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determination to shoot anything of yellow colour that came near him。 His
station was next to that of Dr。 Krumm； but of course they were invisible to
each other。 The horns of the beaters sounded a warning； the gunners
cocked their guns and stood on the alert； in the perfect silence each one
waited for the first glimmer of a brown hide down the long green glades of
young fir。 Then； according to Charlie's account； by went two or three deer
like lightningall of them does。 A buck came last； but swerved just as he
came in sight； and backed and made straight for the line of beaters。 Two
more does； and then an absolute blank。 One or two shots had been heard at
a distance； either some of the more distant stations had been more
fortunate； or one or other of the beaters had tried his luck。 Suddenly there
was a shot fired close to Charlie； he knew it must have been the doctor。 In
about a minute afterward he saw some pale…yellow object slowly worming
its way through the ferns； and here； at length； he made sure he was going
to get his yellow fox。 But just as the animal came within fair distance； it
turned over； made a struggle or two； and lay still。 Charlie rushed along to
the spot： it was； indeed； a yellow fox； shot in the head； and now as dead as
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a door…nail。
What was he to do？ Let Dr。 Krumm take home this prize to Franziska；
after he had had such a chance in the afternoon？ Never！ Charlie fired a
barrel into the air； and then calmly awaited the coming up of the beaters
and the drawing together of the sportsmen。
Dr。 Krumm； being at the next station； was the first to arrive。 He found
Charlie standing by the side of the slain fox。
〃Ha！〃 he said； his spectacles fairly gleaming with delight； 〃you have
shotted him！ You have killed him！ That is very goodthat is excellent！
Now you will present the skin to Miss Franziska； if you do not wish to
take it to England。〃
〃Oh no！〃 said Charlie； with a lordly indifference。 〃I don't care about it。
Franziska may have it。〃
Charlie pulled me aside； and said； with a solemn wink：
〃Can you keep a secret？〃
〃My wife and I can keep a secret。 I am not allowed to have any for
myself。〃
〃Listen；〃 said the unabashed young man； 〃Krumm shot that fox。 Mind
you don't say a word。 I must have the skin to present to Franziska。〃
I stared at him； I had never known him guilty of a dishonest action。
But when you do get a decent young English fellow condescending to do
anything shabby； be sure it is a girl who is the cause。 I said nothing； of
course； and in the evening a trap came for us； and we drove back to
Huferschingen。
Tita clapped her hands with delight； for Charlie was a favourite of hers；
and now he was returning like a hero； with a sprig of fir in his cap to show
that he had killed a buck。
〃And here； Miss Franziska；〃 he said； quite gaily； 〃here is a yellow fox
for you。 I was told that you wanted the skin of one。〃
Franziska fairly blushed for pleasure； not that the skin of a fox was
very valuable for her； but that the compliment was so open and marked。
She came forward； in German fashion； and rather shyly shook hands with
him in token of her thanks。
When Tita was getting ready for dinner I told her about the yellow fox。
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A married man must have no secrets。
〃He is not capable of such a thing；〃 she says； with a grand air。
〃But he did it；〃 I point out。 〃What is more； he glories in it。 What did he
say when I remonstrated with him on the way home！ '/Why/；' says he； '/I
will put an end to Krumm！ I will abolish Krumm！ I will extinguish
Krumm！/' Now； madame； who is responsible for this？ Who had been
praising Franziska night and day as the sweetest； gentlest； cleverest girl in
the world； until this young man determines to have a flirtation with her
and astonish you？〃
〃A flirtation！〃 says Tita； faintly。 〃Oh no！ Oh； I never meant that。〃
〃Ask him just now； and he will tell you that women deserve no better。
They have no hearts； they are treacherous。 They have beautiful eyes； but
no conscience。 And so he means to take them as they are； and have his
measure of amusement。〃
〃Oh； I am sure he never said anything so abominably wicked；〃 cried
Tita； laying down the rose that Franziska had given her for her hair。 〃I
know he could not say such things。 But if he is so wickedif he has said
themit is not too late to interfere。 /I/ will see about it。〃
She drew herself up as if Jupiter had suddenly armed her with his
thunderbolts。 If Charlie had seen her at this moment he would have
quailed。 He might by chance have told the truth； and confessed that all the
wicked things he had been saying about woman's affection were only a
sort of rhetoric； and that he had no sort of intention to flirt with poor
Franziska； nor yet to extinguish and annihilate Dr。 Krumm。
The heartbroken boy was in very good spirits at dinner。 He was
inclined to wink。 Tita； on the contrary； maintained an impressive dignity of
demeanour； and when Franziska's name happened to be mentioned she
spoke of the young girl as her very particular friend； as though she would
dare Charlie to attempt a flirtation with one who held that honour。 But the
young man was either blind or reckless； or acting a part for mere mischief。
He pointed the finger of scorn at Dr。 Krumm。 He asked Tita if he should
bring her a yellow fox next day。 He declared he wished he could spend the
remainder of his life in a Black Forest Inn； with a napkin over his arm；
serving chopins。 He said he would brave the wrath of the Furst by
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shooting a capercailzie on the very first opportunity； to bring the shining
feathers home to Franziska。
When Tita and I went upstairs at night the small and gentle creature
was grievously perplexed。
〃I cannot make it out；〃 she said。 〃He is quite changed。 What is the
matter with him？〃
〃You behold； madam； in that young man the moral effects of vulpicide。
A demon has entered into him。 You remember； in 'Der Freischutz；' how〃