They Were Found Wanting (5 page)

‘Well, what is it? Is it about the forests or about your constituency?’

‘Neither, Mama. I want to ask him about something quite
different
. I’m not even sure it really concerns us at all.’

‘And I would like to know why
you
have sent for one of
my
employees. After all, I think I have a right to know,’ interrupted Countess Roza coldly, and turned on the sofa so that she was facing her son. Clearly she was expecting a full account, and so Balint found himself forced, contrary to his instinct and intention, to tell her what he had heard about the lease of Gyeroffy’s property.

As he was telling the story to his mother he glanced at the two housekeepers, thinking that it was really rather a mistake to
discuss
such matters in front of them. Tothy and Baczo, however, sat tightly in their seats, stiff and upright as two large wooden idols, knitting away furiously with downcast eyes. It looked for all the world as if their attention was totally concentrated on their work as they changed needles with dizzying speed.

‘That would certainly be a vile thing indeed, if it’s true! But how did you come to hear about it?’ asked Roza Abady when her son had completed his story.

‘I’m sorry, but that I can’t tell you.’

‘From that good-for-nothing Laszlo, I presume?’

‘No. Not from him.’

‘From whom then? Some anonymous mischief-maker?’

‘You must forgive me, Mama, but I cannot betray a confidence.’

‘So it’s a confidence, is it? And you can’t even tell me! All right, but I must tell you that your dear father taught me never to listen to informers. I never have, and I never shall!’

The old lady did not speak for some moments. Then she lifted her head with the gesture of an autocrat, and gave her orders: ‘When you have finished speaking with Azbej, send him to me.’

So the matter was closed for that day.

Balint spent the rest of the afternoon visiting Staniszlo Gyeroffy, Laszlo’s former guardian, to find out details of the Kozard property.

The next day towards noon the round little lawyer bowed his way into Balint’s study.

‘At your Lordship’s most humble service, and begging your Lordship’s pardon for not coming here at once, but the telegram was only put in my hands late last night on my return from the county court in Torda where I was attending a matter of great importance for the most Gracious Countess. I am indeed ashamed for the delay.’

The words poured out from his little red-lipped smiling mouth, which looked surprisingly soft and melting in the middle of his bristly hedgehog face. His large plum-shaped eyes looked balefully at Abady who was sitting behind his desk.

‘Sit down!’ ordered Balint curtly.

Azbej went to fetch a small chair from beside the wall, even though there was an armchair nearer at hand. Moreover he only sat on the edge of it, though it was not clear if he did this out of respect or because he was forced to by the shortness of his legs. He placed his two hairy hands on his knees like an attentive pupil summoned to his teacher.

‘A year ago you took a ten-year lease of the Szamos-Kozard property from Count Laszlo Gyeroffy?’

‘Indeed that is so, your Lordship. Or, to be strictly accurate, it was not I but my wife. I used her dowry to pay ten years’ rent in advance. I myself, if your Lordship pleases, would not have possessed such a large sum. Where would I have found it? His Lordship Count Gyeroffy needed a substantial sum in a hurry and I could think of no other way to solve the problem and to be of service to the Noble Count’s family. It was a pleasure to be in a position to do it.’

‘I can readily believe that! You made a fat profit on the deal! For those 90,000 crowns you obtained not only 1,800 acres of prime farm land and 300 acres of grazing but also the entire stock and farm equipment on top of it all, did you not?’

What could be seen of Azbej’s cheeks between the tufts of black beard reddened visibly. He was not prepared for Balint’s being so well-informed.

‘That all had to be bought in if we were to give the Noble Count what he wanted … and, if your Lordship pleases, as I was managing my wife’s little property, you see, this … and in any case, the stock and farm equipment were hardly worth
mentioning
, with respect to your Lordship …’ And he started to explain that most of the bullocks were old, that there were very few cows or young calves in the herd, hardly a pig, that the flocks of sheep were all mixed breeds. He spat out figures and sale prices with ever-increasing speed and then added: ‘… and most of those were so poor they had to be sold or replaced. That too was a
terrible
expense!’ Then he added and subtracted more figures in a confused rush, his technique being to dazzle by a display of
acrobatic
mathematics. And all the while he was closely watching Abady’s face to see if there were any signs of his relenting.

Balint’s expression remained hard. He let Azbej speak on until at last the little lawyer himself became muddled by the rush of his own eloquence and brought his monologue to an end,
wiping
his forehead which by now was dripping with perspiration.

A short silence followed. At last Abady spoke. ‘You will please provide me with all the figures. I wish to have an exact account of the whole transaction … in detail. I warn you that I will check every single fact. As it is I must tell you that I have no doubt, no doubt at all, that my cousin Gyeroffy made a very poor deal and that you made a very good one. And I find it intolerable that you should speculate in this way, especially with a member of our family. However, we’ll see when you produce the figures. One thing more: what you have said about the farm equipment is not true. During Count Gyeroffy’s minority, which ended only a year and a half ago, Kozard was a model farm and the equipment alone was worth more than you paid for the whole deal. I have proof of that.’

