Part 1 of the End Tale in Weird Tales, Volume 1 by E. T. A. Hoffman, translated by J. T. Bielve. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by Thomas Kobland. The End Tale, not far from the shore of the Baltic Sea, is situated the ancestral castle of the noble family von Arblank, called Arblanksypen. It is a wild and desolate neighborhood, hardly anything more than a single blade of grass shooting up here and there from the bottom of strift sand. And instead of the garden that generally ornaments a baronial residence, the bare walls are approached on the landward side by a thin forest of furs, that with their never-changing vesture of gloom despise the bright garniture of spring, and where instead of the joyous caroling of little birds awakened anew to gladness, nothing is heard but the ominous croak of the raven and the whirring scream of the storm-boating seagull. A quarter of a mile distant, nature suddenly changes. As if by the wave of a magician's wand you're transported into the midst of thriving fields, fertile arable land, and meadows, you see too the large and prosperous village with the land-steward's spacious dwelling house. And at the angle of a pleasant thicket of alders, you may observe the foundations of a large castle, which one of the former proprietors had intended to erect. His successors, however, living on their property in Courland, left the building in its unfinished state. No word for a hair, Roderick von Arblank, proceed with the structure. Note, for a hair equals barren, though not exactly in the present significance of the term in Germany. The for a hair belongs to the superior nobility and is a barren of the older nobility of the Middle Ages, and he ranks immediately after account graph. The title barren is now restricted to comparatively newer creations, and its bearer belongs to the lower nobility. In this tale, for a hair and barren are used indifferently. No word for a hair, Roderick von Arblank, proceed with the structure, when he again took up his residence on the ancestral estate, since the lonely old castle was more suitable to his temperament, which was morose and averse to human society. He had its ruinous walls repaired as well as circumstances would permit, and then shut himself up within them along with a cross-grained house steward and a slender establishment of servants. He was seldom seen in the village, but on the other hand he often walked and rode along the sea beach, and people claimed to have heard him from a distance talking to the waves and listening to the rolling and hissing of the surf as though he could hear the answering voice of the spirit of the sea. Upon the topmost summit of the wash tower, he had a sort of study fitted up and supplied with telescopes, with a complete set of astronomical apparatus in fact. Then, during the daytime, he frequently washed the ships sailing past on the distant horizon, like white-winged seagulls. And there he spent the starlight nights engaged in astronomical, or as some professed to know, with astrological labors, in which the old house steward assisted him. At any rate, the rumour was current during his own lifetime that he was devoted to the occult scientists, or the so-called black art, and that he had been driven out of Courland in consequence of the failure of an experiment by which an august princely house had been most seriously offended. The slightest allusion to his residence in Courland filled him with horror. But for all the troubles which had there unhinged the tenor of his life, he held his predecessors entirely to blame, in that they had wickedly deserted the home of their ancestors. In order to fetter for the future, at least the head of the family to the ancestral castle, he converted it into a property of entail. The sovereign was the more willing to rabbi this arrangement, since by its means he would secure for his country a family distinguished for all chivalrous virtues, and which had already begun to ramify into foreign countries. Neither Roderick's son, Hubert, nor the next Roderick, who was so-called after his grandfather, would live in their ancestral castle, both preferred Courland. It is conceivable, too, that, being more cheerful and fond of life than the gloomy astrologer, they were repelled by the grim loneliness of the place, for a hair of Roderick had granted shelter and subsistence on the property to two old maids, sisters of his father, who were living in indigence, having been but niggerly provided for. They, together with an aged serving woman, occupied the small, warm rooms of one of the wings. Besides them and the cook, who had a large apartment on the ground floor adjoining the kitchen, the only other person was a worn-out chasseur, who tottered about through the lofty rooms and halls of the main building, and discharged the duties of a castleman. The rest of the servants lived in the village with the land steward. The only time at which the desolated and deserted castle became the scene of life and activity was late in autumn, when the snow first began to fall, and the season for wolf hunting and boar hunting arrived. Then came for a hair Roderick with his wife, attended by relatives and friends, and a numerous revenue from Courland. The neighboring nobility, and even amateur lovers of the chase, who lived in the town hard by, came down in such numbers that the main building, together with the wings, barely sufficed to hold the crowd of guests. Well-served fires roared in all the stoves and fireplaces, while the spits were creaking from early dawn until late at night, and hundreds of lighthearted people, masters and servants, were running up and down stairs. Here was heard the jingling and rattling of drinking glasses, and jovial hunting choruses. There the footsteps of those dancing to the sound of the shrill music. Everywhere loud mirth and jollity, so that for four or five weeks together, the castle was more like a first-rate hostelry situated on a main high road than the abode of a country gentleman. This time, for a hair Roderick devoted, as well as he was able, to serious business, for, with drawing from the revelry of his guests, he discharged the duties attached to his position as Lord of the Entail. He not only had a complete statement of the revenues laid before him, but he listened to every proposal for improvement and to every the least complaint of his tenants, endeavoring to establish order in everything and check all wrongdoing and injustice as far as lay in his power. In these matters of business, he was honestly assisted by the old advocate, V Blank, who had been law agent of the Art Blank family and Justice Sharius of their estates in P Blank from father to son for many years. Note that Justice Sharius acted as judiciary in the seniorial courts of justice, which were among the privileges accorded to the nobility of certain ranks and certain cases by the feudal institutions of middle ages. This privilege, the Art Blank family is represented as exercising. Return to text. Accordingly, V Blank was one to set out for the estate at least a week before the day fixed for the arrival of the fray hair. In the year 1790 Blank, the time came around again when old V Blank was to start on his journey for Art Blank sitting. However strong and healthy the old man, now 70 years of age, might feel, he was yet quite assured that a helping hand would prove beneficial to him in his business. So he said to me one day, as if in jest, cousin, I was his great nephew, but he called me cousin, owing to the fact that his own Christian name and mine were both the same, cousin, I was thinking it would not be a miss if you went along with me to Art Blank's sitting and felt the sea breezes blow about your ears of it. Besides giving me good help in my often laborious work, you may for once in a while see how you like the rollicking life of a hunter, and how after drawing up a neatly written protocol one morning, you will frame the next when you come to look in the glaring eyes of such a sturdy brute as a grim shaggy wolf or a wild boar gnashing his teeth. And whether you know how to bring him down with a well aimed shot. Of course, I could not have heard such strange accounts of the merry hunting parties at Art Blank's sitting or entertain such a true heartfelt affection for my excellent old great uncle as I did without being highly delighted that he wanted to take me with him this time. As I was already pretty well skilled in the sort of business he had to transact, I promised to work with unwearyed industry so as to relieve him of all care and trouble. Next day, we sat in the carriage on our way to Art Blank's sitting, all wrapped up in good fur coats, driving through a thick snowstorm, the first harbinger of the coming winter. On the journey, the old gentleman told me many remarkable stories about the fry-haired brotheric who had established the estate tale and appointed him, V Blank, in spite of his youth, to be his just asharia as an executor. He spoke of the harsh and violent character of the old nobleman, which seemed to be inherited by all the family, since even the present master of the estate, whom he had known as a mild tempered and almost effeminate youth, acquired more and more as the years went by the same disposition. He therefore recommended me strongly to behave with as much resolute self- reliance and as little embarrassment as possible if I desired to possess any consideration in the fry-haired's eyes. And at length he began to describe the apartments in the castle which he had selected to be his own once for all, since they were warm and comfortable and so conveniently retired that we could withdraw from the noisy convivialities of the hilarious company whenever we please. The rooms, namely which were on every visit reserved for him, were two small ones, hung with warm tapestry, close beside the large hall of justice, in the wing opposite that in which the two old maids resided. At last, after a rapid but wearying journey, we arrived at our blank-sit in late at night. We drove through the village. It was Sunday. And from the alehouse proceeded the sounds of music and dancing and merry-making. The Stewart's house was lit up from basement to garret and music and song were there too. All the more striking therefore was the inhospitable desolation into which we now drove. The sea wind howled in sharp cutting dirges, as it were, about us, whilst the somber furs, as if they had been roused by the wind from a deep magic trance, groaned hoarsely in a responsive chorus. The bare black walls of the castle towered above the snow-covered ground. We drew up at the gates, which were fast locked. But no shouting or cracking of whips, no knocking or hammering, was of any avail. The whole castle seemed to be dead. Not a single light was visible at any of the windows. The old gentleman shouted in his strong stentorian voice. Francis! Francis! Where the deuce are you? In the devil's name rouse yourself. We are all freezing here outside the gates. The snow is cutting our faces till they bleed. Well, that devil don't disturb yourself. Then the watchdog began to whine and a wandering light was visible on the ground floor. There was a rattling of keys, and soon the ponderous wings of the gate creaked back on their hinges. Ah! A hearty welcome! A hearty welcome! Here justiciarius! Oh, get rough weather! cried old Francis, holding the lantern above his head, so that the light fell full upon his withered face, which was drawn up into a curious grimace that was meant for a friendly smile. The carriage drove into the court and got out. Then I obtained a full view of the old servant's extraordinary figure, almost hidden in his wide old-fashioned chasseur livery, with his many extraordinary lace decorations.  Now old Francis began, my great uncle, knocking the snow from his fur coat in the entrance hall. No, old man, is everything prepared? Have you had the hangings in my room well dusted and the beds carried in?  No, replied Francis, quite calmly. No, my worshipful herd justiciarius. We've got none of that done. Good heavens, burst out my great uncle. I wrote to you in proper time. You know that I always come at the time I fix.  I shall have to sleep in rooms as cold as ice. But you see, worshipful herd justiciarius, continued Francis, most carefully clipping a burning thief in the wick of the candle with the snuffers and stamping it out with his foot. But you see, sir, all that would not have been of much good, especially the fires, for the wind and the snow have taken up their quarters too much in the rooms, driving in through the broken windows and then what? Cried my uncle, interrupting him as he spread out his fur coat and placing his arms akimbo. You mean to tell me the windows are broken and you, the castellan of the house, have done nothing to get them mended. But, worshipful herd justiciarius, resumed the old servant calmly and composedly, but we can't very well get at them owing to the great masses of stones and rubbish, lying all over the room. Damn it all!  You lasting health and good luck, young gentleman, said the old man, bowing politely to me, as I happened to sneeze. Note, at the prison time the Germans say, prosit, under like circumstances. This, of course, reminds one of the Greek custom of regarding sneezing as an auspicious omen returned to text, but he immediately added, there the stones and plaster of the partition wall, which fell in at the great shock. Have you had an earthquake? Blazed up my uncle, now fell in a rage. No, not an earthquake, worshipful herd justiciarius, replied the old man, grinning all over his face, but three days ago the heavy wainsket ceiling of the justice hall fell in with a tremendous crash. Then, may the— My uncle was about to rip out a terrific oath in his violent, passionate manner, but jerking up his right arm above his head and taking off his hawkskin cap with his left, he suddenly checked himself and, turning to me, he said with a hearty laugh, by my troth cousin, we must hold our tongues, we mustn't ask any more questions, or else we shall hear of some still-worst misfortune, or have the whole castle tumbling to pieces about our ears. But he continued, wheeling round again to the old servant, but blessed me, Francis, could you not have had the common sense to get me another room cleaned and warmed? Could you not have quickly fitted up a room in the main building for the court day? All that has been already done, said the old man, pointing to the staircase with the gesture that invited us to follow him, and at once beginning to ascend them. Now, there is our most curious noodle for you, exclaimed my uncle, as we followed old Francis. The way led through long, lofty, vaulted corridors in the dense darkness of which Francis' flickering light threw a strange reflection. The pillars, capitals, and very colored arches seemed as if they were floating before us in the air. Our own shadows stalked along beside us in gigantic shape, and the grotesque paintings on the walls over which they glided seemed all of a tremble and shake, whilst their voices, we could imagine, were whispering in the sound of our echoing footsteps, Wake us not, oh, wake us not, our swimsical spirits who sleep here in these old stones. At last, after we had traversed a long suite of cold and gloomy apartments, Francis opened the door of a hall in which a fire blazing brightly in the grate offered us, as it were, a home-like welcome with his pleasant crackling. I felt quite comfortable the moment I entered, but my uncle, standing still in the middle of the hall, looked round him and said in a tone which was so very grave as to be almost solemn, and so this is to be the Justice Hall. Francis held his candle above his head so that my eye fell upon a light spot in the wide dark wall about the size of a door. Then he said in a pained and muffed voice, Justice has been already dealt out here. What possesses you, old man, asked my uncle, quickly throwing aside his fur coat and drawing near to the fire. It slipped over my lips. I couldn't help it, said Francis. Then he lit the grate candles and opened the door of the adjoining room, which was very snugly fitted up for our reception. In a short time, a table was spread for us before the fire, and the old man served us with several well-dressed dishes, which were followed by a brimming bowl of punch, prepared in true northern style, a very acceptable sight to two weary travelers like my uncle and myself. My uncle then, tired with his journey, went to bed, as soon as he had finished supper. But my spirits were too much excited by the novelty and strangeness of the place, as well as by the punch, for me to think of sleep. Meanwhile, Francis cleared the table, stirred up the fire, and bowing and scraping politely left me to myself. Now I sat alone in the lofty, spacious, ritterous hour, or night's hall. The snowflakes had ceased to beat against the lattice, and the storm had ceased to whistle. The sky was clear, and the bright full moon shone in through the wide Oreo windows, illuminating with magical effect all the dark corners of the curious room, into which the dim light of my candles and the fire could not penetrate. As one often finds in old castles, the walls and ceiling of the hall were ornamented in a peculiar antique fashion, the former with fantastic paintings and carvings gilded and coloured in gorgeous tints, the latter with heavy wainspotting. Standing out conspicuously from the great pictures, which represented, for the most part, wild, bloody scenes in bear hunts and wolf hunts, were the heads of men and animals carved in wood, and joined on to the painted bodies, so that the whole especially in the flickering light of the fire and the soft beams of the moon, had an effect as if all were alive and instinct with terrible reality. Between these pictures, reliefs of nights had been inserted of life-size, walking along in hunting costume. Probably they were the ancestors of the family who were delighted in the chase. Everything, both in the paintings and in the carved work, bore the dingy hue of extreme old age. So much the more conspicuous, therefore, was the bright bear place on that one of the walls through which were two doors leading into adjoining apartments. I soon concluded that there, too, there must have been a door that had been bricked up later, and hence it was that this new part of the wall, which had neither been painted like the rest, nor yet ornamented with carvings, formed such a striking contrast with the others. Who does not know with what mysterious power the mind is enthralled in the midst of unusual and singularly strange circumstances? Even the dullest imagination is aroused when it comes into a valley girt-round by fantastic rocks, or within the gloomy walls of a church or an abbey, and it begins to have glimpses of things it has never yet experienced. When I add that I was 20 years of age and had drunk several glasses of strong punch, it will easily be conceived that as I sat thus in the Ritter's Hall, I was in a more exceptional frame of mind than I had ever been before. Let the reader picture to himself the stillness of the night within and without the rumbling roar of the sea, the peculiar piping of the wind which rang upon my ears like the tones of a mighty organ played upon by spectral hands, the passing scutting clouds which shining bright and white often seemed to peep in through the rattling oil windows like giants sailing past. In very truth, I felt from the slight shutter which shook me that possibly a new sphere of existences might now be revealed to me visibly and perceptibly. But this feeling was like the shivery sensations that one has on hearing a graphically narrated ghost story such as we all like. At this moment it occurred to me that I should never be in a more seasonable mood for reading the book which in common with everyone who had the least leaning towards the romantic I at that time carried about in my pocket, I mean Chiller's ghost seer. I read and read and my imagination grew ever more and more excited. I came to the marvelously enthralling description of the wedding feast at Count von B. Blanks. Just as I was reading of the entrance of your honor most bloody figure, note, this refers to an episode in Chiller's work related by a Sicilian. The story is of a familiar type. Two brothers, Ironimo and Lorenzo, fall in love with the same lady, Antonia. The elder brother is secretly killed by the younger.  Return to text. The door leading from the gallery into the enter chamber flew open with a tremendous bang. I started to my feet in terror. The book fell from my hands. In the very same moment, however, all was still again.  The door must have been versed open by a strong gust of wind or in some other natural manner. It is nothing. I overstrained fancy converts every ordinary occurrence into the supernatural. Having thus calmed my fears, I picked up my book from the ground and again threw myself in the armchair. But there came a sound of soft, slow measured footsteps moving diagonally across the hall. Whilst there was a sighing and moaning at intervals and in this sighing and moaning there was expressed the deepest trouble, the most hopeless grief the human being can know. Ah, it must be some sick animal locked up somewhere in the basement's story. Such acoustic deceptions at night time, making distant sounds appear close at hand are well known to everybody. Who will suffer himself to be terrified at such a thing as that? Thus I calmed my fears again. But now there was a scratching at the new portion of the wall, whilst louder and deeper sighs were audible, as if gasped out by someone in the last throes of mortal anguish. Yes, yes, it is some poor animal locked up somewhere. I will shout as loudly as I can. I will stamp violently on the floor. Then all would be still. Or else the animal below will make itself heard more distinctly and in its natural cries, I thought. But the blood ran cold in my veins. The cold sweat, too, stood upon my forehead. And I remained sitting in my chair as if transfixed, quite unable to rise, still less to cry out. At length the abominable scratching ceased and I again heard the footsteps. Life and motion seemed to be awakened in me. I leapt to my feet and went two or three steps forward. But then there came an ice-cold draft of wind through the hall. Whilst at the same moment, the moon cast her bright light upon the statue of a grave, if not almost terrible-looking man. And then, as though his warning voice rang through the louder thunders of the waves and the shriller piping of the wind, I heard distinctly, No further, no further, All you will sink beneath all the fearful horrors of the world of specters. Then the door was slammed, too, with the same violent bang as before. And I plainly heard the footsteps in the anteroom, then going down the stairs. The main door of the castle was opened with a creaking noise and afterwards closed again. Then it seemed as if a horse were brought out of the stable, and after a while taken back again, and finally all was still. At that same moment, my attention was attracted to my old uncle in the adjoining room. He was groaning and moaning painfully. This brought me fully to consciousness again. I seized the candles and hurried into the room to him. He appeared to be struggling with an ugly, unpleasant dream. Wake up! Wake up! I cried loudly, taking him gently by the hand and letting the full glare of the light fall upon his face. He started up with a stifled shout, and then, looking kindly at me, said, Ah, you have done quite right that you have, cousin, to wake me. I have had a very ugly dream, and it's all solely owing to this room and that hall, for they have made me think of past times, and many wonderful things that have happened here. But now let us turn to and have a good sound sleep. Therewith, the old gentleman rolled himself in the bed covering and appeared to fall asleep at once. But when I had extinguished the candles and likewise, gripped into bed, I heard him praying in a low tone of himself. Next morning, we began work in earnest. The land steward brought his account books, and various other people came, some to get a dispute settled, some to get arrangements made about other matters. At noon, my uncle took me with him to the wing where the two old Baronesses lived, that we might pay our respects to them with all due form. Francis, having announced us, we had to wait some time before a little old dame, bent with the wait of her 60 years and attired in gay-colored silks, who styled herself the noble lady's lady in waiting, appeared and led us into the sanctuary. There, we were received with comical ceremony by the old ladies whose curious style of dress had gone out of fashion years and years before. I especially was an object of astonishment to them when my uncle with considerable humor introduced me as a young lawyer who had come to assist him in his business. Their countenances plainly indicated their belief that owing to my youth, the welfare of the tenants of our blank certain was placed in jeopardy. Although there was a good deal that was truly ridiculous during the whole of this interview with the old ladies, I was nevertheless still shivering from the terror of the preceding night. I felt as if I had come in contact with an unknown power, or rather, as if I had grazed against the outer edge of a circle, one step across which would be enough to plunge me irretrievably into destruction, as though it were only by the exertion of all the power of my will that I should be able to guard myself against that awful dread, which never slackens its hold upon you until it ends in incurable insanity.  