Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/141

 account. I was without arms, except a little pocket-knife artistically wrought, which my great uncle had presented to me. I felt it in my pocket at this trying moment, and all my assurance was fortified. I followed the baron, decided to sell my life dearly if matters became serious. Arrived at his chamber, the baron shut the door with care, walked several times back and forth, and, stopping before me, with his arms folded upon his breast,

"Young man," continued he, "I have something to say to you."

All my energy blazed up, and my answer was as follows: "I hope, baron, that what you have to speak to me about, will not require on my part any reparation."

The baron looked at me as if he had not understood; then he looked down, and, with his hands behind him, recommenced his promenade. I saw him take the carbine and sound the charge. My blood boiled under the apprehension of danger, and I opened, in the bottom of my pocket, the little knife, stepping nearer to the baron to prevent his taking aim at me.

"Pretty arm," said the baron, and he deposited the carbine in a corner. I knew not what face to put on the matter, when the baron, coming back towards me, put his hand on my shoulder and said,

"Theodore, I must appear very extraordinary to you this morning. I am really entirely upset by the anguish of the past night. The nervousness of my wife had nothing in it to make me uneasy; but there exists in this castle, I know not what evil genius, which makes me look upon all things in the most gloomy light; this is the first time that the baroness has been taken sick here, and you are the sole cause of it."

"Truly," I said calmly, "I cannot explain myself"

"I wish," interrupted the baron, "that the infernal harpsichord had been broken into a thousand pieces the day that it was brought to my house! But, after all, I ought to have watched, from the first day, over what was passing here. My 12*