It was Michael Daruszegi, the magistrate.
The girl trembled as she saw him. The confessor had come!
Topandy sprang up from his seat and went to meet him.
Czipra plainly heard what he said in a subdued voice.
"The doctor has forbidden her to speak: in her present condition you cannot cross-question her."
Czipra breathed freely again. He was defending her!
"In any case I can answer for her, for I was present from the very beginning," said Lorand to the magistrate. "Czipra heard the noise in the garden, and was daring enough, as was her wont, to go out and see what was the matter. At the door she met the robber face to face: she barred his way, and immediately cried out for me: then she struggled with him until I came to her help."
How pleased Czipra was at that explanation, all the more because she saw by Lorand"s face that he really believed it.
"I have no more questions to ask the young lady," said Daruszegi. "This matter is really over in any case."
"Over?" asked Topandy astonished.
"Yes, over: explained, judged, and executed."
"How?"
"The robber chief, Kandur, before he died in agony, made such serious and perfectly consistent confessions as, combined with other circ.u.mstances, compromised your neighbor in the greatest measure."
"Sarvolgyi?" inquired Topandy with glistening eyes.
"Yes.--So far indeed that I was compelled to extend the magisterial inquiry to his person too. I started with my colleague to find him. We found the two ladies in a state of the greatest consternation. They came before us, and expressed their deep anxiety at not finding Sarvolgyi anywhere in the house: they had discovered his room open and unoccupied.
His bedroom we did indeed find empty, his weapons were laid out on the table, the key of his money-chest was left in it, and the door of the room open.--What could have become of him?--We wanted to enter the door of the dining-room opposite. It was locked. The ladies declared that room was generally locked. The key was inside in the lock. That room has two other doors, one opening on to the kitchen, one on to the verandah.
We looked at them too. In both cases the key was inside, in the lock.
Some one must be in the room! I called upon the person within, in the name of the law to open the door to us. No answer came. I repeated the command, but the door was not opened: so I was compelled to have it finally broken open by force; and when the sunlight burst through into the dark room, what horrible sight do you think met our startled gaze?
The lord of the house was hanging there above the table in the place of the chandelier: the chair under his feet that he had kicked away proved that he had taken his own life...."
Topandy at these words raised his hands in ecstasy above his head.
"There is a G.o.d of justice in Heaven! He has smitten him with his own hand."
Then he clasped his hands together with emotion and slipped towards the head of Czipra"s bed.
"Come, my child, say: "I believe in G.o.d"--I shall say it first."
The doctor had not forbidden that.
Czipra devoutly waited for the words of wonder.
What a great, what a comforting world of thoughts.
A G.o.d who is a Father, a mother who is a maiden. A G.o.d who will be man for man"s sake, and who suffered at man"s hands, who died and rose again promises true justice, forgiveness for sins, resurrection, life eternal!
"What is that life eternal?"
If only some one could have answered!
The atheist was kneeling down beside the girl"s bed when the priest arrived.
He did not rise, was not embarra.s.sed at his presence.
"See, reverend sir, here is a neophyte, waiting for the baptismal water: I have just taught her the "credo.""
The girl gave him a look full of grat.i.tude. What happiness glittered in those eyes of ecstasy!
"Who will be the G.o.d-parents?" asked the clergyman.
"One, the magistrate,--if he will be so kind: the other, I."
Czipra looked appealingly, first at Topandy, then at Lorand.
Topandy understood the unspoken question.
"Lorand cannot be. In a few minutes you shall know why."
The minister performed the ceremony with that briefness which consideration for a wounded person required.
When it was over, Topandy shook hands with the minister.
"If my hand has sinned at times against yours, I now ask your pardon."
"The debt has been paid by that clasp of your hand," said the priest.
"Your hand must now p.r.o.nounce a blessing on us."
"Willingly."
"I do not ask it for myself: I await my punishment: I am going before my judge and shall not murmur against him. I want the blessing for those whom I love. This young fellow yesterday asked of me this maiden"s hand.
They have long loved each other, and deserve each other"s love:--give them the blessing of faith, father. Do you agree, Czipra?"
The poor girl covered her burning face with her two hands, and, when Lorand stepped towards her and took her hand, began to sob violently.
"Don"t you love me? Will you not be my wife?"
Czipra turned her head on one side.
"Ah, you are merely jesting with me. You want to tease, to ridicule a wretched creature who is nothing but a gypsy girl."
Lorand drew the girl"s hand to his heart when she accused him of jesting with her. Something within told him the girl had a right to believe that, and the thought wrung his heart.
"How could you misunderstand me? Do you think I would play a jest upon you--and now?"