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Marietta felt a cold shudder pass over her； but she was outwardly calm。
〃Poor child！〃 said she；〃 you are indeed to be pitied； and； if you really desire it； you shall have my society； but first； I have a commission to execute； and then I will bring some notes； and we will sing together。〃 She kissed Camilla upon the brow； and withdrew。
The last moment of respite had expired for Ranuzi； there was no longer a ray of mercy in Marietta's heart。 Rushing forward； she soon reached the castle； and announced herself to the marquis。 She was introduced into his study； and the marquis advanced to meet her； smiling； and with an open letter in his hand。
〃You come at the right time； madame；〃 said he； 〃an hour since I received this letter from his majesty。〃
〃Has the king named the person to whom I am to confide my secret？〃 she said； hastily。
〃Yes； madame； his majesty has been pleased to appoint me for that purpose。〃
〃Let me see the letter；〃 said Marietta； extending her hand。
The marquis drew back。 〃Pardon me；〃 said he； 〃I never allow the king's letters to pass out of my own hands； and no one but myself can see them。 But I will read you what the king says in relation to this affair； and you will surely believe my word of honor。 Listen； then： 'Soyez； marquis； le depositaire de mes secrets； le confidant des mysteres de Madame Taliazuchi； l'oreille du trone； et le sanctuaire ou s'annonceront les complots de mes ennemis。' ＇Footnote： 〃I will give the conclusion of this letter which the polite marquis did not read aloud： 'Pour quitter le style oriental； je vous avertis que vous aurez l'oreille rebattue de miseres et de petites intrigues de prisonniers obscurs et qui ne vaudront pas genre de Madame Taliazuchielles envisagent les petites choses comme tres… importantes； elles sont charmees de figurer en politique； de jouer un role； de faire les capables d'etaler avec faste le zele de leur fidelite。 J'ai vu souvent que ces beaux secrets reveles n'ont ete que des intrigues pour auirs au tiers ou an quart a des gens auxquelles ces sortes de personnes veulet du mal。 Ainsi； quoique cette femme vous puisse dire； gardez…vous bien d'y ajouter foi； et que votre cervelle provencal ne s'echauffe pas an premier bruit de ces recits'〃CEuvres； vol xix。； p。92。＇ Madame； you see that I am fully empowered by the king to receive your confidence； and I am ready to hear what you will have the goodness to relate。〃 He led her to a divan； and seated himself opposite to her。
〃Tell the king to be on his guard！〃 said Marietta； solemnly。 〃A great and wide…spread conspiracy threatens him。 I have been made a tool by false pretences； by lies and treachery my confidence was surreptitiously obtained。 Oh； my God！〃 cried she； suddenly springing up； 〃now all is clear。 I was nothing but an instrument of his intrigues； only the weak means made use of to attain his object。 He stole my love； and made of it a comfortable； convenient robe with which to conceal his politics。 Alas！ alas！ I have been his postillion de politique。〃 With a loud； wild cry； she sank back upon the divan； and a torrent of tears gushed from her eyes。
The marquis sprang up in terror； and drew near the door； he was now fully convinced that the woman was mad。
〃Madame；〃 said he； 〃allow me to call for assistance。 You appear to be truly suffering； and in a state of great excitement。 It will be best for you； without doubt； to forget all these political interests； and attend to your physical condition。〃
Marietta； however； had again recovered her presence of mind； she glanced with a wan smile into the anxious countenance of the marquis。
〃Fear nothing； sir； I am not mad； return to your seat。 I have no weapons； and will injure no one。 The dagger which I carry is piercing my own heart； and from time to time the wound pains； that is all。 I promise you to make no sound； to be gentle and calmcome； then。〃
The marquis returned； but seated himself somewhat farther from the signora。
〃I tell you；〃 said Marietta； panting for breath； 〃that he made use of my credulitymade me a tool of his political intriguesthese intrigues which threaten the lands if not the life of the king。 The treason I will disclose would place an important fortress in the hands of the Austrians。〃
〃And you are convinced that this is no chimera？〃 said the marquis； with an incredulous smile。
〃I am convinced of it； and I have the incontestable proof with me。〃 She took the two letters which she had received from Ranuzi； and gave them to the marquis。 〃Take them； and send them to the king； but； not to…morrow； not when it is convenient； but to…day； even this hour。 If you are not prompt； in eight days King Frederick will be a fortress the poorer。 Besides this； say to his majesty to be ever on his guard against the captive officers in Berlin； especially on his guard against my countryman； Count Ranuzi。 He is the soul of this enterprise； he has originated this daring undertaking； and； if this falls to pieces； he will commence anew。 He is a dangerous enemya serpent； whose sting is most deadly； most to be feared when he seems most gentle； most quiet。 Say to King Frederick he will do well to protect himself from the traitor； the Austrian spy； Ranuzi。〃 Marietta stood up； and bowing to the marquis； she advanced to the door。 D'Argens held her back。
〃Madame；〃 said he； 〃if these things are really so； Count Ranuzi is a man to be feared； and we should make sure of him。〃
〃He is indeed a dangerous man；〃 said Marietta； with a peculiar smile。 〃Ask the beautiful Madame du Trouffle； she will confirm my words。〃
The black； flashing eyes of the marquis fixed themselves searchingly upon the face of the signora。 He remembered that the king had warned him to be upon his guard as to the communication of Madame Taliazuchi； that such mysteries were often nothing more than feigned intrigues； by which the discoverer sought to bring sorrow and downfall to an enemy。
〃Ah； signora！ I understand now；〃 said the marquis； 〃you did not come here for patriotism or love for Prussia or her king； but from frantic jealousy； not to serve King Frederick； but to overthrow Ranuzi。〃
Marietta shrugged her shoulders with a contemptuous expression。
〃I am an Italian；〃 said she； laconically。
〃And the Italians love revenge；〃 said the marquis。
〃When one dares to injure themyes。〃
〃This Count Ranuzi has dared to injure you？〃
A flash of scorn flamed for a moment in her eyes； then disappeared。 〃Would I otherwise have betrayed him？〃 said she。 〃I am an Italian； and you cannot ask that I shall feel patriotism for King Frederick or for Prussia。 Count Ranuzi is my countryman； judge； then； how deeply I have been injured when I betray him； and give him over to death。〃
〃To death？ it is also then a crime worthy of death which these letters will disclose to the king？ You do not deceive yourself？ Your thirst for revenge does not make these things appear blacker； more important than they really are？〃
〃No； I do not deceive myself。 I speak but the simple truth。〃
〃Then；〃 said the marquis； with horror； 〃it is dangerous to leave Ranuzi at liberty。 I must apply to the commandant of Berlin； and ask that he be arrested upon my responsibility。〃
Marietta was already at the door； but these words of the marquis arrested her。 With her hand resting upon the bolt； she stood and turned her pale face back to D'Argens。 〃Certainly； it would be best and surest to arrest him instantly；〃 said she； and her heart bounded with delight when she said to herself； with cruel pleasure： 〃When once arrested； he can go no more to Madame du Trouffle。〃
The marquis did not reply； but he stepped thoughtfully through the room。 Marietta's eyes followed every movement with a fiery glance。 At length the marquis stood before her。
〃I cannot take upon myself the responsibility of arresting this man。 I do not know that these letters； which I shall send to the king； are really as dangerous as you say。 The king must decide； I will send them off by a courier to…day。 But； in every event； Ranuzi must be watched； and you shall be his guard。 You must see that he does not escape。 I make you answerable。 Ranuzi must not leave Berlin； and when the king's answer is received； he must be found here。〃
〃You shall find him