The Daughter of an Empress

It was suddenly lively in the garden. Cecil, Paulo's old servant,

approached from the house, with a lantern in his hand.

He comes down the alley with hasty steps, and with an anxious

countenance approaches his master.

"What is it, Cecil?"

"Two letters, sir, that have just arrived. One comes from the hotel

of the Russian legation, and the other from that of the Lord-Cardinal

Bernis."

Paulo shuddered slightly, and his hand involuntarily grasped after the

first letter, but he suddenly constrained himself, and his glance fell

upon Natalie, whose eyes were fixed with curiosity upon the two letters.

"We will first see what the good Cardinal Bernis writes us!" said

Count Paulo, placing the Russian letter in his pocket with apparent

indifference.

"Bernis?" asked Natalie. "Is not that the French Cardinal, who is at

the same time a poet, and whom the pope, the great Ganganelli, so dearly

loves?"

"The same," said Paulo, "and besides, the same Cardinal Bernis whom

I had months ago promised to allow the pleasure of making your

acquaintance! He already knows you, Natalie, although he has never yet

seen your fair face; he knows you from what I have told him."

"Oh, let us quickly see what the good cardinal writes!" exclaimed

Natalie, clapping her hands with the impatience of a child.

Count Paulo smilingly broke the seal and read the letter.

"You are in truth a witch," said he; "you must have some genius in your

service, who listens to every wish you express, in order to fulfil it

without delay! This letter contains an invitation from the cardinal. He

gives a great entertainment to-morrow, and begs of me that I will bring

you to it. The improvisatrice Corilla will also be there!"

"Oh, then I shall see her!" exclaimed the delighted young maiden. "At

length I shall see a poetess! For we shall go to this entertainment,

shall we not, Paulo?"

The count thoughtfully cast down his eyes, and his hand involuntarily

sought the letter in his pocket. An expression of deep care and anxiety

was visible on his features, and Cecil seemed to divine the thoughts of

his master, for he also looked anxious, and a deep sigh escaped from his

breast.--Natalie perceived nothing of all this! She was wholly occupied

by the thought of seeing Corilla, the great improvisatrice, of whom

Carlo, Natalie's music-teacher, had told her so much, and whose fame was

sounded by children and adults in all the streets of Rome.

"We go to this festival, do we not, Paulo?" repeated she, as the count

still continued silent.

Recovering from his abstraction, he said: "Yes, we will go! It is time

that my Natalie was introduced into this circle of influential Romans,

that she may gain friends among people of importance, who may watch over

and protect her when I no longer can!"