the daughter of an empress-第46部分

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A　sudden　thought　of　rescue　had　like　a　flash　of　lightning　arisen　in　Carlo's　soul。

〃Natalie　must　first　be　completely　separated　from　this　society；　and　then　I　will　seek　this　man　and　render　him　incapable　of　mischief！〃　thought　he。

By　main　strength　he　made　himself　a　path　through　the　crowd　surrounding　Corilla；　and　now　stood　near　Cardinal　Bernis；　at　whose　side　still　remained　Natalie　and　Count　Paulo。

〃You　have　struck　the　lyre　like　an　Apollo；〃　exclaimed　the　cardinal　to　the　singer。

Carlo　bowed　with　a　smile；　and　hastily　said：　〃And　are　you　ignorant；　your　eminence；　that　a　much　greater　poetess　and　improvisatrice　than　our　Corilla　is　in　your　society？〃

The　cardinal　smilingly　threatened　him　with　his　finger。　〃Poor　Carlo；　has　it　already　come　to　this？〃　said　he。　〃You　are　jealous　of　our　delight　in　Corilla；　and　would　lessen　her　fame；　that　you　may　make　her　more　your　own！〃

〃I　speak　the　truth；〃　said　Carlo；　〃a　poetess　is　among　us　whom　the　muses　themselves　have　consecrated；　an　improvisatrice；　not　of　human　composition；　but　by　the　grace　of　God；　to　whom　the　angels　whisper　the　rhymes；　and　the　muses　the　ideas！〃

〃And　who；　then；　is　this　divinely…gifted　artist；　this　consecrated　daughter　of　the　muses？〃　wonderingly　asked　the　cardinal。

Carlo　indicated　Natalie；　and　bowed　to　the　ground　before　her。

〃Princess　Tartaroff？〃　asked　the　cardinal；　with　astonishment。

〃That　she　is　a　princess；　I　know　not；〃　said　Carlo；　〃but　I　am　quite　certain　she　is　a　poetess！〃

What　was　it　that　at　this　moment　stirred　the　soul　of　the　young　maiden？　She　now　felt　a　pride；　a　blessed　joy；　and　yet　she　had　previously　felt　so　sad　at　Corilla's　triumph！　It　seemed　as　if　enthusiasm　raised　its　wings　in　her；　as　if　the　word；　the　right　word；　pressed　to　her　lips；　as　if　she　must　utter　in　song　her　rejoicings　and　lamentings　for　her　simultaneously　felt　pleasures　and　pains！　A　pure　and　genuine　child　of　Nature；　she　felt　herself　the　natural　impulse　to　pour　out　in　words；　tones；　and　even　in　tears；　what　agitated　her　soul；　and　to　which　she　was　unable　to　give　a　name。

Cardinal　Bernis　had　first　turned　imploringly　to　Count　Paulo；　praying　for　his　permission　to　invite　the　young　princess　to　surprise　and　delight　the　company　with　some　of　her　improvisations。　Others；　overhearing　this；　mingled　in　the　conversation；　and　added　their　requests　to　those　of　the　cardinal；　and；　the　feeling　becoming　general；　the　requests　for　an　improvisation　became　universal　and　pressing；　people；　momentarily　forgetting　the　great　and　celebrated　improvisatrice　Corilla；　with　a　feverish　curiosity　turned　to　the　new　and　unknown　star。　Corilla　stood　almost　aloneonly　Cardinal　Albani　remaining　by　her　side；　but　his　tender　words　were　not　competent　to　appease　the　violent　storm　of　jealousy　that　raged　in　her　soul。

The　solicitations　of　the　curious　Romans　became　constantly　more　urgent；　and　Count　Paulo；　unable　longer　to　resist　them；　finally　consented　to　leave　the　decision　to　his　ward；　the　young　princess　herself。

And　Natalie？　She　was　so　real　and　ingenuous　a　child　of　Nature　that　she　felt　no　timidity　in　the　presence　of　this　crowd；　she　was　so　full　of　faith　and　confidence；　so　full　of　trust　and　human　love。　She　thought：　〃Why　should　I　not　give　a　little　pleasure　to　these　good　people　who　approach　me　with　such　warm　sympathies？　And　why　should　I　tremble　before　them？　Did　not　Paulo　tell　me　that　I　should　feel　as　if　I　were　in　my　garden；　and　it　was　only　my　trees　and　flowers　that　were　looking　at　me　with　human　faces？　Well；　then；　I　will　so　think　and　feel；　and　speak　only　to　my　dear　trees　and　flowers！〃

