Part 79 (1/2)
”You'd have lost your life,” remarked Neeland.
”Yes. But then war would surely have come, and today my Emperor would have held the Dardanelles where the Turkish flag is now flying over German guns and German gunners.”
He shook his head:
”Great mistake on my part,” he muttered. ”Should have pulled Abdul's lop ears. Now, everything in Turkey is 'Yasak' except what Germans do and say; and G.o.d knows we are farther than ever from St. Sophia....
I'm very thirsty with thinking so much, old fellow. Did you ever drink German champagne?”
”I believe not----”
”Come on, then. You shall drink several gallons and never feel it.
It's the only thing German I could ever swallow.”
”Prince Erlik, you have had considerable refreshment already.”
”_Copain, t'en fais pas!_”
The spectacle of two young fellows in evening dress, in a friendly tug-of-war under the lamp-posts of the Boulevard, amused the pa.s.sing populace; and Sengoun, noticing this, was inclined to mount a boulevard bench and address the wayfarers, but Neeland pulled him down and persuaded him into a quieter street, the rue Vilna.
”There's a German place, now!” exclaimed Sengoun, delighted.
And Neeland, turning to look, perceived the illuminated sign of the Cafe des Bulgars.
German champagne had now become Sengoun's fixed idea; nothing could dissuade him from it, nothing persuade him into a homeward bound taxi.
So Neeland, with a rather hazy idea that he ought not to do it, entered the cafe with Senguon; and they seated themselves on a leather wall-lounge before one of the numerous marble-topped tables.
”Listen,” he said in a low voice to his companion, ”this is a German cafe, and we must be careful what we say. I'm not any too prudent and I may forget this; but don't _you_!”
”Quite right, old fellow!” replied Sengoun, giving him an owlish look.
”I must never forget I'm a diplomat among these _sales Boches_----”
”Be careful, Sengoun! That expression is not diplomatic.”
”Careful is the word, _mon vieux_,” returned the other loudly and cheerfully. ”I'll bet you a dollar, three kopeks, and two sous that I go over there and kiss the cas.h.i.+er----”
”No! Be a real diplomat, Sengoun!”
”I'm sorry you feel that way, Neeland, because she's unusually pretty.
And we might establish a triple entente until you find some Argive Helen to quadruple it. Aha! Here is our German champagne! Positively the only thing German a Russian can----”
”Listen! This won't do. People are looking at us----”
”Right, old fellow--always right! You know, Neeland, this friends.h.i.+p of ours is the most precious, most delightful, and most inspiring experience of my life. Here's a full goblet to our friends.h.i.+p! Hurrah!
As for Enver Pasha, may Erlik seize him!”
After they had honoured the toast, Sengoun looked about him pleasantly, receptive, ready for any eventuality. And observing no symptoms of any eventuality whatever, he suggested creating one.
”Dear comrade,” he said, ”I think I shall arise and make an incendiary address----”