by Lew Wallace
CHAPTER XVI
AN EMBASSY TO THE PRINCESS IRENE
When the Princess Irene returned to Therapia next day, she foundawaiting her the Dean of the Court, an official of great importance towhom the settlement of questions pertinent to rank was confided. Thestate barge of fifteen oars in which he arrived was moored to themarbles of the quay in front of her palace, a handsomely ornamentedvessel scarcely needing its richly liveried rowers to draw about it thecurious and idle of the town in staring groups. At sight of it, thePrincess knew there was a message for her from the Emperor. She lost notime in notifying the Dean of her readiness to receive him. Theinterview took place in the reception room.
The Dean was a venerable man who, having served acceptably through thepreceding reign, was immensely discreet, and thoroughly indurate withformalism and ceremony; wherefore, passing his speech and manner, it isbetter worth the while to give, briefly as may be, the substance of thecommunication he brought to the Princess.
He was sure she remembered all the circumstances of the coronation ofHis Majesty, the Emperor, and of His Majesty's entry intoConstantinople; he was not so certain, however, of her informationtouching some matters distinguishable as domestic rather thanadministrative. Or she might know of them, but not reliably. Thus shemight not have heard authentically that, immediately upon his becomingsettled in the imperial seat, His Majesty decided it of firstimportance to proceed to the selection of a spouse.
The Dean then expatiated on the difficulty of finding in all the worlda woman suitable for the incomparable honor. So many points enteredinto the consideration--age, appearance, rank, education, religion,dowry, politics--upon each of which he dwelt with the gravity of aphilosopher, the assurance of a favorite, and the garrulity of age.Having at length presented the problem, and, he thought, sufficientlyimpressed the Princess with its unexampled intricacies and perils, henext unfolded the several things resolved upon and attempted in the wayof solution.
Every royal house in the West had been searched for its marriageablefemales. At one time a daughter of the Doge of Venice was nearlychosen. Unfortunately there were influential Greeks of greater pridethan judgment to object to the Doge. He was merely an elective chief.He might die the very day after celebrating the espousals, andthen--not even the ducal robes were inheritable. No, the flower to deckthe Byzantine throne was not in the West.
Thereupon the East was explored. For a time the election trembledbetween a Princess of Trebizond and a Princess of Georgia. As usual thecourt divided on the question, when, to quiet the factions, His Majestyordered Phranza, the Grand Chamberlain, a courtier of learning anddiplomatic experience, who held the Emperor's confidence in greaterdegree than any other court official, unless it might be the Deanhimself, to go see the rivals personally, and report withrecommendation. The ambassador had been gone two years. From Georgia hehad travelled to Trebizond; still nothing definite. The embassy, havingbeen outfitted in a style to adequately impress the semi-barbarians,was proving vastly expensive. His Majesty, with characteristic wisdom,had determined to take the business in his own keeping. There were manynoble families in Constantinople. Why not seek a consort among them?
The scheme had advantages; not least, if a Byzantine could be found,the Emperor would have the happiness of making the discovery andconducting the negotiations himself--in common parlance, of doing hisown courting. There might be persons, the Dean facetiously remarked,who preferred trusting the great affair of wife-choosing toambassadors, but he had never seen one of them.
The ground covered by the ancient in his statement is poorlyrepresented by these paragraphs, ample as they may seem to the reader.Indeed, the sun was falling swiftly into the lap of night when hethought of concluding. Meantime the Princess listened silently, herpatience sustained by wonder at what it all meant. The enlightenment atlast came.
"Now, my dear Princess," he said, lowering his voice, "you must know"--he arose, and, as became one so endued with palace habits, peeredcautiously around.
"Be seated, my Lord," she said; "there are no eyes in my doors nor earsin my walls."
"Oh, the matter is of importance--a state secret!" He drew the stoolnearer her.
"You must know, dear Princess, that the Grand Chamberlain, Phranza, hasbeen negligent and remiss in the time he has consumed, saying nothingof his lavishment of treasure so badly needed at home. Notaras, theAdmiral, and the Grand Domestic, are both pursuing His Majestyvigorously for funds and supplies; worse still, the Patriarch lets slipno opportunity to bid him look at the furniture of the churches goingto ruin. The imperial conscience being tender in whatever pertains toGod and religion, he has little peace left for prayers. Wherefore,there are of us who think it would be loyalty to help secure a bridefor His Majesty at home, and thus make an end to the wasteful andinconclusive touring of Phranza."
The Dean drew yet nearer the Princess, and reduced his voice to a toneslightly above a whisper.
"Now you must know further--I am the author and suggestor of the ideaof His Majesty's choosing an Empress from the many noble and beautifuldames and maidens of this our ancient city of Byzantium, in everyrespect the equals, and in many points mentionable the superiors of thebest foreigner possible of finding."
The Dean pursed his white-bearded mouth, and posed himself proudly; buthis auditor still holding her peace, he leaned forward further, andwhispered, "My dear Princess, I did more. I mentioned you to HisMajesty"--
The Princess started to her feet, whiter than whitest marble in thePentelic panelling of the room; yet in total misapprehension of herfeeling, the venerable intriguant went on without pause: "Yes, Imentioned you to His Majesty, and to-morrow, Princess--to-morrow--hewill come here in person to see you, and urge his suit."
He dropped on his knees, and catching her hand, kissed it.
"O Princess, fairest and most worthy, suffer me first of all the courtto congratulate you on the superlative honor to which you will heinvited. And when you are in the exalted position, may I hope to beremembered"--
He was not permitted to finish the petition. Withdrawing her hand withdecisive action, she bade him be silent or speak to her questions. Andhe was silent through surprise.
In such manner she gained an interval for thought. The predicament, asshe saw it, was troublesome and unfortunate. Honor was intended her,the highest in the imperial gift, and the offer was coming with never adoubt of its instantaneous and grateful acceptance. Remembering herobligations to the Emperor, her eyes filled with tears. She respectedand venerated him, yet could not be his Empress. The great title wasnot a sufficient inducement. But how manage the rejection? She calledon the Virgin for help. Directly there was a way exposed. First, shemust save her benefactor from rejection; second, the Dean and the courtmust never know of the course of the affair or its conclusion.
"Rise, my Lord," she said, kindly though with firmness. "The receiverof great news, I thank you, and promise, if ever I attain the throne tohold you in recollection. But now, so am I overwhelmed by the prospect,I am not myself. Indeed, my Lord, would you increase my indebtedness toits utmost limit, take every acknowledgment as said, and leaveme--leave me for preparation for the morrow's event. God, his Son andangels only know the awfulness of my need of right direction and goodjudgment."
He had the wit to see her agitation, and that it was wisest for him todepart.
"I will go, Princess," he said, "and may the Holy Mother give you ofher wisdom also." She detained him at the door to ask: "Only tell me,my Lord, did His Majesty send you with this notice?"
"His Majesty honored me with the message."
"At what hour will he come?"
"In the forenoon."
"Report, I pray you then, that my house will be at his service."