The Count of Nideck

e sad and melancholy than the vibrations of its tones, just at morning twilight, when all is still, and no breath, no whisper comes to disturb the perfect quiet of solitude;

mber, with its low, ragged arch, and, further on, the little window with its panes set in lead, midway between the alcove and the corridor, the ceili

onless billows that stretch away and become lost in the distant mists of the Vosges and the Jura,-immense forests, lakes, and towering peaks tracing their sharp outlines upon the steel-blue of the snow-clad valleys; beyond this, the infinite! What human skill could a

a hand was laid lightly upon my shoulder; I turned and met the c

orning,

puffing clouds of smoke from his short pipe. Extending h

Black Forest. Look down there, way down; that is the Roche Creuse.

a contemplative mood, mute before the grandeur of the scene that rolled away beneath us. From

ing now, and hangs like an ice cloak over the shoulder of the Harberg,-a cold garment for this season of the ye

I could not tear myse

flew above them, escaping their claws by reason of their loftier flight. Not a cloud was visible in

ere is not his equal in all Germany. Just hear how mellow those notes are, Gaston. Poor Sebalt! he is pining away since our master became ill; he cannot hunt

ings, had not interrupted my contemplation; but when, dazzled

ouraging; the Count has had n

t me back to a mor

glad to

s your do

t even prescrib

that? You

n; what could my mere

ng him g

m closely; he

ter has had a second attack the day after the first, and then a third, and fourth; bu

. On the contrary, I fin

sign of bad luck. If ever I happen to run across him as I am going out hunting, I am sure to meet with some accident; my gun misses fire, I sprain my ankle, or a dog gets ripped

but your ideas see

n has bestowed many blessings upon you; just one glance at your good-natured face, your frank gaze, and your kindly

to discover that I possess so

seizing my wrist,

a couple of gunshots d

buried in the snow, with

tinc

ee nothing

N

t, she lighted a fire, warmed herself, and cooked the roots of trees. She was a curse to every living thing. The first thing I did this morning was to climb up to the signal-tower and look around me. The old ha

ied excitedly, "Oh, Gaston, Gaston! How lucky it was t

nt at discovering so much merit in myself,

ed a comfortable night

ortable,"

e news. Let's g

-continuing along the edge of the rock to the very bottom of the valley. It was a flight of precipices, so to speak, shelving one below another into the

the little gnome Knapwurst, whose grotesque physiognomy had struck me the night before. The hall itself attracted my attention by its imposing aspect. It was

the old Minnesingers, and the great folios from the presses of Gutenberg and Faust, no less venerable on account of their origin and the enduring solidity of their binding. The deep shadows of the alcoves, draping the cold walls with their grayish gloom, reminded you of the ancient cloisters of the Middle Ages; and in the midst of it all sat the dwar

, the present owner; from the crude daubs of barbarous days to the perfect work of the best painters of our own time. My attention was naturally centred upon this part of the room. Hugh I., with a bald head, seemed watc

air hair parted over the forehead and falling in thick waves about her face, which they encircled with a golden aureole. I was struck with her resemblance to Odil

a broad, low forehead, yellow eyes, and prominent cheek-bones, red hair, and nose like an eagle's beak. "That woman must have been to Hugh's liking," I said to myself, and I be

to another with singular curiosity, and I found it impossible to terminate my study. Sperver, standing on the threshold of the library

histling to like a

u imp! N

supreme disdain; "you cannot spit so high as m

should com

h you flat wit

ughed, an

I have the greatest respect for your learning; but what the devil are you doing at

ave, re

days long en

tant question, and I shan't s

hat is this inter

lph. Count Ludwig had him enclosed in a cold roast peacock, served up with all its plumage. During the feast, Otto spread out the peacock's tail, and all the nobles, courtiers, and great ladies were astonished at this ingenious piece of mechanism. At last Otto emerged, sword in hand, and cried in a thundering voice, 'Long live the Emperor, Ro

leading me to dissemble my feelings; for he alone could furnish me with th

profound respect, "would you have the kindn

e words, the litt

ily history, I shall be glad to inform you.

learn something about the noble ladies

up; "you mean Elfreda and Huldine, the t

his ease. His eyes glistened, and an air of gratification at thi

well satisfied to see me admiring the dwarf of Nideck. In spite of the ill luck which he

PORTRAIT

of the dowry, refused to yield possession of it, and there followed terrible battles between himself and his brothers-in-law. His second wife, Huldine, whom you see in the steel breastplate, aided him by her wise counsels. She was a woman of indomitable courage, but her origin remains a mystery. One thing is certain, however: she rescued her husband, who had been taken prisoner by Frantz of Lutzelbourg. He was

these wives was called Elfreda, and the de

N

u sure

tree. Elfreda had no children; Hu

very su

y s

noticed a r

lies beside the plaster greyhound! It represents my ancestor, Hanswurst. He has a nose like an extinguisher, and a sharp

ertain

stics in common with Elfreda, but Huldine is the head of the line. Look

-Knapwurst and I,-