the daughter of an empress-第62部分

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She　was　so　much　alone；　she　had　so　much　time　for　dreaming；　and　intoxicating　herself　with　fantastic　imaginations！　She　was　surrounded　by　a　fabulous　world；　and　she　was　the　fairy　of　that　world！　But　out　of　that　fabulous　world　she　sometimes　longed　to　be；　out　of　the　ideal　into　the　real；　she　yearned　for　truth　and　actuality。　Then　she　would　call　Joseph　Ribas　to　her　side　and　bid　him　relate　to　her　of　that　unknown　lord；　his　master。

He　told　her　of　his　battles　and　his　heroic　deeds；　of　his　wonderful　acts　of　bravery；　and　the　young　maiden　tremblingly　and　shudderingly　listened　to　him。　She　feared　this　man；　who　had　shed　streams　of　blood；　and　whose　enemies　with　their　dying　lips　had　lauded　as　the　greatest　of　heroes！　And　Joseph　Ribas　smiled　when　he　saw　her　turn　pale　and　tremble；　and　he　would　speak　to　her　of　his　generosity　and　humanity；　of　his　knighthood　and　virtue；　he　related　to　her　how；　on　one　occasion；　at　the　risk　of　his　life　he　had　protected　and　saved　a　persecuted　young　maiden；　how　on　another　he　had　taken　pity　on　a　helpless　old　man；　and　singly　had　defended　him　against　a　host　of　bloodthirsty　enemies。　He　also　spoke　to　her　of　the　sorrow　of　his　master　on　account　of　the　ingratitude　and　deceptions　he　had　experienced；　and　Natalie's　eyes　filled　with　tears　as；　with　reproachful　glances；　she　asked　of　Heaven　how　it　could　have　permitted　the　virtue　of　this　noble　unknown　hero　to　be　so　severely　tried；　and　the　baseness　of　mankind　to　trouble　him。

〃That　is　it；　then；〃　Ribas　would　often　say；　〃he　diffuses　happiness　everywhere　around　him；　while　he　himself　has　it　not！　He　makes　glad　and　cheerful　faces　wherever　he　appears；　and　his　own　is　the　only　serious　and　sad　brow。　Mankind　have　made　him　hopeless；　and　for　himself　he　no　longer　believes　in　happiness！〃

Ah；　how　then　did　the　heart　of　this　innocent　child　tremble；　and　how　she　longed　to　find　some　means　for　restoring　his　belief　in　happiness。

〃But　why　does　he　not　come　to　those　who　love　him？〃　asked　she。　〃Why　does　he　decline　the　thanks　of　those　whose　hearts　are　truly　devoted　to　him？　Ah；　in　our　humid　eyes　and　joy…beaming　faces　he　would　recognize　the　truthfulness　of　our　feelings！　Why；　then；　comes　he　not？〃

〃I　will　tell　you；〃　said　Ribas；　with　a　smile；　〃he　hates　women；　because　the　only　one　he　ever　loved　was　false　to　him；　and　now　his　love　is　changed　to　ardent　hatred　of　all　women！〃

〃I　shall　therefore　never　see　him！〃　sighed　the　girl；　hanging　her　head　with　the　sadness　of　disappointment。

This　expectation；　this　constantly　increasing　impatience；　rendered　her　inaccessible　to　any　other　feeling；　any　other　thought。　He　of　whom　she　did　not　know　even　the　name；　was　sent　by　Paulo；　and　therefore　had　she　believed　and　confided　in　him　from　the　first。　Now　had　she　already　forgotten　that　she　had　confided　in　him　on　Paulo's　account；　she　believed　in　him　on　his　own　account；　and　Paulo　had　retreated　into　the　background。　Occasionally　also　the　bloody　image　of　poor　Carlo　presented　itself　to　her　mind；　and　she　secretly　reproached　herself　for　having　mourned　him　for　so　short　a　time；　for　having　so　soon　forgotten　that　faithful；　self…sacrificing　friend。

But　even　these　reproaches　were　soon　silenced　when　with　a　throbbing　bosom　she　thought　of　this　new　friend；　who　like　a　divinity　hovered　over　her　at　an　infinite　and　unattainable　distance；　and　whose　mysteriously　active　nearness　replaced　both　of　those　friends　she　had　lost；　and　for　whom　she　could　no　longer　mourn。



