He seemed not to perceive me, and shortly seated himself upon a stone
bench, took a book out of his pocket, read very loud from it, as if he
were preaching, looked up to heaven at intervals, and leaned his head
sadly upon his right hand. I looked at him for a long time, but at
last I grew curious to know why he was making such extraordinary
gestures, and I went hastily toward him. He had just heaved a profound
sigh, and sprang up startled as I approached. He was completely
confused, and so was I; we neither of us knew what to say, and we
stood there bowing, until he made his escape, striding rapidly through
the shrubbery. Meanwhile, the sun had arisen over the forest; I
mounted on the stone bench, and scraped my fiddle merrily, so that the
quiet valleys reechoed. The old woman with the bunch of keys, who had
been searching anxiously for me all through the castle to call me to
breakfast, appeared upon the terrace above me, and was surprised that
I could play the fiddle so well. The grim old man from the castle came
too, and was as much amazed, and at last the maids came, and they all
stood up there together agape, while I fingered away, and wielded my
bow in the most artistic manner, playing cadenzas and variations until
I was downright tired.
The castle was a mighty strange place! No one dreamed of journeying
further. It was no inn or post-station, as I learned from one of the
maids, but belonged to a wealthy count.
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