the daughter of an empress-第61部分

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er　bowed　respectfully；　and　at　his　signal　the　soldiers　shut　the　gate　and　retired　into　the　street。

〃Am　I　to　be　detained　here　as　a　prisoner？〃　exclaimed　Natalie。　〃Am　I　not　allowed　to　leave　this　garden？〃

〃Your　grace；　preliminarily；　can　still　consider　this　garden　as　your　own　property；〃　he　respectfully　responded。　〃I　am　commanded　to　watch　that　no　one　dare　to　disturb　you　here；　and　for　this　purpose　my　lord　respectfully　requests　that　you　will　have　the　goodness　to　permit　me　to　remain　in　your　house　as　the　guardian　of　your　safety。〃

〃And　who　is　this　generous　man？〃　asked　Natalie。

〃He　is　a　man　who　has　made　a　solemn　vow　to　protect　innocence　everywhere；　when　he　finds　it　threatened！〃　solemnly　responded　Joseph　Ribas。　〃He　is　a　man　who　is　ready　to　shed　his　blood　for　the　Princess　Tartaroff；　who　is　surrounded　by　enemies　and　dangers；　a　man；〃　he　continued；　in　a　lower　tone；　〃who　knows　and　loves　your　friend　and　guardian；　Count　Paulo；　and　will　soon　bring　you　secret　and　sure　news　from　him！〃

〃He　knows　Count　Paulo！〃　joyfully　exclaimed　Natalie。　〃Oh；　then　all　is　well。　I　may　safely　confide　in　whoever　knows　and　loves　Count　Paulo；　for　he　must　bear　in　his　bosom　a　noble　heart！〃

And　turning　to　Joseph　Ribas　with　a　charming　smile；　she　said；　〃Sir；　lead　me　now　where　you　will。　We　will　both　gladly　follow　you！〃

〃Let　us；　first　of　all；　go　into　the　villa；　and　send　away　those　troublesome　people！〃　said　the　Russian　officer；　preceding　the　two　women　to　the　house。

The　bailiffs　and　soldiers　were　still　there；　occupied　with　sealing　the　doors　and　closets。　Joseph　Ribas　approached　them　with　angry　glances；　and；　turning　to　Stephano；　said；　〃Sir；　I　shall　call　you　to　account　for　this　over…hasty　and　illegal　proceeding！〃

〃I　am　in　my　right！〃　morosely　answered　Stephano。　〃Here　is　the　command　to　attach　this　villa。　It　has　fallen　to　the　Russian　crown　as　the　property　of　the　traitor　Rasczinsky。〃

〃There　is　only　the　one　error　to　be　corrected；〃　said　Joseph　Ribas；　〃that　this　villa　was　not　the　property　of　Count　Rasczinsky；　as　he　some　months　ago　sold　it　to　his　friend；　my　master。　And　as；　so　far　as　I　know；　the　illustrious　count；　my　master；　never　was　a　traitor；　you　will　please　to　respect　his　property！〃

〃You　will　have　first　to　authenticate　your　assertions！〃　responded　Stephano；　with　a　rude　laugh。

〃Here　is　the　documental　authentication！〃　said　Joseph　Ribas；　handing　a　paper　to　Stephano。　The　latter；　after　attentively　reading　the　documents；　bowed　reverentially；　and　said：　〃Sir；　it　appears　that　I　was　certainly　mistaken。　This　deed　of　gift　is　/en　regle/；　and　is　undersigned　by　his　grace　the　Russian　ambassador。　You　will　pardon　me；　as　I　only　acted　according　to　my　orders。〃

Joseph　Ribas　answered　Stephano's　reverential　bow　with　a　haughty　nod。　〃Go；〃　said　he；　〃take　off　the　seals　in　the　quickest　possible　time；　and　then　away　with　you！〃

But　as　Stephano　was　about　retiring　with　his　people；　Joseph　Ribas　beckoned　him　back　again。

〃You　have；　therefore；　recognized　this　deed　of　gift？〃　asked　he；　and　as　Stephano　assented；　he　continued：　〃You　therefore　cannot　deny　that　my　master　is　the　undisputed　possessor　of　this　villa；　and　can　do　with　it　according　to　his　pleasure？〃

〃I　do　not　deny　it　at　all！〃　growled　Stephano。

Joseph　Ribas　then　drew　forth　another　paper；　which　he　also　handed　Stephano。　〃You　will　also　recognize　this　deed　of　gift　to　be　regular　and　legal！　It　is　likewise　undersigned　and　authenticated　by　our　ambassador。〃

