the daughter of an empress-第55部分

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ide；　whether　by　night　or　by　day；　I　shall　always　watch　over　you　and　sleep　at　the　threshold　of　your　door；　and　should　a　dream　alarm　you；　I　shall　be　there　to　tranquillize　you。　So　long　as　I　live；　Natalie；　so　long　as　your　/vapo/　has　a　dagger　and　a　sure　hand；　so　long　shall　misfortune　fail　to　penetrate　into　your　dwelling。　You　cannot　be　mine；　or　return　my　love；　but　I　can　care　for　you　and　watch　over　you。　In　accepting　me　for　your　/vapo/；　you　have　given　me　the　right　to　die　for　you　if　necessary；　and　that　of　itself　is　a　happiness！〃

Thus　speaking　Carlo　rose；　and；　no　longer　able　to　conceal　his　deep　emotion　and　suppress　his　tears；　he　left　Natalie；　and　hastened　into　the　obscurest　alleys　of　the　garden。

The　young　maiden　watched　his　retreat　with　a　sad　smile。

〃Poor　Carlo！〃　murmured　she；　〃and　ah！　yet　much　poorer　Natalie！　He　loves　at　least。　But　I；　am　I　not　much　more　to　be　pitied？　I　have　no　one　whom　I　love。　I　am　entirely　isolated；　and　of　what　use　is　a　solitary　paradise？〃



THE　INVASION

Corilla　had　kept　her　word。　She　had　sent　to　Alexis　Orloff；　Carlo's　brother；　Joseph　Ribas；　the　galley…slave；　and　with　a　malicious　smile　she　had　said　to　the　latter；　〃You　will　avenge　me　on　your　treacherous　brother？〃

Count　Orloff　warmly　welcomed　Corilla's　/protege/。

〃If　you　give　me　satisfaction；　said　he；　〃you　may　expect　a　royal　recompense；　and　the　favor　of　the　exalted　Empress　of　Russia。　First　of　all；　tell　me　what　you　can　do？〃

〃Not　much；〃　said　Joseph　Ribas；　laughing；　〃and　the　little　I　can　will　yet　be　condemned　as　too　much。　I　can　very　dexterously　wield　the　dagger；　and　reach　the　heart　through　the　back！　Because　I　did　that　to　a　successful　rival　at　Palermo；　I　was　compelled　by　the　police　to　flee　to　Naples。　There　a　good　friend　taught　me　how　to　make　counterfeit　money；　an　art　which　I　brought　to　some　perfection；　and　which　I　successfully　practised　for　some　years。　But　the　police；　thinking　my　skill　too　great；　finally　relieved　me　from　my　employment；　and　gave　me　free　board　and　lodging　for　ten　years　in　the　galley。　Ah；　that　was　a　happy　time；　your　excellency。　I　learned　much　in　the　galleys；　and　something　which　I　can　now　turn　to　account　in　your　service。　I　learned　to　speak　the　Russian　language　like　a　native　of　Moscow。　Such　a　one　was　for　seven　years　my　inseparable　friend　and　chain…companion；　and　as　he　was　too　stupid　or　too　lazy　to　learn　my　language；　I　was　forced　to　learn　his；　that　I　might　be　able　to　converse　with　him　a　little。　That；　your　excellency；　is　about　all　I　know；　to　wield　the　dagger；　make　counterfeit　money；　speak　the　Russian　language；　and　some　other　trifling　tricks；　which；　however；　may　be　of　service　to　your　excellency。〃

〃Who　knows？〃　said　Orloff；　laughing。　〃Do　you　understand；　for　example；　how　to　break　into　a　house　and　steal　gold　and　diamonds；　without　being　caught　in　the　act？〃

〃That；〃　said　Joseph；　thoughtfully；　〃I　should　hope　to　be　able　to　accomplish。　I　have；　indeed；　as　yet；　had　no　experience　in　that　line；　but　in　the　galleys　I　have　listened　to　the　soundest　instructions；　and　heard　the　experiences　of　the　greatest　master　of　that　art；　with　the　curiosity　of　an　emulous　student！〃

Orloff　laughed。　〃You　are　a　sly　fellow；〃　said　he；　〃and　please　me　much。　If　you　act　as　well　as　you　talk；　we　shall　soon　be　good　friends！　Well；　to…morrow　night　you　make　your　first　essay。　The　business　is　an　invasion。〃

〃And　that　shall　be　my　masterpiece！〃　responded　Joseph　Ribas。

〃If　you　succeed；　I　will；　in　the　name　of　my　illustrious　empress；　immediately　take　you　into　her　service；　and　you　become　an　officer　of　the　Russian　marine。〃

