"She was glad to see him!" said one.
"Shook hands with him!" said another.
"Invited him in!" said a third.
"But why does he stay so long?" said Clement.
During the day this question was often repeated by the gossips, who assembled in groups, with their gaze fixed on the road leading from the widow's mansion to the town.
Suddenly a horse and rider are seen approaching from that direction at a furious speed. As they come nearer, the man seems to be without a hat, and with a heavy suit of black hair, and huge black whiskers. The steed is spotted like a leopard. The people behold the strange horse and rider with amazement as they enter the town with the speed of Tam O'Shanter. At this moment a shout goes up from the crowd.
"Stop! stop!, stop!" cried a number of voices.
But, Mazeppa-like, the mysterious apparition dashes through the town; and while men, women, and children are gazing in gaping wonderment, the bare-headed rider and spotted steed disappear beyond a distant hill.
"Who do you think it was?" said a group of astonished people to the Professor.
The Professor shook his head and was silent.