the daughter of an empress-第63部分

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Proud　as　a　king；　and　at　the　same　time　very　reverential　and　submissive；　he　approached　and　sank　upon　his　knee　before　the　divan　upon　which　she　reclined　in　trembling　yet　blissful　sadness。

〃Princess　Natalie；〃　he　murmured　low；　〃will　you　be　angry　with　your　slave　for　daring　to　intrude　upon　you　without　knowing　whether　he　would　be　welcome？〃

She　breathed　freer。　It　was　a　relief　to　her　to　hear　his　voiceit　made　her　feel　easier。　He　was　no　magician；　no　demon；　he　was　a　man；　and　spoke　to　her　with　human　words！　That　gave　her　courage　and　strength；　it　gave　her　back　the　consciousness　of　her　own　dignity。　She　was　ashamed　of　her　anxiety；　her　trembling；　her　childish　helplessness。　Yet　she　could　say　nothing；　answer　nothing。　She　only　gave　him　her　hand；　and　with　a　charming　smile；　an　inimitable　grace；　and　welcomed　him　with　a　silent　inclination　of　the　head。

Taking　her　hand　he　pressed　it　to　his　lips。　His　touch　seemed　to　kindle　in　her　an　electric　glow；　and　with　something　like　alarm　she　withdrew　her　hand。

〃Are　you；　then；　angry　with　me？〃　he　asked　in　a　tone　of　sadness。

〃No；〃　said　she；　〃I　am　not　angry；　but　I　fear　you。　You　are　so　great　a　hero；　and　your　sword　has　done　so　many　brave　deeds。　I　looked　at　your　sword；　and　it　alarmed　me。〃

Count　Orloff　gave　her　a　surprised　and　interrogating　glance。　Why　said　she　that？　Had　she　some　suspicion；　some　mistrust；　or　was　it　only　a　presentiment；　an　inexplicable　instinct；　that　made　her　tremble　at　his　sword？

〃No；　she　suspects　nothing；〃　thought　he；　as　he　gazed　upon　that　pure；　innocent；　childish　brow；　which　was　turned　toward　him　in　pious　confidence；　and　yet　with　timid　hesitation。

He　loosened　his　sword　from　his　girdle；　sparkling　with　diamonds；　and　humbly　laid　both　at　Natalie's　feet。

〃Princess；〃　said　he；　〃the　empress　herself　girded　me　with　this　sword；　and　I　swore　it　should　never　leave　my　side　but　with　my　life。　You　are　dearer　to　me　than　my　life　or　my　honor；　and　I　therefore　break　my　sacred　oath。　Take　my　sword；　I　am　now　without　arms；　and　you　will　no　longer　have　occasion　to　tremble　before　me。〃

She　smilingly　shook　her　head。　〃You　still　remain　a　hero；　though　without　armsit　lies　in　your　eyes！〃

〃I　would　close　my　eyes；〃　said　he；　〃but　then　I　should　not　see　you；　princess；　and　I　have　already　so　long　languished　for　a　sight　of　you！〃

〃Why；　then；　came　you　not　sooner？〃　she　asked；　now　feeling　herself　entirely　cheerful　and　unembarrassed。　〃Oh；　did　you　but　know　how　impatiently　I　have　awaited　you！〃

And　with　childish　innocence　she　began　to　relate　how　much　she　had　thought　of　him；　how　often　she　had　dreamed　of　him；　how　she　had　sometimes　spoken　aloud　to　him；　and　almost　thought　she　heard　his　answers！

Count　Orloff　listened　to　her　with　surprise　and　delight。　Thus　had　he　not　expected　to　find　her；　so　childishly　cheerful；　so　charmingly　innocent；　and　yet　at　the　same　time　with　so　much　maidenly　reserve；　so　much　natural　dignity。　Now　she　laughed　like　a　child；　now　was　her　face　serious　and　proud；　now　again　tender　and　timid。　She　was　at　once　a　timid　child　and　a　glowing　woman；　she　was　innocent　as　an　angel；　and　yet　so　full　of　sweet；　unconscious　maiden　coquetry。　She　enchanted；　while　inspiring　devotion；　she　excited　passions　and　desires；　while；　with　a　natural　maiden　dignity；　she　kept　one　within　the　bounds　of　respect。　She　was　entirely　different　from　what　Orloff　had　expected；　perhaps　less　beautiful；　less　dazzling；　but　infinitely　more　lovely。　She　enchanted　him　with　her　smile；　and　her　innocent　childish　face　touched　him。

