A Fair Cousin and a Dark BrotherA real king's life is perhaps a hard one; but a pretended king's is, Iwarrant, much harder. On the next day, Sapt instructed me in my duties-whatI ought to do and what I ought to know-- for three hours; then Isnatched breakfast, with Sapt still opposite me, telling me that the Kingalways took white wine in the morning and was known to detest1 all highlyseasoned dishes. Then came the Chancellor2, for another three hours; and tohim I had to explain that the hurt to my finger (we turned that bullet tohappy account) prevented me from writing--whence arose great to-do,hunting of precedents3 and so forth4, ending in my "making my mark," andthe Chancellor attesting5 it with a superfluity of solemn oaths. Then theFrench ambassador was introduced, to present his credentials6; here myignorance was of no importance, as the King would have been equally rawto the business (we worked through the whole corps7 diplomatique in thenext few days, a demise8 of the Crown necessitating9 all this bother).
Then, at last, I was left alone. I called my new servant (we had chosen,to succeed poor Josef, a young man who had never known the King), hada brandy-and-soda brought to me, and observed to Sapt that I trusted that Imight now have a rest. Fritz von Tarlenheim was standing10 by.
"By heaven!" he cried, "we waste time. Aren't we going to throwBlack Michael by the heels?""Gently, my son, gently," said Sapt, knitting his brows. "It would be apleasure, but it might cost us dear. Would Michael fall and leave the Kingalive?""And," I suggested, "while the King is here in Strelsau, on his throne,what grievance11 has he against his dear brother Michael?""Are we to do nothing, then?""We're to do nothing stupid," growled12 Sapt.
"In fact, Fritz," said I, "I am reminded of a situation in one of ourEnglish plays--The Critic--have you heard of it? Or, if you like, of twomen, each covering the other with a revolver. For I can't expose Michael without exposing myself--""And the King," put in Sapt.
"And, hang me if Michael won't expose himself, if he tries to exposeme!""It's very pretty," said old Sapt.
"If I'm found out," I pursued, "I will make a clean breast of it, andfight it out with the duke; but at present I'm waiting for a move from him.""He'll kill the King," said Fritz.
"Not he," said Sapt.
"Half of the Six are in Strelsau," said Fritz.
"Only half? You're sure?" asked Sapt eagerly.
"Yes--only half.""Then the King's alive, for the other three are guarding him!" criedSapt.
"Yes--you're right!" exclaimed Fritz, his face brightening. "If the Kingwere dead and buried, they'd all be here with Michael. You knowMichael's back, colonel?""I know, curse him!""Gentlemen, gentlemen," said I, "who are the Six?""I think you'll make their acquaintance soon," said Sapt. "They are sixgentlemen whom Michael maintains in his household: they belong to himbody and soul. There are three Ruritanians; then there's a Frenchman, aBelgian, and one of your countrymen.""They'd all cut a throat if Michael told them," said Fritz.
"Perhaps they'll cut mine," I suggested.
"Nothing more likely," agreed Sapt. "Who are here, Fritz?""De Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard.""The foreigners! It's as plain as a pikestaff. He's brought them, and leftthe Ruritanians with the King; that's because he wants to commit theRuritanians as deep as he can.""They were none of them among our friends at the lodge13, then?" Iasked.
"I wish they had been," said Sapt wistfully. "They had been, not six,but four, by now."I had already developed one attribute of royalty15--a feeling that I neednot reveal all my mind or my secret designs even to my intimate friends. Ihad fully14 resolved on my course of action. I meant to make myself aspopular as I could, and at the same time to show no disfavour to Michael.
By these means I hoped to allay16 the hostility17 of his adherents18, and make itappear, if an open conflict came about, that he was ungrateful and notoppressed.
Yet an open conflict was not what I hoped for.
The King's interest demanded secrecy19; and while secrecy lasted, I hada fine game to play in Strelsau, Michael should not grow stronger fordelay!
I ordered my horse, and, attended by Fritz von Tarlenheim, rode in thegrand new avenue of the Royal Park, returning all the salutes20 which Ireceived with punctilious21 politeness. Then I rode through a few of thestreets, stopped and bought flowers of a pretty girl, paying her with a pieceof gold; and then, having attracted the desired amount of attention (for Ihad a trail of half a thousand people after me), I rode to the residence ofthe Princess Flavia, and asked if she would receive me. This step createdmuch interest, and was met with shouts of approval. The princess was verypopular, and the Chancellor himself had not scrupled22 to hint to me that themore I pressed my suit, and the more rapidly I brought it to a prosperousconclusion, the stronger should I be in the affection of my subjects. TheChancellor, of course, did not understand the difficulties which lay in theway of following his loyal and excellent advice. However, I thought Icould do no harm by calling; and in this view Fritz supported me with acordiality that surprised me, until he confessed that he also had hismotives for liking24 a visit to the princess's house, which motive23 was noother than a great desire to see the princess's lady-in-waiting and bosomfriend, the Countess Helga von Strofzin.
