Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-16
A Tale Of Diablarie.

ATale of Diableris.
1t may be now about twelve years since
| was forced by lawsuit to spend some
months in Stuttgard. | lived at one of
the best hotels, and generally dined with
large company at the table d'hote.-
Once upon time [ made my first appear
ance at table after a lapse of several days,
during which had been forced to keep
my room. The company were talking
very eagerly about certain Signor Ba-
rigni, who for some time past had been
delighting the other visitors with his
lively wit, and his fuency in all langua-
ges. All were unanimous in his praise,
but they could not exactly agree as to
his occupations; some making him out
diplomatist, others teacher of langua-
ges, third party a distinguished political
exile, and fourth a spy Of the police.
The door opened, all seemed silent, wen
confused, at having carried on the dispute
in so loud tone; Judged that the per-
son spoken Of must be among us, and
saw Signor Barigni, as the stranger was
called. He had given new relish to our
meals by his brilliant conversation, when
mine host interrupted us suddenly, Cen
tlemen,' said he, ''preparc yourself for
an unique entertainment which will be
provided for you tomorrow"
We asked what this meant, and grey
headed captain, who had presided at the
hotel table many years, informed us of
the joke as follows:
Exactly opposite this dining room an
old bachelor lives, solitary and alone, in
a large deserted house. He is retired
Counsellor Of State, lives on handsome
pension, and has an enormous fortune
besides. He is, however, a downright
fool, and has some of the strangest pecu-
liaritiesl; thus, for instance, he often gives
himself entertainments on scale of ex-
travagant luxury. He orders covers for
twelve from the hotel; he las excellent
wines in his cellar, and one or the other
Of our walters has the honor to attend
the table. You think, perhaps, that at
these feasts he feeds the hungry, and
gives drink to the thirsty: no such thing.
On the chairs lie old yellow leaves of
parchment from the family record, and
the old hunk is as jovial as if he had the
merliest set of fellows around him. He
talks and laughs with them; and the
whole thing is said to be so fearful to look
upon, that the youngest walters are al
ways sent over, for whoever has been to
one such supper will enter the deserted
house no more.
THE day before yesterday he had a
supper, and our new water-Frank,
thcrc-calls heaven and earth to witness
that nobody shall ever induce him to go
there second time. The next day after
| the entertainment comes the Counsellor s
second freak. Early in the morning he
leaves the city, and comes back the
morning after; not, however to his own
house, which during this time is fast
locked and bolted, but into this hotel.
Here he treats people he has been in the
habit OF seeing for year, as strangers !;
dimes: and afterwards places himself at
one of the windows, and examines his
own house across the way from top to
| bottom.
Who does that house opposite belong
to?" he then asks the host.
! The other regularly blows and answers,
at belongs to the Councillor of State,
Hasentreffer, at your Excellency's SER
! vice"
I[asentretfer then examines the house,
and learned that it belongs to Hasentreffer.
"Oh, what" he asks, Z" the same that
was student with me at Tisbingen-
then throws open the windows, stretches
his powdered head out, and calls out
| -asentrctfer- a-asentretfer
! Of course no one answers. but he re-
marks: 1.-The old fellow would never for
give me, if / was not to look in On him
for moment" then takes up his hat and
cane, ,nIocks his own house, goes in, and
all goes on after him as before. -"
All of us, as the Professor proceeded
in his story, were greatly astonished at
this singular story, and highly delighted
at the idea Of the next day ; meTriment.