第8章

However，inthemeantimeithadtranspiredthatthemenemployedtocalktherafthadfoundthattheleakwasnotaleakatall，butonlyacrackbetweenthelogs——acrackthatbelongedthere，andwasnotdangerous，buthadbeenmagnifiedintoaleakbythedisorderedimaginationofthemate。Thereforewewentaboardagainwithagooddegreeofconfidence，andpresentlygottoseawithoutaccident。

Asweswamsmoothlyalongbetweentheenchantingshores，wefelltoswappingnotesaboutmannersandcustomsinGermanyandelsewhere。

AsIwrite，now，manymonthslater，Iperceivethateachofus，byobservingandnotingandinquiring，diligentlyanddaybyday，hadmanagedtolayinamostvariedandopulentstockofmisinformation。Butthisisnotsurprising；

itisverydifficulttogetaccuratedetailsinanycountry。

Forexample，Ihadtheideaonce，inHeidelberg，tofindoutallaboutthosefivestudent-corps。IstartedwiththeWhiteCapcorps。Ibegantoinquireofthisandthatandtheothercitizen，andhereiswhatIfoundout:

1。ItiscalledthePrussianCorps，becausenonebutPrussiansareadmittedtoit。

2。ItiscalledthePrussianCorpsfornoparticularreason。

IthassimplypleasedeachcorpstonameitselfaftersomeGermanstate。

3。ItisnotnamedthePrussianCorpsatall，butonlytheWhiteCapCorps。

4。AnystudentcanbelongtoitwhoisaGermanbybirth。

5。AnystudentcanbelongtoitwhoisEuropeanbybirth。

6。AnyEuropean-bornstudentcanbelongtoit，excepthebeaFrenchman。

7。Anystudentcanbelongtoit，nomatterwherehewasborn。

8。Nostudentcanbelongtoitwhoisnotofnobleblood。

9。Nostudentcanbelongtoitwhocannotshowthreefullgenerationsofnobledescent。

10。Nobilityisnotanecessaryqualification。

11。Nomoneylessstudentcanbelongtoit。

12。Moneyqualificationisnonsense——suchathinghasneverbeenthoughtof。

Igotsomeofthisinformationfromstudentsthemselves——

studentswhodidnotbelongtothecorps。

Ifinallywenttoheadquarters——totheWhiteCaps——whereI

wouldhavegoneinthefirstplaceifIhadbeenacquainted。

ButevenatheadquartersIfounddifficulties；IperceivedthattherewerethingsabouttheWhiteCapCorpswhichonememberknewandanotheronedidn"t。Itwasnatural；

forveryfewmembersofanyorganizationknowALLthatcanbeknownaboutit。IdoubtthereisamanorawomaninHeidelbergwhowouldnotanswerpromptlyandconfidentlythreeoutofeveryfivequestionsabouttheWhiteCapCorpswhichastrangermightask；yetitisaverysafebetthattwoofthethreeanswerswouldbeincorrecteverytime。

ThereisoneGermancustomwhichisuniversal——thebowingcourteouslytostrangerswhensittingdownattableorrisingupfromit。Thisbowstartlesastrangeroutofhisself-possession，thefirsttimeitoccurs，andheislikelytofalloverachairorsomething，inhisembarrassment，butitpleaseshim，nevertheless。Onesoonlearnstoexpectthisbowandbeonthelookoutandreadytoreturnit；

buttolearntoleadoffandmaketheinitialbowone"sselfisadifficultmatterforadiffidentman。

Onethinks，"IfIrisetogo，andtendermybox，andtheseladiesandgentlementakeitintotheirheadstoignorethecustomoftheirnation，andnotreturnit，howshallIfeel，incaseIsurvivetofeelanything。"

Thereforeheisafraidtoventure。Hesitsoutthedinner，andmakesthestrangersrisefirstandoriginatethebowing。

Atabled"ho^tedinnerisatediousaffairforamanwhoseldomtouchesanythingafterthethreefirstcourses；

thereforeIusedtodosomeprettydrearywaitingbecauseofmyfears。Ittookmemonthstoassuremyselfthatthosefearsweregroundless，butIdidassuremyselfatlastbyexperimentingdiligentlythroughmyagent。

