Part 63 (1/2)
”I am.”
”I supposed so, both from your travelling and your appearance: I think the English countenance very peculiar.”
”Indeed! we do not flatter ourselves so at home.”
”Yes! it is peculiar.” said the lady, in a tone which seemed to imply that contradiction was unusual; ”and I think that you are all handsome!
I admire the English, which in this part of the world is singular: the South, you know, is generally francise.”
”I am aware of that,” said Vivian. ”There, for instance,” pointing to a pompous-looking personage who at that moment strutted by; ”there, for instance, is the most francise person in all Reisenburg! that is our Grand Chamberlain. He considers himself a felicitous copy of Louis the Fourteenth! He allows nothing in his opinions and phrases but what is orthodox. As it generally happens in such cases, his orthodoxy is rather obsolete.”
”Who is that Knight of Malta?” asked the lady.
”The most powerful individual in the room,” answered Vivian.
”Who can he be?” asked the lady, with eagerness.
”Behold him, and tremble!” rejoined Vivian: ”for with him it rests to decide whether you are civilised or a savage; whether you are to be abhorred or admired: idolised or despised. Nay, do not be alarmed! there are a few heretics, even in Reisenburg, who, like myself, value from conviction, and not from fas.h.i.+on, and who will be ever ready, in spite of a von Aslingen anathema, to evince our admiration where it is due.”
The lady pleaded fatigue as an excuse for not again dancing; and Vivian did not quit her side. Her lively remarks, piquant observations, and singular questions highly amused him; and he was flattered by the evident gratification which his conversation afforded her. It was chiefly of the princ.i.p.al members of the Court that she spoke: she was delighted with Vivian's glowing character of Madame Carolina, whom she said she had this evening seen for the first time. Who this unknown could be was a question which often occurred to him; and the singularity of a man like Beckendorff suddenly breaking through his habits and outraging the whole system of his existence, to please a daughter, or niece, or female cousin, did not fail to strike him.
”I have the honour of being acquainted with Mr. Beckendorff,” said Vivian. This was the first time that the Minister's name had been mentioned.
”I perceived you talking with him,” was the answer.
”You are staying, I suppose, at Mr. Beckendorff's?”
”Not at present.”
”You have, of course, been at his retreat; delightful place!”
”Yes!”
”Are you an ornithologist?” asked Vivian, smiling.
”Not at all scientific; but I, of course, can now tell a lory from a Java sparrow, and a bullfinch from a canary. The first day I was there, I never shall forget the surprise I experienced, when, after the noon meal being finished, the aviary door was opened. After that I always let the creatures out myself; and one day I opened all the cages at once. If you could but have witnessed the scene! I am sure you would have been quite delighted with it. As for poor Mr. Beckendorff, I thought even he would have gone out of his mind; and when I brought in the white peac.o.c.k he actually left the room in despair. Pray how do you like Madame Clara and Owlface too? Which do you think the most beautiful? I am no great favourite with the old lady. Indeed, it was very kind of Mr. Beckendorff to bear with everything as he did: I am sure he is not much used to lady visitors.”
”I trust that your visit to him will not be very short?”
”My stay at Reisenburg will not be very long,” said the young lady, with rather a grave countenance, ”Have you been here any time?”
”About a fortnight; it was a mere chance my coming at all. I was going on straight to Vienna.”
”To Vienna, indeed! Well, I am glad you did not miss Reisenburg; you must not quit it now. You know that this is not the Vienna season?”
”I am aware of it; but I am such a restless person that I never regulate my movements by those of other people.”
”But surely you find Reisenburg agreeable?”
”Very much so; but I am a confirmed wanderer.'