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Updated: May 3, 2025
The emperor has written to her the emperor, my husband!" She folded the fatal letter, and oh, how her white hands trembled as she laid it upon the table I and how deadly pale were the cheeks that had flushed with anger when Gaspardi had been by! The countess was not deceived by this phase of the empress's grief. She knew that the storm would burst, and she thought it better to divide its wrath.
She seemed undecided what to do; but at last she stopped suddenly, and blushing deeply, without looking at the countess, she said in a low voice, "Bring him hither." The countess disappeared and returned, followed by Gaspardi. Maria Theresa strode impetuously forward, and bent her threatening eyes upon the valet.
But the shrewd Italian knew better than to meet the lightning glance of an angry empress. With downcast looks and reverential obeisance he awaited her commands. "Look at me, Gaspardi," said she, in tones that sounded in the valet's ears like distant thunder. "Answer my questions, sir" Gaspardi raised his eyes. "To whom was the note addressed that was given you by the emperor this morning?"
"Have you also forgotten that this morning you sent Gaspardi out of the palace on an errand?" "No, I have not forgotten it," replied the emperor, with growing astonishment. But Maria Theresa remarked that he looked confused, and avoided her eye. "You confess, then, that you sent the letter, and requested an answer?" "Yes, but I received no answer," said the emperor, with embarrassment.
"Once more I command you to give it up." Gaspardi heaved a sigh of anguish, and looked imploringly at the empress. But in the trembling lips, the flashing eyes, the flushed cheeks that met his entreating glance, he saw no symptoms of relenting, and he dared the strife no longer. His hand shook as he drew forth the letter.
"There is your answer," thundered the enraged wife. "I took it from Gaspardi myself." "And is it possible, Theresa, that you have read a letter addressed to me?" asked the emperor, in a severe voice. The empress blushed, and her eyes sought the ground. "No," said she, "I have not read it, Franz." "But it is open," persisted he, taking it from his wife's hand.
I command you, as your sovereign, to give up the note you bear about you for the emperor. I myself will deliver it to his majesty." Gaspardi gave a start, and unconsciously his hand sought the place where the note was concealed. He turned very pale and stammered, "Imperial majesty, I have no letter for the emperor."
"You have it there!" thundered the infuriated empress, as with threatening hand she pointed to the valet's breast. "Deliver it at once, or I will call my lackeys to search you." "Your majesty forces me then to betray my lord and emperor?" asked Gaspardi, trembling. "You serve him more faithfully by relinquishing the letter than by retaining it," returned Maria Theresa, hastily.
"You have dogged my steps with spies; you have suffered my character to be discussed by your attendants. You have gone so far as to compromise me with my own servants; forcing them to disobey me by virtue of your rights as sovereign exercised in opposition to mine as your husband. I gave Gaspardi orders to deliver Riccardo's note to me alone. I forbade him to tell any one whither he went.
"Your majesty, I did not presume to look at it," replied Gaspardi, quietly. "His imperial majesty was pleased to tell me where to take it, and that sufficed me." "And whither did you take it?" "Imperial majesty, I have forgotten the house." "What street, then?" "Pardon me, imperial majesty; these dreadful German names are too hard for my Italian tongue.
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