CHAPTER XVIII
THE SINGING SHEIK
IT was about ten o'clock when the Emperor and Princess Irene appearedon the portico, and, moving toward the northern side, wended slowlythrough the labyrinth of flowers, palms, and shrubs. The courtiers anddignitaries, upon their approach, received them in respectful silence,standing in groups about the tables.
A chair, with arms, high back, and a canopy, looking not unlike asedilium, had been set in an open space. The reservation was furthermarked by a table in front of the chair, and two broad-branched palmtrees, one on each side. Thither the Princess conducted the sovereign;and when he was seated, at a signal from her, some chosen attendantscame bearing refreshments, cold meats, bread, fruits, and wines incrystal flagons, which they placed on the table, and retiring a littleway, remained in waiting, while their mistress, on a stool at the leftof the board, did the honors.
The introduction of a queen into a palace is usually the signal for achange of the existing domestic regime. Old placeholders go out; newfavorites come in; and not seldom the revolution reaches the highestofficial circles of the government. The veterans of the suite, to someof whom this bit of knowledge had come severely home, were verywatchful of the two superior personages. Had His Majesty really exposedhis intent to the Princess? Had he declared himself to her? Had sheaccepted? The effect was to trebly sharpen the eyes past which the twowere required to go on their way to the reserved table.
Mention has been made of Phranza, the Grand Chamberlain, at the momentabsent on a diplomatic search for an imperial consort. Of all attachesof the court, he was first in his master's regard; and the distinction,it is but just to say, was due to his higher qualities and superiorcharacter. The term _favorite_, as a definition of relationship betweena despot and a dependent, is historically cloudy; wherefore it is inthis instance of unfair application. Intimate or confidante is muchmore exactly descriptive. But be that as it may, the good understandingbetween the Emperor and his Grand Chamberlain was amply sufficient toprovoke the jealousy of many of the latter's colleagues, of whom DukeNotaras, Grand Admiral, and the most powerful noble of the Empire, washead and front. The scheme for the elevation of the Princess to thethrone originated with him, and was aimed malevolently at Phranza, ofwhom he was envious, and Constantine, whom he hated on religiousgrounds. Interest in the plot brought him to Therapia; yet he heldhimself aloof, preferring the attitude of a spectator coldly polite tothat of an active partisan in the affair. He declined sitting at atable, but took position between two of the columns whence the view ofthe bay was best. There were numbers of the suite, however, whodiscredited the motive with which he chose the place.
"See Notaras," said one of a group, whispering to friends drinking winea little way off. "The scene before him is charming, but is he charmedwith it as he appears?"
"There was an old demi-god with an eye in his forehead. Notaras' bestorb just now is in the back of his head. He may be looking at the bay;he is really watching the portico"--such was the reply.
"Out! He cares nothing for us."
"Very true--we are not the Emperor."
"My Lord Duke is not happy to-day," was remarked in another coterie.
"Wait, my dear friend. The day is young."
"If this match should not be made after all"--
"He will know it first."
"Yes, nothing from the lovers, neither smile nor sigh, can escape him."
The Professor of Philosophy and his brother the Professor of Rhetoricate and drank together, illustrating the affinity of learning.
"Our Phranza is in danger," said the latter, nervously. "As thou art asubscriber to the doctrine of the _Phaedon_, I wish we could disembodyour souls, if only for an hour."
"Oh, a singular wish! What wouldst thou?"
"Tell it not; but"--the voice dropped into a whisper--"I would despatchmine in search of the wise Chamberlain to warn him of what is here inpractice."
"Ah, my brother, thou didst me the honor to read and approve mytreatise on the Philosophy of Conspiracy. Dost thou remember theconfounding elements given in the thesis?"
"Yes--Goodness is one."
"Under condition; that is, when the result is dependent upon a party ofvirtuous disposition."
"I remember now."
"Well, we have the condition here."
"The Princess!"
"And therefore the Duke, not our Phranza, is in danger. She willdiscomfit him."
"May Heaven dispose so!" And the Rhetorician almost immediately added,"Observe thou. Notaras has established himself within easy hearing ofthe two. He has actually invaded the space reserved for them."
"As if to confirm my forecast!"
Then the Philosopher raised a cup.
"To Phranza!"
"To Phranza!" the Rhetorician responded.
This episode hardly concluded when the Emperor's brother sauntered tothe Duke's side; and on the appearance of the Emperor and the Princess,he exclaimed, enthusiastically:
"Come of it what may, my Lord, the damsel is comely, and I fear not tocompare her with the best of Trebizond or Georgia."
The Duke did not answer. Indeed, the lords were all intent upon exactlythe same subject. Whether there had been an overture and an acceptance,or an overture and a declination, they believed the principals couldnot conceal the result; a look, a gesture, or something in the mannerof one or both of them, would tell the tale to eyes of such practicaldiscernment. By the greater number the information would be treated asnews for discussion merely; a few had hopes or fears at stake; none ofthem was so perilously involved as Notaras; in his view, failure meantthe promotion of Phranza, of all consequences, not excepting his ownloss of favor and prestige, the most intolerable.
On the other part, Constantine was not less concerned in misleading hiscourt. At the proper time he would give out that he had changed hismind at the last moment; before engaging himself to the Princess, hehad concluded it best to wait and hear from Phranza. Accordingly, inpassing along the portico, he endeavored to look and behave like aguest; he conversed in an ordinary tone; he suffered his hostess toprecede him; and, well seconded by her, he was installed in the statechair, without an argument yes or no for the sharp reviewers. At thetable he appeared chiefly solicitous to appease an unusual hunger,which he charged to the early morning air on the Bosphorus.
Notaras, whom nothing of incident, demeanor or remark escaped, beganvery early to be apprehensive. Upon beholding his master's unlover-likeconcession to appetite, he remarked sullenly, "Verily, either hiscourage failed, and he did not submit a proposal, or she has rejectedhim."
"My Lord Duke," the Emperor's brother replied, somewhat stung, "dostthou believe it in woman to refuse such an honor?"
"Sir," the Duke retorted, "women who go about unveiled are above orbelow judgment."
The Princess, in her place at the table, began there to recount heradventure at the White Castle, but when far enough in the recital toindicate its course the Emperor interrupted her.
"Stay, daughter," he said, gently. "The incident may prove ofinternational interest. If not objectionable to you, I should bepleased to have some of my friends hear it." Then raising his voice, hecalled out: "Notaras, and thou, my brother, come, stand here. Our fairhostess had yesterday an astonishing experience with the Turks on theother shore, and I have prevailed on her to narrate it." The tworesponded to the invitation by drawing nearer the Emperor at his righthand.
"Proceed now, daughter," the latter said.
"Daughter, daughter, indeed!" the Duke repeated to himself, and sobitterly it may be doubted if his master's diplomacy availed to put himat rest. The paternalism of the address was decisive--Phranza had won.
Then, presently overcoming her confusion, the Princess succeeded ingiving a simple but clear account of how she was driven to the Castle,and of what befell her while there. When she finished, the entire suitewere standing about the table listening.
Twice she had been interrupted by the Emperor.
"A moment!" he said to her, while she was speaking of the Turkishsoldiery whose arrival at the ancient stronghold had been so nearlysimultaneous with her own. Then he addressed himself to the GrandDomestic and the Admiral. "My Lords, in passing the Castle, on our wayup, you remember I bade the pilot take our ship near the shore there.It seemed to me the garrison was showing unusually large, while theflags on the donjon were strange, and the tents and horses around thewalls implied an army present. You remember?"
"And we have now, Sire, the justification of your superior wisdom," theGrand Domestic replied, rising from a low salutation.
"I recall the circumstance, my Lords, to enjoin you not to suffer theaffair to slip attention when next we meet in council--I pray pardon,daughter, for breaking the thread of your most interesting andimportant narrative. I am prepared to listen further."
Then, after description of the Governor, and his reception of thefugitives on the landing, His Majesty, with apologies, asked permissionto offer another inquiry.
