Then he turned his back on the messenger and would have left the room at once, but Teleki placed himself in his way.
"That is not enough, your Highness. Once for all there must be an end made of this dog-headed Tartar's coming into the presence of the Prince of Transylvania with such a speech."
Teleki advanced toward the Emir with an earnest, dignified expression, looked him fixedly in the eye, and said firmly:
"Your lord is indeed the ruler of Tartary, and my lord the Prince of Transylvania, and his Majesty, the Sultan is one lord of us all. Know then that his Majesty the Sultan did not make your lord Khan of Tartary to dwell at Vienna, nor did he set Michael Apafi on the throne of Transylvania to support your lord. Go back to your land and do not come here any more to wonder that a town burned down by you one year is not built up the next. We will take care that the houses are rebuilt and also that the bastions are made high enough to keep you off. If you have any desire to pay us a visit in Klausenburg we will take care that you do not have your trouble for nothing, and shall know how to greet you from afar with our good cannon."
The Emir fumed with rage; his eyes were bloodshot, his hand felt for his dagger and he stammered out:
"If a slave should make such a speech in the presence of my lord he would have his head cut off at once."
Apafi now touched Teleki on the shoulder and said:
The Emir turned on his heel and hurried out of the room, shaking his fist.
This scene put Apafi into a good humor, especially toward Teleki. The minister read this in the Prince's face and took advantage of it at once. Taking one of the bystanders by the hand he brought him up to Apafi and introduced him in these words:
An introduction under any other title would probably have been evaded by Apafi, but in this form it was impossible not to accept it. He found himself compelled to look at the young man. He was a fine-looking, slender youth and had no trace of a beard. With his feminine features the only sign of the man was his independent bearing. Apafi was pleased with him.
"What is the name of your son-in-law?" he asked Teleki.
The latter answered with a peculiar smile:
At mention of this name Apafi grew serious and said: