CHAPTER IV.
THE SISTER OF THE SUN.
It was the warmest hour of the day. All the halls of the palace atKioto were plunged in cool darkness, thanks to the lowered shades andopen screens before the windows.
Kioto is the capital, the sacred city, the residence of a god exiledto earth, the direct descendant of the celestial founders of Japan,the absolute sovereign, the high priest of all the forms of religionpractised throughout the kingdom of the rising sun, in fact, theMikado. The Shogun is only the first among the subjects of the Mikado;but the latter, crushed beneath the weight of his own majesty, blindedby his superhuman splendor, leaves the care of terrestrial affairs tothe Shogun, who rules in his stead, while he sits alone, absorbed inthe thought of his own sublimity.
In the centre of the palace parks, in one of the pavilions built forthe nobles of the court, a woman lay stretched upon the floor which wascovered with fine mats. Suddenly she rose upon her elbow and plungedher dainty fingers in the dark masses of her hair. Not far from her, anattendant, crouched on the ground, was playing with a pretty dog of arare species, which looked like a ball of black and white silk. A koto,or musical instrument with thirteen strings, a writing-case, a roll ofpaper, a fan, and a box of sweetmeats were scattered over the floor,which no furniture concealed. The walls were made of cedar wood, carvedin open work or covered with brilliant paintings enhanced by gold andsilver; half-closed panels formed openings through which other hallswere visible, and beyond these still other apartments.
"Mistress, you are sad," said the attendant. "Shall I strike thekoto-strings, and sing a song to cheer you?"
The mistress shook her head.
"What?" cried the maid, "Fatkoura no longer loves music? Has shethen forgotten that she owes the light of day to it? For when theSun-goddess, enraged with the gods, withdrew into a cavern, it was byletting her hear divine music for the first time that she was led backto heaven!"
Fatkoura uttered a sigh, and made no answer.
"Shall I grind some ink for you? Your paper has long remained asstainless as the snow on Mount Fusi. If you have a grief, cast it intothe mould of verse, and you will be rid of it."
"No, Tika; love is not to be got rid of; it is a burning pain, whichdevours one by day and by night, and never sleeps."
"Unhappy love, perhaps; but you are beloved, mistress!" said Tika,drawing nearer.
"I know not what serpent hidden in the depths of my heart tells me thatI am not."
"What!" said Tika in amaze, "has he not revealed his deep passion by athousand acts of folly? Did he not come but lately, at the risk of hislife,--for the wrath of the Kisaki might well prove fatal,--merely tobehold you for one instant?"
"Yes; and he vanished without exchanging a single word with me, Tika!"added Fatkoura, seizing the young girl's wrists in a nervous grasp. "Hedid not even look at me."
"Impossible!" said Tika; "has he not told you that he loved you?"
"He has; and I believed him, because I was so eager to believe. But nowI believe him no longer."
"Why?"
"Because if he loved me he would have married me long since, and takenme to his estates."
"But the affection which he bears his master keeps him at the Court ofOsaka!"
"So he says; but is that the language of love I What would I nobsacrifice for him!... Alas! I thirst for his presence! His face, sohaughty, and yet so gentle, floats before my eyes! I long to fix it,but it escapes me! Ah! if I might but spend a few happy months withhim, I would gladly kill myself afterwards, lulling myself to sleepwith my love; and my past happiness would be a soft winding-sheet forme."
Fatkoura burst into sobs and hid her face in her hands. Tika stroveto console her. She threw her arms around her, and said a thousandaffectionate things, but could not succeed in calming her.
Suddenly a noise was heard at the other end of the room, and the littledog began to yelp.
Tika rose quickly and ran out, to prevent any servant from entering andseeing the emotion of her mistress; she soon returned beaming.
"It is he! it is he!" she exclaimed. "He is here; he wishes to see you."
"Do not jest with me, Tika!" said Fatkoura, rising to her feet.
"Here is his card," said the young girl; and she offered a paper toFatkoura, who read at a glance:--
"Iwakura Teroumoto Mori, Prince of Nagato, entreats the honor of admission to your presence."
"My mirror!" she cried frantically. "I am horrible thus,--my eyesswollen, my hair disordered, dressed in a robe without embroidery!Alas! instead of weeping, I should have foreseen his coming, and busiedmyself with my toilette from early dawn!"
Tika brought the mirror of burnished metal, round as the full moon, andthe box of perfumes and cosmetics.
