Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/246

 mestics, but our entertainer declaring; the matter to be serious, ordered lighted torches, and begging the ladies quietly to wait his return, drew his sword, and requested us to follow him equally armed.

"Here a scene of tenderness ensued; all the ladies, married or single, barricaded the door, and conjured us not to leave them alone. At last it was unanimously agreed, that the whole company should go in quest of the goblin. The ladies formed the centre, the servants with their lighted torches flanked the feminine group, and the gentlemen, with drawn swords, led the van or covered the rear,

"The emotion of our host, made me hesitate in my opinion of the matter, as I knew dissimulation to make no part of his character. I thought him incapable of wantonly frightening our fair partners, and believed some real end sufficient cause must be at the bottom.

"A solemn silence prevailed for some time, which Baron Braggart finally broke with as big an oath, as fear could possibly have made him utter. The lady who was