They Were Divided - Miklos Banffy [134]
Finally one such had been found and the denunciation of Simo officially deposited with the authorities. As yet there had been no hearing and though an enquiry was bound to be held sooner or later, it was obviously in Simo’s interest to do everything he could to postpone matters until he had had time to make the plaintiff withdraw. If he could achieve this then he would win the case.
It was not, however, only a case of clearing Simo’s good name. If he were to be exonerated then it would be Simo himself who would have his hands on the steering-wheel. He could then file a complaint for malicious prosecution and the honest young Kula would find himself hounded and persecuted in his turn.
Balint grew ever more depressed at this terrible thought, for it would be a heavy responsibility if the young man should get into trouble because of his confidence in Balint. Looking up from Honey’s letter Balint looked at Miklos Ganyi, sitting beside him at the desk. Through his thick black-rimmed spectacles Balint fancied he could see a look of compassion and an eagerness to be of help. It was as if Ganyi already knew what was worrying his employer, and it occurred to Balint that as the secretary had spent six years in a country notary’s office he would be sure to know exactly how such enquiries were carried out and so perhaps would have a useful idea of what the consequences might be.
Turning to Ganyi he gave him a brief account of the affair and also told him that the accused was doing all he could to persuade the plaintiff to withdraw.
Ganyi listened attentively, his long bony face tilted sideways as was his habit when listening to something important.
‘I have heard about this case,’ he said, when Abady had finished. ‘I had it from Winkler, the forest supervisor, when he was last here. Simo will certainly be dismissed if the case is proved. This is automatic in cases of tax fraud. However, if they can persuade the old man to declare that his grandson never explained what he was being induced to sign, and especially if he were to say that the receipt he produced had nothing to do with the tax demand but was for something quite different, there could then be some very serious results.’
Ganyi paused, and then went on: ‘Since the old man cannot read or write then no retribution would fall on him; but the grandson could be made to seem responsible and could be accused of slander and of falsifying legal documents. For these crimes he might well be convicted … and … and perhaps not only him. Simo is quite capable of spreading his net further and indicting Andras Zutor as an instigator of the crime, and …’ – here Ganyi again hesitated before plucking up courage to say what was in his mind – ‘… and perhaps even your Lordship.’
‘Really? Me too? Why?’
‘Because it was your Lordship who recruited the lawyer and instructed him to proceed. Of course your Lordship’s actions can easily be explained and defended for it would be clear that, no matter how the situation turns out, your Lordship acted in good faith and for the general good. It is unlikely that Simo would go as far as that, but your Lordship would certainly be subpoenaed as a witness and Simo would do all he could to drum up support in the press by posing as a martyr. You can be sure that the more trouble he can stir up the happier he’ll be!’
‘It would be ironic if Simo tried to act the sacrificial lamb! But what can we do? Go up and see old Juon?’
Ganyi’s mouth opened until a glint of white teeth could be seen. Then, very slowly and with marked emphasis, he said, ‘That I would not recommend. The old man is an essential witness and the accused would be sure to assert that a visit from your Lordship constituted an attempt to persuade the plaintiff to bear false witness. Such an assertion would only complicate matters. There is only one thing to do: explain to the grandson that it would be fatal to him personally if his grandfather