the daughter of an empress-第56部分

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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　occasionally　the　shadow　of　the　uneasy　singer　passed　the　window　as　he　restlessly　walked　his　room。　At　length；　however；　this　lamp　also　was　distinguished；　and　all　was　dark　and　still。

About　this　time　a　dark　shadow　was　seen　creeping　slowly　and　cautiously　through　the　garden。　Soon　it　stood　still；　and　then　one　might　have　supposed　it　to　be　a　deception；　and　that　only　the　wind　shaking　the　pines　had　caused　that　moving　shadow。　But　suddenly　it　again　appeared　in　a　moonlighted　place；　where　no　bush　or　tree　threw　its　shade；　and；　as　if　alarmed　by　the　brightness；　it　then　again　moved　aside　into　the　bushes。

This　shadow　came　constantly　nearer　and　nearer　to　the　house；　and　as　the　walks　were　here　broader　and　lighter；　one　might　distinctly　discern　that　it　was　a　human　being；　the　form　of　a　tall；　stately　man；　that　so　cautiously　and　stealthily　approached　the　house。　And　what　is　that；　sparkling　and　flashing　in　his　girdleis　it　not　a　dagger；　together　with　a　pistol　and　a　long　knife？　Ah；　a　threatening；　armed　man　is　approaching　this　silent；　solitary　house；　and　no　one　sees；　no　one　hears　him！　Even　the　two　large　hounds　which　with　remarkable　watchfulness　patrol　the　garden　during　the　night；　even　they　are　silent！　Ah；　where；　then；　are　they？　Carlo　had　himself　unchained　them　that　they　might　wander　freelywhere；　then；　can　they　be？

They　lie　in　the　bushes　far　from　the　house；　cold；　stiff；　and　lifeless。　Before　them　lies　a　piece　of　seductively　smelling　meat。　That　was　what　had　enticed　them　to　forget　their　duty；　and；　instead　of　growling　and　barking；　they　had　with　snuffling　noses　been　licking　this　tempting　flesh。　Their　instinct　had　not　told　them　it　was　poisoned；　and　therefore　they　now　lay　stiff　and　cold　near　the　food　that　had　destroyed　them。

No；　from　those　hounds　he　had　nothing　more　to　fear；　this　bold；　audacious　man；　the　hounds　will　no　more　betray　him；　nor　warningly　announce　that　Joseph　Ribas；　the　venturesome　thief　and　galley…slave；　is　lurking　about　the　house　to　steal　or　murder；　as　the　case　may　be。

He　has　now　reached　the　house。　He　listens　for　a　moment；　and　as　all　remains　still；　no　suspicious　noise　making　itself　heard；　with　pitch…　covered　paper；　brought　with　him　for　the　purpose；　he　presses　in　one　of　the　window　panes。　Then；　passing　his　hand　through　the　vacancy　caused　by　the　absent　pane　of　glass；　he　opens　one　wing　of　the　French　window；　and；　by　a　bold　leap　springing　upon　the　parapet；　he　lets　himself　glide　slowly　down　into　the　room。

Again　all　is　still；　and　silent　lies　the　solitary；　peaceful　villa。　Suddenly　appears　a　small　but　bright　light　behind　one　of　these　dark　windows。

That　is　the　thief's　lantern；　which　Joseph　Ribas　has　lighted　to　illuminate　his　dark；　criminal　way。

He　cautiously　ascends　the　stairs　leading　to　the　second　story；　and　not　a　step　jars　under　his　feet；　not　one；　nor　does　the　slightest　noise　betray　him。

He　is　now　above；　in　the　long　corridor。　Approaching　the　first　door；　he　listens　long。　He　hears　a　loud　breathingsome　one　sleeps　within。　With　one　sole　quick　movement　he　turns　the　key　remaining　in　the　lock。　The　door　is　now　locked；　and　the　sleeper　within　remains　undisturbed。　Joseph　creeps　along　to　the　next　door；　and　again　he　listens　to　ascertain　if　there　be　anything　stirring　within。　But　no；　he　hears　nothing！　All　is　still　behind　the　door。

He　draws　a　pistol　from　his　girdle；　cocks　it；　and；　thus　prepared　to　resist　every　attack；　he　suddenly　opens　the　door。　No　one　is　in　the　room；　no　one　but　Joseph　Ribas　the　thief；　who；　with　flashing　eyes；　suspiciously　and　carefully　examines　every　hole　and　corner。

