the mysterious stranger-第13章

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the　same；　but　Gottfried　was　the　worsthe　couldn't　stand；　he　was　so　weak
and　scared。　　For　he　was　of　a　witch　family；　you　know；　and　it　would　be　bad
for　him　to　be　suspected。　　Agnes　came　loafing　in；　looking　pious　and
unaware；　and　wanted　to　rub　up　against　Ursula　and　be　petted；　but　Ursula
was　afraid　of　her　and　shrank　away　from　her；　but　pretending　she　was　not
meaning　any　incivility；　for　she　knew　very　well　it　wouldn't　answer　to　have
strained　relations　with　that　kind　of　a　cat。　　But　we　boys　took　Agnes　and
petted　her；　for　Satan　would　not　have　befriended　her　if　he　had　not　had　a
good　opinion　of　her；　and　that　was　indorsement　enough　for　us。　　He　seemed
to　trust　anything　that　hadn't　the　Moral　Sense。

Outside；　the　guests；　panic…stricken；　scattered　in　every　direction　and
fled　in　a　pitiable　state　of　terror；　and　such　a　tumult　as　they　made　with
their　running　and　sobbing　and　shrieking　and　shouting　that　soon　all　the
village　came　flocking　from　their　houses　to　see　what　had　happened；　and
they　thronged　the　street　and　shouldered　and　jostled　one　another　in
excitement　and　fright；　and　then　Father　Adolf　appeared；　and　they　fell
apart　in　two　walls　like　the　cloven　Red　Sea；　and　presently　down　this　lane
the　astrologer　came　striding　and　mumbling；　and　where　he　passed　the　lanes
surged　back　in　packed　masses；　and　fell　silent　with　awe；　and　their　eyes
stared　and　their　breasts　heaved；　and　several　women　fainted；　and　when　he
was　gone　by　the　crowd　swarmed　together　and　followed　him　at　a　distance；
talking　excitedly　and　asking　questions　and　finding　out　the　facts。
Finding　out　the　facts　and　passing　them　on　to　others；　with　improvements
improvements　which　soon　enlarged　the　bowl　of　wine　to　a　barrel；　and　made
the　one　bottle　hold　it　all　and　yet　remain　empty　to　the　last。

When　the　astrologer　reached　the　market…square　he　went　straight　to　a
juggler；　fantastically　dressed；　who　was　keeping　three　brass　balls　in　the
air；　and　took　them　from　him　and　faced　around　upon　the　approaching　crowd
and　said：　〃This　poor　clown　is　ignorant　of　his　art。　　Come　forward　and　see
an　expert　perform。〃

So　saying；　he　tossed　the　balls　up　one　after　another　and　set　them　whirling
in　a　slender　bright　oval　in　the　air；　and　added　another；　then　another　and
another；　and　soonno　one　seeing　whence　he　got　themadding；　adding；
adding；　the　oval　lengthening　all　the　time；　his　hands　moving　so　swiftly
that　they　were　just　a　web　or　a　blur　and　not　distinguishable　as　hands；　and
such　as　counted　said　there　were　now　a　hundred　balls　in　the　air。　　The
spinning　great　oval　reached　up　twenty　feet　in　the　air　and　was　a　shining
and　glinting　and　wonderful　sight。　　Then　he　folded　his　arms　and　told　the
balls　to　go　on　spinning　without　his　helpand　they　did　it。　　After　a
couple　of　minutes　he　said；　〃There；　that　will　do；〃　and　the　oval　broke　and
came　crashing　down；　and　the　balls　scattered　abroad　and　rolled　every
whither。　　And　wherever　one　of　them　came　the　people　fell　back　in　dread；
and　no　one　would　touch　it。　　It　made　him　laugh；　and　he　scoffed　at　the
people　and　called　them　cowards　and　old　women。　　Then　he　turned　and　saw　the
tight…rope；　and　said　foolish　people　were　daily　wasting　their　money　to　see
a　clumsy　and　ignorant　varlet　degrade　that　beautiful　art；　now　they　should
see　the　work　of　a　master。　　With　that　he　made　a　spring　into　the　air　and
lit　firm　on　his　feet　on　the　rope。　　Then　he　hopped　the　whole　length　of　it
back　and　forth　on　one　foot；　with　his　hands　clasped　over　his　eyes；　and
next　he　began　to　throw　somersaults；　both　backward　and　forward；　and　threw
twenty…seven。

The　people　murmured；　for　the　astrologer　was　old；　and　always　before　had
been　halting　of　movement　and　at　times　even　lame；　but　he　was　nimble　enough
now　and　went　on　with　his　antics　in　the　liveliest　manner。　　Finally　he
sprang　lightly　down　and　walked　away；　and　passed　up　the　road　and　around
the　corner　and　disappeared。　　Then　that　great；　pale；　silent；　solid　crowd
drew　a　deep　breath　and　looked　into　one　another's　faces　as　if　they　said：
〃Was　it　real？　　Did　you　see　it；　or　was　it　only　Iand　was　I　dreaming？〃
Then　they　broke　into　a　low　murmur　of　talking；　and　fell　apart　in　couples；
and　moved　toward　their　homes；　still　talking　in　that　awed　way；　with　faces
close　together　and　laying　a　hand　on　an　arm　and　making　other　such　gestures
as　people　make　when　they　have　been　deeply　impressed　by　something。