ImadeHarrisgetupandbowandleave；invariablyhisbowwasreturned，thenIgotupandbowedmyselfandretired。

Thusmyeducationproceededeasilyandcomfortablyforme，butnotforHarris。Threecoursesofatabled"ho^tedinnerwereenoughforme，butHarrispreferredthirteen。

EvenafterIhadacquiredfullconfidence，andnolongerneededtheagent"shelp，Isometimesencountereddifficulties。

OnceatBaden-BadenInearlylostatrainbecauseIcouldnotbesurethatthreeyoungladiesoppositemeattablewereGermans，sinceIhadnotheardthemspeak；theymightbeAmerican，theymightbeEnglish，itwasnotsafetoventureabow；butjustasIhadgotthatfarwithmythought，oneofthembeganaGermanremark，tomygreatreliefandgratitude；andbeforeshegotoutherthirdword，ourbowshadbeendeliveredandgraciouslyreturned，andwewereoff。

ThereisafriendlysomethingabouttheGermancharacterwhichisverywinning。WhenHarrisandIweremakingapedestriantourthroughtheBlackForest，westoppedatalittlecountryinnfordinneroneday；twoyoungladiesandayounggentlemanenteredandsatdownoppositeus。

Theywerepedestrians，too。Ourknapsackswerestrappeduponourbacks，buttheyhadasturdyyouthalongtocarrytheirsforthem。Allpartieswerehungry，sotherewasnotalking。Byandbytheusualbowswereexchanged，andweseparated。

AswesatatalatebreakfastinthehotelatAllerheiligen，nextmorning，theseyoungpeopleandtookplacesnearuswithoutobservingus；butpresentlytheysawusandatoncebowedandsmiled；notceremoniously，butwiththegratifiedlookofpeoplewhohavefoundacquaintanceswheretheywereexpectingstrangers。

Thentheyspokeoftheweatherandtheroads。Wealsospokeoftheweatherandtheroads。Next，theysaidtheyhadhadanenjoyablewalk，notwithstandingtheweather。

Wesaidthatthathadbeenourcase，too。ThentheysaidtheyhadwalkedthirtyEnglishmilesthedaybefore，andaskedhowmanywehadwalked。Icouldnotlie，soI

toldHarristodoit。HarristoldthemwehadmadethirtyEnglishmiles，too。Thatwastrue；wehad"made"them，thoughwehadhadalittleassistancehereandthere。

Afterbreakfasttheyfoundustryingtoblastsomeinformationoutofthedumbhotelclerkaboutroutes，andobservingthatwewerenotsucceedingprettywell，theywentandgottheirmapsandthings，andpointedoutandexplainedourcoursesoclearlythatevenaNewYorkdetectivecouldhavefollowedit。Andwhenwestartedtheyspokeoutaheartygood-byandwishedusapleasantjourney。Perhapstheyweremoregenerouswithusthantheymighthavebeenwithnativewayfarersbecausewewereaforlornlotandinastrangeland；

Idon"tknow；Ionlyknowitwaslovelytobetreatedso。

Verywell，ItookanAmericanyoungladytooneofthefineballsinBaden-Baden，onenight，andattheentrance-doorupstairswewerehaltedbyanofficial——somethingaboutMissJones"sdresswasnotaccordingtorule；Idon"trememberwhatitwas，now；somethingwaswanting——herbackhair，orashawl，orafan，orashovel，orsomething。

Theofficialwaseversopolite，andeverysosorry，buttherulewasstrict，andhecouldnotletusin。

Itwasveryembarrassing，formanyeyeswereonus。

Butnowarichlydressedgirlsteppedoutoftheballroom，inquiredintothetrouble，andsaidshecouldfixitinamoment。ShetookMissJonestotherobing-room，andsoonbroughtherbackinregulationtrim，andthenweenteredtheballroomwiththisbenefactressunchallenged。

Beingsafe，now，Ibegantopuzzlethroughmysincerebutungrammaticalthanks，whentherewasasuddenmutualrecognition——thebenefactressandIhadmetatAllerheiligen。

