Part 38 (1/2)
A few steps in front of her stood a _n.o.ble venitien_.
He wore a black hat with feathers, a black velvet dress, a small mask and a golden chain. Around him swarmed many masques.
Cosel recognized Augustus--Hercules and Apollo that he was, there was no mistaking him. She hesitated for a moment--then went up to him.
Although her dark domino disguised her well, it could not entirely conceal her ident.i.ty from any one who knew her well. The King glanced at her and s.h.i.+vered, but did not wish to believe his own eyes.
Cosel pa.s.sed him casually several times. Augustus drew towards her and made as if he would speak to her, but fear held him back. She challenged him with a look, and he went up to her.
The conversation began in French; the Countess changed her voice, which was trembling. Augustus did not take that trouble, and began to look at her attentively.
”Upon my honour,” said he, ”beautiful mask, I flatter myself that I know every one of you here, but--”
”You do not know me.”
”And do you know who I am?”
”Yes, I know you.”
”Who, then, am I?”
Her voice trembled, then the words flew straight to his ear,--
”An executioner.”
The King drew himself up haughtily.
”A bad joke,” said he.
”No, an honest truth!”
”If you know who I am,” said he, ”but dare to speak that way to me, then I would say that I too know who you are; but it cannot be.”
”No, you do not know me,” said Cosel, laughing.
”That is what I think. You cannot be the one whom I take you for, for that one would not dare to come here without my permission.”
”A woman would not dare to come here?” said Cosel. ”A woman would ask your permission?”
And she laughed.
The King s.h.i.+vered, as if he recognized the laugh; he seized her hand, but she withdrew it quickly.
”Beautiful mask,” said Augustus, ”you perplex me, and you pretend to know me.”
”No, I do not know you,” answered Cosel. ”Some time ago I knew somebody who resembled you; but that one had a n.o.ble heart and the soul of a hero, while you--”
The King became angry.
”Mask,” cried he, ”this surpa.s.ses the limits of carnival freedom.”