2 Amalie Statement:

'It is not when anyone dies in the castle that the howling is heard. it was when one of the CERNOGRATZ family died here that the wolves came from far and near and howled ate the edge of the forest just before the hour of death. There was only a few wolves who lived in this part of the forest, But at such a time there would be scores of them, gliding about in the shadows and howling on chorus, and the dogs of the castle and village and all the farms round would bark and howl in fear and anger at the wolf chorus, ans as the soul of dying one left its body a tree would crash down in the park. That is what happened when a CERNOGRATZ died in his family castle. But for a stranger dying here, of course no wolf would howl and no tree would fall.

There was a note of defiance, almost of contempt, in her voice as she said the last word. The well-fed, much-too-will dressed Baroness stared angrily at the old woman who had draid to speak so disrespectfully.

' you seem to know quite a lot about the Cernogratz legends, Fraulein Schmidt, 'she said sharply.

'I am a cernogratz myself, ' said the old woman , ' that is why I know the family history.'

'you a cernogratz ? You! ' came in an incredulous chorus.

' When we became very poor, 'she explained, ' and I had to go out and give lessons, I took another name. But my grandfather spent much of his time as a boy in this castle and my father used to tell many stories about it. I little throught when I took service with you that I should one day come with you to the old home of my family. '

There was silence when she finished speaking. and then the Baroness turned the conversation to a less embarrassing topic then family histories. But afterwards when the old governes had slipped away quietly to her duties, the company showed in disbelief.

' It was an Impertinence ,' said the Baron angrily; ' fancy the woman talking like that at our table. She almost told us we were nobodies and I don't believe a word of it. She is just Schmidt and nothing more. She has been talking to some of the peasants about the old cernogratz family and has learnt their history and their stories. '