by Mór Jókai
CHAPTER XX
THE BLIND HEN'S GENUINE PEARL
What had Chevalier Galban found so admirable on the terrace of BelvedereCastle, and what did he find so impregnable there?
In truth, a lovely view! In the foreground the massed trees of Lazienkaforest, clad in the tender hues of spring's young green, their colorsranging from the golden green of the maple to the reddish purple of thesumach, delighted the eye. From amidst the thick foliage arose the zincroofs of John Sobieski's ancestral home, Lazienka Castle. Red and greenroofs of luxurious villas peeped out here and there from among thetrees; rows of silvery poplars overtowering the rest marked outcross-roads. In the distance the ancient capital of Poland, living heartof a dead body; the terraces of the once royal castle showing where itsgardens had been; on the Gothic towers of St. John's Church the goldencrosses glistening. Below the city, the winding Vistula, its islandsablaze with spring-tide glory. To the right the great Belian forest,with its ancient Camaldulen Monastery, its walls glowing in the light ofthe evening sun; and then, dumb witness to so many an historic event,the great Wolja plain, where formerly kings were elected. On thehorizon, fast disappearing in the golden haze of evening, the outline ofa castle--Mariemont, whilom residence of Marie Sobieski.
"A lovely view, is it not?" said Johanna to Chevalier Galban, as, havingreached the highest terrace of Belvedere, they let their eyes wanderround.
"A magnificent prison," returned the Chevalier.
Johanna looked in astonishment at him with her large brown eyes, which,neither dazzling nor enticing, were full of soul.
"A prison--for whom?" she asked, surprised.
"For a saint and martyr, who is ready to sacrifice herself for hernation."
"And who may this be, and wherein her sacrifice? I do not understandyou."
"Truly, it is not martyrdom to be tortured with red-hot iron if thattorture be borne in patience; but it is martyrdom to give one's heart tobe tortured in a manner more cruel than human imagination has yetconceived. And to be torn in pieces by a wild beast is not so ghastly adeath as to kiss and embrace such a monster. Such a sacrifice could onlybe conceived by a Polish woman and for the Polish nation!"
"Either I fail to understand you, or you are laboring under somemistake," returned Johanna, handing the Chevalier a cup of fragrantmocha as they seated themselves.
Chevalier Galban was a practised strategist at such storming operations.He knew at once where the fortress was weakest.
"Duchess! wherever the name of the Polish Viceroy is heard, that ofJohanna Grudzinska is named with it; with adoration and affection peopleutter it, for she is the guardian angel of all who are oppressed andafflicted."
"I know nothing of all this. Here only criminals are punished; and_such_ punishment I can do nothing to hinder."
"Perhaps not in words; perhaps only unconsciously. Yet the whole worldknows that Poland's terror has changed under the magic of yourinfluence. He has sane periods in which he treats his people withclemency. And for these Poland has to thank you!"
"Herr Galban! Do you not see that any praise must be repugnant to mewhich reflects upon my husband?"
"Far be it from me in any way to reflect upon the Czarevitch, my master.He is as nature and circumstances have made him. The ruling of a nationis no poetry, nor is it a matter of Scriptural teaching; it has itsestablished laws. Diplomacy is heartless, and a thorough-going statesmanmust be heartless likewise. Every one knows that the Czarevitch is atyrant to his subjects."
"But to me he is my husband, to whom I am bound by every law of love andduty."
"It is just that which makes my blood boil. I can talk openly to you. Imust confess, when I undertook the mission intrusted me by Araktseieff,I had conceived a very different idea of you from what I do, now that Iam face to face with you. In the different courts I have visited I havecome across many ladies who have deluded themselves with the belief thatthe love of crowned heads is quite another thing from the love ofordinary mortals. Once their mistake found out, they have been able toconsole themselves; and when higher state interests have demanded thesacrifice of their affections, they have accepted the title of countessor princess, with its accompanying estate as compensation, and havesurvived it."
"But what analogy is there between their and my position? I was solemnlymarried to my husband. At the altar I first placed my hand in his. Ibear his name, and I know he loves me truly."
"Ah, Princess, you have no conception at present of the heartless natureof diplomacy! What you say is perfectly true; but you certainly did notnotice that in the marriage ceremony the priest placed the Grand Duke'sleft--not his right--hand in yours. This was no treachery, no deception;it is customary with princes of the blood, and their wives and childrencan hold up their heads without shame. But--and here comes in theinfamy--Araktseieff is set upon proclaiming the Grand Duke as the Czar'ssuccessor to the throne, because he is his ideal. But to this end it isimperative that the Grand Duke should take back his first wife, who isstill living, _and who is a member of a reigning dynasty_; for thefundamental laws of the empire allow no other woman to ascend thethrone. Do you now see the fate awaiting you?"
"However hard it be, I will endure it silently."
"You will be deprived of your husband's name; and as Count Grudzinskicannot give you back his, you will be made Princess of Lovicz. Can younot now picture to yourself what your future lot will be?"
"Patience and resignation!"
"Did you not notice the cruel smile on Araktseieff's face as, whenkissing your hand, he said, 'The sight of this happiness reminds me _ofmine_'? By that he intended to put you on a par with the woman calledDaimona, who is only his paramour and was a _vivandiere_."
"I do not feel the intended insult."
