CHAPTER III.
TWO GOOD FRIENDS.
In a splendid hall formed entirely of malachite--its slender columnshewn each from a single block and resembling tropical tree-trunks, itsniches filled with rare exotic plants, its centre occupied by amammoth aquarium, and its arched doorways each affording a glimpseinto a seemingly endless series of other magnificent apartments--wasgathered a brilliant company. Among the gold-trimmed andorder-bedecked costumes of the men was occasionally seen the plainblack attire of an attachA(C) to some embassy, and not infrequently thesesoberly clad young men received quite as much attention from theladies as did the cavaliers in gaudier array.
One such black-clothed figure seemed to be the object of unusualinterest. His handsome face showed at once youth, high birth, and anair of modesty and refinement. A woman might well have envied him hislarge blue eyes, shaded by their long lashes; but his noble profile,finely cut lips, and tall and slender, although muscular and elastic,form betokened the early maturity of vigorous manhood.
A gentleman in a dazzling military uniform, with a diamond order onhis breast and a silk sash extending over his shoulder and down to hiship, addressed the young man and linked his arm in his. He had knownthe youthful attachA(C)'s father, whom he esteemed as an able and highlygifted man, and he prophesied a yet more brilliant career for the son.As he drew him forth in his promenade, he told him to prepare to bepresented to the grand-duchess.
It was a formidable ordeal for a young and unknown man, who had noteven a uniform to brace his courage, to be summoned before one of thegreatest ladies of the vast empire, in the presence of so many augustdignitaries, and to be called upon to frame, on the instant, suitablereplies to her questions, and perhaps to repay her gracious words withan improvised compliment or two.
But he stood the test, and many more beside. Dancing began, and on hisarm floated one charming partner after another, each a type of beautyand grace. The lovely Princess Alexandra, only daughter of a Russiannoble, a blonde beauty whose golden locks seemed to have been spun outof sunbeams, had whirled around the room twice on his arm when, asthey again reached her seat, she gave him a stealthy pressure of thehand, as much as to say, "Once more!"--and so they danced around thehall a third time. It was a piece of boldness on her part that isseldom committed except out of wantonness or--love.
The youth bowed, and left his partner, feeling neither weariness norany undue quickening of the pulse. There was a charm about him whichlay in his calm, passionless bearing, and his unfailing self-controlwhere other young men would have shown excitement. Royal pomp andsplendour did not appeal to him, nor did beautiful eyes, sweet words,or the secret pressure of a fair hand rob him of his self-possession.
When midnight had struck and the orchestras in the various rooms wereall playing national airs, as a signal that the grand-duchess wasabout to retire to her private apartments, the black-clothed young manhurried into the malachite hall, and reached for a glass of sherbetfrom the tray which a servant was bearing around the room. Suddenly,however, some one pulled his hand away, and said: "Don't drink that!"
The young man turned, and for the first time that evening a smile ofgenuine pleasure lighted up his face.
"Ah, is it you, Leonin?" he exclaimed.
Leonin was a young officer of the guard in tightly fitting uniform, amuscular young fellow with full face, carefully kept blond mustacheand side-whiskers, and thick blond eyebrows which went well with hiskeen and animated gray eyes.
"I thought I had lost you in the dancing-hall," said he, with friendlyreproach in his tone.
"I was dancing with your betrothed. Didn't you see me? She is acharming girl."
"Charming indeed; but how does that help matters for me? I can't marryher till I am of age and wear rosettes on my epaulets; and that won'tbe for two years yet. A man can't live all that time on a pair ofbeautiful eyes. Come with me."
The other hesitated. "I am not sure whether we ought to run away soearly," said he.
"But don't you hear the bands playing the national hymns?" asked hiscompanion. "Besides, we can slip out through the rear door; a sleighis waiting for me there with my furs. Surely you haven't any moreengagements with the wax dolls here?"
"Yes, I have," was the reply; "I am down for a quadrille with thePrincess N----, to whom I was just now presented."
"Oh, I beg you, have nothing to do with her," urged the young officer."She will only make sport of you, as she does of all the others. Comewith me."
"Whither do you wish to take me?"
"To the infernal regions. Are you afraid to follow?"
"Not at all."
"Will you come with me to paradise, too, if I ask you?"
