The members of Phranza's family were dining, as was their custom on
pleasant days, under the great fig tree in the garden; a favorite spot
with the chamberlain when allowed that privacy of life and domestic
retirement which were seldom enjoyed by one whose duty it was to show
the courtesies of the empire to ambassadors and distinguished visitors
from the ends of the earth.
"I would willingly exchange conditions with old Guerko, the gate
keeper, to-day," said Phranza, pushing from him the untasted viands.
"The gate-keeper of an empire has less liberty and rest."
"What new burden has the council put upon you, my lord?" said his
wife.
"Remember that your little prime minister will help you," interposed
Morsinia playfully.
Phranza glanced with a kindly but troubled look at her----
"The wheels of the public good grind up the hearts of individuals
remorselessly," continued the good man. "Here am I with a spouse as
fair as Juno; yet I must leave her for months, and maybe years, that I
may seek a spouse for the Emperor. I am to make a tour of all
Christian courts; sampling delicate bits of female loveliness, and
weighing paternal purses. But sacred policy takes the place of holy
matrimony among the great. An emperor and empress are not to be man
and wife, but only the welding points of two kingdoms, though their
hearts are burned and crushed in the nuptials. I had hoped that his
majesty would assert his sovereignty sufficiently to declare that, in
this matter, he would exercise the liberty which the commonest boor
possesses, and choose who should share his couch, and be the mother of
his children. But the very day after his escape from the mad monk, he
put the keeping of his royal heart into the hands of his ministers.
The shock of the attempt upon his life, or something else (glancing at
Morsinia), seems to have turned his head with fear for the succession.
So, to-morrow I sail to the Euxine to inspect the Circassian beauties,
who are said to bloom along its eastern shore. But my dear wife will
be consoled for my absence by the return of our nephew Alexis, who, I
learn from my letters, is already at Athens, having wearied of his
sojourn among the Italians, and will be with you before many days.
Heaven grant that he has not become tainted with the vices of the
Italians, which are even worse than those of the Byzantines. I trust
he will find his aunt's care, and the sisterly offices of our Albanian
daughter, more potently helpful than my counsel would have been."
The magnificent retinue, the splendid galleys, the untold treasures
scraped from the bottom of the imperial coffers, with which, on the
following day, the chamberlain sailed away through the Bosphorus to
the Euxine, were but poor compensation to his loving household for his
prolonged absence. Nor was his place adequately filled by Alexis with
his fine form and western elegance of manners. In one respect
Phranza's wish was met; for if the care of his aunt was not
appreciated by the young man, the sisterly offices of the fair
Albanian were.
Morsinia's respect for the absent Phranza led her to allow more
attention from Alexis than her heart, or even her judgment, would have
suggested. The young nobleman soon entangled himself in the web of her
unconscious fascination. It was not until with passionate ardor he
told his love, that Morsinia realized her fatal power over him. But
with a true woman's frankness and firmness, she endeavored to dispel
the illusion his ardent fancy had created.
"If I have not yet won you," cried the impetuous youth, "do not tell
me that my suit is hopeless. It was folly in me to dream that you
would see in me anything worthy of your love, so soon as your
transcendent beauty of face and soul made me feel that you were all
worthy of mine. Let me prove myself by months or years of devotion,
if you will. If I do not now merit your esteem, surely the charm of
daily looking upon you will make me better; the sweetness of your
spirit will change mine; then as you see in me some impression of your
own goodness, you will not scorn and repel me. I beg that you will
make of me what you will, and love me as you can. I am not harder than
the marble of which Pygmalion made the statue he loved. Mould me,
Morsinia!"
"It is not that you are not worthy of me, Alexis. The nephew of
Phranza need not humiliate himself at the feet of any king's daughter.
But--but--it may not be! It cannot be!" and, gently releasing the hand
she had allowed him to seize, she withdrew to her own chamber.
Alexis stood for a moment as if stupefied with his disappointment.
This feeling was followed by a chagrin, which showed itself in the
deep color mounting his haughty face. Then rage ensued, and he stamped
upon the ground as if crushing some helpless thing beneath his feet,
and muttered to himself:
"If not I, no man shall have her and live. Can it be that Albanian
Constantine? Who is that vagrant? that menial? that hell-headed
hireling who follows her? Angels and toads do not brood together; and
he is of no kin to her."