Chapter 7 Chapter VII

This despicable act was not done by the guy who threatened to take revenge, who would it be? … Will there be a chain of more serious events to follow? ... Is this just the beginning of revenge against the Rothlichs? Dr. Rothlich immediately learned of this from his son, and the captain came to the Temesvall apartment. It is not difficult to imagine how annoyed Captain Haralan was. "That rascal must have done it," he cried, "it must have been him! . . . How he did it, I don't know! He won't let it go, and I won't let him do it!" "Calm down, dear Haralan," I advised him, "don't do something stupid, it will only complicate matters!"

"Dear Haralan, if my father had informed me before that scoundrel left, or had listened to me, we would have gotten rid of him long ago!" "Dear Vidal, I always thought it best not to be rash." "What if he keeps messing around?" "Then let the police intervene! Think more about your mother and sister." "Sooner or later they'll know about it." "No one will tell them, and Mark... After the wedding is over, we will think about countermeasures..." "After the wedding?" Captain Haralan said, "I'm afraid it's too late?"

"That day, everyone in the Rothlich family was busy preparing for the engagement banquet that night. Mr. and Mrs. Rothlich hoped that, in French terms, the wedding would be a good one." The doctor calculated and pulled Due to the number of friends in the city, a large number of invitations were sent out.In this "neutral zone", Magyar nobles, military and political officials, and business people will gather together.The governor of Raz City and the doctor are also old friends, so they will naturally come to the party to add luster to the party. That night, there were about 150 guests, and the living room and flower hall were large enough to receive them.At the end of the party, a dinner will be prepared in the Flower Hall.

No one is surprised that Mira Rothlich took great pains to be well-groomed and beautifully groomed, and Mark also tried his best to show his artistic temperament. In fact, he had done so as early as when he was painting his fiancée.Mira is a Magyar, but all Magyars, men and women, are very particular about clothing.It had seeped into their blood, like their love of dancing had grown into a craze.Therefore, what I say about Miss Mira also applies to you gentlemen and ladies.There will be a dazzling array of beauty at the engagement party. In the afternoon, everything is ready.I stayed at the Rothlichs all day.Like a true Magyar, anxiously waiting for the time to freshen up.

There was a moment when I was leaning on the window sill, gazing at the Bartiani embankment, and was greatly disappointed to see William Stolitz unexpectedly.He passed by here by chance?I'm afraid not.He hung his head and walked slowly along the embankment.When he approached the Rothlichs' house, he straightened up suddenly, and a gleam shot from his eyes, what a venomous look!He wandered about, and finally caught the attention of Madame Rotelich.She thought she should tell her husband.After hearing this, the doctor comforted her and told her not to worry, but kept her secret about William Storitz's visit.

It must be added that Marc and I met him again on Magyar Square on our way back to the Temeswar apartment from the Rötlich house.When he saw my brother, he stopped abruptly, as if hesitating a bit, not knowing whether he should come to us or not.He stood motionless, his face pale, his arms stiff... Would he faint in the square?His eyes seemed to be full of jealousy, and he glanced at Mark intentionally or unintentionally. When we go far: "Did you notice that man?" Mark asked me. "Noted, Mark." "That's the William Stolitz I told you about..." "I know."

"You know him?" "Captain Haralan pointed it out to me once or twice." "I thought he'd left Raz long ago," Mark said. "It seems not, or else, he is back." "Anyway, it doesn't matter anyway!" "Yeah, it's okay." I agreed. Actually, I think it would be a lot more reassuring if William Stolitz wasn't at Raz. Around 9 o'clock in the evening, the first batch of cars stopped at the gate, and the living room began to be lively.The flower hall is brightly lit by chandeliers.Dr. Rothlich, his wife and daughter stood at the entrance of the flower hall to welcome the guests.The governor also arrived soon, and he congratulated the host family with sincerity. Miss Mira was especially gracious and considerate by him, and my brother also benefited a lot.Words of congratulations poured in from all directions, surrounding the unmarried couple.

Between 9:00 and 10:00, high-ranking dignitaries, military officers, and colleagues of Captain Haralan arrived one after another in Raz.Although I saw that the captain was worried, he still treated the guests warmly without losing the way of hospitality.The women were brightly dressed and stood out against the uniforms and black dresses of the men.The doctor's studio was full of exquisite gifts, expensive jewelry, precious bric-a-brac, and gifts from my brother, which showed his noble taste and made the guests full of praise.On a table against the wall in the hall was a delicate bouquet of roses and orange blossoms, an engagement bouquet.On a velvet square next to the bouquet, according to the Magyar custom, stood the crown of flowers that Myra would wear when she went to church on her wedding day.

