Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/252

 come down, he hid his head in his handkerchief, and patiently waited his fate.

"Prepare, baron," cried I, "for thine end is near!"

"Spare me, but this once!" muttered he with a quavering voice.

"You are past salvation!" replied. I laughing, in my natural tone, which he immediately knew, and staring at me with glad surprise, said, "I rejoice my dear count to see you alive. It was a shocking piece of fun!"

In a few words I told him the story, and pointing at the lady who had fainted, he started up, with all the eagerness of a petit maitre to assist her.

I rallied the scattered varlets, and sent them to their master. The rest of the guests were in the lodge with the marchioness, half dead with fear, and on seeing me come in, instead of some spirit whose visit they dreaded, they joyfully shouted, "Ah! 'tis the count!"

While I was relating the particulars of the