"With all my heart."
"And if I invite you to a stuffy little inn on Kamennoi Island, wherethe sailors are having a dance, will you come?"
"Yes, anywhere you please; it's all one to me."
"Good! That's what I like." And Leonin embraced his friend, afterwhich he led him forth from the marble palace by passages known tohimself. Once in the open air, they ran in their light ball-roomcostumes to the bank of the Neva, where a sleigh awaited their coming,wrapped themselves in warm furs, and in a moment were speeding acrossthe ice behind two fleet horses, to the silvery music of tinklingbells.
These two young men were the Russian noble, Leonin Ramiroff, and A-dA?n,eldest son of the house of Baradlay.
As the sleigh glided along the moonlit row of palaces, A-dA?n remarkedto his companion that they were not going in the direction of KamennoiIsland.
"Nor do we wish to," returned Leonin.
"Why, then, did you say we were going thither?"
"So that no one should by any possibility overhear our realdestination."
"And what, pray, may that be?"
"You can see for yourself: we are on the Petrofski Prospect, headedstraight for Petrofski Island."
"But there's nothing there except hemp factories and sugarrefineries."
"You are right; and we are going to call on a sugar-boiler."
"I have no objection," returned A-dA?n, wrapping his mantle more closelyabout him, and leaning back in his seat. Possibly he even went tosleep.
Half an hour later the sleigh crossed the Neva again, and drew upbefore a red building at the end of a long park. Leonin aroused hiscompanion.
"Here we are," said he.
All the windows of the long factory were lighted up, and as the twoyoung men entered, they were greeted by that unsavoury odour peculiarto sugar refineries, and suggestive of anything but sugar. Asmooth-faced man of sleek appearance advanced to meet them, and askedthem in French what they wished.
"To see the sugar works," answered Leonin.
"Only the factory, or the refinery as well?" asked the Frenchman.
"Only the refinery," whispered the other, pressing a bank-note intothe hand of his questioner.
"_Bien_," replied the latter, and pocketed the money. It was ahundred-ruble note. "Is this gentleman going with you?" he asked,indicating A-dA?n.
"To be sure," answered Leonin. "Give him a hundred rubles, A-dA?n: thatis the entrance fee. You won't regret it."
A-dA?n complied, and the Frenchman then conducted them through variouspassages and past doors from which issued hot blasts of air, stiflingodours, and a fierce hissing of steam. Coming at last to a low ironportal which their guide opened to them by pressing a hidden spring,they passed into a dimly lighted passage and were directed to go on,as they could now find their way unaided.
Leonin, as one well acquainted with the place, took his friend's armand led him forward. They descended a winding stairway, and as theywent downward the clanking of machinery and hissing of steam gaveplace to the sound of distant music. At the foot of the stairs theresat at a little table an old woman dressed in the latest mode. Leoninthrew down a gold coin.
"Is my box open?" he asked.
She bowed and smiled, whereupon he advanced to one of a row oftapestry portiA"res and held it aside for A-dA?n to enter. Th
ey passedthrough another door and found themselves in a sort of opera-box whosefront was screened by a light grating. The music was now distinctlyaudible.
"Is this a theatre or a circus?" asked A-dA?n, adding, as he peepedthrough the grating, "or is it a steam bath?"
Leonin laughed. "Anything you will," said he, throwing himself down ona divan and taking up a printed sheet that lay on the railing. Itproved to be a programme, prepared in due form. He read it while theother looked over his shoulder.
"'_Don Juan au SA(C)rail._' That is a fine piece; too bad we missed it.'_Tableaux Vivants_'--awfully tiresome. '_Les BayadA"res du KhanAlmollah_'--exceedingly amusing; I have seen it once before. '_LaLutte des Amazones._' '_La RA"ve d'Ariane_'--charming, only I don'tknow whether Persida is at her best to-night."
The door of the box opened and a servant looked in.
"Waiter, serve us some refreshments," ordered Leonin.
"For how many?"
"Three."
"Who is the third?" asked A-dA?n.
"You will soon see," replied Leonin.
The waiter spread the table and brought a roast, side dishes, andchampagne in a cooler; then he left the gentlemen to themselves.Leonin bolted the door after him.
