body, never with my soul," said
he, deeply moved. "That, Natalie, will remain with you eternally, that
will never leave you--do you hear, never! Always remember this, my
charming child, my sweet blossom! Never entertain a doubt of me; and if
my voice does not reach you, if you receive no news of me, then think
not, 'Paulo has abandoned me!' no; then think only, 'Paulo is dead, but
my name was the last to linger upon his lips, and his last sigh was for
me!'"

"You desert me?" said she, wringing her hands. "What am I, what shall I
do, without you? You have been my protector and my reliance, my teacher
and my friend! Alas, you were all to me, and I have ever looked up to
you as my lord and father."

Count Paulo sadly smiled. "Love me always as your father," said he;
"while I live you shall never be an orphan, that I swear to you!"

"And must you go," cried she, clinging to him; "well, then let me
go with you! You will be my father--well, I demand my right as your
daughter; to accompany her father is a daughter's right."

"No," he firmly said, "you must remain while I go; but I go for you, to
assure your future power and splendor. Remember this, Princess Natalie,
forget it not; and when one day they brand me as a traitor, then say:
'No, he was no traitor, for he loved me!' And now hear what I have yet
to say," continued the count, after a pause, while the still
weeping Natalie looked up to him through her tears. "But look at
me, Natalie--no, not that sad glance, I cannot bear it! Leave me my
self-possession and my courage, for I need them! Weep not!"

And Natalie, drying her eyes with her long locks, sought to smile.

"I no longer weep," said she, "I listen to you."

Paulo placed two sealed letters in her hand.

"Swear to me," said he, "to hold these letters sacred as your most
precious possession."

"I swear it!" said she.

"Swear to me to discover them to no human eye, to betray their
possession to no human ear! Swear it to me by the memory of your mother,
who now looks down from heaven upon you and receives your oath!"

"Then she is dead?" said the young maiden, sadly drooping her head upon
her breast.

"You have not yet sworn!" said he.

The young maiden raised her head, and, turning her eyes toward heaven as
if in the hope of encountering the tender maternal glance, she solemnly
said: "By the sacred memory of my mother I swear to discover these
papers to no human eye, to betray their existence to no hum