On the Night of the Seventh Moon Read Free Page B

heroes?”
    â€œWell, my mother comes from these parts. As a matter of fact, she was at the same
Damenstift.
That’s why I’m there.”
    â€œHow very fortunate.”
    â€œWhy do you think that?”
    â€œBecause if your mother had not gone to this particular
Damenstift
you would not have come and you would never have been lost in the mist and I should never have had the pleasure of rescuing you.”
    I laughed. “So it is a pleasure?”
    â€œIt’s a great pleasure.”
    â€œThe horse keeps going. Where is he taking us?”
    â€œHe knows his way.”
    â€œWhat! To the
Damenstift?
”
    â€œI doubt he has ever been there. But he will take us to some shelter where we can make plans.”
    I was contented. I suppose it was that air of authority which gave me the impression that whatever the proposition it would not be too difficult for him to solve it.
    â€œYou haven’t told me your name,” I said.
    â€œYou’ve already named me,” he said. “Siegfried.”
    I burst out laughing. “Is it really? Well, that is a coincidence. Fancy my hitting on the name. I suppose you are
real
. You’re not a chimera or something. You’re not suddenly going to disappear.”
    â€œWait and see,” he said. He held me tightly against him which aroused in me a strange emotion which I had never felt before and which should, of course, have been a warning.
    We had been climbing a little and the horse suddenly changed direction. A house loomed out of the mist.
    â€œHere we are,” said Siegfried.
    He dismounted and lifted me down.
    â€œWhere are we?” I asked. “This is not the
Damenstift.
”
    â€œNever mind. We’ll find shelter here. The mist is chilling.”
    He shouted: “Hans!” and a man came running out from stables which I discerned at the side of the house. He did not seem in the least surprised to see me; calmly he took the reins which Siegfried threw at him and led the horse away.
    Siegfried then slipped his arm through mine and drew me toward the stone steps which led up to the portico. We were facing a heavy iron-studded door which he pushed open and we stepped into a hall with a big fire roaring away in the grate; there were skins of animals in the form of rugs, over the polished boards of the floor.
    â€œThis is your home?” I asked.
    â€œIt’s my hunting lodge.”
    A woman came into the hall. “Master!” she cried and I saw the dismay in her face as she looked at me.
    He spoke to her in rapid German explaining that he had found one of the young ladies from the
Damenstift
lost in the forest.
    The woman seemed even more disturbed. “
Mein Gott! Mein Gott!
” she kept muttering.
    â€œDon’t fret so, Garde,” he complained. “Get us some food. The child is chilled. Find her a wrap or something so that she can get her damp clothes off.”
    I spoke to her in her own language and she replied in a scolding voice, “We should get you back to the
Damenstift
soon.”
    â€œWe might let them know I’m safe,” I temporized, for I had no desire for my adventure to end so quickly.
    â€œThe mist is too thick,” said Siegfried. “Wait awhile. As soon as we can get her back we will.”
    The woman looked at him reproachfully and I wondered what that meant.
    She bustled me up a wooden staircase into a room with a big white bed and a great many cupboards. She opened one of these and took from it a blue velvet robe lined with fur. I exclaimed with pleasure at the sight of it.
    â€œTake off your blouse,” she said. “It’s damp. Then you can wrap this round you.”
    I did so and when I glanced at myself in the mirror I seemed transformed. The blue velvet was so magnificent. I had never seen anything like it.
    â€œCould I wash my hands and face?” I asked. She looked at me almost fearfully. Then she nodded. After a while she came