Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/254

 do you do with this Cerebus, who is not worth a kick? Look here, my poor signor, in the state which I find you, listen for once seriously to my representations, for fear that it should cost you dearer soon. When any one has, like yourself, so gentle a dove in a cage, it is not kind to treat it like an owl. If your heart was not dried up and your mind was not crippled, would you not be, all day long, studying to guess and anticipate the least caprices of Marianna? Take care of the justice of God, my very honored master; and if he allows you to recover, offer him, as expiation for your unworthy proceeding, the marriage of your niece with a fine young gentleman who seems to have fallen from the sky expressly for her happiness."

This long sermon was delivered from beginning to end by the severe Catherine, whilst the two painters were putting the unfortunate Capuzzi in close confinement between two sheets. The poor devil was so well convinced of the entire dislocation of his individual self, that he dared neither stir nor breathe. Antonio made signs to prevent him from speaking, and he suddenly begged dame Catherine to procure for him, as quickly as possible, a good quantity of iced water. As to the injury, it was trifling, and the danger only existed in the disturbed brain of Capuzzi. The person ambuscaded in the house where Pitichinaccio resided, had played his part to perfection; the old man's fall had produced no other consequence than a few contusions, of no great severity, which were attested sufficiently by several black and blue spots on Capuzzi's blistered skin.

Capuzzi had been taken in a snare, for the whole adventure of that night was the contrivance of Salvator. Antonio tied up the good man's leg in splints, so as to prevent him from moving; he also enveloped him in compresses dipped in iced water, which he often renewed, under the pretence of preventing the inflammation. The poor devil, thus tied up, shivered in every limb.

"My good master, Antonio," said he, from time to time, "do you think that I shall escape from it?"