"We must revolt the county-town also. If we succeed we shall have the General as a hostage, if we do not, at least we shall give the soldiers something to do." Thomas Bodza, with his teeth all chattering, approved of this project. He would, however, have very much liked to know who would undertake this dangerous enterprise. Never had Maria had to exercise such self-control as now, when, gazing through the window into the night, she watched with the utmost _sang froid_ the distant conflagration which was lighting up the room. For an instant the thought of what was happening there and what might be happening elsewhere flashed through her brain. She saw vividly before her all those midnight horrors, and all the time she had to affect an enthusiastic interest in the affair. "Numa Pompilius, we must make haste! Have you a good steed handy here? Mine I have left behind on the road, it was no longer of any service to me." "Be it so, Fabius! It was my first care to seize all the post-horses in order that the authorities should not send forth couriers for assistance. You see that I am provident. Choose the best horse for yourself and hasten whither you would. I entrust this province to you." Bodza was magnanimous. The department of greatest danger and the glory of conquest he entrusted to another. "I will hasten," cried Maria, flinging open the door--and for some moments she remained standing on the threshold. "Numa!" she cried at last, "you would let me depart alone?" "Why not?" "You are making a mistake. The popular leaders might be suspicious. Suppose they took me for a spy or a traitor? Never put your whole confidence in a single person. Always send forth your emissaries in couples, that one of them may be a check upon the other. That is a general rule. I am surprised that you have not learnt it hitherto." Thomas Bodza admitted his mistake, but of course Fabius had had so much more experience in these matters. An escort he must have certainly. Maria, on the other hand, required an escort in order to avoid being again detained by the mobs of rustics encamped in front of the _csárda_. "Bring hither two good horses!" cried Bodza to the boor mounting guard in the corridor, and with that the pair of them stepped forth amidst the peasant host. The peasants were scattered about in groups. Here and there some of them were engaged in sharpening their scythes. Others were standing round excited stump-orators, or making a frightful uproar over a few pence which they had found upon some poor Jewish tramp and would not divide fairly. "My friends!" cried Maria, stepping into the midst of them, and speaking in a friendly confident tone, "can I find among you half a dozen stouthearted dare-devils who are ready, if necessary, to go through fire and water?"