a poor set. Some foreign
cows, probably Swiss ones, have been brought over and crossed with a
much larger breed, and the result is ugly enough. The best cows have
evidently been exchanged; for some wretched creatures are running about,
the rest keeping aloof from them: they can't have been here long. As to
fodder, there is hay enough for winter, and a few bundles of oat straw;
no wheat straw at all."

"The buildings are out of order too," cried Anton, in return. "Drive now
to the distillery. I have carefully examined the conditions of the
lease, and am better up in it than in most things."

The carriage rolled over a shaky bridge that spanned the brook, then
through fields and an expanse of sand scantily covered with arenaceous
plants, in whose roots a pine-seed had nestled here and there,
stretching dwarf branches over the waste; then came the woods, with many
a gap, where lay nothing but yellow sand, and on all sides stumps
overgrown with heath and brambles. Slowly the horses waded on. Neither
of the strangers spoke, as both were engaged in observing every tree
that a fortunate chance had allowed to grow and spread better than the
rest.

At length the prospect widened, and another plain lay before them,
monotonous and forest-bounded like the rest. Before them rose a church.
They drove past a wooden crucifix, and stopped at the court-yard of the
farm. The tenant had already heard of their arrival; and perhaps he was
better acquainted with the baron's circumstances than Anton could have
wished, for he received them in a patronizing and self-sufficient
manner, hardly taking the trouble to lead them into an unoccupied room.
His first question, was, "Do you really believe that Rothsattel will be
able to take possession of the estate? There is much to be done on it,
and, from all I hear, the poor man has not got the capital required."

This cool demeanor exasperated Anton not a little; but he answered, with
the composure that habits of business give, "If you wish to ask me
whether the Baron Rothsattel will undertake the management of the
estate, I have to say in reply that he will be all the better able to do
so the more conscientiously his tenants and dependents perform their
duties. I am here at present to ascertain how far you have done this. I
have authority given me, by the terms of your lease, to examine your
inventory. And if you value the baron's good-will, I recommend you to
treat his representative more civil