vi] THE RED BARON. 327

occasion, A fair young girl was with him, upon whom
helooked with the eyes of reverential lovewhich showed
that she stood towards him in near and dear relation-
ship. She was his bride, whom he was taking over some
of the ground which he had travelled in his old bachelor
days, and as they drove up to the door of the little
inn, her bright looks and his manly, happy face and
bearing attracted the attention of the loiterers around
the door.

Right glad was the host to see such guests, and
to ascertain that they intended to pass the night
at his house. The best fare which the country
could produce was speedily placed before them,
and the host himself took care to wait upon such dis-
tinguished personages. Just as they were about to
commence their repast, the sound of a loud-toned
bell burst upon their ears, ringing, as it seemed, at
only a short distance from the place where they were
seated.

‘Ha!’ said the gentleman, after listening atten-
tively for a moment, ‘I have, as you know, my darl-
ing, a pretty good memory for places and distances,
and if anyone had asked me, I should have sworn
that the bell we have just heard came from some-
where very close to the old ruined castle about my
visit to which I have so often told you.’

‘Milord is right, here obsequiously interposed the
fat host. ‘The bell does come from the castle, but it
is not “ruined” now, though perhaps it deserved to
be called so some few years back. Has Milord then
been here before ?’

“Yes, certainly,’ replied the gentleman, ‘and |