Twoweekshadnotalteredhergoodface，andplainlyherheartwasintherightplaceyet，buttherewassuchadifferencebetweentheseclothesandtheclothesI

hadseenherinbefore，whenshewaswalkingthirtymilesadayintheBlackForest，thatitwasquitenaturalthatIhadfailedtorecognizehersooner。IhadonMY

othersuit，too，butmyGermanwouldbetraymetoapersonwhohadhearditonce，anyway。Shebroughtherbrotherandsister，andtheymadeourwaysmoothforthatevening。

Well——monthsafterward，IwasdrivingthroughthestreetsofMunichinacabwithaGermanlady，oneday，whenshesaid:

"There，thatisPrinceLudwigandhiswife，walkingalongthere。"

Everybodywasbowingtothem——cabmen，littlechildren，andeverybodyelse——andtheywerereturningallthebowsandoverlookingnobody，whenayoungladymetthemandmadeadeepcourtesy。

"Thatisprobablyoneoftheladiesofthecourt，"

saidmyGermanfriend。

Isaid:

"Sheisanhonortoit，then。Iknowher。Idon"tknowhername，butIknowHER。IhaveknownheratAllerheiligenandBaden-Baden。SheoughttobeanEmpress，butshemaybeonlyaDuchess；itisthewaythingsgointhisway。"

IfoneasksaGermanacivilquestion，hewillbequitesuretogetacivilanswer。IfyoustopaGermaninthestreetandaskhimtodirectyoutoacertainplace，heshowsnosignoffeelingoffended。Iftheplacebedifficulttofind，tentoonethemanwilldrophisownmattersandgowithyouandshowyou。

InLondon，too，manyatime，strangershavewalkedseveralblockswithmetoshowmemyway。

Thereissomethingveryrealaboutthissortofpoliteness。

Quiteoften，inGermany，shopkeeperswhocouldnotfurnishmethearticleIwantedhavesentoneoftheiremployeeswithmetoshowmeaplacewhereitcouldbehad。

CHAPTERXIX

[TheDeadlyJestofDilsberg]

However，Iwanderfromtheraft。WemadetheportofNecharsteinachingoodseason，andwenttothehotelandorderedatroutdinner，thesametobereadyagainstourreturnfromatwo-hourpedestrianexcursiontothevillageandcastleofDilsberg，amiledistant，ontheothersideoftheriver。Idonotmeanthatweproposedtobetwohoursmakingtwomiles——no，wemeanttoemploymostofthetimeininspectingDilsberg。

ForDilsbergisaquaintplace。Itismostquaintlyandpicturesquelysituated，too。Imaginethebeautifulriverbeforeyou；thenafewrodsofbrilliantgreenswardonitsoppositeshore；thenasuddenhill——nopreparatorygentlyrisingslopes，butasortofinstantaneoushill——

ahilltwohundredandfiftyorthreehundredfeethigh，asroundasabowl，withthesametaperupwardthataninvertedbowlhas，andwithaboutthesamerelationofheighttodiameterthatdistinguishesabowlofgoodhonestdepth——ahillwhichisthicklyclothedwithgreenbushes——acomely，shapelyhill，risingabruptlyoutofthedeadlevelofthesurroundinggreenplains，visiblefromagreatdistancedownthebendsoftheriver，andwithjustexactlyroomonthetopofitsheadforitssteepledandturretedandroof-clusteredcapofarchitecture，whichsameistightlyjammedandcompactedwithintheperfectlyroundhoopoftheancientvillagewall。

Thereisnohouseoutsidethewallonthewholehill，oranyvestigeofaformerhouse；allthehousesareinsidethewall，butthereisn"troomforanotherone。

Itisreallyafinishedtown，andhasbeenfinishedaverylongtime。Thereisnospacebetweenthewallandthefirstcircleofbuildings；no，thevillagewallisitselftherearwallofthefirstcircleofbuildings，andtheroofsjutalittleoverthewallandthusfurnishitwitheaves。Thegenerallevelofthemassedroofsisgracefullybrokenandrelievedbythedominatingtowersoftheruinedcastleandthetallspiresofacoupleofchurches；so，fromadistanceDilsberghasrathermorethelookofaking"scrownthanacap。

Thatloftygreeneminenceanditsquaintcoronetformquiteastrikingpicture，youmaybesure，intheflushoftheeveningsun。

