“You, then, do not believe me!” he asked aloud.
“No,” said she, with a glad smile—“no, all the happiness I ever expect, all the good that may hereafter come to me, I shall receive only from the hands of Alexis Orloff!”
“Poor child!” sighed the cardinal. “In many a case even death may prove a blessing!”
“Then will I also joyfully receive even that from his hands!” cried the young maiden, with enthusiasm.
“It is in vain, she is not to be helped!” murmured the cardinal, with a melancholy shake of the head, and, grasping the hand of the young maiden, with a compassionate glance at her fair face, he continued: “I would gladly aid you, and thereby expiate the evil you once suffered at my festival! But you will not consent to be aided. You rush to your destruction, and it is your noblest qualities, your innocence, and your generous confidence, which are preparing your ruin! May God bless you and preserve you! How glad I should be to find myself a liar and false prophet!”
“And you will so find yourself!” exclaimed Natalie.
“You believe it, because you are in love, and when a woman loves she believes in the object of her love, and smilingly offers up her life for him! Like all women, you will do so! You will sacrifice your life to your love; and when this barbarian thrusts the dagger in your heart, you will say with a smile: ‘I did it! I, myself—‘”
And, bowing to her with a sad smile, slowly and sighing, the cardinal left the room.
Some hours later came Alexis Orloff. Natalie received him with an expression of the purest pleasure, and, extending both hands to him, smilingly said:
“Know you yet what my mother said to her lover?”