"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.

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"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!




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