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Show Vi)'-'xyfy' -4 "'!'''i ', ADAPTED FROM THE ? Meuo'c.-M? GERTRUDE GELBin, Copyright 1337 by Loew'a, Inc. Chapter Ono LOVE BY ROYAL COMMAND The Due dn Talloyi'.inci cynd thft brilliant galni-Ting wiih mahcioua Thoae Polish diplomats nnd their futiln cfforU to iinprc.'JS Napoleon! All evening they had tried in vain to inifM-n.st. him in the caudo of Poland's freedom; that was their purpose in tendering h'lm this ball. Hut Napoleon had waved them aside. He preferred to dance and fhi-L with the beautiful young wife of the rich and aged Count Wa.1-ew.ski. Wa.1-ew.ski. She was beautiful, this Marie Walewski, mused Talleyrand. He watehed her, her face flushed, her eyes sparkling ns Napoleon, oblivious oblivi-ous In the entire assemblage, persisted per-sisted in claiming her as his dancing danc-ing partner. Something in the Emperor's Em-peror's attitude made Talleyrand believe they had met previously. Hut where? He searched his mind. Was Marie the woman the Emperor Em-peror had chanced upon nt Bronic the week before? He had. heard tell of some such encounter. The Emporer hadstopped at Bronie to flowers these notes these in- , sulis to you ." The ringing of the bell interrupt- , ed her and a moment later Prince 1 Pnmalowskl and Senator Malchow-aki Malchow-aki were announced. After an exchange ex-change of greetings, Marie rose to leave the men together. "I beg of you to remain, my dear Countess," said the Prince. "We are here to discuss matters of state which " ho paused "which concern you." t She started in surprise, then took her place near her husband. Conversation Con-versation turned at once to the further fur-ther failure of all diplomatic effort to interest Napoleon in Poland's cause. Throughout the week every attempt had been made to conciliate concili-ate the Emperor more troops, cannon, horses had been promised and given, but, to no avail. "And that is why we bavo come to you." the Prince said finally. "You alone can help us. . he stopped, stop-ped, his eyes full on Marie. There was a moment of agonized silence. "You are suggesting that I can succeed where the Polish legions have failed?" she faltered. Ho nodded, and with drawn face repeated Talleyrand's comment the night of the ball. "My dear child," , At Napoleon's headquarters, Duroc welcomed her in pleased surprise. He escorted her to the foyer outside Napoleon's room. As se waited to . be announced, some impulse bade ! her flee. She started down the cor- i ridor. "Madame Walewska!" Napoleon stood at the open door calling to her. For one irresolute moment she paused, then, turning back, entered the room. "Well! You're here at last!" he exclaimed. "I expected, you sooner. Why didn't you come a week ago when I first wrote you? You've chosen to play the coquette with me." He leaned forward to kiss her, but she turned her face. "You're shy!" he laughed. She hesitated a moment, then ! yielded to him. deliberately. But, as he kissed her and held her close, a wave of confused emotions surged surg-ed through her fear conscience desperation and bewildering do-sire. do-sire. She struggled in his arms. "I have only one love, Sire," she said, her voice low and faltering. "My country. coun-try. Help us, Sire! We are in your hands. Don't let a proud people beg in vain for what is rightfully theirs. "Wait ! " His voice echoed down the corridor. "Come back," he cried. Slowly she retraced her steps. He took her in his arms with infinite tenderness. Despite herself, an irresistible ir-resistible ardor impelled her lips Ito his. But Poland's freedom was not to .be won that way her husband had been right. Napoleon dismissed her" late that afternoon with no promise for her country. Further, he sent her jewels to pay her for her favor. And Marie, sullied and ashamed, fled to Walewice, her country estate. Her husband seemed to understand under-stand her plight; he had tried to comfort her. "We all share your sin, Marie," he had said to her in parting. part-ing. But, in her heart, she knew her capitulation to Napoleon had been as much her answering emotion emo-tion as her plea for Poland. Alone at Walewice, she tried to find some philosophy that would make her forgive herself. The days passed to leave only atdeepef sadness sad-ness in her; untilat last, the "one arriyed which, unbidden, gave her the answerto her problem. Napoleon discovered her whereabouts where-abouts and came to Walewice to seek her out. change horses enroutc to Warsaw. Duroc, his marshal, had spied a woman hiding near the gates of the town. At pistol-point sho was commanded com-manded to step forth into the light nnd tell her purpose in being there. She had confessed her only reason was to glimpse Napoleon as ho rode by; since childhood she had worshipped wor-shipped him as the great hero who would one day free Poland from Russia. And Napoleon, so the report ran, flattered, nnd intrigued by her beauty, had kissed her. Talleyrand recalled that Duroc, at the Emperor's Emper-or's command, had written down the woman's name. He must find out what it was. He glanced at the statesmen-Prince statesmen-Prince Poniatowski, Senator Mala-chnwskt Mala-chnwskt and other Polish dignitaries. digni-taries. He smiled nt their efforts to conceal t heir chagrin ; he smiled again ns he recalled Napoleon's little lit-tle game of verbal thrust and par-j par-j ry to their pleas. He looked to the i dunce floor once more for Mario I nnd the Emperor. Napoleon was whispering to her. "Will you come to see me tomorrow, to-morrow, Countess?" Napoleon asked ns they tread the measure of the dance. "No, Sire," she replied. "You came to see me tl3 other night, did you not?" "Yes, Sire; but not to be seen. That night I obeyed an impulso of hero-worship which I have had for you since I was a child." "And you cannot follow such an ' Vi' 1 i ) ." : -f; j If j ; ) t, , ' 1 ' J j " ' ' - - J ' S , v'1 t , s ' - v. . , - , - , u 3 - fr .,.