the daughter of an empress-第52部分

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tation；　but　not　always　has　fame　attracted　money　to　itself！　I　shall　be　rich　as　well　as　famous！〃

〃That　you　already　are！〃　exclaimed　the　Cardinal　Francesco　Albani；　who　unremarked　had　just　entered　the　room。

〃I　am　not；〃　said　she；　with　vehemence；　〃for　they　refuse　me　the　prize　of　fame！　Have　you　been　with　the　pope；　your　eminence；　and　what　did　he　say？〃

〃I　come　directly　from　him。〃

〃Well；　and　what　says　he？〃

〃What　he　always　says　to　meno！〃

Corilla　stamped　her　feet　violently；　and　her　eyes　flashed　lightnings。

〃How　beautiful　you　are　now！〃　tenderly　remarked　the　cardinal；　throwing　an　arm　around　her。

She　rudely　thrust　him　back。　〃Touch　me　not；〃　said　she；　〃you　do　not　deserve　my　love。　You　are　a　weakling；　as　all　men　are。　You　can　only　coo　like　a　pigeon；　but　when　it　comes　to　action；　then　sinks　your　arm；　and　you　are　powerless。　Ah；　the　woman　whom　you　profess　to　love　begs　of　you　a　trifling　service；　the　performance　of　which　is　of　the　highest　importance　to　her；　the　greatest　favor；　and　you　will　not　fulfil　her　request　while　yet　swearing　you　love　her！　Go！　you　are　a　cold…hearted　man；　and　wholly　undeserving　of　Corilla's　love！〃

〃But；〃　despairingly　exclaimed　the　cardinal；　〃you　require　of　me　a　service　that　it　is　not　in　my　power　to　perform。　Ask　something　else；　Corillaask　a　human　life；　and　you　shall　have　it！　But　I　cannot　give　what　is　not　mine。　You　demand　a　laurel…crown；　which　only　the　pope　has　the　power　to　bestow；　and　he　has　sworn　that　you　shall　not　have　it　so　long　as　he　lives！〃

〃Will　he；　then；　live　eternally？〃　cried　Corilla；　beside　herself　with　rage。

The　cardinal　gave　her　an　astonished　and　interrogating　glance。　But　his　features　suddenly　assumed　a　wild　and　malicious　expression；　and　violently　grasping　Corilla's　hand；　he　murmured：

〃You　are　right！　'Will　he；　then；　live　forever？'　Bah！　even　popes　are　mortal　men。　And　if　we　should　choose　for　his　successor　a　man　better　disposed　toward　you　thenCorilla；〃　said　the　cardinal；　interrupting　himself；　and　in　spite　of　her　resistance　pressing　her　to　his　bosom　〃Corilla；　swear　once　more　to　me　that　you　will　be　mine；　and　only　mine；　as　soon　as　I　procure　your　coronation　in　the　capitol！　Swear　it　once　more！〃

She　gave　him　such　a　sweet；　enticing；　and　voluptuous　smile　that　the　cardinal　trembled　with　desire　and　joy。

〃When　you　in　the　capitol　adorn　Corilla　with　the　laurel…crown；　then　will　she　willingly　lay　her　myrtle　crown　at　your　feet；〃　said　she；　with　a　charming　expression　of　maiden　modesty。

The　cardinal　again　pressed　her　passionately　to　his　bosom。

〃You　shall　have　the　laurel…crown；　and　your　myrtle　crown　is　mine！〃　he　excitedly　exclaimed。　〃You　will　soon　see　whether　Francesco　is　a　cold…　hearted　man！　Farewell；　Corilla！〃

And　with　a　hasty　salute　he　left　the　room。　The　astonished　Corilla　dismissed　him　with　a　smile。

〃If　it　is　to　succeed　at　all；　it　can　be　only　through　him；〃　said　she。　〃Poor　Francesco；　he　will　bring　me　a　full　laurel…crown！　And　what　can　I　give　him　in　return？　An　exfoliated　myrtle　crown；　that　is　all！　No　heart　with　it！〃



THE　HOLY　CHAFFERERS

Cardinal　Francesco　Albani；　meantime；　hastened　through　the　streets　with　the　sprightliness　of　youth。　He　noticed　neither　the　respectful　salutations　and　knee…bendings　of　those　he　passed；　nor　their　visible　shuddering　and　alarm　when　under　the　cardinal's　hat　they　recognized　the　fierce　and　inhuman　Francesco　Albani。

He　stopped　before　the　palace　of　Cardinal　Juan　Angelo　Braschi。　The　equipage　of　the　new　cardinal　was　drawn　up　before　his　door。

〃Ah；〃　gleefully　remarked　Albani；　〃he　is　therefore　yet　at　home；　and　I　shall　meet　with　him！〃

Hastily　entering　the　palace；　and　pushing　past　the　servant　who　would　have　preceded　him；　he　entered　the　cardinal's　cabinet　unannounced。

〃Be　not　troubled；　your　eminence；〃　said　Albani；　with　a　smile；　〃I　will　not　detain　you　long。　I　know　your　habits；　and　know　that　Signora　Malveda　usually　expects　you　at　this　hour；　because　Cardinal　Rezzonico　is　not　then　with　her！　But　I　have　something　important　to　say　to　you。　You　know　I　am　a　man　who；　without　forms　and　circumlocutions；　always　comes　directly　to　the　point。　I　do　so　now。　You　desire　to　be　the　successor　of　Ganganelli？〃

Braschi　turned　pale；　and　timidly　cast　down　his　eyes。

〃Why　are　you　shocked？〃　cried　Albani。　〃Every　cardinal　hopes　and　wishes　to　become　the　father　of　Christendomthat　is　natural；　I　should　also　wish　it　for　myself；　but　I　know　that　that　cannot　be。　I　have　permitted　these　lord　cardinals　who；　in　the　conclave；　invoke　the　Holy　Spirit；　to　look　too　much　into　my　cards。　I　was　not　so　prudent　as　you；　Braschi；　and　therefore　you　are　much　the　more　likely　to　become　God's　vicegerent！　Would　you　not　like　to　be　pope；　if　Ganganelli　should　happen　to　die？　And　how　high　would　you　hold　my　voicehow　much　would　it　be　worth　to　you？〃

〃More　than　all　I　possess；　infinitely　more！〃　said　the　shrewd　Braschi。　〃Were　I　sure　of　your　voice；　I　might　then　have　a　definite　hope　of　becoming　pope；　for　your　voice　carries　many　others　with　it。　How；　then；　can　you　expect　me　to　estimate　what　is　inestimable？〃

〃Would　you　give　me　twenty　thousand？〃　asked　Albani。

〃Threefold　that　sum　if　I　possessed　it；　but　I　have　nothing！　I　am　a　very　poor　cardinal；　as　you　well　know。　My　whole　property　consists　of　six　thousand　scudi；　and　that　trifling　sum　I　dare　not　offer　you。〃

〃Borrow；　then；　of　Signora　Malveda！〃　said　Albani。　〃Cardinal　Rezzonico　is　rich　and　liberal。　Let　us　speak　directly　to　the　point。　You　would　be　pope；　and　I　am　willing　to　forward　your　views。　How　much　will　you　pay？〃

〃If　Signora　Malveda　will　lend　me　four　thousand　scudi；　I　should　then　have　ten　thousand　to　offer　you！〃

〃Well；　so　be　it。　Ten　thousand　scudi　will　do；　if　you　will　add　to　it　a　trifling　favor。〃

〃Name　it；〃　said　Braschi。

〃You　know　that　Ganganelli　opposes　the　crowning　of　our　famous　improvisatrice；　Corilla；　in　the　capitol。　This　is　an　injustice　which　Ganganelli's　successor　will　have　to　repair。　Will　you　do　it？〃

Braschi　gave　the　cardinal　a　sly　glance。　〃Ah；〃　said　he；　〃Signora　Corilla　seems　to　be　less　liberal　than　Signora　Malveda？　She　will　allow　you　no　discount　of　her　future　laurel…crown；　is　it　not　so？　I　know　nothing　worse　than　an　ambitious　woman。　Listen；　Albani；　it　seems　that　we　must　be　mutually　useful　to　each　other；　I　need　your　voice　to　become　pope；　and　you　need　mine　to　become　a　favored　lover。　Very　well；　give　me　your　voice；　and　in　return；　I　promise　you　a　laurel…crown　for　Signora　Corilla；　and　eight　thousand　scudi　for　yourself！〃

〃Ah；　you　would　haggle！〃　contemptuously　exclaimed　Albani。　〃You　would　be　a　very　niggardly　vicegerent　of　God！　But　as　Corilla　is　well　worth　two　thousand　scudi；　I　am　content。　Give　me　eight　thousand　scudi　and　the　promise　to　crown　Corilla！〃

〃As　soon　as　I　am　pope；　I　will　do　both。　My　sacred　word　for　it！　Shall　I　strengthen　my　promise　by　swearing　upon　the　Bible？〃

