Looking for his Love,
Azrael smiling sheathes1 his sword,
Heaven smiles above.
Earth and Sea
His servants be,
And to lesser2 compass round,
That his Love be sooner found.
Chorus from Libretto3 to Naulahka.
Tarvin learned a number of things within the next week; and with what the West calls ‘adaptability,’ put on, with the complete suit of white linen4 which he donned the second day, an initiation5 into a whole new system of manners, usages, and traditions. They were not all agreeable, but they were all in a good cause, and he took pains to see that his new knowledge should not go for nothing, by securing an immediate6 presentation to the only man in the State of whom it was definitely assertable that he had seen the object of his hopes. Estes willingly presented him to the Maharajah. The missionary7 and he rode one morning up the steep slopes of the rock on which stood the palace, itself rock-hewn. Passing through a deep archway, they entered a marble-flagged courtyard, and there found the Maharajah, attended by one ragged8 and out-at-elbow menial, discussing the points of a fox-terrier, which was lying before him on the flags.
Tarvin, unversed in kings, had expected a certain amount of state from one who did not pay his bills, and might be reasonably expected to cultivate reserve; but he was not prepared for the slovenly9 informality of a ruler in his everyday garb10, released from the duty of behaving with restraint in the presence of a viceroy, nor for the picturesque11 mixture of dirt and decoration about the court. The Maharajah proved a large and amiable12 despot, brown and bush-bearded, arrayed in a gold-sprigged, green velvet13 dressing-gown, who appeared only too delighted to meet a man who had no connection with the Government of India, and who never mentioned the subject of money.
The disproportionate smallness of his hands and feet showed that the ruler of Gokral Seetarun came of the oldest blood in Rajputana; his fathers had fought hard and ridden far with sword-hilts and stirrups that would hardly serve an English child. His face was bloated and sodden14, and the dull eyes stared wearily above deep, rugged15 pouches16. To Tarvin, accustomed to read the motives17 of Western men in their faces, there seemed to be neither fear nor desire in those eyes — only an everlasting18 weariness. It was like looking at an extinct volcano — a volcano that rumbled19 in good English.
Tarvin had a natural interest in dogs, and the keenest possible desire to ingratiate himself with the ruler of the State. As a king he considered him something of an imposture20, but as a brother dog-fancier, and the lord of the Naulahka, he was to Tarvin more than a brother; that is to say, the brother of one’s beloved. He spoke21 eloquently22 and to the point.
‘Come again,’ said the Maharajah, with a light of real interest in his eyes, as Estes, a little scandalised, drew off his guest. ‘Come again this evening after dinner. You have come from new countries.’
His Majesty23, later, carried away by the evening draught24 of opium25, without which no Rajput can talk or think, taught this irreverent stranger, who told him tales of white men beyond the seas, the royal game of pachisi. They played it far into the night, in the marble-flagged courtyard, surrounded by green shutters26 from behind which Tarvin could hear, without turning his head, the whisper of watching women and the rustle27 of silken robes. The palace, he saw, was all eyes.
Next morning, at dawn, he found the King waiting at the head of the main street of his city for a certain notorious wild boar to come home. The game laws of Gokral Seetarun extended to the streets of walled towns, and the wild pig rooted unconcerned at night in the alley-ways. The pig came, and was dropped, at a hundred yards, by his Majesty’s new Express rifle. It was a clean shot, and Tarvin applauded cordially. Had his Majesty the King ever seen a flying coin hit by a pistol bullet? The weary eyes brightened with childish delight. The King had not seen this feat28, and had not the coin. Tarvin flung an American quarter skyward, and clipped it with his revolver as it fell. Thereupon the King begged him to do it again, which Tarvin, valuing his reputation, politely declined to do unless one of the court officials would set the example.
The King was himself anxious to try, and Tarvin threw the coin for him. The bullet whizzed unpleasantly close to Tarvin’s ear, but the quarter on the grass was dented29 when he picked it up. The King liked Tarvin’s dent30 as well as if it had been his own, and Tarvin was not the man to undeceive him.
The following morning the royal favour was completely withdrawn31, and it was not until he had conferred with the disconsolate33 drummers in the rest-house that Tarvin learned that Sitabhai had been indulging one of her queenly rages. On this he transferred himself and his abundant capacity for interesting men off-hand to Colonel Nolan, and made that weary white-haired man laugh as he had not laughed since he had been a subaltern over an account of the King’s revolver practice. Tarvin shared his luncheon34, and discovered from him in the course of the afternoon the true policy of the Government of India in regard to the State of Gokral Seetarun. The Government hoped to elevate it; but as the Maharajah would not pay for the means of civilisation35, the progress was slow. Colonel Nolan’s account of the internal policy of the palace, given with official caution, was absolutely different from the missionary’s, which again differed entirely36 from the profane37 account of the men in the rest-house.