Joseph　Ribas　stared　at　him　with　astonishment。　〃That　is　certainly　an　immense　honor　and　a　great　good　fortune；〃　said　he；　〃only　I　should　like　to　know　if　the　Russian　marine　engages　in　sea…fights；　and　if　the　officers　are　obliged　to　stand　under　fire？〃

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　cried　Orloff；　laughing；　〃but　in　such　cases　you　can　conceal　yourself　behind　the　cannon　until　the　fight　is　over！〃

〃I　shall　remember　your　wise　suggestion　in　time　of　need！〃　seriously　responded　Joseph　Ribas；　bowing　to　the　count。＇*＇　〃And　where；　your　excellency；　is　to　be　the　scene　of　my　present　activity？　Where　am　I　to　gain　my　epaulets？〃

＇*＇　And；　in　fact；　Ribas　did　remember　it！　At　a　later　period；　having　　　　　become　a　Russian　admiral；　he　was　intrusted　with　the　command　of　the　　　　　flotilla　which　was　to　descend　the　Danube　to　aid　in　the　capture　of　　　　　Kilia　and　Ismail。　But　during　the　investment　of　Ismail　（December　　　　　21；　1790）；　Ribas　concealed　himself　among　the　reeds　on　the　bank　of　　　　　the　Danube；　and　did　not　reappear　until　the　danger　was　over　and　he　　　　　could　in　safety　share　in　the　booty　taken　by　his　sailors。　But　this　　　　　cowardice　and　avarice　of　their　admiral　very　nearly　caused　a　mutiny　　　　　among　the　sailors。　It　was　not　suppressed　without　the　greatest　　　　　efforts。

〃I　will　myself　conduct　you　to　the　spot　and　show　you　the　house　where　a　rich　set　of　diamonds　and　some　thousands　of　scudi　are　lying　in　company　with　your　epaulets！〃

〃And　as　I　have　rather　long　fingers；　I　shall　be　able　to　grasp　both　the　epaulets　and　the　treasure；〃　laughingly　responded　Ribas。

It　was　in　the　evening　after　this　conversation　of　Orloff　with　Joseph　Ribas；　a　wonderfully　brilliant　evening；　such　as　is　known　only　under　Italian　skies。

Natalie　inhaled　the　soft　air　with　delight；　and　drank　in　the　intoxicating　odor　of　the　flowers　which　poured　out　their　sweetest　fragrance　in　the　cool　of　the　evening。　She　was　on　this　evening　unusually　cheerful；　with　the　smiling　brow　and　childish　gayety；　as　in　happier　days；　she　skipped　down　the　alleys；　or；　with　her　guitar　upon　her　arm；　reposed　upon　her　favorite　seat　under　the　myrtle…bush　near　the　murmuring　fountains。

〃I　am　to…day　so　happy；　ah；　so　happy；〃　said　she；　〃in　consequence　of　having　dreamed　of　Pauloin　my　dream　he　was　near　me；　spoke　to　me；　and　that　is　a　sure　sign　of　his　speedy　return！　Oh；　certainly；　certainly！　In　my　dream　he　announced　it　to　me；　and　I　distinctly　heard　him　say：　'We　shall　meet　again；　Natalie。　I　shall　soon　be　with　you！'〃

〃Ah；　may　this　dream　but　prove　true！〃　sighed　Marianne；　Natalie's　faithful　companion。　She　was　standing；　not　far　from　her　mistress；　with　Carlo；　and　both　were　tenderly　observing　the　young　maiden；　who　now　smilingly　grasped　her　guitar　and　commenced　a　song　of　joy　for　Paulo's　expected　return！

〃I　have　no　faith　in　our　count's　return！〃　whispered　Marianne　while　Natalie　was　singing。　〃It　is　a　bad　sign　that　no　news；　not　a　line；　nor　even　the　shortest　message；　had　yet　come　from　him。　Something　unusual；　some　great　and　uncontrollable　misfortune；　must　have　prevented　his　writing！〃

〃You　do　not　think　they　have　imprisoned　him？〃　asked　Carlo。

〃I　fear　it；〃　sighed　Marianne。　〃And　if　so；　what　fate　then　awaits　our　poor　princess？　Helpless；　alone；　without　means！　For　if　the　count　is　imprisoned；　he　will　no　longer　be　in　a　condition　to　send　money　as　he　promised。　And　we　now　possess　only　a　thousand　scudi；　with　double　that　amount　in　diamonds！〃

