"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: "Iwould 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 Iraise 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 Ibelieve 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.
