Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/281

 "It is because to-morrow is the most fortunate day of my life. To-morrow, Pasquarello, I will give my beautiful Marianna in marriage to the most celebrated painter in Rome, after the great Salvator; to the good and worthy Antonio Scacciati, whom she loves with her whole heart."

The false Capuzzi had hardly finished pronouncing these words, when the real Capuzzi, struggling like a madman in the hands of the people, who tried to keep him in his seat, made the house resound with such furious clamors, that four or five women fainted with fear. He rose to his fullest height before the actor who thus abused him.

"Vile impostor," cried he to him, "thou liest like an accursed rogue! Antonio Seacciati is a beggar, who shall never have my sweet Marianna! And thou canst tell him from me, that if he ever shows himself at my door, I will have him skinned alive and thrown to the dogs!"

"What does this mean, old madman! old devil's boarder?" interrupted the false Capuzzi from the stage. "Is it allowable for a citizen thus to disturb the joy of peaceable people who have paid at the door of the theatre, to hear the praises of the venerable Pasquale Capuzzi di Senegaglia? Is there not here some brave policeman who will free us from thy stupid presence, old counterfeiter, who art trying to pass thyself off for the most illustrious man in Ripetta street? Dare to oppose the happiness of these dear children that heaven appears to have created for each other"

At the same time Marianna and Antonio were seen advancing on the stage, their hands joined, a smile on their faces, and their eyes animated with the sweetest contentment that fortunate love can bestow. At the sight of this, Capuzzi felt his strength redoubled by rage; with a more vigorous bound than would have been expected from a man of his size, he found himself standing before them on the stage, and drawing his rapier, he was about to stab the person of Antonio Scacciati, when a nervous hand, seizing his arm, prevented him from committing a useless murder. An officer of the