His reflections, whatever they were, were broken in upon by a knock at the door,—not a timid, hesitating knock; but a bold, authoritative2 summons. The superintendent, judging it must proceed from some person of consequence, hastily laid aside his pipe, and quickly threw open the door, to admit his unknown visitor.
[78]
Instead of the high personage he anticipated, he beheld3 standing4 before him a stout5 man, of commanding person, and dressed in the attire6 of a workman.
He was a little vexed7 to think he had been so much deceived; and perhaps it was natural that he should accost8 the intruder in a somewhat peevish9 manner.
“Well, my good man, what do you want, that you come thumping10 at the door as if you were really a man of mark? What would you have?”
“I seek employment,” said the stranger in a deep voice, not at all intimidated11 at his reception.
At the same time, he presented a letter to the superintendent.
“Ha!” said the latter, glancing at it with considerable surprise; “from the Russian ambassador!”
He read aloud as follows:—
[79]
“Sir,—The bearer, a countryman of mine, is desirous of obtaining employment in the Dock Yard under your superintendence. He is not altogether unacquainted with this description of labor12, but wishes to perfect himself in it. I feel assured that nowhere can he do so to greater advantage than under your instruction.”
The compliment implied in the concluding sentence served to moderate the vexation occasioned by his recent misapprehension; and he turned with a milder mien13 to his visitor.
He was a little surprised to find, that, quite unconscious of the great distance between the superintendent of the Dock Yard and a common workman, he had, without ceremony, seated himself. “Humph!” thought he; “I suppose that’s the way they do in Russia.”
“So you are from Russia, my good man?” said he, in a half-patronizing tone.
The visitor inclined his head in the affirmative.
“It’s a barbarous place, I’ve heard: the[80] people are not half civilized14; you did wisely in coming here. You must see a great difference between it and Holland?”
“Yes,” said the Russian, “we have much to learn. Other nations are greatly in advance of us in many respects; but that will pass away, and Russia will take her place at the head of them all.”
“So you wish employment?” he continued, after a pause. “What is your name?”
“Peter Timmerman,” was the reply.
“Very well; you may set to work to-morrow. Your wages will be a florin a day. You may report yourself at six o’clock.”
Thus terminated the interview. The Russian made a bow of acknowledgment, and left the office, leaving the superintendent more puzzled than enlightened at the insight into Russian character with which he had been favored.
[81]
The next morning, at the appointed time, Peter Timmerman presented himself at the Dock Yard. He set to work with an intelligence and earnestness which evinced that he was far from being a novice16, and by no means inclined to be a drone. A week had not passed before he was acknowledged to be the ablest workman in the yard.
His fellow-workmen looked upon him with a little natural curiosity, and would have been very glad of his confidence. It was soon found, however, that, although asking many questions in regard to the details of his occupation, he preserved a uniform silence respecting his own family and past life, carefully evading17 any inquiries18 which the curiosity of his companions prompted. On one occasion, when some one of them pushed it to an indiscreet extent, the eyes of the Russian blazed with anger, and he lifted the tool he had in his hand in a threatening manner; but apparently[82] reflection came to his aid, and, lowering it, he proceeded with his work. This little incident convinced his comrades, that, whatever mystery there might be connected with his past history, it would be both useless and dangerous in them to endeavor to extort19 it from him. Henceforth, then, he was not troubled with inquiries, but was treated with an involuntary and perhaps unconscious deference20 by those with whom he was brought in daily contact.
If occasionally it might be thought that he was greater than he seemed, there was nothing to confirm this idea in his mode of life.
The florin which he daily earned was the utmost limit of his expenses. No workman lived more frugally21. He had secured board and lodgings22 at the house of a poor widow woman, the mother of one of his companions in the yard, where he paid a small price, and lived accordingly. The whole[83] family consisted of the mother and son. This son, who was a lively and well-looking young man of one and twenty, was, next to Peter, the most skilful23 workman in the yard. He worked intelligently, and did not suffer his eyes to remain idle. It was his ambition to rise from the position of a mere24 workman, and become a master-builder.
