the daughter of an empress-第60部分

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But　nevertheless　she　was　crowned。　She　still　stood　upon　the　capitol；　with　the　laurel…crown　upon　her　brow；　cheered　by　her　respectable　protectors　and　friends。　But　the　people　joined　not　in　those　cheers；　and；　as　the　exulting　shouts　ceased；　there　swelled　up　to　the　laurel…　crowned　poetess；　from　thousands　of　voices；　a　thundering　laugh　of　scorn；　and　this　scornful　laugh；　this　hissing　and　howling　of　the　people；　accompanied　her　upon　her　return　from　the　capitol；　following　her　through　the　streets　to　her　own　door。　The　people　had　judged　her！

Corilla　was　no　poetess　by　the　grace　of　God；　and　only　by　the　grace　of　man　had　she　been　crowned　as　queen　of　poesy！

Mortified；　crushed；　and　enraged；　she　fled　from　Rome　to　Florence。　She　knew　how　to　flatter　the　great　and　win　princes。　She　was　a　princess…　poetess；　and　the　people　rejected　her！

But　the　laurel　was　hers。　She　was　sought　and　esteemed；　the　princes　admired　her；　and　Catharine　of　Russia　fulfilled　the　promise　Orloff　had　made　the　improvisatrice　in　the　name　of　the　empress。　Corilla　received　a　pension　from　Russia。　Russia　has　always　promptly　and　liberally　paid　those　who　have　sold　themselves　and　rendered　services　to　her。　Russia　is　very　rich；　and　can　always　send　so　many　thousands　of　her　best　and　noblest　to　work　in　the　mines　of　Siberia；　that　she　can　never　lack　means　for　paying　her　spies　and　agents。



THE　RUSSIAN　OFFICER

With　Carlo's　death；　Natalie　had　lost　her　last　friend；　with　the　stolen　money　and　diamonds；　Marianne　was　robbed　of　her　last　pecuniary　means。　But　Natalie　paid　no　attention　to　Marianne's　lamentations。　What　cared　she　for　poverty　and　destitutionwhat　knew　she　of　these　outward　treasures；　of　this　wealth　consisting　in　gold　and　jewels？　Natalie　knew　only　that　she　had　been　robbed　of　a　noble；　spiritual　possessionthat　they　had　murdered　the　friend　who　had　consecrated　himself　to　her　with　such　true　and　devoted　love；　and；　weeping　over　his　body；　she　dedicated　to　him　the　tribute　of　a　tear　of　the　purest　gratitude；　of　saddest　lamentation。

But　so　imperfect　is　the　world　that　it　often　leaves　no　time　for　mourningthat　in　the　midst　of　our　sorrow　it　causes　us　to　hear　the　prosaic　voices　of　reality　and　necessity；　compelling　us　to　dry　our　eyes　and　turning　our　thoughts　from　painfully…sweet　remembrances　of　a　lost　happiness　to　the　realities　of　practical　life。

Natalie's　delicately…sensitive　soul　was　to　experience　this　rough　contact　of　reality；　and；　with　an　internal　shudder；　must　she　bend　under　the　rough　hand　of　the　present。

Pale；　breathless；　trembling；　rushed　Marianne　into　the　room　where　Natalie；　in　solitary　mourning；　was　weeping　for　her　lost　friend。

〃We　are　ruined；　hopelessly　ruined！〃　screamed　Marianne。　〃They　will　drive　us　from　our　last　possession；　they　will　turn　us　out　of　our　house！　All　the　misfortunes　of　the　whole　world　break　over　and　crush　us！〃

The　young　maiden　looked　at　her　with　a　calm；　clear　glance。

〃Then　let　them　crush　us；〃　she　quietly　said。　〃It　is　better　to　be　crushed　at　once　than　to　be　slowly　and　lingeringly　wasted！〃

〃But　you　hear　me　not；　princess；〃　shrieked　Marianne；　wringing　her　hands。　〃They　will　drive　us　from　here；　I　tell　you；　they　will　expel　you　from　your　house！〃

〃And　who　will　do　that？〃　asked　the　young　maiden；　proudly　rising　with　flashing　eyes。　〃Who　dares　threaten　me　in　my　own　house？〃

〃Without　are　soldiers　and　bailiffs　and　the　officers　of　the　Russian　embassy。　They　have　made　a　forcible　entrance；　and　with　force　they　will　expel　you　from　the　house。　They　are　already　sealing　the　doors　and　seizing　everything　in　the　house。〃

