第8章

However，inthemeantimeithadtranspiredthatthemenemployedtocalktherafthadfoundthattheleakwasnotaleakatall，butonlyacrackbetweenthelogs——acrackthatbelongedthere，andwasnotdangerous，buthadbeenmagnifiedintoaleakbythedisorderedimaginationofthemate。Thereforewewentaboardagainwithagooddegreeofconfidence，andpresentlygottoseawithoutaccident。 Asweswamsmoothlyalongbetweentheenchantingshores，wefelltoswappingnotesaboutmannersandcustomsinGermanyandelsewhere。 AsIwrite，now，manymonthslater，Iperceivethateachofus，byobservingandnotingandinquiring，diligentlyanddaybyday，hadmanagedtolayinamostvariedandopulentstockofmisinformation。Butthisisnotsurprising； itisverydifficulttogetaccuratedetailsinanycountry。 Forexample，Ihadtheideaonce，inHeidelberg，tofindoutallaboutthosefivestudent-corps。IstartedwiththeWhiteCapcorps。Ibegantoinquireofthisandthatandtheothercitizen，andhereiswhatIfoundout: 1。ItiscalledthePrussianCorps，becausenonebutPrussiansareadmittedtoit。 2。ItiscalledthePrussianCorpsfornoparticularreason。 IthassimplypleasedeachcorpstonameitselfaftersomeGermanstate。 3。ItisnotnamedthePrussianCorpsatall，butonlytheWhiteCapCorps。 4。AnystudentcanbelongtoitwhoisaGermanbybirth。 5。AnystudentcanbelongtoitwhoisEuropeanbybirth。 6。AnyEuropean-bornstudentcanbelongtoit，excepthebeaFrenchman。 7。Anystudentcanbelongtoit，nomatterwherehewasborn。 8。Nostudentcanbelongtoitwhoisnotofnobleblood。 9。Nostudentcanbelongtoitwhocannotshowthreefullgenerationsofnobledescent。 10。Nobilityisnotanecessaryqualification。 11。Nomoneylessstudentcanbelongtoit。 12。Moneyqualificationisnonsense——suchathinghasneverbeenthoughtof。 Igotsomeofthisinformationfromstudentsthemselves—— studentswhodidnotbelongtothecorps。 Ifinallywenttoheadquarters——totheWhiteCaps——whereI wouldhavegoneinthefirstplaceifIhadbeenacquainted。 ButevenatheadquartersIfounddifficulties；IperceivedthattherewerethingsabouttheWhiteCapCorpswhichonememberknewandanotheronedidn\'t。Itwasnatural； forveryfewmembersofanyorganizationknowALLthatcanbeknownaboutit。IdoubtthereisamanorawomaninHeidelbergwhowouldnotanswerpromptlyandconfidentlythreeoutofeveryfivequestionsabouttheWhiteCapCorpswhichastrangermightask；yetitisaverysafebetthattwoofthethreeanswerswouldbeincorrecteverytime。 ThereisoneGermancustomwhichisuniversal——thebowingcourteouslytostrangerswhensittingdownattableorrisingupfromit。Thisbowstartlesastrangeroutofhisself-possession，thefirsttimeitoccurs，andheislikelytofalloverachairorsomething，inhisembarrassment，butitpleaseshim，nevertheless。Onesoonlearnstoexpectthisbowandbeonthelookoutandreadytoreturnit； buttolearntoleadoffandmaketheinitialbowone\'sselfisadifficultmatterforadiffidentman。 Onethinks，\"IfIrisetogo，andtendermybox，andtheseladiesandgentlementakeitintotheirheadstoignorethecustomoftheirnation，andnotreturnit，howshallIfeel，incaseIsurvivetofeelanything。\" Thereforeheisafraidtoventure。Hesitsoutthedinner，andmakesthestrangersrisefirstandoriginatethebowing。 Atabled\'ho^tedinnerisatediousaffairforamanwhoseldomtouchesanythingafterthethreefirstcourses； thereforeIusedtodosomeprettydrearywaitingbecauseofmyfears。Ittookmemonthstoassuremyselfthatthosefearsweregroundless，butIdidassuremyselfatlastbyexperimentingdiligentlythroughmyagent。 