The Wanderer's Necklace

  CHAPTER III

  MOTHER AND SON

  The next vision of this Byzantine life of mine that rises before me isthat of a great round building crowned with men clad in bishops' robes.At least they wore mitres, and each of them had a crooked pastoral staffwhich in most cases was carried by an attendant monk.

  Some debate was in progress, or rather raging. Its subject seemed to beas to whether images should or should not be worshipped in churches.It was a furious thing, that debate. One party to it were calledIconoclasts, that was the party which did not like images, and I thinkthe other party were called Orthodox, but of this I am not sure. Sofurious was it that I, the general and governor of the prison, had beencommanded by those in authority to attend in order to prevent violence.The beginnings of what happened I do not remember. What I do rememberis that the anti-Iconoclasts, the party to which the Empress Irenebelonged, that was therefore the fashionable sect, being, as it seemedto me, worsted in argument, fell back on violence.

  There followed a great tumult, in which the spectators took part, andthe strange sight was seen of priests and their partisans, and even ofbishops themselves, falling upon their adversaries and beating them withwhatever weapon was to hand; yes, even with their pastoral staves. Itwas a wonderful thing to behold, these ministers of the Christ of peacebelabouring each other with pastoral staves!

  The party that advocated the worship of images was the more numerousand had the greater number of adherents, and therefore those who thoughtotherwise were defeated. A few of them were dragged out into thestreet and killed by the mob which waited there, and more were wounded,notwithstanding all that I and the guards could do to protect them.Among the Iconoclasts was a gentle-faced old man with a long beard, oneof the bishops from Egypt, who was named Barnabas. He had said little inthe debate, which lasted for several days, and when he spoke his wordswere full of charity and kindness. Still, the image faction hated him,and when the final tumult began some of them set upon him. Indeed,one brawny, dark-faced bishop--I think it was he of Antioch--rushed atBarnabas, and before I could thrust him back, broke a jewelled staffupon his head, while other priests tore his robe from neck to shoulderand spat in his face.

  At last the riot was quelled; the dead were borne away, and orders cameto me that I was to convey Barnabas to the State prison if he stilllived, together with some others, of whom I remember nothing. So thitherI took Barnabas, and there, with the help of the prison physician--he towhom I had given the poisoned figs and the dead monkey to be examined--Inursed him back to life and health.

  His illness was long, for one of the blows which he had receivedcrippled him, and during it we talked much together. He was a verysweet-natured man and holy, a native of Britain, whose father orgrandfather had been a Dane, and therefore there was a tie between us.In his youth he was a soldier. Having been taken prisoner in some war,he came to Italy, where he was ordained a priest at Rome. Afterwards hewas sent as a missionary to Egypt, where he was appointed the head ofa monastery, and in the end elected to a bishopric. But he had neverforgotten the Danish tongue, which his parents taught him as a child,and so we were able to talk together in that language.

  Now it would seem that since that night when the Caesar Nicephorus stroveto hang himself, I had obtained and studied a copy of the ChristianScriptures--how I do not know--and therefore was able to discuss thesematters with Barnabas the bishop. Of our arguments I remember nothing,save that I pointed out to him that whereas the tree seemed to me to bevery good, its fruits were vile beyond imagination, and I instanced thehorrible tumult when he had been wounded almost to death, not by commonmen, but by the very leaders of the Christians.

  He answered that these things must happen; that Christ Himself had saidHe came to bring not peace but a sword, and that only through war andstruggle would the last truth be reached. The spirit was always good,he added, but the flesh was always vile. These deeds were those of theflesh, which passed away, but the spirit remained pure and immortal.

  The end of it was that under the teaching of the holy Barnabas, saintand martyr (for afterwards he was murdered by the followers of the falseprophet, Mahomet), I became a Christian and a new man. Now at length Iunderstood what grace it was that had given me courage to offer battleto the heathen god, Odin, and to smite him down. Now I saw also whereshone the light which I had been seeking these many years. Aye, and Iclasped that light to my bosom to be my lamp in life and death.