Perhaps one thing which contributed to heighten his ambition was the fact that the superintendent of the Dock Yard possessed25, among the items of his wealth, a fair, cherry-cheeked damsel, whose beauty had set half the hearts of the young men in Amsterdam on fire. Trust me, friendly reader! young men are pretty much alike all the world over; and the current of youthful feeling is just as likely to effervesce26 in the Hollander, phlegmatic27 as he is generally supposed, as in the residents of more southern climes.
But, after all, was it not foolish in the[84] young ship-carpenter to aspire28 to an object so generally admired and sought after as the Fraulein superintendent? for such she was designated, out of respect for her father’s office. Perhaps it was; and yet Heinrich Dort did not think so. After all, he was the best judge in what concerned himself.
He had observed the young Fraulein’s eyes wandering toward the side of the church on which he sat, and he could not mistake the object that attracted them. Whenever the maiden29 saw that he was returning her gaze, she always cast down her eyes; and then, of course, she looked ten-fold as beautiful in the eyes of Heinrich Dort.
After all, the eye is more eloquent30 than the tongue. Heinrich thought he could not mistake it in this instance. It was certainly rather singular that the two should meet in the walk one pleasant Sabbath afternoon; and no less so, perhaps, that, precisely31 at[85] the moment, the Fraulein should drop a brooch which she held in her hand. Of course, she searched for it diligently32 in every place but the right one; and, of course, Heinrich was required, by the claims of politeness, to volunteer his assistance. The lost ornament33 was soon found; but Heinrich, probably fearing it might be lost again, did not leave the Fraulein, but accompanied her, by a very round-about way, to her home. Perhaps it might have been absence of mind that made them miss the direct way,—at least, so we will conjecture34, since we can do nothing more.
At all events, such was the commencement of Heinrich’s acquaintance with the Fraulein. They used to meet every Sabbath afternoon; and Heinrich, acknowledging his presumption35 all the time, ventured to confess that his whole hope of happiness rested upon her answer to a little question which he had to propose.
[86]
What that question was, I may as well leave to be surmised36. The answer was conditionally37 favorable. The maiden intimated that no opposition38 need be anticipated from her, provided he should obtain her father’s consent. Heinrich felt very happy until he began to consider that this qualification might prove a very formidable one; and he feared that the superintendent might think the young workman altogether an inadequate39 match for his daughter, whose dowry would be twenty thousand florins at the very least. But there is an old saying,—“Faint heart never won fair lady.” Whether Heinrich had ever heard of this, or whether, indeed, it had ever been translated into Dutch at all, I am quite unable to say; but, at all events, he was resolved that such a prize should not pass from his hands without a struggle.
Although the young workman was far from being constitutionally timid, preserving[87] an undaunted front in the face of danger, it must be confessed that his heart beat audibly and his hand trembled perceptibly as he knocked at the door of the superintendent’s office; not that there was any thing particularly suited to inspire fear in the rotund figure of that personage.
The latter perceived that the young man was disturbed. He was rather flattered to find it so, as he attributed it solely40 to the effect of his presence, which he privately41 considered not a little imposing42. It was, therefore, with an approach to affability that he motioned him to be seated, and inquired,—
“Well, my good fellow, how goes business? Have you come for any instructions?”
“No, your excellency,” replied Heinrich. “Business goes well enough; but it is on another subject that I wish to trouble you.”
[88]
“Well, out with it, man. No parleying,—that’s my way.”
“You have a daughter.”
“Donder and blitzen! So I always have supposed. And is it to impart this precious piece of information that you have come here?”
“No, your excellency,” hesitated Heinrich; “but the fact is, that—that—in short, an attachment43 has sprung up between your daughter and myself; and I am here to crave44 your permission to marry her.”
“Well, that is coming to the point with a vengeance45!” exclaimed the testy46 little superintendent. “And may I beg to know whether my daughter sanctioned this visit on your part?”
“She did.”
“Then she has less wit than I thought for. She—the daughter of the superintendent of the royal Dock Yard of Amsterdam—to stoop to be the wife of a common[89] workman! The girl must be out of her senses. But if she chooses it to be so, I shall not. Young man, you have been presumptuous47. For once, I will pass over it; but beware of offending a second time.”
