CHAPTER IX.
WHICH TREATS OF EXPERIMENTS NOT VERY COMMON AT BIRTHDAY _FETES_.
'Now, my dears,' said Mr.Von Pilsen to a party who were helping him to laugh at the departed Mr.Schnackenberger, 'as soon as the fellow returns, we must get him into our party at supper.' 'Returns ?' exclaimed another; 'why I should fancy he had had enough of birthday _fetes_ for one life.' 'You think so ?' said Von Pilsen: 'so do not I.No, no, my good creature; I flatter myself that I go upon pretty sure grounds: I saw those eyes which he turned upon the princess on making his exit: and mind what I say, he takes his beast home, and----comes back again.

Therefore, be sure, and get him amongst us at supper, and set the barrel abroach.

I wouldn't for all the world the monster should go away untapped.' The words were scarce uttered, when, sure enough, the body, or 'barrel,' of Mr.Schnackenberger did roll into the room for a second time.
Forthwith Von Pilsen and his party made up to him; and Pilsen having first with much art laboured to efface any suspicions which might have possessed the student's mind in consequence of his former laughter, proceeded to thank him for the very extraordinary sport which his dog had furnished; and protested that he must be better acquainted with him.
'Why, as to _that_,' said Mr.Schnackenberger, 'a better acquaintance must naturally be very agreeable to me.

But, in respect to the dog, and what you call the sport, I'm quite of another opinion; and would give all I'm worth that it had not happened.' 'Oh! no,' they all declared; 'the _fete_ would have wanted its most brilliant features if Mr.Schnackenberger or his dog had been absent.
No, no: without flattery he must allow them to call him the richest fund of amusement--the brightest attraction of the evening.' But Schnackenberger shook his head incredulously; said he wished he could think so: but with a deep sigh he persisted in his own opinion; in which he was the more confirmed, when he perceived that the princess, who was now passing him to the supper-room, turned away her eyes the moment she perceived him.
In this state of mind Mr.Jeremiah naturally, but unconsciously, lent himself to the designs of his new acquaintances.

Every glass that the devil of mischief and of merry malice poured out, did the devil of Schnackenberger's despair drink off; until at last the latter devil was tolerably well drowned in wine.
About this time enter Juno again--being her second (and positively last) appearance upon these boards.