“‘Well, I don’t mind,’ said I, ‘since you don’t like the woman, and she has plenty of money. You are her husband, and have a right to some of it.’ “It was agreed on then between us to go to Donna Evelina’s that night. “Baptiste and I left the band, and dressed ourselves out splendidly. “He went up to her mansion, and knocked grandly at the door. “It was opened by a servant in livery. “I also got into the house, through the contrivance of Baptiste, but without any of the servants seeing me. “Most of Evelina’s jewels were kept in a chest in the blue bed-chamber. “I tried to discover it, but the mansion was so large I could not find it for a long time. “At last I found it, and was about to search for the chest, when I heard footsteps upon the stairs. “I hid myself in a closet. “Two footmen led in Baptiste, who was half drunk. “He was laughing and hiccupping and singing by turns. “He threw himself upon the bed, and the servants retired. “I intended to get out of the closet and wake him, but at that instant I heard a deep growl, and remained where I was. “Through cracks in the closet I saw the chamber door open. “There stood Donna Evelina, looking beautiful and grand, but deathly pale, and she was attired from head to foot in black velvet robes. “In the left hand she held a chamber lamp. “By the right hand she held a fierce-looking hound firmly by the collar. “The dog’s eyes seemed to be like two balls of fire, as he writhed and tried to get away from her firm hold. “Still Baptiste snored away loudly. “With a curl on her lip Donna Evelina said, in a half whisper, “‘Married, are we, eh? Yes, a mock marriage it was, by one who, for money, played the part of a priest. No more! And this is the nuptial night, eh? Sleeping fool! ha, ha!’ “These few words were spoken in such terrible tones of quiet anger that I began to fear for poor Baptiste. “‘Thy marriage-bed shall be thy death-bed also,’ said she. “And she loosed the hound! “With a bound he darted towards the closet in which I was concealed. “He growled and sniffed, as if in warning. “As if by some supernatural instinct, the animal then leaped wildly on the bed. “A heavy groan was all I heard. “Baptiste was murdered! “With one fierce bite the animal had severed his wind-pipe, as clean as if it had been done with a knife! “The pure white sheets were quickly dyed in blood. “With a loud laugh of triumph, Donna Evelina left the room, saying, “‘Count Felix, thou art avenged!’ “I thought of escaping from my place of confinement, but I dared not do so. “The hound lay before the door, and I could see his white fangs glistening in the light through his gory jaws, as with fiery eyes he kept watch before the closet. “In less than half an hour every bell in the house began to ring violently. “The servants began to run to and fro in search of their mistress. “At last they all rushed into the chamber, lights in hand.