Beckoning　Carlo　with　a　charming　smile；　guided　by　his　hand；　she　hastily　ascended　the　steps。　And　as　they　saw　her　there　upon　the　stage；　this　delicate；　lovely　maidenas　they　looked　upon　her　spiritual　maiden　beauty；　with　the　childlike　expression　of　her　noble　features；　with　eyes　that　beamed　with　pleasure　and　inspirationthere　arose　such　a　storm　of　applause　that　Natalie　slightly　trembled；　and　with　a　sweet　smile　she　said　to　Carlo：　〃The　people　here　are　much　more　boisterous　than　the　zephyrs　in　our　garden；　but　they　are　not　so　melodious；　and　it　almost　saddens　the　heart！〃

Cardinal　Bernis　now　approached　with　the　silver　vase。　On　this　occasion　he　had　taken　it　upon　himself　to　collect　the　themes；　and　with　a　respectful　bow　he　handed　them　to　the　princess。　With　a　gracious　smile　she　took　one　of　the　papers　and　unfolded　it。　The　subject　was；　〃Longing　for　home。〃

That　was　a　theme　well　calculated　to　inspire　Natalie；　and　to　reawaken　in　her　all　her　longings；　sorrows；　loves；　and　remembrances。　She　suddenly　felt　something　like　a　cold　shudder　in　her　heart；　and　glancing　around　with　a　feeling　of　solitude　and　desertion；　she　saw　nothing　but　curious　faces　and　strange；　staring　eyes！　She；　also；　was　repudiated　and　homeless；　and　an　excessive　longing　for　the　distant　unknown　home　of　her　childhood　now　took　possession　of　her。

Perhaps　Carlo　had　read　her　thoughts　upon　her　brow；　low　and　plaintive　melodies　poured　from　his　harp；　as　it　were　the　rustling　murmurs　of　far…　off　remembrances；　the　sighing　and　sobbing　of　a　yearning　heart。　And　Natalie；　carried　away　by　these　tones；　forgetful　of　all　around　her；　mindful　only　of　the　happiness　of　her　childhood　and　of　the　lady　she　had　so　dearly　loved；　began　to　sing。

Of　what　she　said　and　what　she　sang　she　was　unconscious。　She　stood　there　as　if　elevated　by　inward　inspiration；　her　eyes　flashed　as　she　stared　into　the　far　distance；　and　the　images　she　saw　there　caused　her　to　smile　and　weep　at　the　same　time；　all　the　glow；　all　the　childlike　purity　of　her　soul；　came　in　words　from　her　lips　in　a　stream　of　inspiration；　of　painful　ecstasy！

She　saw　nothing；　heard　nothing！　She　saw　not　the　ladies　weeping　with　emotion；　not　the　rapturous　glances　of　the　men；　she　had　entirely　forgotten　all　those　strange；　unknown　people；　and　when　the　constantly　increasing　storm　of　applause　finally　reminded　her　of　them；　it　was　all　over　with　her　inspirationthe　words　died　upon　her　lips；　and　with　a　sad　smile　she　hastened　to　the　conclusion。

And　now　arose　a　shout　and　an　outbreak　of　rapture　which　caused　Natalie　to　tremble　with　anxious　timidity。　She　cast　a　searching　glance　around　her；　it　seemed　to　her　that　Paulo　must　come　to　her　relief；　that　he　must　rescue　and　redeem　her　from　the　enthusiastic　and　flattering　men　who　surrounded　her。　She　saw　him　not！　Where　was　Paulo；　where　was　Carlo？　These　inquisitive　lord　cardinals　had　formed　a　circle　around　her；　she　seemed　to　herself　a　prisoner；　it　alarmed　her　to　thus　find　herself　the　central　point　of　all　these　attractions。

Not　far　from　her　stood　Corilla；　with　glowing　cheeks　and　anger…flashing　eyes。

〃I　will　avenge　this　affront　or　die！〃　thought　she；　as；　grasping　Albani's　hand　with　convulsive　violence；　she　whispered　to　him：　〃Free　me　from　this　woman；　and　I　will　realize　all　your　wishes。〃

