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rustling　of　her　heavy　silk　dress　alone　interrupted　the　silence。

She　paused　again　and　listened；　and　her　eyes　fixed　themselves
longingly　upon　the　portfolio　lying　at　the　door。　Why　were　not　her
eyes　endowed　with　the　power　of　a　loadstone？　Why　were　they　not　able
to　attract　the　portfolio　to　her？

The　portfolio　lay　there　quietly　and　immovably；　Victoria　vainly
stretched　out　her　hands　toward　itshe　was　unable　to　reach　it。

Once　more　she　impetuously　glanced　round　the　room；　then　she　bounded
forward　like　a　lioness　rushing　toward　her　prey。

She　grasped　the　portfolio　and　raised　it　with　a　triumphant　smile。　Her
small　hands　quickly　plunged　into　it　and　drew　forth　the　papers。　There
were　but　a　few　letters；　and　besides　several　closely　written　pages。
Victoria　did　not　take　time　to　look　at　them；　she　rapidly　pushed　the
papers　into　the　pocket　of　her　dress；　and　arranged　the　folds　of　the
latter　so　as　to　conceal　the　contents　of　her　pocket。　She　then　closed
the　portfolio　and　replaced　it　on　the　floor；　precisely　on　the　spot
where　Bonnier　had　dropped　it。

Her　purpose　was　accomplished！　How　her　face　was　glowing　with　delight！
How　deep　a　blush　was　burning　on　her　cheeks！　How　her　eyes　were
sparkling　with　diabolic　exultation！

With　light；　inaudible　steps　she　now　crossed　the　room　again；　and
resumed　her　seat　at　the　desk。　And　it　was　fortunate　that　she　had　done
so；　for　steps　were　approaching　in　the　adjoining　room；　the　door
opened；　and　Bonnier　entered。




CHAPTER　XXVIII。

THE　JUSTIFICATION。


Bonnier　paused　for　a　moment　on　the　threshold；　fixing　his　eyes　on
Victoria；　who　greeted　him　with　a　sweet；　fascinating　smile。　But　the
smile　disappeared　from　her　lips　when　she　beheld　the　threatening
angry　glance　with　which　he　was　staring　at　her；　and　the　air　of　gloomy
indignation　depicted　on　his　countenance。　She　might　be　mistaken；
however；　and　perhaps　it　was　merely　the　anguish　of　her　conscience
which　made　her　tremble。

〃And　you　bring　me　the　papers；　my　beloved　friend？〃　asked　Victoria；
with　an　air　of　fascinating　kindness。

〃Yes；〃　said　Bonnier；　still　remaining　on　the　threshold；　〃I　bring　you
the　papers。　But　just　look　what　a　fool　love　has　made　of　me！　For　your
sake；　I　forgot　the　portfolio　with　those　other　papers；　and　dropped　it
on　the　floor　there。　Do　you　now　perceive　your　power　over　me？　For　I
believe　I　told　you　that　the　loss　of　those　papers　would　ruin　me
irretrievably。〃

〃Yes；　you　told　me　so；〃　said　Victoria；　smiling。

〃And　yet　I　forgot　them　here！〃　exclaimed　Bonnier；　stooping　to　pick
them　up。　But　Victoria　immediately　rose　and　hastened　to　him。

〃To　punish　you　for　your　carelessness；　you　shall　now　leave　the
portfolio　on　the　floor；〃　she　said；　smiling；　〃nor　shall　you　think　of
it　again　as　long　as　I　am　with　you。　Tell　me；　will　that　be　too　hard
for　you？〃

She　bent　her　beautiful　face　over　him；　and　with　flaming　glances
looked　deeply　into　his　eyes。

Bonnier　dropped　the　portfolio　again　and　smiled。

〃It　may　lie　there；〃　he　said；　〃it　has　performed　its　part　anyhow。　And
now；　I　suppose；　we　will　talk　again　about　our　business？〃

