Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/135

 and fired; I missed him; he sprang upon me, but my presence of mind did not abandon me; I received the furious animal on the point of my hunting knife, and he plunged it into himself up to the hilt. One of the foresters ran towards me on hearing the noise of his howling; the huntsmen gathered around us, and the baron sprang towards me.

"You are wounded?" said he.

"No sir," answered I; "my hand was surer than my aim."

It would be difficult to tell all the encomiums that were lavished upon me for this exploit. The baron insisted upon my leaning on his arm, to return to the castle. A forester carried my gun. These attentions, granted to me by the lord of R—sitten, touched me deeply. I judged of him from that time quite differently. He seemed to me to be a man of energy and courage. But at the same time I thought of Seraphine; I felt that the distance between us was growing less. I conceived the boldest hopes. But when, in the evening, swelled with pride, I related my adventure to my great uncle, he laughed in my face, saying,

"God shows his power by the hands of the weak."

The hour of repose had long since sounded, when, passing along the gallery to go to my bed, I met a white figure, that carried a night lamp.

It was Adelheid:—"Good evening," said she, laughing; "beautiful wolf-hunter! why do you run thus without a light, all alone, like a real spectre?"

At this word spectre, I trembled from head to foot, and I recalled the two first nights of my stay at the castle. Adelheid perceived the sudden emotion that agitated me.

"Well!" exclaimed she, taking my hand, "what is the matter with you? you are cold as marble; come, let me give you life and health. The baroness is waiting for you, she is dying of impatience."

I allowed myself to be led away without resistance, but without joy; I was under the empire of a fatal pre-occupation.