n the
dirt.

At the other end of that long garden, and back to back with the villa of
the Countess, stood the large mansion where the Prime Minister
transacted his affairs and pleasures. This distance, which was enough
for decency by the easy canons of Mittwalden, the Countess swiftly
traversed, opened a little door with a key, mounted a flight of stairs,
and entered unceremoniously into Gondremark's study. It was a large and
very high apartment; books all about the walls, papers on the table,
papers on the floor; here and there a picture, somewhat scant of
drapery; a great fire glowing and flaming in the blue-tiled hearth; and
the daylight streaming through a cupola above. In the midst of this sat
the great Baron Gondremark in his shirt-sleeves, his business for that
day fairly at an end, and the hour arrived for relaxation. His
expression, his very nature, seemed to have undergone a fundamental
change. Gondremark at home appeared the very antipode of Gondremark on
duty. He had an air of massive jollity that well became him; grossness
and geniality sat upon his features; and along with his manners, he had
laid aside his sly and sinister expression. He lolled there, sunning his
bulk before the fire, a noble animal.

"Hey!" he cried. "At last!"

The Countess stepped into the room in silence, threw herself on a chair,
and crossed her legs. In her lace and velvet, with a good display of
smooth black stocking and of snowy petticoat, and with the refined
profile of her face and slender plumpness of her body, she showed in
singular contrast to the big, black, intellectual satyr by the fire.

"How often do you send for me?" she cried. "It is compromising."

Gondremark laughed. "Speaking of that," said he, "what in the devil's
name were you about? You were not home till morning."

"I was giving alms," she said.

The Baron again laughed loud and long, for in his shirt-sleeves he was a
very mirthful creature. "It is fortunate I am not jealous," he remarked.
"But you know my way: pleasure and liberty go hand in hand. I believe
what I believe; it is not much, but I believe it.--But now to business.
Have you not read my letter?"

"No," she said; "my head ached."

"Ah, well! then I have news indeed!" cried Gondremark. "I was mad to see
you all last night and all this morning: for yesterday afternoon I
brought my long business to a head; the ship has come home; one more
dead lift, and I shall cease to fetch and carry for th