s; each young lady carried in one hand, like a folded fan,
a large _pine-lover_; in the other _tree-fungi_ tied together in a bunch,
like field flowers, and _leaf-mushrooms_ of various colours. The Seneschal
had his _fly-bane_. With empty hands came Telimena, and after her the
young gentlemen.

The guests entered in order and stood about the table. The Chamberlain
took his place at the head; this honour befitted him from his age and his
office; advancing to it he bowed to the ladies, the old men, and the young
men. By him the Monk took his station, and next the Bernardine was the
Judge. The Bernardine pronounced a short grace in Latin, brandy was passed
around; thereupon all sat down, and in silence and with relish they ate
the cold Lithuanian salad of beet leaves.

The dinner was more quiet than usual; no one talked, despite the host's
entreaties. The factions involved in the mighty strife over the dogs were
thinking of the morrow's contest and the wager; great thought is wont to
constrain the lips to silence. Telimena, though she talked constantly with
Thaddeus, was forced to turn now and then to the Count, and even now and
then to glance at the Assessor; thus a hunter gazes at the same time at
the net into which he is coaxing goldfinches, and at the snare for
sparrows. Thaddeus and the Count were both content with themselves, both
happy, both full of hopes, and therefore not inclined to chatter. The
Count would cast a proud look at the flower, and Thaddeus would stealthily
gaze into his pocket, to see whether that little key had not run away; he
would even reach in his hand and finger the note which he had not yet
read. The Judge, pouring out Hungarian wine and champagne for the
Chamberlain, served him diligently, and often pressed his knees; but he
had no zest for conversation with him, and it was evident that he felt
certain secret cares.

They changed the plates and the viands in silence; at last the tiresome
routine of the dinner was interrupted by an unexpected guest. A forester,
rushing in, did not even observe that it was dinner time, but ran up to
his master; from his bearing and his expression it was clear that he was
the bringer of important and unwonted tidings. On him the whole company
turned their gaze; recovering his breath somewhat, he said: "A bear, sir!"
All guessed the rest, that the beast had come out from the _jungle_,58
that it was slipping through to the wilderness beyond the Niemen; all
immed