the daughter of an empress-第48部分

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；　and　when　one　day　they　brand　me　as　a　traitor；　then　say：　'No；　he　was　no　traitor；　for　he　loved　me！'　And　now　hear　what　I　have　yet　to　say；〃　continued　the　count；　after　a　pause；　while　the　still　weeping　Natalie　looked　up　to　him　through　her　tears。　〃But　look　at　me；　Natalieno；　not　that　sad　glance；　I　cannot　bear　it！　Leave　me　my　self…possession　and　my　courage；　for　I　need　them！　Weep　not！〃

And　Natalie；　drying　her　eyes　with　her　long　locks；　sought　to　smile。

〃I　no　longer　weep；〃　said　she；　〃I　listen　to　you。〃

Paulo　placed　two　sealed　letters　in　her　hand。

〃Swear　to　me；〃　said　he；　〃to　hold　these　letters　sacred　as　your　most　precious　possession。〃

〃I　swear　it！〃　said　she。

〃Swear　to　me　to　discover　them　to　no　human　eye；　to　betray　their　possession　to　no　human　ear！　Swear　it　to　me　by　the　memory　of　your　mother；　who　now　looks　down　from　heaven　upon　you　and　receives　your　oath！〃

〃Then　she　is　dead？〃　said　the　young　maiden；　sadly　drooping　her　head　upon　her　breast。

〃You　have　not　yet　sworn！〃　said　he。

The　young　maiden　raised　her　head；　and；　turning　her　eyes　toward　heaven　as　if　in　the　hope　of　encountering　the　tender　maternal　glance；　she　solemnly　said：　〃By　the　sacred　memory　of　my　mother　I　swear　to　discover　these　papers　to　no　human　eye；　to　betray　their　existence　to　no　human　ear；　but　to　hold　them　sacred　as　my　most　precious　and　mysterious　treasure！〃

〃Swear；　further；〃　said　Count　Paulo；　〃that　whenever　a　danger　may　threaten　you；　you　will　sooner　forget　all　other　things　than　these　papers；　that　they　should　be　the　first　which　you　will　endeavor　to　save。　Yes；　swear　to　me　that　you　will　ever　bear　them　upon　your　heart　and　never　permit　them　to　be　separated　from　you！〃

〃I　swear　it！〃　said　Natalie。　〃I　will　defend　the　possession　of　these　papers；　if　necessary；　with　my　life！〃

〃And　thereby　will　you　defend　your　honor；〃　said　Paulo；　〃for　your　honor　rests　in　these　papers。　Yet　ask　me　not　what　they　contain。　You　must　not　yet　know；　there　is　danger　in　knowing　their　contents！　But　when　a　whole　year　has　passed　without　my　return　or　your　hearing　from　me；　and　if　in　this　whole　year　no　messenger　comes　to　you　from　me；　then；　Natalie；　then　open　these　letters；　you　will　then　possess　my　testament；　and　you　will　consider　it　a　sacred　duty　to　execute　it！〃

Natalie；　sobbing；　said：　〃Ah；　why　did　not　that　dagger　pierce　my　heart　yesterday？　I　should　then　have　died　while　I　was　yet　happy？〃

〃You　will　yet　do　so！〃　said　Count　Paulo；　with　a　slight　tincture　of　bitterness；　〃Carlo　and　your　future　yet　remain　to　you！〃

She　looked　at　him　with　a　clear；　bright　glance；　but　without　answering。　She　had　again　become　an　enigma　to　herself。　Now；　when　her　friend；　when　Paulo；　was　about　to　leave　her；　it　seemed　to　her　she　had　done　wrong　to　love　another；　even　for　a　moment；　better　than　him；　her　benefactor　and　protector；　indeed；　as　if　she　in　fact　loved　no　one　so　well　as　him；　as　if　she　could　resign　and　leave　all　others　to　insure　Paulo's　permanent　presence！

But　she　was　suddenly　startled；　and　a　glowing　flush　overspread　her　cheeks。　She　had；　quite　accidentally；　glanced　through　the　window　into　the　garden；　and　had　there　discovered　Carlo；　as　with　slow　and　hesitating　steps　he　descended　the　alley　leading　to　the　villa。

Count　Paulo　had　followed　her　glance；　and；　as　he　now　observed　the　singer；　he　said：　〃He　shall　henceforth　be　your　protector！　Promise　me　to　love　him　as　a　brother。　Will　you？〃