The Gala Festival itself is divided into two parts: concerts and dances.The dance didn't start until after midnight, which was a pity for most of the guests because, I repeat, there is no entertainment that drives Hungarian men and women crazy like dancing! The music for the evening will be performed by an excellent gypsy band.The band is well known in the Magyar region and has never performed in Raz.When the specified time comes, the conductor and musicians take their seats in the hall. I know Hungarians love music.According to a fairer assessment, the Hungarians and the Germans differ markedly in the way they enjoy music.Magyars are just music lovers, not musicians.They don't sing, or sing very little, they listen.If you come across playing folk music.Listening is not only a serious business, but they also get a lot of fun from it.I believe that no other nation can compare with it on this point.Gypsies, bohemian instrumentalists by nature, are the ones who are best at stirring up their patriotic passions.

The orchestra consists of a conductor and twelve musicians.They were going to play the majestic "Hungarian Women," a battle song, an army march.The Magyars were men of action, and they preferred such music to German fantasia. Maybe people will wonder, at the engagement banquet, why don't they choose music and hymns that have a more wedding atmosphere?Doing so goes against tradition, and Hungary is a country that values ​​tradition.The people love their own national melody, just as the Gypsies love their "Pesma" and the Romanians love their "Duvama".They needed uplifting compositions, impassioned marches that would evoke their nostalgia for the war years and celebrate the enduring legacy of their forebears.