But　no；　no　one　is　there。　Calm　and　sure；　Joseph　Ribas；　steps　into　the　room；　drawing　and　bolting　the　door　behind　him。　No　one　can　now　surprise　him；　no　one　can　fall　upon　him　from　behind。　But　yes；　there　is　also　a　door　on　each　side；　right　and　left。　He　listens　at　the　first；　he　thinks　he　hears　a　light　breathing；　here　also　he　quickly　shoves　a　bolt　and　passes　over　to　the　other　door；　which　stands　ajar。　Cautiously　he　pushes　it　open　and　looks　in。　A　small；　dull　lamp　is　burning　there；　lighting　the　lovely　face　of　the　sleeping　Princess　Natalie。

〃That　is　she！〃　low　murmured　Ribas；　as　with　eager　glances　he　observes　the　young　and　charming　maiden。　He　is　drawn　forward　as　if　with　invisible　bandshe　penetrates　into　this　sacred　asylum　of　the　slumbering　maiden。　But　he　forcibly　checks　his　advance。　〃I　have　sworn　not　to　touch　her；　and　I　will　keep　my　word；　that　I　may　secure　my　epaulets！〃　he　muttered　to　himself；　and；　retreating　into　the　first　chamber；　he　bolts　the　door；　to　make　all　sure；　that　leads　into　Natalie's　chamber。

〃Now　to　the　work！〃　said　he；　with　decision。　〃Here　stands　the　bureau；　the　treasure　must　be　here。〃

And；　placing　his　dark　lantern　upon　a　table；　he　draws　forth　his　picklock　and　chisels；　and　commences　breaking　open　the　bureau。　Right　this　thievish　instinct　has　not　deceived　him；　he　has　found　all；　all。　Here　is　the　little　box　of　sparkling　diamonds；　and　here　the　full　purses　of　money。

With　a　knavish　smile；　Joseph　Ribas　conceals　the　brilliants　in　his　bosom；　and　deposits　the　money　in　his　capacious　pockets。

〃It　is　a　pity　that　this　is　not　mine；〃　he　muttered　with　a　grin；　〃but　toward　this　count　I　must　act　as　an　honorable　thief；　and　I　have　promised　to　bring　it　all　truly　to　him。〃

The　work　is　completed；　the　malicious　criminal　act　is　performed。　He　can　now　go；　can　again　creep　away　from　the　house　his　feet　have　soiled。

Why　does　he　not？　Why　does　he　linger　in　these　rooms？　Why　directs　he　such　wild　and　eager　glances　to　the　door　behind　which　Natalie　sleeps？

He　cannot　withstand　the　temptation；　and　even　at　the　risk　of　awaking　Natalie；　he　must　see　her　once　more！　And；　moreover；　what　had　he　to　fear　from　an　isolated　young　girl？　He　will　only　have　one　more　look　at　her。　Nothing　more！

He　noiselessly　pushes　back　the　bolt；　noiselessly；　upon　tiptoe；　with　closed　lantern；　he　creeps　into　the　room　and　to　Natalie's　bedside。

She　is　wonderfully　beautiful；　and　she　smiles　in　her　slumber。　How　charming　is　that　placid　face；　that　half…uncovered　shoulder；　that　arm　thrown　up　over　her　head；　where　it　is　half　concealed　under　her　luxuriant　locks！　Wonderfully　beautiful　is　she。　Dares　he　to　touch　that　arm　and　breathe　a　kiss；　a　very　light　kiss；　upon　those　fragrant　lips？　Why　not？　No　one　sees　him；　nor　will　Count　Alexis　Orloff　ever　know　that　his　commands　have　been　disobeyed。

But　as　he　bent　down；　as　his　breath　comes　only　in　light　contact　with　her　cheek；　she　stirs！　Maiden　modesty　never　slumbers；　it　watches　over　the　sleeping　girl；　it　protects　her。　It　is　her　good　genius　who　never　deserts　her。

Drawing　herself　up；　Natalie　opens　her　eyes　and　starts　up　from　her　couch。　Then　she　sees　a　large；　threatening　masculine　form　close　before　her；　close　before　her　that　wildly…laughing　face。

A　shriek　of　terror　and　anguish　bursts　from　her　lips；　and　in　a　tone　of　alarm　she　calls：　〃Carlo；　Carlo！　Help！　help！　Carlo！　Save〃

