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diff --git a/21868-8.txt b/21868-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7b07ba9 --- /dev/null +++ b/21868-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9342 @@ +Project Gutenberg's French and Oriental Love in a Harem, by Mario Uchard + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: French and Oriental Love in a Harem + +Author: Mario Uchard + +Illustrator: Paul Avril + +Release Date: June 19, 2007 [EBook #21868] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRENCH AND ORIENTAL LOVE *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner, Ginirover and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + +_This Edition is Strictly Limited to +One Thousand Numbered Copies +for Mature Collectors of +Literary Curiosa +No. 899._ + + + + +_French and Oriental +Love in a Harem_ + +_by_ + +MARIO UCHARD + +_with Decorations by +Paul Avril_ + +[Illustration] + +_Privately Issued +by_ FALSTAFF PRESS +NEW YORK + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +_Château de Férouzat_, ..., 18... + + +No indeed, my dear Louis, I am neither dead nor ruined, nor have I +turned pirate, trappist, or rural guard, as you might imagine in order +to explain my silence these four months since I last appeared at your +illustrious studio. No, you witty giber, my fabulous heritage has not +taken wings! I am dwelling neither in China on the Blue River, nor in +Red Oceania, nor in White Lapland. My yacht, built of teak, still lies +in harbour, and is not swaying me over the vasty deep. It is no good +your spinning out laborious and far-fetched hyperboles on the subject of +my uncle's will: your ironical shafts all miss the mark. My uncle's will +surpasses the most astonishing feat of its kind ever accomplished by +notary's pen; and your poor imagination could not invent, or come +anywhere near inventing, such remarkable adventures as those into which +this registered document has led me. + +First of all, in order that your feeble intellect may be enabled to rise +to the level of the subject, I must give you some description of "the +Corsair," as you called him after you met him in Paris last winter; for +it is only by comprehending the peculiarities of his life and character +that you can ever hope to understand my adventures. + +Unfortunately, at this very point, a considerable difficulty arises, for +my uncle still remains and always will remain a sort of legendary +personage. Born at Marseilles, he was left an orphan at about the age of +fourteen, alone in the world with one little sister still in the cradle, +whom he brought up, and who subsequently became my mother: hence his +tender regard for me. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding the fact that we +two constituted the whole family, I only saw him during the intervals on +shore of his sea-faring life. Endowed with truly remarkable qualities +and with an energy that recognized no obstacles, he was the best fellow +in the world, as you must have observed for yourself; but certainly he +was also, from what I know of him, a most original character. I don't +believe that in the course of his eventful career, he ever did a single +act like other men, unless, may be, in the getting of children--yet even +these were only his "god-children." He has left fourteen in the +Department of Le Gard, scattered over the different estates on which he +lived by turns after he had quitted the East; and we may well believe he +would not have stopped short at that number, but that four months ago, +as he was returning from the South Pole, he happened to die of a +sunstroke, at the age of sixty-three. This last touch completes the +picture of his life. As to his history, all that is known of it is +confined to the following facts: + +At the age of twenty-two my uncle turned Turk, from political +conviction. This happened under the Bourbons. The character of his +services in Turkey during the contests between Mehemet Ali and the +Sultan was never very clear, and I fancy he was rather muddled about +them himself, for he served both these princes by turns with equal +courage and equal devotion. As it happened, he was on the side of +Ibrahim at the time that the latter defeated the Turks at the battle of +Konieh; but being carried away in that desperate charge which he himself +led, and which decided the victory, my unfortunate uncle suffered the +disgrace of falling wounded into the hands of the vanquished party. +Being a prisoner to Kurchid-Pasha, and his wound having soon healed, he +was expecting to be impaled, when, to his great joy, his punishment was +commuted to that of the galleys. There he remained three years without +succeeding in effecting his escape, when one fine day he found his +services in request just at the right time by the Sultan, who appointed +him Pasha, giving him a command in the Syrian wars. What circumstance +was it that cut short his political career? How was it that he obtained +from the Pope the title of Count of the Holy Empire? Nobody knows. + +All that is certain is that Barbassou-Pasha, tired of his honours and +having returned two years since to settle down in Provence, started off +one morning for Africa, on a ship that he had bought at Toulon. +Henceforth he devoted himself to the spice trade. + +It was after one of these voyages that he published his celebrated +ontological monograph upon the negro races, a work which created some +stir and gained for him a most flattering report from the Academy. + +These leading events of his Odyssey being known, the more private facts +and deeds of the life of Barbassou-Pasha are lost in obscurity. As for +his physical characteristics, you will remember the great Marseillais +six-foot high, with sinewy frame and muscles of steel; your mind's eye +can picture still the formidable, bearded face, the savage and terrible +eye, the rough voice, the complete type in short of "the pirate at his +ease," as you used to say, when laughing sometimes at his quiet humour. +After all, an easy-going soul, and the best of uncles! + +As for my own recollections, so far back as they go, the following is +all I have ever known of him. Being continually at sea, he had placed me +at school quite young. One year, while at his château at Férouzat, he +sent for me during the holidays. I was six years old, and saw him for +the first time. He held me up in his arms to examine my face and +features, then turning me gently round in the air, he felt my sides, +after which--satisfied, no doubt, as to my build--he put me down again +with great care, as if afraid of breaking me. + +"Kiss your aunt!" he said. + +I obeyed him. + +My aunt at that time was a very handsome young woman of twenty-two to +twenty-four, a brunette with great black, almond-shaped eyes, and fine +features on a perfect oval face. She placed me on her knees and covered +me with kisses, lavishing on me the most tender expressions, among which +she mingled words of a foreign language which sounded like music, so +sweet and harmonious was her voice. I conceived a great affection for +her. My uncle let me do just as I liked, and allowed no hindrances to be +put in my way. Thus it happened that at the end of my holidays I did not +want to return to school again, and should certainly have succeeded in +getting my way, if it had not been that Barbassou-Pasha's ship was +waiting for him at Toulon. + +You may imagine with what joy I returned to Férouzat the next year. My +uncle welcomed me with the same delight, and betook himself to the same +examination of my physical structure. When his anxieties were satisfied, +he said to me-- + +"Kiss your aunt!" + +I kissed my aunt: but, as I kissed her, I was rather surprised to find +her very much altered. She had become fair and pink-complexioned. A +certain firm and youthful plumpness, which suited her remarkably well, +gave her the appearance of a girl of eighteen. Being more bashful than +at our former interview, she tendered me her fresh cheeks with a blush. +I noticed also that her accent had undergone a modification, and now +very much resembled the accent of one of my school-fellows who was +Dutch. As I expressed my surprise at these changes, my uncle informed me +that they had just returned from Java. This explanation sufficed for me, +I did not ask any more questions, and henceforth I accustomed myself +every year to the various metamorphoses of my aunt. The metamorphosis +which pleased me the least was that which she contracted after a voyage +to Bourbon, from which she returned a mulattress, but without ceasing +still to be remarkably handsome. My uncle, it should be mentioned, was +always very good to her, and I have never known a happier household. + +Unfortunately Barbassou-Pasha, being engaged in important affairs, +stayed away three years, and when I returned to Férouzat, he kissed me +and received me by himself. When I asked after my aunt, he told me that +he was a widower. As this misfortune did not appear to affect him very +seriously, I made up my mind to treat it with the same indifference that +he did. + +Since that time I never saw any woman at the château, except once in an +isolated part of the park, where I met two shadowy beings, closely and +mysteriously veiled. They were taking a walk, accompanied by an old +fellow of singular aspect, clothed in a long robe with a _tarbouch_ on +his head, who greatly excited my curiosity. My uncle told me that this +was His Excellency, Mohammed-Azis, one of his friends at Constantinople, +whom he had taken in with his family after they had undergone +persecution at the hands of the Sultan. He lodged him in another little +château adjoining Férouzat, in order that they might be able to live +more comfortably in Turkish style: those young persons were two of his +daughters. + +After that year, I never again stayed in Provence: for my uncle, having +settled in China and Japan, was absent five years, and my only relations +with him were through his banker at Paris, with whom I enjoyed that +solid and unlimited credit which you envied so much, and of which I +availed myself with such easy grace and in such a superbly reckless +spirit. + +You remember that I received a few months ago a letter announcing this +sudden misfortune, and requesting my immediate presence at Férouzat, to +remove the seals and open the will: my poor uncle had died in Abyssinia. + +Well, the day after my arrival, I had only just got up, when Féraudet, +the notary, was announced. He came in, literally armed with documents. I +did not want to act like a greedy heir, but rather to put off for a few +days all the most material questions; my notary, however, informed me +that "there were certain clauses in the will which demanded an immediate +examination." My uncle had charged me, he said, with numerous trusts and +legacies "for the benefit of his god-children and of other parties +living a long distance off." All this was uttered in a mournful tone +suited to the occasion, and at the same time with the manner of a person +aware that he was the bearer of an extraordinary document, and preparing +me for its effect. Finally he opened the will, which was worded as +follows: + +"_Château de Férouzat_, ... 18.. + +"I, the undersigned, Claude-Anatole-Gratien Barbassou, Count of +Monteclaro, do hereby declare that I elect and designate as my universal +legatee and the sole inheritor of my property: of all my real and +personal estate, and all that I am entitled to of every description +soever, such as ..., &c.: my nephew Jérôme André de Peyrade, the son of +my sister: And I hereby command him to discharge the following legacies: + +"To my much-beloved wife and legitimate spouse, Lia Rachel Euphrosine +Ben-Lévy, milliner, of Constantinople, and dwelling there in the suburb +of Péra, First, a sum of four thousand five hundred francs, which I have +agreed by contract to pay her; Second, my house at Péra, in which she +dwells, with all the appendages and appurtenances thereof; and Third, a +sum of twelve thousand francs, to be distributed by her, as it may +please her, among the different children whom she has by me. + +"Likewise, to my much-beloved wife and legitimate spouse, Sophia +Eudoxia, Countess of Monteclaro (whose maiden name is De Cornalis), +dwelling at Corfu: First, a sum of five hundred thousand francs, which I +have agreed by contract to pay her; Second, the clock and the Dresden +china, which stand on my mantle-piece; Third, 'The Virgin,' by +Perugino, in my drawing-room at Férouzat. + +"Likewise, to my much-beloved wife and legitimate spouse, Marie Gretchen +Van Cloth, dwelling at Amsterdam: First, a sum of twenty thousand +francs, which I have agreed by contract to pay her; Second, a sum of +sixty thousand francs, to be distributed by her, as it may please her, +among the different children whom she has by me; Third, my +dinner-service in Delph, known as No. 3; Fourth, a barrel-organ, set +with four of Haydn's symphonies. + +"Likewise, to my much-beloved wife and legitimate spouse, Marie Louise +Antoinette Cora de La Pescade, dwelling at Les Grands Palmiers (Ile +Bourbon), my plantation upon which she lives, including the annexes of +Le Grand Morne. + +"Likewise, to my much-beloved wife and legitimate spouse, Anita Josepha +Christina de Postero, dwelling at Cadiz: First, a sum of twelve thousand +francs; which I have agreed by contract to pay her; Second, my pardon +for her little adventure with my lieutenant Jean Bonaffé." + + +If some very precise person should seek to insinuate his criticisms upon +my uncle's matrimonial principles, my reply would be that +Barbassou-Pasha was a Turk and a Mussulman, and that consequently he can +only be praised for having so faithfully obeyed the Laws of the +Prophet--laws which permitted him to indulge in all this hymeneal luxury +without in the least degree outraging the social proprieties--and for +having in this matter piously fulfilled a religious duty, which his +premature death alone, so far as we can judge, has hindered him from +accomplishing with greater fervour. I trust that the God of the Faithful +will at least give him credit for his efforts. + +Having said so much on behalf of a memory which is dear to me, and +having enumerated the chief clauses of the will, I may add in a few +words that, after the payment of my uncle's matrimonial donations, and +the various legacies to his "god-children," with those to his sailors in +addition, there remained for me about thirty-seven million francs. + +"But, these children of my uncle's?" said I. + +"Oh, sir! everything is in order! The Turkish law not recognising +marriages contracted abroad with unbelievers, excepting in the case of +certain prescribed formalities which your uncle happens to have +neglected to go through, it results that his will expresses his +deliberate intentions. Moreover, he had during his lifetime provided for +the future of all his people." + +I listened with admiration. + +"So much for the legal dispositions of the will, sir," said the notary, +when he had finished reading it out. + +"Now I have a sealed letter to hand to you, which your uncle charged me +to give after his death to you alone. I was instructed in the case of +your death preceding his, to destroy it without acquainting myself with +its purport. You will understand, therefore, that I know nothing of its +contents, which are for you only to read. Have the kindness, please, to +sign this receipt, declaring that you find the seals unbroken, and that +I have left it in your possession." + +He presented a paper, which I read and signed. + +"Is that all?" I asked. + +"Not quite, sir," he replied, as he took another package out of his +pocket. "Here is a document similarly sealed which was addressed to me. +I was only to open it in the case of your uncle's will becoming null and +void through your death preceding his. This document, he told me, would +then give effect to his final wishes. Your presence being duly +established, my formal written instructions are to burn this document, +now rendered useless and purposeless, before your eyes." + +Again he made me attest that the seals were untampered with, and taking +up a candle from the writing-table and lighting it, he forthwith +committed to the flames this secret document the provisions of which we +were not to know. He then departed. + +When left alone, and still affected by these lively recollections of my +poor uncle, I began to think of the letter which the notary had left +with me. I divined some mystery in it, and had a vague presentiment that +it would contain a decree of my destiny. This last message from him, +coming as it were from the tomb, revived in my heart the grief which had +hardly yet been allayed. At last, trembling all the while, I tore open +the envelope. These were its contents:-- + +"My Dear Boy, + +"When you read this, I shall have done with this world. Please me by not +giving way too much to your grief, and act like a man! You know my ideas +about death: I have never allowed myself to be prejudiced into regarding +it as an evil, convinced as I have been, that it is nothing but the +transition which leads us to a superior state of existence. Adopt this +view, and do not cry over me like a child. I have lived my life; now it +is your turn. My desire is, that this old friend of yours should be +cherished in your memory: you shall join him with you in your happiness, +by believing that he takes part in it. + +"Now let us have a talk. + +"I leave you all my property, desiring to create no business +complications for you: my will is drawn up in proper form, and you will +enter into possession of your inheritance, which, you may rest assured, +is a pretty handsome one. There is, however, one last wish of mine for +the fulfilment of which I rely simply upon your affection, feeling sure +that between us there is no need of more complicated provisions for +ensuring its execution. + +"I have a daughter, who has always shared with you my dearest +affections. If I have kept this second paternity a secret from you, I +have done so because circumstances might occur which would render +useless the revelation which I am now approaching. My daughter had a +legal father who had the right to reclaim her when sixteen years of age; +she is free now, her legal father is dead, she will soon be seventeen, +and I entrust her to your charge. Her name is Anna Campbell, she lives +at Paris at the Convent of Les Oiseaux, where she is completing her +education. Her only relation is an aunt, her mother's sister, Madame +Saulnier by name, who lives at No. 20, Rue Barbet de Jony. It will be a +sufficient introduction for you to call on this lady and tell her your +name. She is aware that I have appointed you moral guardian to my +daughter, and that it is you who will take my place. In short, she knows +_all my intentions_. + +"I underline these words, for they sum up my fondest aspirations. I have +brought up Anna with the view of making her your wife, and thus dividing +my fortune between you; and I rely upon you to carry out this +arrangement. If marriage is for a man but a small matter, it is for a +woman the most serious event in life. With you, I am confident that the +dear girl will never be unhappy, and that is the thing of most +importance. If I never return from this last voyage, you will have +plenty of time to enjoy your bachelor's life; but I count upon your +friendship to render me this little service by marrying her when the +right time arrives. At present she is scarcely full-grown, and I think +it will be best for you to wait one or two years. I can assure you her +mother had a fine figure. You will find their portraits in one of the +velvet frames in the drawer of my desk. (Don't make a mistake: it is the +one numbered 9.) + +"Now that this matter is settled, it only remains for me to give you one +last injunction. If Férandet has followed my instructions, as I suppose, +he will have burnt a paper in your presence. This was a second will, by +which my daughter Anna Campbell would have been appointed my universal +legatee, had you not been living. So long as all happened in the right +order, you surviving me, you will understand I should not have wished to +complicate your affairs, by leaving you confronted with a lot of legal +formalities and intricacies. Such would be the consequence of a female +minor who is a foreigner inheriting jointly with you: this would have +plunged you into a veritable mire of technicalities, restrictions, +registrations, and goodness knows what. Nevertheless, it is necessary to +provide fully for the possibility of an accident arising to you before +your marriage with Anna. Our property would go in that case to +collaterals ... and God only knows from how many quarters of the world +these would not be forthcoming! As I wish my fortune to remain with my +children, it is indispensable that you should not forget to make +testamentary dispositions in favour of your cousin, so that the whole +property may go to her in the event of your death, without any more +dispute than there has been in your own case. I leave this matter in +your hands. You will find at my bankers all the indications of surnames, +Christian names, and descriptions which you will require to enumerate, +on the first page of my private ledger, where the account which was +opened for her commences, and yours also, forming a separate banking +account for you two. Madame Saulnier is accustomed to draw what is +required for her: therefore, until your marriage, it is unnecessary for +you to occupy yourself with this detail--all you have to do is to +confirm her credit. + +"Now that we have settled this matter, my dear boy, go ahead! I do not +need, I am sure, to remind you to think occasionally of your old uncle: +I know you well, and that satisfies me. I thank you for what you have +been to me, and bless you from the bottom of my heart! + +"Come, don't give way, old fellow: I am in Heaven, my soul is free and +rejoicing in the glories of the Infinite. Is there anything in this for +you to mourn over? Farewell." + + +After reading this letter, my dear Louis, need I tell you that I did the +contrary to what my poor uncle bade me, and that I gave way to my grief. +The tears streamed down my cheeks, my heart was breaking, and I could no +longer see this last word, "Farewell," as I pressed the letter to my +lips. + +Such a mixture of tenderness and elevation of tone, such touching +solicitude to console my grief, such boundless confidence in my love and +fidelity! I felt crushed with my grief, proud only to think that I was +worthy of the generosity with which this noble-hearted man was +overwhelming me, prodigal as a father in his kindness. It seemed to me +at that moment that I had never loved him enough, and the grief at his +loss mingled itself with something like remorse. As if he were able hear +me, I swore to him that I would live for the accomplishment of his +wishes: from the depths of my soul, indeed, I felt certain that he saw +me. + +When the flow of my tears had ceased, I did not want to tarry a moment +in the accomplishment of his last behests. I ran to his bed-chamber, +opened his desk, and found the two portraits. One, a valuable miniature, +represents a woman of twenty-five, the other is a photograph of Anna +Campbell at the age of fifteen. Although not so pretty as her mother, +perhaps, she has a charming childlike face; the poor little thing felt +uncomfortable, no doubt, when they made her sit, for her expression is +rather sulky and unnatural. Still she gives promise of being attractive +when she has passed the awkward age. I felt myself suddenly possessed by +a sentiment of affection for this unknown cousin, whose guardian I had +become and whose husband I am to be. Upon this cold picture I repeated +to my uncle the oath to obey his wishes; then, taking up a pen, I wrote +a will appointing Anna Campbell the universal legatee of all the +property which my uncle left us. + +But one part of my inheritance, the most remarkable and the least +expected, was at present unknown either to the notary or to myself. + + +I don't wish to make myself out better than I really am, my dear Louis: +I must declare, nevertheless, that in spite of the very natural +bewilderment which I felt on finding myself the owner of such a fortune, +my first thought, when once I had disposed of the legal matters, was to +pay a tribute of mournful regrets to the memory of my poor uncle. I +should have considered it base ingratitude, not to say impiety on my +part, to have shown myself too eager to enjoy the wealth bequeathed to +me by so generous a benefactor. His loss really left a cruel void in my +heart. I decided, therefore, at least to live a few months at Férouzat. +I wrote immediately to the aunt of Anna Campbell, to express my +resolution to fulfil the wishes of my second father, begging her to +dispose of my services in every way as those of a protector and friend +ready to respond to every appeal. Four days afterwards, I received from +her a most cordial and elegantly-worded letter. She assured me of her +confidence in all the good accounts which my uncle had given of me; and +she gave me news of my _fiancée_, "who for one who is still only a +child, promises already to develop into an accomplished woman." + +Having discharged these conventional duties, I shut myself up in my +retreat, and set to work. + +For me to say that my retirement was not more distracted than I would +have desired, might perhaps be called a dangerous assertion; but what +could I do? Was it not my duty to acquaint myself with all that my uncle +bequeathed to me? And the Lord knows what marvels my château of Férouzat +contained! Every day I made some fresh discovery in rooms full of +curious furniture and antiquities of all ages and of all countries. +Barbassou-Pasha was a born buyer of valuable objects, and the furniture +was crammed with rich draperies, hangings, costumes, and objects of art +or curios: my steward himself could not enumerate them all. + +But the most delightful of all these marvels is certainly +Kasre-el-Nouzha, my neighbouring property. Kasre-el-Nouzha was a +Turkish fancy of my uncle's. These three Arabic words correspond to the +Spanish Buen-Retiro; or, literally translated, they signify "Castle of +Pleasures." This was the retreat, separated only by a party-wall from +Férouzat, that was formerly inhabited by the exiled minister who had +fled from the persecutions of the Sultan. Picture to yourself, hidden in +a great park whose umbrageous foliage concealed it from view, a +delightful palace of the purest Oriental architecture, surrounded by +gardens, with flowering shrubs covered with a wealth of blossoms, +standing in the midst of green lawns, a sort of Vale of Tempé +transplanted, one might imagine, from the East. My uncle Barbassou, +conscientious architect that he was, had copied the plan from one of the +residences of the King of Kashmir. In the interior of the Kasre you +might fancy yourself in the house of some grandee of Stamboul or of +Bagdad. Luxuries, ornaments, furniture, and general domestic +arrangements, have all been studied with the taste of an artist and the +exactitude of an archæologist. At the same time European comforts are +gratefully mingled with Turkish simplicity. The silken tapestries of +Persia, the carpets of Smyrna with those harmonious hues which seem to +be borrowed from the sun, the capacious divans, the bath-rooms, and the +stores, all contribute in short to the completeness of an establishment, +suitable to a Pasha residing under the sky of Provence. A little door in +the park-wall gives access to this oasis. As you may guess, I passed +many an hour there, and I dreamt dreams of "The Thousand and One +Nights." + +All this time I had never interrupted my labours; for you need not +suppose that my nabob's fortune could make me forgetful of my +inclinations towards science. In the midst of my numerous follies, as +you know very well, and in spite of the distractions of the more or less +dissipated life which I have led up to my present happy age of +twenty-six, I have always preserved my love of study, which fills up +those hours of forced respite that even the pleasures of the world leave +to every man who is conscious of a brain. The Polytechnic School, and +the search for _x_, in which my uncle trained me, developed very +inquisitive instincts in me. I ended by acquiring a taste for +transcendental ideas. This taste is at least worth as much as that for +angling. For my part, I confess that I class among the molluscs men who, +being their own masters, content themselves with eating, drinking, and +sleeping, without performing any intellectual labour. This is why you +call me "the _savant_." + +I worked away, then, at my book with a veritable enthusiasm, and my +"Essay upon the Origin of Sensation" had extended to several long +chapters, when the critical event occurred which I have undertaken to +relate to you. + +I had lived thus all alone for two weeks. One evening, on my return from +Arles, where I had been spending a couple of days upon some business, I +was informed that His Excellency, Mohammed-Azis, the old friend of my +uncle, whom I remembered to have seen on one occasion, had arrived at +the château the evening before, not having heard of the death of +Barbassou-Pasha. I must admit that this news gave me at the time very +little pleasure; but in memory of my dear departed uncle, I could not +but give his friend the welcome he expected. I was told that His +Excellency had gone straight to his quarters at Kasre-el-Nouzha, where +he was accustomed to dwell. I hastened to send my respects to him, +begging him to let me know if he would receive me. He sent word that he +was at my disposition and waiting for me. I therefore set off at once to +call upon him. + +I found Mohammed-Azis on his door-step. Gravely and sadly he received me +with a salute, the respectful manner of which embarrassed me somewhat, +coming from a man of his age. He showed me into the drawing-room, in +each of the four corners of which bubbled a little fountain of perfumed +water, in small basins of alabaster garnished with flowers. He made me +sit down on the divan covered with a splendid silk material, and which, +very broad and very deep, and furnished with numerous cushions, extends +round the entire room. When seated, I commenced uttering a few phrases +of condolence, but he replied to me in Turkish. + +This mode of conversing had its difficulties, so he, seeing that I could +not understand him, started off into a _Sabir_ or Italianised French, +pronounced in an accent which I will not attempt to describe. + +"Povera Eccellenza Barbassou-Pacha!--finito--morto?" + +I replied in Italian, which he spoke indifferently well. We thus managed +to get along. + +I then related to him the accident which had brought about the death of +Barbassou, my uncle and his friend. He listened to me with a greatly +distressed air. + +"Dunque voi signor padrone?" he replied, uneasily; "voi heritare di +tutto?--ordinare?--commandare?"-- + +"Let me assure you, Your Excellency," I answered, "nothing that concerns +you will be changed by my uncle's death. I shall make it a point of +honour to fill his place exactly." + +He appeared satisfied with this reply, and breathed freely, like a man +relieved of a great burden. In another minute he asked me if I would +like to make the acquaintance of all his people. + +"I should be delighted, Your Excellency, if you would present me to your +family." + +He walked towards the door and summoned them by clapping his hands. + +I was expecting to see the wives or daughters of my host appear +according to Mussulman custom, covered up with their triple veils. An +exclamation of surprise escaped me when I saw four young persons enter, +dressed in beautiful Oriental costumes, their faces unveiled, and all +four endowed with such glorious beauty and youthful grace that I was, +for the moment, fairly dazzled. I took them for his daughters. + +Hesitating and bashful, they stopped a few steps from me. In my +bewilderment I could not find a word to say to them, until after their +father had said something to them, they came up to me, first one, then +another, and with shy graces and indescribable charms, each bowed and +saluted me with her hand to her forehead, then took my hand and kissed +it. + +I must admit that I completely lost my head. I don't know what I +stammered out. I believe I assured them that they and their father would +find me, in the absence of my uncle, their respectful and devoted +friend; but, as they did not understand a word of French, my speech was +lost upon them. However that may have been, after a minute or so they +were sitting with their legs crossed on the divan, and all I was anxious +about was to prolong my visit as much as possible. Mohammed told me +their charming names. These were, Kondjé-Gul, Hadidjé, Nazli, and +Zouhra. He, like a proud father, was not backward in praising their +beauty, and I joined in chorus with him, and certainly succeeded in +flattering him by my enthusiasm regarding them. + +Indeed, all four of them were of such striking beauty, and yet so +different in type, that you might have thought them grouped together in +order to form the most ravishing picture, their large dark eyes, sweet, +timid, and languishing like the gazelle's, with that Oriental expression +which we do not meet with in these climes; lips which disclosed pearly +teeth as they smiled; and complexions which have been preserved by the +veil from the sun's rays, and which--according to the ancient +simile--appeared really to be made up of lilies and roses. In those rich +costumes of silk or of Broussan gauze, with their harmonious colours, +revealing the forms of their hips and of their bosoms, they exhibited +attitudes and movements of feline lissomness and exotic grace, the +voluptuous languor of which can only be realised by those who have seen +it in Mussulman women. I imagined myself the hero of an Arabian story, +and mad fancies entered my brain. + +While I was endeavouring, for appearance's sake, to talk with their +father as well as I could, they, growing tamer by degrees, began to +whisper together--now and then came a little burst of laughter, in which +I seemed to detect some mischief. I playfully responded by holding up my +finger to let them know I guessed their thoughts, and again they burst +out laughing like sly children--this going on until, after half an hour +or so, quite a nice feeling of familiarity was established between us; +we talked by signs, and our eyes enabled us almost to dispense with the +laborious intervention of Mohammed's interpretations. Moreover, he +seemed delighted to see us frolicking in this way. + +In order to teach them my name I pronounced several times the word +"André." They understood and tried in their turn to make me say their +names. Hadidjé's was the occasion of much laughter, by reason of my +difficulty in articulating the guttural breathing. Seeing that I could +not manage it, she held me by both hands, her face almost touching mine, +and shouted "Hadidjé!" I repeated it, "Hadidjé!" This was charming and +intoxicating. I had to take the same lesson from each of them; but when +it came to the turn of Kondjé-Gul, it was a delirium of joy. By some +chance she let slip a word of Italian. I questioned her in this +language, and found she knew it pretty well. You may imagine my +delight! Immediately we overwhelmed each other with a torrent of +questions. Her sisters watched us with looks of amazement. + +At this moment a Greek servant came in, followed by two other women, +bringing in the dinner on trays, which they laid upon small low tables +of ebony inlaid with mother-of-pearl. + +Propriety and good breeding impelled me to take my leave after this very +long visit, and I prepared to do so. Upon this my young friends murmured +out a concert of confused words, in which I seemed to detect regret at +my departure. Fortunately His Excellency intervened by inviting me to +stay to dinner with them. + +Need I tell you that I accepted! + +I sat down on the carpet, as they did, with my legs crossed, and we +commenced a delicious banquet. Champagne was brought in for me, an +attention which I appreciated. My place was next to Nazli; on my left +was Kondjé-Gul, and opposite me, Hadidjé and Zouhra. I will not tell you +what dishes were served, my thoughts were set elsewhere. + +"How old art thou?" asked Kondjé-Gul, employing in her Italian, which +was tinctured with Roumanian, the Turkish form of address. + +"Twenty-six," said I, "and how old art thou?" + +"Oh, I shall soon be eighteen." This "thouing" of each other was +charming. She then told me the ages of the others. Hadidjé was the +eldest, she was nineteen: Nazli and Zouhra were between seventeen and +eighteen, the age of fresh maturity among the daughters of the East, +who ripen earlier than ours. Our gaiety and the prattle of their voices +went on without cessation; but as they were drinking nothing but water, +I said to Kondjé-Gul, thoughtlessly, + +"Won't you taste the wine of France?" + +At this proposition she gave such a scared little look that the others +asked her to explain what I had said. This caused a great excitement, +followed by a discussion in which the father took part. I was beginning +to fear that I had given offence to them, when His Excellency at last +said a few words which seemed to be decisive. Then Kondjé-Gul, blushing +all the while, and hesitating with divine gracefulness, took up my glass +and drank--first with a little grimace like a kitten trying strange +food, so droll and amusing was it; then, later on, with an air of +satisfaction so real that all of them burst out laughing. + +By Jove, I must say that at this frank abandonment I felt my heart beat +just as if her lips had touched my own in a kiss. Imagine what became of +me when Zouhra, Nazli, and Hadidjé held out their hands all at the same +time to claim my glass. They passed round the glass and drank, and I +after them, perturbed by emotions impossible to describe. This +unconstraint varied with bashful reserve, these fascinating scruples, +which they overcame one after another, fearing no doubt to offend me by +refusing things which they thought were French customs; all their little +ways in fact stimulated me, ravished me, and yet daunted me at times so +much that I dare no longer brave their looks--although the presence of +their father was a sufficient guarantee of the innocent character of +these familiarities. + +When the meal was over, the same Greek servants cleared the tables. +Night-time arrived and they lighted the chandeliers. Through the closed +shutters there came to us perfumes of myrtle and lilac. Cigarettes were +brought: Zouhra took one, lighted it, and after drawing a few mouthfuls, +offered it to me. I abandoned myself to their caprices. + +Now, Louis, can you picture your friend luxuriously reclining on +cushions, and surrounded by these four daughters of Mahomet's Paradise, +in their lovely sultana's costumes, frolicking and prattling, and all +four of them so beautiful that I don't know which I should have +presented with the apple if I had been Paris? I assure you, it required +an effort to convince myself that all this was real. After a little +while I noticed that Mohammed Azis was no longer present; but thanks to +Kondjé-Gul, who had quite become my interpreter, our conversation became +brisk and general. Hadidjé taught me a Turkish game which is played with +flowers, and which I won't try to describe to you, as I hardly +understood it. + +If I were to tell you all that happened that evening, I should be +relating a story of giddy madness and intoxication. I taught them in +return the game of "hunt the slipper;" you know it, don't you? We played +it as follows: there was a ribbon knotted at both ends, which we held, +sitting on the floor in a circle, and on which slips a ring, which one +of the players must seize in his hands. This, upon my word, finished me +up. What laughter, and what merry cries! Each of them, caught in her +turn, chose me of course as her mark. Every moment I found myself seized +and held prisoner in their naked, snowy arms. Upon my soul, it was +maddening! + +It was nearly midnight when His Excellency returned. I had lost all +reckoning of the time; now I felt I must really make off. While I was +getting ready and saying a few words to Kondjé-Gul, Mohammed Azis spoke +to Zouhra, Nazli, and Hadidjé. I fancied that he was questioning them, +and that they replied in the negative. Then he spoke at greater length +to Kondjé-Gul; he appeared to me to be pressing her to give him an +account of my conversation with her, and that the result did not please +him. I was annoyed with myself at the thought that, maybe, I had been +the cause of her being reprimanded. At last he certainly ordered them to +retire, for they came to me, one after the other, and each of them, as +on entering, bowed to me in a respectful manner, saluting me with her +hand to her forehead, and kissed my hand; after this they went out, +leaving me in a frame of mind disordered beyond description. + +I was just about to offer some apologies to Mahommed, and make my peace +with him before I left (for I feared that he might for the future place +obstacles in the way of similar evening performances), when he said to +me, with an anxious air, in that dialect of his which I translate, in +order to avoid reproducing the scene of the _mamamouchis_ in the +"Bourgeois Gentilhomme:" + +"May I be allowed to hope that your lordship is satisfied?" + +"Satisfied, Your Excellency?" I exclaimed, affectionately grasping his +hands; "why, I am delighted! You could not give me greater pleasure in +this world than by treating me exactly as you treated my uncle." + +"The young ladies, then, did not displease your lordship?" + +"Your daughters? Why, they are adorable! My only fear is lest I should +not find them reciprocate the sentiments which they inspire in me." + +"Ah! Then it is not because your lordship is displeased that you will +not remain here to-night?" added he, with an anxious look. + +"That I will not remain here?" I replied. "What do you mean?" + +"Why, Your Excellency has not expressed his will to any of them." + +"My will! What will, then, could I express to them?" + +"Considering that they belong to your lordship," he continued. + +"They belong to me? Who?" + +"Why, Kondjé-Gul, Zouhra, Hadidjé, Nazli." + +"They belong to me?" replied I, overcome with stupefaction. + +"Certainly," said Mahommed, looking as astonished as I did. "His +Excellency, Barbassou-Pasha, your uncle, whose eunuch I had the honour +of being, commanded me to purchase four maidens for his harem. Since he +is dead, and your lordship takes his place as master--I had supposed--" + +"Ah!!!" + +I won't attempt to render for you the full force of the exclamation to +which I gave vent. You may guess the feelings conveyed in it. In very +truth I thought I should go out of my senses this time. The dream of +"The Thousand and One Nights" was being realised in my waking hours! +This extraordinary and sumptuous palace was a harem, and this harem was +mine! These four Schéhérazades, whose glorious youthfulness and +fascinating charms had scorched me like fire, they were my slaves, and +only awaited a sign or token of my desire! + +Mohammed, incapable of conceiving my agitation, regarded me with a +pitiful, confused look, as if he anticipated some disgrace. At this +moment the old Greek woman brought him the keys: there were four. He +handed them to me. + +"Thank you," I said; "now you may leave me." + +He obeyed, saluted me without a word, and went out. + +As soon as I found myself alone, not intending to restrain my feelings +any more, I began to march about the drawing-room like a madman, and +gave free vent to the outburst of a joy which overwhelmed me. I picked +up from the carpet a ribbon dropped there by Kondjé-Gul, I pressed it to +my lips with avidity; next some scattered flowers, with which Hadidjé +and Zouhra had played. + +Louis, I hope you do not expect me to analyse for your benefit all the +extraordinary sensations which I experienced at that moment. The events +which befel me verged upon the supernatural--the supernatural cannot be +described--and I know not any legend, romance, or novel, relating to +this world, which has ever treated such an astounding situation as that +of which I was the hero. Those severe middle-class parents who give +their daughters, for New Year's presents, M. Galland's "Arabian Nights," +with illustrations of the amorous adventures of the Caliph of Bagdad, +would find such a romance as mine quite too "strong," simply because the +scene is not laid in Persia, or at Samarcand. Nevertheless, my story is +identical in character, and the most modest young lady might read it +without a frown, if only my name were Hassan instead of André. + + +Would you like to know everything that can agitate the mind of a mortal +in such a position as mine? Listen, then. + +When I had succeeded in reducing to some extent my exaltation of spirit, +when I had at last persuaded myself of the reality of this splendid +fairyland, I sat down with my elbows on the window-sill--I felt the need +of a little fresh air. It was just striking midnight. What were _they_ +doing? Were they thinking of me, I wondered, as much as I was thinking +of them? I began to examine the four keys which Mohammed had left me. +Each key had a tiny label, with a letter and a name on it--Nazli, +Zouhra, Hadidjé, or Kondjé-Gul. My eyes were still filled with their +beauty. Although far from artless, I felt embarrassed in spite of +myself, I might almost say shy. After the fascinations of this evening, +I knew that I was in love; I loved with a strange passion suddenly +developed; I loved to overflowing these beautiful beings, without being +able to separate one from another. So completely were they mingled in my +fancy, they might have possessed but one soul between them. By reason of +my certitude of equal possession, Kondjé-Gul, Hadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra +constituted in my imagination a single existence, exhaling its +unrivalled perfume of youth, beauty, and love. + +All this may appear absurd to you. I daresay you are right, but I am +only analysing for you an enchantment which still influences me like a +dream. While longing for the virginal delights which awaited me, my +tumultuous senses were plunged into certain apprehensions at once +anxious and sweet. How am I to explain it to you? Sultan though I have +been in my life, never before have I come in for such a delightful +windfall of pleasures, my heart having been generally occupied, as you +know, with much less worthy objects. All at once I was overwhelmed by +the idea that they had doubtless misunderstood the reserve which I had +affected in their company. According to their harem traditions, customs, +and laws, I was their legitimate master and husband: was it not quite +likely, then, that they believed me indifferent or even disdainful of +their charms? Troubled at this reflection, I was seized with a dreadful +pang of conscience. What could they suppose? Good heavens! Ought I to +wait till the next day to dissipate their doubts, and justify myself for +such strange coldness--coldness which may have seemed like +indifference? I had no sooner conceived this thought than my desire +concentrated itself upon one object, to see Kondjé-Gul again. + +I knew all the domestic arrangements of El Nouzha. In the centre of the +edifice is a vast circular hall, to which the daylight is admitted by a +cupola of ground glass, supported by pillars of white marble. Lamps +hanging between the pillars give out a mysterious light. Once arrived +there, I listened. All was silent. I found Kondjé-Gul's chamber, and +went close up to it. I listened again, with my ear to the door. An +indistinct rustling which I heard, apprized me that she was not yet in +bed. With key in hand, I still hesitated before opening. At last I made +up my mind. + +Picture to yourself a sweetly perfumed room, both rich and coquettish in +its arrangements, lined with Indian silk hangings of gay colours, and +illumined by the soft light of a small chandelier of three branches. In +front of a large glass Kondjé-Gul was seated, her long hair reaching +down to the floor. With her bare arms uplifted, and her head turned +backwards, she held in her hand a golden comb. Seeing me, she uttered a +little cry, got up with a bound, and blushing all the while, and fixing +upon me her great frightened eyes, she rested motionless and almost in a +tremble. Her agitation communicated itself to me. + +"Did I frighten you?" I commenced, trying to speak with a firm voice; +"and will you pardon me for coming in like this?" + +She did not answer a word, but lowered her eyes, a smile glanced +furtively over her lips, and then, with her hand on her bosom, she bowed +to me. + +"Kondjé-Gul! Dear Kondjé-Gul!" I exclaimed, touched to the depths of my +soul by this act of submission. + +And springing towards her, I took her in my arms to chase away her +fears; I kissed her brow, which she offered to me, pressing her face +against my bosom, with a lovely bashful look of alarm. + +"You have come, then!" she whispered. + +"Did you imagine I did not love you?" said I, as truly affected as she +was. + +At this question she raised her head with an inexpressible languor and +smiled again, looking into my eyes, and so close that our lips met. + +Louis, is it true that the ideal embraces the infinite, and that the +human soul soars into regions so sublime that the blisses of this world +below cannot satisfy it?... I did not want to quit the harem without +having also seen Hadidjé, Zouhra, and Nazli. Poor little dears, no doubt +they already fancied themselves disdained! I must dry up their tears. + +You will understand by this time the complications in my uncle's will +which have prevented me, these four months past, from finding a minute +to write to you. + +I will relate to you the incidents of this remarkable situation, of this +quadruple passion by which I am possessed to such an extent that I am +sincere in all my professions. You may tell me, if you like, from the +commonplace standpoint of your own limited experiences, that it is all +madness. I love, I adore, after the manner of a poet or a pagan--as you +like, in fact--but what does it all amount to? My uncle, who was a +Mussulman, leaves me his harem; what could I do? + +If it should happen that your work leaves you a little leisure, _don't_ +come to Férouzat; you understand? That's what we sultans are like! The +girls are dying to see Paris; very likely I shall turn up there one of +these days. + +I need hardly impress upon you, I suppose, the advisability of keeping +this letter most carefully from the eyes of your wife. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Madam, let me be very candid; I have a warm temperament, certainly--more +so, perhaps, than an ordinary Provençal. I will confess to even more +than this, if your grace so wills it, and I will not blush for it; but +pray condescend to believe that I am also a respecter of conventional +proprieties, and that I should feel most keenly the loss of your esteem +in this regard. Now, from a few words of satirical wit, concealed like +small serpents under the flowery condolences of your malicious letter, I +concluded that this miserable fellow Louis, abandoning all +considerations of delicacy, and at the risk of ruining my reputation, +had played me a most abominable trick, by reading out to you all the +nonsense which I wrote to him last week. You need not deny it! He +confesses it to-day, unblushingly, in the budget of news which he sends +me, adding that you "laughed over it." Good gracious! what can you have +thought of me? After such a story, I certainly could never again look +you in the face, but that I can clear myself by assuring you at once +that all this tale was nothing but a mystification, invented as a return +for some of his impertinent chaff regarding my uncle Barbassou's will. +Louis fell into the trap like any booby. But for him to have drawn you +with him, is enough to make me die of shame. + +Madam, I prefer now to make my confession. I am not the hero of a +romance of the Harem. I am a good young man, an advocate of morality and +propriety, notwithstanding the fact that you have often honoured me with +the title of "a regular original." Be so good as to believe, then, that +the most I have been guilty of is a too artless simplicity of character. +I did not suppose that Louis would show you this eccentric letter, for I +had expressly enjoined him to keep it from you. My only crime therefore +in all this matter has been that I forgot that a woman of your +intelligence would read everything, when she had the mind to do so, and +a husband like yours. + +In fact, madam, I hardly know why I have taken the trouble to excuse +myself with so much deliberation. I perceive that by such apologies I +run the risk of aggravating my mistake. What did I write, after all, but +a very commonplace specimen of those Arabian stories which girls such +as you have read continually in the winter evenings, under the eyes of +their delighted mothers? When I consider it, I begin to understand that +your laughter, if you did laugh, must have been at the feebleness of my +imagination--you compared it with the Palace of gold and the thousand +wives of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid.--But please remember, once more, +that I am a poor Provençal and not a Sultan. + + "My tastes are those of a simple bachelor." + +Observe moreover that, out of regard for probability, no less than from +respect for local colouring, I was obliged to decide upon a somewhat +simple harem, and to confine it within the strictly necessary limits. +Like a school-boy, falling in love with the heroine he has put into his +story, I found myself so charmed with my fancy, that in order to further +enjoy my pleasures of illusion, I determined not to overstep the limits +of a perfectly realisable adventure. + +But since I abandoned myself to this folly, does it not seem to you, +reconsidering the matter, that a great deal would have been lost if such +a romance had never occurred to me? And above all if it had stopped +short at the first page? Is it not astonishing that no author had +thought of writing such a thing before? Would not this have been just +the work for a moralist and a philosopher, worthy at once of a poet and +of a scholar? This poor world of ours, madam, moves in a narrow circle +of passions and sensations, so limited that it seems to me as if every +soul rather more lofty than the average must continually feel itself +imprisoned. What felicity it must be, by a single flight of the +imagination, to escape from this prison locked by prejudice! To fly away +into the regions of dreamland! Slave of our civilized conventions, what +bliss to run away unfettered into the shady paths of the pagan world, +peopled with its merry, enchanting nymphs! Or again to wander, like a +happy child of Asiatic climes in gardens of sycamores, where young +sultanas bathe and disport themselves in basins of porphyry. The Bois de +Boulogne is a charming place, no doubt, madam; but you will admit that +it is inferior to the Valley of Roses, and that the painted and +bedizened young women you see there will bear no comparison with my +houris. + +What, then? Does my thirst after the ideal merit any censure? Do not you +consider, you who read novels, that it would, on the contrary, be an +instructive as well as a curious study to follow up the strange +incidents which would necessarily result from such a very natural +conjunction of oriental love transferred to the midst of our own world? +What contrasts they would provoke, and what strange occurrences! Does +not the absence of such a study leave a void in our illustrious +literature? + +But I divine upon your lips a word which frightens me--"Immoral! +Immoral!" you say. + +Madam, this word shows me that you are strangely mistaken about my pure +intentions. You are a woman of considerable intelligence; let us +understand each other like philosophers or moralists. Suppose my name +to be Hassan. You would read without the least ruffle on your brow the +very simple narrative of my pretended amours, and if they were hindered +by any untoward obstacles, you would perhaps accord them a small tribute +of tears, such as you have doubtless shed over the misfortunes of poor +Namouna. The question of morality therefore, is in this case simply a +question of latitude, and the impropriety of my situation would +disappear at once if I inhabited the banks of the Bosphorus, or some +palace at Bagdad. + +Perhaps you take your stand upon the more elevated ground of +"sentiment?" Well, this is precisely the pyschological point of view +that I am about to discuss, madam. Yes, if it were only in order to +inquire whether the human soul freed from all constraint, is capable of +infinite expansion, like a liberated gas. To mix positive and +materialist science with etherialised sensualism, such is my object. A +simple passion, we all know what that is; but to adore four women at a +time--while so many honest folk are well content to love one only--this +seems to me a praiseworthy aspiration, fit to inspire the soul of a poet +who prides himself upon his gallantry, no less than the brain of a +philosopher in search of the vital elixir and the sources of sensation. +Such a study would, assuredly, be arduous and severe, and would at any +rate not be without glory, as you will admit, if it should happen to +terminate logically in the triumph of the sublime Christian love over +pagan or Mahometan polygamy. + +Again, madam, in reprimanding me for my poor little harem, do you mean +to preach against King David, or the seven hundred wives of Solomon? +Without going back to the biblical legends of these venerable +sovereigns, have you not read the classics? In what respect, may I ask, +is the poem of Don Juan more moral than my subject? And did good old +Lafontaine drop any of his artless probity, when he dipped his pen into +the Boccaccian inkpot? The morality of a given book, madam, depends +entirely upon the morality of its author, who respects himself first by +respecting his public, and who will not lead the latter into bad +company, not wishing to corrupt it with bad sentiments. + +It gives me pleasure to draw the picture of those ideal amours which +every warm-blooded youth of twenty has at one time or other cherished in +his thoughts; to substitute virginal charms and graces for vice and +harlotry--and after the manner of those charming heathen poets who have +so often filled our dreams with their fancies, to mingle the anacreontic +with the idyllic. Open any of your moral stories, madam, and I'll wager +my harem you will find that the interest in them is always kept up by +adultery, in thought or in deed, which has been erected into a social +institution! The same Minotaur has served for us since the time of +Menelaus. Adultery, adultery, always adultery! it is as inevitable as it +is monotonous! + +Do you prefer the novel of the day, on the lives and habits of +courtesans? revelations of the boudoir, where all is impure, venal, and +degrading? No, madam, I won't proceed any farther, out of respect alike +for you and for my pen. + +Possibly your taste inclines you to those moralist's studies of "Woman," +in which the author warns his readers on the first page that "he does +not speak for chaste ears." Madam, it is my boast that I have never +written a line which a virtuous woman might not read.... My book will +certainly lose thereby in the circulation which it will obtain; but I +shall console myself by the thought that if I sometimes cause you to +smile, that smile will never be accompanied by a blush. Being the nephew +of a Pasha, it struck me as a capital idea to lay the scene of a Turkish +romance in Provence, and to found upon it a study in psychology. Every +romance must be based upon love. Am I to be blamed, therefore, because +oriental customs prescribe for lovers different modes of love? Confess, +if you please, that my heroines are more poetic than the young women _à +la mode_, into whose company I had as much right as any other author to +conduct my hero if I had so chosen. I will excuse myself by saying, like +the simpleton De Chamfort, "Is it my fault if I love the women I do love +better than those I don't?" + +P.S. Above all things, not a word to Louis about the mystification of +which I am making him a victim. + + +You wretch! Here's a fine pickle you've got me into! What, after I +confided to you the extraordinary adventures which I have passed +through, relying upon your absolute secrecy and discretion, you go +straight off and read my letter to your wife, at the risk of bringing +upon me by your recklessness the most cruel gibes on the subject of my +pasha-ship! Can't you see that if this story gets wind, Paris will be +too hot a place for me? I shall become the butt of the Society journals +and the halfpenny press, who will treat me as a most eccentric and +romantic personage. Never more shall I be able to set foot in club, +theatre, or private drawing-room, without being followed by the stares +of the inquisitive and the quiet chaff of the ribald! I can picture +myself already in the Bois, with all the loafers in my train pointing +out "the man with the harem." Have you lost your senses, that you have +betrayed me in this abominable fashion? + +In all seriousness I now rely upon you to repair this blunder, by +accepting, in the eyes of your wife, the part of one mystified, which I +have made you assume. I wrote to her that not one word of this story is +true, and that it is a romance I have been composing in order to occupy +the leisure hours which I am forced to pass in the solitude of Férouzat, +while the business connected with my inheritance is being wound up. In +short, as I am positive that the first thing she will do will be to show +you her letter, I expect you, if your friendship is good for anything, +to pretend to believe it. Upon this condition only will I continue my +confidences; and I suspend them until you have given me your word of +honour to observe discretion. + +Having received your promise, Louis, I now resume my narrative at the +point where I broke off. Now you will see what you might have lost. + +Just one word by way of preface. + +I am relating to you, my dear friend, a story which is more especially +remarkable for the multitude of unaccustomed sensations with which it +abounds, and which I experience at every step--for my amourous +adventures, as you will agree, bear no resemblance to the ready-made +class of amours. It would really have been a great loss for the future +of psychology, if the hero of such adventures had not happened to be, as +I am, a philosopher capable of bringing to bear upon them powers of +correct analysis. + +First of all, if you wish really to understand the peculiarities of my +situation, you must banish from your mind all that you have ever known +of such amours as come within the reach of the poor Lovelaces of our +everyday world. Those uncertain, ephemeral connections of lovers and +mistresses whose only law is their caprice, and which mere caprice can +dissolve; those immoral and dubious ties whose permanence nothing can +guarantee, and in which one jostles one's rival of yesterday and of the +morrow--in all amours of this sort there is something precarious and +humiliating. With our habits and customs no secret, no mystery, is +possible; for however loving or beloved a woman may be, her beauty is +exposed to every eye. It is like the enjoyment of communal property. In +my harem, on the contrary, the charms of Zouhra, Nazli, and Kondjé-Gul, +concealed from all other eyes, have never excited any passions but mine; +my tranquil possession is undisturbed by the anxious jealousies which +recollections of a former rival always awaken. Nor is the future less +assured than the present, for their lives are my property; they are my +slaves, and I their master, in charge of their souls. So much for my +preface; now I will proceed. + +I will not disparage your powers of memory by reminding you that my +interesting narrative was broken off _au premier lendemain_--at the +first glimmer of our honeymoon. The complete bliss, the enchantment of +such moments, is certainly the most exquisite thing I have experienced. +First the timid blushes, then the growing boldness and the fresh +impression of first sensations--all this and more, mingled with the +contentment of entire possession. One gives oneself up entirely; all +barriers are broken down by love--participation in one tender secret has +already united the lovers' souls, which seek each other and mingle +together in a common existence. + +I had returned to the château before my people were up; after a bath I +slept again, and did not wake before noon. I breakfasted, and then +waited till two o'clock before returning to El-Nouzha. Too great a haste +would have seemed to indicate a want of delicacy, and I wished to show +that I was discreet as well as passionate; this time of day seemed +appropriate from both points of view. + +To describe to you the condition of my feelings would be about as easy, +you may imagine, as to describe a display of fireworks. There are +certain perturbations of the heart which defy analysis. The enchantment +which held me spell-bound, intoxicated my mind like fumes of haschisch, +and I could hardly recognise myself in this fairy-world character; it +required an effort on my part to assure myself of my own identity, and +that I was not misled by a dream. No, it was myself sure enough! Then I +remembered that I was going to see them again. My darlings were waiting +for me. No doubt they had already exchanged confidences. What kind of +reception should I have? My duties as Sultan were so new to me that I +trembled lest I should commit some mistake which would lower me in their +eyes; I was walking blindfold in this paradise of Mahomet, of whose laws +I was ignorant. Ought I to maintain the dignified bearing of a vizir, or +abandon myself to the tender attitudes of a lover? In my perplexities I +was almost tempted to send for Mohammed-Azis, to request of him a few +lessons in deportment as practised by the Perfect Pasha of the +Bosphorus; but perhaps he would disturb my happiness? As to introducing +a hierarchy into my harem, I would not hear of such a thing; for to tell +the truth, the choice of a favourite would be an impossibility for me. I +loved them all four with an equal devotion, and could not even bear the +thought of their being reduced to three without feeling the misery of an +unsatisfied love. + +At last the hour having arrived without my mind being decided, I wisely +determined to act as circumstances might dictate, and started off in the +direction of my harem. I think I have already told you that a small +door of which I alone possess the key, communicates between my park and +El-Nouzha. From this door a sort of labyrinth leads to the Kasre by a +single narrow alley, which one might take for a disused path. When I +reached the last turn in this alley which terminates in the open +gardens, I perceived under the verandah Mohammed-Azis, who seemed to be +watching me--he ran towards me with an eager and delighted appearance, +and _salem aleks_ without end. + +By his first words I gathered that he knew all. + +When I asked after them, he told me that I was expected; then all at +once I heard merry voices, followed by the noise of hurrying footsteps +mingled with rustlings of silk dresses. Soon I saw coming out under the +verandah, struggling together to be the first to reach me, Hadidjé, +Nazli, Kondjé-Gul and Zouhra; they threw themselves into my arms all +four at once, laughing like children, hugging me, and holding up their +rosy lips, each vying with the other for my first kiss. What laughter, +what merry, bird-like warbling of voices! And all this with the natural +abandonment of youth and simplicity--I was about to say innocence--so +much so that I was quite taken aback. But all of a sudden, at a word +from Mohammed, who was looking at us affectionately, and more and more +delighted every minute, they stopped quite confused. He had, no doubt, +reprimanded them for some breach of decorum, for they, slipping gently +aside, held their hands up to their foreheads. You may guess I soon cut +short these respectful formalities, by drawing them back into my +arms.... Whereupon renewed laughter and merriment ensued, accompanied +with little glances of triumph at poor Mohammed, who assumed a +scandalised expression, lifting up his hands as if to make Heaven a +witness that he was not responsible for this neglect of all Oriental +etiquette! After this scene, you will easily understand that I did not +trouble my head any more about the difficulties which I had anticipated +in my family duties. I had apprehended a very delicate situation, +aggravated by growing jealousies; by the susceptibilities of rivals, +offended airs, perhaps even the reproaches and tears of betrayed love. + +Five minutes later we were running about the gardens. Having only +arrived two days before, they had not yet been outside the harem. The +sight of their domain pleased them immensely, and their young voices +prattled away with a musical volubility fit to gladden the hearts of the +very birds. At each step they made some new discovery, some bed of +flowers, or some shady path at the bottom of which the sound of a +waterfall could be heard, carried off by sparkling brooks running on +beds of moss over the whole length of the park until they lost +themselves in the lake; over these brooks were placed at intervals +little foot-bridges painted in bright colours. All these things gave +rise to questions. Naturally Kondjé-Gul was always the interpreter; they +all listened, opening their eyes wide; then they started off again, +plucking flowers from the bushes, which they placed in their hair, in +their bosoms, and round their necks. In order to attract my admiration +for these adornments, each of them kept running up to me as if she +wanted a kiss. + +If you want to know the thoughts and feelings of a mortal under these +circumstances, I must confess that it is quite beyond my power to +explain them to you. I was bewildered, captivated, and surprised by such +novel sensations that without reflection or conscious analysis, I simply +abandoned myself to them. If you wish to understand them, my dear +fellow, you must first acquire some æsthetic notions which, artist +though you are, you do not yet possess; you must familiarise yourself +with these entirely exotic charms of the daughters of the East, their +youthful simplicity and ease combined with a certain voluptuous +_nonchalance_, the undulating movements of their hips acquired by the +habit of moving about in Oriental slippers, their lissom and feline +graces, and the overwhelming fascination of their languishing eyes. You +must see them in these strange picturesque costumes, so artistically +revealing their graceful forms, in wide silk trousers, tied round at the +ankles, and drawn in at the waist by a rich scarf of golden gauze: you +must see them in their jackets embroidered with pearls, and open bodices +of Broussan silk transparent as gauze; or in the long robe open in +front, the train of which they hold up by fastening it to the waist when +they want to walk about freely--all these things in soft well-toned +colours, blending wonderfully together. It was a dazzling scene of fresh +beauty and strange enchantment, such as I cannot attempt to describe. + +Once we arrived at the end of a ravine, where we were obliged to cross +the brook by stepping-stones set in its bed. Thereupon they cried out +with fright. I prevailed upon Zouhra, who seemed to be the bravest, to +cross holding my hand. Hadidjé followed her; but when it came to Nazli's +turn, the timid creature hung to my neck as if terrified by some great +danger; so I took her up in my arms and carried her across to the +opposite side. Kondjé-Gul, like a coquette that she is, followed her +example. + +"Oh! carry me too," she cried. + +As I was holding her over the brook, one of her slippers fell into the +water. You may guess how they laughed; there was Kondjé-Gul hopping +about on one foot while I was fishing out the little sandal, which I had +to dry in order to avoid wetting her soft green-silk stocking. + +It was one of the most charming spots in the park: a great carpet of +turf shaded by a clump of sycamores. We all sat down.... + +You have, doubtless, seen plenty of pictures on the subject of "Dreams +of Happiness." There is a delightful garden, at the bottom of which +stands the temple of Love; the figures, handsome young men and handsome +young women, are always found reclining. Well, if you exclude from such +a picture details somewhat too academic for Férouzat, you may see me on +the grass, enjoying the fresh air with my houris lying down around me, +in the charming abandoned attitudes of young nymphs who have never heard +of such a thing as stays, but display in bold relief the well-rounded +forms of their beautiful and lissom figures. + +I had passed my arm round Zouhra's neck; she, with a fond look, rested +her head against me, and Hadidjé imitated her on the other side. I began +to talk to Kondjé-Gul, the sole interpreter of my amours. You may guess +how curious I was to learn their thoughts. I questioned her about the +events of the morning, and what they had been saying to each other. +Directly she replied, I learnt that when they first got up there was, as +the result of their mutual confidences, a general astonishment. But +Mohammed explained everything, by telling them that "such is the custom +in the French harems." This explanation was sufficient for them. You may +be sure I did not contradict such a flattering assurance. + +"Well then, you like my country," I said to her; "and they are all +content that they have come here?" + +"Oh, yes!" she exclaimed, "especially since we saw you! Mohammed had led +us to believe that you were old. We feared we were about to enter upon a +dull and formal existence. So you may imagine how delighted we were when +you arrived, and he told us our master was you! At first we could not +believe it, but as he had let us appear unveiled, we were constrained to +admit that he had not deceived us. And then, when I heard you speak to +him--I understood all. Immediately I repeated to them your words, and +how that you found us handsome." + +"And so," I replied, "I may believe you really love me? And do _they_ +also?" + +She looked at me with an astonished air, as if this question conveyed no +meaning to her. + +"Why, of course; since you are kind, affectionate, and nice to us!" + +The others listened attentively without understanding a word; their +handsome eyes wandered from Kondjé-Gul to me, and from me to Kondjé-Gul, +with an indescribable expression of curiosity. + +"But _you_," she replied after a moment, "is it really true that you +mean always to love us all, one as much as another, as you have done +to-day?" + +"Certainly," I replied with assurance; "this is the custom in our +harems, as Mohammed told you. Does not that please you better?" + +"Oh, yes!" she exclaimed, "but we always thought that you Franks never +loved more than one woman." + +"That's what they keep saying in Turkey, to injure us, and out of +jealousy, because we do not ordinarily marry more than one wife, to whom +it is our duty to be faithful." + +"But--what happens then, when a man has four, as you have?" she +inquired. + +"We are equally faithful to all the four!" I replied, without wincing. + +"Oh, what happiness!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands with joy. + +And immediately, with the volubility of a bird, she began to talk to the +others, translating to them everything which we had just been saying. +They were all in transports of merriment. + +Louis, I won't proceed any further. I can guess the stupid reflections +which will occur to you on the subject of this very simple situation +which you, like one left behind, buried deep in the ruts of your absurd +prejudices, take the liberty of judging from afar. Yes, confess it +without reserve; you, moving in the limited sphere of your own feeble +experiences, are about to pronounce my amours eccentric. On the +fallacious ground that it is unnatural to love and be loved by four +women at a time, you, like any other miserable sceptic, are shocked by +the freedom of simple sentiments which you are unable to appreciate. +First, then, let me assure you that in their own minds none of them +conceived the slightest irregularity in their position. According to the +laws and customs of their country, they believed themselves to be my +wives by a tie as perfect and as legitimate in their eyes as that of +marriage in ours. They are my _cadines_, a position which creates for +them duties and rights defined by the Koran itself. + +Next, out of consideration for your poor intellect, let me inform you +also that under the blessed skies of Turkey the wife has no such +presumptuous ambition as that of possessing a husband all to herself. +Reared with a view to the harem, the young girl aims no higher in her +ambitious fancy than to become the favourite and outshine her rivals; +but never, never in the world, does she conceive the outlandish notion +of becoming the sole object of the affections of lover, master, or +husband. The ideal of girls like Zouhra, Nazli, Hadidjé, and Kondjé-Gul, +is the life which I am now giving them; they abandon themselves to it, +as to the realisation of their hopes. Their notions respecting the +destiny of woman do not go beyond this happiness, which they now +possess, of pleasing their master and being loved in this way by him. It +is no use, therefore, for you to string together a lot of conventional +abstractions with a view to drawing from them any deductions applicable +to the laws of the Kingdom of Love. + +The truth is that Hadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra burst into transports of +joy when Kondjé-Gul repeated to them my promise to be "faithful to all +four of them." + +My dear fellow, there is a great deal of the child remaining in these +creatures, who seem to have been only created to expand their beauty, as +flowers are to exhale their perfume. Cloistered in the life of the +harem, their ideas do not reach beyond the horizon of the harem. Their +hearts and their minds have only been cultivated by recitals of +wonderful legends and of superstitious romances of love; they know +nothing else. + +You may say, if you like, that they are just pretty little animals +without souls--but you would be wrong. Again I repeat, most of our +so-called refined and civilised ideas about sentiment, virtue, +propriety, and modesty, are conventional ideas, differing according to +place, climate, and habits; and this you will see clearly by following +my story, which I may with good reason call natural history, for when I +take the instincts of my little animals by surprise, they display for a +moment bold impulses which bear much more resemblance to genuine +innocence of mind than do certain affectations of modesty practised by +the young ladies of our educated society. + +The slipper being nearly dry, Kondjé-Gul put it on her little arched +foot, with its famous light green silk stocking, and we recommenced our +course through the park. I will say nothing about a row we took in a +boat on the lake, with great willows on its banks. The swans and the +Mandarin ducks followed us in procession. + +Mohammed, like a wise man, had foreseen that I should stay at the Kasre. +The dinner this time was served in the French style. He did not sit down +with us as he had done the day before; I had no longer need of him, and +he returned to the obscure position which he was henceforth to occupy +during my visits. I sat down to table, therefore, with my houris; and +this meal, in which everything was new to them, became a veritable +feast. They nibbled and tasted a bit of everything with exclamations of +surprise, with careful investigations, and with little gourmandish airs +of inexpressible charm. I should tell you that my cook only won their +unanimous approbation at dessert, when they commenced to make a sort of +second dinner of sweets and cakes, creams and fruit. The champagne +pleased them above all things, and would have ended by turning their +little heads, but for my careful attention. Whilst they vied with each +other in merriment and gay prattle, I was thinking of that oriental meal +of the night before in which I had seated myself by them in the reserved +attitude of a stranger. What a dream fulfilled! What fairy's wand had +produced this magical effect? I tell you it was a regular transformation +scene. At dessert Hadidjé bent her head down to me with a mischievous +look, and laughed as she spoke some Turkish word. + +"Sana yanarim!" I replied, emphasizing the sentence with a kiss on her +hand. I had learnt from Kondjé-Gul that it means "I love you," or more +literally, "I am burning for you." + +You may guess how successful this was, and with what shouts of joy it +was received. Of course there followed a little make-believe scene of +jealousy on the part of the others. + +"Kianet! ah, Kianet!" they repeated, laughing, and threatening me with +uplifted fingers. This expression signifies "ungrateful." + +When evening arrived I took them into the park to calm the warmth of +their emotions down a little. It was a splendid moonlight night, and the +long black shadows of the trees stretched over the walk. As we passed +these dark places the timid creatures pressed close about me. + +Ah! well, you don't expect me, I suppose, to tell you how this day was +concluded? Affairs of the harem, my dear fellow!--affairs of the harem! + +As to my other news, I hardly need tell you that nobody in this +neighbourhood has a suspicion of the secrets of El-Nouzha. In my +external life I conform to all the social requirements of my position. I +visit my uncle's old friends, Féraudet the notary, and the good old +vicar, who calls me the Providence of the place. Once a week I dine with +the doctor, Morand; who has a son, George Morand, an officer in the +Spahis, on leave for the present at Férouzat; and an orphan niece, a +young lady of nineteen, lively and sympathetic. She is engaged to her +cousin the captain, who is a regular _Africain_, a fire-eater you may +call him, but a good fellow in the full sense of that word--one of those +open natures made for devotion, like a Newfoundland dog, or a poodle. He +is both formidable and patient. Such is my friend! We were playmates as +children, and he would not brook the slightest insult to me in his +presence. He wonders very much at my anchorite's life, and in order to +divert me from it, endeavours to draw me into the hidden current of +rustic gallantries which he indulges in while awaiting the day of Hymen. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +In the detailed account which I gave you, my dear Louis, of my +honeymoon, I described pretty nearly the history of every day which has +passed since I last wrote. "Happy nations have no history," said a wise +man; happiness requires no description. First then, you must understand +that I am now writing after recovery from the natural excitement into +which my strange adventures had plunged me. Three months have passed; I +am now enjoying my life like a refined vizir, and no longer like a +simple troubadour of Provence, transported of a sudden into the Caliph's +harem. I have recovered my analytical composure. + +As you may well imagine I set to work, after the second day, to learn +Turkish, an easy task after my studies in Sanscrit. Add to this that, +with the aid of love, my houris have learnt French, with all the +marvellous facility and linguistic instinct of the Asiatic races. You +will not be astonished to learn, then, that I can now share with them +all the pleasures of conversation; a happy result which will permit me +henceforth to furnish a more complete description of their different +characters. + +Having said this, I will give you in the present letter, with a view of +enabling you to understand this narrative more perfectly, the most +precise details upon the following subjects: + +First--The organisation, laws, and internal regulations of my harem; + +Second--Full-length portraits of my odalisques, and a description of +their characters; + +Third--A careful dissertation upon the advantages of polygamy, and its +applicability to the moral regeneration of mankind. + +I will first confess, without any presumption, that the ingenious system +established for the conduct of my harem is all due to my uncle +Barbassou, who, as much as any man in the world, was always particularly +careful to maintain what the English term "respectability." In the eyes +of the whole neighbourhood, nay, even of my own household, Mohammed-Azis +is an exile, a person of high political rank, to whom my uncle had given +a hospitable retreat. + +Barbassou-Pasha always addressed him respectfully as "Your Excellency," +nor did any servant in the château speak in different terms of him. He +had had the misfortune to lose one of his daughters--so the story +goes--for he seems to have had originally five. Whether his daughters +are young or old, no one knows. In the interior of the Kasre all the +services are performed by Greek women, who do not know a word of French; +they never go out of doors. The gardeners have to leave the gardens at +nine o'clock in the morning. All these arrangements, as you will +perceive, are extremely correct. The story about Mohammed is a very +plausible one; his solemn and melancholy expression together with his +solitary life, are thoroughly in conformity with the fallen grandeur of +a minister in disgrace. He is writing, according to report, a memoir in +justification of his conduct. He works at it both day and night, and it +is well-known that I very often sit up quite late with him, in order to +assist him in this task. + +As for me, I do not suppose you imagine that, like the Knight Tannhauser +on the Venusberg, I am continually wasting my spirit and my strength +over what Heine calls "the sweets and dainties of love;" or that the +philtres of Circe have transformed me into a hog like the companions of +Ulysses.--Go gently, my dear fellow! I am a representative of the +learned cohort, please to remember! I keep a careful diary of my +observations, from which I intend to draw up a report for the Academy. +Like those bold investigators of pathological science who inoculate +themselves with a deadly virus in order to study its effects upon +themselves, I, a serious analytical student, am devoting myself to a +course of experiments in pure sensualism, to the sole profit of +Science. Without restrictions, but in full consciousness of the high +mission which I have undertaken; without cheating myself with too small +a dose of the intoxicating draught, I act like an honest Epicurean. I +take of the voluptuous delights of my harem as large a dose as an +intelligent and refined student of nature ought to require, but without +imprudently overstraining the springs of sensation. Armed with the +dexterity of superior wisdom, I, floating on this Oriental stream of +Love, know how to remain faithful to my charge, by avoiding the rocks of +satiety and the shipwreck of illusions. + +Every day then, about three o'clock, after having devoted the morning to +my business affairs or to my "Essays on Psychology," I go to El-Nouzha, +and stay there usually until the middle of the night. However, I +sometimes go there of a morning, for a bath; I am teaching my houris to +swim. I must tell you that in this matter, indispensable for the comfort +of the sultanas, Barbassou-Pasha designed a marvel. In the middle of an +island in the lake (which is taken from the delightful garden of +See-ma-Kouang, the famous Chinese poet), picture to yourself a great +marble basin surrounded by a circular arcade, a sort of _atrium_ open to +the sky. Under a colonnade and in its cool shade, a fine Manilla mat +covers the flag-stones. The base of the inner walls is enlivened with +frescoes, after Pompeian and Herculanean models. Round the white pillars +cling myrtles and climbing roses, reaching up to the terrace ornamented +with vases and statues, which stand out in relief against a mass of +purple drapery. Here are set capacious divans in leather, hammocks, +carpets, and cushions to recline upon. Such is the aspect of this +enchanting place. On many a hot morning we have breakfasted there, and +it is from there that I write to you to-day, dressed in a Persian robe +with wide sleeves, while around me sports my harem; affording me, +therefore, an excellent excuse for at once proceeding to sketch the +portraits of my _almées_. + +In all beings the internal character is so closely allied to the +external form, that it appears to be only an equation of the latter. +Thus certain features of the face announce peculiarities of nature, +inclinations, and instincts even to the vulgar; the physiologist, with +his more special knowledge, discovers quite a series of concealed +revelations in the innermost recesses of that pretty sphinx which +constitutes God's masterpiece, and which we call woman. In the same way +grace is always the result of the harmony of lines; from the slightest +outline, from the position of a dimple, or the tension of a smile, from +a glance, or from the most transient gesture, one can always trace the +origin of a feeling, and lay bare the mind. Thus, at this moment, I +behold Hadidjé leave the water, and saunter quietly in the direction of +Nazli and Zouhra, who are reclining on cushions and smoking cigarettes. +By the air of indifference that she affects I could wager that she +contemplates playing them some trick! + +And indeed, when close to the smokers, she suddenly shook her hair. The +two others jumped up under the spray of sparkling water, and ran after +her, beating her with their fans and fly-flaps. + +Kondjé-Gul, the heedless beauty, who is rocking herself in her hammock +beside me, scarcely raises her lazy head to follow them with a glance, +at the sound of their cries and laughter. Since her name is at the end +of my pen, I will begin my series of portraits with her. + +Kondjé-Gul is a Circassian by race. Her name in Turkish signifies a +variety of rose which we are not acquainted with in France; she was +brought when quite a child to Constantinople by her mother, attached to +the service of a cadine of the Sultan. She is now eighteen. Imagine the +Caucasian type in the flower of its beauty, tall, with the figure of a +young goddess, an expression of natural indolence which appears to +indicate a consciousness of her sovereign beauty, and a fine head +crowned with thick chestnut hair falling down to her waist. Her features +are clean cut, and of a remarkably pure type. Large brown eyes with +heavy eyelids, imparting a languishing expression; lips somewhat +sensual, which from her habit of carrying her head erect, she seems +always to be holding out for a kiss; a mixture of Greek beauty with a +strange sort of grace peculiar to this Tcherkessian race, which still +remains a trifle savage. All these characteristics make up an _ensemble_ +both exotic and marvellous, which I could no more describe to you than I +could explain the scent of the lily. Of a loving and tender nature, she +exhibits the disposition of a child in whom ardent impulses are united +with a profound gentleness of sentiment. She is the jealous one of my +household--but, hush! the others know nothing of this.... Certainly she +is the most remarkable and the most perfect of my little animals. + +Hadidjé is a Jewess of Samos, a Jewess of a type singularly rare among +the descendants of Israel. She is a blonde of a mingled tint, soft and +golden, of which the Veronese blonde will give you no idea. Her beauty +is undoubtedly one of those effects of selection and crossing admitted +as the foundation of Darwin's system.... England has left her trace +there! Picture to yourself one of those "Keepsake" girls escaped from +Byron's "Bride of Abydos" or his "Giaour;" take some such charming +creature, fair and fresh-complexioned, white and pink, and plunge her in +the atmosphere of the harem, which will orientalise her charms and give +her that--whatever it is--which characterises the undulating +fascinations of the sultanas. + + +My dear friend, an incredible event has happened--an event astounding, +unheard of, supernatural! Don't try to guess; you will never succeed, +_never!_ It surpasses the most prodigious and miraculous occurrence ever +imagined by human brain. + +Yesterday I had broken off my letter, distracted by Hadidjé, at the very +moment when I was tracing her portrait for you. The day passed away +before I again found leisure to finish it. This morning I was +breakfasting at the château all alone in my study, where I generally +have my meals, in order not to interrupt my work. While I was +ruminating over the last number of a scientific magazine, my ear was +struck by the noise of a carriage rolling over the gravel walk. As I +very seldom receive visits, and my friend George, the spahi, always +comes on foot, I thought it must be my notary coming to stir me up about +some business matters; he had been reproaching me the last fortnight for +neglecting them. The carriage stopped in front of the doorsteps. I heard +the servants running across the antichamber. Suddenly I heard a cry, +followed by confused voices, which sounded as though trembling with +fright, and finally fresh sounds of steps, rushing headlong, as in a +sudden rout. Wondering what this might mean, I listened, when all of a +sudden a stentorian voice shouted out these words:-- + +"But what's the matter with those blockheads? How much longer are they +going to leave me here with my bag?" + +Louis, imagine my amazement and stupefaction! I thought I recognised the +voice of my dead uncle, which in the brazen notes of a trumpet grew +louder and louder, adding in a pompous, commanding tone-- + +"François! if I catch you, you rascal, you'll soon know what for!" + +I jump up, run to the window, and see quite distinctly my uncle, +Barbassou Pasha himself. + +"Hullo! you here, my boy?" says he. + +As for me, I leap over the balcony, and fall into his arms; he lifts me +up from the ground, as if I were a child, and we embrace each other. You +may guess my emotion, my surprise, my transports of joy! The servants +watched us from a distance, frightened and not yet daring to approach +near. + +"Ah, well!" repeated my uncle; "what on earth's the matter with them? +Have I grown any horns?" + +"I will explain everything," I said; "come in, while they take up your +luggage." + +"All right!" he replied; "and get some breakfast for me, quick! I'm as +hungry as a wolf." + +All this was said with the dignity of a man who never allows himself to +be surprised at anything, and in that meridional accent, the ring of +which is sufficient to betray the origin of the man. My uncle speaks +seven languages; at Paris, as you know, he pronounces with the pure +accent of a Parisian, but directly he sets foot in Provence, that's all +over; he resumes his brogue, or as they call it down here, the _assent_. + +He came in, stepping briskly, and holding his head erect; I followed +him. Once in my study, and seeing the table laid, he sat down as +naturally as if he had just returned from a walk in the park, poured out +two large glasses of wine, which he swallowed one after the other with a +gulp of deep satisfaction; and then made a cut at a pie, which he +attacked in a serious manner, rendering it quite impossible to mistake +him for a spectre. I let him alone, still contemplating him with +amazement. When I considered him ready to answer my questions, I said-- + +"Well, uncle, where have you come from?" + +"Té! I come from Japan, you know very well," he answered, just as if he +were referring to the chief town of the department; "only I have dawdled +a bit on the way, which prevented me from writing to you." + +"And during the last five months what has happened to you?" + +"Pooh! I made an excursion into Abyssinia, in order to see the Negus, +who owed me two hundred thousand francs. He has not paid me, the scamp! +But how odd you do look! And that great _arleri_, François! how he +stares at me with his full round eyes, as if I were going to swallow him +up. Is there anything so very fierce about me? Hullo, you have altered +my livery!" he went on; "they all look like ecclesiastics; have you +taken orders, then?" + +"Why, uncle, these five months past we have been in mourning for you." + +"In mourning for _me_? You must be joking!" + +"These five months past we have believed you to be dead, and have +received all the documents proving your death!" + +"Perhaps these documents informed you that I was buried, then?" he +added, without changing countenance. + +"Why, yes, certainly!" I said. "We have also the certificate of your +interment!" + +At this my uncle Barbassou could restrain himself no longer, and was +seized with one of those fits of silent laughter which are peculiar to +him. + +"In this case--you would be my heir?" he said, in the middle of his +transport of gaiety, which hardly permitted him to speak. + +"I am already, my dear uncle," I replied, "and am in possession of all +your property!" + +This reply put the finishing touch to his hilarity, and he started off +again into such a fit of laughter that I was caught by it, and so was +François. + +But suddenly my uncle stopped, as if some reflection had crossed his +mind, and seizing my hand with a sudden impulse he said: + +"Ah! but now I think of it, my poor boy, you must have experienced a +severe blow of grief!" + +This was said with such frank simplicity, and proceeded so evidently +from a heart guiltless of any dissimulation, that I swear to you I was +stirred to the bottom of my soul; my eyes filled with tears, and I threw +myself on to his neck to thank him. + +"Well, well!" he said, patting me on the shoulder to calm me, while he +held me in his arm; "never mind, old fellow, now that I'm back again!" + +When breakfast was finished and the table cleared, we remained together +alone. + +"Come, uncle, as soon as you have explained to me what has happened to +lead to this story of your death, the next thing will be to take early +steps for your resuscitation." + +"Take steps!" he exclaimed, "and for why?" + +"Why, to re-establish your civil status and your rights of citizenship +as a live person." + +"Oh, they'll find out soon enough, when they see me, that I don't belong +to the other world!" said he, quite calmly. + +"Now that you are regarded as defunct, you will not be able to do +anything, to sign, to contract----" + +"So, so! Never mind all that. Barbassou-Gratien-Claude-Anatole doesn't +trouble himself about such trifles." + +"But your estates?" I said; "your property which I have inherited?" + +"Have you paid the registration fees?" he asked me, in a serious tone. + +"Certainly I have, uncle." + +"Well! Do you want to put me to double expense for the benefit of the +government, which will make you pay it all over again at my real death?" + +"What is it you mean to do, then?" said I. + +"You shall keep them! Now's your turn," he added, in a chaffing tone; +"all these forty years I have had the worry of them; it's your turn now, +young man! You shall manage them, and make them your business; it will +be for you now to pay my expenses and all that!" + +"I hope you don't dream of such a thing, my dear uncle!" I exclaimed. +"Why even, supposing that I continue to manage your property----" + +"Excuse me," he said, "_your_ property! It is yours, the fees having +been duly paid." + +"Well, _our_ property, if you like," I replied, with a laugh; "all the +same, I repeat you cannot remain smitten with civil death." + +"Bah! Bah! Political notions! But first explain to me how I come to be +dead--that puzzles me." + +I then related to him what I have told you of this strange story; the +notary's letter informing me of the cruel news brought by my uncle's +lieutenant Rabassu, confirmed by the most authentic documents, and +accompanied by a portfolio containing all his papers and letters, +securities in his name, and agreements signed by him; proving, in short, +an identity which it was impossible to dispute. + +"My papers!" he exclaimed. "They were not lost then?" + +"I have them all," I replied. + +"I begin to understand! It's all the fault of that stupid Lefébure." + +"Who is this Lefébure?" I asked. + +"I am going to tell you," replied my uncle; "the whole thing explains +itself and becomes clear.--But I wonder, did not Rabassu with the news +of my death bring some camels?" + +"Not a single camel, uncle." + +"That's odd! However, sit down, and I will tell you all about it." + +I sat down, and my uncle gave me the following narrative. I write it out +for you faithfully, my dear Louis; but what I cannot render for you, is +the inimitable tone of tranquillity in which he related it, just as if +he were describing a fête at a neighbouring village. + +"In returning from Japan," he said, "I must tell you that I put in at +Java. Of course I landed there. On the pier-head, I recognised Lefébure, +a sea-captain and an old friend of mine; he had given up navigation in +order to marry a mulattress there, who keeps a tobacco-shop. I said to +him 'Hullo, how are you?' He embraces me and answers that he is very +dull. 'Dull?' I reply, 'well, come along with me to Toulon for a few +days; my ship is in the harbour here, I will give you a berth in her, +and send you home next month by "The Belle-Virginie!" My proposal +delights him, but his answer is that it is impossible. 'Impossible? +Why?' 'Because I have a wife who would not hear of it!' 'We must see +about that,' I say to him. Well, we go to their shop; the wife makes a +scene, cries and screams, calling him all sorts of names, and they fight +over it. At last, while they are taking a moment's rest, I add that I +shall weigh anchor at six o'clock in the evening. 'I will wait for you +until five minutes past six,' I say; and then I go off to my business. +At six o'clock I weighed anchor, and began to tack about a bit. At 6:10 +I was off, when I saw a barque approaching. I gave the order 'Stop her.' +It was Lefébure, who was making signs to us to stop. He comes up, gets +on board, and off we go." + +Fifteen days after that we put in at Ceylon for a few hours. On the +twenty-sixth day, as we arrived in sight of Aden, we observed a good +deal of movement in the harbour. There was an English man-of-war +displaying an admiral's flag, which they were saluting. On shore I +learnt that she was carrying a Commission sent out to make some +diplomatic representations to the Negus of Abyssinia. And who should I +meet but Captain Picklock, one of my old friends whose acquaintance I +made at Calcutta, where he was in one of the native regiments. He +informed me that he was in command of the escort accompanying the +envoys. I said to Lefébure 'By the by, the Negus owes me some +money--shall we go and make a trip there?' Lefébure replied, 'By all +means let us!' I bought four horses and half-a-dozen camels, which I +sent on board with my provisions; and we started with the envoys. We had +some amusement on the way. I knew the country very well myself, but when +we were half-way, at Adoua, where we halted for half a day, Lefébure +picks up with an Arab woman. He wants to stay with her until the next +day, and says to me, 'Go on with the captain; I will join you again +to-morrow with the convoy of baggage.' I started off accordingly. Next +day, no Lefébure. That annoyed me rather, because he had kept the +camels. However, I continued my journey, thinking that I should find him +again on my return. Finally I arrived at the Negus's capital, just in +time to hear that they were on the point of dethroning him. My intention +was to apply to the English commissioners to help me in getting my +little business settled. I found, however, that my portfolio and papers +were with Lefébure, who had the baggage; fortunately, I still had the +gold which I carry in my belt. Then I naturally availed myself of this +opportunity to go off and wander about the interior, as far as Nubia, +where I had some acquaintances. I commissioned Captain Picklock to tell +Lefébure to come on and join me at Sennaar, with the camels. So off I +go, and arrive in ten days' time at Sennaar, where I find the King of +Nubia, who was not very happy about the political situation; he treats +me very hospitably, and I buy ivory and ostrich feathers of him. + +Three weeks go by, but no Lefébure! So I naturally avail myself of the +delay, for pushing on a bit into Darfour; when, lo and behold! just like +my luck, on the ninth day, as I am entering the outskirts of El-Obeid in +Kordofan, I am met by a predatory tribe of Changallas! They surround me; +I try to defend myself, and a great burly rascal jumps at my throat, and +trips me up. I feel that I am being strangled by him; I deal him a blow +in the stomach with my fist, and he tumbles backwards; only, as his hand +still grips my throat, he drags me down with him; the others attack me +at the same time, and I am captured! My blow appears to have been the +death of the negro--which did not mend matters for me. They thrust me, +bound fast like a bundle of wood, into a sort of shed, after robbing me +of all my gold. + +I was carefully guarded. At the end of eight days I said to myself, +'Barbassou, your ship lies in the harbour of Aden; you have business to +attend to, and you won't get out of your present scrape without +conciliatory negotiations. You must resign yourself to a sacrifice!' I +send for the chief, and offer him as my ransom a cask containing fifty +bottles of rum, ten muzzle-loading guns, and two complete uniforms of an +English general. This offer tempts him; but as I ask him first of all to +have me safe conducted to the King of Nubia, he answers that if once I +got there I should send him about his business. They confined me in a +pit, where I had only rice and bananas to eat, to which I am not at all +partial. As to the women, they are monkeys. However, after four months +of negotiations we came to an agreement that I should be conveyed back +to Sennaar, where I engaged upon my word of honour to give guarantees. + +I set off, still bound fast, with ten men to guard me. After a fortnight +we arrive in the town. I enquire for Lefébure.--No Lefébure. I then go +to the king's palace--but he had just started off on a week's hunting +expedition. However, I find the sheik who was in command of the town, +and relate my difficulty to him. He informs me that the treasury is +closed. I tell my guards that they can return, and that I will have my +ransom sent from Aden, but that does not content them; one of them +seizes hold of me by the arm, but I gave him a good hiding. Finally the +sheik furnishes me with an escort, and I return to Gondar. The English +had gone back, and I started on my voyage across to Aden. When I reached +Adoua, where I had left my friend Lefébure, I asked for him. Again no +Lefébure! However, I had the luck to find his Arabian sweetheart, whom I +questioned about him. Her reply is, that the very day I left him, the +stupid fellow went and caught a sunstroke, of which he died the same +day. I inquire after my baggage and my camels.