the daughter of an empress-第44部分

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she　that　even　Cardinal　Bernis　stood　speechless　and　as　if　blinded　before　her；　finding　no　expression　for　his　joyful　surprise　and　astonishment。

〃Oh；〃　at　length　he　smilingly　said；　with　a　low　bow；　〃I　shall　have　to　quarrel　with　Count　Paulo！　He　promised　us　the　presence　of　a　mortal　woman；　and　now　he　leads　into　our　circle　a　divinity　who　must　look　down　upon　us　poor　human　beings　with　a　smile　of　contempt。〃

Natalie　smiled。　〃I　know；〃　said　she；　with　her　clear；　sweet；　childish　voice〃I　know　that　Cardinal　Bernis　is　a　poet；　and　therefore　it　will　not　be　very　difficult　for　him　to　change　a　young　maiden　into　a　divinity。　Nor　is　this　the　first　time　he　has　done　so！　I　remember　a　lovely　poem　of　his；　the　complaint　of　a　shepherd；　who　considers　the　object　of　his　love　a　divinity　because　she　is　so　beautiful；　and　at　last　she　proves　to　be　no　divinity；　but　on　the　contrary　a　regular　little　quarrelsome　wrangler；　who　has　nothing　beautiful　about　her　but　her　hands　and　face。　Take　care；　cardinal；　that　it　does　not　prove　with　you　and　me　as　with　the　shepherd　in　your　charming　poem！〃

She　said　that　with　such　childish　ingenuousness；　and　in　so　cheerful　and　jesting　a　tone；　that　the　cardinal　listened　to　her　as　if　intoxicated；　and　with　unconcealed　admiration　he　looked　into　that　delicate；　childishly　pure　face；　over　which　no　trace　of　sorrow　nor　any　sign　of　care　had　ever　yet　passed。

Without　answering；　he　took　her　arm；　and；　beckoning　Count　Paulo　to　his　side；　led　the　princess　to　the　circle　of　ladies。

Behind　those　closed　curtains　that　still　concealed　the　mysterious　niche　it　had　meanwhile　become　stirring。　Busy　servants　hastened　hither　and　thither；　lighting　the　lamps　and　arranging　the　festoons　and　draperies。　It　seems　they　had　here　erected　a　little　stage；　and　the　large　wall…　picture　that　formed　the　background　of　this　stage　bore　the　appearance　of　a　decoration。　A　side　curtain；　serving　as　a　partition；　formed　a　second　room；　which　seemed　destined　for　a　sort　of　greenroom；　in　the　centre　of　which　was　a　large　and　well…lighted　mirror；　and　before　it　stood　a　young　woman　regarding　herself　with　the　greatest　attention；　here　plucking　at　her　dress　and　there　arranging　her　train　or　an　ornament。　She　was　evidently　the　one　who　was　to　appear　upon　the　stage；　her　costume　betrayed　it。　It　was　not　the　fashionable　costume　of　the　day；　such　as　was　worn　by　the　distinguished　ladies　of　Roman　society；　it　was　an　ideal　Greek　dress　that　seemed　to　have　been　made　for　the　purpose　of　displaying　and　rendering　yet　more　voluptuous　and　enticing　the　great　beauty　of　the　wearer。

She　was　very　beautiful；　this　woman；　with　her　sparkling　black　eyes　and　dark　shining　hair；　which　had　been　gathered　into　a　Grecian　knot　behind　beautiful；　with　the　laurel…wreath　resting　upon　her　high　forehead　beautiful；　in　the　transparent　Grecian　robe　which　only　so　far　concealed　the　luxuriant　forms　of　her　full　figure　as　to　allow　them　to　be　divined　beautiful；　with　those　full；　round；　and　entirely　uncovered　arms；　with　their　jewelled　braceletsbeautiful；　with　her　graceful　neck；　her　fully　exposed；　naked　shoulders；　and　her　voluptuously　swelling　bosom。

She　was；　in　her　appearance；　a　Greek；　only　her　face　was　not　Grecian。　It　was　wanting　in　the　noble　forms；　the　still　cheerfulness　and　repose　of　Grecian　beauty；　modest　even　in　its　voluptuousness。　It　was　only　the　face　of　a　sensual　and　passionate　Roman　woman；　and　no　Lais　would　have　ventured　such　a　smile　as　played　upon　the　dark…red　lips　of　this　Roman　woman；　or　such　glowing　glances　as　she　shot　like　arrows　from　her　dark　eyes。

