Part 76 (1/2)
”Bring me pen, ink, and paper, a burning candle and sealing-wax,” she said to the footman who entered.
In a few minutes every thing had been brought to her, and Marianne hastily wrote a few lines. She then drew the seal-ring from her finger and affixed her seal to the paper, which she handed to the major.
”Read it aloud,” she said.
The major read:
”I promise to Major von Brandt, in case he should procure me an interview with the Emperor Napoleon, to pay him for every minute of this interview a louis-d'or as a token of my grat.i.tude.”
”MARIANNE, PRINCESS VON EIBENBERG.”
”Are you content and convinced?” asked the princess.
”I am, your highness.”
”And you will and can procure me this interview?”
”I will and can do so.”
”When will you conduct me to Schonbrunn?”
The major reflected some time, and seemed to make a calculation. ”I hope to be able to procure for your highness to-morrow evening an interview with the emperor,” he said. ”I am quite well acquainted with M. de Bausset, intendant of the palace, and I besides know Constant, his majesty's valet de chambre. These are the two channels through which the wish of your highness will easily reach the emperor, and as his majesty is a great admirer of female beauty, he will a.s.suredly be ready to grant the audience applied for.”
”Will you bring me word to-day?” asked Marianne.
”Yes, princess, to-day. I will immediately repair to Schonbrunn. The emperor arrived there yesterday.”
”Hasten, then,” said Marianne, rising from her seat--”hasten to Schonbrunn, and remember that I am waiting for your return with trembling impatience and suspense.”
She gave her hand to the major.
”Good Heaven, your highness!” he exclaimed, in terror, ”your hand is as cold as marble.”
”All my blood is here,” she said, pointing to her heart. ”Hasten to Schonbrunn.”
He imprinted a kiss on her hand and left the room.
Marianne smiled until the door had closed behind him. Then her features underwent a sudden change, and a.s.sumed an air of horror and contempt.
”Oh, these miserable men, these venal souls!” she muttered. ”They measure every thing by their own standard, and cannot comprehend the longings and schemes of a great soul. Accursed be all those who turn traitors to their country and adhere to its enemies! May the wrath of G.o.d and the contempt of their fellow-creatures punish them! But I will use the traitors as tools for the purpose of accomplis.h.i.+ng the sacred task which the misfortunes of Germany have obliged me to undertake. I will put my house in order, that I may be ready when the hour has come.”
Madame Camilla was right, indeed; something was going on, and she was able to collect important news for the French governor.
The Princess von Eibenberg, since her interview with the major, had been a prey to a feverish agitation and impatience which caused her to wander restlessly through the various rooms of her mansion. At length, toward evening, the major returned, and the news he had brought must have been highly welcome, for the countenance of the princess had been ever since radiant with joy, and a wondrous smile was constantly playing on her lips.
During the following night she was incessantly engaged in writing, and Madame Camilla as well as the maid were waiting in vain for their mistress to call them; the princess did not leave her cabinet, and did not go to bed at all. Early next morning she took a ride in her carriage, and Madame Camilla, who had heretofore invariably accompanied the princess on her rides, was ordered to stay at home. When Marianne returned after several hours, she was pale and exhausted, and her eyes showed that she had wept. Then officers of the city courts made their appearance, and asked to see the princess, stating that she had sent for them. The princess locked her room while conferring with them, and the officers withdrew only after several hours. At the dinner-table, to which, by her express orders, no guests had been admitted to-day, she scarcely touched any food, and seemed absorbed in deep reflections.
Soon after dinner she repaired to her dressing-room, and never before had she been so particular and careful in choosing the various articles of her costume; never before had she watched her toilet with so much attention and anxiety. At last the work was finished, and the princess looked radiantly beautiful in her crimson velvet dress, floating behind her in a long train, and fastened under her bosom, only half veiled by a clear lace collar, by means of a wide, golden sash. Her hair, framing her expansive brow in a few black ringlets a la Josephine, was tied up in a Greek knot, adorned with pearls and diamonds. Similar jewels surrounded her queenly neck and the splendidly-shaped snow-white arms.
Her cheeks were transparently pale to-day, and a gloomy, sinister fire was burning in her large black eyes.