按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sofa； at which I was not surprised； for there had been a severe
stag chase in the morning。 Even at this moment I found myself
arrested by two objects； and I paused to survey them。 One was
Maximilian himself。 A person so mysterious took precedency of
other interests even at a time like this； and especially by his
features； which； composed in profound sleep； as sometimes happens；
assumed a new expression； which arrested me chiefly by awaking some
confused remembrance of the same features seen under other
circumstances and in times long past； but where？ This was what I
could not recollect； though once before a thought of the same sort
had crossed my mind。 The other object of my interest was a
miniature； which Maximilian was holding in his hand。 He had gone
to sleep apparently looking at this picture； and the hand which
held it had slipped down upon the sofa； so that it was in danger of
falling。 I released the miniature from his hand； and surveyed it
attentively。 It represented a lady of sunny； oriental complexion；
and features the most noble that it is possible to conceive。 One
might have imagined such a lady； with her raven locks and imperial
eyes； to be the favorite sultana of some Amurath or Mohammed。 What
was she to Maximilian； or what HAD she been？ For； by the tear
which I had once seen him drop upon this miniature when he believed
himself unobserved； I conjectured that her dark tresses were
already laid low； and her name among the list of vanished things。
Probably she was his mother； for the dress was rich with pearls；
and evidently that of a person in the highest rank of court
beauties。 I sighed as I thought of the stern melancholy of her
son； if Maximilian were he； as connected； probably； with the fate
and fortunes of this majestic beauty； somewhat haughty； perhaps； in
the expression of her fine features； but still noblegenerous
confiding。 Laying the picture on the table； I awoke Maximilian；
and told him of the dreadful news。 He listened attentively； made
no remark； but proposed that we should go together to the meeting
of our quarter at the Black Friars。 He colored upon observing the
miniature on the table； and； therefore； I frankly told him in what
situation I had found it； and that I had taken the liberty of
admiring it for a few moments。 He pressed it tenderly to his lips；
sighed heavily； and we walked away together。
I pass over the frenzied state of feeling in which we found the
meeting。 Fear； or rather horror； did not promote harmony； many
quarreled with each other in discussing the suggestions brought
forward； and Maximilian was the only person attended to。 He
proposed a nightly mounted patrol for every district。 And in
particular he offered； as being himself a member of the university；
that the students should form themselves into a guard； and go out
by rotation to keep watch and ward from sunset to sunrise。
Arrangements were made toward that object by the few people who
retained possession of their senses； and for the present we
separated。
Never； in fact； did any events so keenly try the difference between
man and man。 Some started up into heroes under the excitement。
Some； alas for the dignity of man！ drooped into helpless
imbecility。 Women； in some cases； rose superior to men； but yet
not so often as might have happened under a less mysterious danger。
A woman is not unwomanly because she confronts danger boldly。 But
I have remarked； with respect to female courage； that it requires；
more than that of men； to be sustained by hope； and that it droops
more certainly in the presence of a MYSTERIOUS danger。 The fancy
of women is more active； if not stronger； and it influences more
directly the physical nature。 In this case few were the women who
made even a show of defying the danger。 On the contrary； with THEM
fear took the form of sadness； while with many of the men it took
that of wrath。
And how did the Russian guardsman conduct himself amidst this
panic？ Many were surprised at his behavior； some complained of it；
I did neither。 He took a reasonable interest in each separate
case； listened to the details with attention； and； in the
examination of persons able to furnish evidence； never failed to
suggest judicious questions。 But still he manifested a coolness
almost amounting to carelessness； which to many appeared revolting。
But these people I desired to notice that all the other military
students； who had been long in the army； felt exactly in the same
way。 In fact； the military service of Christendom； for the last
ten years； had been anything but a parade service； and to those；
therefore； who were familiar with every form of horrid butchery；
the mere outside horrors of death had lost much of their terror。
In the recent murder there had not been much to call forth
sympathy。 The family consisted of two old bachelors； two sisters；
and one grandniece。 The niece was absent on a visit； and the two
old men were cynical misers； to whom little personal interest
attached。 Still； in this case as in that of the Weishaupts； the
same twofold mystery confounded the public mindthe mystery of the
HOW； and the profounder mystery of the WHY。 Here； again； no atom
of property was taken； though both the misers had hordes of ducats
and English guineas in the very room where they died。 Their bias；
again； though of an unpopular character； had rather availed to make
them unknown than to make them hateful。 In one point this case
differed memorably from the otherthat； instead of falling
helpless； or flying victims （as the Weishaupts had done）； these old
men； strong； resolute； and not so much taken by surprise； left
proofs that they had made a desperate defense。 The furniture was
partly smashed to pieces； and the other details furnished evidence
still more revolting of the acharnement with which the struggle had
been maintained。 In fact； with THEM a surprise must have been
impracticable； as they admitted nobody into their house on visiting
terms。 It was thought singular that from each of these domestic
tragedies a benefit of the same sort should result to young persons
standing in nearly the same relation。 The girl who gave the alarm
at the ball； with two little sisters； and a little orphan nephew；
their cousin； divided the very large inheritance of the Weishaupts；
and in this latter case the accumulated savings of two long lives
all vested in the person of the amiable grandniece。
But now； as if in mockery of all our anxious consultations and
elaborate devices； three fresh murders took place on the two
consecutive nights succeeding these new arrangements。 And in one
case； as nearly as time could be noted； the mounted patrol must
have been within call at the very moment when the awful work was
going on。 I shall not dwell much upon them； but a few
circumstances are too interesting to be passed over。 The earliest
case on the first of the two nights was that of a currier。 He was
fifty years old； not rich； but well off。 His first wife was dead；
and his daughters by her were married away from their father's
house。 He had married a second wife； but； having no children by
her； and keeping no servants； it is probable that； but for an
accident； no third person would have been in the house at the time
when the murderers got admittance。 About seven o'clock； a
wayfaring man； a journeyman currier； who； according to our German
system； was now in his wanderjahre； entered the city from the
forest。 At the gate he made some inquiries about the curriers and
tanners of our town； and； agreeably to the information he received；
made his way to this Mr。 Heinberg。 Mr。 Heinberg refused to admit
him； until he mentioned his errand； and pushed below the door a
letter of recommendation from a Silesian correspondent； describing
him as an excellent and steady workman。 Wanting such a man； and
satisfied by the answers returned that he was what he represented
himself； Mr。 Heinberg unbolted his door and admitted him。 Then；
after slipping the bolt into its place； he bade him sit to the
fire； brought him a glass of beer； conversed with him for ten
minutes； and said： 〃You had better stay here to…night； I'll tell
you why afterwards； but now I'll step upstairs； and ask my wife
whether she can make up a bed for you； and do you mind the door
while I'm away。〃 So saying； he went out of the room。 Not one
minute had he been gone when there came a gentle knock at the door。
It was raining heavily； and； being a stranger to the city； not
dreaming that in any crowded town such a state of things could
exist as really did in this； the young man； without hesitation；
admitted the person knocking。 He has declared sincebut； perhaps；
confounding the feelings gained from better knowledge with the
feelings of the momentthat from the moment he drew the bolt he
had a misgiving that he had done wrong。 A man entered in a
horseman's cloak