A　dark　purple　glow　for　a　moment　overspread　Natalie's　cheeks；　and　her　glance　was　flame。　〃I　will　see；〃　said　she；　〃who　has　the　robber…like　boldness　to　dispute　my　possession　of　my　own　property！〃

With　proud　steps　and　elevated　head　she　strode　through　the　room　to　the　door　opening　upon　the　corridor。

The　bailiffs　and　soldiers；　who　had　been　placed　there；　respectfully　stood　aside。　Natalie　paid　no　attention　to　them；　but　immediately　advanced　to　the　officer　who；　with　a　loud　voice；　was　just　then　commanding　them　to　seal　all　the　doors　and　see　that　nothing　was　taken　from　the　rooms。

〃I　wish　to　know；〃　said　Natalie；　with　her　clear；　silver…toned　voice〃I　wish　to　know　by　what　right　people　here　force　their　way　into　my　house；　and　what　excuse　you　have　for　this　shameless　conduct？〃

The　officer；　who　was　no　other　than　Stephano；　bowed　to　her　with　a　slightly　ironical　smile。

〃Justice　needs　no　excuse；〃　said　he。　〃On　the　part　and　by　command　of　her　illustrious　majesty；　the　great　Empress　Catharine；　I　lay　an　attachment　upon　this　house　and　all　it　contains。　It　is　from　this　hour　the　sacred　possession　of　her　Russian　majesty。〃

〃It　is　the　exclusive　property　of　the　Count　Paulo！〃　proudly　responded　Natalie。

〃It　was　the　property　of　Count　Paul　Rasczinsky；〃　said　Stephano。　〃But　convicted　traitors　have　no　property。　This　criminal　count　has　been　convicted　of　high…treason。　The　mercy　of　the　empress　has　indeed　changed　the　sentence　of　death　into　one　of　eternal　banishment　to　Siberia；　but　she　has　been　pleased　to　approve　the　confiscation　of　all　he　possessed。　In　virtue　of　this　approval；　and　by　permission　of　the　holy　Roman　government；　I　attach　this　house　and　its　contents！〃

Natalie　no　longer　heard　him。　Almost　unconscious　lay　she　in　Marianne's　arms。　Paulo　was　lost；　sentenced　to　death；　imprisoned；　and　banished　for　lifethat　was　all　she　had　heard　and　comprehendedthis　terrible　news　had　confused　and　benumbed　her　senses。

〃Sir！〃　implored　Marianne；　pressing　Natalie　to　her　bosom；　〃you　will　at　least　have　some　mercy　upon　this　young　maiden；　you　will　not　thrust　us　out　upon　the　streets；　you　will　grant　us　a　quiet　residence　in　this　house　until　we　can　collect　our　effects　and　secure　what　is　indisputably　ours！〃

〃Every　thing　in　this　house　is　the　indisputable　property　of　the　empress！〃　roughly　responded　Stephano。

〃But　not　ourselves；　I　hope！〃　excitedly　exclaimed　Marianne。　〃This　imperial　power　does　not　extend　over　our　persons？〃

Stephano　roughly　replied：　〃The　door　stands　open；　go！　But　go　directly；　or　I　shall　be　compelled　to　arrest　you　for　opposing　the　execution　of　the　laws；　and　stirring　up　sedition！〃

〃Yes；　let　us　go；〃　cried　Natalie；　who　had　recovered　her　consciousness　〃let　us　go；　Marianne。　Let　us　not　remain　a　moment　longer　in　a　house　belonging　to　that　barbarous　Russian　empress　who　has　condemned　the　noble　Count　Paulo　as　a　criminal；　and；　robber…like；　taken　forcible　possession　of　his　property！〃

And；　following　the　first　impulse　of　her　noble　pride；　the　young　maiden　took　Marianne　by　the　hand　and　drew　her　away。

〃They；　at　least；　shall　not　forcibly　eject　us；〃　said　she；　〃no；　no；　we　will　go　of　our　own　free　will；　self…banished！〃

〃But　where　shall　we　go？〃　cried　Marianne；　wringing　her　hands。

〃Where　God　wills！〃　solemnly　responded　the　young　maiden。

〃And　upon　what　shall　we　live？〃　wailed　Marianne。　〃We　are　now　totally　destitute　and　helpless。　How　shall　we　live？〃

