Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/124

 nothing of earth in them, murmur around me these words, resembling sobs:

"Go no farther, thou wilt fall into the abyss of the invisible world!"

Then the noise of a door which is violently shut, makes the apartment in which I am tremble; I hear distinctly some one running in the gallery; then the steps of a horse resound on the paving of the court; the portcullis is raised, and some one goes out, then re-enters almost immediately. Is all this reality, or is it nothing but a dream of my mind in its delirium? Whilst I am wrestling with my doubts, I hear my great uncle sighing in the neighboring chamber. Is he awake? I take my light and enter; he is struggling with the anguish of a cruel dream. I seize his hand, I awake him; he utters a stifled cry, but immediately recognizing me,

"Thanks, cousin," said he, "I had a bad dream on account of this lodging, and certain old things which I have seen take place in it. But, enough! it is better to go to sleep again, and not think longer about it."

With these words, he wrapped himself up in his covering, drew the sheet over his face, and appeared to go to sleep. But, when I had extinguished the fire and retired to my little bed, I heard the worthy great uncle say his prayers in a murmur, and mechanically I did the same.

On the morrow, at an early hour, we commenced our operations. Towards noon, my great uncle went with me to pay a visit to the ladies, to whom Franz was sent to announce us. After a long attendance, an old hump-backed female servant, dressed in a silk dress, dead leaf color, came to introduce us. The two ladies of the castle, dressed in the ancient style, looked to me like two puppets; they stared at me in such a manner, that I should have laughed in their faces, if my great uncle had not hastened to say, in his customary joyful manner, that I was a relation of his, a young law student, come to aid him at R—sitten. The faces of these two antique feminines lengthened in such a manner, as to prove that they had