Libor merely shrugged his shoulders and said nothing, as the question was not particularly addressed to himself. "Hem!" said Peter thoughtfully. "I should have liked to spend part of the winter in my own house in Pest, but it is in a bad state, very bad, and if the King is willing to repair and put it in order, he shall have it free for three years. It will be time enough to talk about rent after that." "May I take the answer to Mr. Wáncsa?" inquired Libor, who was still standing at the open door. "Yes, Governor, you may!" answered Peter, really at heart one of the best-natured men, who was always and almost instantly sorry when he had lost his temper and "pulled anyone's nose." "You may, Libor, and we will not let the sun go down upon our wrath, so you will remain here, if you please, sup well and sleep well. Talabor will see that you have all you want, and then you will travel on with the good Father and some of my men-at-arms." Then turning, and giving his hand to Roger, he added: "I am sorry, Father, that as things are you see I can't give you quarters in my house; but the King comes before all." As for Libor, he chose to consider that Peter had made him some sort of amends by his last speech; it pleased him much to play the part of an injured person who has accepted an apology, and he therefore at once resumed his polite manners, and bowing and smiling he replied with all due deference: "As far as I am concerned, sir, nothing can give me greater pleasure, and since you permit me to do so, I will remain." With another bow he left the room, not the house, which indeed he had never intended to leave, if he could help himself. CHAPTER III. MASTER STEPHEN'S PAGE. Libor, as already remarked, had never had the least intention of leaving Master Peter's house so soon after his arrival as he had threatened to do, if he could by any possibility avoid doing so. The fact was he had a little business of his own on hand, as anyone observant might have found out from his air of mystery, and the fact that, if he was on his way to Pest, he had had to come so far out of it, that Master Stephen would certainly have employed another messenger had Libor not particularly desired to come. Master Peter was not very observant, but even he wondered in himself once or twice what the fellow wanted, and came to the conclusion that his new dignity had turned his head. Dora wondered a little also, and felt that the young man had been impertinent, not only in his remarks, but in the way in which he had followed her about with his eyes throughout the interview. He was not a person of much consequence, however, and both father and daughter quickly dismissed him from their thoughts.