"
"Of what consequence would that be?" she sadly responded. "Who would ask
whether I was ill nor not? Who would weep for my death?"
"He!"
"Oh, he!" sighed she. "He hates all women!"
"Excepting you!" whispered Ribas. "Princess, go into the house! Take
care of your precious life. It is not I who beg it of you!"
"Who is it then?" she hastily interposed.
"It is he! He begs it of you!"
Natalie, springing up, hurried into the house.
"I will never again go into the garden in the evening!" said she. "It is
his command! Thank God, there is yet something in which I can obey, and
he commands it of me! But why these lights?" asked she, almost blinded
by the brilliancy of the girandoles and chandeliers, the mirrors, and
jewels.
"The count has so commanded!" said Ribas. "He loves a bright light! But,
princess, cannot you remain in this boudoir for one evening? Only see
how beautiful it is, how enticingly cool, with these fountains that
refresh the air and diffuse fragrance! How delightfully still and snug
it is! Reposing upon these velvet cushions, you can look through the
whole suite of rooms, which in fact, tonight, flash and sparkle like the
heavens, and yet in this boudoir there is a sweet twilight, refreshing
to eye and heart!"
"No, no," said she, with a charming smile.
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