louisa of prussia and her times-第56部分

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the　papers　which　are　to　open　hell　to　your　enemy；　and　heaven　to　your
enraptured　friend。　But　you　must　give　me　also　a　proof　of　your
confidence　and　love；　you　must　come　to　me　and　call　in　person　for　the
papers。　I　give　you　the　highest　proof　of　my　love　by　delivering　to　you
documents　that　do　not　belong　to　me；　but　to　the　republic。　Then　give
me　likewise　the　highest　proof　of　your　love。　Come　to　me！〃

She　cast　a　long　and　glowing　glance　on　him。　〃I　shall　come！〃　she
whispered。

And　Victoria　kept　her　word。　Early　on　the　following　morning　a
closely…veiled　lady　was　seen　to　glide　into　the　castle　of　Rastadt；
where　the　three　French　ambassadors　were　living　at　that　time。　Bonnier
received　her　in　person　at　the　foot　of　the　wide　staircase；　and　gave
her　his　arm　in　order　to　conduct　her　to　the　rooms　occupied　by
himself。　They　exchanged　not　a　word　with　each　other；　but　walked
silently　through　the　sumptuous　apartments　and　finally　entered
Bonnier's　study。

〃We　are　at　the　goalhere　I　bid　you　welcome；　my　fairy　queen！〃
exclaimed　Bonnier。　〃Remove　now　these　odious　veils。　Let　me　now　at
length　see　your　beautiful　features！〃

He　violently　tore　off　her　black　veils；　and　Victoria　suffered　it
smilingly；　and　looked　at　him　with　a　wondrous　air　of　joy　and
happiness。

〃Are　you　content　now？〃　she　asked；　in　her　superb；　sonorous　voice。
〃Has　the　proud　lord　of　creation　now　prepared　a　new　and　satisfactory
triumph　for　himself？　The　poor　slave　whom　he　loves　must　come　to　him
and　beg　him　for　love　and　happiness！〃

She　had　crossed　her　hands　on　her　breast；　and　half　kneeling　down
before　Bonnier；　she　looked　up　to　him　with　a　fascinating　mixture　of
archness　and　passion。

Bonnier　lifted　her　up　and　wanted　to　imprint　a　kiss　upon　her　lips；
but　she　violently　pushed　him　back。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃let　us　be　sensible　as　long　as　we　can。　First　we　must
attend　to　our　business。〃

〃Business！〃　exclaimed　Bonnier。　〃What　have　we　to　do　with　business？
Leave　business　to　the　diplomatists　and　their　clerks。　Why　should　lips
so　charming　and　beautiful　pronounce　this　cold　and　dismal　word？〃

〃If　I　spoke　of　business；　I　meant　revenge；〃　said　Victoria；　fervently。
〃Give　me　the　papers；　Bonnierthe　papers　that　are　to　ruin　Thugut！〃

Bonnier　took　her　head　between　his　hands　and　looked　at　her　with
flaming　eyes。

〃Then　you　hate　him　still？　You　still　desire　to　take　revenge　on　him？〃
he　asked。

〃Yes；　I　hate　him！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃and　the　happiest　day　of　my　life
will　be　the　one　on　which　I　see　him　hurled　down　from　his　proud
eminence；　and　sneaking　alone；　miserable；　and　despised　into
obscurity。〃

〃One　might；　indeed；　really　believe　that　she　is　in　earnest；　and　that
truth　alone　could　utter　such　words；〃　muttered　Bonnier；　who
constantly　held　her　head　in　his　hands；　and　thus　gazed　at　her。　〃Swear
to　me；　Victoria；　swear　to　me　by　what　is　most　sacred　to　you；　that　you
hate　Thugut；　and　that　you　desire　to　ruin　him！〃

〃I　swear　it　by　what　is　most　sacred　to　me；〃　she　said；　solemnly；　〃I
swear　it　by　your　love！〃　〃That　is　the　best　and　most　unequivocal　oath；
and　I　will　believe　you；〃　said　Bonnier；　laughing。