〃Yes；　we　will；〃　replied　Victoria。　〃Give　me　the　papers。〃

〃No；　madame；　no　one　gives　up　such　important　papers　without
witnesses；〃　said　Bonnier。　〃Permit　me　therefore　to　call　my
witnesses。〃

He　hastily　turned　to　the　door　and　pushed　it　open。

〃Come　in；　gentlemen！〃　he　shouted；　and　his　two　colleagues；　Roberjot
and　Debry；　immediately　appeared　on　the　threshold。　Without　greeting
Victoria；　merely　eyeing　her　with　cold；　contemptuous　glances；　the　two
gentlemen　entered　and　walked　directly　to　the　desk。　Bonnier　locked
the　door　and　put　the　key　into　his　pocket。

Victoria　saw　it；　and　a　slight　pallor　overspread　her　rosy　face　for　a
moment。

〃Will　you　tell　me；　sir；　what　all　this　means？〃　she　asked；　in　a
threatening　voice。

〃You　will　learn　it　directly；〃　said　Bonnier。　〃Please　sit　down　again
in　your　arm…chair；　for　we　are　going　to　resume　our　diplomatic
negotiations。　You；　gentlemen；　take　seats　on　both　sides　of　the　lady；
I　shall　sit　down　opposite　her；　and　at　the　slightest　motion　she
makes；　either　to　jump　out　of　the　window　there；　or　to　interrupt　us　by
an　exclamation；　I　shall　shoot　her　as　sure　as　my　name　is　Bonnier！〃

He　drew　a　pistol　from　his　bosom　and　cocked　it。　〃I　command　you　to　be
silent　and　not　to　interrupt　us；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Victoria。　〃The
pistol　is　loaded；　and；　unless　you　respect　my　orders；　I　will　most
certainly　inflict　upon　you　the　punishment　you　have　deserved；　I　shall
take　your　life　like　that　of　any　other　spy　who　has　been　caught　in　a
hostile　camp。〃

He　dropped　his　right　hand　with　the　pistol　on　the　table；　and　then
turned　to　the　two　gentlemen；　who　had　listened　to　him　in　gloomy
silence。

〃Yes；　my　friends；〃　he　said；　throwing　back　his　head　in　order　to　shake
away　his　long　black　hair；　surrounding　his　face　like　a　mane〃now；　my
friends；　I　beg　you　to　listen　to　my　justification。　You　have　latterly
believed　me　to　be　a　fool；　a　prodigal　son　of　the　republic；　who；　for
the　sake　of　a　miserable　love…affair　with　a　flirt；　neglected　the　most
sacred　interests　of　his　country。　You　shall　see　and　acknowledge　now
that；　while　I　seemed　to　be　lost；　I　was　only　working　for　the　welfare
and　glory　of　our　great　republic；　and　that　this　woman　with　her
beautiful　mask　did　not　make　me　forget　for　a　single　moment　my　duties
to　my　country。　These　papers　contain　my　justificationthese　papers；
madame；　with　which　you　hoped　to　revenge　yourself。　Pardon　me；　my
fairy　queen；　I　have　made　another　mistake；　and　again　brought　a　wrong
portfolio；　these　are　not　the　documents　either　which　you　would　like
to　obtain。　Perhaps　they　are　after　all　in　the　portfolio　lying　on　the
floor　there！〃

He　looked　at　Victoria　with　a　scornful　smile；　she　fixed　her　large
eyes　steadfastly　upon　him；　not　a　muscle　of　her　face　was　twitching
not　the　slightest　anxiety　or　fear　was　depicted　on　her　features。

Bonnier　opened　the　portfolio　and　drew　the　papers　from　it。

〃I　shall　only　briefly　state　to　you　the　contents　of　those　papers；〃　he
said；　〃you　may　afterward　peruse　them　at　leisure。　This　first　paper　is
a　letter　I　received　by　a　courier　from　Vienna；　without　knowing　who
sent　it　to　me。　The　letter　only　contains　the　following　words：〃

