Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/314

 of you, are the most valuable that we have for a long time been able to meet with. We trust that you will not withdraw from us your friendship and kind remembrance.

(Signed)

"Is it possible," said de Scuderi, when she had in some degree recovered, that any human beings can keep up such a system of shameless wickedness and depravity?" The sun was now shining bright through the window curtains, which were of red silk, and the brilliants which lay on the table gleamed and sparkled in the deep-colored light. De Scuderi happening to look at them, turned away with abhorrence, and ordered Martiniere to remove those frightful objects, which seemed to her imagination stained with the blood of some murdered victim. The waiting-maid having put the jewels into the box, was of opinion, that it would be best to deliver them up to the minister of police, and confide to him the whole story of the young man's nocturnal visit, and his having left the casket in her house. De Scuderi rose and walked slowly to and fro through the chamber, reflecting for the first time what was best to be done. At length she ordered Baptiste to call a sedan chair, and Martiniere to dress her as soon as possible, as she would go directly to the Marquis de Maintenon. Accordingly, she was carried to the house of that lady, exactly at the hour when the latter, as de Scuderi expected, was alone in her apartments, and, of course, she took with her the casket containing the mysterious jewels.

Doubtless the Marchioness must have been much astonished when she saw the lady de Scuderi (who, at other times, notwithstanding her advanced age, had been the very beau ideal of grace and dignity,) now enter the room, pale, confused, awkward, and tottering. "What, for the love of all the saints, has happened to you?" said she, while the poor demoiselle, quite beside herself, and ready to faint, only tried, as soon as possible, to reach an arm-chair, which the Marchioness offered to her. At last, when she was again able to speak, de Scuderi described, with great eloquence, the gross and indelible