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When a cigar is smoked in the dark it lights up the smoker's face at each puff. Suddenly a voice from out of the gloom called, "Manasseh!" "Who is there?" It was a gipsy, whose voice Manasseh recognised. "How came you here, Lanyi?" he asked. "Diurbanu had me locked up the devil take him!" "What grudge had he against you?"
This cynical gipsy phlegm exactly suited Manasseh's mood, and he exerted himself to cheer the poor fellow up, promising to secure his release as soon as he himself should gain an audience with Diurbanu. "But you won't get out of here yourself in a hurry," returned the gipsy. "Once in Diurbanu's hands, you might as well be in the hangman's.
Ever since I saved the little one's life he has clung to me and refused to be parted from me." The priest spoke in a tongue strange to the little boy, who consequently understood not a word of what was said, but went on with his innocent prattle and laughter. "Comrades," resumed Diurbanu, addressing the group before him, "all this is wide of the mark.
And the more terrible our work of devastation, the more brilliant will be the military success that must follow as its result." The thunder-claps came at such frequent intervals that the speaker could with difficulty make himself heard. When he had ended, the deep voice of him who wore the clerical gown began in reply: "Listen to me, Diurbanu. You are deceived on one point.
Manasseh advanced to the door and announced to a group of armed men lounging about it that he wished to see Diurbanu. "The general is not to be seen just now," was the reply; "he is at dinner, and will not leave the table for some time yet." Manasseh drew a visiting-card from his pocket, and, first bending down one corner, sent it in to the general.
Then, after some search among his papers, the official produced a document from which he read as follows: "'Mr. Manasseh Adorjan is alleged, on unquestionable authority, to have participated in the fight at St. George and Toroczko. In fact, he with his own hands took General Diurbanu prisoner and bound him with a rope to his horse.
I know this Diurbanu well, and you'll know him, too, before he's through with you. I'll bet you my fiddle, Manasseh, you won't live to see another day; but it serves you right! You could handle three such men as Diurbanu in a fair fight; yet, instead of meeting him on the battle-field, you walk right into his clutches and let him bind you fast like Christ on the cross."
"And don't you know another name for me? Don't I remind you of an old acquaintance?" "To him whom you resemble, I have nothing to say. I have come to you as to Diurbanu, I have placed in your hands the peace-treaty which your people made with my people, and I demand its observance." "To convince you that I am not merely Diurbanu, but also another, look here."
But when we hear that Diurbanu and his men, who know nothing about that peace and are no parties to it, are advancing on Toroczko, then will be the time for us to act." "And I will take a hand with you," declared Manasseh. Therewith the two brothers clasped hands and embraced each other, after which the men all returned to their homes.
He is our Iscariot." "What makes you think so?" "Because he calls himself Diurbanu. No genuine Wallachian would have taken the nickname of his king, Decebalus. It is as if one of us should call himself Attila. Now, then, Manasseh, I love you and am ready to follow your lead. I shall never forget how you went up to Monastery Heights and came back with our two brothers.
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