We　boys　followed　behind　our　fathers；　and　listened；　catching　all　we　could
of　what　they　said；　and　when　they　sat　down　in　our　house　and　continued
their　talk　they　still　had　us　for　company。　　They　were　in　a　sad　mood；　for
it　was　certain；　they　said；　that　disaster　for　the　village　must　follow　this
awful　visitation　of　witches　and　devils。　　Then　my　father　remembered　that
Father　Adolf　had　been　struck　dumb　at　the　moment　of　his　denunciation。

〃They　have　not　ventured　to　lay　their　hands　upon　an　anointed　servant　of
God　before；〃　he　said；　〃and　how　they　could　have　dared　it　this　time　I
cannot　make　out；　for　he　wore　his　crucifix。　　Isn't　it　so？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　others；　〃we　saw　it。〃

〃It　is　serious；　friends；　it　is　very　serious。　　Always　before；　we　had　a
protection。　　It　has　failed。〃

The　others　shook；　as　with　a　sort　of　chill；　and　muttered　those　words　over…
…〃It　has　failed。〃　　〃God　has　forsaken　us。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Seppi　Wohlmeyer's　father；　〃there　is　nowhere　to　look
for　help。〃

〃The　people　will　realize　this；〃　said　Nikolaus's　father；　the　judge；　〃and
despair　will　take　away　their　courage　and　their　energies。　　We　have　indeed
fallen　upon　evil　times。〃

He　sighed；　and　Wohlmeyer　said；　in　a　troubled　voice：　〃The　report　of　it　all
will　go　about　the　country；　and　our　village　will　be　shunned　as　being　under
the　displeasure　of　God。　　The　Golden　Stag　will　know　hard　times。〃

〃True；　neighbor；〃　said　my　father；　〃all　of　us　will　sufferall　in　repute；
many　in　estate。　　And；　good　God！〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃That　can　cometo　finish　us！〃

〃Name　itum　Gottes　Willen！〃

〃The　Interdict！〃

It　smote　like　a　thunderclap；　and　they　were　like　to　swoon　with　the　terror
of　it。　　Then　the　dread　of　this　calamity　roused　their　energies；　and　they
stopped　brooding　and　began　to　consider　ways　to　avert　it。　　They　discussed
this；　that；　and　the　other　way；　and　talked　till　the　afternoon　was　far
spent；　then　confessed　that　at　present　they　could　arrive　at　no　decision。
So　they　parted　sorrowfully；　with　oppressed　hearts　which　were　filled　with
bodings。

While　they　were　saying　their　parting　words　I　slipped　out　and　set　my
course　for　Marget's　house　to　see　what　was　happening　there。　　I　met　many
people；　but　none　of　them　greeted　me。　　It　ought　to　have　been　surprising；
but　it　was　not；　for　they　were　so　distraught　with　fear　and　dread　that　they
were　not　in　their　right　minds；　I　think；　they　were　white　and　haggard；　and
walked　like　persons　in　a　dream；　their　eyes　open　but　seeing　nothing；　their
lips　moving　but　uttering　nothing；　and　worriedly　clasping　and　unclasping
their　hands　without　knowing　it。

At　Marget's　it　was　like　a　funeral。　　She　and　Wilhelm　sat　together　on　the
sofa；　but　said　nothing；　and　not　even　holding　hands。　　Both　were　steeped　in
gloom；　and　Marget's　eyes　were　red　from　the　crying　she　had　been　doing。
She　said：

〃I　have　been　begging　him　to　go；　and　come　no　more；　and　so　save　himself
alive。　　I　cannot　bear　to　be　his　murderer。　　This　house　is　bewitched；　and
no　inmate　will　escape　the　fire。　　But　he　will　not　go；　and　he　will　be　lost
with　the　rest。〃

Wilhelm　said　he　would　not　go；　if　there　was　danger　for　her；　his　place　was
by　her；　and　there　he　would　remain。　　Then　she　began　to　cry　again；　and　it
was　all　so　mournful　that　I　wished　I　had　stayed　away。　　There　was　a　knock；
now；　and　Satan　came　in；　fresh　and　cheery　and　beautiful；　and　brought　that
winy　atmosphere　of　his　and　changed　the　whole　thing。　　He　never　said　a　word
about　what　had　been　happening；　nor　about　the　awful　fears　which　were
freezing　the　blood　in　the　hearts　of　the　community；　but　began　to　talk　and
rattle　on　about　all　manner　of　gay　and　pleasant　things；　and　next　about
musican　artful　stroke　which　cleared　away　the　remnant　of　Marget's
depression　and　brought　her　spirits　and　her　interests　broad　awake。　　She
had　not　heard　any　one　talk　so　well　and　so　knowingly　on　that　subject
before；　and　she　was　so　uplifted　by　it　and　so　charmed　that　what　she　was
feeling　lit　up　her　face　and　came　out　i