d at last, and with the promise of a lovely
autumnal day. It was the one holiday of the year at Herr Oppovich's: for
Sunday was only externally observed in deference to the feelings of the
Christian world, and clerks sat at their desks inside, and within the
barred shutters the whole work of life went on as though a week-day.
As for us in the yard, it was our day of most rigorous discipline; for
Iguaz himself was wont to come down on a tour of inspection, and his
quick glances were sure to detect at once the slightest irregularity or
neglect. He seldom noticed me on these occasions. A word addressed to
Hanserl as to how the "younker" was doing, would be all the recognition
vouchsafed me, or, at most, a short nod of the head would convey that
he had seen me. Hanserl's reports were, however, always favorable; and I
had so far good reason to believe that my master was content with me.

From Hans, who had talked of nothing but this fete for three or four
weeks, I had learned that a beautiful villa which Herr Ignaz owned on
the west side of the bay was always opened. It was considered much too
grand a place to live in, being of princely proportions and splendidly
furnished; indeed, it had come into Herr Oppovich's possession on a
mortgage, and the thought of using it as a residence never occurred to
him. To have kept the grounds alone in order would have cost a moderate
fortune; and as there was no natural supply of water on the spot, a
steam-pump was kept in constant use to direct streams in different
directions. This, which its former owner freely paid for, was an outlay
that Herr Oppovich regarded as most wasteful, and reduced at once to the
very narrowest limits consistent with the life of the plants and
shrubs around. The ornamental fountains were, of course, left unfed;
_jets-d'eau_ ceased to play; and the various tanks in which water-nymphs
of white marble disported, were dried up; ivy and the wild vine draping
the statues, and hiding the sculptured urns in leafy embrace.

Of the rare plants and flowers, hundreds, of course, died; indeed,
none but those of hardy nature could survive this stinted aliment.
Greenhouses and conservatories, too, fell into disrepair and neglect;
but such was the marvellous wealth of vegetation that, fast as walls
would crumble and architraves give way, foliage and blossom would spread
over the rain, and the rare plants within, mingling with the stronger
vegetation without, would form a tang