My fancy seemed to gleam from their yellow withered faces and blinking eyes, ocular proof of the fact that they had succeeded in establishing themselves on at least a good footing with the ghosts who haunted the castle, as it derived a curricular confirmation of the same fact from the wretched French which they croaked, partly between their tightly closed blue lips and partly through their long, thin noses, and also that they themselves possessed the power of setting trouble and dire mischief at work. My uncle, who always had a keen eye for a bit of fun, entangled the old dames in his ironical way in such a mishmash of nonsensical rubbish that had I been in any other mood I should not have known how to swallow down my immoderate laughter. But as I have just said, the barrenesses and their twaddle were and continued to be, in my regard, ghostly, so that my old uncle, who was aiming at affording me in a special diversion, glanced across at me time after time utterly astonished. So after dinner, when we were alone together in our room, he burst out, but in heaven's name, cousin, tell me, what is the matter with you? You don't laugh, you don't talk, you don't eat, and you don't drink. Are you ill? Or is anything else the matter with you? I now hesitated not a moment to tell him circumstantially all my terrible, awful experiences of the previous night. I did not conceal anything, and above all, I did not conceal that I had drunk a good deal of punch and had been reading Schiller's Ghostseer. This, I must confess to, I added, for only so can I credibly explain how it was that my overstrained and active imagination could create all those ghostly spirits, which only exist within the sphere of my own brain. I fully expected that my uncle would now pepper me well with the stinging pellets of his wit for this my fanciful ghostseeing, but on the contrary, he grew very grave, and his eyes became riveted in a set stair upon the floor, until he jerked up his head and said, fixing me with his keen, fiery eyes, your book I am not acquainted with, cousin, but your ghostly visitants would you neither to it nor to the fumes of the punch. I must tell you that I dreamt exactly the same things that you saw and heard. Like you, I sat in the easy chair beside the fire, at least I dreamt so, but what was only revealed to you as slight noises, I saw and distinctly comprehended with the eye of my mind. Yes, I beheld that foul fiend come in, stealthily and feebly step across to the bricked-up door, and scratch at the wall in hopeless despair until the blood gushed out from beneath his torn fingernails. Then he went downstairs, took a horse out of the stable, and finally put him back again.  You came and awoke me, and I soon resisted the baneful ghost of that terrible man who is still able to disturb, in this fearful way, the quiet lives of the living. The old gentleman stopped, and I did not like to ask him further questions, being well aware that he would explain everything to me when he deemed that the proper time was come for doing so. After sitting for a while, deeply absorbed in his own thoughts, he went on, Cousin, do you think you have courage enough to encounter the ghost again, now that you know all that happens? That is to say, along with me, of course I declared that I now felt quite strong enough, and ready for what he wished. Then let us watch together, during the coming night, the old gentleman went on to say, there is a voice within me telling me that this evil spirit must fly not so much before the power of my will as before my courage, which rests upon a basis of firm conviction. I feel that it is not at all presumption in me, but rather a good and pious deed, if I venture life in limb to exorcise this foul fiend that is banishing the sons from the old castle of their ancestors. But what am I thinking about? There can be no risk in the case at all. For with such a firm, honest mind and pious trust that I feel I possess, I and everybody cannot fail to be, now as always, victorious over such ghostly antagonists. And yet, if after all it should be God's will that this evil power be enabled to work me mischief, then you must bear witness, Cousin, that I fell in honest Christian fight against the spirit of hell, which was here busy about its fiendish work. As for yourself, keep it a distance. No harm will happen to you then. Our attention was busily engaged with diverse kinds of business until evening came. As on the day before, Francis had cleared away the remains of the supper and brought us our punch. The full moon, shown brightly through the gleaming clouds, the sea waves roared, and the night wind howled and shook the oil window till the pains rattled. Although inwardly excited, we forced ourselves to converse on indifferent topics. The old gentleman had placed his striking watch on the table. It struck twelve. Then the door flew open with a terrific bang, and, just as on the preceding night, soft, slow footsteps moved stealthily across the hall in a diagonal direction, whilst there were the same sounds of sighing and moaning. My uncle turned pale, but his eyes shown with an unusual brilliance. He rose from his armchair, stretching his tall figure up to its full height, so that, as he stood there with his left arm propped against his side and his right stretched out towards the middle of the hall, he had the appearance of a hero issuing his commands. But the sighing and moaning were growing every moment louder and more perceptible, and then the scratching at the wall began, more horribly, even than on the previous night. My uncle strode forward, straight towards the walled-up door, and his steps were so firm that they echoed along the floor. He stopped immediately in front of the place, where the scratching noise continued to grow worse and worse, and said in a strong, solemn voice, such as I had never before heard from his lips, Daniel! Daniel! What are you doing here at this hour? Then there was a horrible unearthly scream, followed by a dull thud as if a heavy weight had fallen to the ground. Seek for pardon and mercy at the throne of the Almighty, that is your place, away with you from the scenes of this life in which you can never more have part. And as the old gentleman uttered these words in a tone still stronger than before, a feeble wail seemed to pass through the air and die away in the blustering of the storm, which was just beginning to rage. Crossing over to the door, the old gentleman slammed it too, so that the echo rang loudly through the empty ante room. There was something so supernatural almost in both his language and his gestures that I was deeply struck with awe. On resuming his seat in the arm chair, his face was as if transfigured. He folded his hands and prayed inwardly. In this way several minutes passed when he asked me in that gentle tone which always went right to my heart, and which he always had so completely at his command. Well, cousin, agitated and shaken by awe, terror, fear, and pious respect and love, I threw myself upon my knees and rained down my warm tears upon the hand he offered me. He clasped me in his arms and pressing me fervently to his heart, said very tenderly, Now we will go and have a good, quiet sleep, good cousin, and we did so. And as nothing of an unusual nature occurred on the following night, we soon recovered our former cheerfulness to the prejudice the old baroness is, or though there did still continue to be something ghostly about them and their on banners, yet it emanated from a diverting ghost which the old gentleman knew how to call up in a droll fashion. At length, after the lapse of several days, the baron put in his appearance, along with his wife and a numerous train of servants for the hunting. The guests who had been invited also arrived and the castle, now suddenly awakened to animation, became the scene of the noisy life and revelry which had been before described. When the baron came into our hall soon after his arrival, he seemed to be disagreeably surprised at the change in our quarters. Casting an ill-tempered glance towards the brick-down door, he turned abruptly round and passed his hand across his forehead as if desirous of banishing some disagreeable recollection. My great uncle mentioned the damage done to the justice hall and the adjoining apartments, but the baron found fault with Francis for not accommodating us with better lodgings, and he good-naturedly requested the old gentleman to order anything he might want to make his new room comfortable, for it was much less satisfactory in this respect than that which he had usually occupied. On the whole, the barons bearing towards my old uncle was not merely cordial but largely colored by a certain deferential respect as if the relation in which he stood towards him was that of a younger relative. But this was the sole trait that could in any way reconcile me to his harsh, imperious character which was now developed more and more every day. As for me, he seemed to notice me but little. If he did take notice of me at all, he saw in me nothing more than the usual secretary or clerk. On the occasion of the very first important memorandum that I drew up, he began to point out mistakes as he conceived in the wording. My blood boiled and I was about to make a caustic reply when my uncle interposed, informing him briefly that I did my work exactly in the way he wished and that in legal matters of this kind he alone was responsible. When we were left alone, I complained bitterly of the baron who would, I said, always inspire me with growing aversion. I assure your cousin, replied the old gentleman, that the baron notwithstanding his unpleasant manner is really one of the most excellent and kind-hearted men in the world. As I have already told you, he did not assume these manners until the time he became Lord of the Entail. Previous to then, he was a modest gentle youth. Besides, he is not after all so bad as you make him out to be. And further, I should like to know why you were so averse to him. As my uncle said these words, he smiled mockingly and the blood rushed hotly and furiously into my face. I could not pretend to hide from myself.  