LITMIR.BIZ

      Chapter XXXIII.

       Count And Cardinal.

       Table of Contents

      What took place under the princess-abbess' sight was so extraordinary that her mind, strong and yet tender, questioned if she did not face a true magician who disposed of sentiments and wills as he liked. But Count Fenix was not going to leave things thus.

      "As your royal highness has heard only part of the story from my wife's lips, doubts might linger if the rest was not spoken by them. Dear Lorenza," he said, turning again to the Italian, "after leaving your country we went on a tour to the Alps and to the Rhine, the magnificent Tiber of the North——"

      "Yes, Lorenza has seen these sights," said the woman.

      "Lured by this man—led by a power resistless of which you spoke, my child?" suggested the princess.

      "Why should your highness believe this when all you hear is to the contrary? I have a palpable proof in the letter my wife wrote me when I was obliged to leave her at Maintz. She sorrowed and longed for me, so that she wrote this note, which your highness may read."

      She looked at the letter which the count took out of the letter case.

      "Return, Acharat; for all goes when you leave me. When shall I have you for eternity? Lorenza."

      With the flame of choler on her brow the princess went up to the fugitive, holding out this letter. The other allowed her to approach, without seeming to see or hear any but the count. "I understand," said the latter, decided to clear up matters completely. "Your highness doubts, and wishes to be sure the writing is Lorenza's. She herself shall enlighten you. Lorenza, answer; who wrote this note?"

      On his putting the paper in her hand, she pressed it to her heart.

      "It was Lorenza," she said.

      "Lorenza knows what is in it?"

      "Of course."

      "Well, then, tell the princess what it says, that she may not believe that I deceive her in asserting that you love me. I want you to tell her."

      Appearing to make an effort, but without looking at the note, unfolding it or bringing it to her eyes, she read, word for word, what the princess had seen without speaking it aloud.

      "This is hard to believe," said the superior. "And I do not believe you, from what is supernatural and inexplicable in what happens."

      "It was this very letter which determined me to hurry on our wedding," said Count Fenix, without heeding the interruption. "I love Lorenza as much as she loves me. In our roaming life, accidents might happen. If I died, I wanted my property to be my dear one's; so we were united when we reached Strasburg."

      "But she told me that she was not your wife."

      "Lorenza," said the count, without replying to the abbess, and turning to the Italian, "do you remember where and when we were married?"

      "Yes; in the St. John's Chapel of Strasburg Cathedral, on the third of May."

      "Did you oppose any resistance to the marriage?"

      "No; I was only too happy."

      "The fact is, Lorenza," continued the count, taking her hand, "the princess thinks you were constrained to it."

      "I hate you?" she said, shivering all over with delight. "Oh, no; I love you. You are good, generous and mighty."

      Seized with affright, the princess recoiled to where an ivory crucifix gleamed on a black velvet background.

      "Is this all your highness wishes to know?" asked Fenix, letting Lorenza's hand fall.

      "Keep away!" gasped the abbess; "and she, too!"

      A carriage was heard to stop before the nunnery door.

      "The cardinal?" exclaimed the lady superior; "we shall see how things stand at last."

      Fenix bowed, said a few words to the Italian woman, and waited with the calmness of one who directs events.

      In another instant the door opened and Cardinal Rohan was announced.

      "Show him in," said the abbess, encouraged by the new addition to the party being a churchman.

      The prince had no sooner saluted the princess than he exclaimed with surprise on seeing Balsamo:

      "Are you here, my lord?"

      "Are you acquaintances?" cried the princess, more and more astonished. "Then you can tell me who this is."

      "Nothing is easier; the gentleman is a magician."

      "His eminence will make this clear presently, and to everybody's satisfaction," said the count.

      "Has the gentleman been telling your highness' fortune, that I see you so affected?" questioned the cardinal.

      "The marriage certificate at once!" cried the princess, to the astonishment of the newcomer, ignorant of the allusion.

      "What is this?"

      "My lord, the question is, whether this paper is real and the signature valid?" said the princess, as Balsamo held out the document.

      Rohan read the paper as presented by the abbess and nodded.

      "It is in proper form, and the signature is Curate Saint-Remy's, of St. John's, Strasburg, one of my appointees. But what does this matter to your highness?"

      "Considerable; but——"

      "The signature might have been extorted."

      "True, that is possible," said the princess.

      "How about Lorenza's consent, then?" said the count, sarcastically.

      "By what means could a priest have been induced——"

      "By the magic in the gentleman's powers."

      "Your eminence is jesting."

      "Not at all, and the proof is that I want to have a serious explanation from this gentleman. Do not forget, my lord, that I shall do all the questioning," added the cardinal, with haughtiness.

      "And remember that I was quite willing to answer aloud, even before her royal highness—if your eminence desired so; but I am certain you will not desire it."

      The cardinal had to smile.

      "My lord," said he, "it is hard to play the wizard nowadays. I have seen you perform, and with great success; but everybody has not the patience, and still less the generosity, of the dauphiness."

      "The dauphiness?" queried Princess Louise.

      "Yes, your highness, I had the honor of presentation to her," said the count.

      "But how did you repay the honor? Answer that, my lord."

      "Alas, with more evil than I liked," said Fenix, "for I have no personal hate to men, and less to women. My misfortune was that I was compelled to tell your august niece the truth she craved."

      "A piece of truthfulness which caused her to faint."

      "Is it fault of mine," retorted the mesmerist, in that voice which he could sometimes make thunderous, "that truth is so awful as to produce such effects? Did I seek out the princess, and beg to be presented to her? No, I was avoiding her, when they almost dragged me before her, and she ordered me to answer her interrogation."

      "But

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