HE！

〃It　is　now　high　time！〃　said　Joseph　Ribas；　one　day；　as；　coming　from　Natalie；　he　entered　the　boudoir　of　Count　Alexis　Orloff。　〃Now；　your　excellency；　the　right　moment　has　come！　You　must　show　yourself；　or　this　curious　child　will　consume　herself　with　a　longing　that　has　changed　her　blood　to　fire！　She　thinks　of　nothing　but　you；　with　open　eyes　she　dreams　of　you；　and　without　the　least　suspicion　that　any　one　is　listening　to　her；　she　speaks　to　you；　ah；　with　what　modest　tenderness　and　with　what　humble　devotion！　I　tell　you；　your　excellency；　you　are　highly　blessed。　There　is　no　child　more　innocent；　no　woman　more　glowing　with　love。　And　she　knows　it　not；　no；　she　has　not　the　least　suspicion　that　she　already　loves　you　with　enthusiasm；　and　thirsts　for　your　kisses　as　the　rose　for　the　morning　dew！　She　knows　nothing　of　her　love！〃

〃She　shall　learn　something　of　it！〃　said　Orloff；　laughing。　〃It　will　be　a　pleasant　task　to　enlighten　this　little　unknowing　one　as　to　her　own　feelings。　And　I　flatter　myself　I　understand　how　to　do　that。〃

〃Endeavor；　above　all　things；　your　excellency；　to　realize　the　ideal　she　bears　in　her　heart。　She　expects　to　see　nothing　less　than　an　Apollo；　whose　radiant　beauty　will　annihilate　her　as　Jupiter　did　Semele！〃

〃Well；　in　that；　I　hope　she　has　not　deceived　herself；〃　responded　Orloff；　with　a　self…satisfied　glance　into　the　mirror。　〃If　I　am　not　Jupiter；　yet　they　call　me　Hercules；　and　he；　you　know；　was　the　son　of　Jupiter；　and；　indeed；　his　handsomest　son！〃

〃And　be　you　not　only　a　Hercules；　but　a　Zephyr　and　Apollo；　at　the　same　time。　Make　her　tremble　before　your　heroic　character；　and　at　the　same　time　win　her　confidence　in　your　humble；　modest　lovethen　is　she　yours。　You　must　cautiously　and　noiselessly　spread　your　nets；　you　must　not　wound　her　delicate　sensitiveness　by　a　word　or　look；　or　she　will　flee　from　you　like　a　frightened　gazelle！〃

〃Oh；　should　she　wish　to　flee；　my　arms　are　strong　enough　to　hold　her！〃

〃Yet　is　it　better　to　hold　her　so　fast　by　her　own　enthusiasm；　that　she　shall　not　wish　to　flee；〃　said　Ribas。　〃You　must　entirely　intoxicate　her　with　your　humble　and　respectful　lovethen　is　she　yours！〃

〃Does　she　know　I　am　coming？〃　thoughtfully　asked　Orloff。

〃No；　she　knows　nothing　of　it。　She　sits　in　the　garden　and　sighs；　occasionally　grasping　the　golden　guitar　that　lies　on　her　arm；　and　asks　of　the　flowers：　'What　is　the　name　of　my　unknown　friend？　In　what　star　does　he　dwell；　and　how　shall　I　invoke　him？'　〃

〃I　will；　then；　surprise　her！〃　said　Orloff。　〃Let　her　anticipate　my　coming；　but　do　not　promise　it。　It　begins　to　grow　dark。　Where　is　she；　evenings？〃

〃Always　in　the　garden。　There　she　sighs　and　dreams　of　you！〃

〃Persuade　her　to　go　into　the　house；　and　let　it　be　well　lighted　up！　I　would　appear　to　her　in　the　full　splendor　of　the　lights！　Ha；　you　ragamuffins；　you　hounds；　bring　me　my　oriental　costume；　the　richest；　handsomest；　hasten；　or　I　will　throttle　you！〃

And　Count　Orloff　hurried　into　his　toilet…chamber；　to　the　trembling　slaves　who　there　awaited　him。

With　a　sly　smile　Joseph　Ribas　returned　to　the　villa。　As　he　had　previously　said；　he　found　Natalie　dreaming　in　the　garden；　the　guitar　upon　her　arm。

〃You　ought　to　go　into　the　house　this　evening；〃　said　he；　〃the　air　is　damp　and　cold；　and　may　injure　you。〃

〃Of　what　consequence　would　that　be？〃　she　sadly　responded。　〃Who　would　ask　whether　I　was　ill　nor　not？　Who　would　weep　for　my　death？〃

〃He！〃

〃Oh；　he！〃　sighed　she。　〃He　hates　all　women！〃

〃Excepting　you！〃　whispered　Ribas。　〃Princess；　go　into　the　house！　Take　care　of　your　precious　life。　It　is　not　I　who　beg　it　of　you！〃

