The count stepped forward and uncovered one of the dishes. At once I started eating an excellent roast chicken. My supper was this chicken with some cheese and a salad. There was also a bottle of fine old wine, and I drank two glasses of this. While I was eating, the Count asked me many questions about my journey, and bit by bit I told him about everything that had happened.

By this time I had finished my supper. The count asked my to pull up a chair by the fire. When I had done this, he offered me a cigar. He did not take one for himself , saying that he did not smoke. While I was smoking, I had a chance to look at him properly. In fact the count's face and head were quite remarkable.

His face was strong, rather like an eagle's. His nose was thin, and his nostrils were wide and high. His forehead was high and round and there was not much hair on the front part of his head, but it was very thick on the other parts. His eyebrows were very large, almost meeting over his nose. The hair of the eyebrows was very thick and curly. I could hardly see his mouth under the huge moustache, but it seemed hard and rather cruel-looking. His teeth were strangely white and sharp.