The Royal Pawn of Venice

by Mrs. Lawrence Turnbull

  XXVI

  The pageant had been brilliant, as one may read in the chronicles of thetime.

  Even the Queen of the Adriatic, in all her pride, could offer little tosurpass the splendor of this great esplanade by the sea where the reviewhad been held. The pavement of costly mosaic stretched along the coast,guarded by the lofty tower which jutted out upon the sea; while theother side of this unusual piazza was dominated by the famous Citadelwhich climbed the steep acclivity with intricate windings of crenellatedwalls, dotted with sentry towers where banners were floating. In thatclear atmosphere distance was not appreciable, and the castellatedslopes seemed to lead up to the highest peak of the Troodos, whosesnow-crowned summit flashed its crystal against the deep blue of theCyprian sky.

  The massive walls of modern Famagosta skirted the esplanade, and abovetheir mighty bulwark rose the domes and pinnacles of her palaces andchurches--a city of delight. There were strange monuments breaking thesky-line; there were statues and fountains gleaming in the sunlight;there were hedges of rose and myrtle outlining the terraced gardens onthe hill-slopes, where rioted all manner of fruits and bloom: back ofthem the vineyards of Varoschia--lemons, burning like topaz against thedark thatch of their glossy leaves, and near them the thin gray of theolive-trees, outlining with pale shadow the forests that spread to themountains.

  Vast vases of stone looked down from the heights in grotesqueshapes--serpents coiled, thrusting out their tongues tipped with rubies,with glaring emeralds for eyes: and below them, deep cut in the livingrock and blazoned so that one might read them from afar, the arms of thekingdom--as if sacred pythons, terrible and fierce, kept watch above theharbor for the honor of the realm.

  And far off, against that wonderful mountain background, a colossalmarble lion stood guard over the ruins of the city that slept upon thecoast below--with demoniac, fiery eyes of flashing jewels, strikingterror to the souls of mariners who might have wandered withsacrilegious feet among those crumbling tombs and temples in search ofburied treasure.

  For this buried city on the coast was the ancient city of Salamis, andfamed for her magnificence--the _Famagosta Vecchia_ which had furnishedmany a stately column and intricately wrought carving to enrich themodern city to which Janus had transferred the capital of his kingdom.Half-buried fragments of palaces and tombs and temples reached far alongthe coast, giving the touch of pathos and historic interest: and aboutthem swept the broken circles of the splendid aqueduct which, in thedays long past, had gathered the waters of the mountain streams tofurnish the countless fountains and cisterns of Salamis. Great palms hadsprung up in the fissures of the massive, grass-grown arches, and vinestrailed draperies of beauty over their decay--and so they stood, amonument to the past, challenging the dwellers of the modern city to alabor so needful for the public weal.

  The port was gay with trading ships and colors of many lands; but Mutiodi Costanzo studied it with frowning brows, noting only the absence ofhis own galleys of Cyprus, which lay, unmanned in the dock-yards byorder of King Janus the Second! And before them, where he turned hisgaze, still frowning, on the silver of the sea rode the galleys of thefleet of Venice--decked with the banners of San Marco and of Cyprus.

  Caterina, under her canopy, with all her court about her in fulleststate, had received the homage of the people, as she passed her forcesin review, her cheek tingling with honest pleasure at their enthusiasticgreeting. The little Prince had been beside her, crowing his delight atthe music, the motion, the noise, the color, in most unkingly fashion,quite unconscious that the storied jewel of his realm--the great rubythat Peter the Valiant had received as the tribute of a conqueredEastern city, glittering in the lace of his infant-cap, by way of royalinsignia--demanded a regal bearing.

  The presentation to the Mocenigo of the golden shield, richly inlaidwith the arms of Cyprus, had made a pretty scenic episode, quite worthyof dramatic Venice.

  For Mutio di Costanzo also, and for the Bernardini, there had beendemonstrations, as Dama Ecciva had foretold: but the Lady Margherita deIblin had noticed with uneasiness, that whereas it was a time when thepeople, high and low, should have assembled to testify their loyalty andaffection, the crowd was chiefly composed of burghers and peasants fromthe hamlets in city neighborhoods, and that many of the old Cypriannobles with their tenantry were conspicuously absent. And since thedeath of Janus, some of those who had formerly been in attendance atcourt, had rarely shown themselves there.

  Dama Margherita spoke of this afterwards to the Admiral, for he hadasked for some private conversation with her in her boudoir, when theceremonies should be over.

  "What mean these absences?" she asked, when they had bemoaned thesituation.

  "Venice is feared, not loved," he answered her.

  But she was unwilling to confess that she understood him, having a pridein her land and love for her Queen.

  "Pardon, your Excellency," she said, "we were speaking of Cyprus."

  He passed the interruption by as unworthy, being greatly in earnest.

  "And the Queen--a very lovely young woman--is a mere figurehead--a pawnto be moved at the discretion of the higher powers."

  "Then, my Lord, it should be seen to that she hath a Council competentto advise," the Lady Margherita retorted with ready indignation,"instead of a horde of traitors."

