Libor's eyes sparkled. This was even more than he had looked for. But Paul was growing rather impatient; this long interview with a person so far beneath him was distasteful to him, and he cut short the page's servile protestations of devotion and gratitude. What was to be done? that was the question. "First make sure of Mistress Jolánta herself, before anything was said to her father," suggested Libor, "and then finish his visit and take his leave without proposing for either. Visits were not always bound to end with a proposal, and Master Peter could not possibly be hurt therefore. As for Mr. Stephen, when the time should come to ask his consent, he would certainly not refuse such a son-in-law as the son of the Palatine. Mr. Héderváry's parents"--Libor hesitated a little--"they could not blame him if--suppose--disappointed they might be, but they could not blame him--if he were able to say that Dora had another suitor, and one whom she preferred to himself, though Master Peter was not aware of the fact." "H-m!" said Paul, "that would settle it, of course; but--there is none." "No, there is not," said the clerk thoughtfully, with one of his deferential laughs, "but--we might find or invent someone." "Find someone! Who is there?" "Well, let us see--if--if we can invent no one else, there is myself!" "You!" cried Paul, with evident and intense disgust, "you! But how? in what way?" and he broke into a laugh. "That is my affair, sir; and if you have confidence in me----" "Hush! I hear footsteps. Not another word now, I will contrive to see you again privately before I go from here. Just one thing more. I wonder whether you would undertake to do me a small service without telling the Mr. Szirmays, and without leaving this house." "What am I to understand, sir?" asked the page, with marked attention. And Paul explained that if he succeeded in arranging matters with Mistress Jolánta, he should want someone on whom he could depend, to keep him informed of all that went on in the house, in case, for instance, Master Stephen should be thinking of another match for his daughter, and--in fact, there might be many things which he ought to know; and then if he came again himself during the winter, he should want someone to see that he had comfortable quarters prepared for him on the road, and so on. Libor was only too delighted to serve such a magnificent gentleman, a gentleman who was so open-handed and so condescending moreover, and the bargain was struck. Paul handed the page a well filled purse, telling him to keep a fourth part of the contents for himself, and to use the remainder to cover any expenses to which he might be put in sending messengers, etc. "And look you here, Libor, from to-day you are in my service, remember--one of my honourable pages; and if ever you should wish to try your fortune elsewhere, there will be a place ready for you in my establishment."