The little great man made an imperious gesture of withdrawal48, which Heinrich could not do otherwise than obey. He returned home in great depression, as might be anticipated of one whose dearest hopes had been crushed out. Sitting at the door, he perceived his mother’s lodger49 and his own fellow-workman, Peter Timmerman.
The latter, contrary to his custom, opened a conversation with Heinrich, whose manner he could not avoid noticing.
“What has befallen you, comrade,” he said, “that you should look so woe-begone?”
“And if I tell you,” returned Heinrich, whose disappointment had made him somewhat testy,—“if I should tell you, how could you help me?”
[90]
“Perhaps not at all,—perhaps very much. At all events, it will relieve your mind to unburden it of sorrow, if any weighs upon it.”
“You may be right,” said Heinrich, after a pause. “At all events, it will do no harm. You must know, then, that I have been foolish enough to fall in love with the superintendent’s daughter, who favors my suit. But because I am not wealthy, and am only a workman” (the young man emphasized the last words in a bitter tone), “her father rejects my suit.”
“But how if you occupied as high a position as himself?”
“Oh! then there would be nothing to fear.”
“Listen, then, in your turn. I may help you to what you seek. Did you ever hear of Russia?”
“I have,” said Heinrich. “It is a great country, but a barbarous one.”
[91]
“That is true; at least, it is not so far advanced as its neighbors. But, if I live to accomplish all my plans, it shall yet equal any of them.”
“You! Who, then, are you?” exclaimed the young man, in astonishment50 at such language from such a source.
“I am Peter, the reigning51 czar,” said the Russian, composedly. “I could trust no one but myself to carry out a plan I had formed for supplying the chief defect of Russia,—an efficient navy. Accordingly, I have entered myself here as a common workman. I have gained what I sought; I have made myself familiar with the construction of vessels52; and I shall, after a brief visit to England, return to my kingdom, and take measures to build a fleet. I have thought of you as one competent to superintend their building. You shall have a handsome salary, and I will confer upon you an order of nobility.”
[92]
“Then I can marry the Fraulein superintendent after all!” And Heinrich leaped to his feet in exultation53. “But how shall I thank your ex? I mean your majesty54, for such a load of favors?”
“By fidelity55 to my interests,” said Peter. “But I am tired, and must go in. Whatever arrangements you make must be completed within three days. Good night.”
The next morning, Heinrich paid another visit to the superintendent. When he left, at the end of half an hour, the superintendent accompanied him to the door in the excess of his affability. No more opposition was made to his suit. Heinrich Dort, the workman, was quite a different person from Heinrich Dort, general superintendent of the Russian navy.
The events which followed are known to history. Peter, with the assistance of his superintendent, laid the foundation of a flourishing marine56; and the latter, through[93] all the mutations of the Russian dynasty, succeeded in retaining the confidence of the government until Death gathered him to his fathers at a ripe old age.
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1
superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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authoritative
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| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 | |
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3
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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4
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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6
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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7
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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8
accost
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| v.向人搭话，打招呼 | |
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9
peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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10
thumping
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| adj.重大的，巨大的；重击的；尺码大的；极好的adv.极端地；非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词)；狠打；怦怦地跳；全力支持 | |
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11
intimidated
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| v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的 | |
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12
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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13
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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14
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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15
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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16
novice
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| adj.新手的，生手的 | |
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17
evading
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| 逃避( evade的现在分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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18
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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extort
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| v.勒索，敲诈，强要 | |
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deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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21
frugally
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| adv. 节约地, 节省地 | |
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22
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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23
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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24
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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25
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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effervesce
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| v.冒泡，热情洋溢 | |
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phlegmatic
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| adj.冷静的，冷淡的，冷漠的，无活力的 | |
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aspire
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| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
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29
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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32
diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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35
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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37
conditionally
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| adv. 有条件地 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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40
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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41
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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42
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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43
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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44
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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45
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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46
testy
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| adj.易怒的；暴躁的 | |
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47
presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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48
withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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49
lodger
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| n.寄宿人，房客 | |
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50
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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51
reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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52
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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53
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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54
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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55
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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56
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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