And I began to tell the above story for at least the hundredth time. Pocovnicu maintained, among other things, that the lady put a charm into the lining of my cap, and that the kid and the cat were one and the same. "May be," I said. "She was the devil, listen to me." "She may have been," I replied, "but if that is so, then the devil, it seems, leads to the good." "At first it seems to be good, to catch one, but later one sees where it leads one." "How do you know all this?" "That's not your business," replied the old man, "that's another story!" ALEXANDRU LAPUSHNEANU 1564-1569 By C. NEGRUZZI Jacob Eraclid, surnamed the "Despot," perished by the hand of Shtefan Tomsha, who then proceeded to govern the land, but Alexandru Lapushneanu, after two successive defeats at the hands of the tyrant's forces, fled to Constantinople, succeeded in securing aid from the Turkish army, and returned to drive out the rapacious Tomsha, and seize for himself the throne which he never would have lost had the boyars not betrayed him. He entered Moldavia accompanied by seven thousand spahees and three thousand mixed troops. He also brought with him imperial orders for Han Tatar Nogai to collect some troops with which to come to his aid. Lapushneanu rode with Vornic Bogdan by his side, both were mounted upon Turkish stallions, and were armed from head to foot. "What think you, Bogdan," he said after a short pause, "shall we succeed?" "How can your Highness doubt it," replied the courtier, "the country groans under the harshness of Tomsha. The whole army will surrender when you promise them higher pay. Those boyars who are still left alive are only held back by fear of death, but when they see that your Highness comes with force they will at once flock to you, and desert the other." "Please God we shall not be obliged to do what Voda Mircea did in Muntenia; but as I have told you, I know our boyars, for I have lived among them." "This matter must be left to your Highness's sagacity." Thus speaking they drew near to Tecuci where they halted by a wood. "Sire," said a messenger approaching, "some boyars have arrived, and crave an audience of your Highness." "Let them come," replied Alexandru. Four boyars soon entered the tent, where he was sitting surrounded by his boyars and officers; two of them were elderly men but the other two were young. They were Vornic Motzoc, Postelnic Veveritza, Spancioc, the noble, and Stroici. They approached Voda Alexandru, and bowed to the ground, but without kissing the hem of his garment as was the custom. "Welcome, boyars!" said Alexandru, forcing himself to smile. "Good health to your Highness," replied the boyars. "I have heard," pursued Alexandru, "of the affliction of the land, and I have come to deliver it; I know the country awaits me with joy."