d sealed letters to
their friends or relatives. All our letters must be read, and if a word
of politics is found in them, they are condemned. All other persons
have the right to send sealed letters in every direction. Have you not
friends to whom you write, Marietta?"

"I have, and from this time onward your friends will be mine, and I will
correspond with them."

As she said this, with a roguish smile, a ray of joy lighted up Ranuzi's
eyes.

"You understand me, my beloved; your intellect is as clear and sharp
as your heart is warm and noble. Think well what you do--what danger
threatens you. I tell you plainly, Marietta, this is no question of
common friendly letters, but of the most earnest, grave, important
interests!"

She bowed to his ear and whispered: "All that you espy in Berlin you
will confide to these letters; you will concert with your friends,
you will design plans, perhaps make conspiracies. I will address these
letters and take them to the post, and no one will mistrust me, for
my letters will be addressed to some friends in Vienna, or to whom you
will. Have I understood you, Carlo? Is this all right?"

He clasped her rapturously in his arms, and the words of tender
gratitude which he expressed were not entirely wanting in sincerity and
truth.

Marietta was proudly happy, and listened with sparkling eyes to his
honeyed words.

As Ranuzi, however, after this long interview, arose to say farewell,
she held him back. Laying her hands upon his shoulder, she looked at him
with a curious expression, half laughing, half threatening.

"One last word, Carlo," she said; "I love you boundlessly. To prove my
love to you, I become a traitress to this king, who has been a gracious
master to me, whose bread I eat--who received and protects me. To prove
my love, I become a spy, an informer. Men say this is dishonorable work,
but for myself I feel proud and happy to undertake it for you, and not
for all the riches and treasures of this world would I betray you.
But, Carlo, if you ever cease to love me, if you deceive me and become
unfaithful, as true as God helps me, I will betray both myself and you!"

"I believe truly she is capable of it," said Ranuzi, as he reached the
street; "she is a dangerous woman, and with her love and hate she is
truly like a tigress. Well, I must be on my guard. If she rages I must
draw her teeth, so that she cannot bite, or flee from her furious leaps.
But this danger is in the di