Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/53

Rh any thing. Come, then, and place yourself there, quite near us."

Conrad, instead of being touched by this cordiality, threw on his master a proud and disdainful glance, and said—"It was not you that I sought here, and you can believe that I should have no need of permission to seat myself near you, if I wished to do so. I have to-day vanquished all those who tried to wrestle with me, and I wished to supplicate your beautiful young daughter to grant me, as the price of my victories, the perfumed bouquet which reposes on her bosom."

Saying this, he humbly bent his knee before Rosa, whom he gazed at with fiery glance. "Beautiful Rosa," said he to her, "do not refuse me this trifling but precious favor."

Master Martin's daughter could not resist this prayer, so courteously made. "A knight of your merit," answered she, "ought to receive some souvenir from the lady of his thoughts. I will let you take this bouquet, but see how its flowers are already faded!"

Conrad covered the flowers with burning kisses, and attached them to his cap, in spite of master Martin, who appeared to be annoyed by these familiarities. "Come, come," exclaimed he. "let us quit this folly, for it is time to regain our home."

Master Martin took the lead. Conrad took the young girl's arm with a hasty gallantry, which singularly differed from his habitual manner. Reinhold and Frederick followed, with a cold and sullen look. Every one seeing them pass in this manner, said—"See there! that is the rich cooper, Tobias Martin, and his worthy journeymen."

From the dawn of the following day, the pretty Rosa alone, seated near the window of her little chamber, sweetly meditated on the preceding evening. Her work of embroidery had 5