Stephano；　having　attentively　read　it；　almost　indignantly　said：

〃It　is　all　right。　But　the　count　is　crazy；　to　give　away　so　fine　a　property！〃

And　still　grumbling；　he　departed　with　his　people。

Clinging　to　Marianne's　side；　Natalie　had　observed　the　whole　proceeding　with　silent　wonder；　and；　with　the　astonishment　of　innocence　and　inexperience；　she　comprehended　nothing　of　the　whole　scene；　nor　was　a　suspicion　awakened　in　her　childishly　pure　soul。

〃He　is；　then；　really　going？〃　she　asked；　as　Stephano　was　slowly　moving　off。

〃Yes；　he　is　going；〃　said　Joseph　Ribas；　〃and　will　never　venture　to　disturb　you　again。　Henceforth　you　will　be　in　undisputed　possession　of　your　property。　My　lord　has　made　this　villa　and　garden　forever　yours　by　a　regular　legal　deed　of　gift。〃

〃And　who　is　your　lord？〃　asked　Natalie。　〃Tell　me　his　nametell　me　where　I　may　find　him；　that　I　may　return　him　my　thanks？〃

〃Yes；　conduct　us　to　him；〃　said　the　weeping　Marianne。　〃Let　me　clasp　his　feet　and　implore　his　further　protection　for　my　poor　helpless　princess。〃

〃My　lord　desires　no　thanks；〃　proudly　responded　Ribas。　〃He　does　good　for　his　own　sake；　and　protects　innocence　because　that　is　the　duty　of　every　knight　and　nobleman。〃

〃At　least　tell　me　his　name；　that　I　may　pray　for　him；〃　sobbed　Marianne。

〃Yes；　his　name；〃　said　Natalie；　with　a　charming　smile。　〃Ah；　how　I　shall　love　that　name！〃

〃His　name　is　his　own　secret；〃　said　Ribas。　〃The　world；　indeed；　knows　and　blesses　him；　calling　him　the　bravest　of　the　brave。　But　it　is　his　command　that　you　shall　never　be　informed　of　it。　He　desires　nothing；　no　thanks；　no　acknowledgmentshe　wishes　only　to　secure　your　peace　and　happiness；　and　thus　redeem　the　solemn　vow　he　made　to　his　friend；　Count　Paulo　Rasczinsky；　to　guard　and　preserve　you　as　a　father；　and　to　watch　over　you　as　your　tutelar　genius！〃

〃Thanks；　thanks；　my　God！〃　cried　Marianne；　with　her　arms　raised　toward　heaven。　〃Thou　sendest　us　help　in　our　need；　Thou　hast　mercy　on　suffering　innocence；　and　sendest　her　a　saviour　in　her　greatest　distress！〃

The　young　maiden　said　nothing。　Her　radiant　glance　was　directed　heavenward；　and；　folding　her　hands　over　her　bosom；　with　a　happy；　grateful　smile　she　murmured：

〃I　am　therefore　no　longer　alone；　I　have　a　friend　who　watches　over　and　protects　me。　Whoever　he　may　be；　he　is　sent　by　Count　Paulo。　Whatever　may　be　his　name；　I　shall　be　forever　grateful　to　him！〃



ANTICIPATION

From　that　day　had　a　new　and　marvellous　life　commenced　for　Natalie。　She　felt　herself　surrounded　by　a　dreamy；　magic；　fantastic；　supernatural　life；　it　seemed　as　if　some　invisible　genius　hovered　over　her；　listening　to　all　her　thoughts；　realizing　all　her　wishes！　And　Joseph　Ribas　was　the　merry；　always…cheerful；　always…serious　Kobold　of　this　invisible　deity！

〃My　lord　is　not　satisfied　with　the　modest　furnishing　of　your　villa；〃　said　he　to　Natalie；　on　the　first　day。　〃He　begs　to　be　allowed　to　adorn　your　chamber　with　a　splendor　suited　to　your　rank　and　your　future　greatness！〃

〃And　in　what　is　my　future　greatness　to　consist？〃　asked　the　young　maiden；　with　curiosity。

〃That　will　be　made　known　to　you　at　the　proper　time；〃　mysteriously　replied　Joseph　Ribas。

〃Who　will　tell　me？〃

〃He；　the　count。〃

〃I　shall　therefore　see　him！〃　she　joyfully　exclaimed。

〃Perhaps！　Will　you；　however；　first　allow　me　to　have　your　room　properly　furnished？〃

