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The Judge, pouring out Hungarian wine and champagne for the

Chamberlain, served him diligently, and often pressed his knees;

but he had no zest for conversation with him, and it was evident

that he felt certain secret cares.

They changed the plates and the viands in silence; at last the

tiresome routine of the dinner was interrupted by an unexpected

guest. A forester, rushing in, did not even observe that it was

dinner time, but ran up to his master; from his bearing and his

expression it was clear that he was the bringer of important and

unwonted tidings. On him the whole company turned their gaze;

recovering his breath somewhat, he said: "A bear, sir!" All

guessed the rest, that the beast had come out from the jungle,58

that it was slipping through to the wilderness beyond the Niemen;

all immediately recognised that it must be pursued at once,

although they had not consulted together or thought the matter

over. The common thought was evident from the clipped words, the

lively gestures, the various orders that were issued, which,

though they came tumultuously and at one time from so many lips,

still all tended to a like aim.