She
felt herself surrounded by a dreamy, magic, fantastic, supernatural
life; it seemed as if some invisible genius hovered over her, listening
to all her thoughts, realizing all her wishes! And Joseph Ribas was the
merry, always-cheerful, always-serious Kobold of this invisible deity!
"My lord is not satisfied with the modest furnishing of your villa,"
said he to Natalie, on the first day. "He begs to be allowed to adorn
your chamber with a splendor suited to your rank and your future
greatness!"
"And in what is my future greatness to consist?" asked the young maiden,
with curiosity.
"That will be made known to you at the proper time," mysteriously
replied Joseph Ribas.
"Who will tell me?"
"He, the count."
"I shall therefore see him!" she joyfully exclaimed.
"Perhaps! Will you, however, first allow me to have your room properly
furnished?"
"This villa belongs to your lord," said Natalie. "It is for him, as lord
and master, to do as he pleases in it."
And satisfied, Ribas hastened away, to return in a few hours with more
than fifty workmen and artists, in order to commence the improvements.
Until now the villa had been finished and furnished with simple
elegance.
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