DEPARTURE FROM THE WHITE CASTLE
The storm continued till near daybreak. At sunrise the wind abated, and
was rapidly succeeded by a dead calm; about the same time the last
cloud disappeared, leaving the sky an azure wonder, and the shores of
the Bosphorus far and near refreshed and purified.
After breakfast, Mirza conducted the Prince of India to another private
audience with Mahommed. As the conference had relation to the subjects
gone over in the night, the colloquy may be dispensed with, and only
the conclusions given.
Mahommed admitted he had not been able to sleep; in good spirits,
however, he agreed, if the Prince were accountable for the wakefulness,
he was to be forgiven, since he had fairly foretold it, and, like other
prophets, was entitled to immunity. The invitation to remain at the
Castle was renewed, and again declined.
Mahommed next conceded the expediency of his waiting to hear what
further the stars might say with respect to the great business before
him, and voluntarily bound himself to passive conduct and silence; in
assuagement of the impatience he knew would torment him, he insisted,
however, upon establishing a line of couriers between his place of
residence, wherever it might be, and the White Castle. Intelligence
could thus be safely transmitted him from Constantinople. In
furtherance of this object the Governor of the Castle would be
instructed to honor the requests of the Prince of India.
Mahommed condescended next to approve the suggestion of a secret agency
in Constantinople. Respecting a person for the service, the delicacy of
which was conceded, he had reached the conclusion that there was no one
subject to his control so fitted in every respect as Mirza. The
selection of the Emir might prove troublesome since he was a favorite
with the Sultan; if investigations consequent on his continued absence
were instituted, there was danger of their resulting in disagreeable
exposure; nevertheless the venture was worth the while, and as time was
important, the Emir should be sent off forthwith under instructions in
harmony with the Prince's advice. Or more clearly, he was to betake
himself to Italy immediately, and thence to the Greek capital, a
nobleman amply provided with funds for his maintenance there in
essential state and condition. His first duty when in the city should
be to devise communication with the White Castle, where connection with
the proposed line of couriers should be made for safe transmission of
his own reports, and such intelligence as the Prince should from time
to time consider it advisable to forward.
This of course contemplated recognition and concert between the Emir
and the Prince. In token of his confidence in the latter, Mahommed
would constitute him the superior in cases of difference of opinion;
though from his knowledge of Mirza's romantic affection acquired in
Mecca and on the road thither, he had little apprehension of such a
difference.
Mahommed and the Prince were alike well satisfied with the conclusions
between them, and their leave-taking at the end of the audience was
marked with a degree of affection approaching that of father and son.
About mid-afternoon the Prince and Sergius sallied from the Castle to
observe the water, and finding it quiet, they determined to embark.
The formalities of reception in the Castle were not less rigidly
observed at the departure. In care of the eunuch the Princess and Lael
descended to the hall of entrance where they were received by the
supposed Governor, who was in armor thoroughly cleansed of dust and
skilfully furbished. His manner was even more gallant and dignified. He
offered his hand to assist the Princess to seat in the chair, and upon
taking it she glanced furtively at his face, but the light was too
scant for a distinct view.
In the Castle and out there were no spectators.
Passing the gate, the Princess bethought her of the story-teller, and
looked for him well as she could through the narrow windows. At the
landing, when the Governor had in silence, though with ease and grace,
helped her from the carriage, the porters being withdrawn, she
proceeded to acknowledgments.
"I am sorry," she said, through her veil, "that I must depart without
knowing the name or rank of my host."
"Had I greater rank. O Princess," he returned, gravely. "I should have
pleasure in introducing myself; for then there would be a hope that my
name supported by a title of dignity, would not be erased from your
memory by the gayeties of the city to which you are going. The White
Castle is a command suitable to one of humble grade, and to be saluted
Governor, because I am charged with its keeping, satisfies my pride for
the present. It is a convenient title, moreover, should you ever again
honor me with a thought or a word."
"I submit perforce," she said. "Yet, Sir Governor, your name would have
saved me from the wonder of my kinsman, if not his open question, when,
as I am bound to, I tell him of the fair treatment and high courtesy
you have shown me and my friends here while in refuge in your Castle
walls. He knows it natural for the recipient of bounty to learn who the
giver is, with name and history; but how amazed and displeased he will
be when I barely describe your entertainment. Indeed, I fear he will
think me guilty of over description or condemn me for ingratitude."
