Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/420

 out sense. Look and see if those beautiful ladies are not adorably coquettish under their feathers, which make them look like stage duchesses. It is enough under these wigs to make us improvise all the gallantries of the Pompadour school, so furiously popular in France. But see how charming that young girl is; that is Julia, madame Foerd's daughter. I know not what restrains me from making a flaming declaration to her, in a style at once ambiguous and delicate. I should say to her:—"Oh, dear friend! water which wears away marble in falling drop by drop,—the anvil which hardens as it receives the often repeated blows of the hammer,—the rays of the sun which"

"Ah! may the devil take thee," interrupted Ernest; "thanks to thy extravagances, the beautiful Julia who was coming towards us, ran away at the sight of thee like a frightened gazelle. There is no doubt now that she imagines that we are passing our time in laughing at the ladies in general, and at herself in particular. She will go and put us under the ban of all feminine society!"

"Bah!" exclaimed Willibald, "it is well known that I have the reputation of an impudent coxcomb, and the young ladles are as wary of me as they would be of a dangerous demon; but, self-praise aside, I know the roads that lead to the heart in spite of all obstacles, and I have sure means of bringing people to me when I do not wish to make advances. Let us yield ourselves to joy, and let us congratulate our friend Reutlinger, whom I see coming this way in all his pomp and pride."

Thus chatting, the two friends proceeded to a lawn in front of the castle. A dozen persons, tired of the ceremony of acting parts that afforded them very little amusement, had hung their hats and wigs on the branches of some elder bushes, and were playing a game at tennis, which the grave counsellor himself had not refused to join. The players were suddenly interrupted in the game by a musical charivari; each one hastily resumed his wig and laced coat.—"What have we now?"