Page 138 of 788

An instant later all was silent and deserted; the Count fixed his

eyes on the house and strained his ears; still he mused, and

still the huntsmen stood motionless behind him.-Then in the quiet

deserted house arose first a murmur, then an uproar and merry

cries, as in an empty hive when bees fly back into it: that was a

sign that the guests had returned from hunting, and that the

servants were busying themselves with breakfast.