here her maid was. "Listen, Sophie," she said; "take this
note and go as quickly as you can to the castle and ask for the Marquis
d'Argens. You must give the note into his own hands, and if you bring
me an answer within the hour, I will reward you as if I were a queen. Do
not speak, only go."

The maid hurried down the steps, and Marietta returned, smilingly, to
Ranuzi, who received her with reproaches for her long absence.

"I have arranged a little supper for us, and have sent my maid to obtain
some necessary articles. You will not leave me to-day, as you always do,
to go to your conference with the Catholic priest."

"I would not, Marietta, but I must," said Ranuzi. "Believe me, my dear
child, if I followed the dictates of my heart, I would never leave this
room, which in my thoughts I always call my paradise, and in which I
enjoy my only bright and happy moments. But what would you have, my
angel? It is not ordained that men should have undisturbed possession
of the joys of paradise. Mother Eve sinned, and we must expiate her
misdeeds. I must leave you again to-day to join that conference which
you so heartily detest."

"But not yet," she said, tenderly, putting her arms about his neck. "You
will not leave me yet?"

Thus besought, he promised to remain. Never was he more amiable, more
brilliant, more attentive, or more tender. Never was Marietta gayer,
more excited, or more enchanting. Both had their reasons for this--both
had their intentions. Love smiled upon their lips, but it was not in
their hearts--each wished to deceive the other. Ranuzi wished to quiet
every suspicion by his tenderness--she must not dream that this was
their last meeting, and that he intended leaving Berlin this night,
perhaps forever. Marietta wished to chain him to her side and prevent
his departure.

Time flew by amid gay laughter and tender jests, and at length Marietta
heard the house-door open and hurried steps mounting the stairway. It
was the maid who had returned. Marietta's heart beat so violently that
she could scarcely conceal her emotion.

"The maid has returned with her purchases," she said, hastily; "I will
go out and tell her that you cannot remain with me to-day." She left the
room and met Sophie in the hall, who was quite out of breath with her
hurried walk, and who handed her a note. Marietta broke the seal with
trembling hands. It contained only these words: "Keep him but a few
moments longer, and one will arrive