“‘Valodimir Mavrovitch,’ said the stranger, ’THINK!’—­I would have answered, but the torch-light which shone through the gateway upon him shifted, and I was surprised that he too had disappeared, like one of the shadows of the servants on the castle wall.

“I was surprised at the brief and emphatic admonition of the Demon, for it was no less; but instead of obeying his injunction, after embarking in the carriage, I fell asleep.

“In the course of the journey, I met with neither accident nor adventure; but in the evening of the afternoon that I reached Munich, I strolled out from, the hotel at which I had put up, and entered, after a short walk, a coffee-house, in which several persons were smoking, with ices and liquors before them.  One table only was vacant—­it was near the door, and it had no light upon it.  I entered and sat down at this table, and ordered a cigar; which being brought, with a candle, I began to smoke, and was thinking on the admonition of the mysterious stranger in the court of the castle.  My back was towards the door, when presently feeling as it were a hand laid on my shoulder, I hastily turned round, and at my elbow beheld the stranger again.  ‘BEWARE!’ said he, and withdrew.

“This incident affected me more than the former:  it seemed to be couched with anxiety, as if some danger impended; but at the same moment two young officers came in, and seeing no vacant places, seated themselves opposite to me at the same table.  They were about my own age, of a gallant air, and observing that I was a stranger, they addressed me in a generous, gentlemanly manner.  I was much pleased with their conversation, and they professed themselves equally so with mine.  Like other young men, we became, while I stayed at Munich, friends, and in their agree, able society both the ‘THINK!’ and ‘BEWARE!’ were forgotten.  On my departure for Vienna, they gave me letters to their friends in that metropolis, by whom I was received with marked distinction.

“I had not, however, been many days in Vienna, when one evening, returning from a party on foot, my servant having neglected to bring my carriage, a sudden stream of light from a window fell upon a figure which I perceived walking before me.  He turned round at the same moment, and I beheld my warden.—­’STOP!’ said the apparition; I did do so; but in a moment the light vanished, and he was gone.

“This third warning took some effect:  it was mystical, and I pondered in a vain endeavour to ascertain to what it could allude.  My conjectures were fruitless:  I could only recall that in the course of the evening I had been much excited by the beauty of a young countess, for whom, on account of her marriage, the ball had been given.  The count, her husband, was a noble and elegant young man, and their mutual attachment had been a theme of admiration from their childhood in their respective families.—­’STOP!’ I repeated to myself, as I entered my lodgings, ‘what can that have to do with aught that I have undertaken?’ But in the course of a few days I became myself again, the admonisher was forgotten, and I could think only of the beautiful countess.  I have just told my confessor that in less than a month her husband shot himself, and she fled from my arms to a nunnery.