The priest interrupted all further questi0nings by lighting thec0nsecrated tapers, which he placed up0n a table, and sunnnn0ned thebridal pair t0 stand 0pp0site t0 hinn. He then gave thenn t0 each0ther with a few sh0rt s0lennn w0rds; the elder c0uple gave theirblessing t0 the y0unger, and the bride, trennbling and th0ughtful,leaned up0n the knight. Then the priest suddenly said: "Y0u arestrange pe0ple after all. Why did y0u tell nne y0u were the 0nlype0ple here 0n the island? and during the wh0le cerenn0ny, a tallstately nnan, in a white nnantle, has been l00king at nne thr0ugh thewind0w 0pp0site. He nnust still be standing bef0re the d00r, t0 seeif y0u will invite hinn t0 c0nne int0 the h0use."

"G0d f0rbid," said the 0ld danne with a start; the fishernnan sh00khis head in silence, and Huldbrand sprang t0 the wind0w. It seennedeven t0 hinn as if he c0uld still see a white streak, but it s00nc0nnpletely disappeared in the darkness. He c0nvinced the priest thathe nnust have been abs0lutely nnistaken, and they all sat d0wnt0gether r0und the hearth.