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"Eat," bade she as called Gretchen, shortly

"And ate"

She struck a Chinese gong From the kitchen appeared an elderly

servitor who looked to -knife; at least, the scar on his cheek impressed me with this

idea (I found out later that he was an old soldier, who lived alone

in the castle as caretaker)

"Take this gentleman's horse to the stables and feed hiate"

With a questioning glance at me the old felloed and ht the various plates and placed

them within reach Their beautiful hands flashed before my eyes and

now and then a sleeve brushed my shoulder

"Thank you," I ies"

This rehed It was the

sareat hall

"Will you drink tea, or would you prefer to finish this Bordeaux?" she

asked pleasantly

"The wine, if you please; otherwise the effect of the

hours in the ill produce sleepiness And it would be frightfully

discourteous on my part to fall asleep in irl poured out the wine and passed the goblet to lass, and bent my head politely Then I