Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/427

 been stolen from me by some malicious individual, whom I regret not being acquainted with, as I consider that he merits punishment. Besides, I defy any one to allege the least motive that could have induced me to play this trick on the venerable corporation to which the plaintiffs belong." Now, as the former conduct of Max was found irreproachable, he was acquitted without costs. This is what caused so lately his joy and the expression of his gratitude.

All were not satisfied with this anecdote, which had the appearance of a crude mystification of Willibald's own invention. But counsellor Reutlinger having given the signal for the opening of the ball, the music from the orchestra drowned all conversation; each one placed himself so as to figure as advantageously as possible, and the adventure of Max was forgotten.

The following day was to see the amusements renewed.—But when the assembled guests only awaited the counsellor to commence the festival, cries of anguish were heard, and servants came from the garden, bearing poor Reutlinger in their arms: they had found him insensible not far from the sepulchral monument which he had constructed in the bower of weeping willows. They administered ether and the strongest restoratives to him without effect, for nothing seemed to reanimate him, when suddenly the Turkish ambassador cried out:—"Stop there, stop there, bunglers that you are! Let me manage this!" And immediately throwing his turban far away from him, together with his wig, he commenced making singular motions with his hands around the counsellor, approaching gradually nearer the region of the stomach; he then blew his breath in Reutlinger's face, who after ten minutes of this manipulation opened his eyes, and murmured in a feeble voice:—"Exter, why have you awakened me? an infernal power has revealed to me my near death, and I was perhaps about to pass from life without suffering."

"Pooh! pooh! thy hour has not yet come," said baron Exter; "drive away these foolish ideas; thou art surrounded