Standing　before　the　glass；　she　viewed　herself；　her　lips　murmuring　low　words；　occasionally　turning　her　eyes　from　the　mirror　to　the　little　table　standing　near　it；　upon　which　lay　several　open　books。

What　murmured　she；　and　what　read　she　in　those　books？　Singular！　she　was　uttering　single；　isolated；　unconnected　words；　which　had　nothing　in　common　with　each　other　but　the　sound　of　melody；　they　were　rhymes；　but　without　connection　or　sense；　without　inward　mental　correlation。

〃So；〃　she　now　said　to　herself；　with　a　satisfied　smile；　〃I　am　now　perfectly　armed　and　prepared。　All　these　rhymes　ready　for　use；　and　I　have　not　to　fear　embarrassment　in　repeating　any　of　them。　Ah；　they　shall　admire　me；　these　good　Romans。　I　will　animate　and　inflame　them；　and　excite　all　my　enamored　cardinals　to　such　an　ecstasy　that　they　must　finally　prevail　upon　the　silly；　obstinate　old　pope　against　his　own　will　to　fulfil　my　only　desire。　I　will　attain　my　end；　even　if　I　am　compelled　to　pawn　my　honor　and　my　salvation　for　it！　Bah！　honor；　what　can　honor　be　to　a　woman？　Beauty　is　our　honor；　further　nothing！　And　fair；　it　seems　to　me；　I　yet　am！　And　if　I　am　fair；〃　she　more　glowingly　continued；　after　a　pause；　〃how　comes　it　that　Carlo　has　ceased　to　love　me？　Ah；　the　false　one；　to　betray　and　desert　me　when　I　love　him　most！〃

A　dark　flush　of　anger　now　overspread　her　cheeks；　and　threateningly　raising　her　hands；　with　compressed　lips　she　continued：　〃And　to　desert　me　for　another　womanme；　the　pride　and　delight　of　all　Rome；　me；　whom　all　the　princes　and　cardinals　worship！　Ah；　while　thousands　lie　at　my　feet；　imploring　for　a　glance　or　a　smile；　this　little；　unknown　singer　dares　to　scorn　me　and　deride　my　love！〃

〃And　why　should　he　not　dare　it？〃　asked　a　voice　behind　her；　and　the　face　of　a　young　man　became　visible。

〃Carlo！〃　she　cried；　hastening　to　meet　him　with　outspread　arms。

He　almost　ungently　checked　her。　〃You　forget；〃　said　he；　〃that　this　little；　insignificant；　and　unknown　singer　loves　you　no　longer；　Corilla！　Grant；　then；　henceforth　to　the　thousands　who　languish　at　your　feet　a　few　of　your　enticing　smiles　and　glowing　glancesI　have　nothing　against　it；　and　am　not　at　all　jealous！〃

〃But　you　should　be！〃　cried　she；　stamping　her　feet　with　rage。　〃I　tell　you　I　will　not　suffer　you　to　leave　me；　I　will　be　loved　by　you；　and　no　one　shall　you　dare　to　look　at；　and　no　one　shall　you　dare　to　love；　but　me　alone。〃

Carlo　broke　out　into　a　scornful　laugh；　and　then　seriously　and　proudly　said：　〃I　am　a　Neapolitan；　and　with　us　men　do　not　allow　themselves　to　be　constrained　to　love；　and　no　woman　there　dares　utter　the　command；　'Thou　shalt　love　me！'I　will　not；　Signora　Corilla！〃

〃You　will　not！〃　screamed　she；　gnashing　her　teeth。　〃Then　woe　to　you　and　to　her！〃

〃I　fear　no　serpents！〃　said　Carlo；　laughing；　〃and　if　an　adder　attempts　to　sting　me；　I　tread　it　under　foot！〃

〃But　fear　at　least　for　her　you　love！〃　she　threateningly　said。　〃Oh；　you　think　I　shall　not　be　able　to　discover　this　secret　love　of　yours；　and　not　spy　out　this　new　divinity　to　whom　you　have　consecrated　your　heart？　Tremble　therefore　now；　for　I　know　her！　I　know　the　garden　in　which　she　lives；　and　there　is　a　place　in　the　wall　just　opposite　her　favorite　seat；　whoever　knows　that　place　and　possesses　a　steady　hand　and　a　sharp　dagger　will　know　how　to　hurl　it　so　as　to　pierce　her　bosom。〃

