Page:Stories Translated from the German.djvu/216

 world, ladies and gentlemen, and also many celebrated men. The host and his lady welcomed the learned professor in a most friendly manner.

After some little time, the French ladies, who had been engaged in a spirited conversation with some of their own countrymen in a distant corner of the room, now approached nearer.

"Heavens, my honoured friend!" exclaimed she in her language, "what an extraordinary epistle you have sent me to day! I was in the country, and found it on my return home, but have so little recovered from my astonishment and surprise on perusing it, that I have brought the letter with me. I must beg of you, dearest Sir, to apologise in a suitable manner, if you wish me to forgive you this incomprehensible attack of your hypochondriacal humour."

"There is no question about apology," exclaimed the German in violent excitement; "The apology ought to come from you, but however artfully you might attempt to introduce it, you would not succeed in talking me out of my resolution."

She replied with some vivacity, as she was naturally lively, and the tone of the professor, who scarcely gave himself any trouble ta restrain