us rode up, Robak with his finger on
his nose made him a threatening sign; but despite the requests and
entreaties of Thaddeus that he would explain to him clearly what he meant,
the Bernardine did not deign to answer or even to look at him again; he
merely pulled his cowl over his face and finished his prayer: so Thaddeus
rode off and joined the guests.

Just at that instant the hunters were holding their leashes and all were
standing motionless in their places; each gave a sign to the other to be
silent, and all had turned their eyes to a stone near which the Judge had
halted: he had caught sight of the game, and was waving his arms in order
to make his orders known. All understood him and stopped, and slowly
across the field trotted the Assessor and the Notary; Thaddeus, being
nearer, arrived before them, paused beside the Judge, and gazed at the
spot to which he was pointing. It was long since he, had been in the
field; on the grey expanse it was hard to distinguish the grey rabbit,
especially amid the stones. The Judge pointed him out; the poor hare was
crouched cowering beneath a stone, pricking up its ears; with a crimson
eye it met the gaze of the hunters; as if bewitched, and conscious of its
destiny, for very terror it could not turn its eye away from theirs, but
beneath the rock crouched dead as a rock. Meanwhile the dust in the field
came nearer and nearer, Bobtail was running in his leash and after him the
fleet Falcon; then the Assessor and the Notary shouted at once behind
them, "At him," and vanished with the dogs in clouds of dust.

While they were thus pursuing the hare, the Count made his appearance near
the castle wood. All the neighbours knew that this gentleman could never
present himself at the appointed time; to-day also he had overslept, and
was therefore in a scolding humour with his servants. Seeing the hunters
in the field, he galloped towards them, with the skirts of his long white
coat, of English cut, trailing in the wind. Behind him were mounted
servants, wearing little black shiny caps like mushrooms, short jackets,
striped boots, and white pantaloons; the servants whom the Count thus
costumed, in his mansion were called _jockeys_.

The galloping train was rushing towards the meadows, when the Count caught
sight of the castle and checked his horse. It was the first time that he
had seen the castle so early, and he could not believe that these were the
same walls, so wonderful a freshne