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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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117 drinking. His mind was running upon bears and boars, when, in the process of draining his glass to the bottom, he raised his eyes, and saw, for the first time and with unbounded astonishment, that he was not alone. ‘No, he was not; for, on the opposite side of the fire, there sat with folded arms a wrinkled hideous figure, with deeply sunk and bloodshot eyes, and an immensely long cadaverous face, shadowed by jagged and matted locks of coarse black hair. He wore a kind of tunic of a dull bluish colour, which, the baron observed, on regarding it attentively, was clasped or ornamented down the front with coffin handles. His legs, too, were encased in coffin plates as though in armour; and over his left shoulder he wore a short dusky cloak, which seemed made of a remnant of some pall. He took no notice of the baron, but was intently eyeing the fire. ‘“Halloa!” said the baron, stamping his foot to attract attention. ‘“Halloa!” replied the stranger, moving his eyes towards the baron, but not his face or himself “What now?” ‘“What now!” replied the baron, nothing daunted by his hollow voice and lustreless eyes. “I should ask that question. How did you get here?” ‘“Through the door,” replied the figure. ‘“What are you?” says the baron. ‘“A man,” replied the figure. ‘“I don’t believe it,” says the baron. ‘“Disbelieve it then,” says the figure. ‘“I will,” rejoined the baron. ‘The figure looked at the bold Baron of Grogzwig for some time, and then said familiarly, |
