His visit had in all respects been so unusual, and had
given occasion for so much comment, that it required more time
than could be given there; and his name was not at all mentioned
after he left.
V.
Now it is certainly true, that whenever Counsellor Bagger was seen
for quite a time, he was mostly dreaming and suffering; and people
who have not themselves experienced something similar, or have not
a fancy for putting themselves in his place, will say, perhaps,
that they could have managed themselves better. But, at all
events, it cannot be said, that from this time forward he was
unpractical; for within eight days from Mrs. Canuteson's birthday
he had not only learned where Miss Hjelm lived, but had
established himself in a tavern close by the farm, and obtained
admittance to the house, which last was not so difficult, since
Mrs. Hjelm was a friendly, hospitable lady, and since neither her
daughter nor niece thought they ought to prejudice her against
him.
In this manner four or five days passed away, which, to judge from
Bagger's appearance, were to him very pleasant. He wrote to his
colleagues in the Superior Court, that one could only value an
autumn in Nature's lap after so laborious and health-destroying
work as his life for many years had been. Then one day he received
a letter from the unknown, reading thus:
"Be more successful than last time, at Mrs. Emmy Lund's on
Tuesday, two o'clock. Please notice, two o'clock precisely.
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