This lady was none other than the baroness herself. Her appearance exercised a powerful and irresistible charm upon me at the very moment of her arrival when I saw her traversing the apartments in her Russian sable cloak, which fitted close to the exquisite symmetry of her shape and with a rich veil wrapped about her head. Moreover, the circumstance that the two old ants, with still more extraordinary gowns and veribund headdresses than I had yet seen them wear, were sweeping along, one on each side of her and cackling their welcomes in French, about the baroness, was looking about her in a way so gentle as to baffle all description, nodding graciously first to one and then to another and then adding in her flute-like voice a few German words in the pure sonorous dialect of Courland. Oh, this formed a truly remarkable and unusual picture that my imagination involuntarily connected it with the ghostly midnight visitant, the baroness being the angel of light who was to break the ban of the spectral powers of evil. This wondrously lovely lady stood forth in startling reality before in my mind's eye. At that time she could hardly be 19 years of age and her face as delicately beautiful as her form bore the impression of the most angelic good nature. But what I especially noticed was the indescribable fascination of her dark eyes for a soft melancholic gleam of aspiration shown in them like dewy moonshine whilst a perfect illusion of rapture and delight was revealed in her sweet and beautiful smile. She often seemed completely lost in her own thoughts and at such moments her lovely face was swept by dark conflating shadows. Many observers would have concluded that she was affected by some distressing pain but it rather seemed to me that she was struggling with gloomy apprehensions of a future pregnant with darkness fortunes and with these strangely enough I connected the apparition of the castle though I could not give the least explanation of why I did so. On the morning following the barrens arrival when the company assembled to breakfast my old uncle introduced me to the barrenness and as usually happens with people in the frame of mind in which I then was I behaved with indescribable absurdity in answer to the beautiful lady's simple inquiries how I liked the castle etc. I entangled myself in the most extraordinary and nonsensical phrases so that the old aunt subscribed my embarrassment simply and solely to my profound respect for the noble lady and thought they were called upon condescending me to take my part which they did by praising me in French as a very nice and clever young man as a garçon très jolie hence of that this vexed me so suddenly recovering my self-possession I threw out a bouleau in better French than the old dames were mistresses of whereupon they opened their eyes wide in astonishment and pampered their long thin noses with a liberal supply of snuff from the barrenness is turning from me with a more serious air to talk to some other lady I perceived that my bouleau bordered closely upon folly this vexed me still more and I wished the two old ladies to the devil my old uncle's irony had long before brought me through the stage of the languishing love sick swain who in childish infatuation coddles his love troubles but I knew very well that the barrenness had made a deeper and more powerful impression upon my heart than any other woman had hitherto done I saw and heard nothing but her nevertheless I had a most explicit and unequivocal consciousness that it would be not only absurd but even utter madness to dream of an amour albeit I perceived no less clearly the impossibility of gazing and adoring at a distance like a lovelorn boy of such conduct I should have been perfectly ashamed but what I could do and what I resolved to do was to become more intimate with this beautiful girl without allowing her to get any glimpse of my real feelings to drink the sweet poison of her looks and words and then went far away from her to bear her image in my heart for many many days perhaps forever I was excited by this romantic and chivalric attachment to such a degree that as I pondered over it during sleepless nights I was childish enough to address myself in pathetic monologues and even to sigh dupriously seraphina oh seraphina till at last my old uncle woke up and cried cousin cousin I believe you are dreaming aloud do it by daytime if you can possibly contrive it but at night have the goodness to let me sleep I was very much afraid that the old gentleman who had not failed to remark my excitement on the bariless arrival had heard the name and would overwhelm me with his sarcastic wit but next morning all he said as we went into the justice hall was God grant every man the proper amount of common sense and sufficient watchfulness to keep it well under hand it's a bad look out when a man becomes converted into a fantastic cox-chrome without so much as a word of warning then he took his seat at the great table and added right neatly and distinctly good cousin that I may be able to read it without any trouble the respect nay the almost venereal veneration which the baron entertained towards my uncle was manifested on all occasions thus at the dinner table he had to occupy the seat which many envied him beside the baroness as for me chance threw me first in one place and then in another but for the most part two or three officers from the neighboring capital were one to attach me to them in order that they might empty to their own satisfaction their budget of news and amusing anecdotes whilst diligently passing the wine about thus it happened that for several days in succession I sat at the bottom of the table at a great distance from the baroness at length however chance brought me nearer to our just as the doors of the dining hall were thrown open for the assembled company I happened to be in the midst of a conversation with the baroness's companion and confidante a lady no longer in the blue of youth but by no means ill-looking and not without intelligence and she seemed to take some interest in my remarks according to etiquette it was my duty to offer her my arm and I was not a little pleased when she took her place quite close to the baroness who gave her a friendly nod it may be readily imagined that all that I now said was intended not only for my fair neighbor but also mainly for the baroness whether it was that the inward tension of my feelings imparted in a special animation to all I said at any rate my companion's attention became more riveted with every succeeding moment in fact she was at last entirely absorbed in the visions of the kaleidoscopic world which I unfolded to her gaze as remarked she was not without intelligence and it soon came to pass that our conversation completely independent of the multitude of words spoken by the other guests which rambled about first to this subject and then to that maintained its own free course launching an effective word now and again with her I wanted it for I did not fail to observe that my companion shot a significant glance or two across to the baroness and that the latter took pains to listen to us and this was particularly the case when the conversation turned upon music and I began to speak with enthusiasm of this glorious and sacred art nor did I conceal that despite the fact of my having devoted myself to the dry tedious study of the law I possessed tolerable skill on the harpsichord could sing and it even said several songs to music the majority of the company had gone into another room to take coffee and occurs but unawares without knowing how it came about I found myself near the baroness who was talking with her confidant she had once addressed me repeating in a still more cordial manner and in the tone in which one talks to an acquaintance her inquiries as to how I liked living in the castle etc I assured her that for the first few days not only the dreary desolation of the situation but the ancient castle itself had affected me strangely but even in this mood I had found much of deep interest and that now my only wish was to be excused from the stirring scenes of the hunt for I had not been accustomed to them the baroness smiled and said I can readily believe that this wild life in outfair forests cannot be very congenial to you you are a musician and unless I am utterly mistaken a poet as well I am passionately fond of both arts I can also play the harp a little but I have to do without it here in all blank sitting for my husband does not like me to bring it with me its soft strains would harmonize but ill with the wild shouts of the hunters and the ringing glare of their bugles which are the only sounds that ought to be heard here and oh heaven how I should like to hear a little music I protested that I would exert all the skill I had at my command to fulfill her wish for there must surely without doubt be an instrument of some kind in the castle even though it were only an old harpsichord then the lady antelhide the baroness is confidoned burst out into a silvery laugh and asked did I not know that within the memory of man no other instrument had ever been heard in the castle except cracked trumpets and hunting horns which in the midst of joy would only sound lugubrious notes and the twanging fiddles untuned violin cellos and braying oboes of itinerant musicians the baroness reiterated her wish that she should like to have some music and especially should like to hear me and both she and antelhide racked their brains all to no purpose to devise some scheme by which they could get a decent piano forte brought to the castle at this moment old francis crossed the room here's the man who always can give the best advice and can procure everything even things before unheard of and unseen with these words the lady antelhide called him to her and as she endeavored to make him comprehend what it was that was wanted the baroness listened with her hands clasped and her head bent forward looking upon the old man's face with a gentle smile she made a most attractive picture like some lovely winsome child that is all eagerness to have a wish for toy in its hands francis after having adduced in his prolet's manner several reasons why it would be done right impossible to procure such a wonderful instrument in such a big hurry finally stroked his beard with an air of self-flattery and said but the lance towards lady up at the village performs on the manichord or whatever is the atlantic name they now call it with uncommon skill and sings to it so fine and mournful like that it makes your eyes red just like onions do and makes you feel as if you would like to dance with both legs at once and you say she has a piano forte interposed lady atlant I had to be sure continued the old man it comes straight from Dresden oh that's fine interrupted the baroness a beautiful instrument went on the old man but a little weakly for not long ago when the organist began to play on it the hymn in all thy works he broke it all to pieces so that note in all thy works by paul fleming 1609 to 1640 one of the pious but gloomy religious songs of this leading spirit of the first solution school returned to text but he broke it all to pieces so that good gracious exclaimed both the baroness and lady atlant so that went on the old man again it had to be taken to our bank to be mended and cost a lot of money but has it come back again asked lady atlant impatiently I had to be sure my lady and the stewards lately will reckon a high honor at this moment the baron chanced to pass he looked across at our group rather astonished and whispered with a sarcastic smile to the baroness so you have to take counsel with francis again I see the baroness cast down her eyes blushing whilst old francis breaking off terrified suddenly threw himself into military posture his head erected his arms close and straight down his side the old ants came sailing down upon us in their stuffed gowns and carried off the baroness lady atlant followed her and I was left alone as if spellbound a struggle began to rage within me between my rapturous anticipations of now being able to be near her whom I adored who completely swayed all my thoughts and feelings and my sulky ill humor and annoyance at the baron whom I regarded as a barbarous tyrant if he were not would the gray haired old servant have assumed such a slavish attitude do you hear can you see I say cried my great uncle tapping me on the throat we were going downstairs to our own apartments don't force yourself so on the baroness's attention he said when we reached the room what good can come of it leave that to the young fox who like to pay court to ladies there are plenty of them to do it I related how it had all come about and challenged him to say if I had deserved his reproof his only reply to this however was as he drew on his dressing gown then having lit his pipe he took his seat in his easy chair and began to talk about the adventures of the hunt on the preceding day bandering me on my bad shots all was quiet in the castle all the visitors both gentlemen and ladies were busy in their own rooms dressing for