Cardinal　Albani　gave　the　questioner　a　glance　of　astonishment；　and　then　broke　out　with　a　loud　and　scornful　laugh。

〃You　forget　that　you　are　speaking　to　one　of　your　kind！　Of　what　use　would　such　a　holy　farce　be　to　us　who　have　no　faith　in　its　binding　power？　No；　no；　we　priests　know　each　other。　Such　buffoonery　amounts　to　nothing。　One　written　word　is　worth　a　thousand　sworn　oaths！　Let　us　have　a　contract　preparedthat　is　better。　We　will　both　sign　it！〃

〃Just　as　you　please！〃　said　Braschi；　with　a　smile；　stepping　to　his　writing　desk　and　rapidly　throwing　some　lines　upon　paper；　which　he　signed　after　it　had　been　carefully　read　by　Albani。

〃At　length　the　business　is　finished；〃　said　Albani。　〃Now；　Cardinal　Braschi；　go　to　your　signora；　and　surprise　her　with　the　news　that　she　holds　in　her　arms　a　pope　/in　spe/。　Pope　Clement　will　soon　need　a　successor；　he　must　be　very　ill；　the　poor　pope！〃

So　speaking；　he　took　leave　of　the　future　pope　with　a　friendly　nod；　and　departed　with　as　much　haste　as　he　had　come。

〃And　now　to　these　pious　Jesuit　fathers！〃　said　he；　stepping　out　upon　the　grass。　〃It　was　very　prudent　in　me　that　I　went　on　foot　to　Corilla　to…day。　Our　cursed　equipages　betray　every　thing；　they　are　the　greatest　chatterboxes！　How　astonished　these　good　Romans　would　be　to　see　a　cardinal's　carriage　before　these　houses　of　the　condemned！　No；　no；　strengthen　yourselves　for　another　effort；　my　reverend　legs！　Only　yet　this　walk；　and　then　you　will　have　rest。〃

And　the　cardinal　trudged　stoutly　on　until　he　reached　the　Jesuit　college。　There　he　stopped　and　looked　cautiously　around　him。

〃This　unfortunate　saintly　dress　is　also　a　hindrance；〃　murmured　he。　〃Like　the　sign　over　the　shop…door　it　proclaims　to　all　the　world：　'I　am　a　cardinal。　Here　indulgences；　dispensations；　and　God's　blessings　are　to　be　sold！　Who　will　buy；　who　will　buy？'　I　dare　not　now　enter　this　scouted　and　repudiated　sacred　house。　I　might　be　remarked；　suspected；　and　betrayed。　Corilla；　dear；　beautiful　woman；　it　costs　me　much　pains　and　many　efforts　to　conquer　you；　will　your　possession　repay　me？〃

The　cardinal　patiently　waited　in　the　shadow　of　a　taxus…bush　until　the　street　become　for　a　moment　empty　and　solitary。　Then　he　hastened　to　a　side…door　of　the　building；　and；　sure　of　being　unobserved；　entered。

A　deep　and　quiet　silence　pervaded　these　long　and　deserted　cloister…　passages。　It　seemed　as　if　a　death…veil　lay　upon　the　whole　buildingas　if　it　were　depopulated；　desolated。　Nowhere　the　least　trace　of　that　busy；　stirring　life；　usually　prevailing　in　these　corridorsno　longer　those　bands　of　scholars　that　formerly　peopled　these　passagesthe　doors　of　the　great　school…room　open；　the　benches　unoccupied；　the　lecturer's　chair；　from　which　the　pious　fathers　formerly　with　such　subtle　wisdom　explained　and　defended　their　dangerous　doctrines；　these　also　are　desolate。　The　reign　of　the　Jesuits　was　over；　Ganganelli　had　thrust　them　from　the　throne；　and　they　cursed　him　as　their　murderer！　He　had　suppressed　their　sacred　order；　he　had　commanded　them　to　lay　aside　their　peculiar　costume　and　adopt　that　of　other　monkish　orders；　or　the　usual　dress　of　abbes。　But　from　their　property　he　had　not　been　able　to　expel　them　in　this　college　/Il　Jesu/within　their　cloisters　his　power　had　not　been　able　to　penetrate。　There　they　remained；　what　they　had　been；　the　holy　fathers　of　Jesus；　the　pious　defenders　of　craft　and　Christian　deception；　the　cunning　advocates　of　regicide；　the　proud　servants　of　the　only　salvation…dispensing　Church！there；　with　rage　in　their　hearts；　they　meditated　plans　of　vengeance　against　this　crimi