“The chin is much alike. Turn around, Bergelin, slowly, pivoting3 on the ball of the right foot. So.” He lifted his own right arm, slightly bent4, dropped his left hand to dagger5-hilt, and illustrated6. Rodvard tried to follow him.
286
“Not quite right with the dagger; you are jerky. But you will hardly be dancing a corabando. Have the goodness to walk across the room. Stand. Mathurin, where does he lack the resemblance?”
The servant’s fingers came up to his lip. “The voice is almost perfect, my lord, but there is something in the movement of the hands not quite . . .”
“It is only birth that does it,” said Cleudi. “The wrist laces; he is not very used to handling them. But for the rest, Bergelin, you were born a most accomplished7 mimic8 and swindler. Remind me to dismiss you before your natural talent is turned in my direction. Now the instruction; repeat.”
“I am to be at the ball when the opera is over, at least a glass before midnight. The fourth box on the left-hand side is yours. I am to look at the doorbase of the second box, where a handkerchief will be caught. If it is white, edged with lace, perfumed with honeymusk, I am to go below and make myself seen at the gaming tables. But if the handkerchief is blue and rose-perfumed, I am to take it away and leave in its place another; then without being seen on the dancing floor or at the games, go at once to my lord’s box, but leave the panels up and the curtains closed. Someone will presently tap twice, a lady. I am to greet her with my lord’s sonnet9, eat with her; declare my passion for her . . . My lord?”
“Yes?”
“What if—that is—I would—”
Cleudi shot him a gleam (containing amusement mingled10 with a little dark shade of cruelty and the thought of shaming him with the full statement of his quaver). “You want money, apprentice11 swindler? You should—”
“No, my lord, it is not that, but—.” The Count’s toe tapped, his expression became a rictus, and Rodvard rushed on with heat at the back of his neck. “What if the intrigue12 does not succeed, that is if you do not appear in time—”
The rictus became a bark. “Ha—why, then you must suffer the horrid13 fate of being alone in a secluded14 apartment with the shapeliest and most willing woman in Dossola. Are you impotent?”
Rodvard half opened his mouth to protest in stumbling words that he was a promised man, who thought it less than honest to violate his given word, but Mathurin tittered and (the stream of hate and fury that flowed from those black eyes!) he only made a small sound. Cleudi barked again:
287
“Ha! Will you be a theologian, then? It is she who should make confession15, not you—by the wise decision of the Church, as I was discussing but lately with the Episcopal of Zenss. The minor16 priests will say otherwise; but it is a reflection from the old days, before the present congress of episcopals. Listen, peasant; is it not manifestly to the glory of God that men should seek women for their first and highest pleasure, as it is that daughters should have all monetary17 inheritance? Is it not also manifest that all would be under the rule of women, who have the Art as well as their arts, unless some disability lay upon them. . . . Ah, chutte! Why do I talk like a deacon to a be-damned clerk? Enough that I have given you an order. Greater things than you think hang on this intrigue, and you’ll execute it well, or by the Service, I’ll reduce you to a state where no woman will tempt18 you again. Now take off that finery; be prompt here at two glasses before midnight for Mathurin to dress you.”
II
“But where does this intrigue lead?” asked Rodvard.
“Could not your Blue Star give you a clue?” said Mathurin. They sat on a green bank behind the hall of conference, many-colored tulips waving in the light breeze about them, and Rodvard carefully tore one of the long leaves to ribbons as he answered:
“No. There may have been something about Aggermans in it, but he was not thinking of his central purpose at all, only about how it would be a nasty joke and a revenge. What—” (it was behind his lips to ask what he should do lest he lose the power of the Blue Star, but in midflight he changed) “—what have you done toward saving Baron20 Brunivar? Will there be a rising?”
(There was a quick note of suspicion and surprise in the eyes that lifted to meet his.) “Nothing for now, but to let Remigorius, and through him the High Center, know what’s in prospect21. There’s no accusation22 as matters stand; it will gain us nothing merely to put out the story that the court plots against him. . . . Yet I do not understand why he has failed to fly when it’s as clear as summer light that Florestan means the worse toward him.”
“What I do not understand,” said Rodvard, “is why the High Center has failed to make more preparation. It will be too late when Brunivar’s been placed in a dungeon23, under guard and accusation with a shar of soldiers around him.”
“It would never pass . . .” Mathurin’s voice trailed off; he contemplated24 the lawns, brow deep, and Rodvard could not see his thought. “I can understand the High Center.”
“What would never pass? You are more mysterious than the Count, friend Mathurin, with your hints here and there.”