〃Who　is　it　then？〃　she　hastily　interposed。

〃It　is　he！　He　begs　it　of　you！〃

Natalie；　springing　up；　hurried　into　the　house。

〃I　will　never　again　go　into　the　garden　in　the　evening！〃　said　she。　〃It　is　his　command！　Thank　God；　there　is　yet　something　in　which　I　can　obey；　and　he　commands　it　of　me！　But　why　these　lights？〃　asked　she；　almost　blinded　by　the　brilliancy　of　the　girandoles　and　chandeliers；　the　mirrors；　and　jewels。

〃The　count　has　so　commanded！〃　said　Ribas。　〃He　loves　a　bright　light！　But；　princess；　cannot　you　remain　in　this　boudoir　for　one　evening？　Only　see　how　beautiful　it　is；　how　enticingly　cool；　with　these　fountains　that　refresh　the　air　and　diffuse　fragrance！　How　delightfully　still　and　snug　it　is！　Reposing　upon　these　velvet　cushions；　you　can　look　through　the　whole　suite　of　rooms；　which　in　fact；　tonight；　flash　and　sparkle　like　the　heavens；　and　yet　in　this　boudoir　there　is　a　sweet　twilight；　refreshing　to　eye　and　heart！〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　she；　with　a　charming　smile。　〃I　also　like　brightness　and　light！　It　is　too　dusky　here！〃

〃Nevertheless；　remain　here！〃

〃And　why？〃

〃He　wishes　it！〃　said　Ribas　mysteriously。

〃He　wishes　it？〃　cried　Natalie；　turning　pale；　and　trembling。　Then；　suddenly；　a　purple　flush　spread　over　her　brow；　and；　reeling；　she　was　obliged　to　hold　by　a　chair　to　prevent　falling。　〃Ah；〃　she　stammered；　〃can　it　be　possible？　Can　this　happiness　be　intended？　Is　it　true；　what　I　read　in　your　eyes？　Is　it？　Comes　he　here？〃

〃Hope　always！〃　said　Ribas；　suddenly　disappearing　through　a　side…door。

Natalie；　benumbed　by　surprise；　sank　down　upon　the　divan。　A　feeling　of　boundless　anxiety；　of　immeasurable　ecstasy　suddenly　overcame　her。　She　could　have　fled；　but　she　felt　as　if　spell…bound；　she　could　have　concealed　herself　from　him；　and　yet　was　joyfully　ready　to　purchase　with　her　life　the　happiness　of　seeing　him。　It　was　a　strange　mixture　of　delight　and　terror；　of　happiness　and　despair。　She　spread　her　arms　toward　heaven；　she　sought　to　pray；　but　she　had　no　words；　no　thoughts；　not　even　tears！

A　slight　rustle　made　her　rise。　Almost　with　terror　flew　her　glance　through　the　suite　of　rooms。　There　below　she　saw　the　approach　of　something　strange；　singular；　magical。　It　was　a　never…before…seen　form；　but　surrounded　by　a　wonderfully　bright　halo；　enveloped　in　rich；　glittering　garments；　such　as　she　had　never　before　seen。　It　was　a　strange；　unknown　face；　but　of　a　sublime；　heroic　beauty；　proud　and　noble；　bold　and　mild。

〃That　is　he！〃　she　breathlessly　and　sadly　murmured〃yes；　that　is　he！　That　is　a　man　and　a　hero！　Ah；　I　shall　die　under　his　glance！〃

He　still　continued　to　approach；　and　with　every　forward　step　he　made　she　felt　her　heart　contract　with　anxiety；　admiration；　and　a　feverish　sadness。

Now　he　stood　on　the　threshold　of　the　boudoirhis　glance　fell　upon　her。　And　she？　She　lay；　or　rather　half　knelt　upon　the　divan；　motionless；　pale　as　a　marble　statue；　with　that　divine　smile　which　we　admire　in　ancient　sculpture。

Touching　was　she　to　behold；　white　and　delicate　as　a　lily；　so　humble　and　devoted；　so　shelter…needing　and　love…imploring！

But　Count　Orloff　felt　neither　sympathy　nor　compassion。　He　saw　only　that　she　was　beautiful　as　an　angel；　an　admirable　woman；　whom　he　desired　to　possess！

Proud　as　a　king；　and　at　the　same　time　very　reverential　and　submissive；　he　approached　and　sank　upon　his　knee　before　the