--No baggage, no camels! +They had all been forwarded to the Governor of Aden. + +"When I arrived at Aden, the Governor told me that everything which had +been received had been sent on board my ship, including the papers found +on my friend, and that a certificate of death had been duly drawn up, +which my lieutenant was instructed to convey to the family. I asked no +more questions, and wrote at once a little note of condolence to +Lefébure's wife. I sent the agreed ransom to my Changallas, and at the +same time a letter of complaint to the King of Nubia. Altogether, it was +four months since my ship had left Aden. The following day I took the +mail boat to Suez--arrived last night at Marseilles--and here I am!" + +"Yes, indeed," I said to my uncle, when he had concluded; "that explains +it all. They drew up the certificate of decease according to the papers +found on your friend Lefébure, and as they were yours----" + +"Why, they mistook him for me; and that ass Rabassu went off with the +ship to bring the notary the news of my death." + +"That's clear," I added. + +"But what puzzles me most," replied he, "is to know what has become of +my camels!" + + +As you may well imagine, my dear Louis, this unexpected resurrection of +my uncle plunged me into a state of excitement, which took entire +possession of me. I could not see enough of him, or hear enough of him; +and all that day I so completely forgot everything which did not concern +him, that I did not even think of moving outside the château. I followed +him from room to room, and kept looking at him, for I felt the need of +convincing myself that he was really alive. As to him, quickly +recovering from the very transitory astonishment into which the news of +his supposed death had thrown him, he had resumed that splendid +composure, which you remember in him. He superintended all his little +arrangements, and unpacked all his boxes, full of all sorts of articles +from Nubia, whistling all the while fragments of _bamboulas_ which were +still ringing in his ears. + +After dinner in the evening, he said to me, stretching out his long legs +over the divan, with the air of a man who loves his ease: + +"By Jove, it's very snug here! If you like, we will stay down here +several weeks." + +"As many weeks as you like, uncle," I answered--"months even!" + +"Well done!--But," he continued, "won't you be rather dull?--for, unless +you have some little distraction----" + +"Ah!" I exclaimed, remembering all at once my harem; "I forgot to tell +you about this little affair!" + +"What affair?" he said. "Have you found your distraction already, then?" + +"I should just think I have, uncle!" + +"Is she pretty?" + +"Why, I have four!" + +At this information my uncle did not raise his eyebrows any more than if +I had told him that I was occupying my leisure by practising the rustic +flute; he only stretched out his arm, took my hand and shook it smartly +in the English fashion, saying, + +"My compliments, my dear fellow!--I beg your pardon for my +indiscretion." + +"But, my dear uncle, I have quite a long story to tell you!" I added, +not without a certain embarrassment "--and it is your death again that +has been the cause of it!" + +"How was that? Tell me all about it." + +"You know, your Turkish pavilion--Kasre-el-Nouzha?" + +"I know, well?" + +"Well, four months ago, Mohammed-Azis arrived there." + +"Hullo!" he said, "Mohammed?" + +"Yes, and you had entrusted him with a--a commission," I continued. + +"True," he exclaimed, "I had forgotten that!" + +"Well, then, uncle----" + +"He had accomplished his commission, I suppose," continued he. + +"Yes," I replied. "And as you were dead, and Mohammed's commission +formed part of my inheritance from you, I thought that it was my duty--" + +"_Bigre!_" said my uncle, "you know how to act the heir very well, you +do!" + +"Why indeed--" I continued, "remember that I could not suppose----" + +"In short you've done it," said he, "and it's all over, so don't let us +say anything more about it! And once more, forgive me.--Now that I know +all about it, nothing more need be said. Turks never discuss harem +matters. Only," he added, "in order to avoid the necessity of returning +to the subject, let me now recommend you to keep Mohammed; you +understand? He knows the run of the ropes. And in order to make +everything safe, as it would not do for me to be seen about there any +more, tell him to come and see me." + +"Do you wish me to send for him at once?" + +"No, no, to-morrow will do. We have plenty of time.--Come, give me a +little music, will you? Play me something from Verdi--" + +And he began to hum in his bass voice, slightly out of tune, snatches +from the air: + + "Parigi o cara, noi lasceremo." + +We passed a charming evening together, what with conversation, music, +and cards. He won three francs of me at piquet, with a ridiculous +display of triumph. About twelve o'clock I took him to his bedroom. When +he was ready to get into bed, he exclaimed: + +"_Té!_ I have some securities here which I had forgotten!" And taking a +penknife, he proceeded to cut the stitches of his coat lining, from +which he drew out some papers. + +"See!" he said, as he held them out to me, "here are seven hundred +thousand francs' worth of bills on London and Paris. You shall get them +cashed." + +"Very well, uncle," I replied. "And what do you want me to do with the +money?" + +"Oh, upon my word, that's your affair, my _pichoun_! You may be sure, +now that you have come into your inheritance, I am not going to be +troubled with such matters!" + +"Well, at least advise me about them." + +"But, my good fellow, that means that I am still to have all the bother +about them--. After all," he continued, "keep the money if you like--it +will do for my pocket money." + +Thereupon he went to bed, I wished him good night, and was about to +leave the room, when he called me back. + +"Come here, André! Write, if you please, to the notary and ask him to +come here to-morrow." + +"Ah!" I replied, "you're coming round to that at last!" + +"I am coming round to nothing whatever!" he exclaimed, in a most decided +tone. "Only I want to know what has become of my camels! As you may +guess, I intended to present them to the Zoological Society. I must have +them found! Good night!" + + +I should certainly annoy you, my dear Louis, if I were to endeavour to +impress upon you the full significance of the amazing events through +which I have passed during these four months. I don't know of a single +mortal who has experienced more original adventures. The dreadful letter +from the notary, my installation at Férouzat, my uncle's will, the harem +tumbling down upon me from Turkey, the entering into complete +possession of my fortune, and the whole crowned by the return of the +deceased. Certainly you will agree with me that these are incidents +which one does not meet with in everyday life. Nevertheless, if you want +to know my ideas about them, I confess that they seem to me at the +present moment to be nothing but the Necessary and the Contingent of +philosophers, in their simplest application. I would go so far as to +assert that, to a nephew of my uncle, things could not fall so to +happen, for it would show a want of training in the most elementary +principles of logic, to exhibit surprise at such little adventures, when +once Barbassou-Pasha has been introduced on the scene as Prime Cause. +The substratum of my uncle so powerfully influences my destiny, that to +my mind it would seem quite paradoxical to expect the same things ever +to happen to me as to any other man. Cease being astonished, therefore, +at any strange peculiarities in my life, even if they be eccentric +enough to shock a rigidly constituted mind. Like those erratic planets +which deviate occasionally from their course, I move around the +remarkable star called Barbassou-Pasha, and he draws me into his own +eccentric orbit. In spite of a semblance of romantic complications among +the really simple facts which I have related to you, I defy you to +discover in them the slightest grain of inconsistency. They can be +perfectly well accounted for by the most natural causes and the most +ordinary calculations of common sense. Cease your astonishment, +therefore, unless you wish to fall into the lowest rank in my +estimation. + +Having postulated the fact that I am the nephew of my uncle, I will now +return to the summarising of my situation. Well, my late uncle had come +to life again, but he wanted to keep all the advantages of his status as +a dead man, by obliging me to remain in possession of his property. I +had just said "good night" to him, while he was dreaming about his +camels. Nothing could be less complicated than that. If all that is not +in strict conformity with the character of Barbassou (Claude Anatole), I +know nothing about him. Nevertheless, it was only natural that the day +celebrated by his return should give birth to some other incidents of +importance. + +I had just left my uncle, and was walking towards the library to write +at once to the notary, when Francis informed me that a woman from the +Kasre had been waiting an hour to see me. One of the Greek servants came +sometimes to the château, either with messages or to await my orders. I +concluded at once that, not having seen me either during the day or in +the evening, my little animals had grown anxious and were sending to +inquire after me. I went to my room, where Francis said the woman was. +As I entered I saw her standing up, motionless, near the window, wrapped +in her great black feridjié; but I had hardly shut the door behind me +when, all at once, I heard a cry and sobs. The feridjié fell down, and I +recognised Kondjé-Gul, who threw herself on to my neck and seized me in +her arms with signs of the deepest despair. + +"Good gracious!" I said, "is that you? _You_ come here?" + +Breathless and suffocated with tears, she could not answer me. I +guessed, rather than heard, these words: + +"I have run away! I have come to die with you!" + +"But you are mad, dear, quite mad!" I exclaimed. "Why should you die? +What has happened then?" + +"Oh, we know all!" she continued. "Barbassou-Pasha has returned. He is a +terrible man. He is going to kill you; us also; Mohammed also!" + +And raving with fear she clung to me with all her strength, just as if +she were already threatened with death. + +"But, my dear child," I said, "this is all madness--who in the world has +told you such nonsense?" + +"Mohammed. He heard of the Pasha's return--he has hidden himself." + +"But my uncle is a very kind man--he adores me, and does not even intend +to see you. Nothing will be changed for us by his return." + +Seeing me so calm, she was gradually reassured. Still she was too much +possessed by her Turkish notions to believe all at once in such a +departure from correct oriental usages. + +"Well then," she said as she dried her tears, "he will only kill +Mohammed?" + +"Not even Mohammed!" I exclaimed, with a smile. "Mohammed is a poor +coward, and I will give him a bit of my mind to-morrow, so that he +shan't worry you with any more nonsense of this kind." + +"You don't mean it?" she replied. "Then he will only get a beating?" + +I was about to protest, when I perceived by her first words that she +suspected I wanted to play upon her credulity. There was thus a danger +of reviving her worst fears, for she would not believe any more of my +assurances. I contented myself therefore with promising to intercede +with Barbassou-Pasha. Once convinced that Mohammed's punishment would +extend no further than his hind-quarters, she troubled herself no more +about it, but with the characteristic volatility of these little wild +creatures, began to chatter and examine all the things in my room, +touching and feeling everything with an insatiable curiosity. + +"Come now, you must go home," I said to her, not wishing this little +excursion of hers to be discovered. + +"Oh, no! Oh, no!" she cried, with childlike delight. "It's your home--do +let me look at it!" + +"Oh, but you must go and comfort Zouhra, Nazli, and Hadidjé!" + +"They are asleep," she said. "I want to stay a little time here alone +with you! Besides," she added, with a little frightened look still +lingering on her face, "suppose Barbassou-Pasha has been deceiving you, +suppose he is coming to kill you to-night?" + +"But once more I tell you, dear, you are _mad!_" + +"Well then, why send me back so soon?" + +"Because it is not proper for you to leave the harem," I answered. "Come +along, off you go!" + +"Oh, just a little longer!--I beg you, dear!" she said, with a kiss. + +How could I resist her, my dear Louis? Tell me? + +I sat down, watching her moving about and rummaging everywhere. I must +tell you that under her feridjié (which she had let down on my entrance +into the room), she was dressed in a sort of loose gown of pale blue +cashmere, embroidered with lively designs in silk and gold. Her +snow-white arms emerged from wide, hanging sleeves. This costume +produced a charming picturesque effect in the midst of my room, which, +although comfortable, was very prosaic in its style--although to her it +seemed wonderful. She touched everything, for she could not be satisfied +with seeing only, and her questions never ceased.... At last, after +half-an-hour, considering her curiosity to be satisfied, as she was +beginning to ransack the books lying on my table, I said once more, + +"Come, Kondjé-Gul, you must go." + +With these words, I picked up her feridjié, and took her back to the +harem. A pale light was shining through the windows of the drawing-room. +Hadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra were still there. To describe the terror +which came over their faces directly I appeared, would be impossible. +Hearing steps in the night, they made sure their last moments had +arrived. At the sound of the door opening, they cried out loud--the +three poor miserable things took refuge in a corner. + +When they saw me enter with Kondjé-Gul, they were thrown into a great +consternation. With a few words I reassured them at once. + +As to Mohammed, it was impossible to find him. I will confess, moreover, +that I felt very little interest in searching for him--I was far from +ill-pleased with the thought that he was paying for the trouble which +his stupidity had caused my poor darlings, by a night of fear and +trembling. + +My lamb having returned to the fold, I eventually retraced my steps to +the château. + +Is it necessary to tell you that the surprising events of the day had +caused me emotions which I was scarcely able to understand? + +My uncle's resurrection-- + +Lefébure-- + +The Changallas-- + +The camels-- + +They all kept my brain at work the whole night long. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +I apologise, my dear Louis, for having left you a month without a letter +from me, as you reproach me somewhat severely. You are not afraid, I +should hope, that my friendship for you has cooled. The real cause of my +silence is that I have had nothing to tell you. The even tenor of my +existence permits only of daily repetitions of the same very simple +events. My affections being divided between my harem and my uncle +Barbassou, I revel in the tranquillity of the fields and woods, which +afford to my mind that quiet freedom which is always more or less +disturbed by the excited atmosphere of city life. + +Do not imagine, however, that we have been living like monastics, +disdaining all worldly distractions: the governor is not the man to +lead the existence of a Carthusian monk. He is as much on horseback as +on foot. In the daytime we make hunting excursions; he visits his +"god-children" and my estates: you may rely upon it, I have got an +active steward in _him_! In the evening we receive our friends at the +château--the vicar, the Morands, father and son, and, twice a week, the +notary. We play whist at penny points, and very lively games of +piquet--only the latter not so often, as my uncle cheats at it. About +eleven o'clock the carriages are got ready to take these people home. I +then accompany my uncle to his room, and we talk over business matters, +and about my _fiancée_; for, of course, my marriage with his +"god-daughter" is an understood thing, and we have not even a notion of +discussing the question. Finally, when he gets sleepy, he goes to bed, +and I go off to El-Nouzha. + +Besides these occupations we have another very serious one, namely, +rummaging among the mass of curios which he heaped up together in the +lumber-room of the château. + +"Ah, André!" my uncle said to me one day, with the reproachful accent of +a faithful steward, "you have a lot of fine things up there which you +are very foolish to leave in that lumber-hole. If I were you, I would +have them all out!" + +"Let us get them all out then at once, uncle," I answered. + +Thereupon we set to work sorting them out, and you have no idea of the +things we found--valuable paintings, works of art, rare old furniture, +and arms of all countries. You will see what a museum they constitute, +if you make an excursion down here, as you have promised. Really, for an +artist of your genius, this alone would be worth the journey. + +We also pay visits at the two neighbouring châteaux of the Montanbecs +and the Camboulions; but confine ourselves strictly to the customary +conventionalities between neighbours, the female element which we +encounter at these places belonging, as my uncle puts it, to the very +lowest zoological order of beings. + +Once a week we dine at Doctor Morand's. He is a man of great ability, +who has only missed making his mark through want of a wider field. He is +the one mortal capable of exercising an influence over Captain +Barbassou, if the character of the latter did not place him out of reach +of all external control. In this home family life reigns in its happiest +and most charming simplicity, represented by a goodly quiver-full of +children. I have already told you about young Morand, the spahi, and his +cousin Geneviève. + +Geneviève, with her nineteen summers, is the eldest, by several years, +of a prolific brood, the offspring of her mother's second marriage. The +doctor, who is a rich man for his district, took them all to live with +him after his sister's death. A more delightful and refreshing place +cannot be found than this heaven-blest home, the very atmosphere of +which breathes the odour of peaceful happiness and honest purity. You +should see Geneviève, _la grande_, surrounded by her four _petits_, her +brothers and sisters, with their chubby faces, all neat and clean, +obedient and cheeky at the same time, and kept in order by her with a +youthful discipline, flavoured now and then with a spice of playfulness. +Is she really pretty? I confess I cannot decide. The question of beauty +in her case is so completely put out of mind by a certain charm of +manner, that one forgets to analyse it. She has certainly fine eyes, for +they hold you spell-bound by the soul shining through them. George +Morand, her _fiancé_, adores her, and, headstrong _Africain_ though he +is, even he feels an influence within her which subjugates his fiery +spirit. They could not be a better match for each other, and will live +happily together. She will chasten the exuberant ardour of the Provençal +warrior. + +My uncle professes to detest "the brats;" it is needless, perhaps, to +add that, directly he arrives, the whole of them rush to him, climb on +his knees, and stay there for the rest of his visit. He is their horse; +he makes boats for them, and all the rest of it. The other day you might +have seen him grumbling as he sewed a button on Toto's drawers (which he +had torn off by turning him head over heels), fearing lest Geneviève +should scold him. + +I am very cordially welcomed by the whole house, and you may imagine +what interminable discussions the doctor and I carry on. Having been +formerly a professor in the School of Medicine at Montpellier, he was +led by his researches in physiology to a very pronounced materialism. +Now that he has read my spiritualistic articles, he tries hard to break +down my arguments. On the third side, my uncle, as a Mahometan, wants to +convert him to deism; you may judge from this how much harmony there is +between us; you might take us for an Academy! + +At El-Nouzha the same life goes on still; but I must take this +opportunity of correcting a dangerous mistake you appear to have fallen +into, to judge from the tone of your letters. In everything that +concerns my harem, you really speak as if you had in mind the fantastic +and tantalising experiences of a second blessed Saint Anthony, exposed +to the continual provocations of the most voluptuous beauties of the +Court of Satan. Indeed, one might say (between you and me and the post), +that your Holiness was less scared than inquisitive regarding these +terrible scorchings. You old sinner! The real truth is that everything +becomes a habit after a while, and that, now the first effervescence of +passion is over, this life grows much more simple than you imagine. You +must not believe that we lead a riotous existence of continual lusts and +orgies. Such notions, my dear fellow, are only the fruit of ignorance +and of prejudice. + +Let me tell you that my harem is to me at the present time a most +tranquil home, and that, but for the fact that I have four wives, +everything about it has permanently assumed the every-day aspect of a +simple household. Our evenings are spent in conversation round the +drawing-room table with music and dancing, conducted in a thoroughly +amiable and cheerful spirit, and all set off by the accomplishments of +my sultanas. I combine in my conjugal relations the dignified oriental +bearing of a vizir with the tender sentimentalities of a Galaor, and in +this I have really attained to an