She saw the blood color his face, and noticed the air of sincerity with
which he replied. "Princess, if payment for what you have received at
my hands were worthy a thought, I should say now, and all my days
through, down to the very latest, that to have heard you speak so
graciously is an overprice out of computation."
The veil hid her responsive blush; for there was something in his voice
and manner, possibly the earnestness marking them, which lifted the
words out of the commonplace and formal. She could not but see how much
more he left implied than actually expressed. For relief, she turned to
another subject.
"If I may allude to a part of your generous attention, Sir Governor,
distinguishing it from the whole, I should like to admit the pleasure
had from the recitation of the Arabian story-teller. I will not ask his
name; still it must be a great happiness to traverse the world with
welcome everywhere, and everywhere and all the time accompanied and
inspired by a mind stored with themes and examples beautiful as the
history of El Hatim."
A light singularly bright shone in the Governor's eyes, significant of
a happy idea, and with more haste than he had yet evinced, he replied:
"O Princess, the name of the Arab is Aboo-Obeidah; in the desert they
call him the Singing Sheik, and among Moslems, city bred and tent born
alike, he is great and beloved. Such is his sanctity that all doors he
knocks at open to him, even those of harems zealously guarded. When he
arrives at Adrianople, in his first day there he will be conducted to
the Hanoum of the Sultan, and at her signal the ladies of the household
will flock to hear him. Now, would it please you, I will prevail on him
to delay his journey that he may visit you at your palace."
"The adventure might distress him," she replied.
"Say not so. In such a matter I dare represent and pledge him. Only
give me where you would have him come, and the time, O Princess, and he
will be there, not a star in the sky more constant."
"With my promise of good welcome to him then," she said, well pleased,
"be my messenger, Sir Governor, and say in the morning day after
to-morrow at my palace by Therapia. And now thanks again, and farewell."
So saying she held her hand to him, and he kissed it, and assisted her
into the boat.
The adieux of the others, the Prince of India, Sergius and Lael, were
briefer. The Governor was polite to each of them; at the same time, his
eyes, refusing restraint, wandered to where the Princess sat looking at
him with unveiled face.
In the mouth of the river the boats were brought together, and, while
drifting, she expressed the pleasure she had from the fortunate meeting
with the Prince; his presence, she doubted not, contributed greatly to
the good conclusion of what in its beginning seemed so unpromising.
"Nor can I convey an idea of the confidence and comfortable feeling I
derived from the society of thy daughter," she added, speaking to the
Prince, but looking at Lael. "She was courageous and sensible, and I
cannot content myself until she is my guest at Therapia."
"I would be greatly pleased," Lael said, modestly.
"Will the Princess appoint a time?" the Wanderer asked.
"To-morrow--or next week--at your convenience. These warm months are
delightful in the country by the water side. At Therapia, Prince--thou
and thine. The blessing of the Saints go with you--farewell."
Then though the boats kept on down toward Constantinople, they
separated, and in good time the Prince of India and Lael were at home;
while the Princess carried Sergius to her palace in the city. Next day,
having provided him with the habit approved by metropolitan Greek
priests, she accompanied him to the patriarchal residence, introduced
him with expressions of interest, and left him in the holy keeping.
Sergius was accepted and rated a neophyte, the vanity of the Byzantine
clergy scorning thought of excellence in a Russian provincial. He
entered upon the life, however, with humility and zeal, governed by a
friendly caution from the Princess.
"Remember," she said to him, as they paused on the patriarchal
doorsteps for permission to enter, "remember Father Hilarion is
regarded here as a heretic. The stake, imprisonment in darkness for
life, the lions in the Cynegion, punishment in some form of approved
cruelty awaits a follower of his by open avowal. Patience then; and
when endurance is tried most, and you feel it must break, come to me at
Therapia. Only hold yourself in readiness, by reading and thought, to
speak for our Christian faith unsullied by human inventions, and bide
my signal."
And so did he observe everything and venture nothing that presently he
was on the road to high favor.