328 WHISPERS FROM FAIRVLAND,. [v1.

 

thought I could not be far wrong as to the direction
from which that bell came. But how is it that the
castle is not ruined? Has it been sold, or burned and
rebuilt, or what ?’

‘Neither the one thing nor the other, Milord,’ re-
turned the host ;‘ but the late owner died some three
years ago, and the present Baron, who was his cousin,
had money of his own before, and has thoroughly
restored the old place.’

‘But how—what do you mean ?’ asked the gentle-
man. ‘Who was the late owner, and how comes the
present man to be a Baron?’

‘I do not know what Milord means, Lobseeved the
host somewhat stiffly. ‘The Barons of the family of
Bundelhausen have held the castle and estates for
long, long years—most likely from a time very soon
after the Flood, if not before.’

‘How can that be?’ enquired the traveller some-
what incredulously. ‘I thought the line had come to
an end.

‘Not so, returned the other. ‘But pray how long
is it since Milord was here?’

‘Some ten or twelve years ago,’ responded the guest.

‘Ah! that would be in the time of the last Baron.
Milord might well think the place was deserted and
the family come to an end. The late Baron was a
curious fish altogether. Heaven rest his soul! He
was what you call “a character,” anda very queer one
too. Although he had fine estates, good shooting, and
one of the best cellars of wine in the country, he lived
in two little rooms at one corner of the house, and let
the whole place go sadly out of repair,