Fatkoura took a pencil and lengthened her eyes. But her hand trembled,she made too heavy a line; then, wishing to repair the mistake, onlysucceeded in smearing her whole cheek with black. She clenched herfists with rage, and ground her teeth. Tika came to her aid, andremoved the traces of her awkwardness. She placed upon the lower lipa little green paint, which became pink on contact with the skin. Toreplace the eyebrows, which had been carefully plucked out, she madetwo large black spots very high upon her forehead; to make the oval ofher face longer, she sprinkled a little pink powder on her cheek-bones;then rapidly removed all the apparatus of the toilette, and threw overher mistress's shoulders a superb kirimon. Then she left the hall atfull speed.
Fatkoura, trembling violently, stood beside the gotto as it lay on thefloor, one hand holding up her mantle heavy with ornament, and eagerlyfixed her gaze on the entrance.
At last Nagato appeared. He advanced, placing one hand on the goldenhilt of one of his two swords, and, bowing with graceful dignity, said:"Pardon me, fair Fatkoura, if I come like a storm which sweeps acrossthe sky unannounced by any foreboding clouds."
"You are to me like the sun when it rises from the sea," said Fatkoura,"and you are always expected. Stay! but a moment since I wept for yoursake. See! my eyes are still red."
"Your eyes are like the evening and the morning stars," said thePrince. "But why did they drown their rays in tears? Can I have givenyou any cause to grieve?"
"You are here, and I have forgotten the cause of my sorrow," saidFatkoura, smiling; "perhaps I wept because you were far away."
"Why can I not be always here?" cried Nagato, with such an accent oftruth that the young woman felt all her fears vanish, and a flashof joy illumined her countenance. Perhaps, however, she mistook themeaning of the Prince's words.
"Come closer," she said, "and rest upon these mats. Tika will serve uswith tea and a few delicacies."
"Could I not first send the Kisaki a secret petition of the utmostimportance?" asked Nagato. "I seized upon the pretext of this preciousmissive in order to get away from Osaka," he added, seeing a shadow onFatkoura's brow.
"The sovereign has been vexed with me since your last appearance; Idare not approach her, or send any of my servants to her."
"And yet this note must be in her hands with the briefest possibledelay," said Nagato, with a slight frown.
"What shall we do?" said Fatkoura, whom this trifling mark of distresshad not escaped. "Will you come with me to one of my illustriousfriends, the noble Iza-Farou No-Kami? She is in favor just now; perhapsshe will help us."
"Let us go to her at once," said the Prince.
"Let us go," said Fatkoura with a sigh.
The young woman called Tika, who had remained in the next room, andsigned to her to draw a sliding-panel, which opened upon a galleryencircling the pavilion.
"Are you going out, mistress?" said Tika. "Shall I summon your suite?"
"We are going incognito, Tika, to take a walk in the orchard. Really,"she added, with her finger on her lips, "we are going to visit thenoble Iza-Farou."
The maid bent her head in token of understanding. Fatkoura 'bravely setfoot on the balcony, but sprang back hastily with an exclamation.
"It'
s a furnace," she cried.
Nagato picked up the fail lying upon the floor.
"Courage!" he said; "I will cool the air nearest your face."
Tika took a parasol, which she opened over her mistress's head, andNagato waved the huge fan. They set out, sheltered at first by theprojecting roof. Fatkoura led the way. Now and then she touched herfinger-tips to the open-work cedar balustrade, and uttered a babyshriek at its burning contact. The pretty silken-haired dog, who hadfelt obliged to join the party, followed at a distance, growling,doubtless, remarks upon the madness of a walk at such an hour of theday.
They turned the corner of the house, and found themselves in front ofit, at the top of a broad staircase leading to the garden, between twobalusters ornamented with copper balls; a third baluster, in the centreof the staircase, divided it into two parts.
In spite of the intolerable heat and the vivid light, whose reflectionfrom the sandy soil fairly blinded them, Fatkoura and the Prince ofNagato pretended to be walking with no other object than to pick a fewflowers and admire the charming prospect which lay before them at everystep. Although the gardens were deserted, they knew that the eye of thespy was never closed. They made haste to reach a shady alley, and soonarrived at a group of sumptuous pavilions scattered among the trees andconnected by covered galleries.
"It is here," said Fatkoura, who, far from looking in the direction ofthe buildings of which she spoke, was leaning over a little pond filledwith water so clear as to be almost invisible.
"Just see that pretty fish!" she said, purposely raising her voice;"I should think he was carved from a block of amber. And that one wholooks like a ruby sprinkled with gold! he seems hanging in mid air, thewater is so transparent. See, his fins are like black gauze, and hiseyes like balls of fire! Decidedly, of all the dwellers in the palace,Iza-Farou has the finest fish."
"What, Fatkoura!" cried a feminine voice from the interior of apavilion, "are you out at such an hour? Is it because you are a widowthat you take so little care of your skin, and let it be destroyed bythe sun?"