"Of a truth, daughter, the picture thou hast given us under the titleof Governor beareth no likeness to him who hath heretofore responded tothat dignity. At various times I have had occasion to despatchmessengers to the commandant, and returning, they have reported him acoarse, unrefined, brutish-looking person, of middle age and low rank;and much I marvel to hear the freedom with which this person dothpledge my august friend and ally, Sultan Amurath. My Lords, this willfurnish us an additional point of investigation. Obviously the Castleis of military importance, requiring an old head full of experience tokeep it regardful of peace and clear understanding between the powersplying the Bosphorus. We are always to be apprehensive of the firethere is in young blood."
"With humility, Your Majesty," said the Grand Domestic, "I should liketo hear from the Princess, whose loveliness is now not more remarkablethan her courage and discretion, the evidence she has for the opinionthat the young man is really the Governor."
She was about to reply when Lysander, the old servant, elbowed himselfthrough the brilliant circle, and dropped his javelin noisily by herchair.
"A stranger calling himself an Arab is at the gate," he said to her,with the semblance of a salutation.
The simplicity of the ancient, his zeal in the performance of hisoffice, his obliviousness to the imperial presence, caused a ripple ofamusement.
"An Arab!" the Princess exclaimed, in momentary forgetfulness. "Howdoes the man appear?"
Lysander was in turn distraught; after a short delay, however, hemanaged to answer: "His face is dark, almost black; his head is coveredwith a great cloth of silk and gold; a gown hides him from neck toheels; in his girdle there is a dagger. He has a lordly air, and doesnot seem in the least afraid. In brief, my mistress, he looks as if hemight be king of all the camel drivers in the world."
The description was unexpectedly graphic; even the Emperor smiled,while many of the train, presuming license from his amusement, laughedaloud. In the midst of the merriment, the Princess, calmly, and withscarce a change from her ordinary tone, proceeded to an explanation.
"Your Majesty," she said, "I am reminded of an invitation left with theperson whose identity was in discussion the instant of thisannouncement. In the afternoon, while I was sojourning in the WhiteCastle, an Arab story-teller was presented to me under recommendationof my courteous host. He was said to be of great professional renown inthe East, a Sheik travelling to Adrianople for the divertisement of theHanoum of the Sultan. In the desert they call him endearingly the_Singing Sheik_. I was glad to have the hours assisted in their going,and he did not disappoint me. So charmed was I by his tales and mannerof telling them, by his genius, that in taking my departure from whatproved a most agreeable retreat, and in acknowledging the hospitableentertainment given me, I referred to the singer, and requested theGovernor to prevail on him to extend his journey here, in order tofavor me with another opportunity to hear him. Had I then known it wasin my Lord's purposes to visit me with such a company of most noblegentlemen, or could I have even anticipated the honor, I should nothave appointed to-day for the audience with him. But he is inattendance; and now, with full understanding of the circumstances, itis for Your Majesty to pronounce upon his admission. Perhaps"--shepaused with a look of deprecation fairly divisible share and sharealike between the Emperor and the Lords around her--"perhaps time mayhang heavy with my guests this morning; if so, I shall hold myselfobliged to the Singing Sheik if he can help me entertain them."
Now, was there one present to attach a criticism to the favor extendedthe Arab, he dismissed it summarily, wondering at her easy grace. TheEmperor no doubt shared the admiration with his suite; but concealingit, he said, with an air of uncertainty, "Thy recommendation, daughter,is high; and if I remain, verily, it will be with expectation wroughtup to a dangerous degree; yet having often heard of the power of thestrolling poets of whom this one is in probability an excellentexample, I confess I should be pleased to have thee admit him."
Of the Admiral, he then asked, "We were to set out in return aboutnoon, were we not?"
"About noon, Your Majesty."
"Well, the hour is hardly upon us. Let the man appear, daughter; only,as thou lovest us, contrive that he keep to short recitals, which,without holding us unwillingly, will yet suffice to give an idea of hismind and methods. And keep thyself prepared for an announcement of ourdeparture, and when received, mistake it not for discontent withthyself. Admit the Arab."