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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 freefree！ 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 the blessed day dawn in which I can take your hand and say to you； 'Come； Marietta； come； the world belongs to us and our love。 Let us fly and enjoy our happiness。' Oh； beloved； if you truly love me； help me to snatch this happy day from fate！ Stand by me with your love； that I may attain my freedom。〃
〃Tell me what I can do； and it is done；〃 said she resolutely； 〃there is nothing I will not undertake and dare for you。〃
Ranuzi took her small head in his hands and gazed long and smilingly into her glowing face。
〃Are you sure of yourself？〃 said he。
〃I am sure。 Tell me； Carlo； what I must do； and it is done。〃
〃And if it is dangerous； Marietta？〃
〃I know but one danger。〃
〃What is that？〃
〃To lose your love； Carlo！〃
〃Then this world has no danger for you； Marietta！〃
〃Speak； Carlo； speak！ How can I aid you？ What can I do to obtain your liberty？〃
Ranuzi threw a quick and searching glance around the room； as if to convince himself that they were alone； then bowed down close to her ear and whispered：
〃I can never be free till the King of Prussia is completely conquered and subjected； and only if I bring all my strength and capabilities to this object； may I hope to be free； and rich； and honored。 The King of Prussia is my enemy； he is the enemy of the Church； the enemy of my gracious sovereign of Austria； to whom I have sworn fealty。 A man may strive to conquer his enemies with every weapon； even with craft。 Will you stand by me in this？〃
〃I will。〃
〃Then observe and listen； and search all around you。 Repeat to me all that you hear and seeseem to be an enthusiastic adherent of the King of Prussia； you will then be confided in and know all that is taking place。 Be kind and sympathetic to your husband； he is a sincere follower of the king； and has free intercourse with many distinguished persons； he is also well received at court。 Give yourself the appearance of sympathizing in all his sentiments。 When you attend the concerts at the castle； observe all that passes every laugh； every glance； every indistinct word； and inform me of all。 Do you understand； Marietta？will you do this？〃
〃I understand； Carlo； and I will do this。 Is this all？ Can I do nothing more to help you？〃
〃Yes； there are other things； but they are more difficult； more dangerous。〃
〃So much the better； the more dangerous the stronger the proof of my love。 Speak； dear Carlo！〃
〃It is forbidden for the captive officers to send 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 dowhat 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 eatwho 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 distance； the principal thing is that I have opened a way to my co