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in German； 〃Don't let him go！〃
With a snarling sound the shoemaker turned his back； and shambled
off。
The woman furtively thrust a letter into Swithin's hand； and
furtively waited。
The letter was from Rozsi。
〃Forgive me〃it ran〃that I leave you and do not say goodbye。 To…
day our father had the call from our dear Father…town so long
awaited。 In two hours we are ready。 I pray to the Virgin to keep
you ever safe； and that you do not quite forget me。Your
unforgetting good friend； ROZSI
When Swithin read it his first sensation was that of a man sinking in
a bog； then his obstinacy stiffened。 'I won't be done；' he thought。
Taking out a sovereign he tried to make the woman comprehend that she
could earn it； by telling him where they had gone。 He got her
finally to write the words out in his pocket…book； gave her the
sovereign； and hurried to the Goldene Alp； where there was a waiter
who spoke English。 The translation given him was this：
〃At three o'clock they start in a carriage on the road to Linzthey
have bad horsesthe Herr also rides a white horse。〃
Swithin at once hailed a carriage and started at full gallop on the
road to Linz。 Outside the Mirabell Garden he caught sight of
Kasteliz and grinned at him。 'I've sold him anyway；' he thought；
'for all their talk； they're no good； these foreigners！'
His spirits rose； but soon fell again。 What chance had he of
catching them？ They had three hours' start！ Still； the roads were
heavy from the rain of the last two nightsthey had luggage and bad
horses； his own were good； his driver bribedhe might overtake them
by ten o'clock！ But did he want to？ What a fool he had been not to
bring his luggage； he would then have had a respectable position。
What a brute he would look without a change of shirt； or anything to
shave with！ He saw himself with horror； all bristly； and in soiled
linen。 People would think him mad。 'I've given myself away；'
flashed across him； 'what the devil can I say to them？' and he stared
sullenly at the driver's back。 He read Rozsi's letter again； it had
a scent of her。 And in the growing darkness； jolted by the swinging
of the carriage； he suffered tortures from his prudence； tortures
from his passion。
It grew colder and dark。 He turned the collar of his coat up to his
ears。 He had visions of Piccadilly。 This wild…goose chase appeared
suddenly a dangerous； unfathomable business。 Lights； fellowship；
security！ 'Never again！' he brooded； 'why won't they let me alone？'
But it was not clear whether by 'they' he meant the conventions； the
Boleskeys； his passions； or those haunting memories of Rozsi。 If he
had only had a bag with him！ What was he going to say？ What was he
going to get by this？ He received no answer to these questions。 The
darkness itself was less obscure than his sensations。 From time to
time he took out his watch。 At each village the driver made
inquiries。 It was past ten when he stopped the carriage with a jerk。
The stars were bright as steel； and by the side of the road a reedy
lake showed in the moonlight。 Swithin shivered。 A man on a horse
had halted in the centre of the road。 〃Drive on！〃 called Swithin；
with a stolid face。 It turned out to be Boleskey； who； on a gaunt
white horse； looked like some winged creature。 He stood where he
could bar the progress of the carriage； holding out a pistol。
'Theatrical beggar！' thought Swithin； with a nervous smile。 He made
no sign of recognition。 Slowly Boleskey brought his lean horse up to
the carriage。 When he saw who was within he showed astonishment and
joy。
〃You？〃 he cried； slapping his hand on his attenuated thigh； and
leaning over till his beard touched Swithin。 〃You have come？ You
followed us？〃
〃It seems so；〃 Swithin grunted out。
〃You throw in your lot with us。 Is it possible？ Youyou are a
knight…errant then！〃
〃Good God！〃 said Swithin。 Boleskey； flogging his dejected steed；
cantered forward in the moonlight。 He came back； bringing an old
cloak； which he insisted on wrapping round Swithin's shoulders。 He
handed him； too； a capacious flask。
〃How cold you look！〃 he said。 〃Wonderful！ Wonderful！ you English！〃
His grateful eyes never left Swithin for a moment。 They had come up
to the heels of the other carriage now； but Swithin； hunched in the
cloak； did not try to see what was in front of him。 To the bottom of
his soul he resented the Hungarian's gratitude。 He remarked at last；
with wasted irony：
〃You're in a hurry； it seems！〃
〃If we had wings；〃 Boleskey answered； 〃we would use them。〃
〃Wings！〃 muttered Swithin thickly； 〃legs are good enough for me。〃
X
Arrived at the inn where they were to pass the night； Swithin waited；
hoping to get into the house without a 〃scene；〃 but when at last he
alighted the girls were in the doorway； and Margit greeted him with
an admiring murmur； in which； however； he seemed to detect irony。
Rozsi； pale and tremulous； with a half…scared look； gave him her
hand； and； quickly withdrawing it； shrank behind her sister。 When
they had gone up to their room Swithin sought Boleskey。 His spirits
had risen remarkably。 〃Tell the landlord to get us supper；〃 he said；
〃we'll crack a bottle to our luck。〃 He hurried on the landlord's
preparations。 The window of the； room faced a wood； so near that he
could almost touch the trees。 The scent from the pines blew in on
him。 He turned away from that scented darkness； and began to draw
the corks of winebottles。 The sound seemed to conjure up Boleskey。
He came in； splashed all over； smelling slightly of stables； soon
after； Margit appeared； fresh and serene； but Rozsi did not come。
〃Where is your sister？〃 Swithin said。 Rozsi； it seemed； was tired。
〃It will do her good to eat；〃 said Swithin。 And Boleskey； murmuring；
〃She must drink to our country；〃 went out to summon her； Margit
followed him； while Swithin cut up a chicken。 They came back without
her。 She had 〃a megrim of the spirit。〃
Swithin's face fell。 〃Look here！〃 he said； 〃I'll go and try。 Don't
wait for me。〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Boleskey； sinking mournfully into a chair； 〃try；
brother； try…by all means； try。〃
Swithin walked down the corridor with an odd； sweet； sinking
sensation in his chest； and tapped on Rozsi's door。 In a minute； she
peeped forth； with her hair loose； and wondering eyes。
〃Rozsi；〃 he stammered； 〃what makes you afraid of me； now？〃
She stared at him； but did not answer。
〃Why won't you come？〃
Still she did not speak； but suddenly stretched out to him her bare
arm。 Swithin pressed his face to it。 With a shiver； she whispered
above him； 〃I will come；〃 and gently shut the door。
Swithin stealthily retraced his steps； and paused a minute outside
the sitting…room to regain his self…control。
The sight of Boleskey with a bottle in his hand steadied him。
〃She is coming；〃 h