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The sick man turned his face toward the screen and listened in dreamy ecstasy to the sweet voice. He raised his hand, waved it weakly toward the speaker, then clasped it with the other on his breast, while his lips moved as if in prayer. "Go fetch candles, and the tinder-box," whispered Marie to the little Laczko. "Place them here by the sofa, then light the lamp in the corridor."
"That's my brave lad," commented the stranger. "But don't shoot. It is I, your father." "Don't come any nearer, I tell you!" responded the lad, threateningly. "Why, I am not moving a muscle, lad; don't be foolish." "What do you want here?" demanded Laczko. "I will not let you do any harm to my mistress."
"You may light the candle now," she whispered; "then we will go back to Lisette." Laczko lighted the candle, then shouldered his gun, and preceded his young mistress down the staircase to the lower story. They had almost reached the door of Lisette's room when Marie, who had been peering sharply ahead, stopped abruptly, and exclaimed in a startled tone: "There is a man!"
Here Marie, who had recovered from her alarm, came forward, and laid her hand over her small defender's eyes. "Take down your gun, Laczko," she commanded. Then turning to the stranger asked: "What do you want, my good man?" For answer the man merely pronounced a name: "Sophie Botta."
"May I fetch my gun, too?" asked the boy. "Your gun? What for?" "I should n't be afraid if I had it with me." "Then fetch it; but don't come into the room with it, for I am dreadfully afraid of guns. Leave it just outside the door." It was quite dark when Laczko returned with the candles and a heavy double-barreled fowling-piece.
Marie wrapped herself in her shawl, and lay down on the leather couch. Laczko took up his station as directed, close by the metal screen, through which he peered from time to time. But there was no danger of Marie falling asleep. She could not even keep her eyes closed. Every few moments she would sit up and ask in a cautious whisper: "What is he doing now?" "He is tossing from side to side."
After a pause, he said slowly, and with evident difficulty: "You need n't trouble about the pretty maid. Laczko is a brave lad and my wife my wife is an honest woman." "Yes, yes, I know," returned Katharina. "A good lad, and an honest woman. But tell me, in heaven's name, where is the maid?" "The maid Sophie Botta went with my wife to Raab they are there now and Laczko too."
Marie entered it, wrapped the warm sheep-skin around her, and tied a cotton kerchief over her head in peasant fashion. Satan Laczi's wife took a seat by her side; the little Laczko climbed to the coachman's box, where he sat with his gun between his knees. Then the coachman cracked his whip, and the vehicle rattled down the road amid a cloud of dust.
"I shall hunt till I find him, Lisette." "Well, you will do as you like, of course; but you will not find M. Cambray, for he does n't want to see you." "Very well," returned Marie. Then to the lad by her side, "Come with me, Laczko; we will hunt for the gentleman."
Ludwig hurried into the house. In the hall he encountered the little Laczko, who, at sight of the visitor, dropped the boot and brush he held in his hands, and disappeared through a door at the end of the hall. Vavel followed him, and found himself in the kitchen, where the widow of Satan Laczi also dropped to the floor the cooking-utensil she had in her hand.
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