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The Seneschal's astronomy-The Chamberlain's remarks on

comets-Mysterious scene in the Judge's room-Thaddeus, wishing to

extricate himself dexterously, gets into serious trouble-A new

Dido-The foray-The last protest by an Apparitor-The Count

conquers Soplicowo-Storm and massacre-Gerwazy as butler-The

banquet after the foray.

BEFORE a thunderstorm there is a quiet, sullen moment, when the

cloud that has gathered over men's heads stops and with

threatening countenance checks the breath of the winds; it is

silent, but surveys the earth with the eyes of the lightnings,

marking the spots where soon it will cast bolt after bolt: such a

moment of calm rested over the house at Soplicowo. You would have

thought that a presentiment of unusual events had closed all

lips, and had borne off the spirits of all into the land of

dreams.