At twilight38 the Maharajah pursued Tarvin with a mounted messenger, for the favour of the royal countenance39 was restored, and he required the presence of the tall man who clipped coins in the air, told tales, and played pachisi. There was more than pachisi upon the board that night, and his Majesty the King grew pathetic, and confided40 to Tarvin a long and particular account of his own and the State’s embarrassments41, which presented everything in a fourth new light. He concluded with an incoherent appeal to the President of the United States, on whose illimitable powers and farreaching authority Tarvin dwelt, with a patriotism42 extended for the moment to embrace the nation to which Topaz belonged. For many reasons he did not conceive that this was an auspicious43 time to open negotiations44 for the transfer of the Naulahka. The Maharajah would have given away half his kingdom, and appealed to the Resident in the morning.
The next day, and many succeeding days, brought to the door of the rest-house, where Tarvin was still staying, a procession of rainbow-clad Orientals, ministers of the court each one, who looked with contempt on the waiting commercial travellers, and deferentially45 made themselves known to Tarvin, whom they warned in fluent and stilted46 English against trusting anybody except themselves. Each confidence wound up with, ‘And I am your true friend, sir’; and each man accused his fellows to the stranger of every crime against the State, or ill-will toward the Government of India, that it had entered his own brain to conceive.
Tarvin could only faintly conjecture47 what all this meant. It seemed to him no extraordinary mark of court favour to play pachisi with the King, and the mazes48 of Oriental diplomacy49 were dark to him. The ministers were equally at a loss to understand him. He had walked in upon them from out the sky-line, utterly50 self-possessed51, utterly fearless, and, so far as they could see, utterly disinterested52; the greater reason, therefore, for suspecting that he was a veiled emissary of the Government, whose plans they could not fathom53. That he was barbarously ignorant of everything pertaining54 to the Government of India only confirmed their belief. It was enough for them to know that he went to the King in secret, was closeted with him for hours, and possessed, for the time being, the royal ear.
These smooth-voiced, stately, mysterious strangers filled Tarvin with weariness and disgust, and he took out his revenge upon the commercial travellers, to whom he sold stock in his land and improvement company between their visits. The yellow-coated man, as his first friend and adviser55, he allowed to purchase a very few shares in the ‘Lingering Lode,’ on the dead quiet. It was before the days of the gold boom in Lower Bengal, and there was still faith in the land.
These transactions took him back in fancy to Topaz, and made him long for some word about the boys at home, from whom he had absolutely cut himself off by this secret expedition, in which he was playing, necessarily alone, for the high stake common to them both. He would have given all the rupees in his pocket at any moment for a sight of the Topaz Telegram, or even for a look at a Denver daily. What was happening to his mines — to the ‘Mollie K.’ which was being worked on a lease; to the ‘Mascot,’ which was the subject of a legal dispute; to the ‘Lingering Lode,’ where they had been on the point of striking it very rich when he left; and to his ‘Garfield’ claim, which Fibby Winks56 had jumped? What had become of the mines of all his friends, of their cattle-ranches, of their deals? What, in fine, had become of Colorado and of the United States of America? They might have legislated57 silver out of existence at Washington, for all he knew, and turned the republic into a monarchy58 at the old stand.
His single resource from these pangs59 was his visits to the house of the missionary, where they talked Bangor, Maine, in the United States. To that house he knew that every day was bringing nearer the little girl he had come half way round the world to keep in sight.
In the splendour of a yellow and violet morning, ten days after his arrival, he was roused from his sleep by a small, shrill60 voice in the verandah demanding the immediate attendance of the new Englishman. The Maharaj Kunwar, heir-apparent to the throne of Gokral Seetarun, a wheat-coloured child, aged61 nine, had ordered his miniature court, which was held quite distinct from his father’s, to equip his C-spring barouche, and to take him to the rest-house.
Like his jaded62 father, the child required amusement. All the women of the palace had told him that the new Englishman made the King laugh. The Maharaj Kunwar could speak English much better than his father — French, too, for the matter of that — and he was anxious to show off his accomplishments63 to a court whose applause he had not yet commanded.
Tarvin obeyed the voice because it was a child’s, and came out to find an apparently64 empty barouche, and an escort of ten gigantic troopers.
‘How do you do? Comment vous portez-vous? I am the prince of this State. I am the Maharaj Kunwar. Some day I shall be king. Come for a drive with me.’
A tiny mittened65 hand was extended in greeting. The mittens66 were of the crudest magenta67 wool, with green stripes at the wrist; but the child was robed in stiff gold brocade from head to foot, and in his turban was set an aigrette of diamonds six inches high, while emeralds in a thick cluster fell over his eyebrow68. Under all this glitter the dark onyx eyes looked out, and they were full of pride and of the loneliness of childhood.
Tarvin obediently took his seat in the barouche. He was beginning to wonder whether he should ever wonder at anything again.
‘We will drive beyond the race-course on the railway road;’ said the child. ‘Who are you?’ he asked, softly laying his hand on Tarvin’s wrist.
‘Just a man, sonny.’
The face looked very old under the turban, for those born to absolute power, or those who have never known a thwarted69 desire, and reared under the fiercest sun in the world, age even more swiftly than the other children of the East, who are self-possessed men when they should be bashful babes.
‘They say you come here to see things.’
‘That’s true,’ said Tarvin.
‘When I’m king I shall allow nobody to come here — not even the viceroy.’
‘That leaves me out,’ remarked Tarvin, laughing.
‘You shall come,’ returned the child, measuredly, if you make me laugh. Make me laugh now.’
‘Shall I, little fellow? Well — there was once — I wonder what would make a child laugh in this country. I’ve never seen one do it yet. W-h-e-w!’ Tarvin gave a low, long-drawn32 whistle. ‘What’s that over there, my boy?’
A little puff70 of dust rose very far down the road. It was made by swiftly moving wheels, consequently it had nothing to do with the regular traffic of the State.
‘That is what I came out to see,’ said the Maharaj Kunwar. ‘She will make me well. My father, the Maharajah, said so. I am not well now.’ He turned imperiously to a favourite groom71 at the back of the carriage. ‘Soor Singh’— he spoke in the vernacular72 —‘what is it when I become without sense? I have forgotten the English.’ The groom leaned forward.
‘Heaven-born, I do not remember,’ he said.
‘Now I remember,’ said the child suddenly. ‘Mrs. Estes says it is fits. What are fits?’
Tarvin put his hand tenderly on the child’s shoulder, but his eyes were following the dustcloud. ‘Let us hope she’ll cure them, anyway, young ’un, whatever they are. But who is she?’
‘I do not know the name, but she will make me well. See! My father has sent a carriage to meet her.’
An empty barouche was drawn up by the side of the road as the rickety, straining mail-cart drew nearer, with frantic73 blasts upon a battered74 key-bugle.
‘It’s better than a bullock-cart anyway,’ said Tarvin to himself, standing75 up in the carriage, for he was beginning to choke.
‘Young man, don’t you know who she is?’ he asked huskily again.
‘She was sent,’ said the Maharaj Kunwar.
‘Her name’s Kate,’ said Tarvin in his throat, ‘and don’t you forget it.’ Then to himself in a contented76 whisper, ‘Kate!’
The child waved his hand to his escort, who, dividing, lined either side of the road, with all the ragged bravery of irregular cavalry77. The mail-carriage halted, and Kate, crumpled78, dusty, dishevelled from her long journey, and red-eyed from lack of sleep, drew back the shutters of the palanquin-like carriage, and stepped dazed into the road. Her numbed79 limbs would have doubled under her, but Tarvin, leaping from the barouche, caught her to him, regardless of the escort and of the calm-eyed child in the golden drapery, who was shouting, ‘Kate! Kate!’
‘Run along home, bub,’ said Tarvin. ‘Well, Kate?’
But Kate had only her tears for him and a gasping80 ‘You! You! You!’
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收听单词发音
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1
sheathes
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| v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的第三人称单数 )；包，覆盖 | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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3
libretto
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| n.歌剧剧本，歌曲歌词 | |
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4
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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5
initiation
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| n.开始 | |
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6
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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7
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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8
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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9
slovenly
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| adj.懒散的，不整齐的，邋遢的 | |
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10
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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11
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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12
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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13
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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14
sodden
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| adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑 | |
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15
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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16
pouches
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| n.（放在衣袋里或连在腰带上的）小袋( pouch的名词复数 )；（袋鼠等的）育儿袋；邮袋；（某些动物贮存食物的）颊袋 | |
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17
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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18
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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19
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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imposture
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| n.冒名顶替，欺骗 | |
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21
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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22
eloquently
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| adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地) | |
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23
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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24
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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25
opium
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| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
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26
shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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27
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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28
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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29
dented
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| v.使产生凹痕( dent的过去式和过去分词 )；损害；伤害；挫伤（信心、名誉等） | |
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30
dent
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| n.凹痕，凹坑；初步进展 | |
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31
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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32
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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33
disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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34
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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35
civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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36
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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37
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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38
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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39
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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40
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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41
embarrassments
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| n.尴尬( embarrassment的名词复数 )；难堪；局促不安；令人难堪或耻辱的事 | |
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42
patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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43
auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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44
negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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45
deferentially
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| adv.表示敬意地，谦恭地 | |
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46
stilted
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| adj.虚饰的；夸张的 | |
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47
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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48
mazes
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| 迷宫( maze的名词复数 )； 纷繁复杂的规则； 复杂难懂的细节； 迷宫图 | |
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49
diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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50
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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51
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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52
disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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53
fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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54
pertaining
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| 与…有关系的，附属…的，为…固有的(to) | |
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55
adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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56
winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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57
legislated
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| v.立法，制定法律( legislate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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59
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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60
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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61
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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62
jaded
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| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
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63
accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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64
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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65
mittened
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| v.（使）变得潮湿，变得湿润( moisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
mittens
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| 不分指手套 | |
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67
magenta
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| n..紫红色（的染料）；adj.紫红色的 | |
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68
eyebrow
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| n.眉毛，眉 | |
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69
thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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70
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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71
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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72
vernacular
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| adj.地方的，用地方语写成的；n.白话；行话；本国语；动植物的俗名 | |
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73
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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74
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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75
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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76
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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77
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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78
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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79
numbed
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| v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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