Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/227

 travellers to advantage. Determined to play upon their fear of spirits, I immediately went to the house of the sexton, whom I had got acquainted with, and not finding him at home, took possession of his official black cloak and ruff, with a pumpkin I found lying in the press. Furnished with these articles, and a stout cudgel, I betook myself to the wood, and there prepared my costume. You know, my Lord, what use I made of it; and there can be no question that, without your interference, I should have been completely successful in this master-stroke of mine; indeed, the game was already won. After having got rid of the two poltroons, I intended to penetrate as deep into the wood as I could, and then, doing the ladies no personal injury, to effect a little exchange, my black cloak, now no longer of use to me, for their cash and jewels; and then, having wished them a good journey, and recommending myself to their favourable remembrance, to make the best of my way off.

“As to yourself, my Lord, I must confess I had not the slightest idea of your coming to spoil my sport. The world is now so frightfully incredulous that your name no longer serves to frighten even children; and were it not that some ninny like the Countess’s servant, or some old wife at her wheel, every now and then revives your name, we should long since have forgotten even that.