"This is a queer kind of a sugar refinery," remarked A-dA?n, glancingthrough the grating.
The other laughed. "You thought we only knew how to sing psalms, Isuppose," said he.
"But such a resort here in a government building!" exclaimed A-dA?n.
Leonin smiled and put his finger on his lips.
"Aren't you afraid of being discovered?" asked the other.
"If we were we should all take a trip to Siberia."
"Don't you fear the musicians may betray you?"
"They can't see. Every member of the orchestra is blind. But don'tlisten to the music. That is well enough for old gentlemen: somethingbetter is in store for us."
Leonin knocked twice on the partition wall separating them from thenext box, the signal was repeated above, and in a few minutes a dooropened in the partition and a woman's form appeared.
A more beautiful creature could not have stepped out of the pages ofthe "Arabian Nights." She wore a long Persian caftan that reached toher ankles and defined rather than veiled her shapely figure. Her slimwaist was encircled by a golden girdle, while around her neck and onher bosom hung strings of pearls. The long, flowing sleeves of hercaftan were slit up in front and gathered only at the shoulder, thusexposing to view the most perfect pair of arms ever dreamt of bysculptor. The face was of a noble Caucasian type, with finely shapednose, full lips, arched eyebrows, and bright eyes of the deepestblack. The sole ornament of her head was furnished by two magnificentbraids of hair that fairly touched the wearer's heels.
She paused in surprise on the threshold. "You are not alone," saidshe.
"Come in, JA(C)za," returned Leonin. "This young gentleman is one half ofmy soul, of which you are the other half." So saying, with a quickmovement he embraced the two and pressed them to his breast, afterwhich he seated them side by side on another divan opposite his own.
"There, A-dA?n," he exclaimed, "isn't she different from those coldbeauties of the upper world? Don't you find it more interesting herein the lower regions?"
JA(C)za met A-dA?n's unmoved inspection of her charms with a sort of timidwonder.
"Did you ever see such eyes as those?" asked Leonin, "or a mouth likethat, which can smile, pout, tease, laugh, beg, and scold, so that youdon't know which best becomes it?"
"Do you wish to sell me?" asked the Circassian girl.
"The purchaser would have to give me a new world in exchange," was theanswer. "But if you should fall in love with one who is my friend andbrother, he should receive you as a present."
JA(C)za sank back in a corner of the divan, lowered her eyelids and lether hands fall into her lap.
"A-dA?n, you really ought to have been an animal-tamer," said Leonin, ashe took in both his hands one of the Circassian girl's dainty littlered-slippered feet. "This young creature is naturally wild, impulsive,talkative, and full of whims; but as soon as she meets the severeglance of your _mal occhio_, she subsides and sits there like one ofthe novices in the Smolna nunnery. JA(C)za, you are lost. All of thosebeautiful wild beasts known as women become mute and helpless themoment this lion-tamer looks at them."
The Circassian girl tossed her head and turned a defiant look uponA-dA?n; but no sooner did she meet his eye than she blushed in spite ofherself--perhaps for the first time since the slave-dealer atYekaterinograd had severed her girdle.
"Come, let us drink, my children," cried Leonin, striking off the headof one of the champagne bottles. Filling three glasses, he handed oneto A-dA?n and one to JA(C)za; and when they had half emptied them heexchanged and refilled them.
"Drink to the bottom this time," he said. "That is right. Now you havedrunk love to each other."
The wine loosed the girl's tongue and she began to chatter in theliveliest fashion. From the hall the notes of the orchestra reachedthem, and she sang an accompaniment. A-dA?n sat with his back againstthe grating and did not once turn around to see any of the pieces thatwere being presented. Leonin, on the other hand, looked through thegrating at every new number and indulged in various random comments.
"Well, JA(C)za," he asked at length, "haven't you any number to-night?"
"No, I am having a holiday," she replied.
"But couldn't you oblige my friend by giving one of your productions?"
JA(C)za sat upright and stole a look at A-dA?n. "If he wishes it," sheanswered.
"What shall I ask for?" asked A-dA?n, turning to Leonin.
"Oh, I forgot," replied the latter; "you didn't know that JA(C)za was an_artiste_, and above all things unexcelled as a rider. Her number isalways given the place of honour,--at the end of the programme. Chooseany of her rA'les."
