“Ah, you dare to defame him!” cried the young maiden, trembling with anger.  “You have, therefore, never seen him; you have never read in his noble face that Count Alexis Orloff can never betray.  He is a hero, and a hero never descends to a murder!  Ah, if the whole world should rise up against him, if it should point the finger at him and say:  ’That is a murderer!’ I would cry in the face of the whole world:  ’Thou liest!  Alexis Orloff can never be a murderer!  I know him better, and know that he is pure and clear of every crime.  You may continue to call him a betrayer!  I know why he suffers himself to be so called!  I know the secret of his conduct, and a day will come when you will all learn it; when you will all feel compelled to fall down at his feet and confess, “Alexis Orloff is no false betrayer!” For the sake of her to whom he has vowed fidelity has he borne this shame.  For her whom he loved has he staked his blood and his life.  Alexis Orloff is a hero!’”

She was strangely beautiful while speaking with such spirit and animation.  The cardinal observed her noble and excited features with an admiration mingled with the most painful emotions.

“Poor child!” he murmured, dropping his head—­“poor child, she loves him, and is therefore lost!”

“You, then, do not believe me!” he asked aloud.

“No,” said she, with a glad smile—­“no, all the happiness I ever expect, all the good that may hereafter come to me, I shall receive only from the hands of Alexis Orloff!”

“Poor child!” sighed the cardinal.  “In many a case even death may prove a blessing!”

“Then will I also joyfully receive even that from his hands!” cried the young maiden, with enthusiasm.

“It is in vain, she is not to be helped!” murmured the cardinal, with a melancholy shake of the head, and, grasping the hand of the young maiden, with a compassionate glance at her fair face, he continued:  “I would gladly aid you, and thereby expiate the evil you once suffered at my festival!  But you will not consent to be aided.  You rush to your destruction, and it is your noblest qualities, your innocence, and your generous confidence, which are preparing your ruin!  May God bless you and preserve you!  How glad I should be to find myself a liar and false prophet!”

“And you will so find yourself!” exclaimed Natalie.

“You believe it, because you are in love, and when a woman loves she believes in the object of her love, and smilingly offers up her life for him!  Like all women, you will do so!  You will sacrifice your life to your love; and when this barbarian thrusts the dagger in your heart, you will say with a smile:  ‘I did it!  I, myself—­’”

And, bowing to her with a sad smile, slowly and sighing, the cardinal left the room.

Some hours later came Alexis Orloff.  Natalie received him with an expression of the purest pleasure, and, extending both hands to him, smilingly said: