re。〃
  〃You　shall　find　him　with　me；〃　said　she；　〃and　if　not；　I　shall　at　least　be　able　to　tell　you　where　he　is。　Fear　nothing；　he　shall　not　escape！　I　am　his　guard！　When　you　receive　the　reply　of　the　king；　have　the　goodness　to　inform　me。　This　is　the　only　reward　I　demand。〃　＇Footnote：　D'Argens　wrote　to　the　king：　〃Si　votre　majeste　ne　m'avait　point　ecrit　en　propres　termes。　Quoique　cette　femme　puisse　vous　dire；　gardez…vous　bien　d'y　ajouter　foi。　J'anrai　prie　le　commandant　de　faire　arreter　le　nomme　Ranuzi　jusqu'a　ce　qu'elle　eut　mande　ce　qu'elle　veut　qu'on　en　fasse；　cet　homme　me　paraissant　un　espion　de　plus　aeres。　Mais　je　me　suis　contente　de　dire　a　Madame　Taliszuchi　que　si　cet　homme　sortait　de　Berlin；　avant　la　response　de　votre　majeste　elle　en　repondrait；　et　elle　m'a　assure　qu'elle　le　retiendrait。〃　CEuvres；　vol。　xix。；　p。　93。＇
  〃I　will　inform　you；　madame；〃　said　the　marquis；　opening　the　door；　〃and；　as　to　the　Count　Ranuzi；　I　read　in　your　features　that　you　hate　him　with　a　bitter　hatred；　and　will　not　allow　him　to　escape。〃
  CHAPTER　VIII。
  REVENGE。
  Five　days　had　passed　since　Marietta's　interview　with　the　marquis。　They　had　wrought　no　change　in　her　heart；　not　for　a　single　instant　had　her　thirst　for　revenge　been　allayed。　Her　hatred　of　Ranuzi　seemed　to　have　become　more　intense；　more　passionate；　since　she　understood　his　planssince　she　had　learned　that　he　had　never　loved　her；　and　that　she　was　merely　the　instrument　of　his　intrigues。　Since　that　time　she　had　watched　his　every　thought　and　deed。
  One　day　while　apparently　embracing　him；　and　whispering　words　of　endearment　in　his　ear；　she　had　secretly　drawn　a　folded　paper　from　his　pocket；　which　had　just　been　brought　to　him　by　a　strange　servant　who；　having　vainly　sought　him　at　his　own　house；　had　followed　him　to　that　of　Marietta。　Having　thus　obtained　the　paper；　she　made　an　excuse　for　leaving　the　room　in　order　to　inspect　it。　She　carefully　closed　the　door　of　the　room　in　which　Ranuzi　sat；　and　then　examined　the　paper。　After　reading　it；　she　drew　her　note…book　from　her　pocket；　and　hastily　tearing　out　a　leaf；　she　wrote　upon　it　with　a　pencil。　〃Lose　no　time；　if　you　do　not　wish　him　to　escape。　He　has　received　to…day；　through　the　agency　of　Madame　du　Trouffle；　the　necessary　passport　and　permission　to　go　to　Magdeburg。　I　have　no　longer　the　power　to　detain　him。　What　is　done　must　be　done　quickly。〃
  She　folded　the　paper　and　passed　cautiously　through　the　hall　and　into　the　kitchen　where　her　maid　was。　〃Listen；　Sophie；〃　she　said；　〃take　this　note　and　go　as　quickly　as　you　can　to　the　castle　and　ask　for　the　Marquis　d'Argens。　You　must　give　the　note　into　his　own　hands；　and　if　you　bring　me　an　answer　within　the　hour；　I　will　reward　you　as　if　I　were　a　queen。　Do　not　speak；　only　go。〃
  The　maid　hurried　down　the　steps；　and　Marietta　returned；　smilingly；　to　Ranuzi；　who　received　her　with　reproaches　for　her　long　absence。
  〃I　have　arranged　a　little　supper　for　us；　and　have　sent　my　maid　to　obtain　some　necessary　articles。　You　will　not　leave　me　to…day；　as　you　always　do；　to　go　to　your　conference　with　the　Catholic　priest。〃