〃This　villa　belongs　to　your　lord；〃　said　Natalie。　〃It　is　for　him；　as　lord　and　master；　to　do　as　he　pleases　in　it。〃

And　satisfied；　Ribas　hastened　away；　to　return　in　a　few　hours　with　more　than　fifty　workmen　and　artists；　in　order　to　commence　the　improvements。

Until　now　the　villa　had　been　finished　and　furnished　with　simple　elegance。　One　missed　nothing　necessary　for　comfort　or　convenience；　for　pleasantness　or　taste。　But　it　was　still　only　the　elegant　and　fashionable　residence　of　a　private　person。　Now；　as　by　the　stroke　of　a　magic　wand；　this　villa　in　a　few　days　was　converted　into　the　splendid　palace　of　some　sultan　or　caliph。　There　were　heavy　Turkish　carpets　on　the　floors；　velvet　curtains　with　gold　embroidery　at　the　windows　and　on　the　walls；　the　richest　and　most　comfortable　divans　and　arm…chairs；　covered　with　gold…embroidered　stuffs；　vases　ornamented　with　the　most　costly　precious　stones；　noble　bronze　statues；　beautiful　paintings；　and　between　them　the　rarest　ornaments；　glistening　with　jewels；　which　modern　times　have　designated　by　the　name　of　ribs；　there　were　delicate　little　trifles　of　inestimable　value；　and　with　refined　taste　and　judgment　every　thing　was　sought　out　which　luxury　and　convenience　could　demand。　With　childish　astonishment　and　ecstasy；　Natalie　wandered　through　these　rooms；　which　she　hardly　recognized　in　their　splendid　ornamentation；　and　stood　before　these　treasures　of　trifles　which　she　hardly　dared　to　touch。

〃This　lord　must　be　either　a　magician　or　a　nabob；〃　thoughtfully　remarked　Marianne；　〃it　must　have　required　millions　to　effect　all　this。〃

Natalie　asked　neither　whether　he　was　a　magician；　a　millionaire；　or　a　nabob；　she　only　thought　she　was　to　see　him；　and　be　allowed　to　thank　himnothing　further。

〃Will　he　come　now？〃　she　constantly　asked　of　the　humble　and　slavishly　devoted　Joseph　Ribas；　〃will　he　come　now　that　his　house　is　prepared　for　his　reception？〃

〃It　is　adorned　only　for　you；　princess；〃　humbly　replied　Ribas。　〃The　count；　my　master；　wishes　for　nothing　but　to　see　you　in　a　habitation　worthy　of　you！〃

But　what　was　this　luxury；　what　cared　she　for　these　treasures　the　value　of　which　she　was　incapable　of　estimating；　and　which　were　indifferent　to　her？　She　who　had　no　conception　of　wealth　or　of　money？she；　who　knew　not　that　there　was　poverty　in　the　world；　and　who；　raised　in　an　Eden　separated　from　the　world；　had　no　idea　that　hunger　had　ever　made　its　appearance　within　itshe　knew　only　the　sorrows　of　the　happy；　the　deprivations　of　the　rich；　she　had　never　had　either　to　struggle　against　real　misfortune　or　to　experience　real　want　and　deprivation。

Now；　indeed；　a　deeper　sorrow　had　entered　into　her　life；　she　had　lost　her　beloved　paternal　friend；　Count　Paulo；　and　Carlo；　also；　had　been　torn　from　her！　That　was　certainly　a　more　profound　sorrow；　and　she　had　wept　much　for　both　of　them；but　yet　that　was　no　real　misfortune。　She　had　never　yet　lost　the　whole　substance　of　her　life；　for　those　two；　however　much　she　might　always　have　loved　them；　had　nevertheless；　not　entirely　filled　out　her　life；　they　had　been　a　part　of　her　happiness；　but　not　that　happiness　itself。

And　she　awaited　happiness！　She　awaited　it　with　ecstasy　and　devotion；　with　feverish　hope　and　glowing　desire！　She　knew　not　and　asked　not　in　what　this　happiness　was　to　consist；　and　yet　her　heart　yearned　for　it；　she　called　for　this　unknown　and　nameless　happiness　with　a　throbbing　bosom　and　tremulously　whispering　lips！

She　was　so　much　alone；　she　had　so　much　time　for　dreaming；　and　intoxicating　herself　with　fantastic　imaginations！　She　was　surrounded　by　a　fabulous　wo