〃Then　you　will　now　give　me　those　papers？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　bluntly；　〃I　will　give　them　to　you。　Come；　my　angel；
you　are　right？　let　us　first　speak　of　business　matters。　There；　sit
down　here　at　my　desk。　Oh；　henceforth　this　spot　will　be　sacred　to　me；
for　your　heavenly　person　has　consecrated　it。　Let　me　sit　down　here　by
your　side；　and　thus　we　will　lay　our　dispatches　before　each　other；
like　two　good　and　conscientious　diplomatists。　Look　here！　this
portfolio　contains　your　revenge　and　your　satisfaction。　This
portfolio　contains　the　papers　proving　that　Thugut　has　received　large
sums　of　money　from　Russia　and　England　for　the　purpose　of　instigating
the　Emperor　of　Austria　against　France；　and　that　his　pretended
patriotic　indignation　is　after　all　nothing　but　the　paid　role　of　a
comedian。　I　have　abstracted　this　portfolio　from　the　archives　of　our
embassy。　Do　you　understand　me；　Victoria？　I　have　stolen　it　for　you！〃

〃Let　me　see　the　papers！〃　exclaimed　Victoria；　trembling　with
impatience。

Bonnier　opened　the　portfolio　and　drew　a　paper　from　it。　But　on
looking　at　it；　a　dark　cloud　passed　over　his　face；　and　he　shook　his
head　indignantly。

〃What　a　miserable　fool　I　was　to　make　such　a　mistake！〃　he　ejaculated
angrily。　〃I　have　taken　the　wrong　portfolio。　This　one　does　not
contain　the　papers　you　are　looking　for。〃

〃That　is；〃　said　Victoria；　with　cutting　coldness〃that　is；　you　have
intentionally　deceived　me。　You　decoyed　me　hither　under　false
pretences。　You　told　me　a　story　about　important　papers　that　were　in
your　possession；　and　with　which　you　were　to　intrust　me　for　the
purpose　of　gratifying　my　revenge。　And　now　when　I　come　to　you；　nobly
trusting　your　chivalrous　word；　now　it　turns　out　that　you　have
deceived　me；　and　that　those　important　papers　do　not　exist　at　all。〃

〃Ah；　believe　me　there　are　papers　here　perhaps　even　more　important
than　the　documents　you　are　looking　for；〃　said　Bonnier；　shrugging　his
shoulders。　〃Believe　me；　Baron　Thugut　would　give　many　thousands　if　he
could　get　hold　of　the　papers　contained　in　this　portfolio。　They　are；
perhaps；　even　more　important　than　those　other　documents。〃

A　flash　burst　forth　from　Victoria's　eyes；　and　the　angry　air
disappeared　at　once　from　her　features。　She　turned　to　Bonnier　with　a
fascinating　smile。

〃What　sort　of　papers　are　those？〃　she　asked。

〃Papers　that　do　not　interest　you；　my　charming　fairy；〃　he　said；
smilingly；　〃for　what　have　love　and　revenge　to　do　with　the
negotiations　of　diplomacy？　This　portfolio　contains　only　diplomatic
documents；　only　the　secret　correspondence　between　ourselves　and　the
Prussian　government；　and　the　negotiations　concerning　an　alliance
between　France　and　Prussiathat　is　all。　They　do　not　interest　you；
my　beautiful　Victoria；　but　Thugut　would　gladly　purchase　these　papers
for　those　which　you　are　so　anxious　to　obtain。〃

Victoria's　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　portfolio　with　a　glowing
expression；　and　her　hand　was　involuntarily　approaching　it。　Bonnier
saw　it；　and　a　peculiar　smile　overspread　his　gloomy　face　for　a
moment。

〃Happy　for　me；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　discovered　my　mistake　before　giving
you　the　portfolio。　The　loss　of　these　papers　would　have　compromised
me　irretrievably。　But　you　are　silent；　Victoriayou　do　not　utter　a
word。　Then　you　do　not　yet　believe　in　the　truthfulness　of　my　words？　I
swear　to　you；　my　fascinating　sorceress；　it　was　a　mere　mistakeI
only　seized　the　wrong　portfolio。〃

〃Do　not　swear；　but　convince　me；〃　said　Victoria。　〃Go　and　fetch　the
other　portfolio。〃

〃And　I　should　leave　you　here　all　alone　so　long？〃　he　asked；　tenderly。
〃I　should　be　such　a　prodigal　as　to　squander　these　precious　minutes
during　which　I　am　permitted　to　be　by　your　side！〃

Victoria　rose　and　looked　at　him　with　flaming；　imperious　eyes。

〃Fetch　the　papers；〃　she　shouted；　〃or　I　leave　you　this　very　moment；
and　you　shall　never　see　me　again！〃

