"What is it, darling?" his father asked, going back to him.

"I want you to kiss me again," he said, with a little mischievous smile.

After the boy had had his wish, he crept below the covering, and was
soon fast asleep. Mr. Dumany observed that my cigar had expired, and
that I looked rather drowsy. "You are tired," he said; "let me lead you
to your room."

"I have not slept for the last two nights," I replied; "but I shall not
trouble you, as I can find my room easily, or else I can ask the valet.
Pray stay and rest yourself."

"Well then, good-night and sleep well!"

But however sleepy I had been the moment before, these few words were
enough to drive sleep from my eyes for ten nights to come, and to raise
my curiosity to the highest pitch, for they were spoken in clear,
well-pronounced Hungarian.

I gazed at him in utter astonishment, and he smiled. "You did not
recognise me," he said, "but I knew you at once. I knew you very well,
too--at one time: we have been colleagues once."

"Indeed? And how is that possible? Pray where was that?"

"In Budapest, in the Sándor Uteza Palace, the House of Commons."

"You have been a member of the Hungarian Parliament? When? And what