step cautiously out of the door of the
room where the young girl slept and linger on the threshold a moment,
as if to bid some one farewell. The doorway was in the shadow and the
moon had set, yet as the late visitor now hurried past the buildings
with elastic steps and then cautiously groped his way to the wing,
Edwin distinctly recognized young Count Gaston; so the "endless
yearning" which ennobled him, did not seem to prevent him from
condescending to adventures which _had_ a beginning, a middle, and an
end.

CHAPTER VI.

The noise Edwin's next neighbor, the fat landed proprietor, made in
preparing for the hunt, roused our friend early the next morning from a
sound sleep. He was obliged to reflect a moment to remember where he
was, and that the events of the previous day had not been mere dreams;
then he hastily threw on his clothes and followed the servant who came
to ask if he could be of any assistance, into the great hall on the
ground floor, where the breakfast table was laid.

It was about seven o'clock; the day was dull and cloudy, and a damp
wind indicated rain. But the cheerful bustle in the courtyard, the
noise of horses and dogs, the shouts and exclamations of huntsmen and
servants prevented any feeling of depression from seizing the guests.
Besides the remainder of the company who gradually assembled in the
hall, congratulated each other on the excellent hunting weather which
had mitigated the heat of the preceding day. The chevalier alone begged
to be excused from taking any share in the day's entertainment. "The
only hunting he likes," whispered Count Gaston to Edwin, "is the
pursuit of yellow gold."

The Polish colonel, on the contrary, was full of sportsmanlike
enthusiasm, and related with the utmost seriousness, incredible
stories, at which the fat landed proprietor burst into roars of
laughter; but the brothers von der Wende did not seem any wider awake
in the morning, than they had appeared the preceding evening.

Neither the little doctor, nor any of the other household officers
appeared; but to make amends a plain old man with thin parchment-like
features and calm grey eyes arrived, and joined the gentlemen but
without sharing in the breakfast. Gaston introduced him to Edwin as the
head ranger. A slight curl of the corners of the mouth under the heavy
yellow moustache, told our friend what a correct estimation of himself
as an amateur sportsman, had bee