〃Speak　on；　speak　on！〃　said　he；　when　she　became　silent。　〃It　is　delightful　to　listen　to　you；　princess。〃

〃Why　do　you　call　me　so？〃　asked　she；　with　a　slight　contraction　of　her　brow。　〃It　is　such　a　strange　cold　word！　It　does　not　at　all　belong　to　me；　and　it　is　only　within　the　last　few　months　that　I　have　been　thus　addressed。　With　wise　and　tender　forbearance；　Paulo　long　delayed　informing　me　that　I　was　a　princess；　and　that　was　beautiful　in　him。　To　be　a　princess　and　yet　an　orphan；　a　poor；　deserted；　helpless　child；　living　upon　the　charity　of　a　friend；　and　tremulously　clinging　to　his　protecting　hand！　See；　that　is　what　I　am；　a　poor　orphan；　why；　then；　do　you　call　me　princess！〃

〃Because　you　are　so　in　reality；〃　responded　Orloff；　pressing　the　hem　of　her　garment　to　his　lips〃because　I　am　come　to　lead　you　to　your　splendid　and　powerful　future！because　I　will　glorify　you　above　all　women　on　earth；　and　make　you　mistress　of　this　great　empire。〃

She　regarded　him　with　a　dreamy　smile。　〃You　speak　as　Paulo　often　spoke　to　me；〃　said　she。　〃He　also　swore　to　me　that　he　would　one　day　place　an　imperial　crown　upon　my　head；　and　elevate　me　to　great　power！　I　understood　him　as　little　as　I　understand　you！〃

A　slight　scornful　smile　momentarily　passed　over　Orloff's　features。　〃Catharine　has　therefore　rightly　divined；〃　thought　he；　〃and　her　wise　mind　rightly　understood　this　Rasczinsky。　There　was；　indeed；　question　of　an　imperial　crown；　and　this　was　to　have　been　the　new　little　empress！〃

Aloud　he　said：　〃You　will　soon　understand　me；　princess；　and　it　is　time　you　knew　of　what　crown　Paulo　spoke。〃

〃I　know　it　not；〃　said　she；　〃nor　do　I　desire　to　know　it！　Perhaps　it　was　a　jest；　with　which　he　sought　to　console　me　when　I　complained　of　being　a　homeless　orphan；　a　poor　child；　who　knew　not　even　the　name　of　her　mother！〃

〃Do　you　not　know　that？〃　exclaimed　Orloff；　with　astonishment。

She　sadly　shook　her　head。　〃They　would　never　tell　it　me；〃　said　she。　〃But　I　have　her　image　in　my　heart；　and　that；　at　least；　I　shall　never　lose　or　forget！〃

〃I　knew　your　mother；〃　said　Orloff；　〃she　was　beautiful　as　you　are；　and　mild　and　merciful。〃

〃You　knew　her！〃　exclaimed　the　young　maiden；　grasping　his　hand　and　looking　at　him　with　a　confiding　friendliness。　〃Oh；　you　knew　her！　You　will　now　be　doubly　dear　to　me；　for　those　bright　eyes　have　seen　my　mother；　and　perhaps　this　hand　which　now　rests　in　mine　has　also　touched　hers！〃

〃That；〃　said　Count　Orloff；　with　a　smile；　〃I　should　not　have　dared　to　do；　it　would　have　been　high…treason！〃

〃Was　she；　then；　so　great　a　sublime　a　princess？〃　asked　Natalie。

〃She　was　an　empress！〃

〃An　empress！〃　And　the　young　maiden；　sprang　up　with　beaming　eyes　and　glowing　cheeks。　〃My　mother　was　an　empress！〃　said　she；　breathing　hard。

〃Empress　Elizabeth　of　Russia。〃

Overcome　by　the　feelings　suddenly　excited　by　this　news；　Natalie　sank　again　upon　her　seat　and　covered　her　face　with　her　hands。　Tears　gushed　out　between　her　delicate；　slender　fingers；　her　whole　being　was　in　violent；　feverish　commotion。　Then；　raising　her　arms　toward　heaven；　with　a　celestial　smile；　while　the　tears　overflowed　her　face；　she　said：　〃I　am；　then；　no　longer　a　homeless　orphan；　I　have　a　fatherland；　and　my　mother　was　an　empress！〃

