THE SINGING SHEIK
IT was about ten o'clock when the Emperor and Princess Irene appeared
on the portico, and, moving toward the northern side, wended slowly
through the labyrinth of flowers, palms, and shrubs. The courtiers and
dignitaries, upon their approach, received them in respectful silence,
standing in groups about the tables.
A chair, with arms, high back, and a canopy, looking not unlike a
sedilium, had been set in an open space. The reservation was further
marked by a table in front of the chair, and two broad-branched palm
trees, one on each side. Thither the Princess conducted the sovereign;
and when he was seated, at a signal from her, some chosen attendants
came bearing refreshments, cold meats, bread, fruits, and wines in
crystal flagons, which they placed on the table, and retiring a little
way, remained in waiting, while their mistress, on a stool at the left
of the board, did the honors.
The introduction of a queen into a palace is usually the signal for a
change of the existing domestic regime. Old placeholders go out; new
favorites come in; and not seldom the revolution reaches the highest
official circles of the government. The veterans of the suite, to some
of whom this bit of knowledge had come severely home, were very
watchful of the two superior personages. Had His Majesty really exposed
his intent to the Princess? Had he declared himself to her? Had she
accepted? The effect was to trebly sharpen the eyes past which the two
were required to go on their way to the reserved table.
Mention has been made of Phranza, the Grand Chamberlain, at the moment
absent on a diplomatic search for an imperial consort. Of all attaches
of the court, he was first in his master's regard; and the distinction,
it is but just to say, was due to his higher qualities and superior
character. The term _favorite_, as a definition of relationship between
a despot and a dependent, is historically cloudy; wherefore it is in
this instance of unfair application. Intimate or confidante is much
more exactly descriptive. But be that as it may, the good understanding
between the Emperor and his Grand Chamberlain was amply sufficient to
provoke the jealousy of many of the latter's colleagues, of whom Duke
Notaras, Grand Admiral, and the most powerful noble of the Empire, was
head and front. The scheme for the elevation of the Princess to the
throne originated with him, and was aimed malevolently at Phranza, of
whom he was envious, and Constantine, whom he hated on religious
grounds. Interest in the plot brought him to Therapia; yet he held
himself aloof, preferring the attitude of a spectator coldly polite to
that of an active partisan in the affair. He declined sitting at a
table, but took position between two of the columns whence the view of
the bay was best. There were numbers of the suite, however, who
discredited the motive with which he chose the place.
"See Notaras," said one of a group, whispering to friends drinking wine
a little way off. "The scene before him is charming, but is he charmed
with it as he appears?"
"There was an old demi-god with an eye in his forehead. Notaras' best
orb just now is in the back of his head. He may be looking at the bay;
he is really watching the portico"--such was the reply.
"Out! He cares nothing for us."
"Very true--we are not the Emperor."
"My Lord Duke is not happy to-day," was remarked in another coterie.
"Wait, my dear friend. The day is young."
"If this match should not be made after all"--
"He will know it first."
"Yes, nothing from the lovers, neither smile nor sigh, can escape him."
The Professor of Philosophy and his brother the Professor of Rhetoric
ate and drank together, illustrating the affinity of learning.
"Our Phranza is in danger," said the latter, nervously. "As thou art a
subscriber to the doctrine of the _Phaedon_, I wish we could disembody
our souls, if only for an hour."
"Oh, a singular wish! What wouldst thou?"
"Tell it not; but"--the voice dropped into a whisper--"I would despatch
mine in search of the wise Chamberlain to warn him of what is here in
practice."
"Ah, my brother, thou didst me the honor to read and approve my
treatise on the Philosophy of Conspiracy. Dost thou remember the
confounding elements given in the thesis?"
"Yes--Goodness is one."
"Under condition; that is, when the result is dependent upon a party of
virtuous disposition."
"I remember now."
"Well, we have the condition here."
"The Princess!"
"And therefore the Duke, not our Phranza, is in danger. She will
discomfit him."
"May Heaven dispose so!" And the Rhetorician almost immediately added,
"Observe thou. Notaras has established himself within easy hearing of
the two. He has actually invaded the space reserved for them."
