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It was suddenly lively in the garden Cecil, Paulo's old servant,

approached from the house, with a lantern in his hand

He comes down the alley with hasty steps, and with an anxious

countenance approaches his master

"What is it, Cecil?"

"Two letters, sir, that have just arrived One coation, and the other frohtly, and his hand involuntarily grasped after the

first letter, but he suddenly constrained hilance fell

upon Natalie, whose eyes were fixed with curiosity upon the two letters

"We will first see what the good Cardinal Bernis writes us!" said

Count Paulo, placing the Russian letter in his pocket with apparent

indifference

"Bernis?" asked Natalie "Is not that the French Cardinal, who is at

the saanelli, so dearly

loves?"

"The same," said Paulo, "and besides, the sao pro your

acquaintance! He already knows you, Natalie, although he has never yet