Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/257

 work, by delivering Marianna from the claws of her guardian. The good and sweet child, forgetting the severity of Capuzzi, ran every moment to his bedside to inquire how he felt; she found herself so sweetly happy in devoting herself to the assuagement of his sufferings, that she abandoned several times a little white hand to his kisses.

The morrow, at an early hour, Antonio ran to his friend's house, with a disconsolate look.

"Alas," exclaimed he, "all is lost, all is discovered!"

"So much the better," said Salvator; "tell me how it is."

"Figure to yourself, that yesterday, on my return to Capuzzi's house, which I had only left for a moment, to seek some good purgative medicines, I perceived the old man, dressed from head to foot, at the door, talking with doctor Pyramid. Capuzzi could not be described; he threatened me with his fist, assailed me with curses, and swore that he would have me strangled if ever I stepped my foot into his house again. 'And as for your protector, Salvator,' added he, 'I have ducats enough to settle his account without a trial.' As he was crying out and raving in this manner, aided by doctor Pyramid, who chorused his imprecations, the passers by stopped, and I saw that I was threatened with difficulty, if, plucking up, in spite of my emotion, all the courage and strength I had left, I had not rescued myself by rudely attacking this devilish Capuzzi. This is the second time that I have been obliged to act in this manner towards the uncle and guardian of Marianna; you see, master, that all is lost!"

"By my honor, that is joyful news!" exclaimed Salvator; "but I knew that long before you told me. Doctor Splendiano Accoramboni, who is in search of all wounds and bruises, has too soon become acquainted with his friend Capuzzi's accident; his zeal became inflamed; he examined the dressings, and not much cunning was necessary to discover the stratagem."

"But how do you know all these things?"

"What does it matter? it is enough to profit by it, and I 22