The Daughter of an Empress

A dark flush of anger now overspread her cheeks, and threateningly

raising her hands, with compressed lips she continued: "And to desert me

for another woman--me, the pride and delight of all Rome; me, whom all

the princes and cardinals worship! Ah, while thousands lie at my feet,

imploring for a glance or a smile, this little, unknown singer dares to

scorn me and deride my love!"

"And why should he not dare it?" asked a voice behind her, and the face

of a young man became visible.

"Carlo!" she cried, hastening to meet him with outspread arms.

He almost ungently checked her. "You forget," said he, "that this

little, insignificant, and unknown singer loves you no longer, Corilla!

Grant, then, henceforth to the thousands who languish at your feet a few

of your enticing smiles and glowing glances--I have nothing against it,

and am not at all jealous!"

"But you should be!" cried she, stamping her feet with rage. "I tell you

I will not suffer you to leave me; I will be loved by you, and no one

shall you dare to look at, and no one shall you dare to love, but me

alone."

Carlo broke out into a scornful laugh, and then seriously and proudly

said: "I am a Neapolitan, and with us men do not allow themselves to be

constrained to love, and no woman there dares utter the command, 'Thou

shalt love me!'--I will not, Signora Corilla!"

"You will not!" screamed she, gnashing her teeth. "Then woe to you and

to her!"

"I fear no serpents!" said Carlo, laughing, "and if an adder attempts to

sting me, I tread it under foot!"

"But fear at least for her you love!" she threateningly said. "Oh, you

think I shall not be able to discover this secret love of yours, and

not spy out this new divinity to whom you have consecrated your heart?

Tremble therefore now, for I know her! I know the garden in which she

lives, and there is a place in the wall just opposite her favorite seat;

whoever knows that place and possesses a steady hand and a sharp dagger

will know how to hurl it so as to pierce her bosom."

Carlo felt a deadly terror, he felt his heart stand still, but he

collected himself and said, with a contemptuous smile: "Cardinal

Francesco Albani indeed possesses among his bravi many such skilful

hands, and surely it will not require many of your highly-prized glances

to induce him to favor you with the loan of one of them."

The signora slightly bit her lips. "You mock me," she almost sadly

said, "and yet you should remember that it is only love that makes me

so savage and fills my heart with a thirst for vengeance! Carlo, I so

warmly love you!"