He has produced a bill for 40,000 florins which he
accuses the lad of forging in the name of his sister, the Baroness
Hatszegi."
"Ah!" exclaimed the countess in an incredulous voice.
"The thing is ridiculously incredible, I know, yet there the bill is; I
have seen it, for it has been sequestered by the Court. It is obviously
in the youth's handwriting as also is the very bad imitation of his
sister's signature. In connection therewith is the fact of the youth's
sudden disappearance (and every attempt to trace his whereabouts has
failed), for, on the very day when the subject of the bill was first
broached, he vanished from his college, and apparently he had been
preparing for flight some time before."
"But what could have induced a mere child to do such a thing, he is
scarcely thirteen years old?"
"He was always somewhat flighty by nature, though that, of course, is
not sufficient to explain how he came to forge his sister's name on a
draft for 40,000 florins."
"But why will not the baron tell his wife all about it?"
"Does not your ladyship see?--It is quite plain to me. Hatszegi
understands his wife thoroughly. He feels certain that as soon as the
baroness hears of what her brother is accused, she would not hesitate a
moment to acknowledge the forged signature as really her own."
"True, true. And then I suppose her brother could be saved.
Pages:
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216