Wecrossedoverinaboatandbegantheascentbyanarrow，steeppathwhichplungedusatonceintotheleafydeepsofthebushes。Buttheywerenotcooldeepsbyanymeans，forthesun"srayswerewelteringhotandtherewaslittleornobreezetotemperthem。Aswepantedupthesharpascent，wemetbrown，bareheadedandbarefootedboysandgirls，occasionally，andsometimesmen；

theycameuponuswithoutwarning，theygaveusgoodday，flashedoutofsightinthebushes，andweregoneassuddenlyandmysteriouslyastheyhadcome。Theywereboundfortheothersideoftherivertowork。Thispathhadbeentraveledbymanygenerationsofthesepeople。

Theyhavealwaysgonedowntothevalleytoearntheirbread，buttheyhavealwaysclimbedtheirhillagaintoeatit，andtosleepintheirsnugtown。

ItissaidthetheDilsbergersdonotemigratemuch；

theyfindthatlivingupthereabovetheworld，intheirpeacefulnest，ispleasanterthanlivingdowninthetroublousworld。Thesevenhundredinhabitantsareallblood-kintoeachother，too；theyhavealwaysbeenblood-kintoeachotherforfifteenhundredyears；theyaresimplyonelargefamily，andtheylikethehomefolksbetterthantheylikestrangers，hencetheypersistentlystayathome。

IthasbeensaidthatforagesDilsberghasbeenmerelyathrivinganddiligentidiot-factory。Isawnoidiotsthere，butthecaptainsaid，"Becauseoflateyearsthegovernmenthastakentoluggingthemofftoasylumsandotherwheres；

andgovernmentwantstocripplethefactory，too，andistryingtogettheseDilsbergerstomarryoutofthefamily，buttheydon"tliketo。"

Thecaptainprobablyimaginedallthis，asmodernsciencedeniesthattheintermarryingofrelativesdeterioratesthestock。

Arrivedwithinthewall，wefoundtheusualvillagesightsandlife。Wemovedalonganarrow，crookedlanewhichhadbeenpavedintheMiddleAges。Astrapping，ruddygirlwasbeatingflaxorsomesuchstuffinalittlebitofagood-boxofabarn，andsheswungherflailwithawill——ifitwasaflail；Iwasnotfarmerenoughtoknowwhatshewasat；afrowsy，bareleggedgirlwasherdinghalfadozengeesewithastick——drivingthemalongthelaneandkeepingthemoutofthedwellings；

acooperwasatworkinashopwhichIknowhedidnotmakesolargeathingasahogsheadin，fortherewasnotroom。

Inthefrontroomsofdwellingsgirlsandwomenwerecookingorspinning，andducksandchickenswerewaddlinginandout，overthethreshold，pickingupchancecrumbsandholdingpleasantconverse；averyoldandwrinkledmansatasleepbeforehisdoor，withhischinuponhisbreastandhisextinguishedpipeinhislap；soiledchildrenwereplayinginthedirteverywherealongthelane，unmindfulofthesun。

Exceptthesleepingoldman，everybodywasatwork，buttheplacewasverystillandpeaceful，nevertheless；

sostillthatthedistantcackleofthesuccessfulhensmoteupontheearbutlittledulledbyinterveningsounds。

Thatcommonestofvillagesightswaslackinghere——thepublicpump，withitsgreatstonetankortroughoflimpidwater，anditsgroupofgossipingpitcher-bearers；

forthereisnowellorfountainorspringonthistallhill；

cisternsofrain-waterareused。

Ouralpenstocksandmuslintailscompelledattention，andaswemovedthroughthevillagewegatheredaconsiderableprocessionoflittleboysandgirls，andsowentinsomestatetothecastle。Itprovedtobeanextensivepileofcrumblingwalls，arches，andtowers，massive，properlygroupedforpicturesqueeffect，weedy，grass-grown，andsatisfactory。

Thechildrenactedasguides；theywalkedusalongthetopofthehighestwalls，thentookusupintoahightowerandshowedusawideandbeautifullandscape，madeupofwavydistancesofwoodyhills，andanearerprospectofundulatingexpansesofgreenlowlands，ontheonehand，andcastle-gracedcragsandridgesontheother，withtheshiningcurvesoftheNeckarflowingbetween。

