The Daughter of an Empress

"I swear it!" was Corilla's response.

"Listen, then! This Princess Tartaroff is an imposter; no princely blood

flows in her veins, and if she gives herself out to be a princess, it

is because she therewith connects plans of high-treason. More I need not

say to you, except that my illustrious empress has charged me to bring

this fraudulent princess to her at St. Petersburg, that she may there

receive her punishment! This I have sworn to do, and must redeem my

promise to transport her from here, without exciting attention, and

without subjecting her to any personal injury. Do you now comprehend why

I come?"

"I comprehend," said Corilla. "An empress would avenge herself, and

therefore a poor poetess must forego her own little private revenge!

But how, if I should not believe a word of this long story; if I

should consider it a fable invented by you to assure the safety of your

princess?"

"That you may be compelled to believe it, listen further to me."

And Alexis Orloff spoke long and zealously to her, affording her a

glance into his most secret intrigues, into his finely-matured plans,

while Corilla followed him with intense expectation and warmly-glowing

cheeks.

"I comprehend it all, all!" said she, when Alexis had finally ended;

"it is a deep and at the same time an infernal plan--a plan which must

excite the envy and respect of Satan himself!"

"And yourself?" laughingly asked Alexis.

"Oh, I," said she--"I belong, perhaps, to the family of devils, and

therefore take pleasure in aiding you! You need a negotiator who has a

wide conscience and an eloquent tongue! I can furnish you with such

a one. Ah, that will make a droll story. Said you not that the singer

Carlo watched this golden treasure like a dragon? Well, it shall be his

brother who shall contend with this dragon. His own brother--will not

that be pleasant, count?"

"And are you sure of him?" asked Count Orloff. "How if his brother

should win him from us?"

"Have no anxiety; this Carlo Ribas is so virtuous that he hates no one

so much as his brother Joseph, merely because he passed some years in

the galleys for forgery. He is now free, and has secretly come here.

As he was aware that I knew his brother, he came to beg me for my

countenance and support. I will send him to you."

"And you will also not forget my request, that you will in all societies

speak of the great love which the Empress Catharine cherishes for her

near relation, the Princess Tartaroff?"

"I will not forget it. In your hands, count, I lay my revenge--you will

free me from this rival?"

"That will I," said he, with an inhuman laugh. "And when the work is

completed, and you have faithfully stood by me, then, signora, you

may be sure of the gratitude of the empress. Catharine is the exalted

protectress of the muses, and in the fulness of her grace she will not

forget the poetess Corilla. You may expect an imperial reward."