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Updated: May 13, 2025
Grass grew on the threshold, the shutters were closed, and on some of them birds seemed to have built their nests. “‘A fine house that, opposite,’ said the old man to our host, who kept standing behind him in the third position. ‘Who does it belong to?’ “‘To the Counsellor of State, Hasentreffer, at your Excellency’s service.’
“‘Who does that house opposite belong to?’ he then asks the host. “The other regularly bows and answers, ‘It belongs to the Counsellor of State, Hasentreffer, at your Excellency’s service.’” “But, Professor,” here observed I, “what has this silly Hasentreffer of yours to do with our Natas?” “A moment’s patience, Doctor,” answered the Professor, “the light will soon break in upon you.
Hasentreffer then examines the house, and learns that it belongs to Hasentreffer. ‘Oh, what!’ he asks, ‘the same that was a student with me at Tibsingen’ then throws open the window, stretches his powdered head out, and calls out ‘Ha-asentreffer Ha-asentreffer!’
“‘Are you the Counsellor of State, Hasentreffer?’ said the one on our side of the way, pale as death, in a trembling voice, and quaking as he leaned against the window for support. “‘I’m the man,’ squeaked the other, and nodded his head in a friendly way; ‘have you any commands for me?’ “‘But I’m the man too,’ said our friend mournfully, ‘how can it be possible?’
“‘Ah, indeed! that must be the same one that was a fellow-student with me,’ exclaimed he; ‘he would never forgive me if I was not to inform him that I was here.’ He opened the window, ‘Ha-asentreffer Hasentreffer!’ cried he, in a hoarse voice.
There’s Hasentreffer, there’s Hasentreffer, was echoed by every mouth; and we were filled with extravagant merriment when we saw the little man get out, neatly powdered, dressed in an iron grey surtout with a huge meerschaum in hand. An escort of at least ten servants followed him in, and in this guise he entered the dining-room. “We sat down at once.
“Our host and the ten waiters were all pale with fear, and trembled. ‘Gentlemen,’ said the former, ‘God pity poor Hasentreffer, for one of those two must be the devil in human shape.’ We laughed at our host, and tried to persuade ourselves that it was a joke of Barighi’s; but our host assured us that no one could have obtained access to the house except he was in possession of the Counsellor’s very artificially contrived keys; also, that Barighi was seated at table not ten minutes before the prodigy happened; how then could he have disguised himself so completely in so short a time, even supposing him to have known how to unlock a strange house?
But who can paint our terror, when opposite, in the empty house, which we knew was firmly locked and bolted, a window-shutter was slowly raised, a window opened, and out of it peered the Counsellor of State, Hasentreffer, in his chintz morning-gown and white nightcap, under which a few thin grey locks were visible; this, this exactly, was his usual morning costume.
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