"Quite true, sir, it is a summons to the Diet," said Libor. "His Majesty, or his Excellency the Palatine, I am not certain which of the two, was under the impression that you were still with us, and so sent both summonses to Master Stephen." "With _you_!" laughed Master Peter. "All right, _kinsman_, we shall obey his Majesty's commands, and I hope it may not all prove to be much ado about nothing." With kindly consideration for his host's imperfect Latin, Father Roger proceeded to translate the summons into Hungarian. The King never made many words about things, and his order was plain and direct. The Diet was to be held on such a date, at such a place, and it was Master Peter's bounden duty to be present; that was all! "Ah, didn't I tell you so, Father?" said he gravely; "we shall be lighting our fires before the cold sets in, and pitching our tents before there is any camp! People are mad! and they are hurrying on that good King of ours too fast. Well, _kinsman_," he went on sarcastically, "tell us all you know, and if there is any more bad news let us have it at once." "Bad news? it depends upon how you take it, sir; many call it good, and more call it bad," returned Libor, a trifle abashed by Master Peter's mode of address. "And pray what is it that is neither good nor bad? I don't like riddles, let me tell you, and if you can't speak plainly you had better not speak at all!" "Sir," said Libor, "I am only telling you what other people say----" and then, as Master Peter made a gesture of impatience, he went on, "Kuthen, King of the Kunok, has sent an embassy to his Majesty asking for a settlement for his people----" "Ah! that's something," interrupted Peter, "and I hope his Majesty sent them to the right-about at once?" "His Majesty received the ambassadors with particular favour, and in view of the danger which threatens us, declared himself ready to welcome such an heroic people." "Danger! don't let me hear that word again, clerk!" "It is not my word," protested Libor, with an appealing glance at Dora, intended to call attention to Master Peter's injustice. "It's a bad word, whosesoever it is," insisted Peter. "Well, what more? are we to be saddled with this horde of pagans then?" "Pagans no longer! at least they won't be when they come to settle. They are all going to be baptized, the King and his family and all his people. The ambassadors promised and were baptized themselves before they went back." "What!" cried Father Roger, his face lighting up, "forty thousand families converted to the faith! Why, it is divine, and the King is almost an Apostle!" The good Father quite forgot all further fear of danger from the Kunok, and from this moment took their part. He could see nothing but good in this large accession of numbers to the Church.