The horse itself, in
the foreground of the design, stood motionless and statue-like- while
farther back, its discomfited rider perished by the dagger of a
Metzengerstein.
On Frederick's lip arose a fiendish expression, as he became aware
of the direction which his glance had, without his consciousness,
assumed. Yet he did not remove it. On the contrary, he could by no
means account for the overwhelming anxiety which appeared falling like
a pall upon his senses. It was with difficulty that he reconciled
his dreamy and incoherent feelings with the certainty of being
awake. The longer he gazed the more absorbing became the spell- the
more impossible did it appear that he could ever withdraw his glance
from the fascination of that tapestry. But the tumult without becoming
suddenly more violent, with a compulsory exertion he diverted his
attention to the glare of ruddy light thrown full by the flaming
stables upon the windows of the apartment.
The action, however, was but momentary, his gaze returned
mechanically to the wall. To his extreme horror and astonishment,
the head of the gigantic steed had, in the meantime, altered its
position. The neck of the animal, before arched, as if in
compassion, over the prostrate body of its lord, was now extended,
at full length, in the direction of the Baron.
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