the daughter of an empress-第34部分

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　that　I　will　bring　you　to　it。　The　improvisatrice　Corilla　will　also　be　there！〃

〃Oh；　then　I　shall　see　her！〃　exclaimed　the　delighted　young　maiden。　〃At　length　I　shall　see　a　poetess！　For　we　shall　go　to　this　entertainment；　shall　we　not；　Paulo？〃

The　count　thoughtfully　cast　down　his　eyes；　and　his　hand　involuntarily　sought　the　letter　in　his　pocket。　An　expression　of　deep　care　and　anxiety　was　visible　on　his　features；　and　Cecil　seemed　to　divine　the　thoughts　of　his　master；　for　he　also　looked　anxious；　and　a　deep　sigh　escaped　from　his　breast。Natalie　perceived　nothing　of　all　this！　She　was　wholly　occupied　by　the　thought　of　seeing　Corilla；　the　great　improvisatrice；　of　whom　Carlo；　Natalie's　music…teacher；　had　told　her　so　much；　and　whose　fame　was　sounded　by　children　and　adults　in　all　the　streets　of　Rome。

〃We　go　to　this　festival；　do　we　not；　Paulo？〃　repeated　she；　as　the　count　still　continued　silent。

Recovering　from　his　abstraction；　he　said：　〃Yes；　we　will　go！　It　is　time　that　my　Natalie　was　introduced　into　this　circle　of　influential　Romans；　that　she　may　gain　friends　among　people　of　importance；　who　may　watch　over　and　protect　her　when　I　no　longer　can！〃

〃You　will；　then；　leave　me？〃　cried　the　young　maiden；　turning　pale　and　anxiously　grasping　the　count's　arm。　〃No；　Paulo；　you　cannot　do　that！　Would　you　leave　me　because　I；　a　foolish　child；　desired　to　go　to　this　festival；　and　was　no　longer　contented　with　our　dear　and　beautiful　solitude？　That　was　wrong　in　me；　Paulo；　as　I　now　plainly　see；　and　I　desire　it　no　longer！　Oh；　we　will　prepare　other　pleasures　for　ourselves　here　in　our　delightful　paradise。　You　have　often　called　me　a　poetess；　and　I　will　now　believe　I　am；　and　no　longer　wish　to　see　another。　I　will　suffice　for　myself！　Come；　I　will　immediately　sing　you　a　song；　a　festival　song；　my　friend！〃

And　taking　her　guitar；　Natalie　struck　some　joyous　accords；　but　Count　Paulo　lightly　laid　his　hands　upon　the　strings　so　as　to　silence　them；　and　drawing　the　tips　of　her　fingers　to　his　lips；　with　a　slight　shaking　of　his　head；　he　said：　〃Not　now；　my　charming　poetess；　I　am　not　worthy　of　hearing　you。〃

〃And　it　is　late；〃　added　Cecil；　coming　as　it　were　to　the　aid　of　his　master。

The　count　rose。　〃Yes；　you　are　rightit　is　late；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　must　not　longer　keep　Natalie　from　her　slumber。　Come；　my　sweet　child；　you　must　retire；　you　must　sleep；　that　your　brow　may　beam　with　blooming　freshness　to…morrow！〃

Natalie　made　no　answer；　with　a　light　sigh　she　mechanically　took　the　count's　offered　arm。

Cecil　preceded　them　with　the　lantern　in　his　hand。　Thus　they　proceeded　up　the　alley　leading　to　the　villa；　all　three　silent　and　thoughtful。　The　sky　had　become　obscured；　a　black　cloud　intercepted　the　light　of　the　moon；　and　Natalie's　charmed　garden　was　suddenly　wrapped　in　gloom。

A　cold　shudder　ran　through　her　delicate　frame。

〃A　feeling　of　anxiety　has　come　over　me！〃　she　whispered；　clinging　close　to　the　count's　side。

〃Poor　child！〃　said　the　count。　〃Are　you　already　oppressed　with　fear？〃

〃What　if　the　wall　should　give　way；　and　bad　people　should　intrude　into　our　garden！　Ah；　Marianne　says　that　misfortune　lurks　everywhere　in　the　world；　lying　in　ambush　for　those　who　think　themselves　safe；　destroying　their　happiness；　and　making　them　wholly　miserable；　and　people　only　laugh　and　rejoice　that　another　man's　hopes　have　been　wrecked！　Ah；　and　I　have　felt　so　secure　in　my　happiness！　If　misfortune　should　now　actually　comeif　these　walls　should　prove　not　high　enough　to　keep　it　off！　Ah；　Paulo；　protect　me　from　lurking　misfortune！〃

