Part 6 (2/2)

'”Those coarse, noisy

'The baroness pointed, from the hich they stood, to the courtyard beneath, where the unconscious Lincoln greens were taking a copious stirrup-cup, preparatory to issuing forth after a boar or two

'”My hunting train, ma'am,” said the baron

'”Disband them, love,” murmured the baroness

'”Disband them!” cried the baron, in amazement

'”To please me, love,” replied the baroness

'”To please the devil, ma'am,” answered the baron

'Whereupon the baroness uttered a great cry, and swooned away at the baron's feet

'What could the baron do? He called for the lady'sinto the yard, kicked the two Lincoln greens ere the o-but never mind where I don't know the German for it, or I would put it delicately that way

'It is not for e to keep down soh I may have my private opinion on the subject, and ht to be married, inasmuch as threeto their wives' consciences (if there be such things), and not according to their own All I need say, just now, is, that the Baroness Von Koeldwethout soreat control over the Baron Von Koeldwethout, and that, little by little, and bit by bit, and day by day, and year by year, the baron got the worst of some disputed question, or was slyly unhorsed from some old hobby; and that by the tiht or thereabouts, he had no feasting, no revelry, no hunting train, and no hunting-nothing in short that he liked, or used to have; and that, although he was as fierce as a lion, and as bold as brass, he was decidedly snubbed and put down, by his own lady, in his own castle of Grogzwig

'Nor was this the whole extent of the baron's misfortunes About a year after his nuptials, there careat reatbaroness, and next year another young baron, and so on, every year, either a baron or baroness (and one year both together), until the baron found himself the father of a small family of twelve Upon every one of these anniversaries, the venerable Baroness Von Swillenhausen was nervously sensitive for the well-being of her child the Baroness Von Koeldwethout; and although it was not found that the good lady ever did anythingto her child's recovery, still she made it a point of duty to be as nervous as possible at the castle of Grogzwig, and to divide her ti, and bewailing the hard lot of her unhappy daughter And if the Baron of Grogzwig, a little hurt and irritated at this, took heart, and ventured to suggest that his as at least no worse off than the wives of other barons, the Baroness Von Swillenhausen begged all persons to take notice, that nobody but she, sys; upon which, her relations and friends rereat deal more than her son-in-law, and that if there were a hard-hearted brute alive, it was that Baron of Grogzwig

'The poor baron bore it all as long as he could, and when he could bear it no longer lost his appetite and his spirits, and sat hiloomily and dejectedly down But there orse troubles yet in store for him, and as they caed He got into debt The Grogzwig coffers ran low, though the Swillenhausen family had looked upon them as inexhaustible; and just when the baroness was on the point of ree, Von Koeldwethout discovered that he had nothem

'”I don't see what is to be done,” said the baron ”I think I'll kill ht idea The baron took an old hunting-knife fro sharpened it on his boot, made what boys call ”an offer” at his throat

'”He short ”Perhaps it's not sharp enough”

'The baron sharpened it again, and made another offer, when his hand was arrested by a loud screa barons and baronesses, who had a nursery in an upstairs toith iron bars outside the , to prevent their tu out into the hing, ”Iinterrupted Hallo! Put a flask of wine and the largest pipe in the little vaulted room behind the hall”

'One of the domestics, in a very kind manner, executed the baron's order in the course of half an hour or so, and Von Koeldwethout being apprised thereof, strode to the vaulted rooleas which were piled upon the hearth The bottle and pipe were ready, and, upon the whole, the place looked very comfortable

'”Leave the la else, my lord?” inquired the domestic

'”The room,” replied the baron The domestic obeyed, and the baron locked the door

'”I'll smoke a last pipe,” said the baron, ”and then I'll be off” So, putting the knife upon the table till he wanted it, and tossing off a goodlythrew his out before the fire, and puffed away

'He thought about a great s-about his present troubles and past days of bachelorshi+p, and about the Lincoln greens, long since dispersed up and down the country, no one knehither: with the exception of tho had been unfortunately beheaded, and four who had killed the upon bears and boars, when, in the process of draining his glass to the bottom, he raised his eyes, and saw, for the first time and with unbounded astonishment, that he was not alone

'No, he was not; for, on the opposite side of the fire, there sat with folded arure, with deeply sunk and bloodshot eyes, and an ied and matted locks of coarse black hair He wore a kind of tunic of a dull bluish colour, which, the baron observed, on regarding it attentively, was clasped or ornas, too, were encased in coffin plates as though in armour; and over his left shoulder he wore a short dusky cloak, which seemed made of a remnant of some pall He took no notice of the baron, but was intently eyeing the fire

'”Halloa!” said the baron, sta his foot to attract attention

'”Halloa!” replied the stranger,his eyes towards the baron, but not his face or himself ”What now?”

'”What now!” replied the baron, nothing daunted by his hollow voice and lustreless eyes ”I should ask that question How did you get here?”

'”Through the door,” replied the figure

'”What are you?” says the baron

'”A ure

'”I don't believe it,” says the baron

'”Disbelieve it then,” says the figure

'”I will,” rejoined the baron

'The figure looked at the bold Baron of Grogzwig for so over you, I see I'm not a enius,” replied the figure

'”You don't look much like one,” returned the baron scornfully

'”I am the Genius of Despair and Suicide,” said the apparition ”Now you know me”

'With these words the apparition turned towards the baron, as if co himself for a talk-and, as very re a stake, which was run through the centre of his body, pulled it out with a jerk, and laid it on the table, as co-stick

'”Now,” said the figure, glancing at the hunting-knife, ”are you ready for me?”

'”Not quite,” rejoined the baron; ”I must finish this pipe first”

'”Look sharp then,” said the figure

'”You seem in a hurry,” said the baron

'”Why, yes, I a a pretty brisk business in land and France just now, and ood deal taken up”

'”Do you drink?” said the baron, touching the bottle with the bowl of his pipe

'”Nine tiure, drily

'”Never in ure, with a shudder, ”that breeds cheerfulness”

'The baron took another look at his new friend, whoth inquired whether he took any active part in such little proceedings as that which he had in conteure evasively; ”but I am always present”