The Devil's Elixir Author:Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1824 Original Publisher: W. Blackwood Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can se... more »lect from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: 50 CHAPTER IV. Every word uttered by this judge had penetrated to my very heart, and I was unable to subdue my vehement agitation. All the fictions that 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 entertain such fears of me if left at liberty,) was Aurelia, I could have no doubt. How could I bear this, and how counteract her influence ? I considered afterwards what might have been suspicious among my travelling effects, and was much vexed by the recollection, that since my residence at the castle of the Baron von F , I had retained in my portefeuille, a hair ring, on which Euphemia's name was nwoven, and which, perhaps, might be recognized by Aurelia. Besides, it had unfortunately occurred, that in the forest I had bound up Victories portmanteau with the knotted cord, which is part of the dress of ourorder; and this had still remained in my possession. Tormented by these thoughts, I gave myself up for lost; and unconscious what I did, paced backwards and forwards in despair, through my narrow chamber. Then it seemed as if there was a rushing and whispering in mine ears, -- " Thou fool,1" said a voice, " why should'st thou despair ? Canst thou not think on Victorin ?" Hereupon, in a loud voice, I called out -- " Ha! the game is not lost! -- Nay, it may yet be won !" My heart beat, and my bosom heaved with new impulses. I had already thought, that among Euphemia's papers there must, of necessity, be found something which would point to Victorin's appearance at the castle as a mo...« less