Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/144

 whispered these words in my ear: "From Adelheid." I took the plate, and on the largest of the sweetmeats I read these words, traced on the sugared envelope, with the point of a knife: "and Seraphine!" An ardent flame immediately circulated in my veins. I threw a fugitive look at Adelheid; she made a sign to me which seemed to say:

"Drinker, you forget nothing but the health of Seraphine?"

I immediately carried my glass to my lips; I emptied it at a single draught, and, on replacing it on the table, I perceived that the beautiful baroness had done the same; we had drank at the same instant; and, when our glasses touched the table, our eyes met! A cloud passed over my eyes, and the remorse of my ingratitude wounded my heart. Seraphine loves me; I have no longer any right to doubt; my happiness will become madness. But one of the guests arose, and, according to the custom of the North, proposed to drink to the health of the mistress of the castle. I know not how much spite, at finding myself anticipated, disturbed my brain: I take my glass, I raise it; I remain immovable; it seemed to me in this moment of fascination, that I was about to fall at the feet of my mistress.

"Well! what are you doing, my dear friend?" said my nearest neighbor.

This single word broke the charm; my eyes were opened—but Seraphine had disappeared.

After the repast, my intoxication became so insupportable, that I had to go out of the castle, in spite of the hurricane which was blowing, and the snow which was falling thickly. I took to running through the furze, along the borders of the lake, crying out with all my force:—"See how the devil makes the foolish child dance, who wished to pluck the forbidden fruit in the garden of love!"

And I ran, I ran until I lost my breath; and God knows how far I should have gone in this way, if I had not heard my name called out in the woods by a known voice, that of the master forester of R—sitten.