key from Schlemihl the latter
refuses to give it up. The result is a duel, for which Dapertutto
offers Hoffmann his sword.--

After a few passes Schlemihl is killed and Dapertutto disappears. A
few moments afterwards Giulietta's gondola passes before the balcony
and Hoffmann sees her leaning on Dapertutto's arm, singing a mocking
farewell to the poor deserted lover.

The third act takes place in Rath Krespel's house. His daughter
Antonia has inherited her mother's gift of a beautiful voice, but alas,
also her tendency to consumption. The greatest joy of her {441} life
is singing, which however her father has forbidden, knowing this
exertion to be fatal to his darling.

She is engaged to be married to Hoffmann, but Krespel is averse to the
marriage, seeing in it another danger for his daughter's health, as
Hoffmann is musical and encourages Antonia to sing. Krespel has
forbidden his servant Franz to let anybody see Antonia, while he goes
out of the house, but Franz, who is very deaf, misunderstands his
master's orders and joyously welcomes his mistress's suitor. A
delicate love-scene follows, during which Antonia shows her lover, that
her voice is as fine as ever. When they hear Krespel returning Antonia
retires to her own room, but Hoffmann hides himself in an alcove,
determined to learn why Antonia is so closely hidden from the world.

Immediately after the father's return Doctor Mirakel enters; Krespel is
mortally afraid of this mysterious man, as he believes him to have
killed his wife by his drugs and that now he aims at his daughter's
life.

This Mirakel is a demon, who acts as in the two former instances as
Hoffmann's evil genius.--From the conversation of the two men Hoffmann
learns the secret of his bride's dangerous inheritance, and when
Mirakel has at last been driven out of the room, and Krespel has left
it too; the lovers both come back again. Hoffmann by earnest entreaty
succeeds in gaining Antonia's promise never to sing any more. But when
he has left Mirakel {442} returns and by invoking the spirit of her
mother he goads her on to break her promise. She begins to sing and he
urges her on, until she sinks back exhausted. It is thus that her
father and her lover find her, and after a few sweet words of farewell
she dies in their arms.

The Epilogue takes us back to Luther's cellar, where Hoffmann's
companions are still sitting over their punch, the steam of which forms
clouds over their