Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/255

 up, was re-echoed by the baron with redoubled violence. The latter, probably recollecting that it was past midnight, challenged the company to repair instantly to the chapel. The marchioness, feigning not to pay any attention to what he said, and to be disconcerted at the laugh, declared, that gentlemen might laugh as much as they pleased, but the would lay a wager, that none of them was hardy enough to fetch the fan she had left on her seat in the chapel during the morning service.

"This challenge was followed by a general pause, when the marquis thought proper to break the silence, by assuring his spouse, that he would gladly agree to any bet he should venture to lay, and was sure of there not being a gentleman present, that would not render her the solicited office in that very hour. We all gave it as our opinion, that the marchioness would forfeit her wager, and left her at liberty to choose a champion. Her eyes then petulantly over-run all the company, and whenever the fixed them on the baron, he each time turned pale. Several