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For a long time afterwards neither of us spoke of it. But curiosity was incessantly working within us, and one evening Balint solemnly vowed to me that as soon as he became of age and had looked into the room, he would call for me, should I be even at the end of the world, and would let me into the secret. In order to make it more solemn, we called this a "blood-contract."
With this vow we parted. My parents sent me to college; Balint had a private tutor and was kept at home in the castle. After that we only met at vacation time. Eight years passed before I saw the Orzo home again. At Balint's urgent, sudden invitation I had hurriedly journeyed back to my rocky fatherland.
His last wish was that no one should ever know under what circumstances he died." Balint left off speaking and gazed with outstretched eyes toward the window in the darkness. I slowly went to him and put my hand upon his shoulder. He started at my touch. "I more than once thought of the woman who could be the mother of my son. How many times have I been tempted to fulfill my father's last wish!
But that very day the siren of Bosnia danced her wild dance again in the next village, and with her sweet, melodious voice urged the light-colored little bear: "Mariska, jump, jump!" There were many wonderful things that aroused our childish fantasy, when Balint Orzo and I were boys, but none so much as the old tower that stands a few feet from the castle, shadowy and mysterious.
With this vow we parted. My parents sent me to college; Balint had a private tutor and was kept at home in the castle. After that we only met at vacation time. Eight years passed before I saw the Orzo home again. At Balint's urgent, sudden invitation I had hurriedly journeyed back to my rocky fatherland.
Czipra tried to dispose of the possible effect of this gentle speech at once, by laughing immediately. "My friend Bálint! That young lady's fiancé is a very great man. The favorite of foreign princes, rides in a carriage, and is called 'My Lord. He is a very handsome man, too: though not so handsome as you. A fine, pretty cavalier." "I congratulate her!" said Lorand, smiling.
Though he never said a word, nor did Czipra, about the blow he had received, and though when next they met they were the same towards one another as they had ever been, Topándy ventured to make a jest at table about this humorous scene, saying to Lorand: "Bálint, ask Czipra to repeat that prayer which she has learned from me: but first seize her two hands."
For a long time afterwards neither of us spoke of it. But curiosity was incessantly working within us, and one evening Balint solemnly vowed to me that as soon as he became of age and had looked into the room, he would call for me, should I be even at the end of the world, and would let me into the secret. In order to make it more solemn, we called this a "blood-contract."
"He is the head of the family," I thought, "and if any light is to be had on the mystery, it is through him." But Balint didn't like the idea of approaching the old man; he knew his father's temper.
Balint glanced at me now and then, and filled the glasses; we clinked them together, but he always seemed to be worried. It was dawning. The soft sound of a church bell rose to us. Balint put his hand on my shoulder and bent to my ear. "Do you know how my father died?" he asked in a husky voice. "He killed himself."
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