louisa of prussia and her times-第62节
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glances and blushed。 To his timid and faltering protestations of
love she replied by subdued sighs； and by a dreamy smile； and when
Bonnier at length dared to approach her with a bold confession of
his passionwhen he was on his knees before her； all aglow with
love and enthusiasm； Victoria bent over him with a sweet smile； and
whispered： 〃Give me the papers that are to ruin Thugut； surrender
that vile man to my revenge； and my love； my life are yours！〃
Bonnier looked up to her with a triumphant smile。 〃You are mine；
then； Victoria；〃 he said； 〃for you shall have those papers！ I
surrender that infamous and treacherous man to your revenge！〃
She stretched out her hands toward him with a cry of boundless joy。
〃Give me the papers；〃 she exclaimed； 〃give them to me； and I will
thank you as only love is able to thank！〃
Bonnier looked a long while at her； and his face； usually so gloomy；
was now radiant with happiness and delight。
〃To…morrow； my charming fairy；〃 he said； 〃to…morrow you shall have
the papers which are to open hell to your enemy； and heaven to your
enraptured friend。 But you must give me also a proof of your
confidence and love； you must come to me and call in person for the
papers。 I give you the highest proof of my love by delivering to you
documents that do not belong to me； but to the republic。 Then give
me likewise the highest proof of your love。 Come to me！〃
She cast a long and glowing glance on him。 〃I shall come！〃 she
whispered。
And Victoria kept her word。 Early on the following morning a
closely…veiled lady was seen to glide into the castle of Rastadt；
where the three French ambassadors were living at that time。 Bonnier
received her in person at the foot of the wide staircase； and gave
her his arm in order to conduct her to the rooms occupied by
himself。 They exchanged not a word with each other； but walked
silently through the sumptuous apartments and finally entered
Bonnier's study。
〃We are at the goalhere I bid you welcome； my fairy queen！〃
exclaimed Bonnier。 〃Remove now these odious veils。 Let me now at
length see your beautiful features！〃
He violently tore off her black veils； and Victoria suffered it
smilingly； and looked at him with a wondrous air of joy and
happiness。
〃Are you content now？〃 she asked； in her superb； sonorous voice。
〃Has the proud lord of creation now prepared a new and satisfactory
triumph for himself？ The poor slave whom he loves must come to him
and beg him for love and happiness！〃
She had crossed her hands on her breast； and half kneeling down
before Bonnier； she looked up to him with a fascinating mixture of
archness and passion。
Bonnier lifted her up and wanted to imprint a kiss upon her lips；
but she violently pushed him back。
〃No；〃 she said； 〃let us be sensible as long as we can。 First we must
attend to our business。〃
〃Business！〃 exclaimed Bonnier。 〃What have we to do with business？
Leave business to the diplomatists and their clerks。 Why should lips
so charming and beautiful pronounce this cold and dismal word？〃
〃If I spoke of business； I meant revenge；〃 said Victoria； fervently。
〃Give me the papers； Bonnierthe papers that are to ruin Thugut！〃
Bonnier took her head between his hands and looked at her with
flaming eyes。
〃Then you hate him still？ You still desire to take revenge on him？〃
he asked。
〃Yes； I hate him！〃 she exclaimed； 〃and the happiest day of my life
will be the one on which I see him hurled down from his proud
eminence； and sneaking alone； miserable； and despised into
obscurity。〃
〃One might； indeed； really believe that she is in earnest； and that
truth alone could utter such words；〃 muttered Bonnier； who
constantly held her head in his hands； and thus gazed at her。 〃Swear
to me； Victoria； swear to me by what is most sacred to you； that you
hate Thugut； and that you desire to ruin him！〃
〃I swear it by what is most sacred to me；〃 she said； solemnly； 〃I
swear it by your love！〃 〃That is the best and most unequivocal oath；
and I will believe you；〃 said Bonnier； laughing。
〃Then you will now give me those papers？〃 she asked。
〃Yes；〃 he said； bluntly； 〃I will give them to you。 Come； my angel；
you are right？ let us first speak of business matters。 There； sit
down here at my desk。 Oh； henceforth this spot will be sacred to me；
for your heavenly person has consecrated it。 Let me sit down here by
your side； and thus we will lay our dispatches before each other；
like two good and conscientious diplomatists。 Look here！ this
portfolio contains your revenge and your satisfaction。 This