"As if to confirm my forecast!"
Then the Philosopher raised a cup.
"To Phranza!"
"To Phranza!" the Rhetorician responded.
This episode hardly concluded when the Emperor's brother sauntered to
the Duke's side; and on the appearance of the Emperor and the Princess,
he exclaimed, enthusiastically:
"Come of it what may, my Lord, the damsel is comely, and I fear not to
compare her with the best of Trebizond or Georgia."
The Duke did not answer. Indeed, the lords were all intent upon exactly
the same subject. Whether there had been an overture and an acceptance,
or an overture and a declination, they believed the principals could
not conceal the result; a look, a gesture, or something in the manner
of one or both of them, would tell the tale to eyes of such practical
discernment. By the greater number the information would be treated as
news for discussion merely; a few had hopes or fears at stake; none of
them was so perilously involved as Notaras; in his view, failure meant
the promotion of Phranza, of all consequences, not excepting his own
loss of favor and prestige, the most intolerable.
On the other part, Constantine was not less concerned in misleading his
court. At the proper time he would give out that he had changed his
mind at the last moment; before engaging himself to the Princess, he
had concluded it best to wait and hear from Phranza. Accordingly, in
passing along the portico, he endeavored to look and behave like a
guest; he conversed in an ordinary tone; he suffered his hostess to
precede him; and, well seconded by her, he was installed in the state
chair, without an argument yes or no for the sharp reviewers. At the
table he appeared chiefly solicitous to appease an unusual hunger,
which he charged to the early morning air on the Bosphorus.
Notaras, whom nothing of incident, demeanor or remark escaped, began
very early to be apprehensive. Upon beholding his master's unlover-like
concession to appetite, he remarked sullenly, "Verily, either his
courage failed, and he did not submit a proposal, or she has rejected
him."
"My Lord Duke," the Emperor's brother replied, somewhat stung, "dost
thou believe it in woman to refuse such an honor?"
"Sir," the Duke retorted, "women who go about unveiled are above or
below judgment."
The Princess, in her place at the table, began there to recount her
adventure at the White Castle, but when far enough in the recital to
indicate its course the Emperor interrupted her.
"Stay, daughter," he said, gently. "The incident may prove of
international interest. If not objectionable to you, I should be
pleased to have some of my friends hear it." Then raising his voice, he
called out: "Notaras, and thou, my brother, come, stand here. Our fair
hostess had yesterday an astonishing experience with the Turks on the
other shore, and I have prevailed on her to narrate it." The two
responded to the invitation by drawing nearer the Emperor at his right
hand.
"Proceed now, daughter," the latter said.
"Daughter, daughter, indeed!" the Duke repeated to himself, and so
bitterly it may be doubted if his master's diplomacy availed to put him
at rest. The paternalism of the address was decisive--Phranza had won.
Then, presently overcoming her confusion, the Princess succeeded in
giving a simple but clear account of how she was driven to the Castle,
and of what befell her while there. When she finished, the entire suite
were standing about the table listening.
Twice she had been interrupted by the Emperor.
"A moment!" he said to her, while she was speaking of the Turkish
soldiery whose arrival at the ancient stronghold had been so nearly
simultaneous with her own. Then he addressed himself to the Grand
Domestic and the Admiral. "My Lords, in passing the Castle, on our way
up, you remember I bade the pilot take our ship near the shore there.
It seemed to me the garrison was showing unusually large, while the
flags on the donjon were strange, and the tents and horses around the
walls implied an army present. You remember?"
"And we have now, Sire, the justification of your superior wisdom," the
Grand Domestic replied, rising from a low salutation.
"I recall the circumstance, my Lords, to enjoin you not to suffer the
affair to slip attention when next we meet in council--I pray pardon,
daughter, for breaking the thread of your most interesting and
important narrative. I am prepared to listen further."
Then, after description of the Governor, and his reception of the
fugitives on the landing, His Majesty, with apologies, asked permission
to offer another inquiry.
