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ond letter。 But even if both my messengers were intercepted； all is not lost。 I have notified Trenck also to write to Vienna for money and help。 He must continue to be the shield behind which we intrench ourselves。 Should the undertaking miscarry； we will lay it upon Trenck； should it succeed； it will be through me； and I will not be tardy in claiming my reward。 The general of our order is old； should he； however； persist in living； his tenacious nature must〃 He did not dare to finish the sentence； but a wild； demoniac smile supplied the words his lips dared not utter。 He arose and walked several times up and down his chamber； completely lost in ambitious dreams of the future； for whose realization； as a true Jesuit； he shunned no means； mindful of the motto of their order： 〃The end sanctifies the means。〃
He saw a ring upon his handthat ring； full of significance； before which kings had often bowed； which was to the Jesuits what the crown is to the kingthe sacred sign of power and glorythe indisputable sign of invisible but supreme power。 He saw himself； this ring upon his hand； subjugating nations； rewarding his friends； punishing his enemies。 He suddenly awoke from his dreams； and remembered the present with a weary smile。
〃I must not forget； in dreams of the future； the necessity for action。 I have many important things to do this day。 I must take these letters to Marietta； see her address and post them； then I must seek La Trouffle and receive from her leave of absence； on the plea of visiting a sick friend at Magdeburg。 This will be a tedious undertaking； for she will not agree willingly to a separation without great persuasion。 I have much influence over her； and a woman in love cannot refuse a request to the object of her tenderness。 I will obtain； through Madame du Trouffle； a near and influential relative of the commandant of Berlin； permission to visit Magdeburg； and through Marietta Taliazuchi I will post my two important letters。〃 He laughed aloud as he thought of these two women； so tenderly devoted to him； both so willing to be deceived by him。
〃They love me in very different ways；〃 said he； as he finished his toilet preparatory to going out。 〃Marietta Taliazuchi with the humility of a slave； Louise du Trouffle with the grateful passion of an elderly coquette。 It would be a problem for a good arithmetician to solve； which of these two loves would weigh most。 Marietta's love is certainly the more pleasant and comfortable； because the more humble。 Like a faithful dog she lies at my feet； if I push her from me； she comes back； lies humbly down； and licks the foot that kicked her。 Away； then； to her； to my tender Marietta。〃
Hiding his letters in his breast； he took his hat and hastened in the direction of Marietta's dwelling。 She received him in her usual impassioned manner； she told him how she had suffered in their long separation； how the thought that he might be untrue to her； that he loved another had filled her with anguish。
Ranuzi laughed。 〃Still the same old song； Marietta； always full of doubt and distrust？ Does the lioness still thirst after my blood？ would she lacerate my faithless heart？〃
Kneeling； as she often did； at his feet； she rested her arms on his knees； then dropping her head on her folded hands； she looked up at him。
〃Can you swear that you are true to me？〃 said she； in a strange； sharp tone。 〃Can you swear that you love no other woman but me？〃
〃Yes； I can swear it！〃 said he； laughing。
〃Then do so；〃 cried she； earnestly。
〃Tell me an oath and I will repeat it after you。〃
She looked at him firmly for several moments； and strange shadows crossed her emotional countenance。
Ranuzi did not perceive them； he was too inattentive； too confident of success； to entertain doubt or distrust。
〃Hear the oath！〃 said she； after a pause。 〃'I； Count Carlo Ranuzi； swear that I love no other woman but Marietta Taliazuchi； I swear that； since I have loved her； I have not nor ever shall kiss or breathe words of love to any other woman。 May God's anger reach me； if my oath is false！'〃
The words fell slowly； singly from her lips； and she gazed with unflinching eyes up at him。
Not a muscle in his countenance moved。 Laughing gayly； he repeated her words； then bent and kissed her black； shiny hair。 〃Are you satisfied now； you silly child？〃
〃I am satisfied； for you have sworn；〃 said she； rising from her knees。
〃Will this quiet you now； Marietta？〃
〃Yes； forever。〃
〃Well； then； now a moment to business。 There are two important letters； my beautiful darling。 You see how boundless my love for you isI confide these letters to your care； and entreat you to post them as usual。 My heart and my secrets are in your lovely hands。〃
He kissed the hands； and gave her the letters。
Marietta took and looked at them in a timid； fearful manner。
〃Do they contain dangerous secrets？〃 said she。
〃Dangerous in the extreme； my lovely one。〃
〃Were they intercepted and opened； would you be liable to death？〃 said she； in a low； trembling voice。
He saw in these words only her solicitude and love for him。
〃Certainly； I would be lostI would have to die were these letters opened。 But fear not； my beauteous Mariettathey will not be opened； no one would dream of intercepting the harmless letters you direct to your friends at Magdeburg。 Apart from that； no one is aware of our close connection。 We have carefully guarded the holy secret of our love； when your husband returns from Italy； this bad world will have no evil rumors to tell of us； and you will be enclosed in his arms as his faithful wife。 When does he come？〃
〃I expect him in three weeks。〃
〃Many glorious； quiet evenings will we enjoy together before his return。 And now； farewellI must leave you。〃
〃You must leave me？〃
〃I must； Marietta。〃
〃And where are you going？〃 said she； looking at him earnestly。
〃Jealous again；〃 said he； laughing。 〃Calm yourself； Marietta； I go to no woman。 Besides this； have you not my oath？〃
〃Where are you going？〃 said she； with a sharp questioning look。
〃I have an engagement to meet some friendsthe meeting takes place in the house of a Catholic priest。 Are you satisfied； Marietta？ or do you still fear that some dangerous rendezvous calls me from you？〃
〃I fear nothing；〃 said she； smiling； 〃you have reassured me。〃
〃Then； my beloved； I entreat you to command me to go； for if you do not； though I know I ought； I cannot leave you。 But； nofirst I will see you direct these letters。〃
〃You shall；〃 said she； taking a pen and directing them。
Ranuzi took the letters and examined them。
〃This simple feminine address is the talisman that protects me and my secret。 And this I owe to you； my darling； to you alone。 But will you finish your work of mercy？ Will you post these letters at once？〃
〃I will do so； Carlo。〃
〃Will you swear it？〃 said he； laughing； 〃swear it to me by our love。〃
〃I swear itswear it by my love。〃
〃And now； farewell； Marietta！farewell for to…day。 To…morrow I hope to see you again。〃
He took her in his arms and whispered words of love and tenderness in her ear。 He did not notice； in his impatience to leave； how cold and quiet she was。 He took his hat； and bo