Volume Ii Part 34 (1/2)
”Where is the Church?” the Princess inquired.
”In the low grounds between the aqueduct, and the gates of St. Romain and Adrianople.”
”It belongs to one of the Brotherhoods. They have farming right in the soil.”
”I am sorry to hear it.”
As she turned to her work again, he went on with his account of himself.
”I had then two hours and more till noon, and was at loss what to do.
Finally I decided to go to the Port of Blacherne--a long walk, but not too long, considering my motive.... Princess, have you heard of the Italian newly arrived?”
”What of him, pray?”
”He is the talk of the city, and if the half told of him be true, we must needs wonder. He travels in his own s.h.i.+p. Merchants have that habit, but he is not a merchant. Kings do so, but he is not a king. He came in saluting with a gun, in style becoming a great admiral; but if he is an admiral, his nationality is a secret. He also flies an unknown flag. They report him further as standing much on his deck in a suit of armor glistening like silver. And what is he? Mouth speaketh unto mouth, with no one to answer. They go then to his s.h.i.+p, p.r.o.nouncing it the most perfect thing of the kind ever seen in the harbor. Those who have rowed around it say the sailors are not white men, but dark-faced creatures in turbans and black beards, un-Christian and ugly-looking. Fishermen and fruiterers have been permitted on deck--n.o.body else--and they, returning alive, say the rowers, of whom they caught glimpses, are blacker than the sailors. They also overheard strange noises below--voices not human.”
The countenance of the Princess during this recital gradually changed; she seemed disposed to laugh at the exaggerations of the populace.
”So much for town-talk,” Sergius continued. ”To get sight of the s.h.i.+p, and of the mysterious magnate, I walked across the city to the Port of Blacherne, and was well rewarded. I found the s.h.i.+p drawn in to the quay, and the work of unloading her in progress. Parties of porters were attacking heaps of the cargo already on the landing. Where they were taking the goods I could not learn. I saw five horses lifted out of the hold, and led ash.o.r.e over a bridge dropped from the vessel's side. Such horses I never before beheld. Two were grays, two bays, and one chestnut-colored. They looked at the sun with wide-open unwinking eyes; they inhaled the air as it were something to drink; their coats shone like silk; their manes were soft like the hair of children; their tails flared out in the breeze like flags; and everybody exclaimed: 'Arabs, Arabs!' There was a groom for each horse--tall men, lean, dust-hued, turbaned, and in black gowns. At sight of the animals, an old Persian who, from his appearance, might have been grandfather of the grooms, begged permission--I could not understand the tongue he used--put his arms around the necks of the animals, and kissed them between the eyes, his own full of tears the while. I suppose they reminded him of his own country.... Then two officers from the palace, representatives doubtless of the Emperor, rode out of the gate in armor, and immediately the stranger issued from his cabin, and came ash.o.r.e. I confess I lost interest in the horses, although he went to them and scanned them over, lifting their feet and tapping their hoofs with the handle of a dagger.
By that time the two officers were dismounted; and approaching with great ceremony, they notified him they had been sent by His Majesty to receive and conduct him to a.s.signed quarters. He replied to them in excellent Greek, acknowledging His Majesty's graciousness, and the pleasure he would have in their escort. From the cabin, two of his men brought a complete equipment, and placed it on the chestnut steed. The furniture was all sheen of satin and gold. Another attendant brought his sword and s.h.i.+eld; and after the sword was buckled around him, and the s.h.i.+eld at his back, he took hold of the saddle with both hands, and swung himself into the seat with an ease remarkably in contrast with the action of his Greek conductors, who, in mounting, were compelled to make use of their stirrups. The cavalcade then pa.s.sed the gate into the city.”
”You saw him closely?” Lael asked.
”To get to his horse, he pa.s.sed near me as I am to you, my little friend.”
”What did he wear?”
”Oh, he was in armor. A cap of blue steel, with a silver spike on the crown--neck and shoulders covered with a hood of mail--body in a s.h.i.+rt of mail, a bead of silver in each link--limbs to the knees in mail. From the knees down there were splints of steel inlaid with silver; his shoes were of steel, and on the heels long golden spurs. The hood was clasped under the chin, leaving the face exposed--a handsome face, eyes black and bright, complexion olive, though slightly bloodless, expression pleasant.”
”How old is he?”
”Twenty-six or seven. Altogether he reminded me of what I have heard of the warriors who used to go crusading.”
”What following had he?”
This was from the Princess.
”I can only speak of what I saw--of the keepers of the horses, and of the other men, whom, in my unfamiliarity with military fas.h.i.+ons, I will call equerry, armorer, and squire or page. What accounting is to be made of the s.h.i.+p's company, I leave, O Princess, to your better knowledge.”
”My inquiry was of his personal suite.”
”Then I cannot give you a better answer; but if I may say so much, the most unusual thing observable in his followers was, they were all Orientals--not one of them had a Christian appearance.”
”Well”--and the Princess laid her needle down for the first time--”I see how easily a misunderstanding of the stranger may get abroad. Let me tell what I know of him.... Directly he arrived, he despatched a letter to His Majesty, giving an account of himself. He is a soldier by profession, and a Christian; has spent much time in the Holy Land, where he acquired several Eastern languages; obtained permission from the Pontiff Nicholas to make war on the African pirates; manned his galley with captives; and, not wis.h.i.+ng to return to his native land and engage in the baronial wars which prevail there at present, he offered his services to His Majesty. He is an Italian n.o.bleman, ent.i.tled _Count Corti,_ and submitted to His Majesty a certificate, under the hand and seal of the Holy Father, showing that the Holy Father knighted him, and authorized his crusade against the infidels. The preference for a following composed of Orientals is singular; but after all, it is only a matter of taste. The day may come, dear Sergius, when the Christian world will disapprove his method of getting t.i.tle to servants; but it is not here now.... If further discussion of the Count takes place in your presence, you are at liberty to tell what I tell you. At Blacherne yesterday I had the particulars, together with the other circ.u.mstance, that the Emperor gladly accepted the Italian's overture, and a.s.signed him quarters in the Palace of Julian, with leave to moor his galley in the port there. Few n.o.ble foreigners have sought our Empire bringing better recommendations.”
The fair lady then took up her needle, and was resuming work, when Lysander entered, and, after thumping the floor, announced: ”Three o'clock.”
The Princess silently arose, and pa.s.sed out of the room; at the same time there was a commotion behind the curtain, and presently the other apartment was vacated. Sergius lingered a moment.
”Tell me now of yourself,” Lael said, giving him her hand.