zi! it is Carlo! I must, I will fly to him,' when the
door opened and you entered and I saw you, my own beloved; I heard
your dear voice, and never did one of God's poor creatures fall into a
happier insensibility than I in that rapturous moment."

"And Taliazuchi stood by and smiled!" said Ranuzi, laughing; "it was
truly a pretty scene for an opera writer. He, no doubt, thought so,
and wished to take note of it, as he left the room when you awaked to
consciousness."

"Since that time, I am only awake when in your presence," said Marietta,
passionately. "When you are not near me, I sleep. You are the sun which
rouses me to life. When you leave me, it is night--dark night, and dark,
gloomy thoughts steal over me."

"What thoughts, Marietta?" said he, placing his hand under her chin, and
raising her head gently.

She looked up at him with a curious, dreamy smile, but was silent.

"Well, what thoughts have you when I am not with you?" he repeated.

"I think it possible a day may come in which you will cease to love me."

"And you think you will then fly to Taliazuchi for consolation?" said
Ranuzi, laughing.

"No; I think, or rather I fear that I will revenge myself; that I will
take vengeance on you for your unfaithfulness."

"Ah! my tigress threatens!" cried Ranuzi. "Now, Marietta, you know well
that I shall never cease to love you, but a day will come when we will
be forced to separate." She sprang up with a wild cry, and clasped him
stormily in her arms.

"No, no!" she cried, trembling and weeping; "no man shall dare to tear
you from me! We will never be separated!"

"You think, then, that I am not only your prisoner for life, but also
the eternal prisoner of the King of Prussia?"

"No, no! you shall be free--free! but Marietta will also be free, and
by your side. When you leave Berlin, I go with you; no power can bind me
here. Taliazuchi will not seek me, if I leave him my little fortune.
I will do that; I will take nothing with me. Poor, without fortune or
possessions, I will follow you, Ranuzi. I desire nothing, I hope for
nothing, but to be by your side."

She clasped him in her arms, and did not remark the dark cloud which
shadowed his brow, but this vanished quickly, and his countenance
assumed a kind and clear expression. "It shall be so, Marietta! Freedom
shall unite us both eternally, death only shall separate us! But when
may we hope for this great, this glorious, this beautiful hour? When
will