nd saloons, and there it was lighted up.
I should have been completely killed if I had gone over to the maiden;
but I was circumspect, I took time to think, and that one must always
do."

"And what didst thou then see?" asked the learned man.

"I saw everything, and I shall tell all to you: but,--it is no pride
on my part,--as a free man, and with the knowledge I have, not to
speak of my position in life, my excellent circumstances,--I certainly
wish that you would say _you_* to me!"

"I beg your pardon," said the learned man; "it is an old habit with
me. _You_ are perfectly right, and I shall remember it; but now _you_
must tell me all _you_ saw!"

"Everything!" said the shadow, "for I saw everything, and I know
everything!"

"How did it look in the furthest saloon?" asked the learned man. "Was
it there as in the fresh woods? Was it there as in a holy church? Were
the saloons like the starlit firmament when we stand on the high
mountains?"

------

* It is the custom in Denmark for intimate acquaintances to use the
second person singular, "Du," (thou) when speaking to each other. When
a friendship is formed between men, they generally affirm it, when
occasion offers, either in public or private, by drinking to each
other and exclaiming, "_thy health_," at the same time striking their
glasses together.--This is called drinking "_Duus_:"--they are then,
"_Duus Brodre_," (thou brothers,) and ever afterwards use the pronoun
"_thou_," to each other, it being regarded as more familiar than "De,"
(you). Father and mother, sister and brother, say _thou_ to one
another--without regard to age or rank. Master and mistress say _thou_
to their servants--the superior to the inferior. But servants and
inferiors do not use the same term to their masters, or superiors--nor
is it ever used when speaking to a stranger, or any one with whom they
are but slightly acquainted--they then say as in English--_you._

------

"Everything was there!" said the shadow. "I did not go quite in, I
remained in the foremost room, in the twilight, but I stood there
quite well; I saw everything, and I know everything! I have been in
the antechamber at the court of Poesy."

"But _what did_ you see? Did all the gods of the olden times pass
through the large saloons? Did the old heroes combat there? Did sweet
children play there, and relate their dreams?"

"I tell you I was there, and you can conceive that I saw everything
there was to be seen