And now the frolic began. The invisible dwarf pulled out the pins which fastened the myrtle garland on the bride’s head, and Jacob pushed a large dish out of the hand of the butler which splashed the gravy over the guests; meanwhile the bridal wreath fell from the head of the bride—a bad omen, which might well wrinkle the brows of the old ladies, and set the younger ones a whispering.
A pause ensued, in which the guests, who waited the filling of the bumpers to resume the conversation, set their jaws briskly in motion.
But, good saints defend us! what was the surprise of the whole company, when, on the appearance of the second course, scarcely had they got a morsel on their forks and raised it to their mouths, ere it was snatched away by the dwarf or by Jacob, who crammed it with much laughter into their invisible wallets. The guests opened their eyes wider and wider,—their faces lengthened more and more,—a silence like that of midnight in a cemetery, reigned throughout the whole room,—knives, mouths, jaws, were laid at rest, while each gaped in blank astonishment upon his neighbour. Flagon after flagon, cup after cup, now disappeared from the table, and still the thief remained invisible! Well might the hair of the guests now begin to rise on end; every where all was silent as death,—not a sound was heard but the chattering of teeth.
How they might best make their way out of the enchanted room, or hide themselves under the table, was now the question with the horror-stricken guests. Most of them were about to adopt the latter alternative, when, the dwarf having suddenly snatched the cap from the head of his companion, all at once the culprit stood revealed to their astonished sight, sitting upon his heels, with each arm supported by a well-filled wallet.
The death-like silence now gave place to the most outrageous uproar; every arm and every tongue was again in motion, while Jacob, with his head hanging down like a broken
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