The Strange Story of Rab Ráby

  CHAPTER XII.

  Hardly had Mathias Raby returned to Szent-Endre than he realised thateveryone was aware of his mission. Gifts of all kinds poured in, and hisservant told him that in his absence two casks of wine had arrived--sheknew not from whom. In the courtyard, big stacks of firewood had alreadybeen piled up--the gift of some anonymous donor, while the poultry-yardwas full of feathered stock which seemed to have flown down from theskies.

  It was a pity the recipient did not appreciate them. Yet he knew thetime would come when all those who now plied him with gifts, would beready to deprive him of everything, if he ventured to set foot in theirstreets. He forbade the maid to touch any of them under pain of instantdismissal. The poor girl was quite dumbfoundered with surprise, for whatcould one have better than such presents?

  On the day of his return, two well-known citizens appeared at his doorwith a smart coach and four beautiful horses. One of them was Mr. PeterPaprika; in former times he had himself fulfilled a term of office asmagistrate six years, so he understood the situation. The two had cometo wish Mr. Raby good day, Peter Paprika adding that, as his worshipmust have so many journeys to make in so many different directions, hewas sure he could not exist without a carriage and horses. For Raby,moreover, the price of the whole equipage, including horses, would onlybe forty gulden! Nor need he be surprised at this abnormally cheapprice, for they were not stolen. The four horses were from the stud ofthe State, the carriage was the best the local builder could turn out.

  Mathias Raby thanked them for the offer, but refused to buy theequipage, even at this price.

  However, they still pressed their bid, adding that fodder for the horseswould be provided gratis, whereupon Raby told them point blank thattheir bribes would not in the least avail to turn him from his purpose.

  Mr. Paprika returned dejectedly to the town council where his colleagueswaited to learn the result of his mission.

  "I'm afraid," he announced to his fellow-councillors, "it won't avail usto dip in the little chest for this. We have a difficult customer todeal with. We must dive into the big one."

  They talked the matter over, and determined that if necessary, theywould sacrifice half the common wealth, and for this, bleed the treasureitself, to such an end. And Peter Paprika was entrusted to find out anew opportunity for proffering the bribe.

  So the next day they sought out Raby, and put the whole thing beforehim. They hinted broadly enough that you did not muzzle the ox thattrod out the corn, and that he who cut up a goose was justified inkeeping the best bit for himself, and other like arguments, and finallylaid on his table the sum of three thousand ducats.

  Even to-day three thousand ducats are not a sum to be despised: in thosedays, indeed, they represented a respectable fortune. But Raby nearlydrubbed the envoy who brought them out of the room. He was righteouslyindignant, and angrily showed the messenger the door.

  "I never saw a man so angry," growled Peter Paprika, "I've heard menoften enough refuse money in so many words, but they contrived to pocketthe ducats discreetly, directly they have the chance." So they thoughtit might happen this time. A week elapsed, and people already began tosmile knowingly at Raby when they met him in the street, saying tothemselves, "He only wants a little bigger net, but he'll be caught inthe end."

  How greatly was popular opinion disconcerted, when in all the churchesthe following Sunday, a "command" from the Emperor was read to theeffect "that the three thousand ducats which the worshipful town councilhad given to Mr. Mathias Raby for benevolent purposes, were to bedivided among the inhabitants whose homes the preceding year had beendestroyed by fire, and that each one would receive seventy-five guldenapiece."

  What a procession it was that took its way to Raby's house. Theunfortunate victims of the conflagration came with their children andchattels to thank their benefactor and to kiss his hand. The homes ofmany of them had still to be made good, and the help could not have comeat a more seasonable time. But it set the officials against Raby. Theycould not tell the recipients of this bounty what had really happened.But the latter guessed immediately that the town council had given Mr.Raby three thousand ducats, not for any charitable ends, but in order tobribe him, and that he was making over to them these ill-gotten gains.Well might the poor regard him as their deliverer!

  Nevertheless, the councillors began to shake in their shoes. Judge,notary, and old Paprika hastened to the prefect, and announced withanxiety and horror that a dragon had been set on to them, who would notbe pacified with the treasure itself.

  "Well, we'll just fetch out a bigger one still to satisfy him."

  What that greater treasure was, we shall in the course of events nowlearn.