One day he was wandering along the Rhine, absorbed in thought.
“Oh,” he said, “that the phantom temple would appear to me, and linger but for a moment, that I could grasp the design.”
He sat down on the shore, and began to draw a plan with a stick on the sand.
“That is it,” he cried with joy.
“Yes, that is it, indeed,” said a mocking voice behind him.
He looked around, and beheld an old man.
“That is it,” the stranger hissed; “that is the Cathedral of Strasburg.”
He was shocked. He effaced the design on the sand.
He began again.
“There it is,” he again exclaimed with delight.