THEBARONRITZNERVONJUNGwasanobleHungarianfamily，everymemberofwhichatleastasfarbackintoantiquityasanycertainrecordsextendwasmoreorlessremarkablefortalentofsomedescription
　　themajorityforthatspeciesofgrotesquerieinconceptionofwhichTieck，ascionofthehouse，hasgivenavivid，althoughbynomeansthemostvividexemplifications。MyacquaintancewithRitznercommencedatthemagnificentChateauJung，intowhichatrainofdrolladventures，nottobemadepublic，threwaplaceinhisregard，andhere，withsomewhatmoredifficulty，apartialinsightintohismentalconformation。Inlaterdaysthisinsightgrewmoreclear，astheintimacywhichhadatfirstpermitteditbecamemoreclose；andwhen，afterthreeyearsofthecharacteroftheBaronRitznervonJung。
　　Irememberthebuzzofcuriositywhichhisadventexcitedwithinthecollegeprecinctsonthenightofthetwenty-fifthofJune。I
　　rememberstillmoredistinctly，thatwhilehewaspronouncedbyallpartiesatfirstsight“themostremarkablemanintheworld。”nopersonmadeanyattemptataccountingforhisopinion。Thathewasuniqueappearedsoundeniable，thatitwasdeemedimpertinenttoinquirewhereintheuniquityconsisted。But，lettingthismatterpassforthepresent，Iwillmerelyobservethat，fromthefirstmomentofhissettingfootwithinthelimitsoftheuniversity，hebegantoexerciseoverthehabits，manners，persons，purses，andpropensitiesofthewholecommunitywhichsurroundedhim，aninfluencethemostextensiveanddespotic，yetatthesametimethemostindefiniteandaltogetherunaccountable。Thusthebriefperiodofhisresidenceattheuniversityformsanerainitsannals，andischaracterizedbyallclassesofpeopleappertainingtoitoritsdependenciesas“thatveryextraordinaryepochformingthedominationoftheBaronRitznervonJung。”thenofnoparticularage，bywhichImeanthatitwasimpossibletoformaguessrespectinghisagebyanydatapersonallyafforded。Hemighthavebeenfifteenorfifty，andwastwenty-oneyearsandsevenmonths。Hewasbynomeansahandsomemanperhapsthereverse。Thecontourofhisfacewassomewhatangularandharsh。
　　Hisforeheadwasloftyandveryfair；hisnoseasnub；hiseyeslarge，heavy，glassy，andmeaningless。Aboutthemouththerewasmoretobeobserved。Thelipsweregentlyprotruded，andrestedtheoneupontheother，aftersuchafashionthatitisimpossibletoconceiveany，eventhemostcomplex，combinationofhumanfeatures，conveyingsoentirely，andsosingly，theideaofunmitigatedgravity，solemnityandrepose。
　　Itwillbeperceived，nodoubt，fromwhatIhavealreadysaid，thattheBaronwasoneofthosehumananomaliesnowandthentobefound，whomakethescienceofmystificationthestudyandthebusinessoftheirlives。Forthisscienceapeculiarturnofmindgavehiminstinctivelythecue，whilehisphysicalappearanceaffordedhimunusualfacilitiesforcarryinghisprospectsintoeffect。IquaintlytermedthedominationoftheBaronRitznervonJung，everrightlyenteredintothemysterywhichovershadowedhischaracter。Itrulythinkthatnopersonattheuniversity，withtheexceptionofmyself，eversuspectedhimtobecapableofajoke，verbalorpractical：
　　theoldbull-dogatthegarden-gatewouldsoonerhavebeenaccused，theghostofHeraclitus，orthewigoftheEmeritusProfessorofTheology。This，too，whenitwasevidentthatthemostegregiousandunpardonableofallconceivabletricks，whimsicalitiesandbuffoonerieswerebroughtabout，ifnotdirectlybyhim，atleastplainlythroughhisintermediateagencyorconnivance。Thebeauty，ifImaysocallit，ofhisartmystifique，layinthatconsummateabilityresultingfromanalmostintuitiveknowledgeofhumannature，andamostwonderfulself-possession，bymeansofwhichheneverfailedtomakeitappearthatthedrollerieshewasoccupiedinbringingtoapoint，arosepartlyinspite，andpartlyinconsequenceofthelaudableeffortshewasmakingfortheirprevention，andforthepreservationofthegoodorderanddignityofAlmaMater。Thedeep，thepoignant，theoverwhelmingmortification，whichuponeachsuchfailureofhispraiseworthyendeavors，wouldsuffuseeverylineamentofhiscountenance，leftnottheslightestroomfordoubtofhissincerityinthebosomsofevenhismostskepticalcompanions。
　　Theadroitness，too，wasnolessworthyofobservationbywhichhecontrivedtoshiftthesenseofthegrotesquefromthecreatortothecreatedfromhisownpersontotheabsurditiestowhichhehadgivenrise。InnoinstancebeforethatofwhichIspeak，haveIknownthehabitualmystificescapethenaturalconsequenceofhismanoevresanattachmentoftheludicroustohisowncharacterandperson。
