o
you think that Moses' staff was anything else than such a divining-rod?
It must discover money just as easily as water; indeed, it must guess
the thoughts, and thereby ward off future crimes. Every city, every
village under a reasonable government should have its priviledged
rod-walker."

"Impiety," said Godfred, "sufficient calamity happens already without
this superstition. The silly hazel-rod should be applied to the backs
of all such fellows."

The musician made a wry face and would have answered angrily, when
Eveline uttered a loud joyous "Ah!" an old peasant passed by, followed
by a large dog. The Lord of Beauvais had risen, Eveline blushed, and at
a sign from her father remained behind. The old peasant cast a
searching glance into the bower, but the Counsellor looked a negative,
without those present being able to observe it, and the peasant
proceeded on his way without forming an acquaintance with the company.
But not so the great dog, that no sooner had he snuffed the air, than
he instantly leaped over the palings of the garden, and howling and
whining with joy, jumped in a hundred playful gambols round the
Counsellor and his daughter, and then lay down, placed his two paws on
their persons and recommenced his frolics anew. It was in vain that
Eveline cried out, "Away, away! what does this nasty strange dog want
here?" she wished to pretend to be angry, but the absurd antics of the
well-known Hector, forced her to burst into a loud laugh.

"Peter Florval," said Dubois, "you must be known to the dog."

"Not that I know of," replied the Counsellor, somewhat embarrassed; "he
must have come from some farm in my former neighbourhood."

"It may be so," answered the musician, "but the peasant though ought to
have come in here; what frightened him away from us? surely we are not
such great folks."

Hector, that now heard old Frantz whistle from a distance, stood
irresolute on the alert, looked inquiringly at the Counsellor, and then
seemed to wait for Frantz, and danced round Eveline again; at length,
however, a second loud whistle called him away. The Counsellor said, "I
must go and see whether the old man is known to me, come with me
daughter." They both, left the garden. "One easily becomes over
cautious," observed he, after having heartily welcomed his faithful
servant; "Had you only known for what we pass here, it had been better
to have come in at once. But you have not yet spoken with Mr. Vila?" "It
ha