Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/65

Rh love. Promise me, dear brother, to remain three days longer here, in perfect quiet. I long since neglected our hogsheads, but it was, as thou seest, since I busied myself about this picture; all which distracted my attention from it seemed excessively tiresome; and the longer I go on, the less I feel capable of continuing our trade of stupid workmen. I have decided to throw the adz and mallet to the devil. In three days I will sincerely reveal to thee the feelings of Rosa. If she loves me, thou shalt go, and thou wilt soon see that time cures all sorrows, even those which break the heart."

Frederick promised that he would wait.

In three days from that time, towards night, Frederick, after having finished his work, came slowly back to the city. He thought with uneasiness of the rather severe admonitions he had received from master Martin, for some of his awkwardness. He had also noticed that the master seemed preoccupied with a secret sadness, and had heard such words escape his lips as "Cowardly intrigue," "Forgotten kindness," &c. Master Martin had not thought proper to explain himself, and Frederick knew not what to think of it, when he met, at the gates of Nuremberg, a man on horseback—it was Reinhold.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, "you have come just in time. I have many things to tell thee." And dismounting, Reinhold passed the bridle around his arm, and pressing his friend's hand, they both walked on. Frederick had noticed from the first that Reinhold had replaced the costume that he wore when they first met. The horse, equipped for the road, carried a portmanteau on his back.

"Be happy, my friend," said Reinhold, in a tone which had suddenly become rude and bitter. "Be happy! and handle at thy ease, henceforth without a rival, the hammer and the plane. I abandon, at this moment, the kingdom of hogsheads. I have just taken leave of the beautiful Rosa and the respectable master Martin."

"How?" exclaimed Frederick, trembling as if a thunder-clap had burst over his head; "thou art going, when master 6