Page:The Enchanted Knights; or The Chronicle of the Three Sisters.djvu/13



rich count, whose name many noble houses would not care to see here, lived like a king, squandered away all his property and possessions, kept open house to all who came to see him, and entertained them in the most sumptuous manner for three days. His guests reeled away highly delighted with the hospitality of their noble entertainer. He was fond of backgammon and dice; his court was full of golden-curled pages, runners, and heiduques, in brilliant liveries; in his stables were stalled innumerable horses, and in his kennels kept hounds of the highest breed. This extravagance melted his treasures away. He mortgaged town after town, sold his jewels and plate, dismissed the servants and shot the dogs, so that nothing was left