Madame Langai seeks to prove that old Lapussa was _non compos mentis_ when he disinherited the other members of his family, and she also maintains, that the old fellow had no reason whatever for hating his grandchildren and reducing them to beggary as he has done.

On the other hand, Mr.John maintains that his dear father had excellent reasons for detesting his grandchildren because the Baroness Hatszegi has never written a letter to her grandfather since her marriage and both she and her husband have expressed themselves, at home, in the most disrespectful terms imaginable concerning the old gentleman, even giving it to be understood that they would be very glad if they had not to wait too long for the curtain to fall on the fifth act of his life's drama.
He calls as his witness one Margari, who was formerly old Lapussa's reader before the girl was married, and since then has been compelled to act as secretary to Hatszegi, or rather as a spy upon him.

This fellow, who is now the mere tool of Mr.John, is quite prepared to retail all sorts of horrors about the Hatszegis.

As to the other grandchild, the boy Koloman I mean, his uncle has saddled him with a terrible charge.

He has produced a bill for 40,000 florins which he accuses the lad of forging in the name of his sister, the Baroness Hatszegi." "Ah!" exclaimed the countess in an incredulous voice.
"The thing is ridiculously incredible, I know, yet there the bill is; I have seen it, for it has been sequestered by the Court.