"To your health, cousin."
"To yours."
We remained silent a few minutes. It was impossible for me to accept the abrupt conclusion of the adventure, and, in spite of myself, I mused with some melancholy on the sad fate of certain men who appear and disappear in this world like the grass of the field, without leaving the least memory or the least regret.
"Cousin," I resumed, "how far may it be from here to the ruins of Geierstein?"
"Twenty minutes' walk at the most. Why?"
"Because I should like to see them."
"You know that we have a meeting of the municipal council, and that I can't accompany you."
"Oh! I can find them by myself."
"No, the rural guard will show you the way; he has nothing better to do."
And my worthy cousin, having rapped on his glass, called his servant: