“Yet it ended with the downfall of Pogány. The adherents of Számuelly informed the Soldiers’ Council that he intended to abolish the system of ‘confidential men’ which had been so successful in poisoning the mind of the remnant of our army. Now the Social-Communists require a well-disciplined, serviceable army. “Marxism only sticks to its principles, ends and catch-words as long as they serve as weapons to attack society. The ‘confidential men’ would not stand the plan. It happened yesterday. In the afternoon they drew up the International Red Regiment, which is ready for any mischief. Accompanied by an infuriated mob of dissatisfied workmen and hungry good-for-nothings they went up to the Royal Castle. They invaded St. George’s Square, clamouring for Pogány. The ‘confidential men’ of the regiment broke into the Commissariat of War. From the balconies they urged their men on. The system of ‘confidential men’ to which Pogány owed his shameful power, by means of which he had removed Ministers of War and terrorised the whole nation into submission, now became the instrument of his own downfall.” The dogs barked somewhere in the grounds. This alone broke the silence. Then Charles Kiss went on: “In a few minutes the news spread over the town. Many heard the howling of the demonstrators who were cursing Pogány. People were already saying that he had been hanged and that Béla Kun had been hanged at his side. Later on it turned out that the news was false. All that had happened was that the Cabinet had increased the number of its members and had made certain changes. There are now more Jewish People’s Commissaries than ever. Pogány and Számuelly have become Commissaries for Education. Béla Kun controls the War Office. Then people found a new ray of hope. We put all our confidence in General Smuts.” “So the news was true after all?” “We expected a lot of him,” Kiss went on. “Budapest was confident that a British general, one of the Delegates of the Paris Peace Conference, would not come to an agreement with Béla Kun and his company. The town was full of hope. Everybody had some good news. Számuelly’s declaration was attributed to the general’s coming.” “What sort of declaration?” He took a newspaper out of his pocket and spread it over the table. There it was, in huge type, in a conspicuous place. It was characteristic of the world we lived in that it was considered within the province of the Minister of Education to make such a declaration. “For several days unscrupulous elements have been spreading the news that I intend giving permission for general plundering. This is a base calumny and a disgraceful lie. I appeal to the Comrades to give me an opportunity to face the scoundrels who spread this news and to make an example of them. I ask them to help me to put those who spread this news before a Revolutionary Tribunal and have summary justice meted out to them. Tibor Számuelly, Assistant People’s Commissary for Education.”