the evening for the musicians with the twanging fiddles untuned violin cellos and braing oboes of whom Lady Adelheid had spoken will come and a merry making of no less importance than a ball to be given in the best possible style was in anticipation my old uncle preferring a quiet sleep to such foolish pastimes stayed in his chamber I however had just finished dressing when there came a light tap at our door and Francis entered smiling in his self-satisfied way he announced to me that the manicord had just arrived from the land steward's lady in a sledge and had been carried into the baroness's apartments Lady Adelheid sent her compliments and would I go over at once may be conceived how my pulse beat and also with what a delicious tremor at heart I opened the door of the room in which I was to find her Lady Adelheid came to meet me with a joyful smile the baroness already in full dress for the ball was sitting in a meditative attitude beside the mysterious case or box in which slumbered the music that I was called upon to awaken when she rose her beauty shown upon me with such glorious splendor that I stood staring at her unable to utter a word come Theodore for according to the kindly custom of the north which is found again Father South she addressed everybody by his or her Christian name come Theodore she said pleasantly here's the instrument come heaven grant it be not altogether unworthy of your skill as I opened the lid I was greeted by the rattling of a score of broken strings and when I attempted to strike a chord the effect was hideous and abominable for all the strings which were not broken were completely out of tune I doubt not our friend the organist has been putting his delicate little hands upon it again said Lady Adelheid laughing but the baroness was very much annoyed and said oh it really is a slice of bad luck I am doomed I see never to have any pleasure here I searched in the case of the instrument and fortunately found some coils of strings but no tuning key anywhere hence fresh laments any key will do if the war will fit on the pegs I explained then both Lady Adelheid and the baroness ran backwards and forwards in gay spirits and before long a whole magazine of bright keys lay before me on the sounding board then I set to work diligently and both the ladies assisted me all they could trying first one peg and then another at length one of the tires and keys fitted and they exclaimed joyfully this will do it will do but when I had drawn the first creaking string up to just proper pitch it suddenly snapped and the ladies recoiled in alarm the baroness handling the brittle wires with her delicate little fingers gave me the numbers as I wanted them and carefully held the coil whilst I enrolled it suddenly one of them coiled itself up again in a horror making the baroness uttering a patient oh Lady Adelheid enjoyed a hearty laugh whilst I pursued the tangled coil into the corner of the room after we had all united our efforts to extract a perfectly straight string from it and it tried it again to our mortification it again broke but at last at last we found some good coils the strings began to hold and gradually the discordant jangling gave place to pure melodious chords ha it will go it will go the instrument is getting in tune exclaimed the baroness looking at me with her lovely smile how quickly did this common interest banish all the strangeness and shyness which the artificial manners of social intercourse imposed a kind of confidential familiarity arose between us which burning through me like an electric current consumed the timorous nervousness and constraint which had lain like ice upon my heart end of part one of the end tale recording by Thomas Copeland part two of the end tale in weird tales volume one by E.T. A. Hoffman translated by J.T. Fieldby this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Thomas Copeland that peculiar mood of diffused melting sadness which is engendered of such love as mine was had quite left me and accordingly when the Piano Forte was brought into something like tune instead of interpreting my deeper feelings in dreamy improvisations as I had intended I began with those sweet and charming canzonettes which have reached us from the south during this or the other sends a detêt without thee or senti me idol mio hear me my darling or al men se non possiu at least if I cannot with numberless morir mi sentos I feel I am dying and adios farewell and oh deos oh heaven a brighter and brighter brilliance is shown in seraphina's eyes she had seated herself close beside me at the instrument I felt her breath fanny my cheek and as she placed her arm behind me on the chair back a white ribbon getting disengaged from her beautiful ball dress fell across my shoulder where by my singing and seraphina's soft size it was kept in a continual flutter backwards and forwards like a true love messenger it is a wonder how I kept from losing my head as I was running my fingers aimlessly over the keys thinking of a new song Lady Adelheid who had been sitting in one of the corners of the room ran across to us and kneeling down before the Baroness begged her as she took both her hands and clasped them to her bosom oh dear Baroness darling seraphina now you must sing too to this she replied whatever are you thinking about Adelheid how could I dream of letting our virtuoso friend hear such poor singing as mine and she looked so lovely as like a shy good child she cast down her eyes and blushed timidly contending with the desire to sing that I too added my entreaties can easily be imagined nor upon her making mention of some little quirlin volksleader or popular songs did I desist from my entreaties until she stretched out her left hand towards the instrument and tried a few notes by way of introduction I rose to make way for her at the piano but she would not permit me to do so asserting that she could not play a single chord and for that reason since she would have to sing without accompaniment her performance would be poor and uncertain she began in a sweet voice pure as a bell that came straight from her heart and sang a song whose simple melody bore all the characteristics of those volksleader which proceed from the lips with such illustrious brightness so to speak that we cannot help perceiving in the glad light which surrounds us our own higher poetic nature there lies a mysterious charm in the insignificant words of the text which converts them into a hieroglyphic scroll representative of the unutterable emotions which throng our hearts who does not know that Spanish cantonette the substance of which is in words little more than with my maiden I embarked on the sea the storm came on and my timid maiden was tossed up and down nay I will never again embark on the sea with my maiden and the baroness's little song contained nothing more than lately I was dancing with my sweetheart at a wedding a flower fell out of my hair he picked it up and gave it me and said when sweetheart mine shall we go to a wedding again when on her beginning the second verse of the song I played in arpeggio accompaniment and further when in the inspiration which now took possession of me I at once stole from the baroness's own lips the melodies of the other songs who sang my doubtless appeared in her eyes and in those of the Lady Adelheid to be one of the greatest of masters in the art of music for they overwhelmed me with enthusiastic praise the lights and illuminations from the ballroom situated in one of the wings of the castle now shone across into the baroness's chamber whilst a discordant bleeding of trumpets and French horns announced that it was time to gather for the ball oh now I must go said the baroness I started up from the panoforte you have afforded me a delightful hour these have been the pleasantest moments I have ever spent in our blank sit and she added offering me her hand and as in the extreme intoxication of delight I pressed it to my lips I felt her fingers close upon my hand with a sudden convulsive tremor I do not know how I managed to reach my uncle's chamber and still less how I got into the ballroom there was a certain Gascon who was afraid to go into battle since he was all heart and every wound would be fatal to him I might be compared to him and so might everybody else who is in the same mood that I was in every touch was then fatal the baroness's hand her tremulous fingers had affected me like a poisoned arrow my blood was burning in my veins on the following morning my old uncle without asking any direct questions had soon drawn from me a full account of the hour I had spent in the baroness's society and I was not a little abashed when the smile vanished from his lips and the jocular note from his words and he grew serious all at once saying Gascon, I beg you will resist this folly which is taking such a powerful hold upon you let me tell you that your present contact as harmless as it now appears may lead to the most terrible consequences in your thoughtless fatuity you are standing on a thin crust of ice which may break under you ere you are aware of it and let you in with a plunge I shall take good care not to hold you fast by the coattails for I know you will scramble out again pretty quick then when you are lying sick unto death you will say I got this little bit of a cold in a dream but I warn you that a malignant fever will gnaw at your vitals and years will pass before you recover yourself and are a man again the deuce take your music if you can put it to no better use than the cousins sentimental young women out of their quiet peace of mind but I began interrupting the old gentleman but have I ever thought of insinuating myself as the baroness's lover you puppy cried the old gentleman if I thought so I would pitch you out of this window at this juncture the baron entered and put an end to the painful conversation and the business to which I now had to turn my attention brought me back from my love sick reveries in which I saw and thought of nothing but seraphina in general society the baroness only occasionally interchanged a few friendly words with me but hardly an evening passed in which a secret message was not brought to me from Lady Adelheid summoning me to seraphina it soon came to pass that our music alternated with conversations on diverse topics whenever I and seraphina began to get too absorbed in sentimental dreams and vague aspirations the lady Adelheid though now hardly young enough to be so naive and droll as she once was yet intervened with all sorts of merry and somewhat chaotic nonsense from several hints she let fall I soon discovered that the baroness really had something preying upon her mind even as I thought I had read in her eyes the very first moment I saw her and I clearly discerned the hostile influence of the apparition of the castle something terrible had happened or was to happen although I was often strongly impelled to tell seraphina in what way I had come in contact with the invisible enemy and how my old uncle had banished him and doubtedly forever I yet felt my tongue fettered by a hesitation which was inexplicable to myself even whenever I opened my mouth to speak one day the baroness failed to appear at the dinner table it was said that she was a little unwell and could not leave her room sympathetic inquiries were addressed to the baron as to whether her illness was of a grave nature he smiled in a very disagreeable way in fact it was almost like bitter irony and said nothing more than a slight guitar which he has got from our blustering sea breezes they can't tolerate any sweet voices the only sounds they will endure are the horse hellos of the chase at these words the baron hurled a keen searching look at me across the table for I sat completely opposite to him he had not spoken to his neighbor but to me Lady Adelheid who sat beside me blushed a scarlet red fixing her eyes upon the plate in front of her and scribbling about on it with her fork she whispered and yet you must see Seraphina today your sweet songs shall today also bring soothing and comfort to her poor heart Adelheid addressed these words to me but at this moment it struck me that I was almost apparently entangled in a base and forbidden intrigue with the