Page:German Stories (Volumes 2–3).djvu/411

“While I was still perplexing myself, and considering in vain what could have produced the sudden change from sadness to gaiety in the bride’s appearance, my attention was attracted by a whispering conversation that was carried on at the principal entrance, between the Count and the house steward. That the subject of their discourse must be somewhat of importance, was proved by the angry looks with which the former received the gardener, who now came in, and who seemed to be referred to by the steward as a witness of some extraordinary and unexpected event. I hastened up to them, resolved to know what was the cause of all this, and heard that the organ had been played, no one knew by whom, in the chapel, of which the windows also had been illuminated all the night till twelve o’clock, which was now just past. The Count was in the utmost degree indignant at this nursery fable, as he termed it, and inquired, if the facts were so, why he had not been summoned long before as a witness? The gardener declared that he had been afraid to mention it, and had contented himself with watching till the light disappeared. ‘Besides,’ added he, ‘if I dare speak the truth, the old chaplain has