The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-05 00:00:00

The end of Madamel;;jiay's career is a very
curious one. She feigned illness, and must go to
the shores of the Lake Balatom for health. She
writes to her lovers to meet her there. These
letters, addressed from Vienna to persons in Hun-
gary, are opened on suspicion by Herr Straff, an
employd in the Cabinet Noir, who plays many
parts in the novel. This scoundrel pita the letter
intended fur One lover into the envelope of another
with the result that may be expected. Anker-
selimidt, over alioni one of her lines was cast, and
who received the letter intended for Adalar, re-
plies, " Respected lady,—The next time that you
write to two persons at once, take care not to make
a mistake in putting them into the envelopes.
Ankerschniidt." She learns by the same post that
Adalar and the daughter of Ankerschwidt are
married.
This was the last blow fur her heart of stone. Slit
thought no more about romantic suicide. It oocurred to
her that there was still one man in the world who would
be glad to have the opportunity afforded him of renewing
Lis former addresses—a man, faithful as s dog, clever as •
fox ; no sentimentalist, but of practical ability, who very
well uutlentood the businces of lending money on usury,
of selling up defaulting debtors, of making inquiries as to
how mt.ch this or that man would be able to pay. He was,
moreover a handsome man, on whose arm she might be
proud to be seen leaning in the street. In one word, the
very husband she wanted, and one who would be at her
feet at the leapt sign from Ler. This last of men was—
Hear Straff. Let us congratuLita her. At four o'clock in
the morning, while everybody was still asleep in the de-
ligotful watering-place, the stags-coach galloped through
the linden-trees, the bells of its five horses sounding
gaily in the fresh air. Within sat a pale lady, who the
evening before had arrived as an invalid, and this morning
already—returui d perfectly cured. There are such lucky
unfortunate ones, whose hearts are not accustomed to feel
pain long.
We have omitted to notice the imperfections of
the work. In the construction of some of the inci-
dents and situations there are improbabilities so
gross as to be unpardonable, because a very slight
degree of care would have avoided them. Indeed
there is evidence throughout that the " Rev/Land-
lord" is a portfolio of sketches rather than a cabi-
net of portraits, but the sketches are excellent, full
of character. distinctness, and individuality. The
acid which Mr. Jokai uses to give clear lines and
outline to his figures is of sharp quality, and his
power of description, as may be seen from his
account of the inundation of the Theiss, is of a
high order. He is satirical and humorous. In a
conversation between Madam Pajtay and Grisac,
the former says : " Adalar was caught and unable
to clear himself as a sensible man would have done ;
' nay, even took the blame of others' faults on his
shoulders, from which you may see what a good-
I for-nothing fellow he was." " Yet," replies Grisac,
"he had studied the law." " A man who dirties
his clothes," says Jokai, " is a low sort of fellow ;
if he only dirties his character ho can
' still be a cavalier' and a gentleman.'
Dr. Grisac is made to act towards Madame Pajtay
• on the principle of the thief's lawyer :—" My
friend, tell me all the truth, and I'll add all the
lies myself" The doctor was one of madame's
many suitors. When he found out her real cha-
racter, however, he turned all his love-talk into a
bill of costa, and asked an Hungarian six and
eightpcnce for each tete-h-tcte. Like the other
characters in the book, Dr. Grisac is very cleverly
drawn ; but we must refer the reader to the chapter
called the "Screw of Archimedes" for his por-
trait, and that of the more unblushing villian—
Straff. As we have said, the German and the
Hungarian become the best of friends and Garen-
volgyi is returned as deputy to the Hungarian
Diet.

WEATHER RIMMEM -(?HS DAY.)

TIMSDAY, MAT 5, $ LL