Quite involuntarily had she suffered herself to be carried away by her own vehemence, her inward glowing rage.  With secret pleasure Count Orloff read in her features that this was no comedy which she thus improvised, but was truth and reality.

“If you so think and feel,” said he, “then we may soon understand each other, signora.  A real hatred is of as much value as a real love; indeed, often of much greater.  One can more safely confide in hatred, as it is more enduring.  I will therefore confide in you, signora, if you will swear to me to betray no word of what I shall tell you.”

“I swear it!” was Corilla’s response.

“Listen, then!  This Princess Tartaroff is an imposter; no princely blood flows in her veins, and if she gives herself out to be a princess, it is because she therewith connects plans of high-treason.  More I need not say to you, except that my illustrious empress has charged me to bring this fraudulent princess to her at St. Petersburg, that she may there receive her punishment!  This I have sworn to do, and must redeem my promise to transport her from here, without exciting attention, and without subjecting her to any personal injury.  Do you now comprehend why I come?”

“I comprehend,” said Corilla.  “An empress would avenge herself, and therefore a poor poetess must forego her own little private revenge!  But how, if I should not believe a word of this long story; if I should consider it a fable invented by you to assure the safety of your princess?”

“That you may be compelled to believe it, listen further to me.”

And Alexis Orloff spoke long and zealously to her, affording her a glance into his most secret intrigues, into his finely-matured plans, while Corilla followed him with intense expectation and warmly-glowing cheeks.

“I comprehend it all, all!” said she, when Alexis had finally ended; “it is a deep and at the same time an infernal plan—­a plan which must excite the envy and respect of Satan himself!”

“And yourself?” laughingly asked Alexis.

“Oh, I,” said she—­“I belong, perhaps, to the family of devils, and therefore take pleasure in aiding you!  You need a negotiator who has a wide conscience and an eloquent tongue!  I can furnish you with such a one.  Ah, that will make a droll story.  Said you not that the singer Carlo watched this golden treasure like a dragon?  Well, it shall be his brother who shall contend with this dragon.  His own brother—­will not that be pleasant, count?”

“And are you sure of him?” asked Count Orloff.  “How if his brother should win him from us?”

“Have no anxiety; this Carlo Ribas is so virtuous that he hates no one so much as his brother Joseph, merely because he passed some years in the galleys for forgery.  He is now free, and has secretly come here.  As he was aware that I knew his brother, he came to beg me for my countenance and support.  I will send him to you.”