ImadeHarrisgetupandbowandleave；invariablyhisbowwasreturned，thenIgotupandbowedmyselfandretired。 Thusmyeducationproceededeasilyandcomfortablyforme，butnotforHarris。Threecoursesofatabled\'ho^tedinnerwereenoughforme，butHarrispreferredthirteen。 EvenafterIhadacquiredfullconfidence，andnolongerneededtheagent\'shelp，Isometimesencountereddifficulties。 OnceatBaden-BadenInearlylostatrainbecauseIcouldnotbesurethatthreeyoungladiesoppositemeattablewereGermans，sinceIhadnotheardthemspeak；theymightbeAmerican，theymightbeEnglish，itwasnotsafetoventureabow；butjustasIhadgotthatfarwithmythought，oneofthembeganaGermanremark，tomygreatreliefandgratitude；andbeforeshegotoutherthirdword，ourbowshadbeendeliveredandgraciouslyreturned，andwewereoff。 ThereisafriendlysomethingabouttheGermancharacterwhichisverywinning。WhenHarrisandIweremakingapedestriantourthroughtheBlackForest，westoppedatalittlecountryinnfordinneroneday；twoyoungladiesandayounggentlemanenteredandsatdownoppositeus。 Theywerepedestrians，too。Ourknapsackswerestrappeduponourbacks，buttheyhadasturdyyouthalongtocarrytheirsforthem。Allpartieswerehungry，sotherewasnotalking。Byandbytheusualbowswereexchanged，andweseparated。 AswesatatalatebreakfastinthehotelatAllerheiligen，nextmorning，theseyoungpeopleandtookplacesnearuswithoutobservingus；butpresentlytheysawusandatoncebowedandsmiled；notceremoniously，butwiththegratifiedlookofpeoplewhohavefoundacquaintanceswheretheywereexpectingstrangers。 Thentheyspokeoftheweatherandtheroads。Wealsospokeoftheweatherandtheroads。Next，theysaidtheyhadhadanenjoyablewalk，notwithstandingtheweather。 Wesaidthatthathadbeenourcase，too。ThentheysaidtheyhadwalkedthirtyEnglishmilesthedaybefore，andaskedhowmanywehadwalked。Icouldnotlie，soI toldHarristodoit。HarristoldthemwehadmadethirtyEnglishmiles，too。Thatwastrue；wehad\"made\"them，thoughwehadhadalittleassistancehereandthere。 Afterbreakfasttheyfoundustryingtoblastsomeinformationoutofthedumbhotelclerkaboutroutes，andobservingthatwewerenotsucceedingprettywell，theywentandgottheirmapsandthings，andpointedoutandexplainedourcoursesoclearlythatevenaNewYorkdetectivecouldhavefollowedit。Andwhenwestartedtheyspokeoutaheartygood-byandwishedusapleasantjourney。Perhapstheyweremoregenerouswithusthantheymighthavebeenwithnativewayfarersbecausewewereaforlornlotandinastrangeland； Idon\'tknow；Ionlyknowitwaslovelytobetreatedso。 Verywell，ItookanAmericanyoungladytooneofthefineballsinBaden-Baden，onenight，andattheentrance-doorupstairswewerehaltedbyanofficial——somethingaboutMissJones\'sdresswasnotaccordingtorule；Idon\'trememberwhatitwas，now；somethingwaswanting——herbackhair，orashawl，orafan，orashovel，orsomething。 Theofficialwaseversopolite，andeverysosorry，buttherulewasstrict，andhecouldnotletusin。 Itwasveryembarrassing，formanyeyeswereonus。 Butnowarichlydressedgirlsteppedoutoftheballroom，inquiredintothetrouble，andsaidshecouldfixitinamoment。ShetookMissJonestotherobing-room，andsoonbroughtherbackinregulationtrim，andthenweenteredtheballroomwiththisbenefactressunchallenged。 Beingsafe，now，Ibegantopuzzlethroughmysincerebutungrammaticalthanks，whentherewasasuddenmutualrecognition——thebenefactressandIhadmetatAllerheiligen。 Twoweekshadnotalteredhergoodface，andplainlyherheartwasintherightplaceyet，buttherewassuchadifferencebetweentheseclothesandtheclothesI hadseenherinbefore，whenshewaswalkingthirtymilesadayintheBlackForest，thatitwasquitenaturalthatIhadfailedtorecognizehersooner。IhadonMY othersuit，too，butmyGermanwouldbetraymetoapersonwhohadhearditonce，anyway。Shebroughtherbrotherandsister，andtheymadeourwaysmoothforthatevening。 Well——monthsafterward，IwasdrivingthroughthestreetsofMunichinacabwithaGermanlady，oneday，whenshesaid: \"There，thatisPrinceLudwigandhiswife，walkingalongthere。\" Everybodywasbowingtothem——cabmen，littlechildren，andeverybodyelse——andtheywerereturningallthebowsandoverlookingnobody，whenayoungladymetthemandmadeadeepcourtesy。 \"Thatisprobablyoneoftheladiesofthecourt，\" saidmyGermanfriend。 Isaid: \"Sheisanhonortoit，then。Iknowher。Idon\'tknowhername，butIknowHER。IhaveknownheratAllerheiligenandBaden-Baden。SheoughttobeanEmpress，butshemaybeonlyaDuchess；itisthewaythingsgointhisway。\" IfoneasksaGermanacivilquestion，hewillbequitesuretogetacivilanswer。IfyoustopaGermaninthestreetandaskhimtodirectyoutoacertainplace，heshowsnosignoffeelingoffended。Iftheplacebedifficulttofind，tentoonethemanwilldrophisownmattersandgowithyouandshowyou。 InLondon，too，manyatime，strangershavewalkedseveralblockswithmetoshowmemyway。 Thereissomethingveryrealaboutthissortofpoliteness。 Quiteoften，inGermany，shopkeeperswhocouldnotfurnishmethearticleIwantedhavesentoneoftheiremployeeswithmetoshowmeaplacewhereitcouldbehad。 CHAPTERXIX [TheDeadlyJestofDilsberg] However，Iwanderfromtheraft。WemadetheportofNecharsteinachingoodseason，andwenttothehotelandorderedatroutdinner，thesametobereadyagainstourreturnfromatwo-hourpedestrianexcursiontothevillageandcastleofDilsberg，amiledistant，ontheothersideoftheriver。Idonotmeanthatweproposedtobetwohoursmakingtwomiles——no，wemeanttoemploymostofthetimeininspectingDilsberg。 ForDilsbergisaquaintplace。Itismostquaintlyandpicturesquelysituated，too。Imaginethebeautifulriverbeforeyou；thenafewrodsofbrilliantgreenswardonitsoppositeshore；thenasuddenhill——nopreparatorygentlyrisingslopes，butasortofinstantaneoushill—— ahilltwohundredandfiftyorthreehundredfeethigh，asroundasabowl，withthesametaperupwardthataninvertedbowlhas，andwithaboutthesamerelationofheighttodiameterthatdistinguishesabowlofgoodhonestdepth——ahillwhichisthicklyclothedwithgreenbushes——acomely，shapelyhill，risingabruptlyoutofthedeadlevelofthesurroundinggreenplains，visiblefromagreatdistancedownthebendsoftheriver，andwithjustexactlyroomonthetopofitsheadforitssteepledandturretedandroof-clusteredcapofarchitecture，whichsameistightlyjammedandcompactedwithintheperfectlyroundhoopoftheancientvillagewall。 Thereisnohouseoutsidethewallonthewholehill，oranyvestigeofaformerhouse；allthehousesareinsidethewall，butthereisn\'troomforanotherone。 Itisreallyafinishedtown，andhasbeenfinishedaverylongtime。Thereisnospacebetweenthewallandthefirstcircleofbuildings；no，thevillagewallisitselftherearwallofthefirstcircleofbuildings，andtheroofsjutalittleoverthewallandthusfurnishitwitheaves。Thegenerallevelofthemassedroofsisgracefullybrokenandrelievedbythedominatingtowersoftheruinedcastleandthetallspiresofacoupleofchurches；so，fromadistanceDilsberghasrathermorethelookofaking\'scrownthanacap。 Thatloftygreeneminenceanditsquaintcoronetformquiteastrikingpicture，youmaybesure，intheflushoftheeveningsun。 Wecrossedoverinaboatandbegantheascentbyanarrow，steeppathwhichplungedusatonceintotheleafydeepsofthebushes。Buttheywerenotcooldeepsbyanymeans，forthesun\'srayswerewelteringhotandtherewaslittleornobreezetotemperthem。Aswepantedupthesharpascent，wemetbrown，bareheadedandbarefootedboysandgirls，occasionally，andsometimesmen； theycameuponuswithoutwarning，theygaveusgoodday，flashedoutofsightinthebushes，andweregoneassuddenlyandmysteriouslyastheyhadcome。Theywereboundfortheothersideoftherivertowork。Thispathhadbeentraveledbymanygenerationsofthesepeople。 Theyhavealwaysgonedowntothevalleytoearntheirbread，buttheyhavealwaysclimbedtheirhillagaintoeatit，andtosleepintheirsnugtown。 ItissaidthetheDilsbergersdonotemigratemuch； theyfindthatlivingupthereabovetheworld，intheirpeacefulnest，ispleasanterthanlivingdowninthetroublousworld。Thesevenhundredinhabitantsareallblood-kintoeachother，too；theyhavealwaysbeenblood-kintoeachotherforfifteenhundredyears；theyaresimplyonelargefamily，andtheylikethehomefolksbetterthantheylikestrangers，hencetheypersistentlystayathome。 IthasbeensaidthatforagesDilsberghasbeenmerelyathrivinganddiligentidiot-factory。Isawnoidiotsthere，butthecaptainsaid，\"Becauseoflateyearsthegovernmenthastakentoluggingthemofftoasylumsandotherwheres； andgovernmentwantstocripplethefactory，too，andistryingtogettheseDilsbergerstomarryoutofthefamily，buttheydon\'tliketo。\" Thecaptainprobablyimaginedallthis，asmodernsciencedeniesthattheintermarryingofrelativesdeterioratesthestock。 Arrivedwithinthewall，wefoundtheusualvillagesightsandlife。Wemovedalonganarrow，crookedlanewhichhadbeenpavedintheMiddleAges。Astrapping，ruddygirlwasbeatingflaxorsomesuchstuffinalittlebitofagood-boxofabarn，andsheswungherflailwithawill——ifitwasaflail；Iwasnotfarmerenoughtoknowwhatshewasat；afrowsy，bareleggedgirlwasherdinghalfadozengeesewithastick——drivingthemalongthelaneandkeepingthemoutofthedwellings； acooperwasatworkinashopwhichIknowhedidnotmakesolargeathingasahogsheadin，fortherewasnotroom。 Inthefrontroomsofdwellingsgirlsandwomenwerecookingorspinning，andducksandchickenswerewaddlinginandout，overthethreshold，pickingupchancecrumbsandholdingpleasantconverse；averyoldandwrinkledmansatasleepbeforehisdoor，withhischinuponhisbreastandhisextinguishedpipeinhislap；soiledchildrenwereplayinginthedirteverywherealongthelane，unmindfulofthesun。 Exceptthesleepingoldman，everybodywasatwork，buttheplacewasverystillandpeaceful，nevertheless； sostillthatthedistantcackleofthesuccessfulhensmoteupontheearbutlittledulledbyinterveningsounds。 Thatcommonestofvillagesightswaslackinghere——thepublicpump，withitsgreatstonetankortroughoflimpidwater，anditsgroupofgossipingpitcher-bearers； forthereisnowellorfountainorspringonthistallhill； cisternsofrain-waterareused。 Ouralpenstocksandmuslintailscompelledattention，andaswemovedthroughthevillagewegatheredaconsiderableprocessionoflittleboysandgirls，andsowentinsomestatetothecastle。Itprovedtobeanextensivepileofcrumblingwalls，arches，andtowers，massive，properlygroupedforpicturesqueeffect，weedy，grass-grown，andsatisfactory。 Thechildrenactedasguides；theywalkedusalongthetopofthehighestwalls，thentookusupintoahightowerandshowedusawideandbeautifullandscape，madeupofwavydistancesofwoodyhills，andanearerprospectofundulatingexpansesofgreenlowlands，ontheonehand，andcastle-gracedcragsandridgesontheother，withtheshiningcurvesoftheNeckarflowingbetween。 