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Perhaps they were the victims destined to perish in the final downfall of the city!... Women began to shriek with terror on seeing their wretched lanes converted into deep canals. "El pare San Bernat!... Que traguen al pare San Bernat! Father Saint Bernard!... Let them fetch father Saint Bernard!" The men looked at each other uneasily.
"Well, that can also be done in this instance!" promptly responded the baroness, proffering, without affectation of maidenly coyness, the ceremonial kiss, and cordially shaking hands with the vice-palatine. Then she said: "We are now Bernat bácsi, and Katinka; and as that is happily arranged, I will ask the gentlemen to go into the agent's office and conclude our official business.
But allow me to introduce my humble self " "I already have the honor," quietly interrupted the count, "of knowing that you are Herr Vice-palatine Bernat Görömbölyi von Dravakeresztur." He repeated the whole name without a single mistake! The vice-palatine bowed, and began again: "The object of my visit to-day is " Again he was interrupted. "I know that also," said the count.
But the doctor and the vice-palatine showed themselves all the more willing to share the conversation with their hostess. "The official business was satisfactorily arranged without me, was it not, Bernat bácsi?" after a brief pause, inquired the baroness. "Not altogether. We are like the gypsy who said that he was going to marry a countess.
At the same time he cast upon Herr Bernat a glance that reminded the valiant official of the royal commissioner, as well as of his energetic spouse at home. The angry man seemed to have increased a head in stature. Instead of replying to the question, he turned on his heel and strode from the room, leaving his visitor standing in the middle of the floor.
There was a peculiar gleam in the lovely baroness's eyes. Then she came nearer to Herr Bernat, and asked with womanly shyness: "And you believe the count loves me?" "That I do not know, baroness, for he did not tell me; but I think you know that he loves you. That he deserves your love I can swear! No one can become thoroughly acquainted with Count Vavel and not love him.
The Vice-palatine's task was to teach these refractories, through patriotic reasoning, to amend their ways. The sacrifice attendant upon the performance of this duty was that Herr Bernat would be obliged, during his official visit to the Nameless Castle, to abstain from smoking. But duty is duty, and he decided to do it.
"Is Marie ill?" interrupted Vavel, excitedly. Herr Bernat silently nodded assent, and pointed toward the door leading into the next room. Vavel did not stop to inquire further, but strode into the adjoining chamber. What a familiar little room it was, another fairy-like retreat like that of the Nameless Castle!
"That he will!" promptly assented Herr Bernat. "I am not only the vice-palatine of your county: I am also the colonel of your regiment." "And I want you to add still another office to the two you fill so admirably: that of matrimonial emissary!" added Count Vavel. "In this patriarchal land I find that the custom still obtains of sending an emissary to the lady one desires to marry.
"The Fertöszeg estate has passed into the hands of another proprietor, who has a legal right to withdraw the lease and revoke the conditions made and agreed to by her predecessor; and the Herr Vice-palatine is come, at the request of the baroness, to serve a notice to quit." Herr Bernat did not like it when any one interrupted him or knew beforehand what he intended to say.
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