Instead of torturing each other
with our unpronounceable names, let us at once adopt the familiar
'thou,' and call each other by our Christian names."
"Yes; but when I enter into a 'brotherhood' of that sort, I always kiss
the person with whom I form a compact."
"Well, that can also be done in this instance!" promptly responded the
baroness, proffering, without affectation of maidenly coyness, the
ceremonial kiss, and cordially shaking hands with the vice-palatine.
Then she said:
"We are now Bernat _bacsi_, and Katinka; and as that is happily
arranged, I will ask the gentlemen to go into the agent's office and
conclude our official business. Meanwhile, I shall make my toilet for
dinner, where we will all meet again."
"What a perfectly charming woman!" exclaimed the justice, when their
hostess had vanished from the room.
"I wonder what would happen," observed the doctor, with a malicious
grin, "if the vice-palatine's wife should hear of that kiss? Would n't
there be a row, though!"
The heroic descendant of the Scythians at these words became seriously
alarmed.
"The Herr Doctor, I trust, will be honorable enough not to gossip about
it," he said meekly.
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