the sound proceeded from the balcony of the opposite edifice, and thither robin turned his eyes. in front of the gothic window stood the old citizen, wrapped in a wide gown, his gray periwig exchanged for a nightcap, which was thrust back from his forehead, and his silk stockings hanging about his legs. he supported himself on his polished cane in a fit of convulsive merriment, which manifested itself on his solemn old features like a funny inscription on a tombstone. then robin seemed to hear the voices of the barbers, of the guests of the inn, and of all who had made sport of him that night. the contagion was spreading among the multitude, when all at once, it seized upon robin, and he sent forth a shout of laughter that echoed through the street, every man shook his sides, every man emptied his lungs, but robin's shout was the loudest there. the cloud-spirits peeped from their silvery islands, as the congregated mirth went roaring up the sky! the man in the moon heard the far bellow. "oho," quoth he, "the old earth is frolicsome to-night!"