f the
strangest peculiarities; thus, for instance, he often gives himself
entertainments on a scale of extravagant luxury. He orders covers for
twelve, from the hotel, he has excellent wines in his cellar, and one
or the other of our waiters has the honour to attend table. You think,
perhaps, that at these feasts he feeds the hungry, and gives drink to
the thirsty--no such thing; on the chairs lie old yellow leaves of
parchment, from the family record, and the old hunks is as jovial as
if he had the merriest set of fellows around him; he talks and laughs
with them, and the whole thing is said to be so fearful to look upon,
that the youngest waiters are always sent over, for whoever has been
to one such supper will enter the deserted house no more.

"The day before yesterday he had a supper, and our new waiter, Frank,
there, calls heaven and earth to witness that nobody shall ever induce
him to go there a second time. The next day after the entertainment
comes the Counsellor's second freak. Early in the morning he leaves
the city, and comes back the morning after; not, however, to his own
house, which during this time is fast locked and bolted, but into this
hotel. Here he treats people he has been in the habit of seeing for a
whole year, as strangers; dines, and afterwards places himself at one
of the windows, and examines his own house across the way from top to
bottom.

"'Who does that house opposite belong to?' he then asks the host.

"The other regularly bows and answers, 'It belongs to the Counsellor
of State, Hasentreffer, at your Excellency's service.'"

"But, Professor," here observed I, "what has this silly Hasentreffer
of yours to do with our Natas?"

"A moment's patience, Doctor," answered the Professor, "the light will
soon break in upon you. Hasentreffer then examines the house, and learns
that it belongs to Hasentreffer. 'Oh, what!' he asks, 'the same that was
a student with me at Tibsingen'--then throws open the window, stretches
his powdered head out, and calls out--'Ha-asentreffer--Ha-asentreffer!'

"Of course no one answers, but he remarks: 'The old fellow would never
forgive me if I was not to look in on him for a moment,' then takes up
his hat and cane, unlocks his own house, goes in, and all goes on
after as before.

"All of us," the Professor proceeded in his story, "were greatly
astonished at this singular story, and highly delighted at the idea of
the next day's merriment. Signor Barighi,