CHAPTER XXI.
The jest was surely now at an end, said Raby to himself; it was no usetrifling with these people but best to go straight to the point withthem.
So the next day he set out for Vienna, nor did he conceal the purport ofhis journey. For he had to induce the Emperor to remove the Szent-Endreauthorities and order a new municipal body to be set up in their place.As a land-owner, he had full right to demand this to be done.
Meanwhile, he left Boske to keep house, only stipulating she should havesomeone to be with her in his absence.
In Vienna all fell out as he had wished, and after forwarding his plansthere, he returned home.
As he reached the gate of the town he wondered what new developmentswould greet his return; he had a foreboding something strange waspreparing, nor was he mistaken.
For when he came to his own house, there outside sat Boske in tears,surrounded by various bits of furniture, which had evidently been thrownout into the street.
"Why, what in the world have you got there?" asked Raby, amazed, of theweeping maid-servant.
"What have I got?" cried Boske, "why, honoured master, don't you knowyour own furniture when you see it? These are all our things, and theyhave turned them out here, and me with them."
"What?" yelled Raby, as he leapt from the coach.
But no answer was needed, for just then the door opened, and out camethe notary.
He leaned with the utmost sang-froid against the door, while he filledwith tobacco his clay pipe, from which he proceeded to puff eddies ofsmoke right into Raby's face. He was quite drunk, and behind him stood acouple of boon companions.
"Pray what has happened here?" inquired the astonished master of thehouse.
"Only that I am taking possession of my own property," was the insolentanswer.
"Your property, why it's mine, considering I paid the price for it indue form," retorted the puzzled Raby.
"But I repent of having sold it, and I've taken possession again,"rejoined the notary, as he re-lit his pipe. "And now since you, my finegentleman, have nothing further to look for in this town, and are nolonger the master here, you may just pack off and go!"
"But I paid you ready-money," remonstrated Raby, his voice fairlyshaking with rage and shame.
"You'd better bring it before the tribunal," sneered the notary, and helaughed so immoderately that the pipe dropped out of his mouth.
Raby heard the laughter echoed in the yard without by a dozen othervoices.
He strove no longer. He told Boske he would send a coach to fetch herand the furniture away, and till then, she must wait there. Then hehurried off to his uncle's and told his story.
"This is beyond a joke," said the old man. "We will not stand this sortof thing from these insolent wretches."
"But to whom can I complain?" asked Raby. "To the judge, Petray, who ismy personal enemy; to the county court where I am accused of bigamy andscoffed at?"
"To none of the lot! There is an edict which provides that whosoappropriates unlawfully the property of another, can himself be turnedout by the lawful owner."
"But where can we procure the methods of force necessary to drive thesepeople out?" demanded Raby. "The whole township is in their pay. Themunicipality gives no formal help, and the military would not move inthe matter. If I myself incite the people to act, I shall be accused ofinstigating to violence."
"Leave all that to me, my boy; we old folks know more than you youngones give us credit for. No need to go either to the tribunal or to thebarracks. We'll just get the good people of Bicske and Velencze to helpus. The gentry in these towns fight like dragons. But in all theirhistory there is not a single case of either having ever taken theirdisputes before the county courts or the provincial tribunals. For,being of noble descent, there is a tradition among them that allquarrels which arise between them shall be settled by the militaryofficer who happens, for the time being, to be in command of thedefendant's town. They are satisfied with this judgment, and never doeither judge or lawyer have a fee out of their pockets."
"That sounds quite patriarchal," remarked Raby.
"Now why can't we acquire just such a right among our people here?"pursued his uncle. "In a fortnight's time there will be a fair atStuhlweissenburg. During this time I will go round and discuss thematter with the heads of the departments. You yourself can remain herein the meantime and look after my work in the post office. In Velenczethey are just electing Stephen Keo, Knight of Kadarcs, as the judge. Youought to propound your plan to him. He has a fine fighting record behindhim, for he went through Rakoczi's campaigns with the great leaderhimself, and still wears the shabby wolfskin coat in which he used toparade in the old fighting days. He is very proud of his militaryrecord, as well as of his ancestors, who came from Asia with thehorsemen of Arpad himself. Remember this point; it will be an excellentpassport to his good graces, and don't forget to give him his fulltitle, and always to address him as Knight of Kadarcs. As soon as I'mready with the legal points we'll go to Stuhlweissenburg and set ourscheme afoot. Meanwhile, have no fear, we'll soon drive those brutesout of your house, my boy, and send them packing!"
Raby agreed to all of it. He was so exasperated that he positivelyyearned for a fight of some kind, whatever it might be.
So it was arranged he should stop and look after the post office, whilehis uncle went to collect materials for his campaign.