Well, these are two new chappies here! I'm not telling anything about them, read and (hopefully) enjoy!

„I forgot to ask earlier, how did Midnight get here?" turned Elizabeth to Agnes

„ I got a letter from the master along with him. He went on with his journeys, and found Midnight. He wrote it is a gift for my birthday, and thanked for helping him out during the past years. He knows what a close friend Midnight is to me. It was nice of him"

„ I wish I got a horse for my birthday once. And the ball? Are you having fun so far?" asked Elizabeth

„ This love lace named Richard is just simply unbearable! I'm tied to my manners, that is the only reason I didn't...ah, forget it, I will not upset myself with this! I only want to dance with somebody finally!"

„ Then may I have the pleasure of being the first to dance with you?" sounded a nice voice from behind Agnes' back. She turned around and looked surprised at Ferenc Sáradi, and then she started smiling.

„Of course!" she said, and held her hand out to Ferenc. Elizabeth bursted out in surprise.

„But Ferenc! What about me? You always have me to dance with you first!"

„ Well, maybe we can make an exception this time I think!" answered Ferenc with a smile.

„You're not jealous, are you?" asked Agnes in a jovial tone, smiling oh her sister's embarrassment, while letting Ferenc lead her to the dance floor. The orchestra started playing a cheerful and melodious music just as Agnes and Ferenc disappeared among the other couples. Ferenc was the first to speak as they started dancing to the tinkling music.

„ I'm glad to have you as a guest in my summer mansion Miss Agnes!"

„ And I'm glad to be here. I would like to apologise for the afternoon events at the forecourt. I really have nothing to do with what servants you have in your household. But that man really upset me."

„ There's no need for you to apologise, I knew about the stableman's bad nature, and I promised him to send him away if he does anything. But you were behaving very bravely! Few people would go that far for a horse!"

„ He is not just a horse, Midnight is my horse. He has been my friend and loyal companion in many perilous situations!"

„ Really? Tell me something about those! Tell me about your adventures!"

„ At an other time perhaps, this moment is not too suitable!" she said, as they were moving on the dance floor as softly as if they were sailing on water. They didn't talk for a while, but then Agnes' voice broke the even flow of the music.

„ But I would like to ask a few questions if you don't mind!"

„ Of course, I will answer all that I can!" answered Ferenc in a cheerful tone.

„ Tell me, why do you want to marry my sister?" Ferenc was more than surprised by the question, but looking in Agnes' eyes, he decided to answer it

„Look at your sister Miss Agnes!" he said, and turned his gaze towards Elizabeth, who was sitting on a chair by the edge of the dance floor „ She is of pure love, and innocence, and deserves to be loved."

Agnes was looking sceptically at Ferenc, but she didn't want to give away her sister's secret, especially to her fiancé.

„ I admit she is rather immature yet, but also taintless. And she is loving me for me. But I'm sure you know that. It is hard to find a decent and caring lady these days"

Agnes was smiling upon hearing the answer, and she acknowledged that Count Ferenc was really as good as he was said to be.

„ I appreciate and respect your honesty!" said Agnes after a while.

„ You see right through me, miss, I know that well. I have never met anyone with a gaze like yours before, all efforts to deceive you would have been made in vain!"

„ You dance very well dear Count! My sister is a lucky girl!"

„ Because of dancing?" asked Ferenc ironically.

„ Not only because of that, you know as well. I had to find out to whom our father wants to marry Elizabeth!"

„ And did I prove to be a suitable husband for her?"

„ Well, I'm still dancing here with you in your mansion, am I not?"

„ Yes you are!"

„ Were you not an honest man, I would have set off home with Elizabeth long ago!"

„ I respect your honesty miss!" said Ferenc as the music died, and led Agnes back to where Elizabeth was still sitting on a chair, sulking.

„ Thank you for the dance, miss!" said Ferenc, and they both bowed their heads. The orchestra started playing the Viennese waltz, and Ferenc turned to Elizabeth.

„ Please don't feel resentful my darling, let me have this dance! I would be very disappointed if I had to dance waltz with somebody else!"

Elizabeth started smiling widely, sprang up form her chair, and hugged Ferenc.

„ I should love to!".

Agnes sat down with a drink as she was watching Elizabeth and Ferenc dance. Deep inside she envied her sister a bit.