The fat little lawyer jumped up, gabbling, ‘I beg of his Gracious Lordship please to believe that I only wished to be of service. I really … and recently I haven’t had a minute to look into the lease since every moment of my time is spent in his Noble Lordship’s service, indeed all my life … But I’ll look into
everything
at once. It was all done so hurriedly that the figures were only approximate… just to help out the Noble Count. I’m not sure of the exact figures, all I’ve said is from memory, but I’ll check it all at once … and I’ll be glad to hand it all over to
whosoever
your Lordship desires. Indeed I wouldn’t mind giving up the lease altogether if my wife can have her money returned. Oh, I’d give it up willingly!’

It was obvious to Balint that the lawyer had had a good scare.

‘Very well. In a week’s time you will provide me with full details, a clear picture of the whole matter. Now go to my mother. She too wishes to see you. Good day!’

‘I beg his Lordship to accept my humble farewell!’ The hirsute little man made a deep bow, bending almost to the ground, and backed to the doorway. As he bowed again before going out a
little
hopeful glimmer might have been seen in his half-closed eyes. ‘I go at once to wait upon the gracious Countess!’

And he disappeared.

‘That deal with Azbej was not at all as you related it,’ said Countess Roza severely to her son after lunch. ‘He didn’t only pay the sum you were told about, but far more and at several
different
times. And he only did it to help that unfortunate Laci. He even borrowed from his brother-in-law as he didn’t have enough himself.’

‘His brother-in-law? That’s the first I’ve heard of it!’

‘Yes, his brother-in-law provided the money. Azbej said so.’

‘My dear Mama, are you going to believe what that man says? He tried to tell me lies too, but I don’t believe a word of it!’

‘And why not, may I ask? Why not?’ said Countess Roza angrily. ‘I’ve dealt with the man for years and I’ve never caught him in a lie. Though I did put him to the test once or twice!’ Then she turned to the two housekeepers, who were sitting
opposite
her, busily knitting as usual. ‘You two know all the facts. Didn’t we check up on Azbej’s deals, several times? Well? Speak up! Isn’t it so?’

‘Indeed we did, your Ladyship!’ said Tothy.

‘Yes, indeed!’ said Baczo. And they continued their knitting in silence.

Balint shrugged his shoulders, but before he had had time to open his mouth to reply his mother turned angrily towards him. ‘And I will thank you not to shrug your shoulders at me, young man. You have accused one of my employees on mere tittle-tattle; and you don’t even dare to say where it came from.’

‘It’s not that I don’t dare, it’s merely that I cannot break a confidence.’

‘That’s quite enough reason for me not to take any of this
seriously
. As I told you before, I never have and I never will, as your dear father taught me! I wish only to say this: I am deeply hurt that you give more weight to the word of some secret informer than to that of your mother. I would never have expected it of you, never!’

Countess Abady fell silent. Then she stretched out to the Chinese lacquer bowl in which she kept her needlework, her white, chubby little hands scrabbling around in agitation. Balint got up.

‘But, dear Mama, there’s no question of that! I don’t mean that I don’t believe
you
…!’

He tried to take her hand to kiss it, but she drew it away. ‘I don’t want to hear any more about it! Now go away; this whole affair has upset me deeply. We will not speak of it again!’

For several days relations between Balint and his mother were icy. Several times the young man tried to broach the subject, but his mother always refused to listen. Therefore, although he
continued
to take his meals at home it was only out of a sense of duty, and he went out as soon as he was able to get away. He found it unbearable to look at his mother’s withdrawn expression, and even more unbearable to have to suffer the continual presence of the two fat housekeepers who, even though they spoke only when spoken to, sat constantly with Countess Abady like two female prison warders. So every day, when released from the
bondage
of mealtimes, he would wander round to the Casino Club and play Tarok for pennies with old gentlemen out of sheer
boredom
. Every day the town grew emptier.

It was on one of these days that the news arrived that Countess Miloth had died in Vienna; it was the only social news that
interested
Balint. On the other hand the political news did arouse his interest. Apponyi had presented his proposals for a new
compulsory
education law. Several minority members did all they could to obstruct the measure and it seemed that the debates were degenerating into mere inconclusive bickering. It was while
reading
these accounts in the newspapers that Balint, on the spur of the moment, decided to go back to Budapest. I can’t stay here any more, he said to himself. It’ll be better for everyone if I go away!

As it happened, when he announced that he would be leaving in a couple of days, relations with his mother improved at once. Countess Abady enquired tenderly when he would be back and then, as though to underline that peace had been re-established between them – though without any sign of her yielding – she started to talk about Balint’s management of the forest properties.

‘I really am very pleased with all the reforms you’ve put in hand in the mountains,’ she said. ‘You’ve obviously got a
thorough
grasp of it all now. I’d like you to start managing our
lowland
forests too. You know, the oak and beech woods near Hunyad. You can take full charge. No need to consult me except when there’s something really important to decide.’

Balint took her hand and kissed it.

Countess Abady went on, ‘Old Nyiresy is really no use any more as forest superintendent.’ She paused. ‘You see I do know who is useful and worthy of our trust. I’ll let the other know …’ thus avoiding mentioning Azbej by name, ‘… that you are the master there. But do tell me when you’ll be coming back?’