofthanddownandtouchedhis;
then，withoutaword，sprangupandrushedaway。Ittookhimaminutetorecover。Therewerepeoplepresent;hedidnotliketorun，butovertookheronthebridge，andslippedherhandbeneathhisarm。
\"Youshouldn’thavedonethat，\"hesaid;\"youshouldn’thaverunawayfromme，youknow。\"
Rozsilaughed。Swithinwithdrewhisarm;adesiretoshakeherseizedhim。Hewalkedsomewaybeforehesaid，\"Willyouhavethegoodnesstotellmewhatyoucametothatseatfor？\"
Rozsiflashedalookathim。\"To—morrowisthefete，\"sheanswered。
Swithinmuttered，\"Isthatall？\"
\"Ifyoudonottakeus，wecannotgo。\"
\"SupposeIrefuse，\"hesaidsullenly，\"thereareplentyofothers。\"
Rozsibentherhead，scurryingalong。\"No，\"shemurmured，\"ifyoudonotgo——Idonotwish。\"
Swithindrewherhandbackwithinhisarm。Howroundandsoftitwas！Hetriedtoseeherface。Whenshewasnearlyhomehesaidgoodbye，notwishing，forsomedarkreason，tobeseenwithher。Hewatchedtillshehaddisappeared;thenslowlyretracedhisstepstotheMirabellGarden。Whenhecametowhereshehadbeensitting，heslowlylightedhiscigar，andforalongtimeafteritwassmokedoutremainedthereinthesilentpresenceofthestatues。
VII
Acrowdofpeoplewanderedroundthebooths，andSwithinfoundhimselfobligedtogivethegirlshisarms。’LikealittleCockneyclerk！’hethought。Hisindignationpassedunnoticed;theytalked，theylaughed，eachsightandsoundinallthehurly—burlyseemedtogostraightintotheirhearts。Heeyedthemironically——theireagervoices，andlittlecoosofsympathyseemedtohimvulgar。InthethickofthecrowdheslippedhisarmoutofMargit’s，but，justashethoughtthathewasfree，theunwelcomehandslidupagain。Hetriedagain，butagainMargitreappeared，serene，andfullofpleasanthumour;andhisfailurethistimeappearedtohiminacomiclight。ButwhenRozsileanedacrosshim，theglowofherroundcheek，hercurvinglip，theinscrutablegreygleamofhereyes，sentathrilloflongingthroughhim。Hewasobligedtostandbywhiletheyparleyedwithagipsy，whosemattedlocksandskinnyhandsinspiredhimwithanotunwarranteddisgust。\"Folly！\"hemuttered，asRozsiheldoutherpalm。Theoldwomanmumbled，andshotamalignantlookathim。Rozsidrewbackherhand，andcrossedherself。’Folly！’Swithinthoughtagain;andseizingthegirls’
arms，hehurriedthemaway。
\"Whatdidtheoldhagsay？\"heasked。
Rozsishookherhead。
\"Youdon’tmeanthatyoubelieve？\"
Hereyeswerefulloftears。\"Thegipsiesarewise，\"shemurmured。
\"Come，whatdidshetellyou？\"
ThistimeRozsilookedhurriedlyround，andslippedawayintothecrowd。Afterahunttheyfoundher，andSwithin，whowasscared，growled:\"Youshouldn’tdosuchthings——it’snotrespectable。\"
Onhigherground，inthecentreofaclearspace，amilitarybandwasplaying。FortheprivilegeofenteringthischarmedcircleSwithinpaidthreekronen，choosingnaturallythebestseats。Heorderedwine，too，watchingRozsioutofthecornerofhiseyeashepoureditout。Theprotectingtendernessofyesterdaywasalllostinthismedley。Itwaseverymanforhimself，afterall！Thecolourhaddeepenedagaininhercheeks，shelaughed，poutingherlips。
Suddenlysheputherglassaside。\"Thankyou，verymuch，\"shesaid，\"itisenough！\"
