AN EMBASSY TO THE PRINCESS IRENE
When the Princess Irene returned to Therapia next day, she found
awaiting her the Dean of the Court, an official of great importance to
whom the settlement of questions pertinent to rank was confided. The
state barge of fifteen oars in which he arrived was moored to the
marbles of the quay in front of her palace, a handsomely ornamented
vessel scarcely needing its richly liveried rowers to draw about it the
curious and idle of the town in staring groups. At sight of it, the
Princess knew there was a message for her from the Emperor. She lost no
time in notifying the Dean of her readiness to receive him. The
interview took place in the reception room.
The Dean was a venerable man who, having served acceptably through the
preceding reign, was immensely discreet, and thoroughly indurate with
formalism and ceremony; wherefore, passing his speech and manner, it is
better worth the while to give, briefly as may be, the substance of the
communication he brought to the Princess.
He was sure she remembered all the circumstances of the coronation of
His Majesty, the Emperor, and of His Majesty's entry into
Constantinople; he was not so certain, however, of her information
touching some matters distinguishable as domestic rather than
administrative. Or she might know of them, but not reliably. Thus she
might not have heard authentically that, immediately upon his becoming
settled in the imperial seat, His Majesty decided it of first
importance to proceed to the selection of a spouse.
The Dean then expatiated on the difficulty of finding in all the world
a woman suitable for the incomparable honor. So many points entered
into the consideration--age, appearance, rank, education, religion,
dowry, politics--upon each of which he dwelt with the gravity of a
philosopher, the assurance of a favorite, and the garrulity of age.
Having at length presented the problem, and, he thought, sufficiently
impressed the Princess with its unexampled intricacies and perils, he
next unfolded the several things resolved upon and attempted in the way
of solution.
Every royal house in the West had been searched for its marriageable
females. At one time a daughter of the Doge of Venice was nearly
chosen. Unfortunately there were influential Greeks of greater pride
than judgment to object to the Doge. He was merely an elective chief.
He might die the very day after celebrating the espousals, and
then--not even the ducal robes were inheritable. No, the flower to deck
the Byzantine throne was not in the West.
Thereupon the East was explored. For a time the election trembled
between a Princess of Trebizond and a Princess of Georgia. As usual the
court divided on the question, when, to quiet the factions, His Majesty
ordered Phranza, the Grand Chamberlain, a courtier of learning and
diplomatic experience, who held the Emperor's confidence in greater
degree than any other court official, unless it might be the Dean
himself, to go see the rivals personally, and report with
recommendation. The ambassador had been gone two years. From Georgia he
had travelled to Trebizond; still nothing definite. The embassy, having
been outfitted in a style to adequately impress the semi-barbarians,
was proving vastly expensive. His Majesty, with characteristic wisdom,
had determined to take the business in his own keeping. There were many
noble families in Constantinople. Why not seek a consort among them?
The scheme had advantages; not least, if a Byzantine could be found,
the Emperor would have the happiness of making the discovery and
conducting the negotiations himself--in common parlance, of doing his
own courting. There might be persons, the Dean facetiously remarked,
who preferred trusting the great affair of wife-choosing to
ambassadors, but he had never seen one of them.
The ground covered by the ancient in his statement is poorly
represented by these paragraphs, ample as they may seem to the reader.
Indeed, the sun was falling swiftly into the lap of night when he
thought of concluding. Meantime the Princess listened silently, her
patience sustained by wonder at what it all meant. The enlightenment at
last came.
"Now, my dear Princess," he said, lowering his voice, "you must know
"--he arose, and, as became one so endued with palace habits, peered
cautiously around.
"Be seated, my Lord," she said; "there are no eyes in my doors nor ears
in my walls."
"Oh, the matter is of importance--a state secret!" He drew the stool
nearer her.
"You must know, dear Princess, that the Grand Chamberlain, Phranza, has
been negligent and remiss in the time he has consumed, saying nothing
of his lavishment of treasure so badly needed at home. Notaras, the
Admiral, and the Grand Domestic, are both pursuing His Majesty
vigorously for funds and supplies; worse still, the Patriarch lets slip
no opportunity to bid him look at the furniture of the churches going
to ruin. The imperial conscience being tender in whatever pertains to
God and religion, he has little peace left for prayers. Wherefore,
there are of us who think it would be loyalty to help secure a bride
for His Majesty at home, and thus make an end to the wasteful and
inconclusive touring of Phranza."
The Dean drew yet nearer the Princess, and reduced his voice to a tone
slightly above a whisper.
"Now you must know further--I am the author and suggestor of the idea
of His Majesty's choosing an Empress from the many noble and beautiful
dames and maidens of this our ancient city of Byzantium, in every
respect the equals, and in many points mentionable the superiors of the
best foreigner possible of finding."
The Dean pursed his white-bearded mouth, and posed himself proudly; but
his auditor still holding her peace, he leaned forward further, and
whispered, "My dear Princess, I did more. I mentioned you to His
Majesty"--
The Princess started to her feet, whiter than whitest marble in the
Pentelic panelling of the room; yet in total misapprehension of her
feeling, the venerable intriguant went on without pause: "Yes, I
mentioned you to His Majesty, and to-morrow, Princess--to-morrow--he
will come here in person to see you, and urge his suit."
He dropped on his knees, and catching her hand, kissed it.
"O Princess, fairest and most worthy, suffer me first of all the court
to congratulate you on the superlative honor to which you will he
invited. And when you are in the exalted position, may I hope to be
remembered"--
He was not permitted to finish the petition. Withdrawing her hand with
decisive action, she bade him be silent or speak to her questions. And
he was silent through surprise.
In such manner she gained an interval for thought. The predicament, as
she saw it, was troublesome and unfortunate. Honor was intended her,
the highest in the imperial gift, and the offer was coming with never a
doubt of its instantaneous and grateful acceptance. Remembering her
obligations to the Emperor, her eyes filled with tears. She respected
and venerated him, yet could not be his Empress. The great title was
not a sufficient inducement. But how manage the rejection? She called
on the Virgin for help. Directly there was a way exposed. First, she
must save her benefactor from rejection; second, the Dean and the court
must never know of the course of the affair or its conclusion.
"Rise, my Lord," she said, kindly though with firmness. "The receiver
of great news, I thank you, and promise, if ever I attain the throne to
hold you in recollection. But now, so am I overwhelmed by the prospect,
I am not myself. Indeed, my Lord, would you increase my indebtedness to
its utmost limit, take every acknowledgment as said, and leave
me--leave me for preparation for the morrow's event. God, his Son and
angels only know the awfulness of my need of right direction and good
judgment."
He had the wit to see her agitation, and that it was wisest for him to
depart.
"I will go, Princess," he said, "and may the Holy Mother give you of
her wisdom also." She detained him at the door to ask: "Only tell me,
my Lord, did His Majesty send you with this notice?"
"His Majesty honored me with the message."
"At what hour will he come?"
"In the forenoon."
"Report, I pray you then, that my house will be at his service."