Buttheprincipalshow，thechiefprideofthechildren，wastheancientandemptywellinthegrass-growncourtofthecastle。Itsmassivestonecurbstandsupthreeorfourfeetabove-ground，andiswholeanduninjured。

ThechildrensaidthatintheMiddleAgesthiswellwasfourhundredfeetdeep，andfurnishedallthevillagewithanabundantsupplyofwater，inwarandpeace。

TheysaidthatintheolddayitsbottomwasbelowtheleveloftheNeckar，hencethewater-supplywasinexhaustible。

Butthereweresomewhobelievedithadneverbeenawellatall，andwasneverdeeperthanitisnow——eightyfeet；

thatatthatdepthasubterraneanpassagebranchedfromitanddescendedgraduallytoaremoteplaceinthevalley，whereitopenedintosomebody"scellarorotherhiddenrecess，andthatthesecretofthislocalityisnowlost。

ThosewhoholdthisbeliefsaythathereinliestheexplanationthatDilsberg，besiegedbyTillyandmanyasoldierbeforehim，wasnevertaken:afterthelongestandclosestsiegesthebesiegerswereastonishedtoperceivethatthebesiegedwereasfatandheartyasever，andwerewellfurnishedwithmunitionsofwar——thereforeitmustbethattheDilsbergershadbeenbringingthesethingsinthroughthesubterraneanpassageallthetime。

Thechildrensaidthattherewasintruthasubterraneanoutletdownthere，andtheywouldproveit。Sotheysetagreattrussofstrawonfireandthrewitdownthewell，whileweleanedonthecurbandwatchedtheglowingmassdescend。Itstruckbottomandgraduallyburnedout。

Nosmokecameup。Thechildrenclappedtheirhandsandsaid:

"Yousee!Nothingmakessomuchsmokeasburningstraw——nowwheredidthesmokegoto，ifthereisnosubterraneanoutlet?"

Soitseemedquiteevidentthatthesubterraneanoutletindeedexisted。Butthefinestthingwithintheruin"slimitswasanoblelinden，whichthechildrensaidwasfourhundredyearsold，andnodoubtitwas。Ithadamightytrunkandamightyspreadoflimbandfoliage。

Thelimbsnearthegroundwerenearlythethicknessofabarrel。

Thattreehadwitnessedtheassaultsofmeninmail——

howremotesuchatimeseems，andhowungraspableisthefactthatrealmeneverdidfightinrealarmor!——andithadseenthetimewhenthesebrokenarchesandcrumblingbattlementswereatrimandstrongandstatelyfortress，flutteringitsgaybannersinthesun，andpeopledwithvigoroushumanity——howimpossiblylongagothatseems!——andhereitstandsyet，andpossiblymaystillbestandinghere，sunningitselfanddreamingitshistoricaldreams，whentodayshallhavebeenjoinedtothedayscalled"ancient。"

Well，wesatdownunderthetreetosmoke，andthecaptaindeliveredhimselfofhislegend:

THELEGENDOFDILSBERGCASTLE

Itwastothiseffect。Intheoldtimestherewasonceagreatcompanyassembledatthecastle，andfestivityranhigh。Ofcoursetherewasahauntedchamberinthecastle，andonedaythetalkfelluponthat。

Itwassaidthatwhoeversleptinitwouldnotwakeagainforfiftyyears。NowwhenayoungknightnamedConradvonGeisbergheardthis，hesaidthatifthecastlewerehishewoulddestroythatchamber，sothatnofoolishpersonmighthavethechancetobringsodreadfulamisfortuneuponhimselfandafflictsuchaslovedhimwiththememoryofit。Straightway，thecompanyprivatelylaidtheirheadstogethertocontrivesomewaytogetthissuperstitiousyoungmantosleepinthatchamber。

Andtheysucceeded——inthisway。Theypersuadedhisbetrothed，alovelymischievousyoungcreature，nieceofthelordofthecastle，tohelpthemintheirplot。

