"The Emperor visits with extreme severity the embezzlement of public funds; it is for this very purpose that he has sent me to bring to light certain abuses connected with the Szent-Endre munic.i.p.ality."
"I know, I know," said his Excellency, as he poured some eau de Cologne over his hands, "it has come to my ears. But you will be a long time finding your way out of that tangle, once you get into it; let me warn you. By the way, is there a new opera company at the Vienna theatre?"
"Ah, my good friend, I"ve no time to run after plays and players. I"ve dramas of my own to look after, and they deal with the picking of other people"s pockets."
"The deuce take your dramas! Does one still see pretty women at Vienna?
Where do you have your evening gatherings during the winter?"
"We go to "The Good Woman." The sign-board is a woman without a head."
"What does the hostess say to that, pray?"
"I shall have no chance of asking her, seeing that I shall spend the winter here, and pa.s.s my time in verifying accounts."
"Stuff and nonsense! Cut it short, sir, and get back to Vienna as soon as you can. Say you have found nothing. By the way, have you been in Pozsony? They say they pay their theatrical companies far better than we do; isn"t it a shame?"
"May I venture to ask if his Excellency will deign to listen to my representations about the Szent-Endre affair?"
"My dear fellow, just tell me everything. I am wholly at your service.
And don"t mind my interruptions. I shall hear all. Have the officials really so oppressed the poor? It"s unheard-of! And the Rascian "pope"
might well speak out. He"s a good sort! Just such another as some of our priests in Vienna. Did you ever hear how--oh, yes, I"m listening right enough. I see quite well that you"ve discovered some sort of roguery.
The story of the hidden coffer sounds just like a play, doesn"t it? "The Hidden Treasure," or "The Forty Thieves." Go on! I declare that notary ought to be placed in Dante"s Inferno. What was that celebrated forgery case, by the way, when some count or other, of high family, was put in prison surely? You can"t be too severe with that kind of thing. Yes, the small fry, like your notary, don"t get out of the net, but the man with a handle to his name, gets clean off! We ought to make some examples in high places."
Raby longed to express to his Excellency his conviction that the Szent-Endre culprits would also elude justice; but it seemed wiser to be silent till his loquacious friend had had his say.
And now indeed the district commissioner, who was really a good sort of fellow, showed that he had quite understood the whole business.
"You leave it to me, my friend; I"ll follow it up. You may reckon on my help. If the councillors show themselves recalcitrant, we will know how to make them dance! But now it"s time for the theatre, my friend. What do you say to coming with me? I have a box. You will be able to see all the pretty girls of Pesth and Buda together."
"Much beholden to you, but I regret I can"t take advantage of your offer," answered Raby; "I must hasten homewards to send in my report to the Emperor."
"Oh, what"s the good of drawing up reports? Take my advice and don"t send him any. And if you won"t come to the theatre with me, then come and dine to-morrow and we can talk things over."
But Raby went home to draw up his report.
Meantime, the lord-lieutenant was demanding of his secretary:
"Which is the Statute that treats of _n.o.bilis c.u.m rusticis tumultuans_?"
The secretary was a walking legal code. He not only knew that the law in question was article thirty-three, of the year 1514, but could quote the pa.s.sage word for word: "n.o.blemen who take part in any risings of the peasantry shall be banished, and shall forfeit the whole of their estates."
His Excellency uttered a growl of discontent; evidently the citation was not an apt one.
"What about that other statute of _Nota Conjurationis_?"
"Article forty of 1536 p.r.o.nounces sedition to be high-treason. See _Nota Infidelitatis_."
His Excellency shook his head.
"And that of _Calumniator Consiliariorum_?"
"Article of the year 1588 runs as follows:--Whosoever shall calumniate and unjustly attaint any of the Empire"s councillors, shall be condemned to lose his head and forfeit all his goods."
"That is better. You can go."
The speaker was obviously contented this time.
But immediately afterwards he recalled the secretary.
"Which article is it that treats of the _Portatores Causarum_?"
"Article sixty-three, of the year 1498. Whosoever shall bring his cause before a tribunal other than that of his own country, shall be arrested and imprisoned in the Dark Tower."
"Now you can retire."
His worship, the district commissioner, who during Raby"s relation had appeared to pay not the slightest attention to the Szent-Endre story, had no sooner got to his box at the theatre, than he sent immediately for pen, ink, and paper, and, quite oblivious of the play, hurriedly drew up a missive to the prefect, wherein he set forth Mathias Raby"s mission, and how he had been directly authorised by the Emperor to revise the finances, pointing out that he was well informed as to everything, even to the contents of the strong box. He would further suggest that it would be wise for the prefect to go and look into things for himself, otherwise disagreeable consequences might ensue.
This note he sent by a special messenger to ensure its speedy delivery.
Tarhalmy"s heyduke came back late in the evening with Raby"s refusal. He could not come, because he was already pledged to dine with the district commissioner.
"You need not trouble about the almond-cakes, Mariska," said the p.r.o.notary to his daughter, "Cousin Matyi will not be with us to-morrow, he is flying higher game."
And all at once the sound of singing ceased in the house.
CHAPTER XII.
Hardly had Mathias Raby returned to Szent-Endre than he realised that everyone was aware of his mission. Gifts of all kinds poured in, and his servant told him that in his absence two casks of wine had arrived--she knew not from whom. In the courtyard, big stacks of firewood had already been piled up--the gift of some anonymous donor, while the poultry-yard was full of feathered stock which seemed to have flown down from the skies.
It was a pity the recipient did not appreciate them. Yet he knew the time would come when all those who now plied him with gifts, would be ready to deprive him of everything, if he ventured to set foot in their streets. He forbade the maid to touch any of them under pain of instant dismissal. The poor girl was quite dumbfoundered with surprise, for what could one have better than such presents?
On the day of his return, two well-known citizens appeared at his door with a smart coach and four beautiful horses. One of them was Mr. Peter Paprika; in former times he had himself fulfilled a term of office as magistrate six years, so he understood the situation. The two had come to wish Mr. Raby good day, Peter Paprika adding that, as his worship must have so many journeys to make in so many different directions, he was sure he could not exist without a carriage and horses. For Raby, moreover, the price of the whole equipage, including horses, would only be forty gulden! Nor need he be surprised at this abnormally cheap price, for they were not stolen. The four horses were from the stud of the State, the carriage was the best the local builder could turn out.
Mathias Raby thanked them for the offer, but refused to buy the equipage, even at this price.
However, they still pressed their bid, adding that fodder for the horses would be provided gratis, whereupon Raby told them point blank that their bribes would not in the least avail to turn him from his purpose.
Mr. Paprika returned dejectedly to the town council where his colleagues waited to learn the result of his mission.