the daughter of an empress-第65部分

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r。　Avoid　attracting　attention；　murder　her　not；　threaten　her　not；　I　wish　not　to　give　people　new　reasons　for　calling　me　a　bloodthirsty　woman。　Entice　her　with　flatteries　into　our　net；　induce　her　to　follow　you　voluntarily；　that　the　people　of　no　country　in　which　she　may　be　may　have　an　occasion　to　accuse　us　of　using　force。'　Thus　did　Catharine　speak　to　her　favorite；　he　understood　her　and　swore　to　execute　her　commands；　as　he　did　when　Catharine　ordered　him　to　throttle　her　husband；　the　Emperor　Peter；　as　he　also　did　when　she　ordered　him　to　shoot　poor　Ivan；　the　son　of　Anna　Leopoldowna；　for　the　criminal　reason　that　he　had　a　greater　right　to　the　imperial　crown　of　Russia　than　this　little　German　princess　of　Zerbst！〃

〃And　he　shot　that　poor　innocent　Ivan！〃　shudderingly　asked　Natalie。　〃Ah；　this　Catharine　is　bloodthirsty　as　a　hyena；　and　her　friends　and　favorites　are　hangmen's　servantsah；　history　will　brand　this　murderer　of　Ivan！〃

〃It　will；〃　solemnly　responded　Cardinal　Bernis；　〃and　people　will　shudder　when　they　hear　the　name　of　the　man　who　strangled　the　Emperor　Peter；　who　shot　Ivan；　and　who；　at　the　command　of　Catharine；　has　come　to　Italy　to　ensnare　the　noble　and　innocent　Princess　Tartaroff　with　cunning　and　flatteries　and　convey　her　to　St。　Petersburg。　Shall　I　tell　you　this　man's　name？　He　is　called　Alexis　Orloff！〃

The　young　maiden　sprang　up　from　her　seat；　her　eyes　flashed；　and　her　cheeks　glowed。

〃That　is　false；〃　said　she〃a　shameful；　malicious　falsehood！〃

〃Would　to　God　it　were　so！〃　cried　the　cardinal。　〃But　it　is　too　true；　princess！　Oh；　listen　to　me；　and　close　not　your　ears　to　the　truth。　Remember　that　I　am　an　old　man；　who　has　long　observed　men；　and　long　studied　life。　I　know　this　Russian　diplomacy；　and　this　Russian　craft；　they　have　in　them　something　devilish；　and　these　Russian　diplomatists；　they　poison　and　confound　the　shrewdest　with　their　deceitful　smiles　and　infernal　cunning。　Guard　yourself；　princess；　against　this　Russian　diplomacy；　and；　above　all　things；　be　on　your　guard　against　this　ambassador　of　the　Russian　empress；　Alexis　Orloff！〃

〃Ah；　you　dare　to　defame　him！〃　cried　the　young　maiden；　trembling　with　anger。　〃You　have；　therefore；　never　seen　him；　you　have　never　read　in　his　noble　face　that　Count　Alexis　Orloff　can　never　betray。　He　is　a　hero；　and　a　hero　never　descends　to　a　murder！　Ah；　if　the　whole　world　should　rise　up　against　him；　if　it　should　point　the　finger　at　him　and　say：　'That　is　a　murderer！'　I　would　cry　in　the　face　of　the　whole　world：　'Thou　liest！　Alexis　Orloff　can　never　be　a　murderer！　I　know　him　better；　and　know　that　he　is　pure　and　clear　of　every　crime。　You　may　continue　to　call　him　a　betrayer！　I　know　why　he　suffers　himself　to　be　so　called！　I　know　the　secret　of　his　conduct；　and　a　day　will　come　when　you　will　all　learn　it；　when　you　will　all　feel　compelled　to　fall　down　at　his　feet　and　confess；　〃Alexis　Orloff　is　no　false　betrayer！〃　For　the　sake　of　her　to　whom　he　has　vowed　fidelity　has　he　borne　this　shame。　For　her　whom　he　loved　has　he　staked　his　blood　and　his　life。　Alexis　Orloff　is　a　hero！'　〃

She　was　strangely　beautiful　while　speaking　with　such　spirit　and　animation。　The　cardinal　observed　her　noble　and　excited　features　with　an　admiration　mingled　with　the　most　painful　emotions。

〃Poor　child！〃　he　murmured；　dropping　his　head〃poor　child；　she　loves　him；　and　is　therefore　lost！〃

