"I think she is dying," said the Baroness when she had rejoined her
guests; "I suppose we must send for a doctor. And that terrible howling!
Not for much money would I have such death-music."

"That music is not to be bought for any amount of money," said Conrad.

"Hark! What is that other sound?" asked the Baron, as a noise of
splitting and crashing was heard.

It was a tree falling in the park.

There was a moment of constrained silence, and then the banker's wife
spoke.

"It is the intense cold that is splitting the trees. It is also the cold
that has brought the wolves out in such numbers. It is many years since
we have had such a cold winter."

The Baroness eagerly agreed that the cold was responsible for these
things. It was the cold of the open window, too, which caused the heart
failure that made the doctor's ministrations unnecessary for the old
Fraulein. But the notice in the newspapers looked very well--

"On December 29th, at Schloss Cernogratz, Amalie von Cernogratz, for
many years the valued friend of Baron and Baroness Gruebel."