CHAPTER XII.
THE SOIREES AT ARAD Despite his misgivings, Count Kengyelesy succeeded in reaching his home at Arad without being robbed by Fatia Negra.
During the evenings of his visit at Hidvar he had won back everything which he had lost on the occasion of his friend Hatszegi's visit at Kengyelesy, and in the joy of his heart he gave his countess _carte blanche_ in the matter of entertaining her friends and opened his halls freely to the elegant world of Arad.
For the society of Arad is distinctly elegant.

Excepting Pest, there is no other place in Hungary where the aristocratic element is so strongly represented.

Nay, it has this advantage over Pest that its society does not scatter as the seasons change.

Such pleasure-resorts as Csako, Menes, Magyarat and Vilagos and the castles of the magnates residing on the circumjacent _puszta_ are all of a heap, so to speak, around Arad; so that there is no occasion for acquaintances to separate in spring or autumn; wherefore to all those who would devote themselves uninterruptedly to social joys, Arad is a veritable Eldorado.
There was no need to offer the Countess Kengyelesy such an opportunity twice,--the very next day the round of visiting began.

All the notabilities of the higher circles got themselves introduced to her ladyship by mutual friends, and the lesser fry, whom nobody knew, were introduced to her by the count himself.