portfolio contains the papers proving that Thugut has received large
sums of money from Russia and England for the purpose of instigating
the Emperor of Austria against France； and that his pretended
patriotic indignation is after all nothing but the paid role of a
comedian。 I have abstracted this portfolio from the archives of our
embassy。 Do you understand me； Victoria？ I have stolen it for you！〃
〃Let me see the papers！〃 exclaimed Victoria； trembling with
impatience。
Bonnier opened the portfolio and drew a paper from it。 But on
looking at it； a dark cloud passed over his face； and he shook his
head indignantly。
〃What a miserable fool I was to make such a mistake！〃 he ejaculated
angrily。 〃I have taken the wrong portfolio。 This one does not
contain the papers you are looking for。〃
〃That is；〃 said Victoria； with cutting coldness〃that is； you have
intentionally deceived me。 You decoyed me hither under false
pretences。 You told me a story about important papers that were in
your possession； and with which you were to intrust me for the
purpose of gratifying my revenge。 And now when I come to you； nobly
trusting your chivalrous word； now it turns out that you have
deceived me； and that those important papers do not exist at all。〃
〃Ah； believe me there are papers here perhaps even more important
than the documents you are looking for；〃 said Bonnier； shrugging his
shoulders。 〃Believe me； Baron Thugut would give many thousands if he
could get hold of the papers contained in this portfolio。 They are；
perhaps； even more important than those other documents。〃
A flash burst forth from Victoria's eyes； and the angry air
disappeared at once from her features。 She turned to Bonnier with a
fascinating smile。
〃What sort of papers are those？〃 she asked。
〃Papers that do not interest you； my charming fairy；〃 he said；
smilingly； 〃for what have love and revenge to do with the
negotiations of diplomacy？ This portfolio contains only diplomatic
documents； only the secret correspondence between ourselves and the
Prussian government； and the negotiations concerning an alliance
between France and Prussiathat is all。 They do not interest you；
my beautiful Victoria； but Thugut would gladly purchase these papers
for those which you are so anxious to obtain。〃
Victoria's eyes were fixed on the portfolio with a glowing
expression； and her hand was involuntarily approaching it。 Bonnier
saw it； and a peculiar smile overspread his gloomy face for a
moment。
〃Happy for me；〃 he said； 〃that I discovered my mistake before giving
you the portfolio。 The loss of these papers would have compromised
me irretrievably。 But you are silent； Victoriayou do not utter a
word。 Then you do not yet believe in the truthfulness of my words？ I
swear to you； my fascinating sorceress； it was a mere mistakeI
only seized the wrong portfolio。〃
〃Do not swear； but convince me；〃 said Victoria。 〃Go and fetch the
other portfolio。〃
〃And I should leave you here all alone so long？〃 he asked； tenderly。
〃I should be such a prodigal as to squander these precious minutes
during which I am permitted to be by your side！〃
Victoria rose and looked at him with flaming； imperious eyes。
〃Fetch the papers；〃 she shouted； 〃or I leave you this very moment；
and you shall never see me again！〃
〃That is a word by which you would drive me even into the jaws of
hell！〃 said Bonnier； ardently。 〃Wait for me here； VictoriaI am
going for the papers。〃
He greeted her with a rapid nod； and placing the portfolio under his
arm； he hastily walked to the door。 Here he turned around toward her
and his eyes met hers steadfastly fixed upon him。 He kissed his hand
to her； and while doing so； the portfolio softly glided from under
his arm and fell upon the floor。 Bonnier took no notice of it； his
whole attention was riveted on the beautiful lady。 But she saw it；
and her eyes sparkled with delight。
〃Return as soon as possible；〃 she said； with an enchanting smile；
and Bonnier left the room。 She anxiously looked after him until the
door had closed； and then she listened to the sound of his
footsteps。 Now the latter were no longer audible； and every thing
about her was silent。
Victoria did not stir； she only swept with her large eyes
searchingly over the whole room； she fixed them upon every curtain；
upon every piece of furniture。 But nothing was there to arouse her
suspicions； a profound stillness reigned around her。
Now she rose slowly from her seat and made a few steps forward。 The
rustling of her heavy silk dress alone interrupted the silence。
She paused again and listened； and her eyes fixed