baroness which could only end in some terrible crime my old uncle's warning fell heavily upon my heart what should I do not see her again that was impossible so long as I remained in the castle and even if I might leave the castle and return to Kaplan I had not the will to do it oh I felt only too deeply that I was not strong enough to shake myself out of this dream which was mocking one with delusive hopes of happiness Adelheid I almost regarded in the light of a common go-between I would despise her and yet upon second thoughts I could not help being ashamed of my folly had anything ever happened during those blissful evening hours which could in the least degree lead to any mirror relation with Seraphina than was permissible by propriety and morality how dare I let the thought enter my mind that the baroness would ever entertain any warm feeling for me and yet I was convinced of the danger of my situation we broke up from dinner earlier than usual in order to go again after some wolves which had been seen in the fur wood close by the castle a little hunting was just the thing I wanted in the excited frame of mind in which I then was I expressed to my uncle my resolve to accompany the party he gave me an approving smile and said that's right I am glad you were going out with them for once I shall stay at home so you can take my firelock with you and buckle my winger around your waist in case of need it is a good and trusty weapon if you only keep your presence of mind that part of the wood in which the wolves were supposed to lie was surrounded by the huntsman it was bitterly cold the wind howled through the furs and drove the light snowflakes right in my face so that when at length it came on to be dusk I could scarcely see six paces before me quite benumbed by the cold I left the place that had been assigned to me and sought shelter deeper in the wood there leaning against a tree with my firelock under my arm I forgot the wolf hunt entirely my thoughts had traveled back to Seraphina's cozy room after a time shots were heard in the far distance but at the same moment there was a rustling in the read bank and I saw not ten paces from me a huge wolf about to run past me I took aim and fire but missed the brute sprang towards me with glaring eyes I should have been lost had I not had sufficient presence of mind to draw my hunting knife and just as the brute was flying at me to drive it deep into his throat so that the blood spurted out over my hand and arm one of the baron's keepers who had stood not far from me came running up with a loud shout and at his repeated hello all the rest soon gathered round us the baron hastened up to me saying for god's sake you are bleeding you are bleeding are you wounded I assured him that I was not then he turned to the keeper who had stood nearest to me and overwhelmed him with reproaches for not having shot after me when I missed and notwithstanding that the man maintained this to have been perfectly impossible since in the very same moment the wolf had rushed upon me and any shot would have been at the risk of hitting me the baron persisted in saying that he ought to have taken a special care of me as a less experienced hunter meanwhile the keepers had lifted up the dead animal it was one of the largest that had been seen for a long time and everybody admired my courage and resolution although to myself what I had done appeared quite natural I had not for a moment thought of the danger I had run the baron in particular seemed to take a very great interest in the matter I thought he would never be done asking me whether though I was not wounded by the brute I did not fear the ill effects that would follow from the fright as we went back to the castle the baron took me by the arm like a friend and I had to give my firelock to a keeper to carry he still continued to talk about my heroic deed so that eventually I came to believe in my own heroism and lost all my constrained embarrassment and felt that I had established myself in the baron's eyes as a man of courage and uncommon resolution the schoolboy had passed his examination successfully was now no longer a schoolboy and all the submissive nervousness of the schoolboy had left him by now conceived I had earned a right to try and gain Seraphina's favor everybody knows of course what ridiculous combinations the fancy of a lovesick youth is capable of in the castle over the smoking punchbowl by the fireside I was the hero of the hour besides myself the baron was the only one of the party who had killed wolf also a formidable one the rest had to be content with describing their bad shots to the weather and the darkness and with relating thrilling stories of their former exploits in hunting and the dangers they had escaped I thought too that I might reap in a special share of praise and admiration from my old uncle as well and so with a view to this end I related to him my adventure at pretty considerable length nor did I forget to paint the savage boots wild and blood thirsty appearance in very startling colors the old gentleman however only laughed in my face and said God is powerful even in the weak tired of drinking and of the company I was going quietly along the corridor towards the justice hall when I saw a figure with a light slip in before me on entering the hall I saw it was Lady Adelaide this is the way we have to wander about like ghosts or nightwalkers in order to catch you my brave slayer of wolves she whispered taking my arm the word ghosts and sleepwalkers pronounced in the place where we were fell like a lead upon my heart they immediately brought to my recollection the ghostly apparitions of those two awful knights as then so now the wind came howling in from the sea in deep organ-like cadences rattling the aural windows again and again and whistling fearfully through them whilst the moon cast her pale gleams exactly upon the mysterious part of the wall where the scratching had been heard I fancied I discerned stains of blood upon it doubtless lady Adelaide who still had hold of my hand must have felt the cold icy shiver which ran through me what's the matter with you she whispered softly what's the matter with you you're as cold as marble come I will call you back to life do you know how very impatient the baroness is to see you and until she does see you she will not believe that the ugly wolf has not really bitten you she is in a terrible state of anxiety about you why my friend oh how have you awakened this interest in the little seraphina I have never seen her like this ah so now the pulse is beginning to prickle see how quickly the dead man comes to life well come along but softly still come we must go to see the little baroness I suffered myself to be led away in silence the way in which Adelaide spoke of the baroness seemed to me undignified and the innuendo of an understanding between us positively shameful when I entered the room along with Adelaide seraphina with a low breath oh advanced three or four paces quickly to meet me but then as if recollecting herself she stood still in the middle of the room I ventured to take her hand and press it to my lips allowing it to rest in mind she asked but for heaven's sake is it your business to meddle with wolves don't you know that the fabulous days of Orpheus and Amphion are long past and that wild beasts have quite lost all respect for even the most admirable of singers but this gleeful turn by which the baroness at once affectionately guarded against all misinterpretation of her warm interest in me I was put immediately into the proper key and the proper mood why did I not take my usual place at the pianoforte I cannot explain even to myself nor why I sat down beside the baroness on the sofa her question and what were you doing then to get into danger was an indication of our tacit agreement that conversation not music was to engage our attention for that evening after I had narrated my adventure in the wood and mentioned the warm interest which the baronet taken in it delicately hinting that I had not thought incapable of so much feeling the baroness began in a tender and almost melancholy tone oh how violent and rude you must think the baron but I assure you it is only whilst we are living within these gloomy ghostly walls and during the time there is hunting going on in the dismal fur forests that his character completely changes at least his outward behavior does what principally disquietes him in this unpleasant way is the thought which constantly haunts him that something terrible will happen here and that undoubtedly accounts for the fact of his being so greatly agitated by your adventure which fortunately has had no ill consequences he won't have the meanest of his servants exposed to danger if he knows it still less than new one friend whom he has come to like and I am perfectly certain that godly whom he blames for having left you in the lurch will be punished even if he escapes being locked up in a dungeon he will yet have to suffer the punishment so mortifying to a hunter of going out the next time there is a hunt with only a club in his hand instead of a rifle the circumstance that hunts like those which are held here are always attended with danger and the fact that the baron though always fearing some sad accident is yet so fond of hunting that he cannot desist from provoking the demon of mischief make his existence here a kind of conflict the ill effects of which I also have to feel many queer stories are current about his ancestor who established the entail and I know myself that there is some dark family secret locked within these walls like a horrible ghost which drives away the owners and makes it impossible for them to bear with it longer than a few weeks at a time and that only emitted tumult of jovial guests but I oh how lonely I am in the midst of this noisy merry company and how the ghostly influences which breathe upon me from the walls stir and excite my very heart you my dear friend have given me through your musical skill the first cheerful moments I have spent here how can I thank you sufficiently for your kindness I kissed the hand she offered to me saying that even on the very first day or rather during the very first night I had experienced the ghostliness of the place in all its horrors the baroness fixtures staring eyes upon my face as I went on to describe the ghostly character of the building discernible everywhere throughout the castle particularly in the decorations of the justice hall and to speak of the roaring of the wind from the sea etc possibly my voice and my expressions indicated that I had something more in my mind than what I said at any rate when I concluded the baroness cried vehemently no no something dreadful has happened to you in that hall which I never enter without shuddering I beg you pray pray tell me all seraphina's face had grown deadly pale and I saw plainly that it would be more advisable to give her a faithful account of all that I experienced than to leave her excited imagination to conjure up some apparition that might perhaps in a way I could not foresee be far more horrible than what I had actually encountered as she listened to me her fear and strained anxiety increased from moment to moment and when I mentioned the scratching on the wall she screamed it's horrible yes yes it's in that wall that the awful secret is concealed but as I went on to describe with what spiritual power and superiority of will my old uncle had banished the ghost she sighed deeply as though she had shaken off a heavy burden that had weighed oppressively upon her she leaned back in the sofa and held her hands before her face now I first noticed that adelheid had left us a considerable pause ensued and as seraphina still continued silent I softly rose and go into the piano forte endeavored in swelling chords to invoke the bright spirits of consolation to come and deliver seraphina from the dark influence to which my narration had subjected her then I soon began to sing as softly as I was able one of the abbey stefani's consonants the melancholy strains of the oh liper che piangete oh eyes why weep you roused seraphina out of her reverie and she listened to me with a gentle smile upon her face and bright pearl