Page:German Stories (Volumes 1–2).djvu/27

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Introduction.
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heard the stranger's voice, repeating anxiously and vehemently, "For God's sake open the door!"--"In truth," thought Martiniére, "no robber would speak in this manner; who knows whether it may not be some poor persecuted man, who seeks protection from my lady, knowing that she is ever inclined to succour the distressed? But let us be cautious." She now drew up a window that looked into the street, and called out, "Who is there, at such unreasonable hours, thundering at the gate, and rousing every one from sound sleep?" At the same time, she endeavoured to give as much as possible of a manly tone to her voice, which was naturally none of the weakest.

By the gleam of the moonlight, which just then broke through the clouds, she perceived a tall slim figure, attired in a light grey-coloured mantle, and with a broad hat slouched over his features. Thinking to intimidate him, she called out within the house, but loudly, so that the stranger might hear her, "Baptiste--Claude--Pierre! rouse, and see what is the matter. Here is a good for nothing vagabond, who has been knocking as if he would bring down the house about our ears." Then from without she was answered

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