Margit，whoseprettymouthwasallsmiles，cried，\"LieberGott！isitnotgood—life？\"ItwasnotaquestionSwithincouldundertaketoanswer。Thebandbegantoplayawaltz。\"Nowtheywilldance。
LieberGott！andarethelightsnotwonderful？\"Lampswereflickeringbeneaththetreeslikeaswarmoffireflies。Therewasahumasfromagiganticbeehive。Passers—byliftedtheirfaces，thenvanishedintothecrowd;Rozsistoodgazingatthemspellbound，asiftheirverygoingandcomingwereadelight。
Thespacewassoonfullofwhirlingcouples。Rozsi’sheadbegantobeattime。\"OMargit！\"shewhispered。
Swithin’sfacehadassumedasolemn，uneasyexpression。Amanraisinghishat，offeredhisarmtoMargit。SheglancedbackacrosshershouldertoreassureSwithin。\"Itisafriend，\"shesaid。
SwithinlookedatRozsi——hereyeswerebright，herlipstremulous。
Heslippedhishandalongthetableandtouchedherfingers。Thensheflashedalookathim——appeal，reproach，tenderness，allwereexpressedinit。Wassheexpectinghimtodance？Didshewanttomixwiththerift—raffthere;wishhimtomakeanexhibitionofhimselfinthishurly—burly？Avoicesaid，\"Good—evening！\"BeforethemstoodKasteliz，inadarkcoattightlybuttonedatthewaist。
\"Youarenotdancing，RozsiKozsanony？\"（MissRozsi）。\"Letme，then，havethepleasure。\"Heheldouthisarm。Swithinstaredinfrontofhim。Intheveryactofgoingshegavehimalookthatsaidasplainaswords:\"Willyounot？\"Butforanswerheturnedhiseyesaway，andwhenhelookedagainshewasgone。Hepaidthescoreandmadehiswayintothecrowd。Butashewentshedancedbyclosetohim，allflushedandpanting。Shehungbackasiftostophim，andhecaughttheglisteningoftears。Thenhelostsightofheragain。Tobedesertedthefirstminutehewasalonewithher，andforthatjackanapeswiththesmallheadandthevolcanicglances！Itwastoomuch！AndsuddenlyitoccurredtohimthatshewasalonewithKasteliz——aloneatnight，andfarfromhome。’Well，’hethought，’whatdoIcare？’andshoulderedhiswayonthroughthecrowd。Itservedhimrightformixingwithsuchpeoplehere。Heleftthefair，butthefurtherhewent，themorehenursedhisrage，themoreheinousseemedheroffence，thesharpergrewhisjealousy。\"A
beggarlybaron！\"washisthought。
Afigurecamealongside——itwasBoleskey。OnelookshowedSwithinhiscondition。Drunkagain！Thiswasthelaststraw！
UnfortunatelyBoleskeyhadrecognisedhim。Heseemedviolentlyexcited。\"Where——wherearemydaughters？\"hebegan。
Swithinbrushedpast，butBoleskeycaughthisarm。\"Listen——
brother！\"hesaid;\"newsofmycountry！Afterto—morrow……\"
\"Keepittoyourself！\"growledSwithin，wrenchinghisarmfree。Hewentstraighttohislodgings，and，lyingonthehardsofaofhisunlightedsitting—room，gavehimselfuptobitterthoughts。Butinspiteofallhisanger，Rozsi’ssupply—movingfigure，withitspoutinglips，androguishappealingeyes，stillhauntedhim。
VIII
Nextmorningtherewasnotacarriagetobehad，andSwithinwascompelledtoputoffhisdeparturetillthemorrow。Thedaywasgreyandmisty;hewanderedaboutwiththestrained，inquiringlookofalostdoginhiseyes。
Lateintheafternoonhewentbacktohislodgings。Inacornerofthesitting—roomstoodRozsi。Thethrilloftriumph，thesenseofappeasement，theemotion，thatseizedonhim，creptthroughtohislipsinafaintsmile。Rozsimadenosound，herfacewashiddenbyherhands。AndthissilenceofhersweighedonSwithin。Shewasforcinghimtobreakit。Whatwasbehindherhands？Hisownfacewasvisible！Whydidn’tshespeak？Whywasshehere？Alone？Thatwasnotrightsurely。
