Volume I Part 37 (1/2)
But as she now gracefully moved towards the Emperor, delicately holding up the heavy folds of her dark-yellow silk robes with her left hand, her whole appearance produced a bewitching charm, similar to the sweet and soothing scent of Indian balsam which she shed around her.
”What pleases my imperial lord so much? May I share his delight?” she asked in a sweet and flattering voice.
Those present prostrated themselves before the Empress, scarcely less humbly than before the Emperor.
Justinian started upon seeing her, as if he had been caught in some culpable act, and tried to conceal the portrait in the folds of his chlamys. But it was too late. The Empress had already fixed her quick eyes upon it.
”We are admiring,” said the Emperor, ”the--the fine chasing of the gold frame.”
And, blus.h.i.+ng, he gave her the portrait.
”Well,” said Theodora, smiling, ”there is not much to admire in the frame. But the picture is not bad. It is surely the Gothic Queen?”
The amba.s.sador bowed a.s.sent.
”Not bad, as I said before; but barbaric, severe, unwomanly. How old may she be, Alexandros?”
”About forty-five.”
Justinian looked at the picture and then at the amba.s.sador.
”The picture was taken fifteen years ago,” said Alexandros, as if in.
explanation.
”No,” said the Emperor, ”you mistake; here stands the date, according to the indiction[5] and the consul, and the date of her accession; it is of this year.”
An awkward pause ensued.
”Well,” stammered Alexandros, ”then the artists flatter like----”
”Like courtiers,” concluded the Emperor.
But Theodora came to the amba.s.sador's aid.
”Why do we chatter about portraits and the age of strange women, when we should think only of the empire? What news brings Alexandras? Are you decided, Justinia.n.u.s?”
”Almost. I only wished to hear your opinion, and, I know, you are in favour of war.”
Na.r.s.es quietly interposed. ”Wherefore, sire, did you not at once tell us that the Empress was in favour of war? We could have spared our words.”
”What! would you insinuate that I am the slave of my wife?”
”Guard your tongue better,” said Theodora angrily. ”Many who seemed invulnerable, have been stung by their own sharp tongues.”
”You are very imprudent, Na.r.s.es,” said Justinian.
”Emperor,” he answered, ”I have long since ceased to be prudent. We live in a time, in a realm, and at a court, where, for any word that we speak or leave unspoken, we may fall into disgrace and be ruined. As any word of mine may cause my death, I will at least die for words that please me.”
The Emperor smiled.