Whoever touches her is lost--my arm will reach him! Say that
to your friends, and tell them that the Russian count keeps his word.
Four thousand sequins are yours in four weeks, if until then the
princess meets with no accident. Away with you, and forget not my
words!"
"Ah, these words, your excellency, are worth four thousand sequins, and
these one does not so easily forget!" said the bandit, leaving the room.
Again the count rang, and ordered his private secretary, Stephano, to be
called.
"Stephano," said the count to him, "the first step is taken toward the
accomplishment of our object. The work must succeed; I have pledged
my word for it to the empress, and who can say that Alexis Orloff ever
failed to redeem his word? This princess is mine! Count Paulo Rasczinsky
is just now leaving Rome, and she has no one to protect her!"
"But it is not yet to be said that she is already yours!" said Stephano,
shrugging his shoulders. "As you will not employ force, your excellency,
you must have recourse to stratagem. I have hit upon a plan, of which I
think you will approve. They describe this so-called little princess
as exceedingly innocent and confiding. Let us take advantage of her
confiding innocence--that will be best! Now hear my plan.
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