"But I am not acquainted with the young lady's repertoire," returnedthe other.
"Barbarian! not to know JA(C)za's masterpieces after living for half ayear in a civilised country. Well, I'll name the best ones to you.'_La Reine Amalasunthe_;' '_La Diablesse_;' '_A%toile qui File_;' '_LaBayadA"re_;' '_La Nymphe Triomphante_;' '_Diane qui Chasse ActA|on_;''_Mazeppa_'--"
"No, that is not among them!" cried the girl, interrupting thespeaker.
"A-dA?n, don't let her fool you," said Leonin; "choose Ma--"
But he was stopped by JA(C)za, who had sprung from her seat and washolding her hand over his mouth. He struggled to free himself, butmeanwhile A-dA?n ended the contest by making his choice.
"Mazeppa!" he called, and JA(C)za turned her back to them both in a petand leaned against the wall. Leonin, however, gained his point.
"You have always refused me that," said he; "but I told you the timewould come when you would have to yield."
The girl threw a look at A-dA?n. "Very well, then; it shall be done."And therewith she disappeared.
A-dA?n now turned his attention for the first time to the arena, avaulted space of sixty yards in diameter, half enclosed by asemicircle of grated boxes. No spectators were to be seen, but thecigar-smoke that, made its way through the gratings betrayed theirpresence. The side of the arena unenclosed by boxes was draped withhangings on which were depicted various mythological scenes, while anoccasional door broke up the wall-space and relieved the monotony.
For a few minutes after JA(C)za's exit from Leonin's box the arena wasquite empty, save that two Moorish girls in Turkish costume were busysmoothing the sand,--a sign that an equestrian act was to follow.
A knock was heard at the door of Leonin's box, and he went to openit. A servant stood without, bearing a letter on a silver tray.
"What have you there?" asked Leonin.
"A letter for the other gentleman, sir."
"How did it come?"
"A courier brought it, sir, with instructions to find the gentlemanwithout delay, wherever he might be."
"Fee the courier and send him away."
Leonin took the
letter and fingered it a moment. Its seal was blackand its address was in a woman's hand.
"Here is a billet-doux for you," said he, as he handed the letter toA-dA?n. "The Princess N---- sends you word that she has taken arsenicbecause you failed to claim her hand for the quadrille." With that heturned to the grating and drew out his opera-glass, as if resolved notto lose a moment of JA(C)za's impersonation of Mazeppa; but he added,over his shoulder, to A-dA?n: "You see, in spite of my precautions, wefailed to cover our tracks. Oh, these women have a thousand-eyedpolice in their service, I verily believe. They have us watched atevery turn."
The overture began. At the ringing of a bell the blind musiciansstruck up the Mazeppa galop. Behind the scenes could be heard thebarking of the dogs which, as a substitute for wolves, were to pursueMazeppa as he was borne away, fast bound upon a wild horse's back; andthe cracking of whips also sounded, arousing the horse to a livelierdisplay of his mettle. Finally the beating of the animal's hoofs washeard, a loud outcry was raised, and Mazeppa's wild ride began amidcheers and hand-clapping from behind the gratings.
"Oh, beautiful! Infernally beautiful!" exclaimed Leonin. "Look, A-dA?n,look! See there!" But what did he behold as he turned his head for aninstant toward his friend?
A-dA?n's hand was over his eyes and he was weeping.
"What is the matter?" cried the other in amazement. A-dA?n handed himthe letter without a word, and he read its brief contents, which werein French.
"Your father is dead. Come at once.
"Your affectionate MOTHER."
Leonin's first impulse was one of resentment. "I'd like to get hold ofthat blockhead of a courier who brought you this letter. Couldn't hehave waited till morning?"
But A-dA?n arose without a word and left the box. Leonin followed him.
"Poor fellow!" he exclaimed, seizing his friend's hand. "This lettercame very _mal A propos_."
"Excuse me," returned the other; "I must go home."
"I'll go with you," was the hearty response. "Let those stay and seeMazeppa who care to. We promised that we would go with each other tohell, to heaven--and home. So I shall go with you."
"But I am going home to Hungary," said A-dA?n.
Leonin started. "Oh, to Hungary!"
