sh not to have opened the door long ago, and examined the room.
The young bridegroom did not join in this opinion, however. He upheld
the decision of his mother-in-law not to allow any attempt to effect
an entrance into the room. He knew that there was a clause in the
title deeds to the house which made the express stipulation that no
owner should ever permit the corner room to be opened. There was
discussion among the guests as to whether such a clause in a title
deed could be binding for several hundred years, and many doubted its
validity at any time. But most of them understood why Madame Wolff did
not wish any investigation, even should any of those present have
sufficient courage to dare the curse and break open the door.

"Nonsense! What great courage is necessary for that?" exclaimed
Lieutenant Flemming Wolff, a cousin of the bride of the evening. This
gentleman had a reputation that was not of the best. He was known to
live mostly on debt and pawn tickets, and was of a most quarrelsome
disposition. As a duelist he was feared because of his specialty. This
was the ability, and the inclination, through a trick in the use of
the foils, to disfigure his opponent's face badly, without at all
endangering his life. In this manner he had already sadly mutilated
several brave officers and students, who had had the bad luck to stand
up against him. He himself was anything but pleasant to look upon, his
natural plainness having been rendering repellent by a life of low
debauchery. He cherished a secret grudge against the bridegroom and
bitter feelings toward the bride, because the latter had so plainly
shown her aversion for him when he had ventured to pay suit to her.

The family had not desired any open break with this disagreeable
relative, and had therefore sent him an invitation to the wedding.
They had taken it for granted that, under the circumstances, he would
prefer to stay away. But he had appeared at the ball, and, perhaps to
conceal his resentment, he had been the most indefatigable dancer of
the evening. At supper he had partaken freely of the strongest wines,
and was plainly showing the effect of them by this time. His eyes
rolled wildly, and those who knew him took care not to contradict him,
or to have anything to say to him at all.

With a boastful laugh he repeated his assertion that it didn't take
much courage to open a sealed door, especially when there might be a
fortune concealed behind it. In his