Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/324

 threw a billet into the lap of de Scuderi, and again de out, and receiving curses and blows on all sides, he vanished fighting his way as he had come.

It should have been already noticed, however, that as soon as the man had reached the coach-door, Martiniere, the waiting-maid, who was now in attendance on her mistress, fell back with a scream of terror, and hid her face on the cushion.—In vain did the lady de Scuderi pull the cord, and call to the coachman to stop. As if possessed by the devil, he lashed away at his horses, who foamed and snorted, reared and were restive, but, at last, in a brisk trot, thundered away across the bridge. De Scuderi emptied a whole bottle of eau de Cologne over the forehead and temples of the fainting abigail, who at last opened her eyes, though trembling in every limb, and almost convulsively clung to her mistress. "The saints protect us," said she at last;—"what did the frightful man want?—Good heaven! It was he—it was the very same youth who came to us at midnight, terrified us out of our senses, and left the mysterious casket!" De Scuderi tried to pacify the poor girl, representing to her, that absolutely no mischief had been done; and that the only point in question, at present, was to know what the billet contained. Accordingly, she unfolded the paper, and read these words:

"An evil destiny which you might avert, threatened to plunge me into the very abyss of destruction. I conjure you, even as a son would respectfully implore of a mother, that you will give back the necklace and bracelets which you received from me, to the goldsmith Rene Cardillac. Let this be done under any pretext; but it may be best to say to him that some alteration is required in the arrangement of the jewels. Your own welfare—nay, your life depends upon this, and if you do not act according to my advice before the day after to-morrow, I shall force my way into your house; and, in my despair, will put myself to death in your sight."

"Now, it is certain," said de Scuderi, when she had read