But since this history is, in the main, a true narrative, we do not think it should be supposed that such was the case. Mathias Ráby being a diplomatist as well as a philosopher, did not seek in the lady of his dreams a Venus Anadyomene, but rather a fully equipped Minerva, and he thought that he had before him a high-minded woman, whose insight penetrated the evil intentions of his enemies, and whose hands should serve to set him free from the snares their wickedness had woven around him. To save such a woman from a degrading position was in itself surely a knightly and a noble deed. And what a splendid help would it not be to him, in the struggle that lay before him, to choose such a companion, who could circumvent the designs of his enemies, and be to him a guardian angel as well as a helpmate. So it came about that one day Mathias Ráby sought out his uncle, Mr. Leányfalvy, with this request. "I have come, my dear uncle, to remind you of your promise. I need a 'best man.'" "A 'best man'? All right, my boy, I'm ready; let's have the horses put to." "It won't be necessary; it is only at the other end of the city. It is to the prefecture I want to go." "It's the Fruzsinka, then," exclaimed the old gentleman, and he began to scratch his head in deep perplexity. Finally, he blurted out, "Listen to me, my boy, take my advice and choose anyone else." "Uncle, I forbid you to speak thus! She is my betrothed." "I will not say anything against the woman of your choice. I will only say this: your father and mother were worthy God-fearing folk. If there had been twenty commandments to keep instead of ten, they would have observed them all scrupulously. And they loved each other so dearly, that when your father died, your mother followed him the very next day. And so it can be said to your own credit, that you are neither a murderer nor a robber. Therefore, I want to know how it is that, since neither you nor your parents have ever committed mortal sin, such a punishment should be destined for you, as marrying Fräulein Fruzsinka?" "Uncle, I forbid you----" "If you only knew the woman she is!" "I know quite well, she herself has told me all." "All, has she, what sort of an 'all' is it?" Mathias Ráby shrugged his shoulders as one who does not understand grammatical subtleties. "Oh, with women, the world is an everyday matter." "But these are not everyday matters." "Well, I will hear no evil of her." "May Heaven forgive me if I make a mistake! But what does it concern me after all? Yet I found for you a nice, well-brought up girl to whom the other one cannot hold a candle! What are the black gipsy eyes of the one compared to the innocent blue ones of the other? But if such a wife pleases you, there is nothing more to be said. Only you will have a wife and no mistake, I'll warrant you!" "Now, dear uncle, I beg of you to come and accompany me in my wooing." Mr. Leányfalvy began to see that he must play a part in this pantomime after all.