like tears in her eyes how am I to account for it that I kneeled down before her that she bent over towards me that I threw my arms about her that a long ardent kiss was imprinted on my lips how am I to account for it that I did not lose my senses when she drew me softly towards her how that I tore myself from her arms and quickly rising to my feet hurried to the piano forte turning from me the baroness took a few steps towards the window then she turned round again it approached me with an air of almost proud dignity which was not at all usual with her looking me straight in the face she said your uncle is the most worthy old man I know he is the guardian angel of our family may he include me in his prius prayers I was unable to utter a word the subtle poison that I had imbibed with her kiss burned and boiled in every pulsant nerve Lady Adelheid came in the violence of my inward conflict burst out at length in a passionate flood of tears which I was unable to repress Adelheid looked at me with wonder and smiled dubiously I could have murdered her the baroness gave me her hand and said with inexpressible gentleness farewell my dear friend fare you right well and remember that nobody perhaps has ever understood your music better than I have oh these notes they will echo long long in my heart I forced myself to utter a few stupid disconnected words and hurried up to my uncle's room the old gentleman had already gone to bed I stayed in the hall and falling upon my knees I wept aloud I called upon my beloved by name I gave myself up completely and regardlessly to all the absurd folly of a lovesick lunatic until at last the extravagant noise I made awoke my uncle but his loud call cousin I believe you're gone cranky or else you're having another tussle with a wolf be off to bed with you if you will be so very kind these words compelled me to enter his room where I got into bed with the fix to resolve to dream only of seraphina it would be somewhere past midnight when I thought I heard distant voices the running backwards and forwards and an opening and banging of doors for I had not yet fallen asleep I listened attentively I heard footsteps approaching the corridor the hall door was open and soon they came and knocked our door who's there I cried the voice from without answered hey I just a charious hey I just a charious wake up wake up I recognized Francis's voice and as I asked is the castle on fire the old gentleman woke up in his turn and asked where where is there a fire he said that cursed apparition again where is it oh please get up there just a charious said Francis please get up the Baron wants you what does the Baron want me for inquired my uncle further what does he want me for at this time of night does he not know that all law business goes to bed along with the lawyer and sleeps as soundly as he does oh cried Francis now anxiously please here just a charious good sir please get up my lady the Baroness is dying I started up with a cry of dismay open the door for Francis said the old gentleman to me I stumbled about the room almost distracted and could find neither door no lock my uncle had to come and help me Francis came in his face pale and troubled and at the candles we had scarcely thrown on our clothes when we heard the Baron calling in the hall can I speak to you good be blind but what have you dressed for cousin the Baron only wanted me asked the old gentleman on the point of going out I must go down I must see her and then die I replied tragically and as if my heart were rent by hopeless grief I just so you're right cousin his head banging in the door to my face so that the hinges creaked and locking it on the outside at the first moment deeply incensed at this restraint I thought of bursting the door open but quickly reflecting that this would entail the disagreeable consequences of a piece of outrageous insanity I resolved to await the old gentleman's return then however let the cost be what it might I would escape his watchfulness I heard him talking vehemently with the Baron and several times distinguished my own name but could not make out anything further every moment my position grew more intolerable at length I heard that someone brought a message to the Baron who immediately hurried off my old uncle entered the room again she is dead I cried running towards him and you are a stupid fool he interrupted cooling then he laid hold upon me and forced me into a chair I must go down I cried I must go down and see her even though it cost me my life do so good cousin said he locking the door taking out the key and putting it in his pocket I now flew into a perfectly frantic rage stretching out my hands towards the rifle I screamed if you don't instantly open the door I will send this bullet through my brains then the old gentleman planted himself immediately in front of me and fixing his keen piercing eyes upon me said boy do you think you can frighten me with your idle threats do you think I should set much value on your life if you can go and throw it away in childish folly like a broken plaything what have you to do with the baron's wife who has given you the right to insinuate yourself like a tiresome puppy where you have no claim to be and where you are not wanted do you wish to go and act the love sick swain at the solemn hour of death I sank back in my chair utterly confounded after a while the old gentleman went on more gently and now let me tell you that this pretended illness of the baroness is in all probability nothing lady idle hide always loses her head the least little thing if a raindrop falls upon her nose she screams what fearful weather it is unfortunately the noise penetrated to the old ants and they in the midst of unseasonable floods of tears put in an appearance armed with an entire arsenal of strengthening drops elixirs of life and the deuce knows what a sharp fainting fit the old gentleman checked himself doubtless he observed the struggle that was going on within me he took a few turns through the room then again planting himself in front of me he had a good hearty laugh and said cousin cousin what nonsensical folly have you now got in your head oh well I suppose it can't be helped the devil is to play his pretty games here in diverse sorts of ways you've tumbled very nicely into his clutches and now he's making you dance to a sweet tune he again took a few turns up and down and again went on it's no use to think of sleep now and it occurred to me that we might have a pipe and so spend the few hours that are left of the darkness and the night with these words he took a clay pipe from the cupboard and proceeded to fill it slowly and carefully humming a song to himself then he rummaged about amongst a heap of papers until he found a sheet which he picked out and rolled into a spill and lighted blowing the tobacco smoke from him in thick clouds he said speaking between his teeth well cousin what was that story about the wolf and know not how it was but this calm quiet behavior of the old gentleman operated strangely upon me I seemed to be no longer in our black sitting and the baroness was so far far distant from me that I could only reach her on the wings of thought the old gentleman's last question however annoyed me but do you find my hunting exploits so amusing I broke in so well fitted for panting by no means you rejoined by no means cousin mine but you know idea what a comical face such a whipper snapper as you cuts and how ludicrously he acts as well when Providence for once in a while honors him by putting him in the way to meet with something out of the usual run of things I once had a college friend who was a quiet sober fellow and always on good terms with himself by accident he became entangled in an affair of honor I say by accident because he himself was never in any way aggressive and although most of the fellows looked upon him as a poor thing as a poll true he yet showed so much firm and resolute courage in this affair is greatly to excite everybody's admiration but from that time onwards he was also completely changed the sober and industrious youth became a bragging insufferable bully he was always drinking and rioting and fighting about all sorts of childish trifles until he was run through in a duel by the senior of an exclusive call note the reference senior is to a landsmunch out these were associations at a university of students from the same state or country bound to the observance of certain traditional customs etc and under the control of certain self-elected officers the senior being one returned to text I merely tell you the story cousin you are at liberty to think what you please about it but to return to the baroness and her illness at this moment light footsteps were heard in the hall I fancied too there was an unearthly moaning in the air she is dead the thought shot through me like a fatal flash of lightning the old gentleman quickly rose to his feet and called out Francis Francis yes my good hair just as charious he replied to without Francis went on my uncle rake the fire together a bit in the grate and if you can manage it you would better make us a good cup of tea it is devilish cold and he turned to me and I think we had better go and sit round the fire and talk a little he opened the door and I followed him mechanically how are things going on below yes oh replied Francis there was not much the matter the lady baroness is all right again and describes her a bit of a fainting fit to a bad dream I was going to break out into an extravagant manifestation of joy and gladness but a stern glance from my uncle kept me quiet and yet after all I think it would be better if we lay down for an hour or two you need not mind about the tea Francis as you think well her just to charious replied Francis and he left the room with the wish that we might have a good night's rest albeit the cops were already throwing see here cousin said the old gentleman knocking the ashes out of his pipe on the grate I think cousin that it's a very good thing no harm has happened to you either from wolves or from loaded rifles and now saw things in the right light and was ashamed of myself to have thus given the old gentleman good grounds for treating me like a spoiled child next morning he said to me be so good as to step down good cousin and inquire how the baroness is you need only asked for lady at all she will supply you with a full budget I have no doubt you may imagine how eagerly I hastened downstairs but just as I was about to give a gentle knock at the door of the baroness's anti room the baron came hurriedly out of the same he stood still in astonishment and scrutinized me with a loomy searching look what do you want here first from his lips not withstanding that my heart I controlled myself and replied in a firm tone to inquire on my uncle's behalf how my lady the baroness is oh it was nothing one of a usual nervous attacks she is now having a quiet sleep and will I am sure make her appearance at the dinner table quite well and cheerful tell him that tell him that this the baron said with a certain degree of passionate vehemence which seemed to me to imply that he was more concerned about the baroness than he was willing to show I turned to go back to my uncle when the baron suddenly seized my arm and said past his eyes flashed fire I have a word or two to say to you young man here I saw the deeply injured husband before me and feared there would be a scene which would perhaps end ignominiously for me I was unarmed but at that moment I remembered I had in my pocket the ingeniously made hunting knife which my uncle had presented to me after we got to our blank sitting I now followed the baron who led the way rapidly with the determination not even to spare his life if I ran any risk of being treated dishonorably we entered the baron's own room the door of which he locked behind him now he began to pace restlessly backwards and forwards with his arms folded one over the other then he stopped in front of me and repeated I have a word or two to say to you young man I had wound myself up to a pitch of most daring courage and I replied raising my voice I hope there will be words which I may hear without resentment he stared hard at me in astonishment as