Gypsies dressed in traditional Bohemian national costumes, I am curious to observe this group of strange people.They have dark complexion, a pair of piercing eyes under thick eyebrows, high cheekbones, a mouth full of fine white teeth, and thick black curly hair covering their slightly slumped foreheads. The main theme of the piece is played from four string instruments, bass instruments and viola, and the accompaniment of violin, flute and oboe is dreamlike.Two musicians plucked the metal strings on the dulcimer, producing a unique sound, which is deeply touching and pure fairy music. The band's repertoire, far more sublime than anything I've heard in Paris, evoked a strong response.The guests were fascinated and immersed in the wonderful music.At the end of the performance, the audience gave warm applause.The most popular pieces played by the band are also welcome, among them the "Song of Rocca" and the "March of Transylvania".The superb playing skills of the band are enough to arouse the resonance of the whole Pusztau. The band show is over.Among the Magyars I felt great joy.During the short intervals between the band's performance, the sound of the Danube in the distance came to my ears! I dare not say that Mark was also attracted by the charm of this novel music.His whole soul is bathed in another softer and more intimate fairy music.They leaned on each other, their eyes were tender and lingering, and they silently sang the love song that made the lovers ecstatic. After the last burst of applause subsided, the conductor and musicians stood up.Dr. Rothlich and Captain Haralan thanked them sincerely; deeply moved, they took their leave. Between the two parts of the show, there is a period of what I call an "intermission," when the guests leave their seats, seek acquaintances, and form various circles.Some of the guests were scattered in the brightly lit garden, and servants weaved through the crowd with trays of refreshing drinks. Up to this moment, no unexpected events have occurred to disturb the progress of the evening program.The party is bound to end well.To be honest, if I was still worried at the beginning, and ominous clouds often passed over my heart, then at this time, I should also relax. My congratulations, therefore, to Madame Rotelich from the bottom of my heart. "Thank you, Monsieur Vidal," she replied, "I am very glad that the guests enjoyed a pleasant evening here. But among all the joyous people, I have only my lovely daughter and brother in my eyes!  … What a happy couple they are..." "Madame," I said, "you are the source of this happiness . . . and the greatest happiness a parent can hope for." Somehow, this very common phrase reminds me of that William Stolitz?Does Captain Haralan seem to be really not worried about the man making a mess, or is he just pretending to be calm? ……I have no idea.He socialized in the crowd, infecting the people around him with his cheerful and humorous conversation, and many Hungarian girls looked at him with admiration!He is also very proud of being loved by everyone. It can be said that people in the whole city want to take this opportunity to express their hearts to his family. "My dear Captain," I said to him as he passed me, "is the second show as good as the first?" "Of course!" he exclaimed. "The music is beautiful, but the ball is even more charming!" "Well," I added, "the French don't show weakness to the Magyars... I have the honor of asking your sister for the second waltz..." "Why don't you skip the first round?" "The first round?... That's Mark's patent... both traditionally and in terms of rights!...Don't forget Mark, you think I'll fight him?..." "You are right, my dear Vidal. Let the fiancée dance then." Another band is sitting in the flower hall, ready to accompany the dance.Several tables were set up in the doctor's studio so that those guests who strictly refrained from dancing mazurkas and waltzes could pass the time playing cards. The band waits for Captain Haralan's signal and prepares to audition.At this moment, from the other end of the flower hall—with its door facing the garden, which was half closed—a loud and rude voice came from a distance.Someone was singing a foreign song, the rhythm was weird and out of tune, and no melody could be discerned from it. The partners who were about to dance the first waltz stopped... Listening carefully... Is this a sideshow for the evening party? Captain Haralan walked up to me: "What's going on?" I asked him. "I don't know." He replied, his inner anxiety was evident in his tone. "Could it be from the street?" "No... I don't think so!" In fact, the singing we heard must have come from the garden, and it was getting closer to the flower hall... Maybe the singer was walking towards the flower hall? ... Captain Haralan grabbed my arm and pulled me to the living room door. There are only a dozen or so people in the flower hall, not including the band at the end of the flower hall and behind the music stand.The other guests were gathered in the drawing room, and those who had gone to the garden had just returned. Captain Haralan came up the steps... I followed him.We looked around the brightly lit garden. nobody. Mr. and Mrs. Rothlich also came, and the doctor asked his son: "How... did you find anyone?..." Captain Haralan made a negative gesture. That voice still echoed around, more powerful, more arrogant, and getting closer. Mark walked into the flower hall with Miss Mira on his arm and came to us.A group of women gathered around Mrs. Rotelich and asked what was going on, but the lady was speechless. "I know!" Captain Haralan cried, rushing down the steps. The doctor, me, and several servants followed. Suddenly, the sound disappeared, and the singing stopped abruptly. The singer was probably only a few steps away from the flower hall. The garden has been searched, the bushes have been searched; the garden has been illuminated by a strong light, leaving no shadow... still no one has been found. Could it be a belated passer-by on Daiquiri Street singing? Doesn't seem like much.The doctor also went to check the street, which was empty and silent. About 500 meters away on the left, there is only a looming light, from the window sill of the Stritz house. When we returned to the flower hall, we really couldn't answer the many questions from the guests. Captain Haralan signaled for the dance to begin, and the dance partners took their positions again. "Hey," Miss Mira said to me, laughing, "you haven't chosen a partner yet?" "My dance partner is you, miss, but I can only dance the second waltz with you..." "Oh, dear Henry," said Mark, "we won't keep you waiting!" The orchestra had just finished playing the prelude to a waltz by Strauss when the same song started again, this time from the living room. There was an uproar among the guests, and a strong outrage arose. The invisible man sang the German national anthem, Friedrich Mulgrad's "Song of Hate", which was a blatant provocation and a wanton insult to the patriotic feelings of the Magyars. The singing resounded throughout the hall... but the person singing could not be seen! ...but there is no doubt that he is in the hall, but no one can see him! ... The dancing partners all separated and poured into the living room and flower hall.A wave of panic gripped every visitor, especially the women. With fire eyes and fists clenched, the Captain ran across the living room as if to catch the guy who was avoiding our sight. At this moment, the singing stopped at the last refrain of "Song of Hate." At this moment, I saw... yes!Hundreds of pairs of eyes saw it, it was unbelievably simple... The bouquet on the table in the corner, the engagement bouquet, suddenly flew into the air, was torn to pieces, and the flower crumbs fell on the floor, and the petals were trampled... All the people who witnessed this scene were all shocked!Everyone wants to escape the venue where these weird phenomena occur! ... As for me, seeing this scene, I don't know if I'm clear-headed. Captain Haralan found me, his face turned pale with anger, and he said to me: "It's William Storitz!" William Storitz ? ……He's crazy? At this moment, too, the bridal wreath left the square mat, passed through the drawing room, the flower hall, and disappeared among the bushes in the garden, and no one saw the hand that held it.