But there was another thing which bothered him a good deal. The coachman
had been left behind with the four horses and would not know what to
make of the disappearance of his master and the priest. When, however,
the post chaise stopped in front of his house at Arad who should he see
coming to meet him through the gate but this very coachman whose
astonishment at the meeting was even greater than his master's. And
then, to the amazement of the postillion, master and servant fell upon
each other's necks and embraced each other again and again.
"Come into the house," said Mr. Gerzson at last, "and tell me what
befell you. I don't want you to bellow it out here before all the
world."
"I hardly know how to put it, sir, but I will tell it you as best I can.
After watering the horses, I lay down and went to sleep. A loud neighing
suddenly awoke me and, looking around, I saw a great light. The
parson's house was all in flames. Up I was in a jiffy and ran to the
door to call your honour but I found the door was locked from the
inside. I then ran to the windows and found that the shutters were
nailed down over them. What horrified me most of all, however, was that
nobody came from the castle to put the fire out. Then I began to roar
for help and while I was roaring and running up and down looking for an
axe with which to batter in the door--'burum! burum!' I heard two shots
and the bullets whistled to the right and left about my ears.
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