CHAPTER XV.
Wonder of wonders! Fruzsinka had become domesticated. Since hermarriage, she had been a different being. Her former rich dress was nowexchanged for a simple homespun gown, and she wore only the nationaldress of the Hungarian woman. She rarely even looked in a book, for theyoung matron was now wholly occupied with the things of the household.
She made an ideal housewife, superintending everything herself, andnever parting with her keys. She kneaded the dough for the fritterswhich no hand must touch but hers; she skimmed too the milk, and roastedthe coffee. She even had a spinning-wheel brought in and sat at it,though the yarn spun did not amount to much, only the spinning-wheelindeed knew whether it went backwards or forwards.
But on her lord and master, Fruzsinka lavished the most passionatedevotion. Never did she allow him to leave the house without herbuttoning his coat for him, and had he the least ailment she made no endof ado.
She never dreamed of going out without him, and was, as a matter offact, jealous of every pretty woman, but Raby liked to think that herwatchfulness had regard rather to the designs of his enemies than fromany other cause. He began to see that all women who love their husbandsare alike, and that those stories of the wives of heroes who themselvesspur their spouses on to fight and place the sword in their grasp,belong to the domain of myth, not to that of reality.
For the rest, Raby's business seemed as if it was going to settle itselfsmoothly. The municipality gave orders to the district commissioner who,in his turn, forwarded directions to various subordinate officials, anda deputation, which was entrusted with full judicial powers, was electedto audit the accounts. All was ready for taking active steps, Raby onlyneeded to come forward with the formal impeachment, for he now held thethreads of the business in his own hands.
The various officials concerned strongly suspected that they themselveswere mixed up in the affair, but consoled themselves with the thoughtthat the commissioner would himself preside.
But the district commissioner was very easy-going, had they known it,and that was his failing. He did not like seeing his friends set by theears, therefore he betrayed the inimical intentions of each one to theother, in order to frustrate strife. They should leave one anotheralone; why quarrel, when you might live at peace with your neighbour,was his philosophy.
At last the important day dawned when the commission was to sit for theinvestigation of the Szent-Endre accounts. The district commissioner didnot keep them long waiting. His impartiality was shown by his acceptingan invitation to the prefect's to dinner, and by inviting himself toRaby's to supper, for he too had been an old flame of Fruzsinka's.
They assembled for the great work in the Town Hall, and had unearthedaccounts of years' standing--and nice models of book-keeping they were,full of erasures and corrections, just where the most important entriescould be expected. Under such circumstances, the commissioner dividedthe work up, so that each one might do his share of it without beingoverlooked by the others. Raby could have burst with indignation when heregarded the commission's irregularities as to procedure.
With the most unblushing impudence, all sorts of frauds, corruptions,and tyrannical methods were simply ignored in the investigation.
"Fiddlesticks!" exclaimed the commissioner to the protesting Raby, "thathappens everywhere."
And finally, when the worshipful commission of burghers who understoodabout as much of finance as a hen does of the alphabet, summed up theresults of the revision, they gave out, that in spite of all efforts tomake them balance, there was a deficit amounting to eighty-six thousandgulden, for which it was impossible to account.
"Fiddlesticks," cried the commissioner again, "let's go on!"
"No, no, we cannot possibly pass that over, and we will not go on,"cried the indignant Raby. "Does not your worship recollect that onaccount of just such a deficit, a captain of the guard had, but a whileback, to stand in the pillory with a black board round his neck. Shallan officer of the imperial body guard be thus punished, and these whohave hidden the gold, go free? These things are no trifles. Will you bepleased to order that the secret treasure-chest be produced."
The reference to the captain of the guard was not, it seemed, withoutits effect on the commissioner. He struck the table with his long caneas if to threaten the company, as he spoke.
"Hear, you people! This business passes all bearing. In the Emperor'sname, I herewith order you to fetch out yon secret treasure-chest, inwhich the embezzled money is stored. And if it is not here by twoo'clock this afternoon, at which hour we have to be ready with ourreport, I shall have you all clapped into the Dark Tower. So look you toit! Now we'll go to dinner!"
Raby did not appear at the prefect's banquet; he never allowed his wifeto have her meals alone. It seemed a long while till two o'clock, thehour named for the continuation of the investigation, when they promisedto let him know. And he remembered the question of the timber had notbeen touched on. This must be worked in somehow.