　　Continuallyenvelopedinanatmosphereofwhim，myfriendappearedtoliveonlyfortheseveritiesofsociety；andnotevenhisownhouseholdhaveforamomentassociatedotherideasthanthoseoftherigidandaugustwiththememoryoftheBaronRitznervonJung。thedemonofthedolcefarnientelaylikeanincubusupontheuniversity。Nothing，atleast，wasdonebeyondeatinganddrinkingandmakingmerry。Theapartmentsofthestudentswereconvertedintosomanypot-houses，andtherewasnopot-houseofthemallmorefamousormorefrequentedthanthatoftheBaron。Ourcarousalshereweremany，andboisterous，andlong，andneverunfruitfulofevents。
　　Upononeoccasionwehadprotractedoursittinguntilnearlydaybreak，andanunusualquantityofwinehadbeendrunk。ThecompanyconsistedofsevenoreightindividualsbesidestheBaronandmyself。
　　Mostofthesewereyoungmenofwealth，ofhighconnection，ofgreatfamilypride，andallalivewithanexaggeratedsenseofhonor。TheyaboundedinthemostultraGermanopinionsrespectingtheduello。TotheseQuixoticnotionssomerecentParisianpublications，backedbythreeorfourdesperateandfatalconversation，duringthegreaterpartofthenight，hadrunwildupontheallengrossingtopicofthetimes。TheBaron，whohadbeenunusuallysilentandabstractedintheearlierportionoftheevening，atlengthseemedtobearousedfromhisapathy，tookaleadingpartinthediscourse，anddweltuponthebenefits，andmoreespeciallyuponthebeauties，ofthereceivedcodeofetiquetteinpassagesofarmswithanardor，aneloquence，animpressiveness，andanaffectionatenessofmanner，whichelicitedthewarmestenthusiasmfromhishearersingeneral，andabsolutelystaggeredevenmyself，whowellknewhimtobeatheartaridiculerofthoseverypointsforwhichhecontended，andespeciallytoholdtheentirefanfaronadeofduellingetiquetteinthesovereigncontemptwhichitdeserves。
　　LookingaroundmeduringapauseintheBaron’sdiscourseofwhichmyreadersmaygathersomefaintideawhenIsaythatitboreresemblancetothefervid，chanting，monotonous，yetmusicalsermonicmannerofColeridge，Iperceivedsymptomsofevenmorethanthegeneralinterestinthecountenanceofoneoftheparty。Thisgentleman，whomIshallcallHermann，wasanoriginalineveryrespectexcept，perhaps，inthesingleparticularthathewasaverygreatfool。Hecontrivedtobear，however，amongaparticularsetattheuniversity，areputationfordeepmetaphysicalthinking，and，Ibelieve，forsomelogicaltalent。Asaduellisthehadacquiredwhohadfallenathishands；buttheyweremany。Hewasamanofcourageundoubtedly。Butitwasuponhisminuteacquaintancewiththeetiquetteoftheduello，andthenicetyofhissenseofhonor，thathemostespeciallypridedhimself。Thesethingswereahobbywhichherodetothedeath。ToRitzner，everuponthelookoutforthegrotesque，hispeculiaritieshadforalongtimepastaffordedfoodformystification。Ofthis，however，Iwasnotaware；
　　although，inthepresentinstance，Isawclearlythatsomethingofawhimsicalnaturewasuponthetapiswithmyfriend，andthatHermannwasitsespecialobject。
　　Astheformerproceededinhisdiscourse，orrathermonologueI
　　perceivedtheexcitementofthelattermomentlyincreasing。Atlengthhespoke；offeringsomeobjectiontoapointinsisteduponbyR。，andgivinghisreasonsindetail。TothesetheBaronrepliedatlengthstillmaintaininghisexaggeratedtoneofsentimentandconcluding，inwhatIthoughtverybadtaste，withasarcasmandasneer。ThehobbyofHermannnowtookthebitinhisteeth。ThisIcoulddiscernbythestudiedhair-splittingfarragoofhisrejoinder。HislastwordsIdistinctlyremember。“Youropinions，allowmetosay，BaronvonJung，althoughinthemaincorrect，are，inmanynicepoints，discreditabletoyourselfandtotheuniversityofwhichyouareamember。Inafewrespectstheyareevenunworthyofseriousrefutation。Iwouldsaymorethanthis，sir，wereitnotforthefearofgivingyouoffenceherethespeakersmiledblandly，Iwouldsay，sir，thatyouropinionsarenottheopinionstobeexpectedfromagentleman。”