  So a day came when my beloved master, Barnabas, who would allow nodelay in this matter, baptised me in his cell with water taken from hisdrinking vessel, charging me to make public profession before the Churchwhen opportunity should arise.

  It was just at this time that Irene returned from the Baths, and I sentto her a written report of all that had happened at the prison since Ihad been appointed its governor. Also I prayed that if it were her willI might be relieved of my office, as it was one which did not please me.

  A few days later, while I sat in my chamber at the prison writinga paper concerning a prisoner who had died, the porter at the gateannounced that a messenger from the Augusta wished to see me. I badehim show in the messenger, and presently there entered no chamberlain oreunuch, but a woman wrapped in a dark cloak. When the man had gone andthe door was shut, she threw off the cloak and I saw that my visitorwas Martina, the favourite waiting-lady of the Empress. We greeted eachother warmly, who were always friends, and I asked her tidings.

  "My tidings are, Olaf, that the waters have suited the Augusta verywell. She has lost several pounds in weight and her skin is now likethat of a young child."

  "All health to the Augusta!" I said, laughing. "But you have not comehere to tell me of the state of the royal skin. What next, Martina?"

  "This, Olaf. The Empress has read your report with her own eyes, whichis a rare thing for her to do. She said she wished to see whether orno you could write Greek. She is much pleased with the report, and toldStauracius in my presence that she had done well in choosing you foryour office while she was absent from the city, since thereby she hadsaved the lives of the Caesars and _Nobilissimi_, desiring as she doesthat these princes should be kept alive, at any rate for the present.She accedes also to your prayer, and will relieve you of your officeas soon as a new governor can be chosen. You are to return to guard herperson, but with your rank of general confirmed."

  "That is all good news, Martina; so good that I wonder what sting ishidden in all this honey."

  "That you will find out presently, Olaf. One I can warn you of,however--the sting of jealousy. Advancement such as yours draws eyes toyou, not all of them in love."

  I nodded and she went on:

  "Meantime your star seems to shine very bright indeed. One might almostsay that the Augusta worshipped it, at least she talks of you to mecontinually, and once or twice was in half a mind to send for you to theBaths. Indeed, had it not been for reasons of State connected with yourprisoners I think she would have done so."

  "Ah!" I said, "now I think I begin to feel another sting in the honey."

  "Another sting in the honey! Nay, nay, you mean a divine perfume, anessence of added sweetness, a flavour of the flowers on Mount Ida. Why,Olaf, if I were your enemy, as I dare say I shall be some day, for oftenwe learn to hate those whom we have--rather liked, your head and yourshoulders might bid good-bye to each other for such words as those."

  "Perhaps, Martina; and if they did I do not know that it would greatlymatter--now."

  "Not greatly matter, when you are driving at full gallop along Fortune'sroad to Fame's temple with an Empress for your charioteer! Are youblind or mad, Olaf, or both? And what do you mean by your 'now'? Olaf,something has happened to you since last we met. Have you fallen in lovewith some fair prisoner in this hateful place and been repulsed? Such afool as you are might take refusal even from a captive in his own hands.At least you are different."

  "Yes, Martina, something has happened to me. I have become a Christian."

  "Oh! Olaf, now I see that you
are not a fool, as I thought, but veryclever. Why, only yesterday the Augusta said to me--it was after she hadread that report of yours--that if you were but a Christian she would beminded to lift you high indeed. But as you remained the most obstinateof heathens she did not see how it could be done without causing greattrouble."

  "Now I wish one could be a Christian within and remain a pagan without,"I answered grimly; "though alas! that may not be. Martina, do you notunderstand that it was for no such reasons as these that I kissed theCross; that in so doing I sought not fortune, but to be its servant?"

  "By the Saints! you'll be tonsured next, and ill enough it would suityou," she exclaimed. "Remember, if things grow too--difficult, you canalways be tonsured, Olaf. Only then you will have to give up the hopeof that lady who wears the other half of the necklace somewhere. Idon't mean Irene's sham half, but the real one. Oh! stop blushing andstammering, I know the story, and all about Iduna the Fair also. Anexalted person told it me, and so did you, although you were not awarethat you had done so, for you are not one who can keep a secret tohimself. May all the guardian angels help that necklace-lady if ever sheshould meet another lady whom I will not name. And now why do you talkso much? Are you learning to preach, or what? If you really do mean tobecome a monk, Olaf, there is another thing you must give up, and thatis war, except of the kind which you saw at the Council the other day.God above us! what a sight it would be to see you battering anotherbishop with a hook-shaped staff over a question of images or the TwoNatures. I should be sorry for that bishop. But you haven't told me whoconverted you."

