Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/134

 undermining her life. One day she did not appear at dinner. The guests hastened to enquire of the baron if the sufferings of his wife caused him any serious uneasiness.

"Oh, in no wise!" answered the baron. "The piercing air of this country, joined to a cold which might be produced by an abuse of music, has caused this passing illness."

Whilst saying this, the baron threw a side glance towards me, which signified much. Adelheid understood enough of it to cause her to blush. She did not raise her eyes, but for me her looks appeared to say, that for the future, it would be necessary to make use of some precaution, in order not to excite the jealousy of the baron, from whom we might expect some evil design. A great anxiety took possession of my mind; I did not know what course to take; the threatening look that the baron sullenly took, irritated me so much the more, for the reason that I had nothing to reproach myself with; but I feared to expose Seraphine to undergo his anger.

Ought I to quit the castle?—But to renounce the society of Seraphine, seemed to me a sacrifice beyond my strength. I learned that the whole company were going to the hunt after dinner. I announced to my great uncle my intention of joining them.

"Very good," said the old man to me; "that is an exercise proper for thee, and I immediately bequeath to thee my carbine and hunting knife."

We started; we were placed at a short distance from each other in the neighboring forest, to surround the wolves. The snow fell very fast, and when the day was declining, there came a fog that hid all objects at six paces distance. The cold overcame me; and I sought for shelter in a hedge, and, after leaning my gun against a pine tree, I commenced dreaming of Seraphine.

Soon reports of guns followed each other from distance to distance: and, at ten feet from the place where I had taken shelter, an enormous wolf presented itself. I took aim at him,