“Atthismomentfoldingdoorswerethrownopen，andsupperwasannounced。Iofferedmyarm，sheroseandtookitinsilence。
Thissilenceshemaintainedduringthefirstpartofthemeal，despiteherhusband’sbrilliantconversationandalmostuproariousspirits。Butbyandbyabrightcolormountedtohercheeksandlustertohereyes。IsupposeyouwillthinkmehorriblyunpoeticalifIaddthatshedrankseveralglassesofchampagneoneaftertheother，afactwhichperhapsmayaccountforthechange。
“Atanyrateshespokeandlaughedandlookedlovely，andIdidnotwonderthatthebaroncouldhardlykeephiseyesoffher。Butwhetheritwasherwifelyanxietyornot——itwasevidenthermindwasnotateasethroughitall，andIfanciedthatherbrightnesswasfeverish，hermerrimentslightlyhysterical。
“Aftersupper——anexquisiteoneitwas——weadjournedtogether，inforeignfashion，tothedrawing-room；thebaronthrewhimselfintoachairand，somewhatwiththeairofapasha，demandedmusic。Hewasflushed；theveinsofhisforeheadwereswollenandstoodoutlikecords；thewinedrunkattablewaspotent:eventhroughmyphlegmaticframeitranhotly。
“Shehesitatedamomentortwo，thendocilelysatdowntothepiano。ThatshecouldsingIhavealreadymadeclear:howshecouldsing，withwhatpathos，passion，aswellasperfectart，I
hadneverrealizedbefore。
“Whenthesongwasendedsheremainedforawhile，witheyeslostindistance，verystill，saveforherquickbreathing。Itwasclearshewasmovedbythemusic；indeedshemusthavethrownherwholesoulintoit。
“Atfirstwe，theaudience，paidhertherarecomplimentofsilence。Thenthebaronbrokeforthintoloudapplause。’Brava，brava！thatwasreallysaidconamore。Adeliciouslovesong，delicious——butFrench！YoumustsingoneofourSlavmelodiesforMarshfieldbeforeyouallowustogoandsmoke。’
“Shestartedfromherreveriewithaflush，andafterapausestruckslowlyafewsimplechords，thenbeganoneofthosestrangelysweet，yetintenselypatheticRussianairs，whichgiveoneacuriousrevelationoftheprofound，endlessmelancholylurkinginthenationalmind。
“’Whatdoyouthinkofit？’askedthebaronofmewhenitceased。
“’WhatIhavealwaysthoughtofsuchmusic——itisthatofahopelesspeople；poetical，crushed，andresigned。’
“Hegavealoudlaugh。’Heartheanalyst，thepsychologue——why，man，itisalovesong！Isitpossiblethatwe，uncivilized，aretruerrealiststhanourhyperculturedWesternneighbors？Havewegonetotherootofthematter，inoursimpleway？’
“Thebaronessgotupabruptly。Shelookedwhiteandspent；therewerebistercirclesroundhereyes。
“’Iamtired，’shesaid，withdrylips。’Youwillexcuseme，Mr。
Marshfield，Imustreallygotobed。’
“’Gotobed，gotobed，’criedherhusbandgayly。Then，quotinginRussianfromthesongshehadjustsung:’Sleep，mylittlesoftwhitedove:mylittleinnocenttenderlamb！’Shehurriedfromtheroom。Thebaronlaughedagain，and，takingmefamiliarlybythearm，ledmetohisownsetofapartmentsforthepromisedsmoke。
Heensconcedmeinanarmchair，placedcigarsofeverydescriptionandaTurkishpipereadytomyhand，andalittletableonwhichstoodcut-glassflasksandbeakersintemptingarray。
“AfterIhadselectedmycigarwithsomeprecautions，Iglancedathimoveracarelessremark，andwasstartledtoseeasuddenalterationinhiswholelookandattitude。
“’Youwillforgiveme，Marshfield，’hesaid，ashecaughtmyeye，speakingwithspasmodicpoliteness。’ItismorethanprobablethatIshallhavetosetoutuponthischaseIspokeofto-night，andI
mustnowgoandchangemyclothes，thatImaybereadytostartatanymoment。Thisisthehourwhenitismostlikelythesehellbeastsaretobegotat。Youhaveallyouwant，Ihope，’
interruptinganoutbreakofferocitybyaneffortafterhisformercourtesy。
“Itwascurioustowatchthemanoftheworldstrugglingwiththeprimitiveman。
“’But，baron，’saidI，’Idonotatallseethefunofstickingathomelikethis。Youknowmypassionforwitnessingeverythingnew，strange，andoutlandish。Youwillsurelynotrefusemesuchanopportunityforobservationasamidnightwolfraid。Iwilldomybestnottobeinthewayifyouwilltakemewithyou。’
“Atfirstitseemedasifhehadsomedifficultyinrealizingthedriftofmywords，hewassoengrossedbysomeinnerthought。ButasIrepeatedthem，hegaveventtoaloudcachinnation。