  〃I　would　not；　Marietta；　but　I　must；〃　said　Ranuzi。　〃Believe　me；　my　dear　child；　if　I　followed　the　dictates　of　my　heart；　I　would　never　leave　this　room；　which　in　my　thoughts　I　always　call　my　paradise；　and　in　which　I　enjoy　my　only　bright　and　happy　moments。　But　what　would　you　have；　my　angel？　It　is　not　ordained　that　men　should　have　undisturbed　possession　of　the　joys　of　paradise。　Mother　Eve　sinned；　and　we　must　expiate　her　misdeeds。　I　must　leave　you　again　to…day　to　join　that　conference　which　you　so　heartily　detest。〃
  〃But　not　yet；〃　she　said；　tenderly；　putting　her　arms　about　his　neck。　〃You　will　not　leave　me　yet？〃
  Thus　besought；　he　promised　to　remain。　Never　was　he　more　amiable；　more　brilliant；　more　attentive；　or　more　tender。　Never　was　Marietta　gayer；　more　excited；　or　more　enchanting。　Both　had　their　reasons　for　thisboth　had　their　intentions。　Love　smiled　upon　their　lips；　but　it　was　not　in　their　heartseach　wished　to　deceive　the　other。　Ranuzi　wished　to　quiet　every　suspicion　by　his　tendernessshe　must　not　dream　that　this　was　their　last　meeting；　and　that　he　intended　leaving　Berlin　this　night；　perhaps　forever。　Marietta　wished　to　chain　him　to　her　side　and　prevent　his　departure。
  Time　flew　by　amid　gay　laughter　and　tender　jests；　and　at　length　Marietta　heard　the　house…door　open　and　hurried　steps　mounting　the　stairway。　It　was　the　maid　who　had　returned。　Marietta's　heart　beat　so　violently　that　she　could　scarcely　conceal　her　emotion。
  〃The　maid　has　returned　with　her　purchases；〃　she　said；　hastily；　〃I　will　go　out　and　tell　her　that　you　cannot　remain　with　me　to…day。〃　She　left　the　room　and　met　Sophie　in　the　hall；　who　was　quite　out　of　breath　with　her　hurried　walk；　and　who　handed　her　a　note。　Marietta　broke　the　seal　with　trembling　hands。　It　contained　only　these　words：　〃Keep　him　but　a　few　moments　longer；　and　one　will　arrive　who　will　release　you　from　your　watch；　and　relieve　you　forever　from　your　enemy　by　bearing　him　to　prison。　The　answer　of　the　one　to　whom　I　sent　your　paper　has　come；　he　is　condemned。〃
  〃Very　well；　Sophie；〃　said　Marietta；　concealing　the　paper　in　her　bosom。　〃When　the　count　leaves；　you　shall　receive　your　reward。　Now　listen；　the　soldiers　are　coming。　As　soon　as　you　hear　them　on　the　steps；　you　must　tap　at　my　door；　that　I　may　know　they　have　arrived。〃
  She　hastened　back　to　Ranuzi；　but　she　no　longer　smiledshe　no　longer　approached　him　with　open　armsbut　she　advanced　toward　him　with　flashing　eyes；　with　her　arms　folded　haughtily　across　her　breast；　and　her　countenance　pale　with　passion。
  〃Ranuzi；　the　hour　of　revenge　has　come！　You　have　most　shamefully　betrayed　and　deceived　meyou　have　mocked　my　loveyou　have　trodden　my　heart　under　foot。　Lies　were　upon　your　lipslies　were　in　your　heart。　And　whilst　you　swore　to　me　that　you　loved　no　other；　you　had　already　betrayed　me　to　a　woman。　I　am　acquainted　with　Madame　du　Trouffle；　and　I　know　that　you　visit　her　every　evening。　This　was　the　conference　with　the　Catholic　fathers；　for　whose　sake　you　left　me。　Oh；　I　know　allall！　I　will　not　reproach　you；　I　will　not　tell　you　of　the　martyrdom　I　sufferedof　the　wretched　days　and　nights　through　which　I　wept　and　sighed；　until　at　length　I　overcame　the　love　I　had　borne　you。　That　suffering　is　passed。　But　you　have　not　forgotten　that　I　once　said　to　you：　'Should　you　forsake　me；　or　turn　faithlessly　from　me；　I　will　be　revenged。'〃
