the daughter of an empress-第64部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　calls　the　favorite　of　the　empress；　Count　Alexis　Orloff；　lies　at　your　feet　and　swears　to　you　eternal　faith；　devotion；　and　adoration！〃

〃Alexis　Orloff！〃　she　joyfully　exclaimed；　〃at　length；　then；　I　have　a　name　by　which　I　can　call　you！　Alexis；　was　not　that　the　name　of　my　father？　Oh；　that　is　a　good　omen！　You　bear　the　name　of　my　father；　whom　my　mother　so　dearly　loved！〃

〃And　whom　the　empress；　impelled　by　love；　raised　to　the　position　of　her　husband；〃　whispered　Orloff；　bending　nearer　to　her　and　pressing　her　hand　to　his　bosom。　Could　you；　indeed；　love　as　warmly　and　devotedly　as　your　mother　loved　her　Alexis？〃

The　young　maiden　blushed　and　trembled；　but　a　sweet　smile　played　upon　her　lips；　and　although　she　cast　down　her　eyes　and　did　not　look　at　him；　yet　Count　Orloff　saw　that　he　had　given　no　offence；　and　might　venture　still　further。

He　gently　encircled　her　delicate　form　with　his　arm；　and；　inclining　his　mouth　so　close　to　her　ear　that　she　felt　his　hot　breath　upon　her　cheek；　whispered：　〃Will　Natalie　love　her　Alexis　as　Elizabeth　loved　Alexis　Razumovsky？　Ah；　you　know　not　how　boundlessly；　how　immeasurably　I　love　you！　Yes；　immeasurably；　Natalie。　You　are　my　happiness；　my　life；　my　future。　Command　me；　rule　me；　make　of　me　a　traitor；　a　murderer！　I　will　do　whatever　you　command；　at　your　desire　I　could　even　murder　my　own　father！　Only　tell　me；　Natalie；　that　you　do　not　hate　me；　tell　me　that　my　love　will　not　be　rejected　by　you；　that　this　passion；　under　which　I　almost　succumb；　has　found　an　echo　in　your　heart；　and　that　you　will　one　day　say　to　me；　as　Elizabeth　said　to　your　father；　'Alexis；　I　love　you；　and　will　therefore　make　you　my　husband！'　You　are　silent；　Natalie；　have　you　no　word　of　sympathy；　of　compassion　for　me！　Ah；　I　offer　up　all　to　you；　and　you〃

He　could　proceed　no　further；　he　saw　her　turn　toward　him；　he　suddenly　felt　a　glowing　kiss　upon　his　lips；　and　then；　springing　up　from　her　seat；　she　fled　through　the　rooms　like　a　frightened　roe；　and　took　refuge　in　her　boudoir；　which　she　locked　behind　her。

Orloff　glanced　after　her　with　a　triumphant　smile。　〃She　is　mine；〃　thought　he；　〃I　am　here　living　through　a　charming　romance；　and　Catharine　will　be　satisfied　with　me！〃

Yes；　she　was　his；　she　now　knew　that　she　loved　him；　and　with　joyful　ecstasy　she　took　this　new　and　delightful　feeling　to　her　heart；　she　welcomed　it　as　the　joy…promising　dawn　of　a　new　day；　a　precious　new　life。　She　permitted　this　feeling　to　stream　through　her　whole　being；　her　whole　soul；　she　made　it　a　worship　for　her　whole　existence。

〃You　see；〃　she　said　to　Marianne；　〃so　had　I　dreamed　the　man　whom　I　should　one　day　love。　So　brave；　so　proud；　so　beautiful。　Ah；　it　is　so　charming　to　be　obliged　to　tremble　before　the　man　one　loves；　it　is　so　sweet　to　cling　to　him　and　think：　'I　am　nothing　of　myself；　but　all　through　thee！　I　am　the　ivy　and　thou　the　oak；　thou　wilt　hold　and　sustain　me；　and　if　a　storm…wind　comes；　thou　wilt　not　waver；　but　stand　firm　and　great　in　thy　heroic　strength；　and　protect　me；　and　impart　courage　and　confidence　even　to　me！'　〃

She　loved　him；　and　clung　to　him　with　boundless　confidence；　but　she　was　yet　so　full　of　tender　maiden　timidity　that　she　could　confess　to　him　nothing　of　this　love；　and　since　that　kiss　she　shyly　avoided　him；　and　constantly　left　his　often…renewed　love…questions　unanswered。

