“There is much ado among the comrades. On the 16th the Roumanians attacked between the Szamos and the Maros. The Red International Regiment fled at the first shot. How the Russian and Viennese Jews ran! They stormed the trains in their panic, and left the poor Széklers to their fate, even before the Roumanians had developed their attack.” We looked at each other: we had never imagined it like this. Even when our sufferings seemed most unbearable we would have wished it otherwise. Where are the British and the French troops? “The members of the local Directorate suppress the facts,” said Huszár, after a long silence. “At any rate it looks suspicious that they should again talk so much about the World-Revolution. The World-Revolution is always to the front when their own affairs are on the decline. Their newspapers are full of it; Italy and France are seething. Soviet rule has become more powerful in Munich. The proclamation of the Soviet in Vienna is only a question of hours.” How much of this is true? How much lies? Aladár Huszár began to roll cigarettes. He offered me one: they always offer, always give, and I am for ever asking and thanking. A match? I should have liked to ask for one, but could not say the word, so I just held the cigarette in my hand. Mrs. Huszár nodded to her husband: “Give her a light....” He jumped up and went to the writing table and brought back a small cigarette lighter in his palm. “Here is a little Easter present for you.” His wife let her sewing fall into her lap and looked at me. “Well done,” she said, “I hate seeing you obliged to ask for every trifle, when you yourself have given up everything.” At that moment I saw behind the lovely cold face the warm heart it endeavoured to hide. Huszár took his hat. “I will go to the railway station for a newspaper.” He seemed restless. “What has happened?” asked his wife. He hesitated for a moment. “The Directorate has received a secret order by telephone. The Cabinet has decided that hostages are to be taken.” A cloud seemed to pass over the brightness outside, and I felt suddenly cold. This news was the most terrible we had yet heard. Hostages! The foreign race is going to guarantee its life with Hungarian lives! A very little time seemed to have passed before the door flew open and Aladár Huszár stood there, his eyes shining and his face drawn with excitement. “They are done for!” He was so excited that he laughed spasmodically, while his eyes were full of tears of emotion. “Look here!” He waved the newspaper in front of us: “The Revolution is in danger!” In turn we snatched the newspaper out of each other’s hands. The General Staff of the Workers’ and Soldiers’ Council had met on the 19th at the Opera House. It was Kunfi who addressed the crowd: “The Entente is forging a ring of iron round Soviet Hungary.” We looked at each other. So they will not let us perish after all! Human mercy comes to the rescue at last!