“Oh, yes! bream is a very good fish,” answered she, phlegmatically, without looking up.

“Oh, with red-wine sauce, delicious!  I have splendid fishing on my estate, Oestanvik.  Big fellows of bream!  I fish for them myself.”

“Who is the large fish there?” inquired Jacobi of Henrik, with an impatient sneer; “and what is it to him if your sister Louise is fond of bream or not?”

“Because then she might like him too, mon cher!  A very fine and solid fellow is my cousin Thure of Oestanvik.  I advise you to cultivate his acquaintance.  What now, Gabrielle dear, what now, your Highness?”

“What is that which—­”

“Yes, what is it?  I shall lose my head over that riddle.  Mamma dear, come and help your stupid son!”

“No, no!  Mamma knows it already.  She must not say it!” exclaimed Gabrielle with fear.

“What king do you place above all other kings, Magister?” asked Petrea for the second time,—­having this evening her “raptus” of questioning.

“Charles the Thirteenth,” answered the Candidate, and listened for what Louise was going to reply to the Landed Proprietor.

“Do you like birds, Cousin Louise?” asked the Landed Proprietor.

“Oh yes, particularly the throstle,” answered Louise.

“Well,—­I am glad of that!” said the Landed Proprietor.  “On my estate, Oestanvik, there is an immense quantity of throstles.  I often go out with my gun, and shoot them for my dinner.  Piff, paff! with two shots I have directly a whole dishful.”

Petrea, who was asked by no one “Do you like birds, cousin?” and who wished to occupy the Candidate, did not let herself be deterred by his evident confusion, but for the second time put the following question:—­“Do you think, Magister, that people before the Flood were really worse than they are nowadays?”

“Oh, much, much better,” answered the Candidate.

“Are you fond of roasted hare, Cousin Louise?” asked the Landed Proprietor.

“Are you fond of roasted hare, Magister?” whispered Petrea waggishly to Jacobi.

“Brava, Petrea!” whispered her brother to her.

“Are you fond of cold meat, Cousin Louise?” asked the Landed Proprietor, as he was handing Louise to the supper-table.

“Are you fond of Landed Proprietor?” whispered Henrik to her as she left it.

Louise answered just as a cathedral would have answered:  she looked very solemn and was silent.

After supper Petrea was quite excited, and left nobody alone who by any possibility could answer her.  “Is reason sufficient for mankind?  What is the ground of morals?  What is properly the meaning of ‘revelation’?  Why is everything so badly arranged in the State?  Why must there be rich and poor?” etc., etc.

“Dear Petrea!” said Louise, “what use can there be in asking those questions?”

It was an evening for questions; they did not end even when the company had broken up.