before in a critical hour.

"I am the Baron Rothsattel's agent," replied he. The horse was pulled
back, and the rider spoke a few words to his companions, upon which an
older man with a fox-like face cried, "We are anxious to speak on
private business with the late steward. We hear that he is in custody,
and beg you will tell us why."

"He tried to evade by flight the surrender of the property to me, and he
is suspected of dishonest dealings."

"Are his effects confiscated?" inquired one of the riders.

"Why do you inquire?" returned Anton.

"I beg your pardon," said the other, "but the man happens accidentally
to have some papers that belong to me in his house, and it might
embarrass me if I could not get possession of them."

"His effects are gone with him to town," replied Anton. Once more there
was a consultation, and then the riders, bowing slightly, galloped off
to the village, halted a few minutes at the public house, and
disappeared where the high road turned into the wood.

"What can they want, Mr. Wohlfart?" inquired Karl. "That was a strange
flying visit."

"Yes, indeed," replied Anton; "I have reason to think it remarkable. If
I am not much mistaken, I have met one of the gentlemen before in very
different circumstances. Perhaps that fellow Bratzky knew how to make
himself friends through the mammon of unrighteousness."

The evening now wrapped castle and forest in its dark mantle. The
servants returned with the horses from the wood. Karl led them into
Anton's presence, made them a short Polish oration, and received them
into the service of the new proprietor. Next came the landlord to look
after them, bringing oats and a bundle of wood, and saying to Anton, "I
recommend you, sir, to be watchful during the night; the peasants sit
yonder in the bar, and discuss your arrival; there are bad men about,
and I would not be sure that one of them might not stick a match into
the straw yonder, and burn down the farm-buildings for you."

"I am sure enough that they will do nothing of the kind," said Karl,
throwing another log into the stove. "A fresh breeze is blowing right on
to the village. No one would be such a fool as to set his own barns on
fire. We shall take care to keep the wind in this point as long as we
are here. Tell your people that. Have you brought me the potatoes I
asked for?"

Anton appointed the landlord to return the next morning, and the
travelers were left alone in the desolate hous