The Opposite House: A Novel — page 168: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Opposite FHlouse. 163 “And absconded with the jewels and ready money. The aforesaid Lewin met him in the forest and stopped him. The fellow had keen eyes, and recognized the masked count; but the latter, too, was no fool, thought ‘dead men tell no tales,’ drew a pistol, shot his beloved brother-in-law and made tracks as fast as possible. Ah! But Frau von Rot- terswyl is said to have spit fire and flame and given the alarm to the authorities, who fairly tumbled over one another. But it was no use; all the clever gen- try were forced to give up the chase; the count fooled them. That was nearly twenty years ago. Brand is tolerably well along in life, but he paints and dyes in order to pass for thirty. The whole affair has been forgotten long ago, and is probably outlawed. The fellow even had the insolence to call upon Madam von Rotterswyl. But it seems to me that she must have smelled arat. At any rate, Brand feels a strong inclination to become a citizen of America. There, that’s the whole story!” Wikke drew a long breath and gazed around him with dazed eyes. He hadspoken in a loud, excited tone. Now hisheavy tongue almost refused to obey his will. “I can’t help laughing when I think of the rascally trick. An utterly worthless fellow ; but he has brains—brains which can’t be matched, and —you see, sweetheart— Where ismy glass? Fill it, little one, to the very brim.” CoOmicboolk<s S|