CHAPTER XII.
THE HOUSE-WARMING.
Carriage after carriage rumbled into the courtyard of Karpathy Castle.
Every sort and kind of four-wheeled conveyance was visible that day within the gates of the crowded mansion.
There seemed to be no end to the continuous flow of guests, male and female, and Madame Karpathy won and captivated every heart.

Of course she had the immense advantage of knowing them all beforehand, of knowing their weak and their strong points, their virtues and vices; but it is due to her to add that she had learnt her lesson excellently well, and turned it to the best advantage.

She received Count Szepkiesdy with all the grave respect due to the most honourable of patriots, and assured him that she had long since learnt to admire him as a great orator and a noble-minded man.

The Count inwardly cursed and swore at meeting with some one who regarded him as a hero.

To Count Gregory Erdey she extended a smiling salutation from afar, which he requited by saluting her with his hat in one hand and his wig in another, which provoked a roar of Homeric laughter from the assembled guests.