SuddenlyRozsidroppedherhands;herflushedfacewasquivering——itseemedasthoughaword，asign，even，mightbringaburstoftears。
Hewalkedovertothewindow。’Imustgivehertime！’hethought;
thenseizedbyunreasoningterroratthissilence，spunround，andcaughtherbythearms。Rozsiheldbackfromhim，swayedforwardandburiedherfaceonhisbreast……
HalfanhourlaterSwithinwaspacingupanddownhisroom。Thescentofroseleaveshadnotyetdiedaway。Aglovelayonthefloor;hepickeditup，andforalongtimestoodweighingitinhishand。Allsortsofconfusedthoughtsandfeelingshauntedhim。Itwasthepurestandleastselfishmomentofhislife，thismomentaftershehadyielded。Butthatpuregratitudeatherfiery，simpleabnegationdidnotlast;itwasfollowedbyapettysenseoftriumph，andbyuneasiness。Hewasstillweighingthelittlegloveinhishand，whenhehadanothervisitor。ItwasKasteliz。
\"WhatcanIdoforyou？\"Swithinaskedironically。
TheHungarianseemedsufferingfromexcitement。WhyhadSwithinlefthischargesthenightbefore？Whatexcusehadhetomake？Whatsortofconductdidhecallthis？
Swithin，verylikeabull—dogatthatmoment，answered:Whatbusinesswasitofhis？
Thebusinessofagentleman！WhatrighthadtheEnglishmantopursueayounggirl？
\"Pursue？\"saidSwithin;\"you’vebeenspying，then？\"
\"Spying——I——Kasteliz——MaurusJohann——aninsult！\"
\"Insult！\"sneeredSwithin;d’youmeantotellmeyouweren’tinthestreetjustnow？\"
Kastelizansweredwithahiss，\"IfyoudonotleavethecityIwillmakeyou，withmysword——doyouunderstand？\"
\"AndifyoudonotleavemyroomIwillthrowyououtofthewindow！\"
ForsomeminutesKastelizspokeinpureHungarianwhileSwithinwaited，withaforcedsmileandafixedlookinhiseye。HedidnotunderstandHungarian。
\"Ifyouarestillinthecityto—morrowevening，\"saidKastelizatlastinEnglish，\"Iwillspityouinthestreet。\"
Swithinturnedtothewindowandwatchedhisvisitor’sretiringbackwithaqueermixtureofamusement，stubbornness，andanxiety。
’Well，’hethought，’Isupposehe’llrunmethrough！’Thethoughtwasunpleasant;anditkeptrecurring，butitonlyservedtohardenhisdetermination。HisheadwasbusywithplansforseeingRozsi;
hisbloodonfirewiththekissesshehadgivenhim。
IX
Swithinwaslongindecidingtogoforthnextday。HehadmadeuphismindnottogotoRozsitillfiveo’clock。’Mustn’tmakemyselftoocheap，’hethought。Itwasalittlepastthathourwhenheatlastsalliedout，andwithabeatingheartwalkedtowardsBoleskey’s。
Helookedupatthewindow，morethanhalfexpectingtoseeRozsithere;butshewasnot，andhenoticedwithfaintsurprisethatthewindowwasnotopen;theplants，too，outside，lookedsingularlyarid。Heknocked。Noonecame。Hebeatafiercetatto。Atlastthedoorwasopenedbyamanwithareddishbeard，andoneofthosesardonicfacesonlytobeseenonshoemakersofTeutonicorigin。
\"Whatdoyouwant，makingallthisnoise？\"heaskedinGerman。
Swithinpointedupthestairs。Themangrinned，andshookhishead。
\"Iwanttogoup，\"saidSwithin。