At　this　Alexis　secretly　laughed。　〃She　will　come　round；〃　said　he；　〃she　will　finally　be　compelled　to　it　by　her　own　feelings。　I　will　give　her　time　and　leisure　to　come　to　a　knowledge　of　herself！〃

And　for　some　days　he　kept　away　from　the　villa；　pretending　pressing　business；　and　left　the　poor　isolated　princess　to　her　languishing　love…　dreams。

It　was　precisely　in　these　days　that；　on　one　forenoon；　a　carriage　of　indifferent　appearance；　adorned　with　no　heraldic　arms；　stopped　before　the　villa；　a　man　closely　enveloped　in　a　mantle；　his　hat　pressed　deeply　down　over　his　forehead；　issued　from　the　carriage　and　rang　the　bell。

Of　the　servant　who　answered　the　bell　he　hastily　inquired　if　the　princess　was　at　home　and　alone；　these　questions　being　answered　in　the　affirmative；　and　the　servant　having　asked　his　name　in　order　to　announce　him；　the　stranger　said；　almost　in　a　commanding　tone：　〃The　princess　knows　my　name；　and　will　gladly　welcome　me；　therefore　lead　me　directly　to　her！〃

〃The　princess　receives　no　one；〃　said　the　servant；　placing　himself　in　a　position　to　prevent　the　stranger's　entrance。

〃She　will　receive　me；〃　said　the　unknown；　dropping　some　gold…pieces　into　the　servant's　hand。

〃I　will　conduct　you　to　her；〃　said　the　suddenly　mollified　servant；　but　I　do　it　on　your　own　responsibility。〃

Princess　Natalie　was　in　her　boudoir。　She　was　alone；　and　thinking；　in　a　languishing　reverie；　of　her　friend；　who　had　now　been　two　days　absent。　On　hearing　a　light　knock　at　the　door；　she　sprang　up　from　her　seat。

〃It　is　he！〃　she　murmured；　and　with　glowing　cheeks　she　hastened　to　the　door。

But　on　finding　there　a　strange　and　closely…enveloped　form；　Natalie　timidly　drew　back。

The　stranger　entered；　closing　the　door　behind　him；　threw　back　his　mantle　and　took　off　the　hat　that　shaded　his　face。

〃Cardinal　Bernis！〃　cried　Natalie；　with　surprise。

〃Ah；　then　you　yet　recognize　me；　princess！〃　said　Bernis。　〃That　is　beautiful　in　you；　and　therefore　you　will　not　be　angry　with　me　for　calling　upon　you　unannounced。　I　knew　that　I　should　find　you　alone；　and　this　was　a　too　fortunate　circumstance　for　me　to　let　it　pass　unimproved。　I　must　speak　to　you；　princess；　even　at　the　hazard　of　proving　tiresome。〃

Natalie　said；　with　a　soft　smile：　〃You　were　the　friend　of　Count　Paulo；　and　therefore　can　never　prove　tiresome　to　me！　I　bid　you　welcome；　cardinal！〃

〃It　is　precisely　because　I　was　Count　Paulo's　friend；　that　I　have　come！〃　said　Bernis；　seriously。　〃The　count　loved　you；　princess；　and　what　I　did　not　know　at　the　time　is　known　to　me　now。　Because　he　loved　and　was　devoted　to　you；　he　hazarded　his　life；　and　more　than　his　life；　his　liberty。〃

〃And　they　have　robbed　him　of　that　precious　liberty；〃　sighed　Natalie。　〃For　his　fidelity　to　me　they　have　condemned　him　to　a　shameful　imprisonment！〃

〃You　know　that！〃　exclaimed　Bernis；　with　astonishment；　〃you　know　that；　and　nevertheless〃　Then；　interrupting　himself；　he　broke　off；　and　after　a　pause　continued：　〃Pardon　me　one　question；　and　if　you　deem　it　indiscreet；　please　remember　that　it　is　put　to　you　by　an　old　man　and　a　priest；　and　that　his　only　object　is；　if　possible　to　be　useful　to　you。　Do　you　love　Count　Paulo　Rasczinksy？〃

〃I　love　him；〃　said　she；　〃as　one　loves　a　father。　I　shall　always　be　grateful　to　him；　and　shall　never　esteem　myself　happy　until　I　have　liberated　him　and　restored　him　to　his　country！〃

〃You　liberate　him！〃　sadly　exclaimed　Bernis。　〃Ah；　then　you　know　not；　you　do　not　once　dream；　that　you　are　yourself　surrounded　by　dangers；　that　your　own　liberty；　indeed　your　life　itself；　is　threatened。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　calmly　responded　the　young　maiden；　〃but　I　also　know　that　strong　and　powerful　friends　stand　by　my　side；　who　will　protect　and　defend　me　with　their　lives。〃

