The stranger laughingly said they would ask questions till the evening was night; but this assertion Alesso doubted; for he could assure monsieur that they would not stop to question even the new lord himself when the night came. “Indeed, why not?” What! what! had monsieur never heard of their village spectre? Why, where had monsieur been? He, Alesso, thought it was talked of all--over--the--world! The stranger desired to have it described. A villager then sang-- “When day has gone--when night has come, When howls the wind--when thunders roar, Then on the hill-top, all dressed in white, Thou’lt see this shade--thou’lt see with awe!” “Without a step it glides along, With hanging hair--with glaring eyes. On--on it glides, and then ’tis gone, And as ’tis lost, it utters cries!” The stranger laughed, and said he would soon find out the mystery if he lived there. It may be presumed that the stranger had been living in Paris; but certainly he was very gallant. He flattered Liza somewhat, but turning his eyes full upon Amina, he forgot Liza altogether, and began paying the young bride a great many compliments. She smiled at the compliments paid her by the stranger, and answered smartly; but at last grew timid as the count grew bolder; and indeed she was not sorry when Elvino came up, and accidentally stood between them. The count requiring some explanation, Elvino gave it him by plainly telling him she was his wife; whereupon the count congratulated him on his good fortune. Well, the contract business over, the notary departed for home; the villagers also within doors; the count in the village inn, and Liza retired, rather annoyed and angry; the two young people were in the moonlight, bidding each other good night. At last, after a long time, Amina’s mother had the opportunity of remonstrating upon late hours, and then Amina went to bed for the last time in that little cot of her adopted mother’s. CHAPTER II. The stranger looked curiously about the haunted room, when shown to it by Liza. There was the white-curtained bed standing near the window; the door-windows open to admit the cool night air; and beyond, the garden, and the unused rickety bridge. He looked out through the open window, and then returning where Liza was standing, began talking gaily to her.