〃'Be　on　your　guard。　A　very　dangerous　spy　will　be　sent　to　youa　lady
who　is　the　most　intimate　friend　of　a　distinguished　statesman。
Receive　her　well；　and　let　no　one　see　these　lines。　It　will　promote
the　welfare　of　France。'〃

〃As　a　matter　of　course；　I　said　nothing　about　it；　not　even　to　you；　my
friends；　I　was　silent；　and　waited　for　further　developments。　Two　days
later　I　received　this　second　paper。　It　was　a　note　from　a　lady；　who
wrote　to　me　that　she　had　just　arrived　at　Rastadt；　and　was　very
anxious　to　see　me；　but　under　the　seal　of　the　most　profound　secrecy。
I　followed　the　invitation；　and　repaired　to　the　designated　house。　I
found　there　this　lady；　who　introduced　herself　to　me　as　Madame
Victoria　de　Poutet；　and　if　you　now　look　at　her　you　will　comprehend
why　that　refined　half…Turk　Thugut；　as　well　as　the　mad　rake　Count
Lehrbach；　are　both　in　love　with　her；　for　she　is　more　beautiful　than
the　loveliest　odalisque　and　the　most　fascinating　Phryne！〃

The　three　men　fixed　their　eyes　upon　Victoria；　and　ogled　her　with　an
impudent　leer。　Victoria　sat　erect　and　immovable；　and　even　her　eye…
lashes　did　not　move；　she　apparently　did　not　see　the　glances　fixed
upon　her；　nor　even　heard　what　Bonnier　had　said　about　her；　for　her
countenance　remained　calm　and　almost　smiling。

Bonnier　continued：　〃The　lady　told　me　a　very　pretty　little　story；　the
particulars　of　which　I　shall　not　relate　to　you。　In　short；　Thugut　had
attacked　her　innocence　and　her　honorher　innocence　and　her　honor；
do　not　forget　that！and　she　wanted　to　revenge　herself　upon　him。　She
asked　me　to　lend　her　my　assistance　for　this　purpose。　I　feigned　to
believe　every　thing　she　told　me；　and　promised　to　protect　her。〃

〃This　third　paper　here　I　found　on　my　desk　on　returning　home　from　my
visit　to　the　lady。　A　stranger　had　delivered　it。　It　was　written　by
the　same　man　who　had　addressed　the　first　letter　to　me。　It　read　as
follows：　'A　romance　is　to　be　played　with　you；　let　them　proceed
without　interfering　with　their　doings。　The　fascination　of　beauty　is
very　powerful；　and　the　lady　is　going　to　fascinate　you；　for　the
purpose　of　obtaining　important　papers　from　you。　Pretend　to　be
fascinated；　and　you　will　penetrate　the　intrigue。'〃

〃The　advice　was　good；　and　I　followed　it。　I　feigned　to　be　fascinated；
I　played　the　enthusiastic　lover　of　this　lady；　and　although　I
doubtless　acted　my　part　in　a　very　clumsy　manner；　she　was　kind　enough
to　believe　me；　for　she　is　well　aware　that　no　one　is　able　to
withstand　the　power　of　her　beauty。　But　in　order　to　perform　my　ROLE
in　a　really　truthful　manner；　not　only　Madame　de　Poutet；　but　also　all
Rastadt；　had　to　be　convinced　of　my　ardent　love　for　her；　for　Victoria
is　very　shrewd；　Thugut　has　educated　a　worthy　pupil　in　her。　Hence　I
had　to　wear　the　mask　of　my　love　everywhere；　even　before　you；　my
friends。　I　had　to　make　up　my　mind　to　pass　for　a　fool　until　I　was
able　to　prove　to　you　that　I　was　a　man　of　sense；　I　had　to　wear　MY
mask　until　I　was　able　to　tear　this　woman's　mask　from　her　face。　Oh；　I
assure　you；　it　is　not　an　easy　task　to　be　this　lady's　lover！　She
demands　a　great　deal　of　courting；