Thecobblershruggedhisshoulders，andSwithinrushedupstairs。Theroomswereempty。Thefurnitureremained，butallsignsoflifeweregone。Oneofhisownbouquets，faded，stoodinaglass;theashesofafirewerebarelycold;littlescrapsofpaperstrewedthehearth;
alreadytheroomsmeltmusty。Hewentintothebedrooms，andwithafeelingofstupefactionstoodstaringatthegirls’beds，sidebysideagainstthewall。Abitofribboncaughthiseye;hepickeditupandputitinhispocket——itwasapieceofevidencethatshehadonceexisted。Bythemirrorsomepinsweredroppedabout;alittlepowderhadbeenspilled。Helookedathisowndisquietfaceandthought，’I’vebeencheated！’
Theshoemaker’svoicearousedhim。\"TausendTeufel！EilenSie，nur！
ZeitisGeld！Kannnich’Langerwarten！\"Slowlyhedescended。
\"Wherehavetheygone？\"askedSwithinpainfully。\"ApoundforeveryEnglishwordyouspeak。Apound！\"andhemadeanOwithhisfingers。
Thecornersoftheshoemaker’slipscurled。\"Geld！Mf！EilenSie，nur！\"
ButinSwithinasullenangerhadbeguntoburn。\"Ifyoudon’ttellme，\"hesaid，\"it’llbetheworseforyou。\"
\"SindeinkomischerKerl！\"remarkedtheshoemaker。\"HieristmeineFrau！\"
Abattered—lookingwomancamehurryingdownthepassage，callingoutinGerman，\"Don’tlethimgo！\"
Withasnarlingsoundtheshoemakerturnedhisback，andshambledoff。
ThewomanfurtivelythrustaletterintoSwithin’shand，andfurtivelywaited。
TheletterwasfromRozsi。
\"Forgiveme\"——itran——\"thatIleaveyouanddonotsaygoodbye。To—
dayourfatherhadthecallfromourdearFather—townsolongawaited。Intwohoursweareready。IpraytotheVirgintokeepyoueversafe，andthatyoudonotquiteforgetme。——Yourunforgettinggoodfriend，ROZSI
WhenSwithinreadithisfirstsensationwasthatofamansinkinginabog;thenhisobstinacystiffened。’Iwon’tbedone，’hethought。
Takingoutasovereignhetriedtomakethewomancomprehendthatshecouldearnit，bytellinghimwheretheyhadgone。Hegotherfinallytowritethewordsoutinhispocket—book，gaveherthesovereign，andhurriedtotheGoldeneAlp，wheretherewasawaiterwhospokeEnglish。Thetranslationgivenhimwasthis:
\"Atthreeo’clocktheystartinacarriageontheroadtoLinz——theyhavebadhorses——theHerralsoridesawhitehorse。\"
SwithinatoncehailedacarriageandstartedatfullgallopontheroadtoLinz。OutsidetheMirabellGardenhecaughtsightofKastelizandgrinnedathim。’I’vesoldhimanyway，’hethought;
’foralltheirtalk，they’renogood，theseforeigners！’
Hisspiritsrose，butsoonfellagain。Whatchancehadheofcatchingthem？Theyhadthreehours’start！Still，theroadswereheavyfromtherainofthelasttwonights——theyhadluggageandbadhorses;hisownweregood，hisdriverbribed——hemightovertakethembyteno’clock！Butdidhewantto？Whatafoolhehadbeennottobringhisluggage;hewouldthenhavehadarespectableposition。
Whatabrutehewouldlookwithoutachangeofshirt，oranythingtoshavewith！Hesawhimselfwithhorror，allbristly，andinsoiledlinen。Peoplewouldthinkhimmad。’I’vegivenmyselfaway，’
flashedacrosshim，’whatthedevilcanIsaytothem？’andhestaredsullenlyatthedriver’sback。HereadRozsi’sletteragain;ithadascentofher。Andinthegrowingdarkness，joltedbytheswingingofthecarriage，hesufferedtorturesfromhisprudence，torturesfromhispassion。