The Prince of India; Or, Why Constantinople Fell — Volume 01

by Lew Wallace

  CHAPTER XV

  DEPARTURE FROM THE WHITE CASTLE

  The storm continued till near daybreak. At sunrise the wind abated, andwas rapidly succeeded by a dead calm; about the same time the lastcloud disappeared, leaving the sky an azure wonder, and the shores ofthe Bosphorus far and near refreshed and purified.

  After breakfast, Mirza conducted the Prince of India to another privateaudience with Mahommed. As the conference had relation to the subjectsgone over in the night, the colloquy may be dispensed with, and onlythe conclusions given.

  Mahommed admitted he had not been able to sleep; in good spirits,however, he agreed, if the Prince were accountable for the wakefulness,he was to be forgiven, since he had fairly foretold it, and, like otherprophets, was entitled to immunity. The invitation to remain at theCastle was renewed, and again declined.

  Mahommed next conceded the expediency of his waiting to hear whatfurther the stars might say with respect to the great business beforehim, and voluntarily bound himself to passive conduct and silence; inassuagement of the impatience he knew would torment him, he insisted,however, upon establishing a line of couriers between his place ofresidence, wherever it might be, and the White Castle. Intelligencecould thus be safely transmitted him from Constantinople. Infurtherance of this object the Governor of the Castle would beinstructed to honor the requests of the Prince of India.

  Mahommed condescended next to approve the suggestion of a secret agencyin Constantinople. Respecting a person for the service, the delicacy ofwhich was conceded, he had reached the conclusion that there was no onesubject to his control so fitted in every respect as Mirza. Theselection of the Emir might prove troublesome since he was a favoritewith the Sultan; if investigations consequent on his continued absencewere instituted, there was danger of their resulting in disagreeableexposure; nevertheless the venture was worth the while, and as time wasimportant, the Emir should be sent off forthwith under instructions inharmony with the Prince's advice. Or more clearly, he was to betakehimself to Italy immediately, and thence to the Greek capital, anobleman amply provided with funds for his maintenance there inessential state and condition. His first duty when in the city shouldbe to devise communication with the White Castle, where connection withthe proposed line of couriers should be made for safe transmission ofhis own reports, and such intelligence as the Prince should from timeto time consider it advisable to forward.

  This of course contemplated recognition and concert between the Emirand the Prince. In token of his confidence in the latter, Mahommedwould constitute him the superior in cases of difference of opinion;though from his knowledge of Mirza's romantic affection acquired inMecca and on the road thither, he had little apprehension of such adifference.

  Mahommed and the Prince were alike well satisfied with the conclusionsbetween them, and their leave-taking at the end of the audience wasmarked with a degree of affection approaching that of father and son.

  About mid-afternoon the Prince and Sergius sallied from the Castle toobserve the water, and finding it quiet, they determined to embark.

  The formalities of reception in the Castle were not less rigidlyobserved at the departure. In care of the eunuch the Princess and Laeldescended to the hall of entrance where they were received by thesupposed Governor, who was in armor thoroughly cleansed of dust andskilfully furbished. His manner was even more gallant and dignified. Heoffered his hand to assist the Princess to seat in the chair, and upontaking it she glanced furtively at his face, but the light was tooscant for a distinct view.

  In the Castle and out there were no spectators.

  Passing the gate, the Princess bethought her of the story-teller, andlooked for him well as she could through the narrow windows. At thelanding, when the Governor had in silence, though with ease and grace,helped her from the carriage, the porters being withdrawn, sheproceeded to acknowledgments.

  "I am sorry," she said, through her veil, "that I must depart withoutknowing the name or rank of my host."

  "Had I greater rank. O Princess," he returned, gravely. "I should havepleasure in introducing myself; for then there would be a hope that myname supported by a title of dignity, would not be erased from yourmemory by the gayeties of the city to which you are going. The WhiteCastle is a command suitable to one of humble grade, and to be salutedGovernor, because I am charged with its keeping, satisfies my pride forthe present. It is a convenient title, moreover, should you ever againhonor me with a thought or a word."