At last it was time to go to the Town Hall. The councillors sat roundthe long table waiting for him.
"Now, you gentlemen," ordered the district commissioner, "out with yoursecret chest."
The notary rose obediently from his seat, and went into the adjoiningroom, whence he came back with a small iron casket about the size of alady's workbox, which he brought and set down on the table.
"Here, your lordship, is our secret chest, here too is the key; bepleased to open it for yourself."
The district commissioner looked in, and found inside the sum of twogulden and forty-five kreutzers all told.
"This is our treasure," cried the notary dejectedly. Everyone burst outlaughing, and even Raby himself could not forbear joining in, though itwas no matter for jest.
When the laugh had subsided, Raby was the first to speak: "Now then, yougentlemen of the council, that was a pleasant jest, but permit me toremind you that it was a question not of this cash-box, but of the greatchest, the secret way to which only the notary knows how to find."
"I know of a secret way?" exclaimed the notary. "Who dares say that ofme? I beg the commission to search the Town Hall thoroughly, to seewhether anyone can discover a secret passage there. If you find one,well, there is my head, ready to lie on the block!"
"I know well enough," said Raby, "there is such a place: to brick it upperhaps is not difficult. But there is another entrance. The Rascian'pope' knows it, and will be able to show us where the entrance to thisstolen treasure is. I would suggest that he be cited."
To this the district commissioner had an objection.
"The Rascian 'pope' is an ecclesiastic, so cannot be summoned before asecular tribunal. He is under the immediate jurisdiction of thePatriarch of Carlovitz. The Patriarch will not understand the procedureof the Hungarian commissioners, but is only responsible to the Croatianand Slavonic tribunals. The Szent-Endre municipality can address amemorial to the Archbishop of Carlovitz to cite the Greek pastor ofSzent-Endre at their tribunal, if he does not mind giving theinformation."
So this was settled.
Raby looked at the clock.
"We had other circumstances to consider. There is still the question ofthe timber. My indictment charges the municipality with aiding andabetting great devastation in the woods. Whilst the poor are not allowedto pick even dry brushwood in winter, and the sick in the hospital aredying of cold, the overseers are allowed to sell timber, and to giveaway hundreds of stacks as bribes. This cannot be gainsaid. There arethe felled trees to witness to it."
"What do you mean, Mr. Raby? That is all very well, but it may, or maynot be true. You just let us manage our own affairs," said the notary.
The district commissioner here remarked that the thing must be lookedinto, and if proven, this alone would be cause enough to bar all thoseconcerned from holding office. He thereupon ordered a carriage shouldcome round directly, so that they could examine the wood while it wasyet daylight.
Whilst they were waiting to start, suddenly a man rushe
d in white withterror.
"For Heaven's sake, come quickly, gentlemen, the wood is on fire!"
All sprang up from the table, for sure enough the wood was on fire. Invain did Raby try to appease them, the conflagration could only havejust broken out, and it would be easy in the damp winter weather tomaster it. No one listened to him; it was all up with the commission andits enquiry.
All made for the street, shouting "Fire!" and clamouring for ladders andbuckets to extinguish the flames. At last they produced the onlywatering-cart the city possessed, but a hind wheel was off, and how toget it along no one knew. Helpless confusion reigned. Crowds ofdistracted citizens ran up and down the streets; the men shouted, thewomen screamed. Amid the barking of the dogs, the cackling of hens, andthe ringing of bells, the townspeople tore hither and thither as ifpossessed, while the dragoons galloped about trying to keep order.
"Come along, my dear fellow," said the district commissioner to Raby."Let's go to your poor wife, she will be distracted with fear andanxiety: it's time you consoled her."
And really it was the wisest thing Raby could do.
And sure enough, there was Fruzsinka awaiting them at the gate, and itwas touching to see how she fell on Raby's neck, sobbing her heart out,for she had feared some harm had come to him. Nor did she recoverherself, but the whole evening trembled every time the alarm bell rang,and was inattentive to their distinguished guest's choicest anecdoteswhich he told for their benefit during supper.
Before he left, the news came that the wood was quite destroyed by thefire.
"It is all your fault," he cried to Raby. "Had you never raised thatunlucky question about the timber, no one would have thought of settingfire to the wood, and this enormous damage might have been avoided."
Only the presence of his wife prevented Raby coming to blows with thedistrict commissioner.