Carlo　felt　a　deadly　terror；　he　felt　his　heart　stand　still；　but　he　collected　himself　and　said；　with　a　contemptuous　smile：　〃Cardinal　Francesco　Albani　indeed　possesses　among　his　/bravi/　many　such　skilful　hands；　and　surely　it　will　not　require　many　of　your　highly…prized　glances　to　induce　him　to　favor　you　with　the　loan　of　one　of　them。〃

The　signora　slightly　bit　her　lips。　〃You　mock　me；〃　she　almost　sadly　said；　〃and　yet　you　should　remember　that　it　is　only　love　that　makes　me　so　savage　and　fills　my　heart　with　a　thirst　for　vengeance！　Carlo；　I　so　warmly　love　you！〃

And　the　beautiful；　glowing　woman　humbly　and　imploringly　bent　before　her　beloved。

The　latter　laughingly　said：　〃How　well　you　know　how　to　say　thatwith　what　variations　and　modulations！　I　yesterday　heard　you　say　the　same　to　Cardinal　Albani；　to　be　sure；　it　sounded　a　little　different；　but　not　less　warm　and　glowing！〃

〃You　know　why　I　do　that！〃　said　she。　〃He　is　an　enamored　fool；　whom　I　would　win　with　tender　words　that　I　may　make　him　my　instrument。　You　know　the　object　for　which　I　strive；　and　which　I　must　attain　at　any　price！　Ah；　Carlo；　when　once　they　have　crowned　me　in　the　capitol；　then；　I　am　sure；　you　will　be　compelled　to　love　me　again！〃

〃Never　again！〃　he　harshly　and　roughly　said。

〃Is　that　your　last　word？〃　shrieked　she；　with　flashing　eyes　and　the　wild　rage　of　a　tigress。

〃It　is　my　last　word！〃

She　flew　to　him　like　a　mad　person；　seized　his　hands　and　fixedly　stared　him　in　the　face。

〃Ungrateful！〃　said　she；　gnashing　her　teeth。　〃Is　it　thus　you　reward　my　love；　is　this　your　return　for　all　I　have　done　for　you？　Can　you　forget　that　it　was　I　who　withdrew　you　from　poverty　and　baseness？　What　were　you　but　a　poor；　unnoticed　singer　in　the　streets；　on　whom　people　bestowed　scanty　alms？　Was　it　not　I　who　rescued　you　from　that　shame；　and　clothed　you　and　gave　you　a　home？　Was　it　not　I　who　gave　you　a　name　and　procured　you　consideration　and　respect　by　making　you　my　singer　and　companion；　and　allowing　you　to　play　upon　the　harp　at　my　improvisations？　How　has　not　all　Rome　admired　you　when　you　sang　the　canzones　I　wrote　for　you；　thereby　procuring　you　honor　and　respectability；　and　making　you　a　popular　man　from　a　low　beggar？　Go；　you　cannot　leave　me；　for　you　are　my　creature；　my　property！〃

He　wildly　thrust　her　aside；　and　his　eyes　flashed　with　indignation。　〃Signora；〃　said　he；　his　lips　tremulous　with　rage；　〃you　have　rent　the　last　band　that　bound　me　to　you；　and　in　twitting　me　of　your　benefits　you　have　annihilated　them！　We　now　have　nothing　in　common　with　each　other；　except　perhaps　mutual　hatred；　and　that；　I　hope；　will　have　a　longer　duration　than　our　love！〃

And　Carlo　turned　toward　the　door。　Corilla　rushed　after　him　with　an　exclamation　of　terror。

〃You　will　leave　me　now！〃　cried　she；　with　anguish；　〃now；　in　this　hour　when　you　are　so　indispensable　to　me？　now；　when　I　am　to　celebrate　a　new　triumph　before　this　notable　assembly？　when　all　eyes　are　expectantly　turned　to　the　curtain　behind　which　I　am　to　appear？　No；　no；　Carlo；　from　compassion　remain　with　me　only　one　hour；　only　this　evening！〃

Carlo　smiled　contemptuously。　〃I　will　remain；〃　said　he；　〃for　I　have　promised　/her/　that　she　shall　hear　you！〃

〃She　has　therefore　come？〃　cried　Corilla；　with　an　outburst　of　joy。

〃She　is　now　here；〃　he　laconically　said。

Corilla　no　longer　listened　to　him；　she　walked　back　and　forth　with　a　triumphant　mien；　a　cruel；　malicious　smile　playing　upon　her　lips。

At　this　moment　there　was　a　slight　knock　at　the　door；　which　was　opened；　and　a　man　who　a