A blind was half raised, and Iza-Farou thrust out her pretty head,bristling with light tortoise-shell pins.
"Ah!" she said, "the lord of Nagato! You will not pass by my housewithout honoring me by entering," she added.
"We will come in with pleasure, thanking the fate which led us in thisdirection," said Fatkoura.
They went up the steps leading to the pavilion, and moved on throughthe flowers filling the balcony.
Iza-Farou came towards them.
"What had you to tell me?" she said to her friend in a low voice, asshe gracefully saluted the Prince.
"I need your help," said Fatkoura; "you know I am in disgrace."
"I know it; shall I sue for your pardon? But can I assure the Queenthat you will never again commit the fault which angered her sodeeply?" said Iza-Farou, casting a mischievous glance at Nagato.
"I am the only criminal," said the Prince, smiling. "Fatkoura is notresponsible for the actions of a madman like me."
"Prince, I think she is proud to be the cause of what you call madacts; and many are the women who envy her."
"Do not jest with me," said Nagato; "I am sufficiently punished byhaving drawn down the wrath of her sovereign upon the noble Fatkoura."
"But that is not the question in point," cried Fatkoura. "The Lord ofNagato is bearer of an important message which he wishes to transmit tothe Kisaki secretly. He first came to me; but as I cannot approach theQueen just now, I thought of your kind friendship."
"Trust the message to me," said Iza-Farou, turning to the Prince; "in avery few moments it shall be in the hands of our illustrious mistress."
"I am overcome with gratitude," said Nagato, taking from his bosom awhite satin wrapper containing the letter.
"Wait here for me; I will return soon."
Iza-Farou took the letter, and ushered her guests into a cool and shadyhall, where she left them alone.
"These pavilions communicate with the Kisaki's palace," said Fatkoura;"my noble friend can visit the sovereign without being seen by othereyes. May the gods grant that the messenger bring back a favorableanswer, and I may see the cloud which darkens your brow vanish!"
The Prince seemed, in fact, absorbed and anxious; he nibbled the tipof his fan as he paced the room. Fatkoura followed him with her eyes,and her heart involuntarily stood still; she felt a return of thedreadful agony which had so recently wrung tears from her, and whichthe presence of her beloved had suddenly calmed.
"He does not love me," she murmured in despair; "when his eyes turntowards me, they alarm me by their cold and almost contemptuousexpression."
Nagato seemed to have forgotten the presence of the young woman; heleaned against a half-open panel, and seemed lost in a dream, at oncesweet and poignant.
The rustle of a dress upon the mats that covered the floor drew himfrom his revery. Iza-Farou returned; she seemed in haste, and soonappeared at the corner of the gallery. Two young boys, magnificentlyattired, followed her.
"These are the words of the divine Kisaki," said she, as soon as shewas within speaking distance of Nagato: "'Let the suppliant make hisrequest in person.'"
At these words Nagato turned so pale, that Iza-Farou, frightened,thinking that he would faint, rushed towards him, to prevent him fromfalling.
"Prince," she cried, "be calm! Such a favor is, I know, enough to causeyour emotion: but are you not used to all honors?"
"Impossible!" muttered Nagato, in a voice which was scarcely audible;"I cannot appear before her."
"What!" said Iza-Farou, "would you disobey her command?"
"I am not in court-dress," said the Prince.
"She will dispense with ceremony for this time only, the receptionbeing secret. Do not keep her waiting longer."
"So be it; lead the way!" suddenly exclaimed Nagato, who had nowapparently conquered his emotion.
"These two pages will conduct you," said Iza-Farou.
Nagato left the room rapidly, preceded by the Kisaki's two servitors;but not so rapidly that he did not hear a stifled cry which broke fromthe lips of Fatkoura.
After walking for some time, and passing through the various galleriesand halls of the palace without paying the slightest heed to them,Nagato came to a great curtain of white satin, embroidered in gold,whose broad folds, silvery in the light, leaden-hued in the shade, layin ample heaps upon the ground.
The pages drew aside this drapery; the Prince advanced, and thequivering waves of satin fell together again behind him.
The walls of the hall which he entered glittered faintly in the dimlight; they gave out flashes of gold, the whiteness of pearls andpurple reflections, while an exquisite perfume floated in the air. Atthe end of the room, beneath curtains fastened back by golden cords,sat the radiant sovereign in the midst of the silken billows of herscarlet robes; the triple plate of gold, insignia of omnipotence, roseabove her brow. The Prince grasped the vision with one involuntarylook; then, dropping his eyes as if he had gazed upon the sun at noon,he advanced to the centre of the room and fell upon his knees; thenslowly his face sank to the ground.