〃But　how　if　these　friends　are　deceiving　youif　precisely　they　are　your　bitterest　enemies　and　destroyers？〃

〃Sir　Cardinal！〃　exclaimed　Natalie；　reddening　with　indignation。

〃Oh；　I　may　not　anger　you；〃　he　continued；　〃but　it　is　my　duty　to　warn　you；　princess！　They　have　undoubtedly　deceived　you　with　false　pretensions；　and　in　some　deceitful　way　obtained　your　confidence。　Tell　me；　princess；　do　you　know　the　name　of　this　count　whom　you　daily　receive　here？〃

〃It　is　Count　Alexis　Orloff；〃　said　the　young　maiden；　blushing。

〃You　know　him；　know　his　name；　and　yet　you　confide　in　him！〃　exclaimed　the　cardinal。　〃But　it　cannot　be　that　you　know　his　history：　have　you　any　idea　to　whom　he　is　indebted　for　his　prosperity　and　greatness？〃

〃The　Empress　Catharine；　his　mistress；〃　said　Natalie；　without　embarrassment。

The　cardinal　looked；　with　increasing　astonishment；　into　her　calm；　smiling　face。　〃I　now　comprehend　it　all；〃　he　then　said；　〃they　have　laid　a　very　shrewd　and　cunning　plan。　They　have　deceived　you　while　telling　you　a　part　of　the　truth！〃

〃No　one　has　deceived　me；〃　indignantly　responded　Natalie。　〃I　tell　you；　Sir　Cardinal；　that　I　am　neither　deceived　nor　overreached；　easy　as　you　seem　to　think　it　to　deceive　me！〃

〃Oh；　it　is　always　easy　to　deceive　innocence　and　nobleness；〃　sadly　remarked　the　cardinal。　〃Listen　to　me；　princess；　and　think；　I　conjure　you；　that　this　time　a　true　and　sincere　friend　is　speaking　to　you。〃

〃And　how　shall　I　recognize　that？〃　asked　the　young　maiden；　with　a　slight　touch　of　irony。　〃How　shall　I　recognize　a　friend；　when；　as　you　say；　it　is　precisely　my　pretended　friends　who　are　my　enemies！〃

〃Recognize　me　by　this！〃　said　the　cardinal；　drawing　a　folded　paper　from　his　bosom　and　handing　it　to　the　princess。

〃That　is　Count　Paulo's　handwriting！〃　she　joyfully　exclaimed。

〃Ah；　you　recognize　the　handwriting；〃　said　the　cardinal；　〃and　you　see　that　this　letter　is　addressed　to　me。　Count　Paulo　therefore　considers　me　his　friend！〃

〃May　I　read　this　letter？〃

〃I　beg　you　to　do　so。〃

Natalie　unfolded　the　letter　and　read：　〃Warn　the　Princess　Tartaroff；　danger　threatens　her！〃

〃That　is　all？〃　she　asked　with　a　smile。

〃That　is　all！　said　the　cardinal；　〃but　when　Paulo　considered　these　few　words　of　sufficient　importance　to　send　them　to　me；　you　may　well　suppose　they　are　of　the　utmost　significance。〃

〃Count　Paulo　is　in　Siberia；〃　said　Natalie；　shaking　her　head；　〃how　could　he　have　written　you　from　thence？〃

〃How　he　succeeded　in　doing　so；　I　know　not；　but　the　firm；　determined　will　of　man　often　conquers　supposed　impossibilities！　Enoughin　a　mysterious；　enigmatical　manner　was　this　letter　put　into　the　hands　of　our　ambassador　at　St。　Petersburg；　with　the　most　urgent　prayer　that　he　would　immediately　send　it　to　me　by　a　special　courier；　with　all　the　necessary　particulars。〃

〃And　was　that　done？〃　asked　Natalie。

〃It　was　done！　I　know　why　your　life　is　threatened！　Princess　Tartaroff；　you　are　the　daughter　of　the　Empress　Elizabeth；　and　therefore　it　is　that　this　Empress　Catharine；　upon　her　usurped　throne；　trembles　with　fear　of　youtherefore　was　it　that　she　said　to　her　favorite：　'Go；　and　deliver　me　from　this　troublesome　pretender。　But　do　it　in　a　sly；　cautious；　and　noiseless　manner。　Avoid　attracting　attention；　murder　her　not；　threaten　her　not；　I　wish　not　to　give　people　new　reaso