that made him fond of all
singular adventure.

Previous to his departure he made all due arrangements with the holy
fraternity of the convent for the funeral solemnities of his friend, who
was to be buried in the cathedral of Wurtzburg near some of his
illustrious relatives; and the mourning retinue of the count took charge
of his remains.

It is now high time that we should return to the ancient family of
Katzenellenbogen, who were impatient for their guest, and still more for
their dinner; and to the worthy little baron, whom we left airing
himself on the watch-tower.

Night closed in, but still no guest arrived. The baron descended from
the tower in despair. The banquet, which had been delayed from hour to
hour, could no longer be postponed. The meats were already overdone; the
cook in an agony; and the whole household had the look of a garrison
that had been reduced by famine. The baron was obliged reluctantly to
give orders for the feast without the presence of the guest. All were
seated at table, and just on the point of commencing, when the sound of
a horn from without the gate gave notice of the approach of a stranger.
Another long blast filled the old courts of the castle with its echoes,
and was answered by the warder from the walls. The baron hastened to
receive his future son-in-law.

The drawbridge had been let down, and the stranger was before the gate.
He was a tall, gallant cavalier mounted on a black steed. His
countenance was pale, but he had a beaming, romantic eye, and an air of
stately melancholy.

The baron was a little mortified that he should have come in this
simple, solitary style. His dignity for a moment was ruffled, and he
felt disposed to consider it a want of proper respect for the important
occasion, and the important family with which he was to be connected. He
pacified himself, however, with the conclusion, that it must have been
youthful impatience which had induced him thus to spur on sooner than
his attendants.

"I am sorry," said the stranger, "to break in upon you thus
unseasonably----"

Here the baron interrupted with a world of compliments and greetings;
for, to tell the truth, he prided himself upon his courtesy and
eloquence.

The stranger attempted, once or twice, to stem the torrent of words, but
in vain, so he bowed his head and suffered it to flow on. By the time
the baron had come to a pause, they had reached the inner court of the
castle; and the stranger was