Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/384

 Our hero was young, handsome and well put together, rich and of romantic stock, as are nearly all the heroes of romance. There was related concerning him a thousand gallant adventures from which he came off crowned with honor: and the old people who had known him from his birth were never tired of repeating, amongst others, the following story:

Siegfried, before arriving at an age when the law gave him full disposition of his property, found himself once on a time, travelling over hills and through valleys, like a son of noble family, but with such lack of funds, that, to pay his bill at the inn, he was forced to try and sell his gold watch garnished with precious stones. But, instead of having to make this bargain with some thieving and miserly Jew, he met a young lord, who having long desired to possess a watch of this description, bought it without hesitation. One year afterwards, Siegfried read in a gazette of a watch to be put up in a lottery; he took a ticket and won; this watch was the one that he had sold. A little while afterwards he exchanged it for a ring that he fancied. Shortly after this he entered the service of Prince G, as private secretary, and the first present that his highness offered him was again the same watch set with precious stones, and accompanied, this time, by a chain which greatly enhanced its value. I know not how it was that in relating this anecdote the strong dislike that Siegfried manifested towards all games of chance was always spoken of, and many concluded from this that the fine nobleman was miserly to the last degree. There was in this calumny sufficient show of reason to pique his self-esteem. So to give a forcible denial to this slander, he went into the pharo bank, with the determination to play and lose all his money. But fortune was in his favor, and continued so obstinately faithful to him, that in spite of the boldest risks, with the least calculation, he won considerable sums; and at each stake that he pocketed, great was the surprise of the players at seeing the spite which he appeared to feel towards his great luck. The result of this was, that all those who had at first proclaimed