They Were Divided by Miklós Bánffy Read Free Book Online

anything. I was very scared for her, but there was nothing I could do. It was impossible to leave, and anyway I don’t think she wanted to move. At last the opera came to an end and we could go. We brought her home in our carriage and she never uttered a word. We came in with her, though she clearly didn’t want us to; in fact she did all she could to make us go away at once. Adam waited outside but I refused to leave her. She looked terrible, terrible. I’ve only seen her look like that twice before … but never so intensely, so determined. I was really afraid for her; her eyes were without expression, glassy … and her hands were shaking. I managed to stay with her until she had undressed, but then she suddenly pushed me out of the room and locked the door. That’s when I sent Adam to find you because there wasn’t, there isn’t, any more that I can do. I don’t know what she’s up to in there. Once or twice I heard her groping about and then it seemed as if some small objects fell onto the floor. Since then I’ve heard nothing … for quite a long time. I’ve knocked repeatedly, but she doesn’t answer though I know she’s awake … she’s certainly awake. Only you can help now!’ She stopped, and then, after a pause, went on:
    ‘If it isn’t too late: I know she’s got some veronal.’
    Balint got up and stepped towards Adrienne’s bedroom. Then with tightly clenched fist he knocked twice on her door and in a loud voice said, ‘It’s me, AB. Please let me in!’
    They waited. It was only about twenty seconds, but to those in the bathroom it seemed like an eternity. They heard nothing, no words, no footsteps, nothing. Then the key turned twice in the lock. Abady at once grasped the handle: the door opened before him. He stepped quickly into the room and closed the door behind him. Inside the room was in complete darkness, but Balint knew it too well to need any light. He knew everything in it, even the warm scent which might have been that of carnations or other flower-petals but which came from no manufacturer’s bottle and was like no perfume from a shop but which rather was theslightest, yet intoxicating aroma, as of a subtle secret poison … it was the intimate scent of his love. Only two steps and he was at the side of her bed. He sat down quietly.
    ‘Is it really you?’ asked a muffled voice from deep among the pillows.
    ‘Yes.’
    His hands sought her shoulder and started to caress the hair that curled loosely about her. Then he spoke again, thickly as if he could hardly get the words out:
    ‘This has no sense, no sense at all.’
    For a few moments there was no reply. Then she clutched at him with both arms holding him in an embrace so tight she might have been a drowning swimmer clinging to her saviour. Their lips met in a long, hungry kiss.
    Between them the stiffly starched shirt of his evening dress crackled softly.

    Balint wanted to switch on the light but Adrienne was still too upset to let him do so.
    ‘Margit is waiting outside. I must tell her you’re all right,’ said Balint. ‘Besides, I must see my hair isn’t ruffled … and put my tie straight … I’ll need the light to do that.’
    ‘No, no! Not yet! You don’t need the light just for that … and anyway it doesn’t matter!’
    ‘But Margit may want to come in. It’ll be better with the light on.’
    ‘No, she mustn’t come! Not now! Tell her she can go home and come back later … but I’m not having any light, not now!’
    There was nothing he could do to persuade her, so he smoothed his hair with his hands and did what he could to straighten his collar and tie. Then he went back into the bathroom.
    Margit was lying at full length on the narrow bench beside the wall. She was fast asleep, with her head cushioned on her soft arm, like a faithful guardian at rest as soon as danger was past. She seemed to be sleeping so deeply that Balint felt it was cruel to wake her.
    ‘Is it all right …?’ she muttered