They　had　now　arrived　at　the　door　of　the　villa。　Paulo　pressed　the　trembling　young　maiden　with　paternal　tenderness　to　his　breast；　and；　lightly　touching　her　forehead　with　his　lips；　he　said：　〃Good…　night；　my　love！　Sleep　gently；　and　be　not　anxious！　So　long　as　I　live；　misfortune　shall　never　approach　you！　Rest　assured　of　that！〃

Thus　speaking；　he　led　her　into　the　house；　where　Marianne　was　waiting　to　accompany　her　to　her　chamber。

Natalie　silently　followed　her；　but　before　entering　her　room　she　once　more　turned；　and；　pressing　her　fingers　to　her　lips；　wafted　kisses　in　the　air　toward　her　friend。

〃Good…night；　Paulo！〃

〃Good…night；　Natalie！〃

The　door　closed　behind　her；　and　the　smile　instantly　vanished　from　Paulo's　lips。　With　impetuous　haste；　beckoning　Cecil　to　follow　him；　he　strode　through　the　corridor　leading　to　his　own　apartments。

When　he　had　arrived　there；　and　Cecil　had　closed　the　door　behind　him；　the　count　with　a　deep　sigh　threw　himself　upon　a　chair；　whilst　Cecil　silently　busied　himself　in　lighting　the　wax…candles　and　placing　them　upon　the　table　beside　his　master。

〃Will　not　your　grace　now　read　the　other　letter？〃　he　timidly　asked；　as　Count　Paulo　still　remained　buried　in　his　silent　reflections。

〃Oh；　this　unblessed　letter！〃　exclaimed　the　count；　with　a　shudder。　〃I　tell　you；　Cecil；　I　feel　that　it　contains　misfortune。　It　has　lain　with　a　heavy　weight　like　a　nightmare　upon　my　breast　and　I　yet　felt　not　the　strength　in　me　to　draw　it　forth　and　read　it　in　Natalie's　presence！〃

〃That　was　well！〃　said　Cecil；　〃and　it　was　for　that　reason　that　I　told　you　in　advance　that　the　letter　was　from　Russia；　that　you　might　be　on　your　guard。　But　now；　Sir　Count；　we　are　alone；　and　now　you　can　read　it！〃

〃Yes；　away　with　this　childish　fear！〃　cried　the　count；　with　resolution。　〃I　will　be　a　man；　Cecil；　and　whatever　this　letter　may　contain；　I　will　bear　it　like　a　man！〃

Drawing　forth　the　letter；　he　broke　the　seal　with　a　trembling　hand；　and　threw　the　cover　across　the　room。　Then　unfolding　the　letter；　he　read。　Behind　him　stood　Cecil；　involuntarily　trembling　with　anxious　expectation。

The　letter　fell　from　the　count's　hands；　and　a　deadly　paleness　spread　over　his　face；　which　bore　the　expression　of　utter　despair。

〃Oh；　my　prophetic　soul！〃　he　sighed。

〃Your　presentiment　is　then　fulfilled！〃　anxiously　asked　Cecil。

〃Yes；　it　is　fulfilled！　My　property　is　sequestrated；　they　refuse　to　send　me　the　money　I　required；　they　command　my　immediate　return　to　Russia；　as　my　/conge/　has　expired　and　my　respite　is　at　an　end！〃

〃And　you　are　lost；　my　lord；　if　you　do　not　obey　this　command！〃　said　Cecil。

〃And　Natalie？〃　reproachfully　asked　the　count。　〃Can　I；　dare　I　leave　her？〃

〃She　is　much　safer　without　than　with　you！　They　may　not　yet　suspect　who　she　is！　It　is　very　possible　that　it　in　reality　only　is　because　your　leave　of　absence　has　expired；　as　the　laws　of　Russia　require　that　every　absentee　should　return　to　his　country　once　in　every　four　years。　Fulfil；　therefore；　this　hard　duty。　Pretend　to　suppose　that　your　recall　is　for　no　other　reason　than　the　renewal　of　your　passport；　and　the　giving　you　an　opportunity　to　pay　your　homage　to　the　empress。　Appear　innocent　and　unconcerned；　and　all　may　yet　go　well！〃

