"You must entirely intoxicate her
with your humble and respectful love--then is she yours!"
"Does she know I am coming?" thoughtfully asked Orloff.
"No, she knows nothing of it. She sits in the garden and sighs,
occasionally grasping the golden guitar that lies on her arm, and asks
of the flowers: 'What is the name of my unknown friend? In what star
does he dwell, and how shall I invoke him?'"
"I will, then, surprise her!" said Orloff. "Let her anticipate my
coming, but do not promise it. It begins to grow dark. Where is she,
evenings?"
"Always in the garden. There she sighs and dreams of you!"
"Persuade her to go into the house, and let it be well lighted up!
I would appear to her in the full splendor of the lights! Ha, you
ragamuffins, you hounds, bring me my oriental costume, the richest,
handsomest; hasten, or I will throttle you!"
And Count Orloff hurried into his toilet-chamber, to the trembling
slaves who there awaited him.
With a sly smile Joseph Ribas returned to the villa. As he had
previously said, he found Natalie dreaming in the garden, the guitar
upon her arm.
"You ought to go into the house this evening," said he, "the air is damp
and cold, and may injure you.
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