One day, while away from home hunting at Csako, Baron Leonard learnt
that the Countess Kengyelesy's latest ideal was Szilard Vamhidy and when
chance soon afterwards brought him also to Arad, he could see for
himself that the countess really did load the young man with distinction
in society.
The circumstance began to irritate him.
This pale-faced youth with the big burning eyes had turned the head of
his own consort once upon a time, and now he was making other enviable
conquests. The idea occurred to Hatszegi to knock this "student chap"
out of his saddle a second time. Heretofore he had never regarded the
countess as a particularly pretty woman, but now he very readily
persuaded himself that he was over head and ears in love with her.
He began to pay his court to her--and he was lucky. At least everybody
believed it--himself included.
The countess always seemed pleased to see him, and the oftener he paid
his visits, the less frequent grew the visits of Szilard. Occasionally
they met at the countess's and then Szilard would hastily step aside, as
vanquished rivals are wont to do when their conquerors appear. At last
Leonard was a daily institution at the countess's, while Szilard only
appeared there occasionally.
Yet one day, while Hatszegi was in the drawing room of the countess,
paying his court to her most assiduously, Vamhidy entered _sans gene_;
whereupon the countess hastily springing up from her _causeuse_ asked
leave of the baron to withdraw for a moment and there and then conducted
Vamhidy into her private boudoir and remained closeted with him for a
good quarter of an hour, whilst Hatszegi, yellow with jealousy, was left
alone with the countess's French companion, who could answer nothing but
"oui" and "non" to all his remarks.
Pages:
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251