'Upon this hint' he spake: and 'improving' his text into a large commentary, he passed in review various sketches from the life of Mr.Schnackenberger in B----, not forgetting the hunting scene; and everywhere threw in such rich embellishments and artist-like touches, that at last the room rang with laughter.
Mr.Jeremiah alone sat moodily in his corner, and moved no muscle of his face; so that even those, who were previously unacquainted with the circumstances, easily divined at whose expense Mr.Von Pilsen's witty performance proceeded.
At length Von Pilsen rose and said, 'Gentlemen, you think, perhaps, that I am this day in the best of all possible humours.

Quite the contrary, I assure you: pure fiction--mere counterfeit mirth--put on to disguise my private vexation; for vexed I am, and will be, that I can find nobody on whom to exercise my right arm.

Ah! what a heavenly fate were mine, if any man would take it into his head to affront me; or if any other man would take it into his head to think that I had affronted him, and would come hither to demand satisfaction!' So saying, he planted himself in a chair in the very middle of the saloon; and ever and anon leered at Mr.Schnackenberger in so singular a manner, that no one could fail to see at whom his shafts were pointed.
Still it seemed as if our hero had neither ears nor eyes.

For he continued doggedly to work away at his 'cloud-compelling' pipe ([Greek: nephelegereta Schnakenberger]), without ever looking at his challenger.
When at length he rose, everybody supposed that probably he had had badgering enough by this time, and meant to decamp quietly.

All present were making wry faces, in order to check their bursting laughter, until Mr.Schnackenberger were clear of the room; that done, each prepared to give free vent to his mirth and high compliments to Mr.Von Pilsen, upon the fine style in which he had 'done execution upon Cawdor.' _De_camping, however, entered not into Mr.Schnackenberger's military plans; he rather meant to _en_camp over against Von Pilsen's position: calmly, therefore, with a leisurely motion, and _gradu militari_, did he advance towards his witty antagonist.