Francesco　Albani　smiled。　〃Then　you　are　mine；　Corilla；　and　no　power　on　earth　shall　take　you　from　me。　That　child　is　dead。　See；　see　how　she　makes　herself　a　path　through　the　crowdah；　it　is　too　sultry　for　her　here　in　the　hall；　she　approaches　the　garden　door；　she　slips　out。　Ah；　give　me　your　hand；　Corilla。　Yet　a　few　moments　and　the　fairest　woman　on　earth　is　mine！〃

Light　as　a　gazelle；　timid　and　trembling；　Natalie　had　fled　the　crowd；　and　now；　stepping　out　into　the　garden；　she　breathed　easier；　it　seeming　to　her　that　she　had　escaped　a　danger。

〃This　night　air　will　cool　and　refresh　me；　and　I　shall　soon　succeed　in　finding　Paulo；〃　thought　she；　constantly　wandering　farther　and　farther　into　the　garden。　But　the　brightness　of　the　illuminated　alleys　annoyed　her。　A　more　obscure　and　secluded　path　opening；　Natalie　entered　it。　Ah；　she　needed　solitude　and　stillness；　and　what　knew　she；　this　simple；　harmless　child　of　Naturewhat　knew　she　whether　it　was　proper　and　seemly　for　a　young　woman　thus　alone　to　venture　into　these　dark　walks？　She　knew　not　that　she　incurred　any　risk；　or　that　one　needed　protection　among　people！

Even　farther　resounded　the　noise　of　the　festivalthe　clang　of　the　music　sounded　fainter　and　fainter。　Natalie　wandered　farther　and　farther；　happy　because　alone！

Alone？　What；　then；　was　it　that　noiselessly　and　cautiously　haunted　her　steps；　following　every　movement　she　made；　constantly　nearing　her　the　farther　she　found　herself；　as　she　supposed；　from　all　other　living　beings？　What　was　it　inaudibly　creeping　through　the　bushes；　even　its　dark　shadow　imperceptible；　that　followed　her　like　a　ghost？

It　became　stiller　and　stiller；　and　nearer　crept　the　gloomy　form　that　lurked　in　her　steps。　Now　with　a　sudden　spring　he　rushes　upon　the　maiden。　What　gleams　in　his　hand？　It　is　a　dagger。　He　swings　it　high；　that　he　may　sink　it　deep。　Then　some　one　rushes　from　the　bushes；　seizes　the　murderer's　arm；　wrests　the　dagger　from　his　hand；　hurls　him　to　the　earth；　and　a　dear；　well…known　voice　cries：　〃Fly；　Natalie；　fly　quickly　to　Count　Paulo！　This　serpent　will　no　longer　follow　you！　I　have　him　fast；　the　assassin！〃

And　Carlo　broke　out　into　a　happy　and　triumphant　laugh。

Natalie　made　no　answer；　she　was　paralyzed　with　terror；　there　was　a　roaring　in　her　ears；　it　darkened　before　her　eyes；　and　she　fell　senseless　to　the　earth！

But　her　disarmed　murderer　sought　to　free　himself　from　Carlo's　grasp。　Struggling　with　his　captor；　he　finally　succeeded　in　half　rising。　Carlo　thought　not　of　his　own　danger；　but　only　of　Natalie's；　and　it　was　only　on　her　account　that　he　now　loudly　called　for　help；　at　the　same　time　exerting　a　superhuman　strength　to　hold　on　upon　his　prisoner。

Voices　were　heard；　lights　approached；　and　Paulo's　cry　of　anguish　resounded。

〃Here；　here！〃　anxiously　cried　Carlo；　his　strength　already　beginning　to　fail　him。　And　his　call　being　recognized；　people　soon　came　with　lights。　Count　Paulo　was　already　distinguishable；　already　Cardinal　Bernis；　with　a　light　in　his　hand；　was　hastening　on　in　advance　of　the　rest。

With　a　last　powerful　effort　the　prisoner　succeeded　in　freeing　himself。

〃She　is　saved　for　this　time；　but　my　dagger　will　yet　make　her　acquaintance！〃　said　he；　with　a　scornful　laugh；　and　like　a　serpent　he　glided　away　among　the　bushes。

〃She　is　saved！〃　cried　Carlo；　sinking　back　toward　Count　Paulo；　and　pointing　with　a　happy　smile　to　Natalie；　who；　awaking　from　her　momentary　stupefaction；　stretched　forth　her　arms　toward　the　count。

〃Paulo；〃　she　whispered　low；　〃let　us　hasten　from　here！　I　dread　these　people！　I　fear　them！　Let　us　go！　But　t