The Daughter of an Empress

And, placing his dark lantern upon a table, he draws forth his picklock

and chisels, and commences breaking open the bureau. Right--this

thievish instinct has not deceived him, he has found all, all. Here is

the little box of sparkling diamonds, and here the full purses of money.

With a knavish smile, Joseph Ribas conceals the brilliants in his bosom,

and deposits the money in his capacious pockets.

"It is a pity that this is not mine," he muttered with a grin, "but

toward this count I must act as an honorable thief, and I have promised

to bring it all truly to him."

The work is completed, the malicious criminal act is performed. He can

now go, can again creep away from the house his feet have soiled.

Why does he not? Why does he linger in these rooms? Why directs he such

wild and eager glances to the door behind which Natalie sleeps?

He cannot withstand the temptation, and even at the risk of awaking

Natalie, he must see her once more! And, moreover, what had he to fear

from an isolated young girl? He will only have one more look at her.

Nothing more!

He noiselessly pushes back the bolt; noiselessly, upon tiptoe, with

closed lantern, he creeps into the room and to Natalie's bedside.

She is wonderfully beautiful, and she smiles in her slumber. How

charming is that placid face, that half-uncovered shoulder, that arm

thrown up over her head, where it is half concealed under her luxuriant

locks! Wonderfully beautiful is she. Dares he to touch that arm and

breathe a kiss, a very light kiss, upon those fragrant lips? Why not? No

one sees him, nor will Count Alexis Orloff ever know that his commands

have been disobeyed.

But as he bent down, as his breath comes only in light contact with her

cheek, she stirs! Maiden modesty never slumbers; it watches over the

sleeping girl, it protects her. It is her good genius who never deserts

her.

Drawing herself up, Natalie opens her eyes and starts up from her couch.

Then she sees a large, threatening masculine form close before her,

close before her that wildly-laughing face.

A shriek of terror and anguish bursts from her lips, and in a tone of

alarm she calls: "Carlo, Carlo! Help! help! Carlo! Save--"

More she did not say. With a wild rage, angry, and ashamed of his own

folly, Joseph Ribas rushes upon her.

"One more cry!" he threateningly said--"one more call for help, and I

will murder you!"

But at this moment a small curtained door which Ribas had not remarked

and hence not fastened, was suddenly opened, and Carlo rushed in.

"I am here, Natalie!--I am here!"

Rushing upon the stranger, and grasping him with gigantic strength, he

thrust him down from the bed.