I
The private terrace of the Hotel Grand Bretagne, at Tangier, was shaded
by a great awning of red and green and yellow, and strewn with colored
mats, and plants in pots, and wicker chairs. It reached out from the
Kings apartments into the Garden of Palms, and was hidden by them on
two sides, and showed from the third the blue waters of the
Mediterranean and the great shadow of Gibraltar in the distance.
The Sultan of Morocco had given orders from Fez that the King of
Messina, in spite of his incognito, should be treated during his stay
in Tangier with the consideration due to his rank, so one-half of the
Hotel Grand Bretagne had been set aside for him and his suite, and two
soldiers of the Bashaw's Guard sat outside of his door with drawn
swords. They were answerable with their heads for the life and safety
of the Sultan's guest, and as they could speak no language but their
own, they made a visit to his Majesty more a matter of adventure than
of etiquette.
Niccolas, the King's majordomo, stepped out upon the terrace and swept
the Mediterranean with a field-glass for the third time since sunrise.
He lowered it, and turned doubtfully toward the two soldiers.
"The boat from Gibraltar--has she arrived yet?" he asked.
The two ebony figures shook their heads stiffly, as though they
resented this introduction of a foreign language, and continued to
shake their heads as the servant addressed the same question to them in
a succession of strange tongues.
"Well," said Colonel Erhaupt, briskly, as he followed Niccolas out upon
the terrace, "has the boat arrived? And the launch from the yacht," he
continued, "has it started for shore yet?"
The man pointed to where the yacht lay, a mile outside the harbor, and
handed him the glass.
"It is but just now leaving the ship's side," he said. "But I cannot
make out who comes in her. Ah, pardon," he added quickly, as he
pointed to a stout elderly gentleman who walked rapidly toward them
through the garden. "The Gibraltar boat must be in, sir. Here is
Baron Barrat coming up the path."
Colonel Erhaupt gave an exclamation of satisfaction, and waved his hand
to the newcomer in welcome.
"Go tell his Majesty," he said to the servant.