Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/350

 He made no reply, but with one half-suppressed exclamation of rage and resentment, passed by me with incredible speed, and vanished.

"I was now so much agitated, that I scarcely knew where I was, or what I did; however, with tottering steps, I drew near to Cardillac's victim, and knelt down beside him on the pavement. I thought life could not yet be extinct, and that he might possibly recover; however, I soon found he was quite dead. Meanwhile the marechaussee had come up unawares, and now surrounded me. 'So soon another murder!' cried one of them, 'and no doubt by the hands of the same incarnate demons! Hilloah, young man, what are you about there? You are one of the band, perhaps,—away with you to prison!' Accordingly they seized me as if I had been the criminal, while I was scarcely able to stammer out, that I was quite incapable of such a horrid deed, and that they should let me depart in peace. At last one of them held the light to my face, and laughed aloud. 'Why,' said he, 'this is Olivier Brusson, the goldsmith's apprentice—he who now works with that good honest citizen, Master Rene Cardillac. Aye, forsooth, he would murder people in the streets? And it looks very like an assassin to stay here lamenting over a dead body, and allow himself to be taken prisoner! But how did this happen, Brusson? Tell your story boldly, and at once.'

"'I was walking along the street,' said I, 'when I saw a man start from the wall, attack him who is now lying there, and knock him down. Then, as in my terror I cried aloud, the assassin ran away with the speed of lightning, and disappeared. I wished now to see whether his unfortunate victim were really dead, or might be recovered.' 'That was needless enough,' cried one of them, who had lifted up the dead body; 'these demons always make sure work, and the dagger has gone, as usual, right through the heart.' 'The devil fetch them!' cried another; 'it has happened now just as the last time. We came only a few minutes too late.'