  "I submit perforce," she said. "Yet, Sir Governor, your name would havesaved me from the wonder of my kinsman, if not his open question, when,as I am bound to, I tell him of the fair treatment and high courtesyyou have shown me and my friends here while in refuge in your Castlewalls. He knows it natural for the recipient of bounty to learn who thegiver is, with name and history; but how amazed and displeased he willbe when I barely describe your entertainment. Indeed, I fear he willthink me guilty of over description or condemn me for ingratitude."

  She saw the blood color his face, and noticed the air of sincerity withwhich he replied. "Princess, if payment for what you have received atmy hands were worthy a thought, I should say now, and all my daysthrough, down to the very latest, that to have heard you speak sograciously is an overprice out of computation."

  The veil hid her responsive blush; for there was something in his voiceand manner, possibly the earnestness marking them, which lifted thewords out of the commonplace and formal. She could not but see how muchmore he left implied than actually expressed. For relief, she turned toanother subject.

  "If I may allude to a part of your generous attention, Sir Governor,distinguishing it from the whole, I should like to admit the pleasurehad from the recitation of the Arabian story-teller. I will not ask hisname; still it must be a great happiness to traverse the world withwelcome everywhere, and everywhere and all the time accompanied andinspired by a mind stored with themes and examples beautiful as thehistory of El Hatim."

  A light singularly bright shone in the Governor's eyes, significant ofa happy idea, and with more haste than he had yet evinced, he replied:

  "O Princess, the name of the Arab is Aboo-Obeidah; in the desert theycall him the Singing Sheik, and among Moslems, city bred and tent bornalike, he is great and beloved. Such is his sanctity that all doors heknocks at open to him, even those of harems zealously guarded. When hearrives at Adrianople, in his first day there he will be conducted tothe Hanoum of the Sultan, and at her signal the ladies of the householdwill flock to hear him. Now, would it please you, I will prevail on himto delay his journey that he may visit you at your palace."

  "The adventure might distress him," she replied.

  "Say not so. In such a matter I dare represent and pledge him. Onlygive me where you would have him come, and the time, O Princess, and hewill be there, not a star in the sky more constant."

  "With my promise of good welcome to him then," she said, well pleased,"be my messenger, Sir Governor, and say in the morning day afterto-morrow at my palace by Therapia. And now thanks again, and farewell."

  So saying she held her hand to him, and he kissed it, and assisted herinto the boat.

  The adieux of the others, the Prince of India, Sergius and Lael, werebriefer. The Governor was polite to each of them; at the same time, hiseyes, refusing restraint, wandered to where the Princess sat looking athim with unveiled face.

  In the mouth of the river the boats were brought together, and, whiledrifting, she expressed the pleasure she had from the fortunate meetingwith the Prince; his presence, she doubted not, contributed greatly tothe good conclusion of what in its beginning seemed so unpromising.

  "Nor can I convey an idea of the confidence and comfortable feeling Iderived from the society of thy daughter," she added, speaking to thePrince, but looking at Lael. "She was courageous and sensible, and Icannot content myself until she is my guest at Therapia."

  "I would be greatly pleased," Lael said, modestly.

  "Will the Princess appoint a time?" the Wa
nderer asked.

  "To-morrow--or next week--at your convenience. These warm months aredelightful in the country by the water side. At Therapia, Prince--thouand thine. The blessing of the Saints go with you--farewell."

  Then though the boats kept on down toward Constantinople, theyseparated, and in good time the Prince of India and Lael were at home;while the Princess carried Sergius to her palace in the city. Next day,having provided him with the habit approved by metropolitan Greekpriests, she accompanied him to the patriarchal residence, introducedhim with expressions of interest, and left him in the holy keeping.

  Sergius was accepted and rated a neophyte, the vanity of the Byzantineclergy scorning thought of excellence in a Russian provincial. Heentered upon the life, however, with humility and zeal, governed by afriendly caution from the Princess.

  "Remember," she said to him, as they paused on the patriarchaldoorsteps for permission to enter, "remember Father Hilarion isregarded here as a heretic. The stake, imprisonment in darkness forlife, the lions in the Cynegion, punishment in some form of approvedcruelty awaits a follower of his by open avowal. Patience then; andwhen endurance is tried most, and you feel it must break, come to me atTherapia. Only hold yourself in readiness, by reading and thought, tospeak for our Christian faith unsullied by human inventions, and bidemy signal."

  And so did he observe everything and venture nothing that presently hewas on the road to high favor.