The Daughter of an Empress

Thus speaking, he returned to the soldiers, and in a low tone exchanged

some words with their leader. The latter bowed respectfully, and at his

signal the soldiers shut the gate and retired into the street.

"Am I to be detained here as a prisoner?" exclaimed Natalie. "Am I not

allowed to leave this garden?"

"Your grace, preliminarily, can still consider this garden as your own

property," he respectfully responded. "I am commanded to watch that no

one dare to disturb you here, and for this purpose my lord respectfully

requests that you will have the goodness to permit me to remain in your

house as the guardian of your safety."

"And who is this generous man?" asked Natalie.

"He is a man who has made a solemn vow to protect innocence everywhere,

when he finds it threatened!" solemnly responded Joseph Ribas. "He is

a man who is ready to shed his blood for the Princess Tartaroff, who

is surrounded by enemies and dangers; a man," he continued, in a lower

tone, "who knows and loves your friend and guardian, Count Paulo, and

will soon bring you secret and sure news from him!"

"He knows Count Paulo!" joyfully exclaimed Natalie. "Oh, then all is

well. I may safely confide in whoever knows and loves Count Paulo, for

he must bear in his bosom a noble heart!"

And turning to Joseph Ribas with a charming smile, she said, "Sir, lead

me now where you will. We will both gladly follow you!"

"Let us, first of all, go into the villa, and send away those

troublesome people!" said the Russian officer, preceding the two women

to the house.

The bailiffs and soldiers were still there, occupied with sealing the

doors and closets. Joseph Ribas approached them with angry glances, and,

turning to Stephano, said, "Sir, I shall call you to account for this

over-hasty and illegal proceeding!"

"I am in my right!" morosely answered Stephano. "Here is the command to

attach this villa. It has fallen to the Russian crown as the property of

the traitor Rasczinsky."

"There is only the one error to be corrected," said Joseph Ribas, "that

this villa was not the property of Count Rasczinsky, as he some months

ago sold it to his friend, my master. And as, so far as I know, the

illustrious count, my master, never was a traitor, you will please to

respect his property!"

"You will have first to authenticate your assertions!" responded

Stephano, with a rude laugh.

"Here is the documental authentication!" said Joseph Ribas, handing a

paper to Stephano. The latter, after attentively reading the documents,

bowed reverentially, and said: "Sir, it appears that I was certainly

mistaken. This deed of gift is en regle, and is undersigned by his

grace the Russian ambassador. You will pardon me, as I only acted

according to my orders."