el, who was
so dear to the family. At the sudden ring of the bell, and the shrill
cry: "Mariane, Mariane!" a peevish old woman made her appearance, who,
by the bunch of keys which hung from her waist, seemed to be the
housekeeper. A consultation was now held with this lady and the
husband, as to what nice things could be got ready. It was soon found,
however, that all the delicacies, such as venison and the like, were
either already consumed, or could only be got the next day. Albert,
with difficulty suppressing his displeasure, said, that they would
force him to quit immediately in the night, if on his account they
disturbed the arrangements of the house in the slightest degree. A
little cold meat, nay, some bread and butter, would be sufficient for
his supper. The baroness replied by protesting that it was impossible
for the lieutenant-colonel to do without something warm, after his ride
in the rough, bleak weather, and after a long consultation with
Mariane, the preparation of some mulled wine was found to be possible
and decided on. Mariane vanished through the door-way, rattling as she
went, but at the very moment when they were about to take their seats,
the baroness was called out by an amazed maid-servant. Albert
overheard that the baroness was being informed at the door of the
frightful devastations of Paul Talkebarth, with a list--no
inconsiderable one--of the dead, wounded, and missing. The baron ran
out after his wife, and while she was scolding he was wishing honest
Paul Talkebarth at Jericho, and the servants were uttering general
lamentations. Albert briefly told his friend of Paul's exploit in the
yard. "That old Eulenspiegel is always playing such tricks," said
Victor, angrily, "and yet the rascal means so well from the very bottom
of his heart, that one cannot attack him."

At that moment all became quiet without; the chief maid-servant had
brought the glad intelligence that Hans Gucklick had been frightened
indeed, but had come off free from other harm, and was now eating with
a good appetite.

The baron entered with a cheerful mien, and repeated, in a tone of
satisfaction, that Hans Gucklick had been spared from that wild,
life-disregarding Paul Talkebarth. At the same time he took occasion
to expatiate at great length, and from an agricultural point of view,
the utility of extending the breeding of poultry. This Hans Gucklick,
who had only been very frightened, and had not been otherw