"Iwakura," said the Kisaki, after a long pause, "what you ask of meis serious. I desire certain explanations from your own lips before Iprefer your request to the sublime master of the world, the son of thegods, my spouse."
The Prince half rose, and strove to speak, but could not; he felt asif his bosom would burst with the frantic throbbing of his heart. Thewords died on his lips, and he remained with downcast eyes, pale asdeath.
"Is it because you think me angry with you that you are so muchalarmed?" said the Queen, looking at the Prince for an instant withsurprise. "I can forgive you, for your crime is but slight. You loveone of my maidens, that is all."
"Nay, I do not love her!" cried Nagato, who, as if he had lost hissenses, raised his eyes to his sovereign.
"What matters it to me?" said the Kisaki abruptly. For one second theirgaze met; but Nagato closed his guilty eyes,
and trembling at his ownaudacity, awaited its punishment.
But after a pause the Kisaki went on in a quiet voice: "Your letterreveals to me a terrible secret; and if what you imagine is true, thepeace of the kingdom may be deeply affected."
"That is why, Divine Sister of the Sun, I had the boldness to beg foryour all-powerful intercession," said the Prince, unable completely tomaster the quiver in his voice. "If you grant my prayer, if I obtainwhat I ask, great misfortunes may be prevented."
"You know, Iwakura, that the Celestial Mikado is favorable to Hieyas;would he believe in the crime of which you accuse his favorite I andwould you be willing to maintain in public the accusation hitherto keptsecret?"
"I would maintain it to Hieyas' very face," said Nagato firmly; "heis the instigator of the odious plot which came near costing my youngmaster his life."
"That affirmation would endanger your own life. Have you thought ofthat?"
"My life is a slight thing," said the Prince. "Besides, the mere factof my devotion to Fide-Yori is enough to attract the Regent's hatred.I barely escaped assassination by his men a few days ago, on leavingKioto."
"What, Prince! is that indeed possible?" said the Kisaki.
"I only mention the unimportant fact," continued Nagato, "to show youthat this man is familiar with crime, and that he is anxious to ridhimself of those who stand in the way of his ambition."
"But how did you escape from the murderers?" asked the Kisaki, whoseemed to take a lively interest in the adventure.
"The sharp blade of my sword and the strength of my arm saved my life.But why should you waste your sublime thoughts upon so trifling anincident?"
"Were the assassins numerous?" inquired the Queen, curiously.
"Ten or twelve, perhaps. I killed several of them; then I gave my horsethe spurs, and he soon put a sufficient distance between them and me."
"What!" said the Kisaki meditatively, "is the man who has theconfidence of my divine spouse so fierce and treacherous? I share yourfears, Iwakura, and sad forebodings overwhelm me; but can I persuadethe Mikado that our presentiments are not vain? At least I will try todo so, for the good of my people and the salvation of the kingdom. Go,Prince; be at the reception this evening. I shall then have seen theLord of the World."
The Prince, having prostrated himself, rose, and with his head stillbent towards the earth, withdrew backwards from the room. As he reachedthe satin curtain, he once more almost involuntarily raised his eyes tothe sovereign, who followed him with her gaze. But the drapery fell andthe adorable vision disappeared.
The pages led Iwakura to one of the palaces reserved for sovereignprinces passing through Kioto. Happy to find himself alone, hestretched himself upon a pile of cushions, and, still deeply moved,gave himself up to a delicious revery.
"Ah!" he murmured, "what strange joy fills my soul! I am intoxicated;perhaps it comes from breathing the air that surrounds her! Ah!terrible madness, hopeless longing which causes me such sweetsuffering, how much you must be increased by this unexpected interview!Already I had often fled from Osaka; exhausted, like a diver perishingfor want of air, I came hither, to gaze upon the palaces which hideher from my sight, or to catch an occasional glimpse of her in thedistance as she leaned over a balcony, or paced the garden pathssurrounded by her women; and I bore hence a store of happiness. But nowI have breathed the perfume which exhales from her person, her voicehas caressed my ear, I have heard my name tremble on her lips! Can Inow be content with what has hitherto filled up my life? I am lost; myexistence is ruined by this impossible love; and yet I am happy. SoonI shall see her again, no longer under the constraint of a politicalaudience, but able to dazzle myself at my ease with her beauty. Shall Ihave strength to conceal my agitation and my criminal love? Yes, divinesovereign, before thee only my haughty spirit falls prostrate, and myevery thought turns towards thee as the mists to the sun. Goddess, Iadore thee with awe and respect; but alas! I love thee as well, with amad tenderness, as if thou wert but a mere woman!"