〃We　will　work！〃　said　Natalie；　firmly。　A　peculiar　calm　had　come　over　her。　Misfortune　had　awakened　a　new　quality　in　her　nature；　sorrow　had　struck　a　new　string　in　her　being；　she　was　no　longer　the　delicate；　gentle；　suffering；　unresisting　child；　she　felt　in　herself　a　firm　resolution；　a　bold　courage；　an　almost　joyful　daring；　and　an　invincible　calmness。

〃Work！　/You/　will　work；　princess？〃　whispered　Marianne。

〃I　will　learn　it！〃　said　she；　and　with　a　constantly　quickened　step　they　approached　the　outlet　of　the　garden。

The　gate　which　led　out　into　the　street　was　wide　open；　soldiers　in　Russian　uniform　had　been　stationed　before　it；　keeping　back　with　their　carbines　the　curious　Romans　who　crowded　around　in　great　numbers；　glad　of　an　opportunity　to　get　a　peep　into　the　so…long…closed　charmed　garden。

〃See；　there　she　comes；　the　garden　fairy！〃　cried　they　all；　as　Natalie　neared　the　gate。

〃How　beautiful　she　is；　how　beautiful！〃　they　loudly　exclaimed。

〃That　is　a　real　fairy；　a　divinity！〃

Natalie　heard　none　of　these　expressions　of　admirationshe　had　but　one　object；　one　thought。　She　wished　to　leave　the　garden；　she　wished　to　go　forth；　she　had　no　regrets；　no　complaints；　for　this　lost　paradise；　she　only　wished　to　get　out　of　it；　even　if　it　was　to　go　to　her　death。

But　the　soldiers　stationed　at　the　gate　opposed　her　progress。

Natalie　regarded　them　with　terror　and　amazement。

〃They　cannot；　at　least；　oppose　my　voluntary　resignation　of　my　property；〃　said　she。　〃Away　with　these　muskets　and　sabres！　I　would　pass　out！〃

And　the　young　maiden　boldly　advanced　a　step。　But　those　weapons　stretched　before　her　like　a　wall；　and　Natalie　was　now　overcome　by　anguish　and　despair；　the　inconsolable　feeling　of　her　total　abandonment；　of　her　miserable　isolation。　Tears　burst　from　her　eyes；　her　pride　was　broken；　she　was　again　the　trembling　young　girl；　no　longer　the　heroic　woman；　she　wept；　and　in　tremulous　tone；　with　folded　hands；　she　implored　of　these　rough　soldiers　a　little　mercy；　a　little　compassion。

They　understood　not　her　language；　they　had　no　sympathy；　but　the　crowd　were　touched　by　the　tears　of　the　beautiful　girl　and　by　the　sad　lamentations　of　her　companion。　They　screamed；　they　howled；　they　insulted　the　soldiers；　they　swore　to　liberate　the　two　women　by　force；　if　the　soldiers　any　longer　refused　them　a　passage。　Dumb；　unshaken；　immovable；　like　a　wall　stood　the　soldiers　with　their　weapons　stretched　forth。

Through　the　hissing　and　tumult　a　loud　and　commanding　voice　was　suddenly　heard　to　ask；　〃What　is　going　on　here？　What　means　this　disturbance？〃　An　officer　made　his　way　through　the　crowd；　and　approached　the　garden　gate。　The　soldiers　respectfully　gave　way；　and　he　stepped　into　the　garden。

〃Oh；　sir；〃　said　Natalie；　turning　to　him　her　tearful　face；　〃if　you　are　an　honorable　man；　have　compassion　for　an　abandoned　and　unprotected　maiden；　and　command　these　soldiers；　who　seem　to　obey　you；　to　let　me　and　my　companion　go　forth　unhindered。〃

The　Russian　officer；　Joseph　Ribas；　bowed　low　and　respectfully　to　her。　〃If　it　is　the　Princess　Tartaroff　whom　I　have　the　honor　of　addressing；〃　said　he；　〃I　must　in　the　name　of　my　illustrious　lord；　beg　your　pardon　for　what　has　improperly　occurred　here；　at　his　command　I　come　to　set　it　all　right！〃

Thus　speaking；　he　returned　to　the　soldiers；　and　in　a　low　tone　exchanged　some　words　with　their　leader。　The　latter　bowed　respectfully；　and　at　his　signal　the　soldiers　shut　the　gate　and　retire