all they saw a little old man standing gazing at the host with eyes from
which darted a hatred which was perfectly venomous. Everyone wanted to
ask who he was, and how he had come, but no one dared. They looked at
Ezekiel Grosse, expecting him in his usually haughty way to demand what
right he had there;--but Ezekiel Grosse stood like a figure hewn out of
stone.

It all took place in about a minute, and then the old man vanished in the
same mysterious way that he had come.

As soon as he had gone, the host, who a moment before had been petrified
with terror, as quickly recovered himself, and burst into uproarious
laughter. It was forced laughter, though, unnatural mirth, as most of
those present could not help feeling.

"Ha, ha! my friends. What do you think of my little surprise? How do you
like my Father Christmas? Cleverly managed, was it not? But you all look
rather alarmed by his sudden movements. I hope my little joke has not
frightened you. Hand round the wine and punch there, then we will on with
the dancing again!"

Try as he would, though, he could not put new life into the evening's
festivities, the mirth was dead, the pleasure overcast, for there was
still that strange deathlike chill in the air. The guests, frightened,
and convinced that something was wrong, made various excuses and one by
one took their departure.

From that evening everything was changed. Ezekiel Grosse and his
entertainments were never the same again. He never acknowledged any
difference, and he gave more parties, and issued more invitations than
ever, but at every feast, every dance, every entertainment of any sort,
there was always one uninvited guest, a little wizened, weird old man, who
sat back in his chair and never spoke to anyone, but gazed all the time at
Ezekiel with stern, uncanny eyes which frightened all who caught sight of
them. Indeed, the effect he had on the guests was extraordinary; under
the chill of his presence they could not talk, or eat or drink, or keep up
any appearance of enjoyment.

Ezekiel was the bravest of them. He tried to encourage them to talk and
laugh,--talking and laughing loudly himself all the time, but all was
unnatural. His apologies for his strange visitor were numerous. He was
an old friend who liked to come to him and see new faces and young life,
but was too old to do more than look on. He was deaf and dumb, that was
why his conduct was so strange. Sometimes the little