Etiquette25 seconded Fritz's hopes. While I was ushered26 into theprincess's room, he remained with the countess in the ante-chamber: inspite of the people and servants who were hanging about, I doubt not thatthey managed a tete-a-tete; but I had no leisure to think of them, for I wasplaying the most delicate move in all my difficult game. I had to keep the princess devoted27 to me--and yet indifferent to me: I had to show affectionfor her--and not feel it. I had to make love for another, and that to a girlwho--princess or no princess--was the most beautiful I had ever seen. Well,I braced28 myself to the task, made no easier by the charmingembarrassment with which I was received. How I succeeded in carryingout my programme will appear hereafter.
"You are gaining golden laurels," she said. "You are like the prince inShakespeare who was transformed by becoming king. But I'm forgettingyou are King, sire.""I ask you to speak nothing but what your heart tells you-- and to callme nothing but my name."She looked at me for a moment.
"Then I'm glad and proud, Rudolf," said she. "Why, as I told you, yourvery face is changed."I acknowledged the compliment, but I disliked the topic; so I said:
"My brother is back, I hear. He made an excursion, didn't he?""Yes, he is here," she said, frowning a little.
"He can't stay long from Strelsau, it seems," I observed, smiling. "Well,we are all glad to see him. The nearer he is, the better."The princess glanced at me with a gleam of amusement in her eyes.
"Why, cousin? Is it that you can--?""See better what he's doing? Perhaps," said I. "And why are you glad?""I didn't say I was glad," she answered.
"Some people say so for you.""There are many insolent29 people," she said, with delightfulhaughtiness.
"Possibly you mean that I am one?""Your Majesty30 could not be," she said, curtseying in feigned31 deference32,but adding, mischievously33, after a pause: "Unless, that is--""Well, unless what?""Unless you tell me that I mind a snap of my fingers where the Dukeof Strelsau is."Really, I wished that I had been the King.
"You don't care where cousin Michael--""Ah, cousin Michael! I call him the Duke of Strelsau.""You call him Michael when you meet him?""Yes--by the orders of your father.""I see. And now by mine?""If those are your orders.""Oh, decidedly! We must all be pleasant to our dear Michael.""You order me to receive his friends, too, I suppose?""The Six?""You call them that, too?""To be in the fashion, I do. But I order you to receive no one unlessyou like.""Except yourself?""I pray for myself. I could not order."As I spoke34, there came a cheer from the street. The princess ran to thewindow.
"It is he!" she cried. "It is--the Duke of Strelsau!"I smiled, but said nothing. She returned to her seat. For a few momentswe sat in silence. The noise outside subsided35, but I heard the tread of feetin the ante-room. I began to talk on general subjects. This went on forsome minutes. I wondered what had become of Michael, but it did notseem to be for me to interfere36. All at once, to my great surprise, Flavia,clasping her hands asked in an agitated37 voice:
"Are you wise to make him angry?""What? Who? How am I making him angry?""Why, by keeping him waiting.""My dear cousin, I don't want to keep him--""Well, then, is he to come in?""Of course, if you wish it."She looked at me curiously38.
"How funny you are," she said. "Of course no one could be announcedwhile I was with you."Here was a charming attribute of royalty!
"An excellent etiquette!" I cried. "But I had clean forgotten it; and if Iwere alone with someone else, couldn't you be announced?""You know as well as I do. I could be, because I am of the Blood;" andshe still looked puzzled.
"I never could remember all these silly rules," said I, rather feebly, as Iinwardly cursed Fritz for not posting me up. "But I'll repair my fault."I jumped up, flung open the door, and advanced into the ante-room.
Michael was sitting at a table, a heavy frown on his face. Everyone elsewas standing, save that impudent39 young dog Fritz, who was loungingeasily in an armchair, and flirting40 with the Countess Helga. He leapt up asI entered, with a deferential41 alacrity42 that lent point to his formernonchalance. I had no difficulty in understanding that the duke might notlike young Fritz.
I held out my hand, Michael took it, and I embraced him. Then I drewhim with me into the inner room.