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The servitor turned on him eyes of angry candor25. “Rodvard Yes-and-No, my friend, Cleudi is right in calling you more of a moralist than a churchman is. By what right do you question me so? Do you think I am of the High Center? Yet I will show you some of the considerations. It will never pass that the Chancellor26 should execute Brunivar and then have it proved that this fate came on him for some private reason. And now that you whip me to it, I will say as well that it will never pass that Brunivar should not be executed while we cry shame. We need a general rising, not a rescue that will drive many of us abroad. People will not leave their lives to fight until there is something in those lives that may not be sustained.”
(Conscience again.) Rodvard set his mouth. “If you wish the reign27 of justice for others, it seems to me that you must give it yourself, Mathurin, and I see no justice in watching a good man condemned28 to death when he might be saved. I heard the Baron speak out in conference, and he may yet win something there. But even fled to Tritulacca, or to Mayern and Prince Pavinius, he would still be worth more than with his throat cut.”
The serving man stood up. “I’ll not chop logic29 against you; only say, beware. For you are a member under orders; your own will or moral has nothing to do with the acts of the High Center. Brunivar is nothing to us; down with him, he is a part of the dead past which is all rotten at the heart, and of which we must rid ourselves for the living future. I will see you later, friend Bergelin.”
III
A tray had been left in his room as usual, but Rodvard hardly ate from it before flinging himself down to lie supine, watching the pattern of light through the shutters30 as it slowly ticked across the wall, trying to resolve the problem that beset31 him. Brunivar with his noble aspect and surely, his noble mind. “Free will and the love of humankind,” the Baron had said, and they called it the doctrine32 of the apostate33 Prophet. Yet for what else had he himself joined the Sons of the New Day? What else had the Baron put into practice out there in his province of the west?
Yet here is Mathurin saying that no happiness could be bought by love of humankind, since certainly no love of humankind would let a high man go to shameful34 death when it might be prevented. No, perhaps that was not true, either; even barbarians35 had sacrifices by which one gave his life that many might live, though their method in this was all superstition36 and clearly wrong. . . . But only by the consent of the one, Rodvard answered himself; only when there was no way but sacrifice.
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Brunivar had made no consent; was being pushed to a sacrifice by malignance on one side, with the other accepting the unwilling37 gift he gave. Yet in that acceptance was there not something base and selfish? He remembered the curious unformed thought of treachery he had surprised in Remigorius’ mind, Mme. Kaja’s active betrayal, Mathurin’s violence, and was glad they were joined with him, in one of the minor Centers of the Sons of the New Day. When that Day rose—but then, too late for Brunivar. Ah, if there were some deliverance, some warning one could give that would be heeded38.
A clock somewhere boomed four times. Rodvard twisted on the bed, thinking bitterly how little he could do even to save himself, willing in that moment to be the sacrificed one. With witchery one might—Lalette . . . Little cold drops of perspiration39 gathered down his front from neck to navel at the perilousness40 of the intrigue in which he was now embarked42 for the night, perilous41 and yet sweet, delight and danger, so that with half his mind he wished to rise and run from this accursed place, come what might. With the other half it was to stay and hope that Cleudi would not interrupt the rendezvous43 in the box, as he had said, so that the heart-striking loveliness he had now and again seen from far in the last seven days (for he did not doubt that the mask to meet him in the box would cover the Countess Aiella) might lie in his arms, come what might to the felon44 of Lalette’s witcheries. Was he himself one of those whose purposes were hideous45, as Tuolén the butler had put it, with an inner desire toward treachery toward her who had received his word of love? Wait—the word had been wrung46 from him, given under a compulsion, was the product of a deed done under another compulsion. This, too. Before a high court I will plead (thought Rodvard) that I myself, the inner me who cherishes ideals still, in spite of Mathurin or Tuolén, had no part in betrayals . . . and recognized as he thought thus, that the union in the place of masks was of that very inner me, given forever . . . or forever minus a day.
Flee, then. Where? A marked man and a penniless, trying to escape across the seignories, with only a clerk’s skill, which demands fixities, to gain bread. Brunivar might perhaps be held from flying to safety by compulsions as tight as these—at which the wheel of thought had turned full circle; and the realization47 of this shattering the continuance of the motion, Rodvard drifted off into an uneasy doze48, twitching49 in his place.
