though he might be her father. They have
been walking together down the avenue; they have been whispering a deal
together; probably he will to-night sleep in one of the barns. I must go
and look after him; he will be lying there and smoking his pipe, and
may set our whole place on fire. Shall we go down together? We can take
Vasserine and Fingel with us."

"Let him sleep!" said Otto; "he will not be so mad as to smoke tobacco
in the straw! To speak candidly, I do not wish to be seen by him. He was
several times at my grandfather's house. I have spoken with him, and now
that I dislike him I do not wish to see him!"

"Then I will go alone!" said Wilhelm.

Otto's heart beat violently; he stood at the open window and looked out
over the dark wood, which was lit up by the moon. Below in the court he
heard Wilhelm enticing the dogs out. He heard yet another voice, it was
that of the steward, and then all was again silent. Otto thought upon
the German Heinrich and upon Sophie, his life's good and bad angels;
and he pictured to himself how it would be if she extended to him
her hand--was his bride! and Heinrich called forth before her the
recollections which made his blood curdle.

It seemed to him as if something evil impended over him this night. "I
feel a forewarning of it!" said he aloud.

Wilhelm came not yet back.

Almost an hour passed thus. Wilhelm entered, both dogs were with him;
they were miry to their very sides.

"Did you meet any one?" inquired Otto.

"Yes, there was some one," said Wilhelm, "but not in the barn. The
stupid dogs seemed to lose their nature; it was as if there was a
somebody stealing along the wall, and through the reeds in the moat. The
hounds followed in there; you can see how they look!--but they came the
next moment back again, whined, and hung down their ears and tails. I
could not make them go in again. Then the steward was superstitious!
But, however, it could only be either the juggler, or one of the
servant-men who had stilts. How otherwise any one could go in among the
reeds without getting up to their necks, I cannot conceive!"

All was again perfectly still without. The two friends went to the open
window, threw their arms over each other's shoulders, and looked out
into the silent night.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

"Bring' haeusliche Huelfe
Incubus! incubus.
Tritt herhor und mache den Schluss."
GOETHE's Faust.

"Es giebt so ba