Shepresentlytookhimasideandhadspeechwithhim。

Sheusedallherpersuasions，butcouldnotshakehim；

hesaidhisbeliefwasfirm，thatifheshouldsleeptherehewouldwakenomoreforfiftyyears，anditmadehimshuddertothinkofit。Catharinabegantoweep。

Thiswasabetterargument；Conradcouldnotoutagainstit。

Heyieldedandsaidsheshouldhaveherwishifshewouldonlysmileandbehappyagain。Sheflungherarmsabouthisneck，andthekissesshegavehimshowedthatherthankfulnessandherpleasurewereveryreal。Thensheflewtotellthecompanyhersuccess，andtheapplauseshereceivedmadehergladandproudshehadundertakenhermission，sinceallaloneshehadaccomplishedwhatthemultitudehadfailedin。

Atmidnight，thatnight，aftertheusualfeasting，Conradwastakentothehauntedchamberandleftthere。

Hefellasleep，byandby。

Whenheawokeagainandlookedabouthim，hisheartstoodstillwithhorror!Thewholeaspectofthechamberwaschanged。Thewallsweremoldyandhungwithancientcobwebs；thecurtainsandbeddingswererotten；

thefurniturewasricketyandreadytofalltopieces。

Hesprangoutofbed，buthisquakingkneessunkunderhimandhefelltothefloor。

"Thisistheweaknessofage，"hesaid。

Heroseandsoughthisclothing。Itwasclothingnolonger。

Thecolorsweregone，thegarmentsgavewayinmanyplaceswhilehewasputtingthemon。Hefled，shuddering，intothecorridor，andalongittothegreathall。Herehewasmetbyamiddle-agedstrangerofakindcountenance，whostoppedandgazedathimwithsurprise。Conradsaid:

"Goodsir，willyousendhitherthelordUlrich?"

Thestrangerlookedpuzzledamoment，thensaid:

"ThelordUlrich?"

"Yes——ifyouwillbesogood。"

Thestrangercalled——"Wilhelm!"Ayoungserving-mancame，andthestrangersaidtohim:

"IstherealordUlrichamongtheguests?"

"Iknownoneofthename，sopleaseyourhonor。"

Conradsaid，hesitatingly:

"Ididnotmeanaguest，butthelordofthecastle，sir。"

Thestrangerandtheservantexchangedwonderingglances。

Thentheformersaid:

"Iamthelordofthecastle。"

"Sincewhen，sir?"

"Sincethedeathofmyfather，thegoodlordUlrichmorethanfortyyearsago。"

Conradsankuponabenchandcoveredhisfacewithhishandswhileherockedhisbodytoandfroandmoaned。

Thestrangersaidinalowvoicetotheservant:

"Ifearmethispooroldcreatureismad。Callsomeone。"

Inamomentseveralpeoplecame，andgroupedthemselvesabout，talkinginwhispers。Conradlookedupandscannedthefacesabouthimwistfully。

Thenheshookhisheadandsaid，inagrievedvoice:

"No，thereisnoneamongyethatIknow。Iamoldandaloneintheworld。Theyaredeadandgonethesemanyyearsthatcaredforme。Butsure，someoftheseagedonesIseeaboutmecantellmesomelittlewordortwoconcerningthem。"

Severalbentandtotteringmenandwomencamenearerandansweredhisquestionsabouteachformerfriendashementionedthenames。Thisonetheysaidhadbeendeadtenyears，thatonetwenty，anotherthirty。

Eachsucceedingblowstruckheavierandheavier。

Atlastthesufferersaid:

"Thereisonemore，butIhavenotthecourageto——O

mylostCatharina!"

Oneoftheolddamessaid:

"Ah，Iknewherwell，poorsoul。Amisfortuneovertookherlover，andshediedofsorrownearlyfiftyyearsago。

Sheliethunderthelindentreewithoutthecourt。"

Conradbowedhisheadandsaid:

"Ah，whydidIeverwake!Andsoshediedofgriefforme，poorchild。Soyoung，sosweet，sogood!Sheneverwittinglydidahurtfulthinginallthelittlesummerofherlife。

Herlovingdebtshallberepaid——forIwilldieofgriefforher。"

Hisheaddroopeduponhisbreast。Inthemomenttherewasawildburstofjoyouslaughter，apairofroundyoungarmswereflungaboutConrad"sneckandasweetvoicecried:

"There，Conradmine，thykindwordskillme——thefarceshallgonofurther!Lookup，andlaughwithus——"twasallajest!"