-... H ' ' s "You are suggesting that I can v' ' ""'.'' , , s! succeed where the Polish ; i , . - " , Nfv Ti legions have failed7" r Impulse again?" "I am married, Sire." "To a man four times your age," he mocked brutally. "You will come to sec me tomorrow at my headquarters?" head-quarters?" "No. Sire." Her rise Wis firm, j s her glance cool. "Stop the dance!" he shouted. The musicians ceased playing and the dancers hurriedly cleared the floor. Marie bowed to Napoleon with a deep curtsy. He glared at her, trembling with rage. Tnlleyrnnd leaned toward the startled group of Polish statesmen. "There is your Ambassador," he whispered. With a slight nod of the head ho indicated Marie who, pale but calm, was crossing the room to her husband. "She's the only Pole among you who can impress the Emperor." Napoleon strode to his seat, his I wrath electrifying the room. He briefly made his adieus. "May we hope for further audience audi-ence with you, Sire." asked Ponia-' Ponia-' towski. "His Majesty will be in Warsaw for a week," replied Talleyrand suavely, and joined the departing entourage. Marie knew Napoleon was in Warsaw during that week; for every day he sent flowers and notes importuning her to visit him. She turned the notes, unread, over to her husband. "You have made a profound impression im-pression on the Emperor," he remarked re-marked gently as he read one just received. "Anastase," she cried "these he said finally, "believe me; if we could have spared you this we would have given our lives as we have given our goods and our pride. We have knelt to this man, but he has not heard us. Perhaps he will hear you. We came to you because wc believe the destiny of Poland has been put into your hands. If that is so, you cannot be dishonored. dishonor-ed. Perhaps you have been made beautiful that we might be made free. You are a woman the Emperor is, after all only a man " ?ic broke off miserably. The Senator rose. "Goodbye old friend," he whispered to Walewski. "This has been the unhappiest moment mo-ment of my life." He kissed Marie's hand and left, the Prince following silently behind. Marie crossed slowly to the window. "What are you thinking, Marie?" her husband asked. "I was wondering if some day my countrymen would say: 'There goes Marie Walewska who might have saved Poland and didn't'." "If Poland is ever to be saved, you will not save it this way, Marie," he answered sadly. He kissed her gently and left her to her thoughts. She picked up the note the Emperor Em-peror had sent her that day. "I see only you," she read. "I dream only you. I shall think much more affectionately of your country if you take pity on my loneliness." She stood thoughtful for ft moment, then, reaching for her cloak and hat, rushed from the house. We are desperate. You are powerful. power-ful. Help us to free Poland, Sire." His eyes grew steely. "Who sent you?" he demanded. Her glance fell at his lone. "I love my country, ;Sfre' she protested. pro-tested. "Who sent you?" His irords lashed lash-ed out at her. "Y'ou did, Sire. You sent for me." "I came to offer you what thanks you might want for an act of justice," jus-tice," she answered. "I would not have come here at all if I had not been persuaded it was for the good of a million others." "You have wasted your time, Madame!" His tone cut her like a whip. "You should have learned before be-fore this that if you want something from a man don't bargain. Give! Or pretend to give. I never leave anyone man or woman who has behaved generously to me the poorer for it. Now go and tell your advisors they have blundered! Napoleon doesn't trade. He takes or gives." She stood whitefaced and immobile. im-mobile. "Well why do you stand there," ho shouted. You are free to go!" "No, Sire," she replied. "I am not free to go. I am not free to return to my countrymen and tell them I pleaded so poorly in the name of justice that Napoleon himself could not hear me!" Her eyes filled with tears. He seized her roughly. "You are the only woman whose favor I have j ever begged for," he whispred. i She broke from his embrace and rushed from the room. - ' "I had to come, Marie," he pleaded. plead-ed. "I had to see you again. I had to ask you to forgive me." Marie had suffered too deeply to be wcp by words. She poured out her heart, not as a suppliant seeking seek-ing an Emperor's help for her country, coun-try, rmt as a woman forcing the man she loves to face his own shortcomings. And Napoleon, realizing his love for her, ceased to be the conqueror of men, the exalted hero who thought a wJ2nan's favors his just due. "I love you, Marie," he whispered. She looked into his eyes and knew he spoke from his heart. Without a word she gave herself up to his embrace. "I love you Marie," he repeated. "I tried to put you out of my mind. But I couldn't. Marie," he pleaded. "Come with me to Prussia." "I warn you Sire," she murmured. murmur-ed. "I have known always that I would love only once. Do you want a love like that a love that lasts forever?" "Will you come with me?' was hfs answer. "I shall walk the byways and backroads of the world gladly to be near you for as long as you want me," she replied, and lifted her lips to his. Marie and Napoleon have i pledged their Jove but how long can any woman hope to ! keep the Jove of a man upon whom the eyes of the toorld j are turned. Don't miss next I week's thrilling chapter, n |