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Margit； with a pale face； stood like a statue。
'What can they see in it？' thought Swithin； 'it's not a tune。' He
took up his hat。 Rozsi saw him and stopped； her lips had parted with
a faintly dismayed expression。 His sense of personal injury
diminished； he even felt a little sorry for her。 She jumped up from
her seat and twirled round with a pout。 An inspiration seized on
Swithin。 〃Come and dine with me；〃 he said to Boleskey； 〃to…morrow
the Goldene Alpbring your friend。〃 He felt the eyes of the whole
room on himthe Hungarian's fine eyes； Margit's wide glance； the
narrow； hot gaze of Kasteliz； and lastlyRozsi's。 A glow of
satisfaction ran down his spine。 When he emerged into the street
he thought gloomily； 'Now I've done it！' And not for some paces did
he look round； then； with a forced smile； turned and removed his hat
to the faces at the window。
Notwithstanding this moment of gloom； however； he was in an exalted
state all day； and at dinner kept looking at his brother and Traquair
enigmatically。 'What do they know of life？' he thought； 'they might
be here a year and get no farther。' He made jokes； and pinned the
menu to the waiter's coat…tails。 〃I like this place；〃 he said； 〃I
shall spend three weeks here。〃 James； whose lips were on the point
of taking in a plum； looked at him uneasily。
IV
On the day of the dinner Swithin suffered a good deal。 He reflected
gloomily on Boleskey's clothes。 He had fixed an early hourthere
would be fewer people to see them。 When the time approached he
attired himself with a certain neat splendour； and though his arm was
still sore； left off the sling。。。。
Nearly three hours afterwards he left the Goldene Alp between his
guests。 It was sunset； and along the riverbank the houses stood out；
unsoftened by the dusk； the streets were full of people hurrying
home。 Swithin had a hazy vision of empty bottles； of the ground
before his feet； and the accessibility of all the world。 Dim
recollections of the good things he had said； of his brother and
Traquair seated in the background eating ordinary meals with
inquiring； acid visages； caused perpetual smiles to break out on his
face； and he steered himself stubbornly； to prove that he was a
better man than either' of his guests。 He knew； vaguely； that he was
going somewhere with an object； Rozsi's face kept dancing before him；
like a promise。 Once or twice he gave Kasteliz a glassy stare。
Towards Boleskey； on the other hand； he felt quite warm； and recalled
with admiration the way he had set his glass down empty； time after
time。 'I like to see him take his liquor；' he thought； 'the fellow's
a gentleman； after all。' Boleskey strode on； savagely inattentive to
everything； and Kasteliz had become more like a cat than ever。 It
was nearly dark when they reached a narrow street close to the
cathedral。 They stopped at a door held open by an old woman。 The
change from the fresh air to a heated corridor； the noise of the door
closed behind him； the old woman's anxious glances； sobered Swithin。
〃I tell her；〃 said Boleskey； 〃that I reply for you as for my son。〃
Swithin was angry。 What business had this man to reply for him！
They passed into a large room； crowded with men all women； Swithin
noticed that they all looked fit him。 He stared at them in turn
they seemed of all classes； some in black coats or silk dresses；
others in the clothes of work…people； one man； a cobbler； still wore
his leather apron； as if he had rushed there straight from his work。
Laying his hand on Swithin's arm； Boleskey evidently began explaining
who he was； hands were extended； people beyond reach bowed to him。
Swithin acknowledged the greetings with a stiff motion of his head；
then seeing other people dropping into seats； he； too； sat down。
Some one whispered his nameMargit and Rozsi were just behind him。
〃Welcome！〃 said Margit； but Swithin was looking at Rozsi。 Her face
was so alive and quivering！ 'What's the excitement all about？' he
thought。 'How pretty she looks！' She blushed； drew in her hands
with a quick tense movement； and gazed again beyond him into the
room。 'What is it？' thought Swithin； he had a longing to lean back
and kiss her lips。 He tried angrily to see what she was seeing in
those faces turned all one way。
Boleskey rose to speak。 No one moved； not a sound could be heard but
the tone of his deep voice。 On and on he went； fierce and solemn；
and with the rise of his voice； all those faces…fair or swarthy
seemed to be glowing with one and the same feeling。 Swithin felt the
white heat in those facesit was not decent！ In that whole speech
he only understood the one word〃Magyar〃 which came again and again。
He almost dozed off at last。 The twang of a czymbal woke him。
'What？' he thought； 'more of that infernal music！' Margit； leaning
over him； whispered： 〃Listen！ Racoczy！ It is forbidden！〃 Swithin saw
that Rozsi was no longer in her seat； it was she who was striking
those forbidden notes。 He looked roundeverywhere the same unmoving
faces； the same entrancement； and fierce stillness。 The music
sounded muffled； as if it； too； were bursting its heart in silence。
Swithin felt within him a touch of panic。 Was this a den of tigers？
The way these people listened； the ferocity of their stillness； was
frightful。。。！ He gripped his chair and broke into a perspiration；
was there no chance to get away？ 'When it stops；' he thought；
'there'll be a rush！' But there was only a greater silence。 It
flashed across him that any hostile person coming in then would be
torn to pieces。 A woman sobbed。 The whole thing was beyond words
unpleasant。 He rose； and edged his way furtively towards the
doorway。 There was a cry of 〃Police！〃 The whole crowd came pressing
after him。 Swithin would soon have been out； but a little behind he
caught sight of Rozsi swept off her feet。 Her frightened eyes
angered him。 'She doesn't deserve it；' he thought sulkily； 'letting
all this loose！' and forced his way back to her。 She clung to him；
and a fever went stealing through his veins； he butted forward at the
crowd； holding her tight。 When they were outside he let her go。
〃I was afraid；〃 she said。
〃Afraid！〃 muttered Swithin； 〃I should think so。〃 No longer touching
her； he felt his grievance revive。
〃But you are so strong；〃 she murmured。
〃This is no place for you；〃 growled Swithin； 〃I'm going to see you
home。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Rozsi； 〃but papa andMargit！〃
〃That's their look…out！〃 and he hurried her away。
She slid her hand under his arm； the soft curves of her form brushed
him gently； each touch only augmented his ill…humour。 He burned with
a perverse rage； as if all the passions in him were simmering and
ready to boil over； it was as if a poison were trying to work its way
out of him； through the layers of his stolid flesh。 He maintained a
dogged silence； Rozsi； too； said nothing； bu