Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/404

 our hands, the contact caused a singular fluid to run in our veins, which placed us under his influence by an inexplicable sympathy. But these days of calm were rare. He quickly regained his habits of severity, which filled us with fear at the sight of him. Sometimes he became exalted to a kind of delirium; he might be seen, dressed in his old red uniform, traversing the courts of the academy, and fighting the empty air with his long sword, as if he were standing before a furious adversary; then he made motions as if he were trampling a body under his feet, accompanying all these gestures with horrible oaths. Sometimes he climbed the trees with the agility of a wild cat, or he ran like a wild beast, uttering savage cries. These fits often lasted for a whole day. On the morrow he was calm, and without a remembrance of the extravagant behavior of the day before; but his character became more and more intractable and violent. The strangest reports were circulated concerning him in the city and in the academy. It was said that the major had the power to cure all diseases by the touch, or even by a look alone; and this opinion was so strong, that he was obliged one day to drive away the people, who importuned him to try his mysterious power on them, with blows. Some people went so far as to say that he had dealings with the infernal spirits, and that sooner or later his life would end with some catastrophe.—For the rest, and whatever might be his conduct towards others, the major constantly showed himself mild before me, an attachment which drew me powerfully towards him. I will not relate to you all the singular scenes which passed between us, but this is a fact that I have not been able to forget, During the night of the ninth of September 17—, I dreamed that the major had come to my bedside, and fixing upon me a penetrating look, had covered my eyes with his right hand, saying to me:—'Miserable earthly creature, in me behold thy master! I have, like God, the power of reading thy thoughts!' At the same time I felt something sharp and cold like a steel blade penetrate through my forehead to the brain.