  "Barnabas of Egypt," I said.

  "Oh! I hoped that it had been a lady saint; the story would have been somuch more interesting to the Court. Well, our imperial mistress does notlike Barnabas, because he does not like images, and that may be a stingin _her_ honey. But perhaps she will forgive him for your sake. You'llhave to worship images."

  "What do I care about images? It is the spirit that I seek, Martina, andall these things are nothing."

  "You are thorough, as usual, Olaf, and jump farther than you can see.Well, be advised and say naught for or against images. As they have nomeaning for you, what can it matter if they are or are not there? Leavethem to the blind eyes and little minds. And now I must be gone, whocan listen to your gossip no longer. Oh! I had forgotten my message.The Augusta commands that you shall wait on her this evening immediatelyafter she has supped. Hear and obey!"

  Having delivered this formal mandate, to neglect which meantimprisonment, or worse, she threw her cloak about her, and with awondering glance at my face, opened the door and went.

  At the hour appointed, or, rather, somewhat before it, I attended at theprivate apartments of the palace. Evidently I was expected, for one ofthe chamberlains, on seeing me, bowed and bade me be seated, then leftthe ante-room. Presently the door opened again, and through it cameMartina, clad in her white official robe.

  "You are early, Olaf," she said, "like a lover who keeps a tryst. Well,it is always wise to meet good fortune half way. But why do you comeclad in full armour? It is not the custom to wait thus upon the Empressat this hour when you are off duty."

  "I thought that I was on duty, Martina."

  "Then, as usual, you thought wrong. Take off that armour; she says thatthe sight of it always makes her feel cold after supper. I say take itoff; or if you cannot, I will help you."

  So the mail was removed, leaving me clad in my plain blue tunic andhose.

  "Would you have me come before the Empress thus?" I asked.

  By way of answer she clapped her hands and bade the eunuch who answeredthe signal to bring a certain robe. He went, and presently reappearedwith a wondrous garment of silk broidered with gold, such as nobles ofhigh rank wore at festivals. This robe, which fitted as though ithad been made for me, I put on, though I liked the look of it little.Martina would have had me even remove my sword, but I refused, saying:

  "Except at the express order of the Empress, I and my sword are notparted."

  "Well, she said nothing about the sword, Olaf, so let it be. All shesaid was that I must be careful that the robe matched the colour of thenecklace you wear. She cannot bear colours which jar upon each other,especially by lamp-light."

  "Am I a man," I asked angrily, "or a beast being decked for sacrifice?"

  "Fie, Olaf, have you not yet forgotten your heathen talk? Remember, Ipray you, that you are now a Christian in a Christian land."

  "I thank you for reminding me of it," I replied; and that moment achamberlain, entering hurriedly, commanded my presence.

  "Good luck to you, Olaf," said Martina as I followed him. "Be sure totell me the news later--or to-morrow."

  Then the chamberlain led me, not into the audience hall, as I hadexpected, but to the private imperial dining chamber. Here, recliningupon couches in the old Roman fashion, one on either side of a narrowtable on which stood fruits and flagons of rich-hued Greek wine, werethe two greatest people in the world, the Augusta Irene and the AugustusConstantine, her son.

  She was wonderfully apparelled in a low-cut garment of white silk, overwhich fell a mantle of the imperial purple, and I noted that on herdazzling bosom hung that necklace of emerald beetles separated by goldenshells which she had caused to be copied from my own. On her fair hairthat grew low upon her forehead and was parted in the middle, she worea diadem of gold in which were set emeralds to match the beetles of thenecklace. The Augustus was arrayed in the festal garments of a Caesar,also covered with a purple cloak. He was a heavy-faced and somewhatstupid-looking youth, dark-haired, like his father and uncles, buthaving large, blue, and not unkindly eyes. From his flushed face Igathered that he had drunk well of the strong Greek wine, and from thesullen look about his mouth that, as was common, he had been quarrellingwith his mother.