  Her voice took on a higher key in her excitement, and the Admiral laidhis hand lightly on her arm to quiet her.

  "Dear Dama Margherita," he said, "we have been in conference with HisExcellency the Signor Mocenigo--a very remarkable mind--and theProvveditore Vettore Soranzo; and the vacancies in Her Majesty's Councilhave been filled with men, whom may Heaven keep more loyal!--But _why_did not the Counts of the Chamber rise up in eager demonstration ofinterest to put their best men in those vacant seats? And why--are wequite safe to discuss it here?--_why_ did we--having her interests atheart--not dare to ask the great nobles whom we wished to reach, to takethose places?"

  "It is because of Janus, who hath been heedless and unfair?" she askedreflecting. "For verily the people love the Queen."

  "Let us not deceive ourselves out of our very loyalty. The citizens andthe nearer peasants hold her in love and reverence: but those of thelarger _casals_ and fiefs--the ancient nobles, have the power; and fewof these are in her court. I would it were otherwise."

  "It is something, your Excellency, to have won the love of the simplerfolk as no Queen of this land hath ever done before," the LadyMargherita said staunchly.

  "It is something, but not all," he answered; "the nobles are as much tobe taken into consideration as the poorer classes. It is not all," herepeated with emphasis. "One may win from sympathy--but one must rule akingdom by power. And the Queen--God help her!--is a charming child."

  "My Lord!"

  "A charming child--with a heart developed and matured like a saint; butwith a mind untrained to intrigue, unsuspicious of jealousies,unconscious of any injustice wrought by her husband, not apt tocomprehend, perhaps, any grievance of the nobles----"

  "May we not help her?" Dama Margherita interrupted eagerly. "She wouldgive back the fiefs if she knew that they had been misplaced--that anyright had been violated. And now--after these confiscations----"

  "Aye, there are more lands to satisfy their demands, it is true. But intheir pride they might refuse--let her not wonder at it, nor cease fromher courtesies. The nobles are rather sullen than overt in theirdiscontent. They do not want Venetian galleys in their waters--thoughthey must welcome them--nor to do homage to a Venetian for the gift oftheir own lands. And the restoration is less simple than was theconfiscation. For temporary lords have been created and these remain tobe reckoned with--even if the will were there."

  "I am sure, your Excellency, that the will would not be lacking if thismatter were understood; for Her Majesty is fair and generous, and eagerto do all her duty by her people. It is of them, and never of herself,that her heart is full."

  The old Knight looked at her with kindling eyes as he raised her
hand tohis lips with the gallantry of the time; yet retaining it in his own andpetting it in fatherly fashion, for she had been his daughter's friendfrom childhood.

  "Dear Margherita," he said with emotion, "it is well for our dear Queenthat thou art so loyal; and well for our distraught land that thoushouldst be near her." He kissed her hand again as he released it. "Ispoke but to try thee, my child. If there are those near her whom we maynot trust--it is not thou: I know that a de Iblin could not bedisloyal."

  "To try me--my Lord----! _Me!_"

  She had drawn away from him, wounded and disdainful, her voice thrillingwith anger.

  But he answered her quietly and sorrowfully. "Could I risk any hurt tothee, cara Dama Margherita, if duty of plainest speech were notimperative? I trust thee wholly--how else could I speak thus with thee?I have never for a moment doubted thee; yet one might doubt one's ownloyalty in this court of Cyprus--where, it is told me, there is a mostsubtle intriguer who seeketh to do thee harm."

  "So it be not those whose esteem is dear to me," she answered wearily,still smarting from the hurt, "what matters it?"

  "My child," he pleaded, "if it had not been needful, I should not havetold thee; nor told thee _thus_, but that I wished to see if anysuspicion of this had dawned upon thee. But thou, like the Queen, arttoo noble to soil thy soul with distrust. Yet, bethink thee, for hersake, if there be any within this circle--however fairly spoken--who maybe intriguing against thee, yet seeking in secret to disaffect the courtin favor of some other claimant."

  "Who brought your Excellency this tale?" she asked; "since all may notbe trusted?" Her tone was a challenge, and she moved towards the door toclose the interview, but the Admiral would not follow.

  "Put by thine indignation, Margherita," he answered patiently, "for Ihave told thee as I would tell my own Alicia, if danger threatened--ifsomewhat overclumsily it seemeth to a maiden's fancy. It was told me,in confidence, by one of judgment and most loyal honor, whose name I maynot reveal, and who besought me that I should warn thee--_thee,Margherita_--who knew thy loyalty staunch as his own."

  A slow, pale flush grew on the girl's proud cheek as she listened andher eyes took on a strange light.

  "What matters it, my Lord," she said again, "to me, if I have thy trustand--and--that of all men of honor! Forgive the temper of my house!" Shestretched out her hand to him.

  "So thou but know when to curb it," he answered smiling, "it is thystrength and our pride. And now--as to this other?"

  "My Lord, I do not know"--but she paused suddenly.

