I
have the less reason to feel ashamed of this, since the first part, at
least, on account of the liveliness of the style and the clear
treatment of the subject, produced a sensation through the whole
literary world. Many an arrest I was obliged to endure, when upon
guard, for being absorbed in such a book, or perhaps only in mystic
dreams, I did not hear the call, and was forced to be fetched by the
inferior officer. Just at this time chance made me acquainted with a
very extraordinary man. It happened on a fine summer evening, when the
sun had already sunk, and twilight had already begun, that, according
to my custom, I was walking alone in a pleasure ground near Potsdam. I
fancied that, from the thicket of a little wood, which lay by the
road-side, I could hear plaintive sounds, and some words uttered with
energy in a language unknown to me. I thought some one wanted
assistance, so I hastened to the spot whence the sounds seemed to
proceed, and soon, in the red glimmer of the evening, discovered a
large, broad-shouldered figure, enveloped in a common military mantle,
and stretched upon the ground. Approaching nearer I recognised, to my
astonishment, Major O'Malley of the grenadiers. 'Good heavens!' I
exclaimed, 'is this you, major? In this situation? Are you ill? Can
I help you?' The major looked at me with a fixed, wild stare, and then
said, in a harsh voice, 'What the devil brings you here, lieutenant?
What does it matter to you whether I lie here or not? Go back to the
town!' Nevertheless, the deadly paleness of O'Malley's face made me
suspect that there was something wrong, and I declared that I would not
leave him, but would only return to the town in his company. 'Good!'
said the major, quite coldly and deliberately, after he had remained
silent for some moments, and had endeavoured to raise himself, in which
attempt, as it appeared to be attended with difficulty, I assisted him.
I perceived now that--as was frequently the case when he went out in
the evening--he had nothing but a shirt under the cloak, which was a
common _commis-mantel_ as they call it, that he had put on his boots,
and that he wore upon his bald head his officer's hat, with broad gold
lace. A pistol, which lay on the ground near him, he caught up
hastily, and, to conceal it from me, put it into the pocket of his
cloak. During the whole way to the town he did not speak a syllable to
me, but now and then uttered disjointed phras