and then flash up in my mind, 'You have seen this man before, but pray
where was it?' but these recollections were driven away as if by magic
whenever he fastened upon me those dark wandering eyes of his."

"So was it with me--and with me--and with me," exclaimed we all in
astonishment.

"Hem! hem!" smiled the Professor. "Even now the scales seem to fall
from my eyes, and I see that he is the very same person I saw in
Stuttgart twelve years ago."

"What, you have seen him then, and in what circumstances?" asked Lady
von Thingen eagerly, and almost blushed at the eagerness she
displayed.

The Professor took a pinch of snuff, shook the superfluous grains off
his waistcoat, and answered--"It may be now about twelve years since I
was forced by a law-suit to spend some months in Stuttgart. I lived at
one of the best hotels, and generally dined with a large company at
the table d'hote. Once upon a time I made my first appearance at table
after a lapse of several days, during which I had been forced to keep
my room. The company were talking very eagerly about a certain Signor
Barighi, who for some time past had been delighting the other visitors
with his lively wit, and his fluency in all languages. All were
unanimous in his praise, but they could not exactly agree as to his
occupation; some making him out a diplomatist, others a teacher of
languages, a third party a distinguished political exile, and a fourth
a spy of the police. The door opened, all seemed silent, even
confused, at having carried on the dispute in so loud a tone; I judged
that the person spoken of must be among us, and saw--"

"Who, pray?"

"Under favour, the same person who has amused us so agreeably for some
days past. There was nothing supernatural in this, to be sure, but
listen a moment; for two days Signor Barighi, as the stranger was
called, had given a new relish to our meals by his brilliant
conversation, when mine host interrupted us suddenly--'Gentlemen,'
said he, 'prepare yourself for an unique entertainment which will be
provided for you tomorrow.'

"We asked what this meant, and a grey headed captain, who had presided
at the hotel table many years, informed us of the joke as
follows--Exactly opposite this dining room, an old bachelor lives,
solitary and alone, in a large deserted house; he is a retired
Counsellor of State--lives on a handsome premium, and has an enormous
fortune besides. He is, however, a downright fool, and has some o