Pagina 77 di 483

I could hardly believe that so great a good fortune could have

befallen me, but when I became assured that my enemy had indeed

fled, I clapped my hands for joy and ran down to Clerval.

We ascended into my room, and the servant presently brought

breakfast; but I was unable to contain myself. It was not joy

only that possessed me; I felt my flesh tingle with excess of

sensitiveness, and my pulse beat rapidly. I was unable to remain

for a single instant in the same place; I jumped over the chairs,

clapped my hands, and laughed aloud. Clerval at first attributed

my unusual spirits to joy on his arrival, but when he observed me

more attentively, he saw a wildness in my eyes for which he could

not account, and my loud, unrestrained, heartless laughter

frightened and astonished him.

"My dear Victor," cried he, "what, for God's sake, is the matter?

Do not laugh in that manner. How ill you are! What is the cause

of all this?"