Buttheprincipalshow，thechiefprideofthechildren，wastheancientandemptywellinthegrass-growncourtofthecastle。Itsmassivestonecurbstandsupthreeorfourfeetabove-ground，andiswholeanduninjured。 ThechildrensaidthatintheMiddleAgesthiswellwasfourhundredfeetdeep，andfurnishedallthevillagewithanabundantsupplyofwater，inwarandpeace。 TheysaidthatintheolddayitsbottomwasbelowtheleveloftheNeckar，hencethewater-supplywasinexhaustible。 Butthereweresomewhobelievedithadneverbeenawellatall，andwasneverdeeperthanitisnow——eightyfeet； thatatthatdepthasubterraneanpassagebranchedfromitanddescendedgraduallytoaremoteplaceinthevalley，whereitopenedintosomebody\'scellarorotherhiddenrecess，andthatthesecretofthislocalityisnowlost。 ThosewhoholdthisbeliefsaythathereinliestheexplanationthatDilsberg，besiegedbyTillyandmanyasoldierbeforehim，wasnevertaken:afterthelongestandclosestsiegesthebesiegerswereastonishedtoperceivethatthebesiegedwereasfatandheartyasever，andwerewellfurnishedwithmunitionsofwar——thereforeitmustbethattheDilsbergershadbeenbringingthesethingsinthroughthesubterraneanpassageallthetime。 Thechildrensaidthattherewasintruthasubterraneanoutletdownthere，andtheywouldproveit。Sotheysetagreattrussofstrawonfireandthrewitdownthewell，whileweleanedonthecurbandwatchedtheglowingmassdescend。Itstruckbottomandgraduallyburnedout。 Nosmokecameup。Thechildrenclappedtheirhandsandsaid: \"Yousee!Nothingmakessomuchsmokeasburningstraw——nowwheredidthesmokegoto，ifthereisnosubterraneanoutlet?\" Soitseemedquiteevidentthatthesubterraneanoutletindeedexisted。Butthefinestthingwithintheruin\'slimitswasanoblelinden，whichthechildrensaidwasfourhundredyearsold，andnodoubtitwas。Ithadamightytrunkandamightyspreadoflimbandfoliage。 Thelimbsnearthegroundwerenearlythethicknessofabarrel。 Thattreehadwitnessedtheassaultsofmeninmail—— howremotesuchatimeseems，andhowungraspableisthefactthatrealmeneverdidfightinrealarmor!——andithadseenthetimewhenthesebrokenarchesandcrumblingbattlementswereatrimandstrongandstatelyfortress，flutteringitsgaybannersinthesun，andpeopledwithvigoroushumanity——howimpossiblylongagothatseems!——andhereitstandsyet，andpossiblymaystillbestandinghere，sunningitselfanddreamingitshistoricaldreams，whentodayshallhavebeenjoinedtothedayscalled\"ancient。\" Well，wesatdownunderthetreetosmoke，andthecaptaindeliveredhimselfofhislegend: THELEGENDOFDILSBERGCASTLE Itwastothiseffect。Intheoldtimestherewasonceagreatcompanyassembledatthecastle，andfestivityranhigh。Ofcoursetherewasahauntedchamberinthecastle，andonedaythetalkfelluponthat。 Itwassaidthatwhoeversleptinitwouldnotwakeagainforfiftyyears。NowwhenayoungknightnamedConradvonGeisbergheardthis，hesaidthatifthecastlewerehishewoulddestroythatchamber，sothatnofoolishpersonmighthavethechancetobringsodreadfulamisfortuneuponhimselfandafflictsuchaslovedhimwiththememoryofit。Straightway，thecompanyprivatelylaidtheirheadstogethertocontrivesomewaytogetthissuperstitiousyoungmantosleepinthatchamber。 Andtheysucceeded——inthisway。Theypersuadedhisbetrothed，alovelymischievousyoungcreature，nieceofthelordofthecastle，tohelpthemintheirplot。 Shepresentlytookhimasideandhadspeechwithhim。 