Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/46

42 embarrassed. They write me that the harvest of Rhine wine must exceed this year all that has ever been known before; a famous astrologer has predicted the appearance of a comet, whose heat must produce a marvellous fertility; the fruits of the vine will be increased a hundred fold, and that this surprising meteor will not appear again in three hundred years. You can judge of what an enormous quantity of work is about to flow into my workshop. And even now, the venerable bishop of Bamberg, the greatest epicure in Germany, has sent me an order for an immense tun. We shall never be able, by ourselves, to execute all the jobs which will be offered us; and I must really engage another workman, skilful, zealous and active, like yourselves. God preserve me from getting here any fellow of whom I am not very sure. What is to be done, then, when time presses, and we wish to be well served? Can you not point out to me some clever fellow of your acquaintance? From whatever distance it is necessary to bring him, and whatever sum it costs me, I am ready for it."

Master Martin had hardly finished this speech, when the door of the workshop was burst open, and a tall, broad shouldered young man cried, in a stentorian voice—"Hallo! is this master Martin's workshop?"

"Undoubtedly this is the place," answered master Martin, himself going towards the stranger; "but you could have entered, my boy, without acting as though you meant to break every thing, and above all, don't scream so loudly. That is not the way to come into people's houses."

"Ha, ha, ha!" continued the young man, laughing heartily. "You are, perhaps, Martin himself; big belly and double chin, bright eyes and ruby nose; that's it, exactly; the description given me is the most exact. Master Martin, I salute you with veneration!"

"And what the devil do you want of master Martin?" asked the cooper ungraciously.