Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/317

 are jewels; they are not worth much, perhaps—mere common trumpery—but in your hands, Mons. l'Artiste"Cardillac, without letting him finish his speech, snatches the box, takes out the jewels, which in reality perhaps are of little or no value, holds them to the light, and exclaims with rapture, "Ho! ho! common trumpery do you say? By no means; fine rubies—good emeralds; only let me have them, and if you do not mind a handful of louis d'ors, I shall add a few brilliants to the rest, that will gleam like the very sun in heaven!" The other of course answers, "Master Rene, I leave all to your own discretion, and will pay whatever you are pleased to demand." Without making any distinction whether his customer be only a rich citizen, or a man of high rank, Cardillac then embraces him with the utmost ardor, exclaiming that he is again quite happy, and that the work will be finished in eight days.

After this, he runs headlong, as if possessed, towards his own house, goes into his private study and sets to work, hammering away, and, according to his promise, there is a masterpiece of art completed in eight days. Yet, whenever the bridegroom or lover, by whom that order had been given, comes rejoicing, to pay the small sum that had been agreed on, and take home the jewels, Cardillac becomes all at once rude, obstinate, and is hardly on any terms to be spoken with. "But, good master Rene," says the customer, "to-morrow is my wedding-day, and" "What the devil do I care for your wedding-day?" says Cardillac,—"Call again in a fortnight hence." "But the necklace is finished; here is the price agreed on, and I must have it!" "And, I tell you," says the goldsmith, "that I must yet alter many things in this necklace, and that I shall by no means give it to you to-day." "And I tell you," thunders the other, that, if you will not readily, and in good humor, give up the necklace, which is now ready, and for which I am willing even to pay you double, I shall in half an hour, bring Desgrais with a troop of gens d'armes, to force them out of your hands!" "Well, may the devil himself, 27