Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/126

 break the charm which banishes from this domain the heirs of R—sitten. But, if I fail in my enterprise, I shall at least have sacrificed myself to the holiest of causes. As for thee, cousin, thou wilt be present, but no peril menaces thee. The evil spirit has no power over thee.

Franz served us, as the night before, with an excellent supper and a bowl of punch; then he returned. When we were alone, the full moon was shining with a most brilliant light; the north wind whistled through the forest trees, and every minute the glass creaked as it moved in the leaden sashes. My great uncle had placed his repeater on the table. It struck twelve. Then the door opened with a crash, and the steps that I had heard the night before commenced again to draw themselves along the floor. My great uncle turned pale, but he rose without faltering, and turned towards the direction from which the noise proceeded, the left arm leaning on his hip, and the right hand extended, in an heroic attitude. Sobs mingled with the noise of the steps, then was heard the forcible scratching against the walled-up door. Then my great uncle advanced towards it, and cried out in a loud voice:

"Daniel! Daniel! what doest thou here at this hour?"

A lamentable cry answered to these words, and was followed by the noise of a heavy fall. "Ask pardon, at the foot of God's throne," continued my great uncle, in a more and more animated tone of voice: "and if God does not pardon thee, go away from this castle, where there is no longer a place for thee!"

It seemed to me that a long groan lost itself outside amid the growling of the storm; my great-uncle came back slowly to his arm chair. He had an inspired look; his eyes sparkled like stars; he seated himself again before the fire, and his hands were joined, his eyes turned toward heaven; he appeared to pray.

After some moments of silence: "Well, cousin," said he to me, "what thinkest thou of all that?"

Seized with fear and respect, I kneeled before the old man,