Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 1.djvu/181

 So saying, the Baron rose and left me in such perplexity, that I was not able to utter a word in reply. My friend was not less frightened than myself, when I told him, his antagonist pretended to know the whole of our secret transaction. The remainder of the day was spent it preparations for the duel, and in settling all the affairs of my friend, in case he should be killed.

Volkert came in the evening as usual, being afraid of being known to have any connexion with us: He trembled violently when we told him that the Baron was arrived, but understanding that he would not make public the dreadful wrongs which he had suffered, the poor fellow recovered from his fright, and offered to assist the Lieutenant's servant who was scowering his master's pistols. This task was soon finished, the two braces of pistols cleaned and charged with bullets.

We sat down conversing and drinking punch 'till midnight, when Volkert left us