〃You；　then；　do　not　believe　me！〃　he　asked　aloud。

〃No；〃　said　she；　with　a　glad　smile〃no；　all　the　happiness　I　ever　expect；　all　the　good　that　may　hereafter　come　to　me；　I　shall　receive　only　from　the　hands　of　Alexis　Orloff！〃

〃Poor　child！〃　sighed　the　cardinal。　〃In　many　a　case　even　death　may　prove　a　blessing！〃

〃Then　will　I　also　joyfully　receive　even　that　from　his　hands！〃　cried　the　young　maiden；　with　enthusiasm。

〃It　is　in　vain；　she　is　not　to　be　helped！〃　murmured　the　cardinal；　with　a　melancholy　shake　of　the　head；　and；　grasping　the　hand　of　the　young　maiden；　with　a　compassionate　glance　at　her　fair　face；　he　continued：　〃I　would　gladly　aid　you；　and　thereby　expiate　the　evil　you　once　suffered　at　my　festival！　But　you　will　not　consent　to　be　aided。　You　rush　to　your　destruction；　and　it　is　your　noblest　qualities；　your　innocence；　and　your　generous　confidence；　which　are　preparing　your　ruin！　May　God　bless　you　and　preserve　you！　How　glad　I　should　be　to　find　myself　a　liar　and　false　prophet！〃

〃And　you　will　so　find　yourself！〃　exclaimed　Natalie。

〃You　believe　it；　because　you　are　in　love；　and　when　a　woman　loves　she　believes　in　the　object　of　her　love；　and　smilingly　offers　up　her　life　for　him！　Like　all　women；　you　will　do　so！　You　will　sacrifice　your　life　to　your　love；　and　when　this　barbarian　thrusts　the　dagger　in　your　heart；　you　will　say　with　a　smile：　'I　did　it！　I；　myself'　〃

And；　bowing　to　her　with　a　sad　smile；　slowly　and　sighing；　the　cardinal　left　the　room。

Some　hours　later　came　Alexis　Orloff。　Natalie　received　him　with　an　expression　of　the　purest　pleasure；　and；　extending　both　hands　to　him；　smilingly　said：

〃Know　you　yet　what　my　mother　said　to　her　lover？〃

Looking　at　her；　he　read　his　happiness　in　her　face。　With　an　exclamation　of　ecstasy　he　fell　at　her　feet。

〃I　know　it　well；　but　you；　Natalie；　do　you　also　know　it？〃　he　passionately　asked。

Natalie　smiled。　〃Alexis；〃　said　she；　〃I　love　you；　and　therefore　will　I　raise　you　to　my　side　as　my　husband！〃　and　with　a　charming　modest　blush　she　drew　the　count　up　to　her　arms。

〃You　do　not　deceive　me；　and　this　is　no　dream？〃　he　cried；　while　glowingly　embracing　her。

〃No；〃　said　she；　〃it　is　the　truth；　and　I　owe　you　this　satisfaction。　You　have　been　slandered　to　me　to…day。　Ah；　they　shall　see　how　little　I　believe　them。　Alexis；　call　a　priest　to　bless　our　union；　and　make　me　your　wife。　Whatever　then　may　come；　we　will　share　it　with　each　other。　If　I　am　one　day　empress；　you　will　be　the　emperor；　and　I　will　always　honor　and　obey　you　as　my　lord　and　master。〃

On　the　evening　of　this　day　a　very　serious　and　solemn　ceremony　took　place　in　the　boudoir　of　Princess　Natalie。　An　altar　wreathed　with　flowers　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　and　before　the　altar　stood　Natalie　in　a　white　satin　robe；　the　myrtle…crown　upon　her　head；　the　long　bridal　veil　waving　around　her　delicate　form。　She　was　very　beautiful　in　her　joyful；　modest　emotion；　and　Count　Alexis　Orloff；　who；　in　a　rich　Russian　costume　stood　by　her　side；　viewed　her　with　ecstatic　and　warm　desiring　glances。　The　inhuman　executioner　led　the　lamb　to　the　slaughter　without　pity　or　compunction！

At　the　other　side　of　the　altar　stood　the　priest；　a　reverend　old　man；　with　long　flowing　silver　hair　and　beard。　Near　him　the　sacristan；　not　less　reverend　in　appearance。　No　one　else　was　present　except　Marianne；　who；　in　tears；　knelt　behind　her　mistress；　and　with　folded　hands　prayed　for　her　beloved　princess；　who　was　now　marrying　Count　Alexis　Orloff。

