Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/422

 moved from behind a large cherry tree; this object represented the commercial counsellor Harscher in his official court dress.

He made his way through the assistants to come and offer his salutations to the Turkish ambassador, of whom he was one of the most enthusiastic admirers. This personage had resided in Italy during his youth, and he had come back with a musical mania, which rendered still more ridiculous his trembling falsetto, which he pretended to think was as capable of executing trills as master Farinelli's throat:

"I will lay a wager," said Ernest to his friend, "that Mr. Harscher has stuffed his pockets with cherries to offer to the ladies; but as the said pockets are lined with Spanish tobacco, I doubt if his odoriferous gallantries will meet with a cordial welcome."

The ambassador was received with great attention. The pretty Julia Foerd approached to kiss the general's hand with filial affection; but the ambassador immediately embraced her, kissing her on both cheeks, without being aware that by his sudden movement he was crushing counsellor Harscher's toes, who uttered the most painfully comical cries. Baron Exter drew the young girl aside, and began to chat with her, animating his conversation with the most impatient gestures.

"That joker is full of the evil one then?" said Ernest to his friend.—"I believe so," answered Willibald, "for although he is the young girl's god-father, I know that he has a hankering after her, and it might be that he has dangerous designs upon her."

Suddenly the ambassador stopped short in his conversation, extending his right hand before him, and cried out in his loudest voice: "Fetch it!"—"Good," said Willibald, "this babbler is telling for the thousandth time his story of the sea-dog. Now, you must know that the baron Exter occupied in Turkey a lofty marble palace on the shores of the Bosphorus. One day when he was walking in the gallery, he heard a piercing cry, he looked and saw by the water's side a Turkish