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Updated: June 15, 2025
"A jest which shall announce to the people of Vienna that the Jewish banker has no desire to receive the visits of the Christian count. Ah, eleven o'clock! The hour for your interview. Farewell, my daughter, your lover comes." The banker disappeared through a tapestry-door, and scarcely had he closed it when Count Podstadsky was announced.
She felt the waters engulf her, she heard her own death-cry, the last protest of youth against self-destruction; and then she felt the grasp of Podstadsky Podstadsky who, in restoring her to the world, had laid a new curse upon her life. Until then she had been luxurious, frivolous, pleasure-loving; but in the Tiber she had found a new and terrible baptism the baptism of crime.
You both stand upon the edge of a precipice: shield her at least from the ruin which threatens you!" The countess raised her snowy shoulders. "German sentimentality," said she. "If you mix sentiment with your cards, we shall lose the game, Count Podstadsky. Hear, then, what I have to say to you.
He confessed his own guilt, but firmly upheld her innocence. So far from being his accomplice, Podstadsky declared that she had been his victim. But a coffer containing twenty thousand ducats had been found upon the person of the countess. This money had not been given her by Podstadaky, since he had nothing but forged notes to give.
"Podstadsky," said she, throwing back her superb head, "you have about as much heart as a hare, who runs from a rustling leaf, taking it to be the clink of the hunter's rifle." "And yet, Arabella," replied Podstadsky, with a sickly smile, "I am here, although sometimes I do start, and fancy that I hear the hunter's step behind me." "Hare-like fright," said Arabella, raising her shoulders.
I suppose his rudeness to you was all assumed, to make an impression upon the foolish populace. That is all." Podstadsky shook his head. "The tone of the emperor was so pointed it seemed as though some special meaning lay in his words." "That, my dear Carlo, simply means that fear caused you to interpret them significantly." "The words themselves were significant enough; and his look!
Podstadsky was the son of a distinguished nobleman, high in the emperor's favor; he had just returned from his travels, and all the Viennese gallants were eager to imitate him in every thing.
"His majesty regrets that he cannot keep his engagement this evening with Count Podstadsky." "This is a disappointment. What else?" asked the countess, as the servant still stood there. "Several other excuses, my lady. The two Princesses Lichtenstein, Countess Thun, and Princess Esterhazy also have sent apologies." "Very well, Duval. Go, for the guests will be corning."
"What can it mean?" echoed the count, and he stared, for again he thought that he saw his mother's shadow darkening the splendor of those princely halls, whose lights were flickering as though they were about to be extinguished and leave the guilty accomplices in irretrievable darkness. "Arabella, something threatens us!" whispered Podstadsky. "Nonsense!
Here she comes, Carlo, but mark me! if I see danger ahead, I come to the rescue." The countess, like a graceful gazelle, then bounded into the boudoir, while the count advanced to meet the veiled visitor. With the bow and smile of a veritable libertine, Count Podstadsky offered his arm to the lady, whose face was completely hidden by a long black veil.
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