exquisite perfection. + +In fact, it would be the Country of Love in the Paradise of Mahomet, but +for a few clouds which, since my uncle's return, have obscured the +bright rays of my honeymoon. I have had some trouble with Hadidjé and +Nazli, who seem determined to make a trip over to the château as +Kondjé-Gul had done; for, as might have been foreseen, as soon as her +alarms had subsided, this silly creature, with the view no doubt of +exciting their jealousy, and posing as the favourite, had taken care to +relate to them all the wonders of this, to them, forbidden place. Of +course I refused at once to permit such an irregularity, contrary as it +was to all harem traditions. This refusal was the signal for a scene of +tears and jealous passions, which I subdued, but which only gave way to +the tender reproaches of slighted affections. Well, I try to jog along +as well as I can, as all husbands have to do, but I have a vague +presentiment of troubles still in the air. + + +I have reopened my letter. + +I hope you won't be astonished, my dear fellow, but--I have another +piece of news relating to Barbassou-Pasha. + +The day before yesterday, while my uncle and I were chatting together, +as is our custom, before he went to bed, I observed that he yawned in +an unusual manner. I had remarked this symptom before, and I drew my own +conclusion from it, which was that overtaken once more by his +adventurous instincts, he was beginning to find life tedious in the +department of Le Gard,--he was longing for something or other, that was +certain! And I began ransacking my mind to find some new food upon which +he might exercise his all-devouring energy, when he said to me, just +before I left him-- + +"By the bye, André, I have written to your aunt that I am returned. She +will probably arrive some time between now and the end of the week." + +"Ah!" I replied; "well, uncle, that's capital! I shall be delighted to +have our family life back again." + +"Yes, the house will seem really furnished then," he continued. "Well, +good night, my boy!" + +"Good night, uncle." + +Then I left him. + +Now, although this legitimate conjugal desire of my uncle's was quite +rational on his part, you may nevertheless imagine that I went to bed +rather puzzled. Which of my aunts should I see arrive? My uncle had +acquainted me with this design in such an artless manner that it never +occurred to me to venture any question on the subject. I began therefore +to form conjectures based upon his present frame of mind, as to which of +his wives he had probably selected. + +I commenced by setting aside my aunt Cora, of the Isle of Bourbon. It +was not very likely that the Pasha wanted to add to his past ontological +researches upon the coloured races. Excluding also my aunt Christina de +Postero, whose adventure with Jean Bonaffé had brought her into +disgrace, there remained only my aunt Lia Ben Lévy, my aunt Gretchen Van +Cloth, and my aunt Eudoxie de Cornalis, so that the question was now +considerably narrowed. Still I must confess that it was not much use my +setting all my powers of induction to work, taking as my premises the +captain's age, his present tastes, his plans, &c. All I succeeded in +doing was to lose myself in a maze of affirmations and contradictions +from which I could find no way out. The best thing to be done was to +wait. So I waited. + + +I had not long to wait for that matter. Two days after, while I was in +my room, I saw a carriage drive up. Its only occupant was a lady, who +seemed to me to be very handsome and very elegantly dressed. On the box, +by the coachman's side, sat a lady's maid; behind were two men-servants +of superior style in their travelling livery. The carriage stopped. At +the sound of the wheels on the gravel, my uncle's window opened. + +"Hoi! is that you?" he shouted. "How are you, my dear!" + +"How are you, captain!" replied the lady. "You see you have not been +forgotten, you ungrateful wretch!" + +"Thanks for that. Nor am I any more forgetful on my side." + +"That's all right," replied the lady; "but why don't you come down and +give me a hand? You're very gallant!" + +"Well, my dear, I'm coming as fast as I can!" said my uncle. + +I must confess I still remained somewhat puzzled at the sight of this +fair traveller, whose appearance did not recall to me any of my aunts. +Could Barbassou-Pasha have contracted another marriage since the date of +his will? Out of delicacy I kept out of the way, in order not to disturb +their affectionate greetings, but as my uncle passed my door on his way +out, he said to me, + +"André, aren't you coming?" I followed him. We arrived just as the lady +was stepping briskly up the doorsteps. + +"Too late, captain!" she said, "I could not stay there, penned up in +that carriage." + +This reproach did not prevent them from shaking hands very heartily. +Then as I came up, my uncle said in his quick way, + +"Kiss your aunt Eudoxia!" + +At this injunction I forthwith embraced my aunt, and I must admit that +as I kissed her I could not repress a smile, recollecting this +sacramental phrase of my uncle's. + +"My goodness! is that André?" she exclaimed, "Oh! excuse me, sir," she +continued rapidly; "this familiar name slipped from my tongue, at +remembrance of the bonny boy of old times." + +"Pray take it for granted, madam!" I answered. + +"Then don't call me madam!" + +"What does that matter, _my aunt_; to obey you I shall be delighted to +return to old times." + +"Very well then, _my nephew_," she added; "see that my servants are +looked after, and then let us come in!" + +All this was said in that free-and-easy tone which denotes aristocratic +breeding, and with so much of the assurance of a woman accustomed to the +best society, that I was for a moment almost taken aback by it. My early +impressions of her had only left in my mind confused recollections of an +amiable and fascinating young woman (so far as I could judge at that +age), and now my aunt suddenly appeared in a character which I had not +at all anticipated. Assuredly I should never have recognised her, +although time had not at all impaired the beauty of her face. + +I will therefore draw her portrait afresh. Picture to yourself a woman +of about thirty-five, although her real age is forty-two. Her figure +exhibits a decided _embonpoint_, but this detracts not in the least from +its gracefulness, for she is a tall woman, and has also quite a +patrician style about her. Her erect head, and the profound dignity of +her expression--everything about her in fact--might be taken to denote a +haughty nature, were it not for that extreme simplicity of manner which +appears natural to her. Notwithstanding the firmness of her language, +the tone in which it is uttered is as soft as velvet, and her light, +musical accent suggests the frank and easy bearing of a Russian lady of +high rank. + +Such is the description of my aunt. + +My uncle had offered her his arm. As soon as we entered the +drawing-room, she said, while taking off her hat: + +"Ah, now you must at once explain to me this story of your death, which +I received from a notary. For six months I have been fancying myself a +widow!" + +"You can see that there's nothing in it," replied my uncle. + +"That's nice!" she exclaimed, laughing and holding her hand out to him a +second time. "Another of your eccentricities, I suppose!" + +"Not in the least, my dear; André here can tell you that I positively +passed for a dead man, and that he went into mourning for me. He has +even entered into the possession of my property as my heir." + +"It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good," she answered; "but how +was it that they put you in the grave by mistake? I am curious to know." + +"I was in Abyssinia." + +"Close by, is it?" asked she, interrupting him. + +"Yes," continued my uncle. "A friend who was travelling with me, stayed +behind at a place on our way, while I went forward, and he managed to +die in such a stupid and ill-timed manner that, as my baggage was with +him, it was from my papers that his certificate of death was made out. +It was only on my return here, five months later, that I learnt that I +had been taken for dead. You see what a simple story it is." + +"Well, of course," said my aunt, "such things are quite a common +occurrence! That will teach you the result of not taking me with you on +your travels. Was it also on account of this trip in Abyssinia that I +have not seen you for two years? Oh stop, my dear nephew!" she added in +an engaging tone, "a family scene is an instructive event; it forms----. +Go on, captain, answer me." + +"Two years?" replied my uncle. "Is it really two years?" + +"Consult your log-books, if they have not been buried with your friend." + +"Ah! forgive me, dear Eudoxia, I have had during all this time most +important business." + +"Yes," continued my aunt, "we all know what important business you have; +I've heard some fine accounts of you. Do you know what Lord Clifden told +me at St. Petersburg three months ago, while complimenting me upon my +widow's mourning, which, by the way, suited me extremely well? He told +me that during your lifetime you had been a bigamist." + +"What a likely story!" exclaimed my uncle, boldly. + +"He assured me that he had seen you at Madras with a Spanish woman, you +old traitor! She was young and pretty, and passed openly by the name of +Señora Barbassou. It was surely not worth while making me elope with +you, in order that you might treat me in this fashion!" + +"Lord Clifden told you a story, my dear, and a very silly story too. I +hope you did not believe a word of it?" + +"Upon my word, you are such an eccentric character, you know!" she +answered, with a laugh. + +"And what have you been doing yourself?" continued my uncle, whose +coolness had not deserted him for an instant; "where have you been?" + +"Oh, if I were to reckon back to the day you left me, I should lose +myself!" replied my aunt. "A year ago, at this season, I was on my +estate in the Crimea, where I vegetated for five months; then I spent +the winter at St. Petersburg, and the spring at my château in Corfu, +where I had the advantage of a comfortable place in which to mourn over +you. Finally I had been two months at Vienna, when I received from my +steward eight days ago the letter in which you did me the honour of +informing me both of your resurrection and of your desire to see me. I +quickly made my farewell calls, started off, and here I am! Now," she +added, holding out a plaid to him, "if you will kindly allow me to +change these travelling clothes, you will make my happiness complete." + +"I am waiting to take you to your room," replied my uncle. + +"Nephew," she said to me with a curtsey, "prepare to minister to my +caprices; I have plenty of them when I love.--In return let me say to +you, Take it for granted." + +They left the room, and I felt quite astonished at the way they greeted +each other. You can already understand the effect which my aunt must +have produced on me, and I was no less surprised at the new traits which +I discovered in my uncle's character. A complete revolution had been +effected. He became all at once very natty in his dress. His rough +straggling beard was trimmed in the Henri IVth style, and his moustaches +were twirled up at the ends. He left off swearing; his language and his +manners at once assumed the most correct tone, without constraint or +embarrassment, and with a modulation so natural, that it seemed really +to indicate a very long familiarity with fashionable practice. He had +not made a single slip. His frank gallantry had nothing artificial about +it; he was another man, and it was quite evident this was the only man +that Eudoxie de Cornalis had ever known him to be. + +"Well! what do you think of your aunt?" he asked me as he came in after +five minutes' absence. + +"She is charming, uncle, and as gracious as possible!" + +"Did you expect to find her a monkey, then?" he exclaimed. + +"Certainly not!" I replied. "But my aunt might have been beauty itself, +and still have lacked the character and the intellectual qualities which +I observe in her." + +"Oh, you can't at all judge of her yet!" continued he, in a careless +tone. "You'll see what I mean later on. She's a real woman!" + +My aunt did not come down again until luncheon-time. Her appearance +created quite an atmosphere of cheerful society in the dining-room, +usually occupied only by my uncle and his nephew. My uncle was no doubt +conscious of the same impression, for leaning towards me, he said to me +in his inimitably cool manner, and in a low voice, + +"Don't you see how everything brightens up already?" + +My aunt sat down, and as she took off her gloves, cast her eyes over the +table, the sideboards, the servants in waiting, and the general +arrangements of the dining-room. + +"François," she said to my uncle's old man-servant, "please send the +gardener to me at four o'clock." + +"Yes, Madame la Comtesse." + +"And then send the steward, whom I do not see here." + +"Oh, _I_ am the steward!" replied my uncle. + +"That's capital! My compliments to you," she continued; "I might have +known it." + +"All the same, I fancy I perform my duties very well: is not this new +furniture to your taste?" + +"Not only so, but I find it very handsome, and I appreciate your +antiquarian passion for rare and choice objects; only there is a want of +life about it. What are those great vases, may I ask, whose enormous +mouths stand empty to receive the dust?" + +"Those Mandarins!" said my uncle; "they come from the palace of the +Emperor of China." + +"Oh, the men, the men!" exclaimed my aunt with a laugh: "if they were in +Paradise they would forget to contemplate the Eternal! Now, captain, my +lord and spouse, pray tell me of what use to you are beds full of +flowers, if you never rejoice your eyes with the sight of them?" + +The luncheon went off charmingly and merrily. As she chatted with us, my +aunt signalled to Francis and gave him her instructions for those +innumerable comforts which a woman only can think of. My uncle, as if by +enchantment, found everything ready to hand; before he had time to ask +for anything to drink, he found his glass filled. We had not been +accustomed to this kind of service. When we left the table my aunt said, + +"Let us take a turn in the grounds." + +She took my arm and we started off. I won't trouble you with a +description of this walk, in the course of which my aunt and I succeeded +in improving our acquaintance. We soon grew to understand each other +thoroughly. With supreme tact, and without apparent design on her part, +she had led me on by discreet questions to give her, before a quarter of +an hour had passed, a complete catalogue from A. to Z. of all my +studies, my tastes, and my pursuits, including of course my youthful +escapades, which made her smile more than once. + +In this outpouring I excepted, as you may be sure, the revelations of my +career as a pasha. My uncle walked close to us, but left us to talk +together. One might have thought that he was resuming his marital +duties, interrupted only the evening before, without their course having +been disturbed by any appreciable incident. All at once, we arrived at +the foot-path which leads to the Turkish house. + +"Ah! let us go into Kasre-El-Nouzha!" said my aunt. + +At this I glanced at my uncle with an air of distress; he, without +wincing in the least, said: + +"The communicating door is walled up. Kasre-El-Nouzha is let." + +"Let!" she exclaimed; "To whom?" + +"To an important personage, Mohammed-Azis, a friend of mine from +Constantinople. You do not know him." + +"You ungrateful wretch!" she continued with a laugh: "that's the way you +observe my memory, is it?" + +She did not press the subject. You may guess what a relief that was to +me. + +After we had strolled about the grounds for an hour, my aunt Eudoxia had +made a complete conquest of me. But although everything about her +excited my curiosity, I had put very few questions to her, not wishing +from motives of delicacy to appear entirely ignorant of her history; +such ignorance, indeed, would have appeared strange in a nephew. She +seemed quite disposed, however, to answer all my questions without any +fencing, and to treat me as an intimate friend. What I felt most +surprised at was the attitude of my uncle, who had never said any more +to me about her than about my aunt Cora of Les Grands Palmiers. There +reigned betwixt them the affectionate manners of the happiest possible +couple; they discussed the past, and I could see that their union had +never been weakened or affected, notwithstanding my uncle's Mahometan +proceedings, which she really appears never to have suspected. I +discovered that she had accompanied him on board his ship, during +several of his voyages, and that two years back he had stayed six months +with her at Corfu. As for him, he talked in such a completely innocent +manner, betokening such a pure conscience, that I came to the conclusion +he was probably on just as good a footing with all his other spouses, +and that he would not have been the least bit more embarrassed with my +aunt Van Cloth, had she chanced to turn up. + +When we returned to the château, my aunt asked me to have some letters +posted for her. I went to her room to take them from her; she had found +time to write half-a-dozen for all parts of the world. While she was +sealing them, I had a look at the numerous articles with which she had +filled and garnished her boudoir. There were on the table flowers in +vases, books and albums; on the mantelpiece, several portraits arranged +on little gilt easels, among which was a splendid miniature of a young, +handsome man, in Turkish costume embroidered with gold, and having on +his head a fez ornamented with an egret of precious stones. + +"Do you recognise this gentleman," said my aunt, as I was stooping to +look at it more closely. + +"What!" I exclaimed; "Can that be my uncle?" + +"The very man, dressed up as a great mamamouchi. It is a great +curiosity, for you are aware of his Turkish notions on the subject. +According to these, one ought not to have one's image made." + +"Upon my word, that's quite true," I said; "it is the first portrait I +have seen of him." + +"I have every reason for believing that it is the only one," she replied +with a smile; "this was the most difficult victory I ever won over him." + +We then began to discuss my uncle and his eccentricities, combined with +his remarkable talents. She related to me some events and features in +his life which would not be out of place in the legend of a hero of +antiquity; amongst other matters she told me the story of their +marriage, which runs briefly as follows:-- + +My aunt, a daughter of one of the richest and noblest Greek families, +lived with her father at a castle in Thessaly, a country which is partly +Mahometan. During the feast of Bairam, the Turks commenced a massacre of +Christians, which lasted three days. Several families, taking refuge in +a church, had fortified themselves there, and with their servants were +defending themselves desperately against their assailants. The assassins +had already broken open the door of the sanctuary, and were about to cut +all their throats, when suddenly a man came galloping up, followed by a +few soldiers. He struck right and left with his scimitar in the thick of +the crowd outside, and reached the doorway, causing his horse to rear up +on the pavement. He slays some, and terrifies all. The Christians are +saved! + +This cavalier with his scimitar was my uncle, who was then in command of +the province. The unhappy wretches who had escaped assassination pressed +about him, and surrounded him; the girls and the women threw themselves +at his feet. My aunt was one of these unfortunates; she was then fifteen +years old, and as beautiful as noonday. You may guess how her +imagination was wrought on by the sight of this noble saviour. My uncle +on his side was thunderstruck by the contemplation of so much beauty. +Having to judge and punish the rebels, he established his head-quarters +in the castle of the Cornalis. He sentenced twenty persons to death, and +demanded Eudoxia's hand in marriage. This, notwithstanding his +gratitude, the father refused to grant to a Turkish general. + +The lovers were desperate, and separated, exchanging vows of eternal +fidelity. Finally, after three months of correspondence and clandestine +meetings, an elopement ensued, followed up quickly by marriage. It was +as the sequence of this event that my uncle, induced by love, and +moreover disgraced again for having exercised too much justice in favour +of the Christians, finally quitted the service of the Sultan. His pardon +by the Cornalis followed, and it was at this time that he obtained from +the Pope the title of Count of the Holy Empire. + +All this will serve to explain to you how it is that my aunt, as an +heiress of great wealth, possesses in her own right a very large +independent fortune in the Crimea. + + +We have now been living together for a fortnight, and during this time +Férouzat has been completely transformed. My aunt Eudoxia is certainly +very _meublante_, as my uncle calls it, and she has brought into the +house quite an attractive element of brightness. She has naturally +introduced into our circle a certain amount of etiquette, which does +not, however, encroach upon the liberties of country life, or disturb +that easy-going elegance which forms one of the charms of existence +among well-bred people. The Countess of Monteclaro, as might well