He　looked　at　her　with　a　fixed　and　searching　gaze；　and　she　cast　not　down　her　eyes　before　that　penetrating　and　interrogating　glance；　but　met　it　directly　with　clear　and　innocent　eyes。

〃Yes；　I　will　love　him　as　a　brother！〃　she　said。

〃One　more　thing；　and　then　let　us　part！〃　said　Paulo。　〃Marianne　is　honest　and　truelet　her　never　leave　you。　I　have　amply　provided　her　with　funds　for　the　necessary　expenses　for　the　next　six　months；　and　I　hope　long　before　the　expiration　of　that　time　to　send　a　further　supply。　If　I　do　not；　then　conclude　that　I　am　dead；　for　only　with　my　life　can　I　be　robbed　of　the　sweet　duty　of　caring　for　you！　And　now　let　me　go　to　Carlo！〃

Slightly　nodding　to　her；　he　hastily　left　the　room。

At　that　moment　Carlo　mounted　the　steps　leading　to　the　door　of　the　villa。　Paulo　met　him　with　a　hearty　greeting。

〃Let　us　go　down　into　the　garden；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　many　things　to　say　to　you。〃

The　two　men　remained　a　long　time　in　the　garden。　Natalie；　standing　at　the　window；　occasionally　saw　them；　arm　in　arm；　at　some　turning　of　the　walks；　and　then　they　would　again　disappear　as　they　pursued　their　way　in　earnest　conversation。　Strange　thoughts　flitted　through　the　soul　of　the　young　maiden；　and　when　she　saw　the　two　thus　wandering；　arm　in　arm；　she　thoughtfully　asked　herself：　〃Which　is　it；　then；　that　I　most　love？　Is　it　Carlo；　is　it　Paulo？〃

〃I　now　understand　you　perfectly；〃　said　Count　Paulo；　as　they　again　approached　the　house　after　a　long　and　earnest　conversation。　〃Yes；　it　seems　to　me　I　know　you　as　myself；　and　know　I　can　confide　in　you。　You　have　perfectly　tranquillized　me；　and　I　thank　you　for　your　confidence。　It　was　then　Corilla；　that　vain　improvisatrice；　who　would　have　destroyed　her？　That　is　consoling；　and　I　can　now　depart　with　a　lighter　heart。　Against　such　attacks　you　will　be　able　to　protect　her。〃

〃I　will　protect　her　against　every　attack；〃　responded　Carlo。　〃You　have　my　oath　that　the　secret　you　have　confided　to　me　shall　be　held　sacred；　and　you　have　thereby　secured　her　from　every　outbreak　of　my　passion。　She　stands　so　high　above　me　that　I　can　only　adore　her　as　my　saint；　can　love　her　only　as　one　loves　the　unattainable　stars！〃



AN　HONEST　BETRAYER

At　about　the　same　time　Cecil　was　hastening　through　the　streets　of　Rome；　often　looking　back　to　see　if　any　one　was　following　him；　and　viewing　with　suspicious　eyes　every　one　he　met。　He　finally　stopped　before　the　backdoor　of　a　palace；　and；　after　having　satisfied　himself　that　he　had　not　been　followed；　he　lightly　knocked　three　times　at　the　door。　Upon　its　being　opened；　a　grim；　bearded　Russian　face　presented　itself。

Cecil　drew　a　ring　from　his　bosom　and　showed　it　to　the　porter。

〃Quick！　conduct　me　to　his　excellency；〃　said　he。

The　Russian　nodded　his　recognition　of　the　token；　and　beckoned　Cecil　to　follow　him。　After　a　short　reflection；　Cecil　entered　and　the　door　was　closed。

Guided　by　his　conductor　through　a　labyrinth　of　rooms　and　corridors；　Cecil　finally　succeeded　in　reaching　a　little　boudoir；　whose　heavily…　curtained　windows　hardly　admitted　a　ray　of　dim　twilight。

The　conductor；　bidding　Cecil　to　wait　here；　left　him　alone。

In　a　few　moments　a　concealed　door　was　opened；　and　a　man　of　a　tall；　proud　form　entered。

〃At　length！〃　he　said；　on　perceiving　Cecil。　〃I　had　begun　to　doubt　your　coming。〃

〃I　waited　until　I　could　bring　you　decisive　intelligence；　your　excellency；〃　said　Cecil。