Andhedidlookup，andgazed，inadazedwonderment——

forthedisguiseswerestrippedaway，andtheagedmenandwomenwerebrightandyoungandgayagain。

Catharina"shappytongueranon:

""Twasamarvelousjest，andbravelycarriedout。

Theygaveyouaheavysleeping-draughtbeforeyouwenttobed，andinthenighttheyboreyoutoaruinedchamberwhereallhadfallentodecay，andplacedtheseragsofclothingbyyou。Andwhenyoursleepwasspentandyoucameforth，twostrangers，wellinstructedintheirparts，wereheretomeetyou；andallwe，yourfriends，inourdisguises，werecloseathand，toseeandhear，youmaybesure。Ah，"twasagallantjest!Come，now，andmaketheereadyforthepleasuresoftheday。

Howrealwasthymiseryforthemoment，thoupoorlad!

Lookupandhavethylaugh，now!"

Helookedup，searchedthemerryfacesabouthiminadreamyway，thensighedandsaid:

"Iamaweary，goodstrangers，Iprayyouleadmetohergrave。"

Allthesmilevanishedaway，everycheekblanched，Catharinasunktothegroundinaswoon。

Alldaythepeoplewentaboutthecastlewithtroubledfaces，andcommunedtogetherinundertones。Apainfulhushpervadedtheplacewhichhadlatelybeensofullofcheerylife。EachinhisturntriedtoarouseConradoutofhishallucinationandbringhimtohimself；

butalltheansweranygotwasameek，bewilderedstare，andthenthewords:

"Goodstranger，Ihavenofriends，allareatrestthesemanyyears；yespeakmefair，yemeanmewell，butIknowyenot；Iamaloneandforlornintheworld——pritheeleadmetohergrave。"

DuringtwoyearsConradspenthisdays，fromtheearlymorningtillthenight，underthelindentree，mourningovertheimaginarygraveofhisCatharina。

Catharinawastheonlycompanyoftheharmlessmadman。

Hewasveryfriendlytowardherbecause，ashesaid，insomewayssheremindedhimofhisCatharinawhomhehadlost"fiftyyearsago。"Heoftensaid:

"Shewassogay，sohappy-hearted——butyouneversmile；

andalwayswhenyouthinkIamnotlooking，youcry。"

WhenConraddied，theyburiedhimunderthelinden，accordingtohisdirections，sothathemightrest"nearhispoorCatharina。"ThenCatharinasatunderthelindenalone，everydayandalldaylong，agreatmanyyears，speakingtonoone，andneversmiling；

andatlastherlongrepentancewasrewardedwithdeath，andshewasburiedbyConrad"sside。

Harrispleasedthecaptainbysayingitwasgoodlegend；

andpleasedhimfurtherbyadding:

"NowthatIhaveseenthismightytree，vigorouswithitsfourhundredyears，IfeeladesiretobelievethelegendforITSsake；soIwillhumorthedesire，andconsiderthatthetreereallywatchesoverthosepoorheartsandfeelsasortofhumantendernessforthem。"

WereturnedtoNecharsteinach，plungedourhotheadsintothetroughatthetownpump，andthenwenttothehotelandateourtroutdinnerinleisurelycomfort，inthegarden，withthebeautifulNeckarflowingatourfeet，thequaintDilsbergloomingbeyond，andthegracefultowersandbattlementsofacoupleofmedievalcastles(calledthe"Swallow"sNest"[1]and"TheBrothers。")

assistingtheruggedsceneryofabendoftheriverdowntoourright。Wegottoseainseasontomaketheeight-mileruntoHeidelbergbeforethenightshutdown。

Wesailedbythehotelinthemellowglowofsunset，andcameslashingdownwiththemadcurrentintothenarrowpassagebetweenthedikes。IbelievedIcouldshootthebridgemyself，andIwenttotheforwardtripletoflogsandrelievedthepilotofhispoleandhisresponsibility。

1。TheseekerafterinformationisreferredtoAppendixEforourcaptain"slegendofthe"Swallow"sNest"

and"TheBrothers。"