though he had failed to understand me then fixing his eyes gloomily upon the floor he threw his arms behind his back and again began to stride up and down the room he took down a rifle and put the ramrod down the barrel to see whether it were loaded or not my blood boiled in my veins grasping my knife I stepped close up to him so as to make it impossible for him to take aim at me that's a handsome weapon he said replacing the rifle in the corner I retired a few paces the baron following me slapping me on the shoulder perhaps a little more violently than was necessary he said I dare say I seemed a youth theodore to be excited and irritable and I really am so going to the anxieties of a sleepless night my wife's nervous attack was not in the least dangerous that I now see plainly but here here in this castle which is haunted by an evil spirit I always dread something terrible happening and then it's the first time she has been ill here and you you alone were to blame for it how that can possibly be I have not the slightest conception I replied calmly I wish continued the baron I wish that damned piece of mischief my stewards wife's instrument were chopped up into a thousand pieces and that you but no no it was to be so it was inevitably to be so and I alone am to blame for all I ought to have told you the moment you began to play music in my wife's room of the whole state of the case and to have informed you of my wife's temper of mind I was about to speak let me go on said the baron I must prevent you're forming any rash judgment you probably regard me as an uncultivated fellow averse to the arts but I am not so by any means there is a particular consideration however based upon deep conviction which constrains me to forbid the introduction here as far as possible as such music as can powerfully affect any person's mind and to this I of course and no exception know that my wife suffers from a morbid excitability which will finally destroy all the happiness of her life within these strange walls she is never quit of that strained over excited condition which at other times occurs but temporarily and then generally as the forerunner of a serious illness you will ask me and quite reasonably too why I do not spare my delicate wife the necessity of coming to live in this weird castle and mix amongst the wild confusion of a hunting party well call it weakness be it so in a word I cannot bring myself to leave her behind I should be tortured by a thousand fears and quite incapable of any serious business for I am perfectly sure that I should be haunted everywhere in the justice hall as well as in the forest by the most horrid ideas of all kinds of fatal mischief happening to her and on the other hand I believe that the sort of life led here cannot fail to operate upon the weekly woman like strengthening colibit waters by my soul the sea breezes sweeping keenly after their peculiar fashion through the fir trees and the deep baying of the hounds and the merry ringing notes of our hunting horns must get the better of all your sickly languishing sentimentalizing at the piano which no man ought to play in that way I tell you you are deliberately torturing my wife to death these words he uttered with great emphasis whilst his eyes flashed with a restless fire the blood mounted to my head I made a violent gesture against the barren with my hand I was about to speak but he cut me short I know what you were going to say he began I know what you were going to say and I repeat that you are going the right road to kill my wife but that you intended this I cannot of course for a moment maintain and yet you will understand that I must put a stop to the thing in short by your playing and singing you work her up to a high pitch of excitement and then when she drifts without anchor and rudder on the boundless sea of dreams and visions and vague aspirations which your music like some vile charm has summoned into existence you plunge her down into the depths of horror with a tale about a fearful apparition which you say came and played pranks with you up in the justice hall your great uncle has told me everything but pray repeat to me all you saw or did not see heard felt divined by instinct and I braced myself up and narrated calmly how everything had happened from beginning to end the barren merely interposing at intervals a few words expressive of his astonishment when I came to the park where my old uncle had met the ghost with trustful courage and had exercised him with a few powerful words the barren clasped his hands raised them folded towards heaven and said with deep emotion yes he is the guardian angel of the family his mortal remains shall rest in the vault of my ancestors when I finished my narration the barren murmured to himself Daniel Daniel what are you doing here at this hour as he folded his arms and strode up and down the room and was that all her barren I asked making a movement his story would retire starting up as if out of a dream the barren took me kindly by the hand and said yes my good friend my wife whom you have dealt so hardly by without intending it you must cure her again you alone can do so I felt I was blushing and had I stood opposite a mirror should undoubtedly have seen in it a very blank and absurd face the barren seemed to exult in my embarrassment he kept his eyes fixed intently upon my face smiling with perfectly galling irony how in the world can I cure her I managed to stammer out at length with an effort well he said interrupting me you have no dangerous patience to deal with it anyway I now make an express claim upon your skill since the barrenness has been drawn into the enchanted circle of your music it would be both foolish and cruel to drag her out of it all of a sudden go on with your music therefore you will always be welcomed during the evening hours in my wife's apartments but gradually select a more energetic kind of music and effect a clever alternation of the cheerful sort with the serious and above all things repeat your story of the fearful ghost very very often the barrenness will grow familiar with it she will forget that a ghost haunts this castle and the story will have no stronger effect upon her than any other tale of enchantment which is put before her in a romance or a ghost story pray do this my good friend with these words the barren left me I went away I felt as if I were annihilated to be thus humiliated to the level of foolish and insignificant child fool that I was to suppose that jealousy was stirring his heart he himself sends me to seraphina he sees in me only the blind instrument which after he has made use of it he can throw away if he thinks well a few minutes previously I had really feared the Baron deep down within my heart lurk the consciousness of guilt but it was a consciousness which allowed me to feel distinctly the beauty of the higher life for which I was right now all had disappeared in the blackness of night and I saw only the stupid boy who in childish obstinacy had persisted in taking the paper crown which he had put on his hot temples for a real golden one I hurried away to my uncle who was waiting for me well cousin why have you been so long where have you been staying he cried as soon as he saw me I have been having some words with the Baron I quickly replied carelessly and in a low voice without being able to look at the old gentleman god damn tall said he feigning astonishment good gracious boy that's just what I thought I suppose that the Baron has challenged you cousin the ringing feel of laughter which the old gentleman immediately afterwards broke out into taught me that this time too as always he had seen me through and through I bit my lip and just not speak a word for I knew very well that it would only be the signal for the old gentleman to overwhelm me beneath the torrent of teasing which was already hovering on the tip of his tongue the Baron has appeared at the dinner table in an elegant morning robe the dazzling whiteness of which exceeded that of fresh fallen snow she looked worn and low spirited but she began to speak in her soft and melodious accents and on raising her dark eyes they're shown a sweet and yearning look full of aspiration in their voluptuous glow and a fugitive blush flitted across her lily white cheeks she was more beautiful than ever but who can fathom the follies of a young man who has got too hot blood in his head and heart the bitter peak which the Baron had stirred up within me I transferred to the Baroness the entire business seemed to me like a foul mystification and I would now show that I was possessed of alarmingly good common sense and also of extraordinary sagacity like a petulant child I shunned the Baroness and escaped Adelheid when she pursued me and found a place where I wished right at the bottom end of the table between the two officers with whom I began to carouse right merrily we kept our glasses going gaily during dessert and I was as so frequently as the case in moves like wine extremely noisy and loud in my joviality a servant brought me a plate with some bonbons on it and the words from Lady Adelheid I took them and observed on one of them scribbled in pencil and seraphina my blood coarsed too multruously in my veins I sent a glance in Adelheid's direction which she met with the most sly archly cunning look and taking her glass in her hand she gave me a slight nod almost mechanically I murmured to myself seraphina then taking up my glass in my turn I drained it at a single draft my glance fell across in her direction I perceived that she also had drunk at the very same moment and was sitting down her glass her eyes met and a malignant demon whispered in my ear unhappy wretch she does love you one of the guests now rose and in conformity with the custom of the north proposed the health of the lady of the house our glasses rang in the midst of a tumult of joy my heart was torn with rapture and despair the wine burned like fire within me everything spun round in circles I felt as if I must hasten and throw myself at her feet and there sigh out my life what's the matter with you my friend asked my neighbor thus recalling me to myself but seraphina had left the hall we rose from the table I was making for the door but Adelheid held me fast and began to talk about diverse matters I neither heard nor understood a single word she grasped both my hands and laughing shouted something in my ear I remained dumb and motionless as though affected by catalepsy all I remember is that I finally took a glass of liquor out of Adelheid's hand in a mechanical way and drank it off and then I recollect being alone in a window and after that I rushed out to the hall down the stairs and ran into the wood the snow was falling in thick flakes the fir trees were moaning as they waved to and fro in the wind like a maniac I ran round and round in wide circles laughing and screaming loudly look look and see aha aha the devil is having a fine dance with the boy who thought he would taste of strictly forbidden fruit who can tell what would have been the end of my mad prank if I had not heard my name called loudly from outside of the wood the storm had abated the moon shone out brightly through the broken clouds I heard dogs barking and perceived a dark figure approaching me it was the old man Francis why why my good hair Theodore he began you have quite lost your way in the rough snow storm the hair just as charious is awaiting you with much impatience I followed the old man in silence I found my great uncle working in the justice hall you have done well he cried on seeing me you have done a very wise thing to go out in the open air a little and get cool but don't drink quite so much wine you were far too young and it's not good for you I did not utter a word in reply and also took my place at the table in silence but now tell me good cousin what it was that the Baron really wanted you for I told him all and concluded by stating that I would not lend myself for the doubtful cure which the Baron had proposed and it would not be practical the old gentleman interrupted for tomorrow morning early we sat off home cousin and so it was that I never saw Seraphina again and a part two of the end tale recording by Thomas Copeland