〃And　you　bring　it　today？〃　quickly　asked　the　unknown。

〃In　an　hour　we　leave　Rome　for　St。　Petersburg！〃

Uttering　a　loud　cry　of　joy；　the　stranger　walked　the　room　in　visible　commotion。　Cecil　followed　him　with　timid；　anxious　glances；　and；　as　he　still　kept　silence；　Cecil　said：

〃Your　excellency；　I　have　truly　performed　what　you　required　of　me。　I　have　persuaded　the　count　to　make　the　journey；　notwithstanding　his　opposition　to　it；　and；　as　you　commanded；　his　ward　remains　behind　in　Rome；　alone　and　unprotected。〃

〃Ah；　you　praise　your　acts　because　you　desire　your　reward；〃　said　his　excellency；　contemptuously　opening　his　writing…desk；　and　drawing　forth　a　well…filled　purse。　〃You　there　have　your　pay；　good　man！〃

Cecil　indignantly　rejected　the　money。　〃I　am　no　Judas；　who　betrays　his　master　for　money；〃　said　he。　〃Please　remember；　your　excellency；　for　what　I　promised　to　fulfil　your　excellency's　commands；　and　what　reward　you　promised　me！〃

〃Ah；　I　now　remember！　You　required　my　promise　that　no　harm　should　befall　the　count！〃

〃Only　on　that　condition　did　I　promise　my　assistance；〃　said　Cecil。　〃When　your　emissary　sought　me　and　called　me　to　you；　I　only　followed　him；　as　you　well　know；　most　noble　count；　because　you　gave　me　to　understand　that　my　master's　life　and　safety　were　concerned。　I　came　to　you。　Allow　me；　your　excellency　to　repeat　your　own　words。　You　said：　'Cecil；　you　have　been　represented　to　me　as　a　true　friend　of　your　master。　Fidelity　is　so　rare　a　virtue；　that　it　deserves　reward。　I　will　reward　you　by　saving　your　life。　Quickly　leave　this　traitorous　count；　and　break　off　all　connection　with　him；　else　you　are　lost。　I　am　secretly　sent　here　in　order　to　capture　the　count　and　his　criminal　ward；　and　take　them　to　St。　Petersburg。　What　there　awaits　the　count　may　easily　be　imagined。'　Thus　speaking；　your　excellency　then　showed　me　the　command　for　the　count's　arrest；　signed　by　the　empress。　Upon　which　I　asked：　'Is　there　no　means　of　saving　the　count？'　'There　is　one；'　said　you。　'Persuade　the　count　to　return　immediately　to　St。　Petersburg；　leaving　his　ward　behind　him　here；　and　I　swear　to　you；　in　the　name　of　the　empress；　that　no　harm　shall　come　to　him。'　〃

〃Well；〃　impatiently　cried　the　count；　〃what　is　the　use　of　repeating　all　that；　as　I　know　it　already？〃

〃Only　because　your　excellency　seems　to　forget　that　what　I　did　was　not　done　for　your　miserable　gold；　but　for　a　totally　different　rewardthe　safety　of　a　man　whom　I　love　as　my　own　son。〃

〃You　have　my　wordno　harm　shall　come　to　him。〃

〃I　doubt　not　your　excellency's　word；〃　firmly　and　decidedly　responded　Cecil；　〃your　word　is　all…powerful；　and　when　you　let　your　commanding　voice　be　heard；　all　Russia　trembles　and　bows　before　you。　But　here　your　voice　resounds　only　between　these　walls；　and　nobody　hears　it　but　I　alone。　Give　me　an　evidence　of　your　worda　safety…pass；　signed　by　your　own　hand；　for　my　master；　and　then　destroy　the　order　for　his　arrest　which　you　now　hold！〃

〃Ah；　it　seems　you　would　prescribe　conditions？〃　said　the　count；　proudly。

〃Certainly　I　will；〃　said　Cecil。　〃I　have　complied　with　your　conditions；　and　now　it　is　your　turn；　Sir　Count；　to　comply　with　mine；　for　you　knew　them　before！〃

A　dark　glow　of　anger　showed　itself　in　the　count's　face；　and；　passionately　starting　up；　he　approached　Cecil；　raising　his　arm　threateningly　against　him。

〃Sir　Count；〃　said　Cecil；　stepping　back；　〃you　mistake！　I　am　no　Russian　serf；　I　am　a　free　man；　and　no　one　has　a　right　so　to　threaten　me！〃

The　count　had　already　let　his　arm　fall；　seeming　suddenly　to　have　changed　his　mind；　and　in　a　more　friendly　manner　he　said：

〃You　are　ri