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