“Nonsense!  What great courage is necessary for that?” exclaimed Lieutenant Flemming Wolff, a cousin of the bride of the evening.  This gentleman had a reputation that was not of the best.  He was known to live mostly on debt and pawn tickets, and was of a most quarrelsome disposition.  As a duelist he was feared because of his specialty.  This was the ability, and the inclination, through a trick in the use of the foils, to disfigure his opponent’s face badly, without at all endangering his life.  In this manner he had already sadly mutilated several brave officers and students, who had had the bad luck to stand up against him.  He himself was anything but pleasant to look upon, his natural plainness having been rendering repellent by a life of low debauchery.  He cherished a secret grudge against the bridegroom and bitter feelings toward the bride, because the latter had so plainly shown her aversion for him when he had ventured to pay suit to her.

The family had not desired any open break with this disagreeable relative, and had therefore sent him an invitation to the wedding.  They had taken it for granted that, under the circumstances, he would prefer to stay away.  But he had appeared at the ball, and, perhaps to conceal his resentment, he had been the most indefatigable dancer of the evening.  At supper he had partaken freely of the strongest wines, and was plainly showing the effect of them by this time.  His eyes rolled wildly, and those who knew him took care not to contradict him, or to have anything to say to him at all.

With a boastful laugh he repeated his assertion that it didn’t take much courage to open a sealed door, especially when there might be a fortune concealed behind it.  In his opinion it was cowardly to let oneself be frightened by a century-old legend. He wouldn’t let that bother him if he had influence enough in the family to win the daughter and induce the mother to give a ball in the haunted hall.  With this last hit he hoped to arouse the young husband’s ire.  But the latter merely shrugged his shoulders and turned away with a smile of contempt.

Lieutenant Wolff fired up at this, and demanded to know whether the other intended to call his, the lieutenant’s, courage into question by his behavior.

“Not in the slightest, when it is a matter of obtaining a loan, or of mutilating an adversary with a trick at fencing,” answered the bridegroom angrily, taking care, however, that neither the bride nor any of the other ladies should hear his words.  Then he continued in a whisper:  “But I don’t believe you’d have the courage to remain here alone and in darkness, before this closed door, for a single hour.  If you wish to challenge me for this doubt, I am at your disposal as soon as you have proven me in the wrong.  But I choose the weapons.”

“They must be chosen by lot, sir cousin,” replied the lieutenant, his cheek pale and his jaws set.  “I will expect you to breakfast to-morrow morning at eight o’clock.”