  I stood at the end of the table and saluted first the Empress and thenthe Emperor.

  "Who's this?" he asked, glancing at me.

  "General Olaf, of my guard," she answered, "Governor of the StatePrison. You remember, you wished me to send for him to settle the pointas to which we were arguing."

  "Oh! yes. Well, General Olaf, of my mother's guard, have you not beentold that you should salute the Augustus before the Augusta?"

  "Sire," I answered humbly, "I have heard nothing of that matter, but inthe land where I was bred I was taught that if a man and a woman weretogether I must always bow first to the woman and then to the man."

  "Well said," exclaimed the Empress, clapping her hands; but the Emperoranswered: "Doubtless your mother taught you that, not your father. Nexttime you enter the imperial chamber be pleased to forget the lesson andto remember that Emperors and Empresses are not men and women."

  "Sire," I answered, "as you command I will remember that Emperors andEmpresses are not men and women, but Emperors and Empresses."

  At these words the Augustus began to scowl, but, changing his mind,laughed, as did his mother. He filled a gold cup with wine and pushed ittowards me, saying:

  "Drink to us, soldier, for after you have done so, our wits may bebetter matched."

  I took the cup and holding it, said:

  "I pledge your Imperial Majesties, who shine upon the world like twinstars in the sky. All hail to your Majesties!" and I drank, but not toodeep.

  "You are clever," growled the Augustus. "Well, keep the cup; you'veearned it. Yet drain it first, man. You have scarce wet your lips. Doyou fear that it is poisoned, as you say yonder fruits are?" And hepointed to a side-table, where stood a jar of glass in which were thosevery figs that had been sent to the princes in the prison.

  "The cup you give is mine," interrupted Irene; "still, my servant iswelcome to the gift. It shall be sent to your quarters, General."

  "A soldier has no need of such gauds, your Majesties," I began, whenConstantine, who, while we spoke, had swallowed another draught of thestrong wine, broke in angrily:

  "May I not give a cup of gold but you must claim it, I to whom theEmpire and all its wealth b
elong?"

  Snatching up the beaker he dashed it to the floor, spilling the wine, ofwhich I, who wished to keep my head cool, was glad.

  "Have done," he went on in his drunken rage. "Shall the Caesars hucksterover a piece of worked gold like Jews in a market? Give me those figs,man; I'll settle the matter of this poison."

  I brought the jar of figs, and, bowing, set them down before him. Thatthey were the same I knew, for the glass was labelled in my own writingand in that of the physician. He cut away the sealed parchment which wasstretched over the mouth of the jar.

  "Now hearken you, Olaf," he said. "It is true that I ordered fruit tobe sent to that fool-Caesar, my uncle, because the last time I saw himNicephorus prayed me for it, and I was willing to do him a pleasure. Butthat I ordered the fruit to be poisoned, as my mother says, is a lie,and may God curse the tongue that spoke it. I will show you that it wasa lie," and plunging his hand into the spirit of the jar, he drew outtwo of the figs. "Now," he went on, waving them about in a half-drunkenfashion, "this General Olaf of yours says that these are the samefigs which were sent to the Caesar, I mean the blind priest, FatherNicephorus. Don't you, Olaf?"

  "Yes, Sire," I answered, "they were placed in that bottle in my presenceand sealed with my seal."

  "Well, those figs were sent by me, and this Olaf tells us they arepoisoned. I'll show him, and you too, mother, that they are _not_poisoned, for I will eat one of them."

  Now I looked at the Augusta, but she sat silent, her arms folded on herwhite bosom, her handsome face turned as it were to stone.

  Constantine lifted the fig towards his loose mouth. Again I looked atthe Augusta. Still she sat there like a statue, and it came into my mindthat it was her purpose to allow this wine-bemused man to eat the fig.Then I acted.

  "Augustus," I said, "you must not touch that fruit," and steppingforward I took it from his hand.