〃That　is　a　word　by　which　you　would　drive　me　even　into　the　jaws　of
hell！〃　said　Bonnier；　ardently。　〃Wait　for　me　here；　VictoriaI　am
going　for　the　papers。〃

He　greeted　her　with　a　rapid　nod；　and　placing　the　portfolio　under　his
arm；　he　hastily　walked　to　the　door。　Here　he　turned　around　toward　her
and　his　eyes　met　hers　steadfastly　fixed　upon　him。　He　kissed　his　hand
to　her；　and　while　doing　so；　the　portfolio　softly　glided　from　under
his　arm　and　fell　upon　the　floor。　Bonnier　took　no　notice　of　it；　his
whole　attention　was　riveted　on　the　beautiful　lady。　But　she　saw　it；
and　her　eyes　sparkled　with　delight。

〃Return　as　soon　as　possible；〃　she　said；　with　an　enchanting　smile；
and　Bonnier　left　the　room。　She　anxiously　looked　after　him　until　the
door　had　closed；　and　then　she　listened　to　the　sound　of　his
footsteps。　Now　the　latter　were　no　longer　audible；　and　every　thing
about　her　was　silent。

Victoria　did　not　stir；　she　only　swept　with　her　large　eyes
searchingly　over　the　whole　room；　she　fixed　them　upon　every　curtain；
upon　every　piece　of　furniture。　But　nothing　was　there　to　arouse　her
suspicions；　a　profound　stillness　reigned　around　her。

Now　she　rose　slowly　from　her　seat　and　made　a　few　steps　forward。　The
rustling　of　her　heavy　silk　dress　alone　interrupted　the　silence。

She　paused　again　and　listened；　and　her　eyes　fixed　themselves
longingly　upon　the　portfolio　lying　at　the　door。　Why　were　not　her
eyes　endowed　with　the　power　of　a　loadstone？　Why　were　they　not　able
to　attract　the　portfolio　to　her？

The　portfolio　lay　there　quietly　and　immovably；　Victoria　vainly
stretched　out　her　hands　toward　itshe　was　unable　to　reach　it。

Once　more　she　impetuously　glanced　round　the　room；　then　she　bounded
forward　like　a　lioness　rushing　toward　her　prey。

She　grasped　the　portfolio　and　raised　it　with　a　triumphant　smile。　Her
small　hands　quickly　plunged　into　it　and　drew　forth　the　papers。　There
were　but　a　few　letters；　and　besides　several　closely　written　pages。
Victoria　did　not　take　time　to　look　at　them；　she　rapidly　pushed　the
papers　into　the　pocket　of　her　dress；　and　arranged　the　folds　of　the
latter　so　as　to　conceal　the　contents　of　her　pocket。　She　then　closed
the　portfolio　and　replaced　it　on　the　floor；　precisely　on　the　spot
where　Bonnier　had　dropped　it。

Her　purpose　was　accomplished！　How　her　face　was　glowing　with　delight！
How　deep　a　blush　was　burning　on　her　cheeks！　How　her　eyes　were
sparkling　with　diabolic　exultation！

With　light；　inaudible　steps　she　now　crossed　the　room　again；　and
resumed　her　seat　at　the　desk。　And　it　was　fortunate　that　she　had　done
so；　for　steps　were　approaching　in　the　adjoining　room；　the　door
opened；　and　Bonnier　entered。




CHAPTER　XXVIII。

THE　JUSTIFICATION。


Bonnier　paused　for　a　moment　on　the　threshold；　fixing　his　eyes　on
Victoria；　who　greeted　him　with　a　sweet；　fascinating　smile。　But　the
smile　disappeared　from　her　lips　when　she　beheld　the　threatening
angry　glance　with　which　he　was　staring　at　her；　and　the　air　of　gloomy
indignation　depicted　on　his　countenance。　She　might　be　mistaken；
however；　and　perhaps　it　was　merely　the　anguish　of　her　conscience
which　made　her　tremble。

〃And　you　bring　me　the　papers；　my　beloved　friend？〃　asked　Victoria；
with　an　air　of　fascinating　kindness。

〃Yes；〃　said　Bonnier；　still　remaining　on　the　threshold；　〃I　bring　you
the　papers。　But　just　look　what　a　fool　love　has　made