The Countess Cosel Part 8

"No! I will never be their victim," interrupted the Countess; "I am so proud that I would endure any misery, rather than surfer such humiliation."

Teschen looked at her, and sighed.

"If it is not you, it will be another," she replied. "My hour has come.

But if you are strong enough, I beseech you, avenge us all. Spurn him.

Show him the contempt you feel for him. His actions cry to G.o.d for vengeance."

She replaced her veil, shook hands silently, then with the hasty exclamation, "You are warned, defend yourself!" she hurried from the room, leaving the Countess speechless.

Before she had recovered herself, the Princess had disappeared.

The same man who admitted her was waiting on the stairs. She re-entered her litter, and, whilst drawing the curtains, noticed a young officer with a pale face looking anxiously into her eyes.

The young man's features were n.o.ble, aristocratic, and expressive of courage and energy, but at that moment they were distorted by grief and indignation. He seemed unable to believe his eyes. He approached the litter.

"Princess Ursula!" said he, in a voice broken by emotion, "can I believe my eyes? I beseech you, tell me the whole truth, then I will mount my steed, ride away, and never return. Princess! I am mad with love, while you--"

"It is quite true that you are mad," said the Princess brusquely, "and you are blind as well, or you would see that I am coming from Hoym's house, and with him I could not possibly be in love."

She grasped his hand.

"Come with me, I will not release you until I have explained everything. I do not wish you to accuse me unjustly--that would be too much! I could not survive that!"

The Princess, her beautiful eyes full of tears, looked so eloquently at the young man, as she uttered these words, that all traces of sorrow disappeared from his face.

Obedient to her commands, he followed the litter; when it stopped, he helped her to alight, and together they entered the palace. Tired and broken in spirit, the Princess sank on the sofa, and motioned to the young man to seat himself by her side.

"Prince, you behold me angry and indignant. I have just returned from visiting her whom my horrible enemies have brought here, that the King may have the distraction of a new face; whom they have brought here to drive me away, and to overthrow my influence with the King. Have you heard about Countess Hoym?"

"No," replied the young man, who was Prince Ludwig von Wurtemberg. "I have only heard them laughing at poor Hoym, whom they made drunk, so that they might compel him to show his wife."

"Yes," exclaimed the Princess with animation, "they well knew how to arouse Augustus's curiosity. But I have seen her; she is beautiful, and she is dangerous."

"So much the better!" cried the Prince, springing from his seat. "Then you will be free!"

Teschen blushed, and looked inquiringly at the young man--there was a moment's silence, then she stretched out her hands towards him. He seized them, kissed them with fervour, and was still holding them, when a little woman, who bore some likeness to the Princess, rushed into the room, laughing maliciously.

It was difficult to guess how old she was, for she had one of those faces which, never being fresh, do not grow old for a long time. Her sharp, grey, malicious eyes were full of animation, her lips wore an ironical smile, whilst her features bespoke her a feverish gossip and an unbearable intriguante. She was dressed with the greatest care; had a dainty figure, and small feet. She clapped her hands in delight when Prince von Wurtemberg withdrew his lips from the Princess's hand.

"Bravo! Bravissimo!" she screeched. "I see that my sister has secured military protection for her retreat; for it seems to me that the moment has arrived when we shall have to retreat from the King's heart and court."

The speaker was the Princess's own sister, and married to the Baron von Gla.s.senapp.

"My dear sister, I have not seen you for a long time," prattled on the little lady, "but at the moment of peril, I always appear. Teschen, do you know that Hoym's wife has arrived? I saw her when she was at Dresden during the King's absence, and I then foretold that, like the beautiful Helen of Troy, she would bring misfortune to some one. She is beautiful as an angel, and dark, which for a blonde like Teschen, is always dangerous. She is animated, witty, malicious, and proud as a Queen. Your power is ended."

She laughed.

"Well, you still have a chance of princely t.i.tles," she continued, not allowing any one an opportunity to put in a word. "I was only able to catch a poor Pomeranian Baron--but you got Lubomirska, you have Teschen, and for provision you are trying to get Von Wurtemberg."

The Prince stood blus.h.i.+ng and angry. Teschen lowered her eyes, and murmured through her set teeth,--

"I could have a fourth, if I wished."

"I will tell you his name, if you like," interrupted the Baroness, and, running up to her sister, she put her mouth to her ear, saying,--

"The Prince Alexander Sobieski, is it not? But he will not marry, while Ludwig will. Try and hold him."

The Princess turned from her sister in disgust, and the Baroness looked in the mirrors, flitted about the room, all the while keeping an eye on the couple, at whom she laughed dreadfully.

"If you are clever, Teschen, you may still come out of this crisis triumphant. Hoym's wife is a simpleton; she will disgust the King; she will attract him at first by her beauty, but she will repulse him with her pride; after her, Teschen will appear dear and sweet. Well, one must forgive the King's fancy. Such men have great sorrows, and great privileges. Only I am sorry," she continued, "that every one is tearing you to pieces already. The Countesses Reuss and Hulchen are offering sacrifices to the new G.o.ddess, while Furstenberg and even brother-in-law Vitzthum are ready to supplant Hoym. Poor Hoym, when his wife leaves him, I would marry him, if it were not for my duties. But the old libertine never cared for me."

Here Prince Ludwig rose to take his leave, and the way in which Princess Ursula shook hands with him did not escape the notice of the Baroness, who bowed to him distantly.

There was silence for a few moments after the sisters were left alone.

"You must not take it so tragically," began the Baroness, "any one could have foreseen that this would happen sooner or later. The King is tired of a blonde, you have a princ.i.p.ality, you have estates in Hoyerswerd; you have millions, diamonds, a palace; you are still young, still beautiful; and there is Prince Ludwig, who is ready to marry you.

I tell you frankly, I would gladly exchange my lot for yours, and I would give you Schulemberg in addition."

"But I loved him," interrupted the Princess, weeping bitterly.

"But that is all over," rejoined the Baroness, "I know that you were both in love with each other, for a whole year at the least, during which time the King betrayed you secretly, at least, ten times, and you repaid him in the same coin."

"Sister!" exclaimed the Princess indignantly.

"Well, then, you did not. But during that time you were able to obtain for yourself the love of the Prince von Wurtemberg. I am called malicious and wicked, but I should not have been able to do it. I only found Schulemberg after I had been bitten by Gla.s.senapp."

She laughed a little, and then continued,--

"Listen, Kings have a custom, when taking leave of their favourites, to ask for the return of the diamonds they have given. I warn you, therefore, to put yours in a safe place."

She looked at her sister, who apparently did not hear what she was saying.

"Are you going to the ball?" she inquired.

"The ball?" repeated the Princess, thoughtfully. "Yes; I must go to the ball. I shall go dressed in mourning, and without any jewels; but tell me, will a black robe be becoming to me?"

The Baroness laughed.

"Undoubtedly!" she replied. "Mourning is becoming to every one. But if you think that by doing this you will soften the hearts of Augustus and his courtiers, you are mistaken; they will all laugh at you; they do not like tragedies."

"What will be, will be!" replied the Princess. "I shall go in mourning.

I will appear before him like a silent ghost."

"And as Countess Hoym will be merry and fresh, you will also disappear like a ghost. Believe me, the past can never be recalled."

She looked at the clock.

"It is late already! I shall see you again at the ball--I shall be there, but I shall be in the background, like a spectator who applauds the actors. Good-bye!"