Rudolf bending half over her, offered her his arm.
Poor lady, she was scarce able to utter these few words: "I am not allowed to dance, my lord.

I have been very ill." He could not but believe what she said, as she was as pale at that moment as if she were about to descend into the tomb.
Rudolf expressed his regret in a few courtly words, and then retired.
For some time afterwards Fanny durst not raise her eyes, as if she fancied he was still standing before her.

At last, however, she did look up, and the eyes that met her gaze were--Mr.Kecskerey's.
"The Madonna of Mount Carmel, for all the world!" said that worthy cavalier, saluting her _chapeau-bas_, and confidently drawing still nearer.
Fanny hastily pulled herself together.

She had the foreboding that she must hide her very soul from the scrutiny of this man; so she accepted his salutation with a cold smile, and made as if she were not afraid of him.
"What a loss it is to the company that your ladyship does not dance, but what a gain to me who, also, do not dance," said the hero, with impertinent familiarity.

And he sat down beside Lady Karpathy as if he were an intimate friend, throwing back his dress-coat on both sides, and nursing one of his legs in both hands.