  He sprang to his feet and began to revile me.

  "You watch-dog of the North!" he shouted. "Do you dare to say to theEmperor that he shall not do this or that? By all the images my motherworships I'll have you whipped through the Circus."

  "That you will never do," I answered, for my free blood boiled at theinsult. "I tell you, Sire," I went on, leaving out certain words which Imeant to speak, "that the fig is poisoned."

  "And I tell you that you lie, you heathen savage. See here! Either youeat that fig or I do, so that we may know who speaks the truth. If youwon't, I will. Now obey, or, by Christ! to-morrow you shall be shorterby a head."

  "The Augustus is pleased to threaten, which is unnecessary," I remarked."If I eat the fig, will the Augustus swear to leave the rest of themuneaten?"

  "Aye," he answered with a hiccough, "for then I shall know the truth,and for the truth I live, though," he added, "I haven't found it yet."

  "And if I do not eat it, will the Augustus do so?"

  "By the Holy Blood, yes. I'll eat a dozen of them. Am I one to behectored by a woman and a barbarian? Eat, or I eat."

  "Good, Sire. It is better that a barbarian should die than that theworld should lose its glorious Emperor. I eat, and when you are as Isoon shall be, as will happen even to an emperor, may my blood lie heavyon your soul, the blood which I give to save your life."

  Then I lifted the fig to my lips.

  Before ever it touched them, with a motion swift as that of a pantherspringing on its prey, Irene had leapt from her couch and dashed thefruit from my hand. She turned upon her son.

  "What kind of a thing are you," she asked, "who would suffer a brave manto poison himself that he may save your worthless life? Oh! God, whathave I done that I should have given birth to such a hound? Whoeverpoisoned them, these fruits are poisoned, as has been proved and can beproved again, yes, and shall be. I tell you that if Olaf had tasted oneof them by now he would have been dead or dying."

  Constantine drank another cup of wine, which, oddly enough, seemed tosober him for the moment.

  "I find all this strange," he said heavily. "You, my mother, wouldhave suffered me to eat the fig which you declare is poisoned; a matterwhereof you may know something. But when the General Olaf offers to eatit in my place, with your own royal hand you dash it from his lips, ashe dashed it from mine. And there is another thing which is still morestrange. This Olaf, who also says the figs are poisoned, offered toeat one of them if I promised I would not do so, which means, if heis right, that he offered to give his life for mine. Yet I have donenothing for him except call him hard names; and as he is your servanthe has nothing to look for from me if I should win the fight with you atlast. Now I have heard much talk of miracles, but this is the only one Ihave ever seen. Either Olaf is a liar, or he is a great man and a saint.He says, I am told, that the monkey which ate one of those figs died.Well, I never thought of it before, but there are more monkeys in thepalace. Indeed, one lives on the terrace near by, for I fed it thisafternoon. We'll put the matter to the proof and learn of what stuffthis Olaf is really made."

  On the table stood a silver bell, and as he spoke he struck it. Achamberlain entered and was ordered to bring in the monkey. He departed,and with incredible swiftness the beast and its keeper arrived. It wasa large animal of the baboon tribe, famous throughout the palace for itstricks. Indeed, on entering, at a word from the man who led it, it bowedto all of us.

  "Give your beast these," said the Emperor, handing the keeper several ofthe figs.

  The baboon took the fruits and, having sniffed at them, put themaside. Then the keeper fed it with some sweetmeats, which it caught anddevoured, and presently, when its fears were allayed, threw it oneof the figs, which it swallowed, doubtless thinking it a sweetmeat.A minute or two later it began to show signs of distress and shortlyafterwards died in convulsions.

  "Now," said Irene, "now do you believe, my son?"

  "Yes," he answered, "I believe that there is a saint in Constantinople.Sir Saint, I salute you. You have saved my life and if it should comemy way, by your brother saints! I'll save yours, although you are mymother's servant."

  So speaking, he drank off yet another cup of wine and reeled from theroom.

  The keeper, at a sign from Irene, lifted up the body of the dead ape andalso left the chamber, weeping as he went, for he had loved this beast.