The Devil's Elixir

t I had invented seemed to me utterly absurd and insipid. That the chief person who was to appear as my accuser, (and who was said to en

von F--, I had retained in my portefeuille, a hair ring, on which Euphemia's name was enwoven, and which, perhaps, might be recognized by Aurelia. Besides, it had unfortunately

y narrow chamber. Then it seemed as if there was a rushing and whispering in mine ears,-"Thou fool," said a voice, "why should'st thou

ing on this assumption, (or probability,) I would, at my next examination, amplify on my former deposition as to the meeting with Victorin; nay, why should I not also have met with the monk Medardus? I could plead knowledge

ch I was to be rescued. The gaoler supplied me with the requisite materials, and I laboured with great zeal till late in the night. In writing, my imagination was roused, until I almost a

ecame louder. There were again, at measured intervals, the same divertisements of knocking, laughing, and groaning. I struck my hand with great vehemence on the table-"Be quiet!" cried I-"Silence below there!" Thus I thought that I should banish

I try to write, and persuading myself that these were but illusions of the arch enemy, determined to hold them in contempt. The noise alway

pped aside, and then saw, on the spot whereon I had stood, a stone lift itself out of the pavement, and sink again. Th

ted, but muscular, with a knife, or dagger, in the hand, was stretched up towards me. Struck with the utmost horror, I recoiled from the sigh

nly of the assistance thus offered me, and of flight! Accordingly I seized the weapon, which the hand willingl

erceived that my horrible assistant had raised his naked body as far as the middle, through the aperture that we had made. The full glare of the lamp fell on his pale features, which were no longer obscured as formerly, by long matted locks, or the overgrown grizzly beard, for these had been closely shaven. It could n

g of chains, and knocking of hammers, sounded through the vault. The gaoler and his assistants were occupied in loading m

d finished, "the gentleman will probably find it advisable to gi

lacksmith, in an under tone, "has t

is a cursed Capuchin monk, who has murdered three men. All has been fully proved. In a few days there is t

imperfect draught, and, with abhorrence, I saw a large overgrown toad crawl out of it as it lay on the floor. "Aurelia!" I groaned, in that feeling of nameless misery into which I was now sunk-"Aurelia!-and was it for this that I have been guilty of hypocrisy and abominable falsehood in the court of justice-for this only, that I might protract, by a few hours, a life of torment and misery? What would'st thou," said I to myself, "delirious wretch, as thou art? Thou strivest after the possession of Aurelia, who could be thine only through an abominable and blasphemous

appled with it accordingly, and drew out, to my surprise, a small stiletto. Never had I worn any such implement since I had been in the prison. It must, of necessity, be the same which had

emed again as if there was a rushing and whispering of voices around me; and among them Aurelia's accents were clearly audible. I beheld her as when formerly she appeared to me in the church of the Capuchin Convent. "I love thee, indeed, Medardus," said she; "but hitherto thou understandest me not. In this world there is fo

bottle of wine. "It is by the command of the Prince," said he, covering a table which his serva

hat he would communicate to the judge my wish for an audience that very afternoon, as I had muc

n the gaoler's servant entered and lighted my lamp as usual. Owing to the fixed resolution which I had adopted, I

, ranged along the walls, on high-backed chairs, a double row of spectral figures, like clergymen, all habited in the black talar,[3] and be

nal as thou art, hast attempted to deny thy real name, and the sacred profession to which thou belongest. Franciscus, or, accordin

that which I uttered was not the thoughts that existed in my mind, and which I intended to deliver. On the contrary, instead of a si

sinner-to the rack with him-he deserves no mercy!" The strange figures that were ranged along the wall rose up, stretched out thei

that part wherein the diamond necklace of the Abbess had left the sign of the cross, the blade broke in pieces as if it were made of glass,

nd remorse, I confessed all inwardly and in spirit; but whatever my lips brought forth audibly, was confused, senseless, unconnected, and foreign from the dictates of my heart. Hereafter, upon a sign received from the Dominican, the executioner stripped me naked, and

which I still carried; yet, besides this, I found a strange pressure on my eye-lids, which, for some time, I was unabl

a statue, with his arms folded, the monk-the Dominican whom I had seen in my dream-stood there, and glared on me with his hollow bl

origin from a dream. I mustered courage, therefore-but the monk was there! He stood, as t

Thou art the devil himself, who labours to drag me into everlast

vidence, been appointed!-Medardus, poor insane wanderer! I have indeed appeared frightful to thee, even at those moments when thou should'st have recognized in me thy best friend-when thou wert tottering withi

ight, were become relaxed and mild. My heart was roused by new and indescribable emotions. This painter, who had haunted me like

once more within the consecrated woods of the Holy Lime-Tree. I stood on the self-same spot of that favourite grove, where the strangely-dressed pilgrim brought to me the miraculous boy. From hence I wished to move onwards to the church, which I saw also right before me. There only it ap

was the painter who h

riend, who appeared leaning on the pillar on that unhappy morning in the Capuchi

f possible, to rescue thee from destruction and disgrace; but thy heart was hardened; thy senses were

hy, then, didst thou not withhold mine arm

resist the eternal decrees of Omnipotence is not only sinful, but hopeless

treated towards the door of my prison.-"When," said I, with great earnestness, "when shall I see you again?"-"At the goal," said he, in a deep, solemn tone