den, a black mantilla thrown over her head, and the
long train of her black velvet dress ruthlessly sweeping in 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