  〃I　have　not　forgotten；〃　said　Ranuzi；　〃and　I　know　that　you　will　fulfil　your　promise；　but　before　you　do　sobefore　you　point　me　out　to　the　government　as　a　dangerous　spyyou　will　listen　to　my　defence；　and　only　then　if　you　are　not　satisfied；　will　you　condemn　me；　and　revenge　yourself。〃
  〃I　have　all…sufficient　proof；〃　she　said。　〃Day　by　day；　hour　by　hour；　have　these　proofs　been　forced　upon　me；　as　the　contents　of　the　poisoned　cup　are　forced　upon　the　condemned　man。　My　love　and　happiness　are　dead；　but　you　also　shall　dieyou　also　shall　suffer　as　I　have　done。　My　love　was　insufficient　to　keep　for　me　a　place　in　your　memory；　perhaps　my　revenge　will　do　so。　When　you　are　wretched　and　miserable；　think　of　me　and　repent。〃
  〃Repent　of　what？〃　he　asked；　proudly。〃　I　have　done　nothing　of　which　I　am　ashamednothing　of　which　I　repent。　I　have　offered　up　my　entire　life；　my　every　thought　and　desire；　to　a　holy；　a　noble　cause。　To　it　I　have　subjected　all　my　feelings；　wishes；　and　hopes；　and　had　it　been　necessary；　I　would　without　tears　have　sacrificed　all　that　was　dearest　to　me　on　earth。　It　became　necessary　for　the　good　of　this　cause　that　I　should　appear　to　betray　your　love。　A　plan　had　been　formed　in　which　this　woman　you　have　just　named　could　alone　aid　me。　I　dared　not　ask　my　heart　what　it　suffered；　for　my　head　told　me　that　this　woman　was　necessary　to　me；　and　it　became　my　duty　to　obtain　her　assistance　by　any　means。　So　I　became　the　daily　companion　of　Madame　du　Trouffle；　so〃
  A　light　tap　at　the　door　interrupted　the　count；　and　startled　him　inexplicably。
  〃What　does　that　mean？〃　he　asked；　turning　pale。
  Marietta　laughed　aloud。　〃That　means；〃　she　said；　slowly　and　scornfully；　〃that　you　will　not　go　to　Magdeburg　to…morrowthat　you　cannot　make　use　of　the　passport　which　your　beloved　Madame　du　Trouffle　obtained　for　you。　Ah；　you　wished　to　leave　me　secretlyyou　did　not　wish　me　to　suspect　your　intended　departure。　You　were　mistaken；　Ranuzi。　You　will　remain　in　Berlin；　but　you　will　never　go　to　her　again。　I　will　prevent　that。〃
  At　this　moment　loud　knocking　was　heard　at　the　door；　and　two　policemen　entered　the　room　without　waiting　for　an　invitation；　and　through　the　open　door　armed　soldiers　might　be　seen　in　the　hall　guarding　the　entrance。
  When　Ranuzi　first　beheld　these　servants　of　justice；　he　shuddered　and　became　deathly　pale；　but　as　they　approached　him；　he　recovered　his　wonted　composure；　and　advanced　proudly　and　coldly　to　meet　them。
  〃Are　you　Count　Ranuzi？〃　asked　one　of　the　policemen。
  〃I　am；〃　he　said；　calmly。
  〃I　arrest　you　in　the　name　of　the　king；　you　are　our　prisoner。〃
  〃With　what　offence　am　I　charged？〃　asked　he；　as　he　slowly　placed　his　hand　in　his　bosom。
  〃The　court…martial　will　inform　you。〃
  〃Ah；　I　am　to　be　tried　by　a　court…martial。　Spies　and　conspirators　are　always　thus　tried。　I　am　charged　then　with　spying　and　conspiring；〃　cried　Ranuzi；　and　then　slowly　turning　to　Marietta；　he　asked：