"My mother calls me," explained the other, with the simple brevity ofone overcome with grief.
"When do you start?"
"Immediately."
Leonin shook his head incredulously. "That is simply madness," hedeclared. "Do you wish to freeze to death? Here in the city it istwenty degrees below zero, and out in the open country it is at leasttwenty-five. Between Smolensk and Moscow the roads are impassable, somuch snow has fallen. In Russia no one travels in winter exceptmail-carriers and tradesmen."
"Nevertheless I shall start at once," was the calm rejoinder.
"Surely your mother wouldn't have you attempt the impossible. Whereyou live they have no conception what it means to travel in midwinterfrom St. Petersburg to the Carpathians. Wait at least till the roadsare open."
"No, Leonin," returned A-dA?n, sadly; "every hour that I waited would bea reproach to my conscience. You don't understand how I feel."
"Well, then," replied the other, "let us go to your rooms."
Reaching his quarters, A-dA?n first awakened his valet and bade him packhis master's trunk and pay whatever accounts were owing. Then, sogreat was the young man's haste, he proceeded to build a fire with hisown hands rather than wait for his servant to do it. Meanwhile Leoninhad thrown himself into an easy chair and was watching his friend'smovements.
"Are you really in earnest about starting this very day?" he asked.
"You see I am," was the reply.
"And won't you delay your departure to please me, or even at theCzar's request?"
"I love you and respect the Czar, but my mother's wishes takeprecedence of all else."
"Very well; so that appeal will not serve. But I have a secret to tellyou. My betrothed, Princess Alexandra, is desperately in love withyou. She is the only daughter of a magnate who is ten times as rich asyou. She is beautiful, and she is good, but she does not care for me,because she loves you. She has confessed as much to me. Were it anyone else that stood in my way, I would challenge him; but I love youmore than my own brother. Marry her and remain here with us."
A-dA?n shook his head sadly. "I am going home to my mother."
"Then, Heaven help me! I am going with you," declared the youngRussian. "I shall not let you set out on such a journey alone."
The two embraced each other warmly, and Leonin hastened away to makepreparations for the journey. He despatched couriers to order relaysof horses, together with drivers, at all the stations; he loaded histravelling-sledge with all kinds of provisions,--smoked meat, smokedfish, biscuits, caviare, and brandy; a tea-kettle and a spirit-lampwere provided; two good polar-bear skins, foot-bags, and fur caps forhimself and his friend were procured; and he also included in theirequipment two good rifles, as well as a brace of pistols and a Greekdagger for each of them,--since all these things were likely to proveuseful on the way. He even had the forethought to pack two pairs ofskates, that they might, when they came to a stream, race with eachother over the ice and thus warm their benumbed feet. The space underthe front seat he filled with cigars enough to last them throughouttheir twenty days' journey. When at length, as twilight was falling,he drove up with a merry jingle of bells before A-dA?n's lodging, hefelt himself thoroughly equipped for the journey. But first he had todress his friend from top to toe, knowing well from experience howone should be attired for a winter journey in Russia.
The Russian sledge stood ready at the door, its runners well shod, itsbody covered with buffalo-hide, the front sheltered by a leather hood,and the rear protected by a curtain of yet thicker leather. Threehorses were harnessed abreast, the middle one standing between thethills, which were hung with bells. The driver stood with hisshort-handled, long-lashed whip before the horses.
The young Russian stopped his friend a moment before they took theirplaces in the sledge. "Here, take this amulet," said he; "my mothergave it to me on her death-bed, assuring me it would shield the wearerfrom every danger."
The trinket was a small round cameo cut out of mother-of-pearl and setin gold; it represented St. George and the dragon. A-dA?n felt unwillingto accept the gift.
"Thank you," said he, "but I have no faith in charms. I only trust tomy stars, and they are--loving woman's eyes."
Leonin grasped his friend's hands. "Answer me one question: do you seetwo eyes or four among your stars?"
A-dA?n paused a moment, then pressed his comrade's hand and answered,"Four!"
"Good!" exclaimed Leonin, and he helped his companion into the sledge.
The driver pulled each of his horses by the forelock, kissed all threeon the cheek, crossed himself, and then took his place on the frontseat. In a moment more the sledge was flying through the snow-coveredstreets on its way southward.