Wewenttearingalonginamostexhilaratingway，andI

performedthedelicatedutiesofmyofficeverywellindeedforafirstattempt；butperceiving，presently，thatI

reallywasgoingtoshootthebridgeitselfinsteadofthearchwayunderit，Ijudiciouslysteppedashore。

ThenextmomentIhadmylong-coveteddesire:Isawaraftwrecked。Ithitthepierinthecenterandwentalltosmashandscatterationlikeaboxofmatchesstruckbylightning。

Iwastheonlyoneofourpartywhosawthisgrandsight；

theotherswereattitudinizing，forthebenefitofthelongrankofyoungladieswhowerepromenadingonthebank，andsotheylostit。ButIhelpedtofishthemoutoftheriver，downbelowthebridge，andthendescribedittothemaswellasIcould。

Theywerenotinterested，though。Theysaidtheywerewetandfeltridiculousanddidnotcareanythingfordescriptionsofscenery。Theyoungladies，andotherpeople，crowdedaroundandshowedagreatdealofsympathy，butthatdidnothelpmatters；formyfriendssaidtheydidnotwantsympathy，theywantedabackalleyandsolitude。

CHAPTERXX

[MyPrecious，PricelessTear-Jug]

Nextmorningbroughtgoodnews——ourtrunkshadarrivedfromHamburgatlast。Letthisbeawarningtothereader。

TheGermansareveryconscientious，andthistraitmakesthemveryparticular。ThereforeifyoutellaGermanyouwantathingdoneimmediately，hetakesyouatyourword；

hethinksyoumeanwhatyousay；sohedoesthatthingimmediately——accordingtohisideaofimmediately——

whichisaboutaweek；thatis，itisaweekifitreferstothebuildingofagarment，oritisanhourandahalfifitreferstothecookingofatrout。Verywell；ifyoutellaGermantosendyourtrunktoyouby"slowfreight，"

hetakesyouatyourword；hesendsitby"slowfreight，"

andyoucannotimaginehowlongyouwillgoonenlargingyouradmirationoftheexpressivenessofthatphraseintheGermantongue，beforeyougetthattrunk。

Thehaironmytrunkwassoftandthickandyouthful，whenIgotitreadyforshipmentinHamburg；itwasbaldheadedwhenitreachedHeidelberg。However，itwasstillsound，thatwasacomfort，itwasnotbatteredintheleast；

thebaggagemenseemedtobeconscientiouslycareful，inGermany，ofthebaggageentrustedtotheirhands。

Therewasnothingnowinthewayofourdeparture，thereforewesetaboutourpreparations。

NaturallymychiefsolicitudewasaboutmycollectionofCeramics。OfcourseIcouldnottakeitwithme，thatwouldbeinconvenient，anddangerousbesides。

Itookadvice，butthebestbrick-a-brackersweredividedastothewisestcoursetopursue；somesaidpackthecollectionandwarehouseit；otherssaidtrytogetitintotheGrandDucalMuseumatMannheimforsafekeeping。

SoIdividedthecollection，andfollowedtheadviceofbothparties。Isetaside，fortheMuseum，thosearticleswhichwerethemostfrailandprecious。

AmongthesewasmyEtruscantear-jug。Ihavemadealittlesketchofithere；[Figure6]thatthingcreepingupthesideisnotabug，itisahole。Iboughtthistear-jugofadealerinantiquitiesforfourhundredandfiftydollars。Itisveryrare。ThemansaidtheEtruscansusedtokeeptearsorsomethinginthesethings，andthatitwasveryhardtogetholdofabrokenone，now。

IalsosetasidemyHenriII。plate。Seesketchfrommypencil；[Figure7]itisinthemaincorrect，thoughIthinkIhaveforeshortenedoneendofitalittletoomuch，perhaps。Thisisveryfineandrare；theshapeisexceedinglybeautifulandunusual。Ithaswonderfuldecorationsonit，butIamnotabletoreproducethem。

Itcostmorethanthetear-jug，asthedealersaidtherewasnotanotherplatejustlikeitintheworld。

HesaidtherewasmuchfalseHenriIIwarearound，butthatthegenuinenessofthispiecewasunquestionable。