"No, no; it is impossible! When I heard the scheme, I too thought,'After all, what will it matter? She, like other women, will receivecompensation, and, like them, will--survive it.' But since I have beenbrought face to face with those clear, pure eyes, which so faithfullymirror the noble heart within, I ceased to consult my reasoning powers,for they counselled me to take myself a hundred miles away and to makemyself believe that I had been dreaming. Since that moment I have beenpondering how--at the risk of my own life--I could save you. It must notbe that such an angel should fall a victim to such devilish intrigues!It must not be that a Polish woman be forced to see her father's nameand coat of arms tarnished without any one to protect her--without meansof revenge!"
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? To tell you how you can revenge yourself! You mustanticipate those intriguers, and, in answer to their dishonoringproposal, say, 'Keep your princedom of Lovicz for high-born courtesans.I, a Polish noblewoman, will find a husband ready to give me theprotection of his honorable name and whole heart--a true man, who lovesand respects me!'"
Face, eyes, the Chevalier's dramatic action, all tended to illustratehis words. It was not difficult for Johanna to divine whom he meant asthe "true man." Not the shadow of a blush tinted her cheek as, withgreat composure, she replied:
"Chevalier Galban, do you see those walls surrounding Belvedere andLazienka? Within those walls you are my guest, and you have the right todo exactly as you please, even to the length of insulting me; but onlywithin these walls, as my guest. As soon, however, as you are withoutthem, your immunity ceases. I will confide to no one what you have justsaid to me. A Polish woman betrays no one, not even to her husband; sherevenges herself! So, once you have passed without these walls, for thisunpardonable insult I will order my people to give you a soundthrashing! May I offer you a little more sugar in your coffee?"
Chevalier Galban burst into a peal of laughter.
"_Ma foi!_ the fate of war. Out of three assaults, one may come offconqueror twice and yet be beaten the third time. Thank you, I will takeanother piece of sugar."
Then he strolled out with Johanna into the park, admired her tulip-bed,and, deferentially taking leave of her, went back to his chief, asalready related.
"I accompanied her into the park. We parted at the Hermitage."
"Come, Araktseieff, let us go and find her! You take one way; I willtake the other. Whoever first finds her brings her back to Belvedere."
The Grand Duke was lucky. He was first to find Johanna. She was kneelingon the grass feeding his pet rabbits; he let himself down clumsilybeside her.
"Take care!" he said; "the grass is wet with dew; you will take achill."
"It will not hurt me--I am strong."
"That's a story," he growled, "you are very delicate. I do not know howto wait the season to send you to Ems, that you may take the baths forwhich you are longing."
"I do not want to go there now."
"Why not?"
"I have been thinking it over. You would be unable to leave your post togo with me; and to be weeks, months, away from you, not ever to see you,is more than I could bear. I would so much rather stay here. Indeed, Iam quite well."
"What!" cried the Grand Duke, with a wild outburst of joy. "You love meso much that you cannot live without me? that you would care fornothing if you were away from me? Oh, my own true pearl of women!" Andtaking up his wife in his strong arms he laughed, caressed, and coveredher with a shower of fiery kisses. "And they would separate me from mywife! A fine idea, eh? Shall I throw you into this pond?" And he swungher in his arms like a little child. "Are you afraid that I shall throwyou in? Ha, ha, ha! and do you think I would let them make you Princessof Lovicz and be parted from you? That I would repay you for your loveand faithfulness with a title, and take another to wife? Are you afraidof it? Shall I toss you into the pond? Hush!"
Johanna twined her arms round her husband's neck, kissed him, andmurmured, softly:
"Were you to dishonor me and chase me from you, I would come back to youagain. Were you to humiliate me from your wife into your mistress ormaid-servant, I would still serve and love you. I cannot do otherwise."
"Ha, ha, ha! And from such a woman they would have torn me. Hallo!Araktseieff! This way, man. I've found her."
When Araktseieff, turning into the winding path, caught sight of theGrand Duke with Johanna in his arms, he knew what had happened.
"Tell them," shouted the Czarevitch when he was still at some distance,and in a voice hoarse with emotion--"tell them that _I do not give up awife who loves me for a whole empire that hates me_! When are you andyour Chevalier Galban going back?"
"With your Imperial Highness's permission, I will stay the night. ButChevalier Galban has left the castle already, I see from a note he leftfor me. He says he was compelled to hasten his departure; the groundwas burning under his feet, for Duchess Johanna had threatened him witha horsewhipping for a speech which had displeased her."
"A horsewhipping!" cried the Grand Duke. "What! my Johanna order any oneto be horsewhipped? _Come on my right hand, wife!_" And releasingJohanna from the embrace in which he still held her, he offered her hisright arm, with face beaming with joy.
"Go back to those who sent you, my good friend, and tell them that I amabout to wed Princess Lovicz in right-handed marriage. And as she maynot accompany me to St. Petersburg, I will go with her to Ems, with theCzar's permission. And now get ready your trumpery papers that I have tosign."
With these words he turned away, and what he had further to say toJohanna was inaudible from kisses and laughter.
That which Krizsanowski had promised in the sitting of the SzojuszBlagadenztoiga had come about--the incredible fact that a man couldvoluntarily resign his succession to the throne of the mightiest empirein the world, and in such a manner that, did he ever repent, he mightnever undo his act. That incredible fact had become not a possibility,but a thing accomplished. The solution to the riddle was, as Zeneida haddivined at the time, Johanna. For the present, however, none knew of itsave the participators and the trees of the ancient forest about them.
Ah! what a terrific, world-wide catastrophe was this idyl to bringabout!