  "It is well," he said watching her, "for I may name no names--but thouart on thy guard. She was named to me as very fair--subtle--charming--ofan ancient house of Cyprus--_we have named no names_. Let no confidencesescape thee in her presence: but we have no knowledge yet of anytraitorous intent that might excuse her dismissal from Court; and if itbe but petty, personal jealousy"--again Margherita had flushedunwontedly--"for a mere jealousy, one may not insult a noble, ancienthouse. It is not known if her sympathy be with Naples, or withCarlotta."

  "Your Excellency shall know if aught be discovered that should be told,"Margherita promised. "But the matter is difficult."

  "As to Her Majesty," the Admiral continued lowering his voice stillfurther, "it hath been found needful to guard her interests, and theSignor Bernardini hath been named to the Council--a most excellentgentleman--if he were not of Venice. I would have had another of ourCyprian nobles, because of this jealousy of Venice. But they have keptthemselves so much from court that we have not seen their color; and wedare not trifle with them, for the time is critical."

  "Why not thou--Eccellentissimo?"

  "Nay; I may keep a wider outlook on the interests of the kingdom withoutthe Council. The city of Nikosia shall stand for her; the tradinginterests are to watch; the fleets must be re-manned; these intriguesmust be thwarted. I outside the court, and thou within, very closelywithin--as near to the heart of the Queen as she will let thee--we shallwork and help her, for her task is not light. She swore her oath ofoffice to me, and I to her gave mine, as solemnly--to help her with mylife. It is a heavy load for such tender hands to lift:--a question ifone may conquer wile with innocency--yet the strife is noble."

  "What may be done to help her?" Dama Margherita questioned,heavy-hearted. "What is my part? It is not only the scandal of watchingagainst intrigue."

  "That is no scandal to loyal service: and such her very trust andgoodness do demand. But there is more: out of thy fuller knowledge ofthe Cyprian temper--thy comprehension of their grievances--thy loyalCyprian pride--thy staunchness to the House of Lusignan--make thyselfcharming to these great Cyprian nobles; help the Queen to see the needof their conciliation, and stoop a little from thy loftiness to win itfor them. To two such women, the impossible is easy. I leave thee now."

  "Is there no more?" she asked.

  "Nay:--or it is a trifle. If they have found the court a littleover-dull, of late, blame them not over-much: the need for gayety andsplendor is in their blood--more than in ours of Sicily--more even thanin that of Venice--which hath greater gravity. I have spoken with Madamadi Thenouris and the Lady of the Bernardini; but Madama di Thenourishath better understanding of the Cyprian temper, its need ofexcitement--half barbaric--its impatience with a tone of gloom; thetourneys, the tennis, the hunt, all that bringeth life--let the court becharming again with jewels and color. Too great gravity is not wise."

  "Yet to-day, your Excellency, if there were no lack of brilliancy--howmany were not there to see!"

  "It is the beginning only," he said; "let it not be the end. Greatissues have been changed by such trifles."

  "Must there be no more than trifles?" she asked, detaining him,dissatisfied.

  He looked at her, uncertain whether it were wise to speak further.

  "Tell no one that they are trifles: but listen," he said. "It will take_strength_, and _patience_, and _wisdom_ and _cunning_ and _grace_ torule this people. Shall we ask all this of any woman?" He dwelt upon thewords with weighty enunciation.

  "Or of any _man_?" she answered, half-mocking at the demand. "And if hewere really a man, and not a god--and if one might choose one'sKing----"

  He shook his head slowly in response. "Our paragon might not be found inthe House of Lusignan, perchance. But surely he would not be a Louis ofSavoy--nor a Ferdinand of Naples--no more than a Carlotta. _Nor anyCyprian noble who hath eyes upon the Crown._"

  "Not this, also!" she cried, startled; "_not this!_"

  "So rumor hath it; but none is strong enough. It frets me not. I havebut told thee since thou art on guard."

  "Is there a remedy?" she asked despondent.

  "It is not hopeless. The Ministers must rule the land. We must chooseour men and bide our time. Our Queen, by her grace, shall win thepeople's hearts: and all may be well."

  "And the little Prince--under her training?--For she will teach him loveand justice. She hath vowed him to the service of his land."

  "Aye, he is our hope. We must guard her kingdom for him."

  Then suddenly his face flamed with wrath. "This Council of the Realmwere arch-traitors!" he said fiercely, "and to think that they escapeddeath!--Wresting power for their own ends--taking no concern for Cyprianinterests--they 'forget' the tribute which assures to Cyprus the supportof our Suzerain, and wait for Venice to come with careful inquiry to setsuch failures right! But what cared they whether the provisions of asolemn treaty were kept or broken? They had no thought of honor--theywanted power to overturn the throne--not to uphold it.--The masterfulmeanness of such creatures is beyond comprehension!"

  "It doth unman me!" he said apologetically to Margherita, after thisunusual outburst, for Mutio di Costanzo was a man of few words; then,

  "Madama di Thenouris is of our private council," he added, to herimmense relief, as he left her.