The　solemn　ceremony　was　at　an　end；　and　the　young　wife　sank　weeping　into　the　arms　of　her　husband；　who；　with　tenderest　whisperings；　led　her　into　the　next　room。

Marianne；　overcome　by　her　tears　and　emotions；　hastened　to　her　own　room；　and　the　reverend　priest　remained　alone　with　his　sacristan。

They　silently　looked　at　each　other；　and　their　faces　were　distorted　by　a　knavish；　grinning　laugh。

〃It　was　a　wonderful　scene；〃　said　the　priest；　who　was　no　other　than　Joseph　Ribas。　〃In　earnest；　I　was　quite　affected　by　it　myself；　and　I　came　near　weeping　at　my　own　sublime　homily。　Confess；　Stephano；　that　a　consecrated　priest　could　not　have　better　gone　through　the　ceremony。〃

〃We　have　both　performed　our　parts；〃　simpered　Stephano；　the　sacristan；　〃and　I　think　the　count　must　be　satisfied　with　us。〃

At　that　moment　the　count　returned　to　the　room。　Natalie　had　begged　to　be　left　aloneshe　needed　solitude　and　prayer。

The　priest；　Joseph　Ribas；　and　the　sacristan；　Stephano；　gave　him　sly；　interrogating　glances。

〃I　am　satisfied　with　you；〃　said　Orloff；　with　a　smile。　〃You　are　both　excellent　actors。　This　new　little　countess　was　pleased　and　touched　by　your　discourse；　Joseph；　my　very　worthy　priest。　Where　did　you　learn　this　new　villainy？〃

〃In　the　high　school　of　the　galleys；　your　excellency；〃　said　Ribas。　〃Only　there　is　one　taught　such　precious　things。　We　had　a　priest　there；　a　real　consecrated　priest；　who　was　sentenced　for　life。　From　/ennui/　he　gave　lessons　to　the　smartest　among　us　in　his　art；　and　taught　us　how　to　fold　the　hands；　roll　the　eyes；　and　render　the　voice　tremulous。　But　now；　your　excellency；　one　thing！　You　desired　to　know　who　it　was　that　warned　your　princess　to…day。　I　can　now　give　you　information　on　that　point。　It　was　the　French　Cardinal　Bernis！〃

〃They　are；　therefore；　beginning　to　observe　our　movements；〃　thoughtfully　remarked　Orloff；　〃and　these　gentlemen　diplomatists　wish　to　take　a　hand　in　the　game。　Ah；　we　understand　the　French　policy。　It　is　the　same　now　that　it　was　when　they　helped　to　make　the　Princess　Elizabeth　empress。　At　that　time　they　interposed；　that　Russia　might　be　so　occupied　with　her　own　affairs　as　to　have　no　time　for　looking　into　those　of　France。　Precisely　so　is　it　to…day。　They　would　compassionate　the　daughter　as　they　did　the　mother。　With　the　help　of　Natalie　they　would　again　bless　Russia　with　a　revolution；　that　we　might　not　have　time　to　observe　the　events　now　fermenting　in　France。　But　this　time　we　shall　be　more　cautious；　my　shrewd　French　cardinal。　Stephano；　let　every　preparation　be　made　for　our　immediate　departure。　We　are　no　longer　safe　and　unobserved　here。　Therefore　we　will　go　to　Leghorn。〃

〃We　alone；　or　with　the　princess？〃　asked　Stephano。

〃My　wife　will　naturally　accompany　me；〃　said　Orloff；　with　a　derisive　smile。

〃Will　she　consent　to　leave　Rome？〃　asked　Joseph　Ribas。

〃I　shall　request　her　to　do　so；〃　proudly　replied　Orloff；　〃and　I　think　my　request　will　be　a　command　to　her。〃

And　the　proud　count　was　not　mistaken。　His　request　was　a　command　for　her。　He　told　her　she　must　leave　Rome　because　she　was　no　longer　in　safety　there；　and　Princess　Natalie　believed　him。

〃We　will　go　to　Leghorn；　and　there　await　the　arrival　of　the　Russian　fleet；〃　said　he。　〃When　that　fleet　shall　have　safely　arrived；　then　our　ends　will　be　attained；　then　we　shall　have　conquered；　for　then　it　will　be　evident　that　the　empress　has　conceived　no　suspicion；　and　I　am　the　commander　of　that　fleet；　which　is　wholly　manned　with　conspirators　who　all　await　you　as　their　empress。　Will　you　follow　me　to　Leghorn；　Natalie？〃

She　clu