Page:The German Novelists (Volume 2).djvu/384

374 The students meanwhile made a fresh movement, and formed in a grand square in the mark. Torches were seen waving in the air, mingled with no few cudgels: and it is said that a number were observed to be sharpening their hangers upon the stones. Apparently they had pronounced their pereat upon many an unlucky professor’s pate; and in particular upon his, who had so greatly won little Margaret’s regard. For though he was accustomed to banter in a friendly way with some of these wild spirits of the gown, he was extremely bitter and unrelenting, in cases of excessive wickedness and extravagance on their part, inasmuch that between the two, they hardly knew in which way to deal with him. However, they were in hopes, at least, of terrifying him out of the vexatious censorship, which he had assumed, and they were the more emboldened by the efforts of a new collegian, named Marcellin, who had been residing during some weeks, while on a tour, in the town, and ingratiated himself extremely with the whole fraternity by his superior courage and dexterity. Though a good deal older than the usual run of them, he it was who schemed and executed the most mad and juvenile tricks, while at the same time he won equal admiration by his superior abilities and acquirements. He had also conceived a great dislike to poor Margery’s favourite, the Professor Nordenholm; hated to hear him named; could never be prevailed upon to call on