Sheusedallherpersuasions，butcouldnotshakehim； hesaidhisbeliefwasfirm，thatifheshouldsleeptherehewouldwakenomoreforfiftyyears，anditmadehimshuddertothinkofit。Catharinabegantoweep。 Thiswasabetterargument；Conradcouldnotoutagainstit。 Heyieldedandsaidsheshouldhaveherwishifshewouldonlysmileandbehappyagain。Sheflungherarmsabouthisneck，andthekissesshegavehimshowedthatherthankfulnessandherpleasurewereveryreal。Thensheflewtotellthecompanyhersuccess，andtheapplauseshereceivedmadehergladandproudshehadundertakenhermission，sinceallaloneshehadaccomplishedwhatthemultitudehadfailedin。 Atmidnight，thatnight，aftertheusualfeasting，Conradwastakentothehauntedchamberandleftthere。 Hefellasleep，byandby。 Whenheawokeagainandlookedabouthim，hisheartstoodstillwithhorror!Thewholeaspectofthechamberwaschanged。Thewallsweremoldyandhungwithancientcobwebs；thecurtainsandbeddingswererotten； thefurniturewasricketyandreadytofalltopieces。 Hesprangoutofbed，buthisquakingkneessunkunderhimandhefelltothefloor。 \"Thisistheweaknessofage，\"hesaid。 Heroseandsoughthisclothing。Itwasclothingnolonger。 Thecolorsweregone，thegarmentsgavewayinmanyplaceswhilehewasputtingthemon。Hefled，shuddering，intothecorridor，andalongittothegreathall。Herehewasmetbyamiddle-agedstrangerofakindcountenance，whostoppedandgazedathimwithsurprise。Conradsaid: \"Goodsir，willyousendhitherthelordUlrich?\" Thestrangerlookedpuzzledamoment，thensaid: \"ThelordUlrich?\" \"Yes——ifyouwillbesogood。\" Thestrangercalled——\"Wilhelm!\"Ayoungserving-mancame，andthestrangersaidtohim: \"IstherealordUlrichamongtheguests?\" \"Iknownoneofthename，sopleaseyourhonor。\" Conradsaid，hesitatingly: \"Ididnotmeanaguest，butthelordofthecastle，sir。\" Thestrangerandtheservantexchangedwonderingglances。 Thentheformersaid: \"Iamthelordofthecastle。\" \"Sincewhen，sir?\" \"Sincethedeathofmyfather，thegoodlordUlrichmorethanfortyyearsago。\" Conradsankuponabenchandcoveredhisfacewithhishandswhileherockedhisbodytoandfroandmoaned。 Thestrangersaidinalowvoicetotheservant: \"Ifearmethispooroldcreatureismad。Callsomeone。\" Inamomentseveralpeoplecame，andgroupedthemselvesabout，talkinginwhispers。Conradlookedupandscannedthefacesabouthimwistfully。 Thenheshookhisheadandsaid，inagrievedvoice: \"No，thereisnoneamongyethatIknow。Iamoldandaloneintheworld。Theyaredeadandgonethesemanyyearsthatcaredforme。Butsure，someoftheseagedonesIseeaboutmecantellmesomelittlewordortwoconcerningthem。\" Severalbentandtotteringmenandwomencamenearerandansweredhisquestionsabouteachformerfriendashementionedthenames。Thisonetheysaidhadbeendeadtenyears，thatonetwenty，anotherthirty。 Eachsucceedingblowstruckheavierandheavier。 Atlastthesufferersaid: \"Thereisonemore，butIhavenotthecourageto——O mylostCatharina!\" Oneoftheolddamessaid: \"Ah，Iknewherwell，poorsoul。Amisfortuneovertookherlover，andshediedofsorrownearlyfiftyyearsago。 Sheliethunderthelindentreewithoutthecourt。\" Conradbowedhisheadandsaid: \"Ah，whydidIeverwake!Andsoshediedofgriefforme，poorchild。Soyoung，sosweet，sogood!Sheneverwittinglydidahurtfulthinginallthelittlesummerofherlife。 Herlovingdebtshallberepaid——forIwilldieofgriefforher。\" Hisheaddroopeduponhisbreast。Inthemomenttherewasawildburstofjoyouslaughter，apairofroundyoungarmswereflungaboutConrad\'sneckandasweetvoicecried: \"There，Conradmine，thykindwordskillme——thefarceshallgonofurther!Lookup，andlaughwithus——\'twasallajest!