“’Byheaven！Ilikeyourspirit，’heexclaimed，clappingmestronglyontheshoulder。’Ofcourseyoushallcome。Youshall，’
herepeated，’andIpromiseyouasight，ahuntsuchasyouneverheardordreamedof——youwillbeabletotelltheminEnglandthesortofthingwecandohereinthatline——suchwolvesarerarequarry，’headded，lookingslylyatme，’andIhaveanewplanforgettingatthem。’
“Therewasalongpause，andthenthereroseinthestillnesstheunearthlyhowlingofthebaron’shounds，acheerfulsoundwhichonlytheirowner’ssomewhatloudconverseoftheeveninghadkeptfrombecomingexcessivelyobtrusive。
“’Harkatthem——thebeauties！’criedhe，showinghisshort，strongteeth，pointedlikeadog’sinawidegrinofanticipativedelight。
’Theyhavebeenkeptonprettyshortcommons，poorthings！Theyarehungry。Bytheway，Marshfield，youcansittighttoahorse，Itrust？Ifyouweretorolloff，youknow，thesesplendidfellows——theywouldchopyouupinasecond。Theywouldchopyouup，’herepeatedunctuously，’snap，crunch，gobble，andtherewouldbeanendofyou！’
“’IfIcouldnotrideadecenthorsewithoutbeingthrown，’I
retorted，alittlestungbyhismanner，’aftermyrecentthreemonths’torturewiththeGuardCossacks，Ishouldindeedbeahopelesssubject。Donotthinkoffrighteningmefromtheexploit，butsayfranklyifmycompanywouldbedispleasing。’
“’Tut！’hesaid，wavinghishandimpatiently，’itisyouraffair。
Ihavewarnedyou。Goandgetreadyifyouwanttocome。Timepresses。’
“Iwasdeterminedtobeofthefray；mybloodwasup。Ihavehintedthatthebaron’sTokayhadstirredit。
“Iwenttomyroomandhurriedlydonnedclothesmoresuitableforroughnightwork。Mylastcarewastoslipintomypocketsabraceofdouble-barreledpistolswhichformedpartofmytravelingkit。
WhenIreturnedIfoundthebaronalreadybootedandspurred；thiswithoutmetaphor。Hewasstretchedfulllengthonthedivan，anddidnotspeakasIcamein，orevenlookatme。Chewinganunlitcigar，witheyesfixedontheceiling，hewasevidentlyfollowingsomeabsorbingtrainofideas。
“Thesilencewasprofound；timewentby；itgrewoppressive；atlength，weariedout，Ifell，overmychibouque，intoadozefilledwithpuzzlingvisions，outofwhichIwasawakenedwithastart。
Mycompanionhadsprungup，verylightly，tohisfeet。Inhisthroatwasanodd，half-suppressedcry，grewsometohear。Hestoodontiptoe，witheyesfixed，asthoughlookingthroughthewall，andIdistinctlysawhisearspointintheintensityofhislistening。
“Afteramoment，withhasty，noiselessenergy，andwithouttheslightestceremony，heblewthelampsout，drewbacktheheavycurtainsandthrewthetallwindowwideopen。Arushoficyair，andthebrightraysofthemoon——gibbous，Iremember，inherthirdquarter——filledtheroom。Outsidethemisthadcondensed，andtheviewwasunrestrictedoverthewhiteplainsatthefootofthehill。
“Thebaronstoodmotionlessintheopenwindow，calloustothecoldinwhich，afteraminute，Icouldhardlykeepmyteethfromchattering，hisheadbentforward，stilllistening。Ilistenedtoo，with’allmyears，’butcouldnotcatchasound；indeedthesilenceoverthegreatexpanseofsnowmighthavebeencalledawful；eventhedogsweremute。
“Presently，far，faraway，cameafainttinkleofbells；sofaint，atfirst，thatIthoughtitwasbutfancy，thendistincter。Itwasevenmoreeeriethanthesilence，Ithought，thoughIknewitcouldcomebutfromsomepassingsleigh。Allatoncethatceased，andagainmydullersensescouldperceivenothing，thoughIsawbymyhost’scraningneckthathewasmoreonthealertthanever。ButatlastItooheardoncemore，thistimenotbells，butasitwerethetreadofhorsesmuffledbythesnow，intermittentanddull，yetdrawingnearer。AndthenintheinnersilenceofthegreathouseitseemedtomeIcaughtthenoiseofclosingdoors；butherethehounds，asifsuddenlybecomingalivetosomedisturbance，raisedthesamefearsomeconcertofyellsandbarkswithwhichtheyhadgreetedmyarrival，andlisteningbecameuseless。
“Ihadrisentomyfeet。Myhost，turningfromthewindow，seizedmyshoulderwithafiercegrip，andbademe’holdmynoise’；forasecondortwoIstoodmotionlessunderhisirontalons，thenhereleasedmewithanexultantwhisper:“Nowforourchase！“andmadeforthedoorwithaspring。Hastilygulpingdownamouthfulofarrackfromoneofthebottlesonthetable，Ifollowedhim，and，guidedbythesoundofhisfootstepsbeforeme，gropedmywaythroughpassagesasblackasErebus。