More　she　did　not　say。　With　a　wild　rage；　angry；　and　ashamed　of　his　own　folly；　Joseph　Ribas　rushes　upon　her。

〃One　more　cry！〃　he　threateningly　said〃one　more　call　for　help；　and　I　will　murder　you！〃

But　at　this　moment　a　small　curtained　door　which　Ribas　had　not　remarked　and　hence　not　fastened；　was　suddenly　opened；　and　Carlo　rushed　in。

〃I　am　here；　Natalie！I　am　here！〃

Rushing　upon　the　stranger；　and　grasping　him　with　gigantic　strength；　he　thrust　him　down　from　the　bed。

Joseph　Ribas　turned　toward　his　new　and　unexpected　enemy。　The　lamp　lighted　his　face；　and　falling　back　Carlo　shrieked；　〃My　brother！〃

Joseph　Ribas　broke　out　into　a　loud；　savage　laugh。　〃At　length　we　meet；　my　brother；〃　said　he。　〃But　this　time　you　shall　not　hinder　me　in　my　work。　This　time　I　am　the　conqueror！〃

〃No；　no；　that　you　are　not！〃　cried　Carlo；　beside　himself　with　pain　and　rage。　〃Confess　what　you　want　in　this　houseconfess；　or　you　are　a　dead　man！〃

And　with　a　drawn　dagger　he　rushed　upon　his　opponent！

A　frightful　struggle　ensued。　Natalie；　in　her　night…dress；　pale　as　a　lily；　knelt　upon　her　bed　and　prayed。　She　had　folded　her　hands　over　her　breast；　directly　over　the　place　where　the　papers　confided　to　her　by　Paulo；　in　a　little　silken　bag；　always　hung　suspended　by　a　golden　chain。

〃Grant；　O　my　God；〃　prayed　she〃grant　that　I　may　keep　my　promise　to　Paulo；　and　that　I　may　defend　these　papers　with　my　life！〃

And　the　two　brothers　were　still　struggling　and　contending；　like　two　serpents　they　had　coiled　around　each　other；　and　held　each　other　in　their　toils。

〃Flee；　flee；　Natalie！〃　groaned　Carlo；　with　a　weakened　voice〃flee　away　from　here！　I　yet　hold　him；　you　are　yet　safe！　Flee！〃

But　in　this　moment　the　maiden　thought　not　of　her　own　danger。　She　thought　only　of　Carlo。　Springing　from　her　bed；　with　flashing　eyes　she　boldly　threw　herself　between　the　contending　men。

〃No；　no；〃　said　she；　courageously；　〃I　will　not　fleeI　shall　at　least　know　how　to　die！〃

A　shriek　resounded　from　Carlo's　lips；　his　arms　relaxed　and　fell　from　his　enemy；　leaving　his　brother　free。

〃Ah；　finally；　finally！〃　gasped　the　panting　Joseph。　〃That　was　an　amusing　carnival　farce；　my　virtuous　brother！　Farewell！　I　am　this　time　triumphant！〃

With　a　wild　leap　he　sprang　to　the　door；　brandishing　his　bloody　dagger　in　his　right　hand；　he　ran　through　the　corridor；　down　the　stairs；　and　out　into　the　garden。

〃Saved！〃　said　he；　breathing　more　freely。　〃I　think　this　Russian　will　be　satisfied　with　me！　I　bring　the　money　and　the　diamonds；　and　at　the　same　time　have　effectually　opened　a　vein　for　this　troublesome　protector！　Ah；　it　seems　to　me　I　have　very　successfully　put　in　practice　my　studies　in　the　high…school　of　the　galleys！〃

And；　humming　a　jovial　song；　Joseph　Ribas　swung　himself　into　a　tree　close　to　the　wall；　and　let　himself　down　on　the　other　side。

Above；　in　Natalie's　chamber；　Carlo　long　lay　stretched　on　the　floor；　pale；　with　the　death…rattle　in　his　throat。　In　a　bright　stream　flowed　the　blood　from　the　wound　made　by　his　brother's　dagger。　Natalie　knelt　by　him。　No　tear　was　in　her　eye；　no　lamentation　escaped　her　lips。　She　seemed　perfectly　calm　and　collected　in　her　excess　of　sorrow；　she　only　sought　with　her　robe　and　her　hair　to　cover　Carlo's　wound　and　stop　the　flow　of　blood。

A　happy　smile　played　upon　Carlo's　blue　lips。

〃I　di