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He started up, and the vision straightway vanished, frightened by

the noise; he waited, but it did not return! He only heard again

a thrice-repeated knocking and the words: "Get up, sir; it is

time for hunting, you have overslept." He jumped from his couch,

and with both hands pushed back the shutters, so that their

hinges rattled, and flying open they knocked against the wall on

either side. He rushed out and looked around, amazed and

confused, but he saw nothing, nor did he perceive traces of any

one. Not far from the window was the garden fence; on it the hop

leaves and the flowery garlands were trembling; had some light

hands touched them or had the wind stirred them? Thaddeus gazed

long on them, but did not dare enter the enclosure; he only

leaned on the fence, raised his eyes, and, with his finger

pressed on his lips, bade himself be silent, in order not to

break the stillness by a hasty word.