Maria Theresa

F

the empress passed a

ss was over for the day

ehind, and become a wo

onor over t

uring the hours devot

up unreservedly to en

ies of honor were never

d not ruffle the sere

it was to read aloud t

are that she would soo

dispatches from Hunga

perial hai

B

her dressing room, t

and her mouth was wrea

r was delighted, and

epared for her importa

and with her own hand

d her hair. She then le

ontemplated the beautif

med Venetian glass

Ma

g today, Charlo

Yo

from me to look char

ser. "No hairdresser

yar nobles swore to di

were eyes of loyal s

and suc

"

s thirteen years ago. T

y heart since that day

I may think that hatef

cause of

"

ns to repent of then

dmiring smile, "he m

unruffled by a wrink

s brown as e

igh

the empress as she tu

hink I still have beau

ke good use of it toda

im, and I long to find

arlotte, and b

A

hangings before the do

ide, and the Countess

"

the empress, "you a

toilet c

B

owed no disposition

reign. With stiffest

ardon me, your majest

t I have something to

on

"

Maria Theresa anxious

ut speak out – Charlot

you need not be r

Pa

the ceremonious lad

o news of state – I

ty al

T

dilated with fear. "

it be, then? Go, Cha

I reca

T

hairdresser, and the

ck, and speak out wha

give me pain

Yo

me time since," began

, "to watch the impe

e within it that came

ately watched the move

le

Ah

asping her hands conv

d him,

Ye

d him, and I was infor

apartments with a sea

one into

"

id the empress, with

athe." With wild emo

ving a deep sigh, sign

"

return, and stopped h

our majesty t

"

n

"

our majesty, and now

"

answer to the note,

ply. The cou

Wh

h

"

amber, you

T

er seat, and walked ac

, and she trembled in

but at last she stoppe

ng at the countess, s

him h

T

and returned, follo

and bent her threaten

knew better than to m

th downcast looks and r

her co

Lo

said, in tones that s

thunder. "Answer

spa

d his

"

essed that was given y

nin

Yo

resume to look at it

majesty was pleased t

that suf

"

id you

mpe

gotten the house."

Pa

hese dreadful German na

on as I had obeyed hi

name of t

"

d not to tell me whe

or's

nde

ty, I have tot

T

e longed to annihilate

ccess

"

"that you are crafty

command you as your s

u for the emperor. I m

maje

spa

nsciously his hand sou

e turned very pale an

e no letter fo

"

ndered the infuriat

ointed to the valet's

call my lackey

Yo

betray my lord and em

mbl

"

fully by relinquishi

rned Maria Theresa

ou to giv

spa

sh, and looked implori

the flashing eyes, the

he saw no symptoms of

His hand shook as he

T

and with the fury of

rushed it i

Yo

the countess, "dismi

o much. H

"

es a word to one hu

gesture. "Woe to him

o his

He

etray the secrets of m

But imperial majesty,

he emp

"

at you brought no answ

you have told him."

she waved he hand as a

retired, and as he di

the empress

"

empress, in accents o

am! In all my life I

every thought are hi

s children,

ws it upo

erh

momentary," replied t

ts of the letter.

is may be nothing but

e to draw our handsome

tractions. The n

T

d the words of her con

zing upon the crumpl

nd's

Oh

vely. "Oh, it seems

om this little paper,

ardy woman that would

oe, woe to her when

justice! Adultery is

punishment in my realm

e of the execrable woma

le eyes towar

oth

n it, your majesty," w

er will r

T

t mean that I shall o

ded to be r

T

e paper. "Your majesty

t unintentionally.

every thing is explain

l dancer Riccardo, whom

ballet, and whom he d

reature he h

T

ropped burning tears,

obbed aloud. Then she

ised her beauti

"

mourn for one who is

to judge and to punis

Austria to bring crim

ares to exchange lette

And after all, the spe

re me. I must open th

I will not read one w

name of the writer a

nd personal interest

A

ced her scruples, and

o as the tempter had s

o her self-imposed v

r, and read nothing

ccar

ou were right Margar

has written to her – t

S

, and how, how her whit

, and how deadly pale

r when Gaspardi h

T

ved by the this phase

rm would burst and sh

stepped lightly out to

vi

ar

at she was alone. She

Gradually her paleness

d on her cheeks. Her ey

lamed again with indig

g mouth, and her heavi

torm that was

O

derfoot!" muttered th

her hand as if she wou

l prove to the court

heresa hates vice, and

rsons. Both criminals

heart break, the empres

t lust holds its reve

ailles and St. Petersb

int to the Austrian emp

ves be taunted with re

ess. Morality and de

my royal vengeance s

then – then

Yo

sent to bring disgrace

id the gentle voice cl

empress beheld

S

ard Father Porhammer

You venture to plea

stay the hand

"

he priest, "for today

peror, must recoil upon

s cannot be divided. Y

ve over the fault of

"

uffer this mortal bl

Ther

No

miling, "the wife may

must be

"

e also be pardoned? S

away f

"

d Father Porhammer, "

ose beauty has led ma

e dangerous, she can b

ribution go

We

empress, whose heart

end father, but Ricca

eve

S

to her desk to write

of the si

her

he order to the prie

Count Bartenstein, a

nd when I shall have

ind peace once mo

ar

with tears. "When sh

in her place to charm

ty is not in the hear

nce t

Ye

efore should the porta

nemy. As watchmen are

vants of God sent to

ven to the hearts

"

hem in their holy l

nly with new interest.

nd wise men to watch

hem from temptation, er

must aid me in this g

essed Virgin is the

tch me some plan whe

at your suggestions wi

you have devoted

M

el and the spirit o

the father, with sole

e mission with which m

e

B

ered Countess Fuchs,

ple, you are losing s

en banished; and the

s note, may seek an in

uences of

h

he countess probed the

at poor je

ru

replied in an unste

eform, by casting out

ves of Vienna. I mys

ror. And now, dear fr

stein. Countess recall

nd princesses be regall

peror in th

h

ired, and the countess

eckoned to Charlotte,

wearily awaiting th