„ All is so simple in Elizabeth's world!" Agnes thought, „ She has not the slightest hint, that it could have happened differently! I wish I knew as little of sorrow as she does!"

Much later and after having danced with many people, Agnes sat down happily to a chair to have some rest. The orchestra had a little break as well, so only the chatter of the guests could be heard in the ballroom. Agnes could hear the huge grandfather clock on the corridor strike half past ten.

„ Time flies when you're having fun!" she thought, and then noticed Richard approaching.

„ Please everything but this sick-head!" she looked around in despair and saw Marton sitting nearby, and eyeing her diffidently. Agnes nodded her head to the boy to come closer, who by that time was red with embarrassment. Marton stood up, and got to Agnes few seconds before Richard. The latter, ignoring his brother completely, greeted Agnes in an affable tone.

„ I'm glad to see you again my lady! May I have the pleasure of being the next to dance with you?"

He bowed a little, and held out his hand to the lady, still sitting on her chair. The thought of Richard touching her, gave Agnes the creeps. She answered in a derisive voice

„ I'M so sorry dear mister, but I have promised to dance with somebody else already!" she said, and looked at Marton.

„ Yes, the lady is dancing with me Richard!" said Marton timidly, held out his hand to Agnes, who put her hand into his while smiling gladly. Richard, who was left on the shelf, was looking at his younger brother menacingly.

„ We'll get square for this little bro!" he hissed.

Marton humped his shoulders, as if that saved him from his brother's anger. But he was not the only one who has heard Richard's threatening comment. Agnes turned her head around and looked at Richard with furious eyes. The latter couldn't stand it too long; he turned around to the table for a drink instead. The young man led Agnes to the dance floor happily. Marton was shorter than Agnes, and his lighter complexion and white tuxedo against Agnes' dark gown and complexion was really a sight to remember.

„ Thank you for helping me" started Agnes the conversation „ I really owe you a favour! Sorry for telling you this, but I think your brother is a featherbrained loon! I just couldn't have danced with him!"

„ Unfortunately Richard is really rather intrusive and mindless, he tries to turn all the girls' heads! I feel pity for those who have become his victims so far. I'm glad you haven't ended up as one of them!"

„ Actually he was not the first man of this kind whom I bumped into, I knew what to expect, but I didn't want to take him to task for this!"

„ Well I think somebody really should! He will be mad at me I'm sure, but it doesn't matter! This dance is worth all the trouble!" he said in an ironic tone, and then they remained silent for a while, just dancing.

„ You're not like your brother at all." said Agnes while smiling at Marton „ You're good to chat with, seem educated and cultured despite your young age. This is respectable!"

„ Thank you Miss Agnes, I will be a doctor one day! I already work as an apprentice by a doctor, and I know some important things already."

„ It is a noble profession, and honourable too. I have dealt with this as well, although mostly with oriental therapies and medicine, not the kind that is mentioned in the books here!"

„Interesting, you could share your experience with me, if it is not a charge for you!"

„ Definitely not. Perhaps tomorrow, some time in the afternoon, by a cup of tea." said Agnes as the music died, and they let each other go. Suddenly Elizabeth emerged from the crowd of couples who had just stopped dancing, with a short and bearded man following her.

„ Get ready to smile you two!" she said happily. The man behind her put his strange machine on a trestle down, and put some kind of powder in a metal holder. He hid behind a black cloak, and within a few seconds both Agnes and Marton were blinded by a flash.

„ Was this that, what is it called, photo-something?" asked Agnes after recovering her sight.

„ Yes, this is Mr Wurzenberg form Germany, he is making photos of all the guests I tell him to. It was Ferenc's gift for this evening, isn't he nice?" she asked with a wide smile.

„ We have to be going now, we still got a lot of people to catch!" see you later. The man with the camera bowed his head, and set off after Elizabeth.

„ She is full of surprises!" noted Marton „ Well, thank you for the dance Miss Agnes, send for me tomorrow if you wish to see me!" he said, kissed Agnes' hand, and left towards the entrance of the ballroom, trying to avoid meeting Richard. Agnes fetched a soda for herself, and found a spot next to a curtain, near the French windows of the balcony, from where she could get enough fresh air without catching a cold. As she was standing by herself, she overheard somebody on the balcony mentioning her name.