"I think I'll kill myself." 'This was a bright idea.

The baron took an old hunting-knife from a cupboard hard by, and having sharpened it on his boot, made what boys call "an offer" at his throat.
'"Hem!" said the baron, stopping short.

"Perhaps it's not sharp enough." 'The baron sharpened it again, and made another offer, when his hand was arrested by a loud screaming among the young barons and baronesses, who had a nursery in an upstairs tower with iron bars outside the window, to prevent their tumbling out into the moat.
'"If I had been a bachelor," said the baron sighing, "I might have done it fifty times over, without being interrupted.

Hallo! Put a flask of wine and the largest pipe in the little vaulted room behind the hall." 'One of the domestics, in a very kind manner, executed the baron's order in the course of half an hour or so, and Von Koeldwethout being apprised thereof, strode to the vaulted room, the walls of which, being of dark shining wood, gleamed in the light of the blazing logs which were piled upon the hearth.

The bottle and pipe were ready, and, upon the whole, the place looked very comfortable.
'"Leave the lamp," said the baron.
'"Anything else, my lord ?" inquired the domestic.
'"The room," replied the baron.