290
He came fully19 awake with a final jerk, swinging feet to the floor in the twilight50; stood up, made a light, and not daring to go on with his self-questionings, pecked a little at the gelid remains51 of his noon viands52, while speculating on Cleudi’s intrigue. But the Count had so buried the line of his plan that nothing could be made of this, either; Rodvard went to seek Tuolén, in the hope that he might have some light. Vain hope; the butler’s cabinet was dark and everyone else encountered in the corridors was hurrying, hurrying, with burdens here and there, in preparation for the grand ball. There was an atmosphere of anticipatory53 excitement that built up along Rodvard’s nerve-chains until he stepped forth54 into the spring eve to escape it.
Out there, the evening had turned chill, with a damp breeze off the Eastern Sea that spoke55 of rain before sun. All the flowers seemed to have folded their wings around themselves to meet it, and Rodvard felt as though nature had turned her back. He longed for a voice, and as a girl’s form came shadowy around a turn of the path, he gave her good-evening and asked if he might bear her burden.
“Ah, no, it is not needed,” said she, drawing back; but a shaft56 of light from a window caught them both and there was mutual57 recognition, she being the breakfast chambermaid, whose name was Damaris.
“Oh, your pardon, Ser,” she said. “It is most good of you,” and let him take her package, which was, in truth, heavy.
“Why, this must be gold or lead or beef, not flowers as it should be on festival eve,” he said, and she trilled a small laugh before answering that festival it might be for those badged with coronets or quills58, but for her class it was a night of labor—“and it is not gold, or I would run away with it, but one of those double bottles of Arjen fired-wine for the box of the Count Cleudi, whom you serve.”
She turned her head, and in the light which threw across the path from another window, he caught a glint of her eyes. (She was very friendly after a week of bringing him breakfasts, in which he had treated her as courteously59 as though she were high born.) “Will you have no festival at all, then?” he asked.
“Oh, yes, tomorrow afternoon, when all the court’s asleep. In the evening when they wake, it will be duty again.” They had reached the door of the great hall; within workmen were attaching flowers to the bowered60 dais where the musicians would play, there was a sound of hammering from somewhere along the balcony behind the boxes, and Tuolén the high butler was revolving61 in the midst of the dancing floor, pointing where a flower-chain should be draped or a chair placed. His movement was that almost-prance which Cleudi had demonstrated. The girl’s face turned toward Rodvard (her eyes suddenly said she wished him to ask her something, he could not quite make out what, they were so quickly withdrawn62, but it was connected with the festival).
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“I’ll have no festival myself unless someone takes pity on me,” he said.
(That was it.) “Would you—come and dance with me? It is only a servants’ ball . . .” (She was a little frightened at her own boldness in asking someone so far above her in station, yet trembling-hopeful he would accept.)
“Why—have you no partner?”
“My friend has been called away to serve in the army. I have my ticket already and it will only be three spadas for yourself.”
(Somehow he would get them; it would be an afternoon of real relaxation63 from complexities64.) “You honor me, Demoiselle Damaris. Where shall I meet you?”
“Oh, I will wake you with breakfast as usual, and wait for you. Here is the door.”
The box was larger than one might think from the outside, and already heavy with the perfume of flowers.
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1
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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2
knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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3
pivoting
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| n.绕轴旋转，绕公共法线旋转v.（似）在枢轴上转动( pivot的现在分词 )；把…放在枢轴上；以…为核心，围绕（主旨）展开 | |
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4
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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5
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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6
illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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7
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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mimic
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| v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人 | |
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9
sonnet
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| n.十四行诗 | |
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10
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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11
apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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12
intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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13
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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14
secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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15
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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16
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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17
monetary
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| adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的 | |
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18
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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19
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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20
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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21
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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22
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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23
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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24
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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25
candor
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| n.坦白，率真 | |
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26
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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27
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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28
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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29
logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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30
shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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31
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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32
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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33
apostate
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| n.背叛者，变节者 | |
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34
shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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35
barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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36
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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37
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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38
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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40
perilousness
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41
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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42
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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43
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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44
felon
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| n.重罪犯；adj.残忍的 | |
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45
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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46
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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47
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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48
doze
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| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
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49
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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50
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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51
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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52
viands
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| n.食品，食物 | |
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53
anticipatory
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| adj.预想的，预期的 | |
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54
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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55
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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56
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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57
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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58
quills
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| n.（刺猬或豪猪的）刺( quill的名词复数 )；羽毛管；翮；纡管 | |
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59
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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60
bowered
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| adj.凉亭的，有树荫的 | |
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61
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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62
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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63
relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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64
complexities
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| 复杂性(complexity的名词复数)； 复杂的事物 | |
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