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，andthegracefultowersandbattlementsofacoupleofmedievalcastlescalledthe"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。