"Now just let any one send again for me this night!" he exclaimed, when his housekeeper came to remove the remnants of cheese from the supper-table. "I would n't go--not if the primate himself got a fish-bone fast in his throat; no, not for a hundred ducats. I swear it!" At that moment there came a knock at the street door, and a very peremptory one, too. "There! did n't I know some one would take it into his head to let the devil fetch him to-night? Go to the door, Zsuzsa, and tell them that I have a pain in my foot--that I have just applied a poultice, and can't walk." Frau Zsuzsa, with the kitchen lamp in her hand, waddled into the corridor. After inquiring the second time through the door, "Who is it?" and the one outside had answered: "It is I," she became convinced, from the musical feminine tone, that it was not the notorious robber, Satan Laczi, who was seeking admittance. Then she opened the door a few inches, and said: "The Herr Doctor can't go out any more to-night; he has gone to bed, and is poulticing his foot." The door was open wide enough to admit a delicate feminine hand, which pressed into the housekeeper's palm a little heap of money. By the light of the lamp Frau Zsuzsa recognized the shining silver coins, and the door was opened its full width. When she saw before her the veiled lady she became quite complaisant. Curiosity is a powerful lever. "I humbly beg your ladyship to enter." "Please tell the doctor the lady from the Nameless Castle wishes to see him." Frau Zsuzsa placed the lamp on the kitchen table, and left the visitors standing in the middle of the floor. "Well, what were you talking about so long out yonder?" demanded the doctor, when she burst into his study. "Make haste and put on your coat again; the veiled lady from the Nameless Castle is here." "What? Well, that is an event!" exclaimed the doctor, hurriedly thrusting his arms into the sleeves of his coat. "Is the count with her?" "No; the groom accompanied her." These magic words, "the veiled lady," had more influence on the doctor than any imaginable number of ducats. At last he was to behold the mythological appearance--yes, and even hear her voice! "Show her ladyship into the guest-chamber, and take a lamp in there," he ordered, following quickly, after he had adjusted his cravat in front of the looking-glass. Then she stood before him--the mysterious woman. Her face was veiled as usual. Behind her stood the groom, with whose appearance every child in the village was familiar. "Herr Doctor," stammered the young girl, so faintly that it was difficult to tell whether it was the voice of a child, a young or an old woman, "I beg that you will come with me at once to the castle; the gentleman is very seriously ill." "Certainly; I am delighted!--that is, I am not delighted to hear of the worshipful gentleman's illness, but glad that I am fortunate enough to be of service to him. I shall be ready in a few moments." "Oh, pray make haste."