〃Then　we　are　still　rich　enough　to　keep　off　deprivations　for　a　time！〃　said　Carlo。

〃But　when　at　length　these　last　resources　are　exhausted？〃　asked　Marianne〃when　we　no　longer　have　either　money　or　diamondshow　then？〃

〃Oh；　then；〃　exclaimed　Carlo；　with　a　beaming　face；　〃then　will　we　labor　for　her！　That；　also；　will　be　a　pleasure；　Marianne！〃

While　the　two　were　thus　conversing；　Natalie；　with　a　happy　smile　and　cheerful　face；　was　still　singing　her　hymn　of　joy　for　Paulo's　approaching　return　to　the　accompaniment　of　the　rustling　trees；　the　murmuring　fountains；　and　the　chirping　birds　in　the　myrtle…bush。　It　was　a　beautiful　night；　and　as　the　bright　full　moon　now　advanced　between　the　pines；　illuminating　Natalie's　face　and　form；　the　partially　intoxicated　and　perfectly　happy　Carlo　whispered：　〃Only　look；　Marianne！　does　she　not　resemble　a　blessed　angel　ready　to　spread　her　wings；　and　with　the　moonlight　to　mount　up　to　the　stars？　Only　look；　seems　it　not　as　if　the　moonbeams　tenderly　embraced　her　for　the　purpose　of　leading　an　angel　back　to　its　home？〃

〃May　she；　at　least；　one　day；　with　such　a　happy　smile；　take　her　departure　for　the　skies！〃　sighed　Marianne；　piously　folding　her　hands。

At　this　moment　a　shrill；　cutting　wail　interrupted　Natalie's　song。　A　string　of　her　guitar　had　suddenly　snapped　asunder；　frightened；　almost　angry；　Natalie　let　the　instrument　fall　to　the　earth；　and　again　the　strings　resounded　like　lamentations　and　sighs。

〃That　is　a　bad　omen；〃　sighed　Natalie。　〃How；　if　that　should　be　true；　and　not　my　dream？〃

And　trembling　with　anxiety；　the　young　maiden　stretched　forth　her　hands　toward　her　friends。

〃CarloMarianne；〃　she　anxiously　said；　〃come　here　to　me；　protect　me　with　your　love　from　this　mortal　fear　and　anguish　which　has　suddenly　come　over　me。　See；　the　moon　is　hiding　behind　the　clouds。　Ah；　the　whole　world　grows　dark　and　casts　a　mourning　veil　over　its　bright　face！〃

And　the　timid　child；　clinging　to　Marianne's　arm；　concealed　her　face　in　the　bosom　of　her　motherly　friend。

〃And　you　call　that　an　omen！〃　said　Carlo；　with　forced　cheerfulness。　〃This　time；　princess；　I　am　the　/fatum/　which　has　alarmed　you！　It　is　my　own　fault　that　this　string　broke。　It　was　already　injured　and　half　broken　this　evening　when　I　tuned　the　guitar；　but　I　hoped　it　would　suffice　for　the　low；　sad　melodies　you　now　always　play。　Yes；　could　I　have　known　that　you　would　have　so　exulted　and　shouted；　I　should　have　replaced　it　with　another　string；　and　this　great　misfortune　would　not　have　occurred。〃

While　speaking；　he　had　again　attached　the　string　and　drawn　it　tight。

〃The　defective　string　is　quickly　repaired；　and　you　can　recommence　your　hymn　of　joy；〃　he　said；　handing　back　the　guitar　to　Natalie。

She　sadly　shook　her　head。　〃It　is　passed；〃　said　she；　〃I　can　exult　and　sing　no　more　to…day；　and　have　an　aversion　to　this　garden。　See　how　black　and　threatening　these　pines　rise　up；　and　do　not　these　myrtle…　bushes　resemble　large　dark　graves？　No；　no；　it　frightens　me　hereI　can　no　longer　remain　among　these　graves　and　these　watchers　of　the　dead！　Come；　let　us　go　to　our　rooms！　It　is　nightwe　will　sleep　and　dream！　Come；　let　us　immediately　go　into　the　house。〃

And　like　a　frightened　roe　she　fled　toward　the　house；　the　others　following　her。

In　an　hour　all　was　silent　in　the　villa。　The　lights　were　successively　extinguished　in　Natalie's　and　Marianne's　chambers；　only　in　Carlo's　little　chamber　yet　burned　a　dull；　solitary　lamp；　and　occasional