Count　Orloff　respectfully　kissed　the　hem　of　her　garment。

〃You　are　the　daughter　of　an　empress；〃　said　he；　〃and　will　yourself　be　an　empress！　That　was　what　Paulo　wished；　and　therefore　have　they　condemned　him　as　a　criminal。　What　he　was　unable　to　accomplish　must　be　done　by　me；　and　for　that　purpose　have　I　come。　Princess　Natalie；　your　fatherland　calls　you；　your　throne　awaits　you！　Follow　me　to　your　crowning　in　the　city　of　your　fathersfollow　me；　that　I　may　place　the　crown　of　your　grandfather；　Peter　the　Great；　upon　your　noble　and　beautiful　head！〃



THE　WARNING

From　this　time　forward　Alexis　Orloff　was　the　inseparable　companion　of　Natalie。　With　the　most　reverential　submission；　and　at　the　same　time　with　the　tenderest　affection；　seemed　he　to　be　devoted　to　her；　and　equally　to　adore　her　as　his　empress　and　his　beloved。

He　took　pains　to　represent　to　her　that　she　was　necessarily　and　inevitably　destined　to　become　an　empress。

And　she　had　comprehended　him　but　too　well。　Ambition　was　awakened　in　this　young　maiden　of　eighteen　years；　it　was　an　imperial　crown　that　called　herwhy　should　she　not　listen　to　this　call　coming　from　the　lips　of　one　in　whom　she　had　unlimited　confidence；　and　toward　whom　she　felt　infinitely　grateful？

He　had　unfolded　and　explained　all　to　her。　He　had　told　her　of　her　mother；　the　good　Empress　Elizabeth；　who　had　made　Russia　so　great　and　happy；　he　had　explained　to　her　how　Count　Paulo　Rasczinsky　had　flown　with　her　on　the　day　of　her　mother's　death；　in　order　to　preserve　her　from　the　pursuits　of　her　mother's　successor；　the　cunning　and　cruel　Peter　III。；　and　to　insure　to　her　the　realm　at　a　later　period。　He　had　then　spoken　to　her　of　Catharine；　who　had　forcibly　possessed　herself　of　the　throne　of　her　unworthy　husband；　and　taken　the　reins　of　government　into　her　own　hands。　He　had　spoken　to　her　of　Catharine's　cruelty　and　despotic　tyranny；　he　had　told　her　that　all　Russia　groaned　under　the　oppression　of　this　foreigner；　and　that　a　universal　cry　was　heard　through　the　whole　realm；　of　lamentation　and　longing；　a　cry　for　her；　the　Russian　princess；　the　grand…daughter　of　Peter　the　Great；　the　daughter　of　the　beloved　Elizabeth。

〃You　are　called　for　by　all　these　millions　of　your　oppressed　subjects　now　trodden　in　the　dust；〃　said　he；　〃toward　you　they　stretch　forth　their　trembling　hands；　from　you　they　expect　relief　and　consolation；　from　you　they　expect　happiness！〃

〃And　I　will　bring　them　happiness；〃　exclaimed　Natalie；　with　emotion。　〃I　will　dry　the　tears　of　misery　and　console　the　suffering。　Oh；　my　people　shall　love　me　as　my　mother　once　did！〃

〃The　noblest　of　the　land　have　pledged　their　property　and　their　lives　to　give　you　back　to　your　people；〃　said　Orloff；　〃we　have　solemnly　sworn　it　upon　the　altar　of　God；　and　for　the　attainment　of　this　end　no　one　of　us　will　shun　want　or　death；　treason　or　revolt。　Look　at　me；　Natalie！　I　stand　before　you　a　traitor　to　this　empress；　to　whom　I　have　sworn　faith　and　obedience；　she　has　heaped　favors　upon　me；　and　at　one　time　I　was　even　passionately　devoted　to　her！　But　Count　Paulo　awoke　me　from　that　intoxication；　he　roused　me　from　the　condition　of　a　favorite　of　the　empress；　he　taught　me　to　see　the　cruel；　bloodthirsty　empress　in　her　true　form；　he　spoke　to　me　of　your　sacred　rights；　and　when　I　recognized　and　comprehended　them；　I　collected　myself；　vowed　myself　your　knight；　devoting　myself　to　the　defence　of　your　rights；　and　swore　to　leave　no　artifices；　no　dissimulation；　nor　even　treason　itself；　unessayed　for　the　promotion　of　this　great；　this　sublime　object！　Princess　Natalie；　for　your　sake　I　have　become　a　traitor！　The　admiral　of　the　Russian　fleet；　he　whom　the　world　calls　the　favorite　of　the　emp