The thief saw plainly that the pistol was not c.o.c.ked: nor could Lorand have c.o.c.ked it in this short time. Lorand, as a matter of fact, in his excitement had not thought of it.
So the highwayman suddenly ducked his head and like a wall-breaking, battering ram, dealt such a blow with his head to Lorand, that the latter fell back on to the bench, and while he was forced to let go of the rascal with his left, he was obliged with his armed right hand to defend himself against the coming attack.
Then the robber pointed the barrel of the second pistol at his forehead.
"Now it is my turn to say, "don"t stir," student."
In that short moment, as Lorand gazed into the barrel of the pistol that was levelled at his forehead, there flashed through his mind this thought:
"Now is the moment for checkmating the curse of fate and avoiding the threatened suicide. He who loses his life in the defence of persecuted and defenceless travellers dies as a man of honor. Let us see this death."
He rose suddenly before the levelled weapon.
"Don"t move or you are a dead man," the thief cried again to him.
But Lorand, face to face with the pistol levelled within a foot of his head calmly put his finger to the trigger of the weapon he himself held and drew it back.
At this the thief suddenly sprang back and rushed to the door, so alarmed that at first he attempted to open it the wrong way.
Lorand took careful aim at him.
But as he stretched out his arm, the lady sprang up from the table, crept to him and seized his arm, shrieking:
"Don"t kill him, oh, don"t!"
Lorand gazed at her in astonishment.
The beautiful woman"s face was convulsed in a torture of terror: the staring look in her beautiful eyes benumbed the young man"s sinews. As she threw herself upon his bosom and held down his arms, the embrace quite crippled him.
The highwayman, seeing he could escape, after much fumbling undid the bolt of the door. When he was at last able to open it, his gypsy humor returned to take the place of his fear. He thrust his dishevelled head in at the half-opened door, and remarked in that broken voice which is peculiarly that of the terrified man:
"A plague upon you, you devil"s cur of a student: student, inky-fingered student. Had my pistol been loaded, as the other was, which was in your hand, I would have just given you a pa.s.s to h.e.l.l. Just fall into my hands again! I know that...."
Then he suddenly withdrew his head, affording a very humorous ill.u.s.tration to his threat: and like one pursued he ran out into the court. A few moments later a clatter of hoofs was heard--the robber was making his escape. When he reached the road he began to swear G.o.dlessly, reproaching and cursing every student, legatus, and hound of a priest, who, instead of praising G.o.d at home, prowled about the high-roads, and spoiled a hard working man"s business. Even after he was far down the road his loud cursing could still be heard. For weeks that swearing would fill the air in the bog of Lankadomb, where he had made himself at home in the wild creature"s unapproachable lair.
To Lorand this was all quite bewildering.
The arrogant, almost jesting, conversation, by the light of that mysterious flame, between a murderous robber and his victim:--the inexplicable riddle that a night-prowling highwayman should have entered a house with an empty pistol, while in his belt was another, loaded:--and then that woman, that incomprehensible figure, who had laughed at a robber to his face, who had threatened him with a knife as he pressed her to his bosom, and who, could she have freed herself, would surely have dealt him such a blow as she had dealt the table:--that she, when her rescuer was going to shoot her a.s.sailant, should have torn aside his hand in terror and defended the miscreant with her own body!
What could be the solution of such a riddle?
Meanwhile the lady had again lighted the candles: again a gentle light was thrown on all things. Lorand gazed at her. In place of her previous green-blue face, which had gazed on him with the wild look of madness, a smiling, good-humored countenance was presented. She asked in a humorous tone:
"Well, so you are a student, what kind of student? Where did you come from?"
"I came with you, sitting beside the coachman."
"Do you wish to come to Lankadomb?"
"Yes."
"Perhaps to Sarvolgyi"s? He loves prayers."
"Oh no. But to Mr. Topandy."
"I cannot advise that: he is very rude to such as you. You are accustomed to preach. Don"t go there."
"Still I am going there: and if you don"t care to let me sit on the box, I shall go on foot, as I have done until to-day."
"Do you know what? What you would get there would not be much. The money, which that man left here, you have by you as it is. Keep it for yourself: I give it to you. Then go back to the college."
"Madame, I am not accustomed to live on presents," said Lorand, proudly refusing the proffered purse.
The woman was astonished. This is a curious legatus, thought she, who does not live by presents.
Her ladyship began to perceive that in this young man"s dust-stained features there was something of that which makes distinctions between man. She began to be surprised at this proud and n.o.ble gaze.
Perhaps she was reflecting as to what kind of phenomenon it could be, who with unarmed hand had dared to attack an armed robber, in order to free from his clutch a strange woman in whom he had no interest, and then refused to accept the present he had so well deserved.
Lorand saw that he had allowed a breach to open in his heart through which anyone could easily see the secret of his character. He hastened to cover his error.
"I cannot accept a present, your ladyship, because I wish more. I am not a preaching legatus, but an expelled school-boy. I am in search of a position where I can earn my living by the work of my hands. When I protected your ladyship it occurred to me, "This lady may have need for some farm steward or bailiff. She may recommend me to her husband." I shall be a faithful servant, and I have given a proof of my faithfulness, for I have no written testimonials."
"You wish to be Topandy"s steward? Do you know what a G.o.dless man he is?"
"That is why I am in search of him. I started direct for him. They expelled me from school for my G.o.dlessness. We cannot accuse each other of anything."
"You have committed some crime, then, and that is why you avoid the eyes of the world? Confess what you have done. Murdered? Confess. I shall not be afraid of you for it, nor shall I tell any one. I promise that you shall be welcomed, whatever the crime may be. I have said so. Have you committed murder?"
"No."
"Beaten your father or mother?"
"No, madame:--My crime is that I have instigated the youth against their superiors."
"What superiors? Against the magistrate?"
"Even superior to the magistrate."
"Perhaps against the priest. Well, Topandy will be delighted. He is a great fool in this matter."
The woman uttered these words laughingly; then suddenly a dark shadow crossed her face. With wandering glance she stepped up to the young man, and, putting her hand gently on his arm, asked him in a whisper:
"Do you know how to pray?"
Lorand looked at her, aghast.
"To pray from a book--could you teach some one to pray from a book?
Would it require a long time?"