116 CREPU; OR, "IS IT POSSIBLE?" 



it ! — ere day-light it must be made so that no man shall know it !" 

 Crepu's eye kindled as the youth spoke, and Karl ceased to shed tears ; 

 but the business was urgent, all lent a hand, the dappled fawn was 

 dragged into the cellar, and there, amidst flasks of old Hock, and pipes 

 of Tokay, it was speedily divested of its leathern coat, carved and cut 

 and slashed most adroitly, rapidly, and silently, by the anxious trio, and, 

 long before dawn, divers large pickling-pans, well filled with brine, 

 exhibited the novel appearance of venison in salt. The skin and the 

 collar, that bore marked evidence of the assassination, were consigned 

 to the temporary guardianship of a flag raised for the purpose in the 

 floor of the vault ; and, having washed away the sanguinary traces of 

 their occupation, the master, his pupil, and domestic, issued from the 

 subterranean scene of their labours, and ventured to retire to repose. 



Now Crepu being at this time a bachelor, had no fair female in- 

 quisitor on the premises to take cognizance of the ruthless proceedings 

 of the night ; his tortoiseshell cat, it is true, was of the softer sex, and 

 following them into the cellar with ten thousand blandishments, had 

 testified extraordinary aflfection for the defunct, insomuch that sundry 

 morsels were administered to her by her master, in recompense for her 

 .attentions ; but she was prudential and aged, and her taciturnity might 

 be relied upon. Karl was sworn to secrecy, — Hans was well born, indeed 

 nobly descended, and his honour was unimpeachable, — the fawn was in 

 pickle and its skin under ground, — there was an end to the matter ; the 

 dead could not whisper the deed, and Crepu, breathing freely, resigned 

 himself most quietly to Morpheus. 



But man's wisdom is gossamer, and his conclusions are smoke ! The 

 morrow came, and the governor's domestics shrunk into grasshoppers 

 when the fawn was reported " absent without leave I'* They looked upon 

 one another like men stricken with pestilence, — visions of swords at 

 their throats and a thick storm of curses flitted before their eyes, and 

 made them willing to exchange shoes with the commonest mendicant in 

 the market place of Brussels. Despair turned their blood into vinegar, 

 bitter words rose amongst them, menace, and reproach ; even the 

 timorous became valiant, and the shoe-black plucked the scullion-boy 

 by the nose, and challenged him on the spot. In the midst of their 

 panic the silver bell of the governor rang loud and furious ; a quick 

 choleric voice was heard rising in paroxysms of wrath, and the valet 

 made but one step and a half backwards down stairs, to assure the 

 terrified servants that *' all Brussels would be burnt to the ground, if 

 the fawn were not forthcoming instanter.'* The lackeys would have 

 taken to flight and rushed into rat-holes for security, but a light, firm 

 foot descended the staircase, and terrible as the god of war, *' His 

 Serene Highness," slippered and morning-gowned, stood in their midst. 

 The aflfrighted vassals fell on their knees, and begged for their lives. 

 ** How now, villains!'* thundered their Lord, "byAvhat disobedience 

 of orders has the animal been lost ? answer me, scoundrels ! and on 

 your peril speak truth, or I'll hang you up thick as acorns on the park 

 trees I" And in good truth His Serene Highness scowled as if he would 

 verily act as he promised : he was a gallant, knightly-looking man, of 

 some forty-five years of age, middle-sized, square built, and unencumbered 

 with flesh ; with short golden hair, a blue eye bright as the kestrel's, a 

 straight nose, full mouth, and ruddy complexion ; in short, he seemed a 

 man of heady mood but of warm heart ; swift at a word and a blow, 

 and yet not a very Herod withal. The domestics flew with alacrity to 

 search every crevice, but in vain ; — the palace, the park, the grounds, 

 ttre garden, the streets, the lanes, and even the market-women's panniers 