"Of a truth, daughter, the picture thou hast given us under the title
of Governor beareth no likeness to him who hath heretofore responded to
that dignity. At various times I have had occasion to despatch
messengers to the commandant, and returning, they have reported him a
coarse, unrefined, brutish-looking person, of middle age and low rank;
and much I marvel to hear the freedom with which this person doth
pledge my august friend and ally, Sultan Amurath. My Lords, this will
furnish us an additional point of investigation. Obviously the Castle
is of military importance, requiring an old head full of experience to
keep it regardful of peace and clear understanding between the powers
plying the Bosphorus. We are always to be apprehensive of the fire
there is in young blood."
"With humility, Your Majesty," said the Grand Domestic, "I should like
to hear from the Princess, whose loveliness is now not more remarkable
than her courage and discretion, the evidence she has for the opinion
that the young man is really the Governor."
She was about to reply when Lysander, the old servant, elbowed himself
through the brilliant circle, and dropped his javelin noisily by her
chair.
"A stranger calling himself an Arab is at the gate," he said to her,
with the semblance of a salutation.
The simplicity of the ancient, his zeal in the performance of his
office, his obliviousness to the imperial presence, caused a ripple of
amusement.
"An Arab!" the Princess exclaimed, in momentary forgetfulness. "How
does the man appear?"
Lysander was in turn distraught; after a short delay, however, he
managed to answer: "His face is dark, almost black; his head is covered
with a great cloth of silk and gold; a gown hides him from neck to
heels; in his girdle there is a dagger. He has a lordly air, and does
not seem in the least afraid. In brief, my mistress, he looks as if he
might be king of all the camel drivers in the world."
The description was unexpectedly graphic; even the Emperor smiled,
while many of the train, presuming license from his amusement, laughed
aloud. In the midst of the merriment, the Princess, calmly, and with
scarce a change from her ordinary tone, proceeded to an explanation.
"Your Majesty," she said, "I am reminded of an invitation left with the
person whose identity was in discussion the instant of this
announcement. In the afternoon, while I was sojourning in the White
Castle, an Arab story-teller was presented to me under recommendation
of my courteous host. He was said to be of great professional renown in
the East, a Sheik travelling to Adrianople for the divertisement of the
Hanoum of the Sultan. In the desert they call him endearingly the
_Singing Sheik_. I was glad to have the hours assisted in their going,
and he did not disappoint me. So charmed was I by his tales and manner
of telling them, by his genius, that in taking my departure from what
proved a most agreeable retreat, and in acknowledging the hospitable
entertainment given me, I referred to the singer, and requested the
Governor to prevail on him to extend his journey here, in order to
favor me with another opportunity to hear him. Had I then known it was
in my Lord's purposes to visit me with such a company of most noble
gentlemen, or could I have even anticipated the honor, I should not
have appointed to-day for the audience with him. But he is in
attendance; and now, with full understanding of the circumstances, it
is for Your Majesty to pronounce upon his admission. Perhaps"--she
paused with a look of deprecation fairly divisible share and share
alike between the Emperor and the Lords around her--"perhaps time may
hang heavy with my guests this morning; if so, I shall hold myself
obliged to the Singing Sheik if he can help me entertain them."
Now, was there one present to attach a criticism to the favor extended
the Arab, he dismissed it summarily, wondering at her easy grace. The
Emperor no doubt shared the admiration with his suite; but concealing
it, he said, with an air of uncertainty, "Thy recommendation, daughter,
is high; and if I remain, verily, it will be with expectation wrought
up to a dangerous degree; yet having often heard of the power of the
strolling poets of whom this one is in probability an excellent
example, I confess I should be pleased to have thee admit him."
Of the Admiral, he then asked, "We were to set out in return about
noon, were we not?"
"About noon, Your Majesty."
"Well, the hour is hardly upon us. Let the man appear, daughter; only,
as thou lovest us, contrive that he keep to short recitals, which,
without holding us unwillingly, will yet suffice to give an idea of his
mind and methods. And keep thyself prepared for an announcement of our
departure, and when received, mistake it not for discontent with
thyself. Admit the Arab."