It
would be a terrible thing to appear before him with the tidings that the
lady who was intrusted to his care, had been lost on the way; yet,
nevertheless, this was the first thing he must say, and after that they
would consult together as to what was to be done to find her and where
they were to look for her.
Never had Mr. Gerzson approached a bear's den with such beating of heart
as he now approached Hatszegi's chambers. His breath almost failed him
as he seized the handle of the street door and wished it might prove
locked in order that it might take a longer time to open it.
And locked indeed the door proved to be, he had to ring. Thus he had, at
any rate, a respite, for he must await the result of the ringing. And a
long time he had to wait too, so long indeed that it was necessary to
ring again. Even then there was no response. Then he rang a third time,
and after that he went on ring-ring-ringing for a good half hour. At
last the bellrope remained in his hand and he put it into his pocket
that it might testify to the fact that he had been there. Then, for the
first time, he noticed that the shutters were all up--the surest sign
that nobody was at home.
Gerzson explained the matter to his own satisfaction by supposing that
the whole household was at the races. It was the last day of the races
and he reached the course just as the betting was at its height and
everybody's attention was concentrated on the event of the moment.
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