“Afteratime，whichseemedalongone，asmalldoorwasflungopeninfront，andIsawKossowskiglideintothemoonlitcourtyardandcrossthesquare。WhenItoocameouthewasdisappearingintothegapingdarknessoftheopenstabledoor，andthereIovertookhim。
“Amanwhoseemedtohavebeensleepinginacornerjumpedupatourentrance，andledoutahorsereadysaddled。Inobediencetoagrufforderfromhismaster，asthelattermounted，hethenbroughtforwardanotherwhichhehadevidentlythoughttoridehimselfandheldthestirrupforme。
“Wecamedelicatelyforth，andtheCossackhurriedlybarredthegreatdoorbehindus。Icaughtaglimpseofhisworn，scarredfacebythemoonlight，ashepeepedafterusforasecondbeforeshuttinghimselfin；itwasstrickenwithterror。
“Thebarontrottedbrisklytowardthekennels，fromwhencetherewasnowissuingatrulyinfernalclangor，and，asmysteedfollowedsuitofhisownaccord，Icouldseehowheproceededdexterouslytounboltthegateswithoutdismounting，whilethebeastswithindashedthemselvesagainstthemandtorethegroundintheirfuryofimpatience。
“Hesmiled，asheswungbackthebarriersatlast，andhis’beauties’cameforth。Sevenoreightmonstrousbrutes，houndsofakindunknowntome:fulvousandsleekofcoat，tallontheirlegs，square-headed，long-tailed，deep-chested；withterriblejawsslobberingineagerness。Theyleapedaroundandupatus，muchtoourhorses’distaste。Kossowski，stillsmiling，lashedatthemunsparinglywithhishuntingwhip，andtheyresponded，notwithyellsofpain，butwithsnarlsoffury。
“Managinghisrestlesssteedandhiscruelwhipwithconsummateease，myhostdrovetheunrulycrewbeforehimoutoftheprecincts，thenhaltedandbentdownfromhissaddletoexaminesomeslightprintsinthesnowwhichled，notthewayIhadcome，buttowardwhatseemedanotheravenue。Inasecondortwothehoundsweregatheredroundthisspot，theirgreatsnake-liketailsquivering，nosetoearth，yelpingwithexcitement。Ihadsomeadotomanagemyhorse，andmyeyesightwasfarfrombeingaskeenasthebaron’s，butIhadthennodoubthehadcomealreadyuponwolftracks，andIshudderedmentally，thinkingofthesleighbells。
“SuddenlyKossowskiraisedhimselffromhisstrainedposition；
underhislowfurcaphisface，withitsfixedsmile，lookedscarcelyhumaninthewhitelight:andthenwebrokeintoahandcanterjustasthehoundsdashed，inacompactbody，alongthetrail。
“Butwehadnotgonemorethanafewhundredyardsbeforetheybegantofalter，thenstraggled，stoppedandranbackandaboutwithdismalcries。Itwascleartometheyhadlostthescent。Mycompanionreinedinhishorse，andmine，luckilyawell-trainedbrute，haltedofhimself。
“Wehadreachedabendinabroadavenueoffirsandlarches，andjustwherewestood，andwherethehoundseverreturnedandmetnosetonoseinfranticconclave，thesnowwastrampledandsoiled，andalittlefartheronplanedinagreatsweep，asifbyaturningsleigh。Beyondwasadouble-furrowedtrackofskaitsandregularhoofprintsleadingfaraway。
“BeforeIhadtimetoreflectuponthebearingofthisunexpectedinterruption，Kossowski，asifsuddenlypossessedbyadevil，felluponthehoundswithhiswhip，floggingthemuponthenewtrack，utteringthewhilethemostsavagecriesIhaveeverheardissuefromhumanthroat。Thedisappointedbeastswerenothingloathtoseizeuponanothertrail；afterasecondofhesitationtheyhadunderstood，andwereoffuponitatatearingpace，weafterthematthebestspeedofourhorses。
“Someunformedideathatweweregoingtoescort，orrescue，benightedtravelersflickereddimlyinmymindasIgallopedthroughthenightair；butwhenImanagedtoapproachmycompanionandcalledouttohimforexplanation，heonlyturnedhalfroundandgrinnedatme。
“Beforeuslaynowthewhiteplain，scintillatingunderthehighmoon’srays。Thatlightisdeceptive；Icouldbesureofnothinguponthewideexpansebutofthedark，leapingfiguresofthehoundsalreadyspreadoutinastragglingline，somerightahead，othersjustinfrontofus。Inashorttimealsotheicywind，cuttingmyfacemercilesslyasweincreasedourpace，wellnighblindedmewithtearsofcold。