\" Andhedidlookup，andgazed，inadazedwonderment—— forthedisguiseswerestrippedaway，andtheagedmenandwomenwerebrightandyoungandgayagain。 Catharina\'shappytongueranon: \"\'Twasamarvelousjest，andbravelycarriedout。 Theygaveyouaheavysleeping-draughtbeforeyouwenttobed，andinthenighttheyboreyoutoaruinedchamberwhereallhadfallentodecay，andplacedtheseragsofclothingbyyou。Andwhenyoursleepwasspentandyoucameforth，twostrangers，wellinstructedintheirparts，wereheretomeetyou；andallwe，yourfriends，inourdisguises，werecloseathand，toseeandhear，youmaybesure。Ah，\'twasagallantjest!Come，now，andmaketheereadyforthepleasuresoftheday。 Howrealwasthymiseryforthemoment，thoupoorlad! Lookupandhavethylaugh，now!\" Helookedup，searchedthemerryfacesabouthiminadreamyway，thensighedandsaid: \"Iamaweary，goodstrangers，Iprayyouleadmetohergrave。\" Allthesmilevanishedaway，everycheekblanched，Catharinasunktothegroundinaswoon。 Alldaythepeoplewentaboutthecastlewithtroubledfaces，andcommunedtogetherinundertones。Apainfulhushpervadedtheplacewhichhadlatelybeensofullofcheerylife。EachinhisturntriedtoarouseConradoutofhishallucinationandbringhimtohimself； butalltheansweranygotwasameek，bewilderedstare，andthenthewords: \"Goodstranger，Ihavenofriends，allareatrestthesemanyyears；yespeakmefair，yemeanmewell，butIknowyenot；Iamaloneandforlornintheworld——pritheeleadmetohergrave。\" DuringtwoyearsConradspenthisdays，fromtheearlymorningtillthenight，underthelindentree，mourningovertheimaginarygraveofhisCatharina。 Catharinawastheonlycompanyoftheharmlessmadman。 Hewasveryfriendlytowardherbecause，ashesaid，insomewayssheremindedhimofhisCatharinawhomhehadlost\"fiftyyearsago。\"Heoftensaid: \"Shewassogay，sohappy-hearted——butyouneversmile； andalwayswhenyouthinkIamnotlooking，youcry。\" WhenConraddied，theyburiedhimunderthelinden，accordingtohisdirections，sothathemightrest\"nearhispoorCatharina。\"ThenCatharinasatunderthelindenalone，everydayandalldaylong，agreatmanyyears，speakingtonoone，andneversmiling； andatlastherlongrepentancewasrewardedwithdeath，andshewasburiedbyConrad\'sside。 Harrispleasedthecaptainbysayingitwasgoodlegend； andpleasedhimfurtherbyadding: \"NowthatIhaveseenthismightytree，vigorouswithitsfourhundredyears，IfeeladesiretobelievethelegendforITSsake；soIwillhumorthedesire，andconsiderthatthetreereallywatchesoverthosepoorheartsandfeelsasortofhumantendernessforthem。\" WereturnedtoNecharsteinach，plungedourhotheadsintothetroughatthetownpump，andthenwenttothehotelandateourtroutdinnerinleisurelycomfort，inthegarden，withthebeautifulNeckarflowingatourfeet，thequaintDilsbergloomingbeyond，andthegracefultowersandbattlementsofacoupleofmedievalcastles(calledthe\"Swallow\'sNest\"[1]and\"TheBrothers。\") assistingtheruggedsceneryofabendoftheriverdowntoourright。Wegottoseainseasontomaketheeight-mileruntoHeidelbergbeforethenightshutdown。 Wesailedbythehotelinthemellowglowofsunset，andcameslashingdownwiththemadcurrentintothenarrowpassagebetweenthedikes。IbelievedIcouldshootthebridgemyself，andIwenttotheforwardtripletoflogsandrelievedthepilotofhispoleandhisresponsibility。 1。TheseekerafterinformationisreferredtoAppendixEforourcaptain\'slegendofthe\"Swallow\'sNest\" and\"TheBrothers。