Pagina 163 de 788

The Count dismounted and sent his servants to the house, but

himself set out secretly for the garden; soon he reached the

fence, found an opening in it, and slunk in quietly, as a wolf

into a sheepfold; unluckily he jostled some dry gooseberry

bushes. The little gardener glanced around as though frightened

by the rustling, but perceived nothing; however, she ran to the

other side of the garden. But along the edge, among the great

sorrel plants and amid the leaves of burdock, the Count, leaping

like a frog over the grass, quietly crawled near on his hands and

knees; he put out his head, and beheld a marvellous sight.