"Brother," I said, "if I had known you were here, you should not havewaited a moment before I asked the princess to permit me to bring you toher."He thanked me, but coldly. The man had many qualities, but he couldnot hide his feelings. A mere43 stranger could have seen that he hated me,and hated worse to see me with Princess Flavia; yet I am persuaded that hetried to conceal44 both feelings, and, further, that he tried to persuade methat he believed I was verily the King. I did not know, of course; but,unless the King were an impostor, at once cleverer and more audaciousthan I (and I began to think something of myself in that role), Michaelcould not believe that. And, if he didn't, how he must have loathed45 payingme deference, and hearing my "Michael" and my "Flavia!""Your hand is hurt, sire," he observed, with concern.
"Yes, I was playing a game with a mongrel dog" (I meant to stir him),"and you know, brother, such have uncertain tempers."He smiled sourly, and his dark eyes rested on me for a moment.
"But is there no danger from the bite?" cried Flavia anxiously.
"None from this," said I. "If I gave him a chance to bite deeper, itwould be different, cousin.""But surely he has been destroyed?" said she.
"Not yet. We're waiting to see if his bite is harmful.""And if it is?" asked Michael, with his sour smile.
"He'll be knocked on the head, brother," said I.
"You won't play with him any more?" urged Flavia.
"Perhaps I shall.""He might bite again.""Doubtless he'll try," said I, smiling.
Then, fearing Michael would say something which I must appear toresent (for, though I might show him my hate, I must seem to be full offavour), I began to compliment him on the magnificent condition of hisregiment, and of their loyal greeting to me on the day of my coronation.
Thence I passed to a rapturous description of the hunting-lodge which hehad lent me. But he rose suddenly to his feet. His temper was failing him,and, with an excuse, he said farewell. However, as he reached the door hestopped, saying:
"Three friends of mine are very anxious to have the honour of beingpresented to you, sire. They are here in the ante-chamber."I joined him directly, passing my arm through his. The look on his facewas honey to me. We entered the ante-chamber in fraternal fashion.
Michael beckoned46, and three men came forward.
"These gentlemen," said Michael, with a stately courtesy which, to dohim justice, he could assume with perfect grace and ease, "are the loyalestand most devoted of your Majesty's servants, and are my very faithful andattached friends.""On the last ground as much as the first," said I, "I am very pleased tosee them."They came one by one and kissed my hand--De Gautet, a tall leanfellow, with hair standing straight up and waxed moustache; Bersonin, theBelgian, a portly man of middle height with a bald head (though he wasnot far past thirty); and last, the Englishman, Detchard, a narrow-facedfellow, with close-cut fair hair and a bronzed complexion47. He was a finelymade man, broad in the shoulder and slender in the hips48. A good fighter,but a crooked49 customer, I put him down for. I spoke to him in English,with a slight foreign accent, and I swear the fellow smiled, though he hidthe smile in an instant.
"So Mr. Detchard is in the secret," thought I.
Having got rid of my dear brother and his friends, I returned to makemy adieu to my cousin. She was standing at the door. I bade her farewell,taking her hand in mine.
"Rudolf," she said, very low, "be careful, won't you?""Of what?""You know--I can't say. But think what your life is to--""Well to--?""To Ruritania."Was I right to play the part, or wrong to play the part? I know not: evillay both ways, and I dared not tell her the truth.
"Only to Ruritania?" I asked softly.
A sudden flush spread over her incomparable face.
"To your friends, too," she said.
"Friends?""And to your cousin," she whispered, "and loving servant."I could not speak. I kissed her hand, and went out cursing myself.
Outside I found Master Fritz, quite reckless of the footmen, playing atcat's-cradle with the Countess Helga.
"Hang it!" said he, "we can't always be plotting. Love claims hisshare.""I'm inclined to think he does," said I; and Fritz, who had been by myside, dropped respectfully behind.
收听单词发音 |
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detest
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| vt.痛恨，憎恶 | |
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chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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precedents
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| 引用单元； 范例( precedent的名词复数 )； 先前出现的事例； 前例； 先例 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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attesting
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| v.证明( attest的现在分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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credentials
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| n.证明，资格，证明书，证件 | |
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corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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demise
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| n.死亡；v.让渡，遗赠，转让 | |
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necessitating
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的现在分词 ) | |
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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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grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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adherents
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| n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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salutes
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| n.致敬，欢迎，敬礼( salute的名词复数 )v.欢迎，致敬( salute的第三人称单数 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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punctilious
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| adj.谨慎的，谨小慎微的 | |
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scrupled
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| v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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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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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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flirting
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 ) | |
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deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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loathed
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| v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的过去式和过去分词 )；极不喜欢 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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