　　AsHermanncompletedthisequivocalsentence，alleyeswereturnedupontheBaron。Hebecamepale，thenexcessivelyred；then，droppinghispocket-handkerchief，stoopedtorecoverit，whenIcaughtaglimpseofhiscountenance，whileitcouldbeseenbynooneelseatthetable。Itwasradiantwiththequizzicalexpressionwhichwasitsnaturalcharacter，butwhichIhadneverseenitassumeexceptwhenwewerealonetogether，andwhenheunbenthimselffreely。Inaninstantafterwardhestooderect，confrontingHermann；andsototalanalterationofcountenanceinsoshortaperiodIcertainlyneversawbefore。ForamomentIevenfanciedthatIhadmisconceivedhim，andthathewasinsoberearnest。Heappearedtobestiflingwithpassion，andhisfacewascadaverouslywhite。Forashorttimeheremainedsilent，apparentlystrivingtomasterhisemotion。Havingatlengthseeminglysucceeded，hereachedadecanterwhichstoodnearhim，sayingashehelditfirmlyclenched“Thelanguageyouhavethoughtpropertoemploy，MynheerHermann，inaddressingyourselftome，isobjectionableinsomanyparticulars，thatIhaveneithertempernortimeforspecification。Thatmyopinions，however，arenottheopinionstobeexpectedfromagentleman，isanobservationsodirectlyoffensiveastoallowmebutonelineofconduct。Somecourtesy，nevertheless，isduetothepresenceofthiscompany，andtoyourself，atthismoment，asmyguest。Youwillpardonme，therefore，if，uponthisconsideration，Ideviateslightlyfromthegeneralusageamonggentlemeninsimilarcasesofpersonalaffront。
　　YouwillforgivemeforthemoderatetaxIshallmakeuponyourimagination，andendeavortoconsider，foraninstant，thereflectionofyourpersoninyondermirrorasthelivingMynheerHermannhimself。Thisbeingdone，therewillbenodifficultywhatever。I
　　shalldischargethisdecanterofwineatyourimageinyondermirror，andthusfulfilallthespirit，ifnottheexactletter，ofresentmentforyourinsult，whilethenecessityofphysicalviolencetoyourrealpersonwillbeobviated。”
　　Withthesewordshehurledthedecanter，fullofwine，againstthemirrorwhichhungdirectlyoppositeHermann；strikingthereflectionofhispersonwithgreatprecision，andofcourseshatteringtheglassintofragments。Thewholecompanyatoncestartedtotheirfeet，and，withtheexceptionofmyselfandRitzner，tooktheirdeparture。AsHermannwentout，theBaronwhisperedmethatIshouldfollowhimandmakeanofferofmyservices。TothisIagreed；notknowingpreciselywhattomakeofsoridiculousapieceofbusiness。
　　Theduellistacceptedmyaidwithhisstiffandultrarechercheair，and，takingmyarm，ledmetohisapartment。Icouldhardlyforbearlaughinginhisfacewhileheproceededtodiscuss，withtheprofoundestgravity，whathetermed“therefinedlypeculiarcharacter“oftheinsulthehadreceived。Afteratiresomeharangueinhisordinarystyle，hetookdownfromhisbookshelvesanumberofmustyvolumesonthesubjectoftheduello，andentertainedmeforalongtimewiththeircontents；readingaloud，andcommentingearnestlyasheread。Icanjustrememberthetitlesofsomeoftheworks。Therewerethe“OrdonnanceofPhilipleBelonSingleCombat“；
　　the“TheatreofHonor。”byFavyn，andatreatise“OnthePermissionofDuels。”byAndiguier。Hedisplayed，also，withmuchpomposity，Brantome’s“MemoirsofDuels。”publishedatCologne，1666，inthetypesofElzevirapreciousanduniquevellum-papervolume，withafinemargin，andboundbyDerome。Butherequestedmyattentionparticularly，andwithanairofmysterioussagacity，toathickoctavo，writteninbarbarousLatinbyoneHedelin，aFrenchman，andhavingthequainttitle，“DuelliLexScripta，etnon；aliterque。”
　　Fromthishereadmeoneofthedrollestchaptersintheworldconcerning“Injuriaeperapplicationem，perconstructionem，etperse。”abouthalfofwhich，heaverred，wasstrictlyapplicabletohisown“refinedlypeculiar“case，althoughnotonesyllableofthewholemattercouldIunderstandforthelifeofme。Havingfinishedthechapter，heclosedthebook，anddemandedwhatIthoughtnecessarytobedone。IrepliedthatIhadentireconfidenceinhissuperiordelicacyoffeeling，andwouldabidebywhatheproposed。Withthisanswerheseemedflattered，andsatdowntowriteanotetotheBaron。Itranthus：
　　Sir，Myfriend，M。P-，willhandyouthisnote。Ifinditincumbentuponmetorequest，atyourearliestconvenience，anexplanationofthisevening’soccurrencesatyourchambers。Intheeventofyourdecliningthisrequest，Mr。P。willbehappytoarrange，withanyfriendwhomyoumayappoint，thestepspreliminarytoameeting。
　　Withsentimentsofperfectrespect，Yourmosthumbleservant，JOHANNHERMAN。
　　TotheBaronRitznervonJung，Notknowingwhatbettertodo，IcalleduponRitznerwiththisepistle。HebowedasIpresentedit；then，withagravecountenance，motionedmetoaseat。Havingperusedthecartel，hewrotethefollowingreply，whichIcarriedtoHermann。