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After the cold dish came crabs, chickens, and asparagus, along

with glasses of Malaga and of Hungarian wine; all ate, drank, and

were silent. Probably never since the time when the walls of this

castle were erected, which had generously entertained so many

noble gentlemen, and had heard and echoed so many vivats, had

there been memory of so gloomy a supper. The great, empty hall of

the castle echoed only the popping of corks and the clink of

plates; you would have said that some evil spirit had tied up the

lips of the guests.