\" Wewenttearingalonginamostexhilaratingway，andI performedthedelicatedutiesofmyofficeverywellindeedforafirstattempt；butperceiving，presently，thatI reallywasgoingtoshootthebridgeitselfinsteadofthearchwayunderit，Ijudiciouslysteppedashore。 ThenextmomentIhadmylong-coveteddesire:Isawaraftwrecked。Ithitthepierinthecenterandwentalltosmashandscatterationlikeaboxofmatchesstruckbylightning。 Iwastheonlyoneofourpartywhosawthisgrandsight； theotherswereattitudinizing，forthebenefitofthelongrankofyoungladieswhowerepromenadingonthebank，andsotheylostit。ButIhelpedtofishthemoutoftheriver，downbelowthebridge，andthendescribedittothemaswellasIcould。 Theywerenotinterested，though。Theysaidtheywerewetandfeltridiculousanddidnotcareanythingfordescriptionsofscenery。Theyoungladies，andotherpeople，crowdedaroundandshowedagreatdealofsympathy，butthatdidnothelpmatters；formyfriendssaidtheydidnotwantsympathy，theywantedabackalleyandsolitude。 CHAPTERXX [MyPrecious，PricelessTear-Jug] Nextmorningbroughtgoodnews——ourtrunkshadarrivedfromHamburgatlast。Letthisbeawarningtothereader。 TheGermansareveryconscientious，andthistraitmakesthemveryparticular。ThereforeifyoutellaGermanyouwantathingdoneimmediately，hetakesyouatyourword； hethinksyoumeanwhatyousay；sohedoesthatthingimmediately——accordingtohisideaofimmediately—— whichisaboutaweek；thatis，itisaweekifitreferstothebuildingofagarment，oritisanhourandahalfifitreferstothecookingofatrout。Verywell；ifyoutellaGermantosendyourtrunktoyouby\"slowfreight，\" hetakesyouatyourword；hesendsitby\"slowfreight，\" andyoucannotimaginehowlongyouwillgoonenlargingyouradmirationoftheexpressivenessofthatphraseintheGermantongue，beforeyougetthattrunk。 Thehaironmytrunkwassoftandthickandyouthful，whenIgotitreadyforshipmentinHamburg；itwasbaldheadedwhenitreachedHeidelberg。However，itwasstillsound，thatwasacomfort，itwasnotbatteredintheleast； thebaggagemenseemedtobeconscientiouslycareful，inGermany，ofthebaggageentrustedtotheirhands。 Therewasnothingnowinthewayofourdeparture，thereforewesetaboutourpreparations。 NaturallymychiefsolicitudewasaboutmycollectionofCeramics。OfcourseIcouldnottakeitwithme，thatwouldbeinconvenient，anddangerousbesides。 Itookadvice，butthebestbrick-a-brackersweredividedastothewisestcoursetopursue；somesaidpackthecollectionandwarehouseit；otherssaidtrytogetitintotheGrandDucalMuseumatMannheimforsafekeeping。 SoIdividedthecollection，andfollowedtheadviceofbothparties。Isetaside，fortheMuseum，thosearticleswhichwerethemostfrailandprecious。 AmongthesewasmyEtruscantear-jug。Ihavemadealittlesketchofithere；[Figure6]thatthingcreepingupthesideisnotabug，itisahole。Iboughtthistear-jugofadealerinantiquitiesforfourhundredandfiftydollars。Itisveryrare。ThemansaidtheEtruscansusedtokeeptearsorsomethinginthesethings，andthatitwasveryhardtogetholdofabrokenone，now。 IalsosetasidemyHenriII。plate。Seesketchfrommypencil；[Figure7]itisinthemaincorrect，thoughIthinkIhaveforeshortenedoneendofitalittletoomuch，perhaps。Thisisveryfineandrare；theshapeisexceedinglybeautifulandunusual。Ithaswonderfuldecorationsonit，butIamnotabletoreproducethem。 Itcostmorethanthetear-jug，asthedealersaidtherewasnotanotherplatejustlikeitintheworld。 HesaidtherewasmuchfalseHenriIIwarearound，butthatthegenuinenessofthispiecewasunquestionable。