〃No；〃　gloomily　replied　the　count；　〃nothing　will　go　well　any　more！　The　whole　future　stands　before　me　in　clear　and　distinct　traitsa　future　full　of　shame　and　horror！　Oh；　would　it　not　be　better　to　flee　from　that　future　and　seek　in　some　remote　and　hidden　valley　a　place　where；　perhaps；　misfortune　cannot　reach；　nor　destruction　overtake　us！〃

〃How？〃　reproachfully　asked　Cecil。　〃Is　it　Count　Paulo　who　speaks　thus？　Is　it　the　pupil　whom　I　taught　to　defy　misfortune　and　rise　superior　to　disaster　with　courageous　self…confidence？　Is　it　the　son　of　my　heart　for　whom　I　have　left　all；　sacrificed　all；　for　whom　I　have　offered　up　my　fatherland；　my　freedom；　and　my　independence；　whom　I　shall　love　until　my　last　breath？　Paulo；　pluck　up　a　good　heart；　my　son！　You　have　proposed　to　yourself　a　great　end；　which　was　only　to　be　reached　by　thorny　and　dangerous　paths；　will　you　now　stop　at　the　first　cross…road　and　return　upon　your　steps；　instead　of　pressing　forward　sword　in　hand！　No；　no；　I　know　you　better；　my　son；　this　momentary　hesitation　will　pass　away；　and　you　will　again　be　great　and　strong　for　the　struggle　and　the　victory！〃

With　a　faint　smile　Count　Paulo　gave　him　his　hand。　〃You　know　not；　my　friend；　how　great　is　the　sacrifice　you　demand　of　me！〃　said　he；　in　a　subdued　tone。　〃I　must　leave　Natalie。　I　must　never　see　her　more；　never　more　draw　consolation　from　her　glance；　nor　hope　from　her　charming　smile！　Oh；　Cecil；　you　have　not　idea　of　what　Natalie　is　to　me；　you　know　not　that　I〃

〃I　know；〃　interposed　Cecil；　solemnly；　〃I　know　that　you　have　sworn　upon　the　holy　book　to　protect　her　with　your　life　from　every　injury；　I　know　that　you　have　sworn　never　to　give　rest　to　yourself　until　you　have　reinstated　her　in　her　inherited　rights；　and　that；　until　then；　she　shall　be　sacred　to　you；　sacred　as　a　sister；　sacred　as　a　daughter　whose　honor　you　will　protect　and　defend　against　every　outrage；　against　even　every　sinful　thought。　That　have　you　sworn；　and　I　know　you　will　hold　your　word　sacred　and　keep　your　oath！〃

Count　Paulo　dropped　his　head　upon　his　breast　and　sighed　deeply。

〃I　must　therefore　leave　her！〃　said　he。

〃Your　own　welfare　demands　it。〃

〃But　how　is　she　to　live　during　our　absence？　Our　money　will　not　suffice　to　the　end。　Alas！　we　had　so　surely　calculated　on　this　remittance　from　my　estates；　and　now　it　fails　us！〃

〃We　will　sell　that　costly　ornament　of　brilliants　which　you　had　destined　as　a　present　for　Natalie　on　her　seventeenth　birthday。〃

〃Ah；〃　sighed　the　count；　〃you　have　a　means　for　the　removal　of　every　obstacle。　I　must　therefore　go！〃

〃And　I　go　with　you；〃　said　Cecil。　〃I　would；　if　it　must　be　so；　be　able　to　die　for　you！〃

〃They　will　destroy　all　three　of　us！〃　said　the　count。　〃Believe　me；　the　knife　is　already　sharpened　for　our　throats！　Believe　also；　Cecil；　that　I　tremble　not　from　fear　of　death。　But　I　fear　for　Natalie！　Ah；　I　already　seem　to　see　the　approach　of　her　murderers；　to　see　them　seize　her　with　their　bloody　hands；　and　I　shall　not　be　there　to　protect　her！〃

While　Count　Paulo　thus　spoke；　with　a　sad；　foreboding　soul；　those　two　mysterious　men；　who　had　so　threateningly　watched　and　listened　to　Natalie　and　her　friend；　still　remained　under　the　wall。

The　one　still　held　the　dagger　in　his　hand；　and　was　unquietly　walking　back　and　forth　near　his　companion；　who　had　calmly　thrown　himself　upon　the　ground。

〃You　did　wrong　to　hinder　me；　Beppo；〃　he　angrily　said。　〃It　would　have　been　best　to　have　finished　them　at　once。　The　occasion　could　not　have　been　more　favorablethe　solitary　garden；　the　nightly　stillness　and　obscurity。　Ah；　one　blow　would　have　done　the　business！〃