have +been foreseen, having already been intimately acquainted with Doctor +Morand, begins to take a most friendly interest in Mademoiselle +Geneviève. As a consequence, Geneviève and the children spend almost all +their time at the château. In the evenings we have gatherings to which +all the young people of the neighbourhood are invited; my aunt, who is +an excellent musician, organises concerts, and we generally finish up +with a dance. + +These worldly recreations afford me a clearer insight into the +analytical details of my oriental life, which is now more than ever +enveloped in the profoundest mystery. I have invented a story of +important botanical studies upon the flora of Provence, in order to +justify certain daily excursions which naturally terminate in El-Nouzha. +It is well-known, moreover, that I sometimes visit His Excellency +Mohammed-Azis, but with the discretion which respect for a great +misfortune naturally entails. The exiled minister is no longer even +discussed among us; everybody knows that "he shuts himself up like a +bear in his den," and there is an end of it. + +My aunt is the perfection of a woman. Nothing can be more delightful +than our conversations. Her manner partakes both of the indulgence of a +mother and of the unrestrained intimacy of a friend. She still remembers +the child she used to dance upon her knees; and, although I had for a +long while forgotten her very existence, my present affection for her is +none the less sincere because it is of such recent growth. I must +confess that, after my confined existence at school and college, I am +delighted with these pleasures of home life, to which I was until lately +quite a stranger. + +My aunt, as you may guess, is acquainted with my uncle's famous plan for +the future, and knows Anna Campbell, the Pasha's _god-daughter_. You +should hear her chaff him anent this god-fathership, on the strength of +which she claims that the captain has returned to the bosom of the +Church without knowing it. She tells me that Anna is a charming girl. +Thus petted and entertained, I live in other respects very much as I +like, and sometimes pass the whole day in the library. I should add that +my aunt, who is as sharp as a weasel, makes her own comments upon my +frequent absences from the château. + +"André," she asked me the other day with a smile, "is your 'Botany' dark +or fair?" + +"Fair, my dear aunt," I answered, laughing as she did. + + +In the midst of all this the Pasha, still emulating one of the Olympian +gods, proceeds on his course with that tranquillity of spirit which +never forsakes him. Two days ago, who should come down upon us but +Rabassu, his lieutenant, the Rabassu whom my uncle has always called his +"murderer." He has brought home "La Belle Virginie" from Zanzibar with a +cargo of cinnamon; for, as you are aware, we (or rather _I_) still trade +in spices. Being now the head of the firm, I have to sell off the last +consignments. Rabassu heard of the resurrection of Barbassou-Pasha +directly he arrived at Toulon. He hurried off to us quite crestfallen, +and when he met the captain literally trembled at the thought of the +hurricane he would now have to face. But everything passed off very +satisfactorily. My uncle interrupted his first mutterings of apology +with a gentle growl, and contented himself with chaffing him for his +infantine credulity. + +However, this incident has revived the vexed question of the camels. +"Where are they?" asks the captain. Having promised to send them to the +Zoological Gardens at Marseilles, he feels his honour is at stake; they +must be found. I support him in this view; my inherited property is of +course incomplete without them. Urgent letters on the subject have just +been despatched to his friend Picklock, and to the officer in command at +Aden. If necessary, a claim will be lodged against England; she is +undoubtedly responsible for them. + +In my next letter I will tell you all the news relating to El-Nouzha +from the time when I last interrupted this interesting part of my +narrative. My houris are making progress, and their education is +improving. We are going on swimmingly. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +The Turks are calumniated, my friend, there's no doubt about it. It is +not enough for us to say and to believe, with the vulgar herd, that +these turbaned people are wallowing in materialism and are not +civilised; we must do more than this, and convict them of their errors. +We, fortified with a singular infatuation in our ideas, our habits, and +our personal associations, venture to settle by our sovereign decrees +the loftiest questions of sentiment. The rules to be observed by the +perfect lover in the courtship and treatment of his lady-love, have been +settled at tournaments, by the Courts of Love of Isaure, and by the +College of the Gay Science. Our pretensions to troubadourism have never +been abandoned. The affectations of "L'Astrée" have been erected into a +code of Love, and we have succeeded in establishing the French cavalier +as the paragon of excellence in love matters, and the perfect type of +gallantry. The saying "to die for one's lady-love" rises so naturally to +our lips that the most insignificant cornet might warble it to his +Célimène without causing her to smile. + +You will nevertheless admit, I hope, that we ought to discard a few of +these absurd expressions. That we know how to make love is not much to +boast about, after all. The only important point for us as philosophers +is to know whether our ideal is really the higher ideal--whether our +treatment of woman is really more worthy both of her and of ourselves +than the pagan treatment which prevails among the Eastern nations? Here +at once crops up the elementary dispute between the votaries of polygamy +and monogamy. Both these institutions are based upon divine and human +laws, both are written down and defined in moral codes, and in sacred +books. One takes its origin in the Bible, and remains faithful to its +traditions; the other has developed at some period, from the simple +conventions of a new social order. We must not conclude that we alone +possess the knowledge of absolute truth, merely because our conceit +postulates for us the superiority of our time-honoured civilisation. All +wisdom proceeds from God alone, and truth is for us only relative to +place, time, and habit. Was not Jacob, when he married at the same time +Leah and Rachel, the daughters of Laban, nearer than we are now to the +primitive sentiment of the laws of nature and of revelation? Do you +presume to blame him, insignificant being that you are, because yielding +to the supplication of his beloved Rachel he espoused--somewhat +superfluously it may be--her handmaid Bala, with the simple object of +having a son by her? In presence of this idyl of the patriarchal age, +what becomes of all our theories, our ideas, and our prejudices, the +fruits after all of a hollow and worthless education? + +You will not, I trust, do me the wrong of believing that I, wavering in +my faith, intend forthwith to abandon the principles in which I was +brought up. But a subject so serious as the one I have been devoting +myself to, demands the most frank and honest examination. I will not +deliver a judgment; I will merely state the facts. Now it is an +established fact that the people who permit by their laws a plurality of +wives are, even at the present time, far more numerous than the +monogamists. Statistics prove that out of the thousand million +inhabitants of this globe, Christianity with all its sects, and Judaism +thrown in, does not number more than two hundred and sixty millions +according to Balbi, or two hundred and forty millions according to the +London Bible Society. + +Since the remainder, consisting of Mahometans, Buddhists, +Fire-worshippers, and Idolaters, all practise polygamy more or less, it +follows that on this globe of ours, the monogamists constitute +one-fourth only of the whole population. Such is the naked, unadorned +truth! + +Are we wrong? Are they right? It is not my business to decide this +point. Philosophers and theologians far more patient than I am, have +given it up as a bad job. Voltaire, with his subtle genius, settled the +question in his own characteristic fashion, by supposing that an +imaginary God had from the beginning decreed an inequality in this +matter, regulated by geographical situation, in these words:-- + +"I shall draw a line from Mount Caucasus to Egypt, and from Egypt to +Mount Atlas; all men dwelling to the east of this line shall be +permitted to marry several wives, while those to the west of it shall +have one only." + +And, as a matter of fact, it is so. + +But having disposed of this important point, there remains a loftier +question for us to elucidate--one consisting entirely of sentiment. The +treatment of woman being our only objective, our present business is to +decide on which side of the line its character is the most respectful, +the most worthy and the most flattering towards her. Certainly our +doctrine is purer, our law more divine. Nevertheless, as sincere judges, +we ought, perhaps, to examine and see whether we do not transgress +against our absolute principles. And I must confess that I cannot now +approach this delicate question without some misgiving. In the judgment +of every tribunal, the case of polygamy is a hopelessly bad one. That I +am ready to admit; but might it not be urged against the other side that +in practice the court knows very well that the law is not observed? What +judge can be found, however austere, who has never offended against it? +To sum the matter up briefly (whispering low our confessions, if you +like), what man is there among us--I am not talking of Don Juans, who +catalogue their amours, nor of Lovelaces, but of ordinary men of say +thirty years old--who can remember how many mistresses he has had? What, +is this the monogamy we have been making such a flourish about? + +Perhaps you will say that we need not see in these irregularities +anything more than a sort of licensed depravity, tolerated for the sake +of maintaining a virtuous ideal. But consider the fatal consequences of +this hypocrisy. What becomes of our aspirations of the age of twenty, of +our dreams and poetic fancies, after we have plunged into these wretched +connections, these degrading, promiscuous attachments which form the +current of our present habits, and from which we emerge at the age of +thirty, sceptics, and with hearts and souls tarnished? What do we reap +from these frenzies of unhealthy passion, but contempt for woman, and +disbelief in anything virtuous? + +For the Turk there is no such thing as illegitimate love, and woman is +the object of absolute respect. Never having more than one master, she +cannot fall in his esteem. Having been bought as a slave, she becomes a +wife directly she sets foot in the harem; her rights are sacred, and she +cannot any more be abandoned. The laws protect her; she has a recognised +position, a title; her children are legitimate, and if by chance-- + +I suspend this philosophical digression, in order to inform you of a +momentous occurrence. El-Nouzha has just been the scene of a sanguinary +drama. A rebellion has broken out among my sultanas. + +My harem is on strike. + + +You will ask me how this storm came to break upon me just as I was +settling down into the most innocent and tranquil frame of mind? It can +only be explained by a retrospective survey of certain domestic +circumstances, which the changes that have been going on at Férouzat had +caused me to overlook. + +You will not have forgotten the terrible commotion caused in my harem by +the news of my uncle's resurrection. My poor houris, dreading some fatal +drama of the usual Turkish character, had indeed passed through a cruel +time of distress and anguish. When their alarms were dissipated, a +revival of animation soon manifested itself in their spirits; but, as +ill-luck would have it, and as I have told you, one little detail of +this day's proceedings, unimportant as it appeared at the time, was +destined to disturb their harmony, so perfect hitherto, and to arouse +their jealousies. Kondjé-Gul had been to the château, and a silly +ambition to attempt the same freak had got into the heads of Nazli and +Zouhra. I at once expressed a decided opposition to this childish +scheme; but, of course, from the moment it met with opposition, it +developed into a fixed purpose. + +Within the limited circle of ideas in which they move, their +imaginations had been excited--curiosity, the attractions of forbidden +fruit. The long and the short of it was that, at the sight of their +genuine disappointment--a disappointment aggravated by continual and +jealous suspicions of a preference on my part for Kondjé-Gul--I had +almost made up my mind to yield for one occasion, when my aunt arrived, +which at once put an end to any thought of such good-natured but weak +concessions. + +I imagined myself to be armed now with an overwhelming reason for +refusing their request, but it turned out quite otherwise. When they +heard that my uncle's wife was at the château, they asked to be allowed +to make her acquaintance. They said that they were really bound as +_cadines_, according to Turkish custom, to pay their respects to my +uncle's wife, "whom her position as legitimate spouse places +hierarchically above us." I got over this difficulty by telling them +that my aunt, being a Christian, was forbidden by her creed to have any +intercourse with Mussulmans. + +What especially distinguishes the Turkish woman, my dear Louis, from the +woman whose character has been fashioned by our own remarkable +civilisation, is the instinctive, inborn respect which she always +preserves and observes towards man. Man is the master and the lord, she +is his servant, and she would never dream of setting herself up as his +equal. The Koran on this point has hardly at all modified the biblical +traditions. Unfortunately for me, I must confess that in my household I +have disregarded the law of Islam. Inspired by a higher ideal, you will +understand, without my mentioning it, that my first object has been to +abolish slavery from my harem, by inculcating into the minds of my +houris principles more in conformity with the Christianity which I +profess. I wished, like a modern Prometheus, to kindle the divine spark +in these young and beautiful barbarians, whose minds are still wrapped +up in their oriental superstitions. I wished to elevate their souls, to +cultivate their minds, and in short, to make them my free companions +and no longer my helots. + +I may assert with pride that I have been partially successful in my +task. Three months of this treatment had hardly elapsed before all +traces of servile subordination had disappeared. With this faculty for +metamorphosis existing in them, which all women possess, but which is +for ever denied to us men, and thanks above all to the revelations of +our customs and habits contained in novels of my selection, which +Kondjé-Gul read to them during my hours of absence, and to which they +listened with admiration (for they were eager to know all about this +world of ours, which was as yet unknown to them), I soon obtained a +charming combination. Their strange exotic mixture of oriental graces, +blending happily with efforts to imitate the refinements of our +civilisation, their artless tokens of ignorance, their coquettish and +feline instincts, their voluptuous bearing in process of attempted +transformation into bashful reserve, all these phenomena afforded me the +most delightful subject for study ever entered on by a philosopher. + +Nevertheless, I must admit that the education of their intellects did +not keep pace with the cultivation of their ideas, but rendered them +still liable to commit a number of solecisms. I had an interest, +moreover, in keeping them in a certain degree of ignorance of the actual +laws of our own world. Imbued with their native ideas, their credulity +accepted without hesitation, everything which I chose to tell them about +"the customs of the harems of France," and they conformed to them +without making any pretence to further knowledge of them. None the less, +there began to grow up in their minds ideas of independence and +self-will, the natural consequences of the elevation effected in their +sentiments. The notion of a truer and more tender love was used by them +henceforth as a weapon against my absolute authority. Only too happy to +be treated as a lover rather than a master, I did not feel any loss in +this respect: love is kept alive by these numberless little stratagems +of a woman, who loves and desires--yet desires not--and so forth. And +then, you must remember, I had four wives. + +They on their part, having no aims, no ambitions, but to please me, the +sole object of their common love, each tried to effect my conquest in +order to obtain the advantage over her rivals--an emulation of which I +experienced all the charms. Notwithstanding the fact that I distributed +my affections with a rare impartiality, I could not always prevent the +occurrence of jealous quarrels among them. Afterwards ensued regrets +tender reproaches, and clouds of sadness melting into tears. Peace was +restored amid foolish outbursts of mirth. But you cannot realise what a +task it has been for me to preserve the harmony of a well-regulated +household among creatures with their impulsive imaginations, which have +ripened under the heat of their native oriental sun. They have mixed up +their superstitions with those higher principles of which I have +endeavoured to inculcate a notion into their minds, and which they often +interpret in quite a different sense. All this has been the occasion for +the display of charming eccentricities. My little animals have grown +into women, and along with the development of a more intelligent love, I +have seen manifestations of a coquettish mutinous spirit, upon the +slightest evidence of partiality on my part, which they have thought to +detect in me. + +I must tell you that Kondjé-Gul, who is really a very intelligent girl, +had begun to study with great ardour, and it naturally followed that she +benefited more from her lessons than the others, who treated them rather +as an amusement. In three months she learnt French tolerably well--she +it was who translated the novels to them. Hence arose a superiority on +her side, which must in any case have produced a good deal of envy among +the others. On the top of this came her famous excursion to the château, +concerning which the silly creature gave them marvellous accounts, in +order to pose as favourite. I should add that Kondjé-Gul, being of an +extremely jealous nature, often gave way to violent fits of passion. +Hadidjé, for some reason or other, more especially excited her +suspicions. Hadidjé has an excitable temperament. Between them, +consequently, a considerable coolness arose: this, however, created +nothing worse than a few clouds on my fine sky. For the passive +domesticities of the harem, I had substituted love; for its obedience, +the free expansions and impulses of the heart. + +I must add, however, that while rising to purer conceptions of truth, my +houris retained too much of their native instincts not to get their +heads turned somewhat by the novelty of their situation. Having equal +rights, they claimed the same rank in my esteem. From this it resulted +that Hadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra at last took umbrage at the success of +Kondjé-Gul, who was wrong in trying to outstrip them. "Kondjé-Gul," they +proclaimed, "wishes to act the _savante_. Kondjé-Gul gives herself the +airs of a legitimate Sultana." I must confess that the said little +coquette was only too careful to impress them with her successes, of +which she was rather proud. One evening she sat down to the piano, and, +with a careless air, played part of a waltz, which she had learnt on the +sly in order to surprise me. You may guess what the effect was. This +triumph put the finishing touch to their provocation, and the evening +was spent in sulky murmurs. + +Finally, one day when I arrived at the harem I found Kondjé-Gul shut up +in her own room, bathed in tears. The storm which had been impending so +long had burst over her proud head--Hadidjé, Zouhra, and Nazli had +beaten her. + +Once more I appeased their discords, by recourse to a new declaration of +principles. The reconciliation was celebrated by a general display of +cordiality; but a faction had been formed within the ranks. At the very +time that I least expected it, Nazli, Hadidjé, and Zouhra returned to +their idea of a secret visit to the château. This project, which so far +had only been carried on by detached skirmishes, was still cherished by +them, and was now pursued by a compact body of troops, combining their +siege-manoeuvres with a rare concentration of boldness and courage. +Their weapons were tender caresses and those innumerable cajoleries of +women, which nearly always compel us to surrender in desperation to +their most unreasonable whims. My oriental _ménage_ was still walking on +a flowery path, but a snare was hidden under the dead leaves.... A few +weeks later, when I was completely entangled in the subtle meshes of +their cunning, the whole line changed their tactics. They said no more +about Férouzat, but I soon saw exhibitions on every side of frivolous +caprices, sudden fits of sulkiness, unexpected refusals, and so forth. + +My odalisques had become civilised. + +I was too good a tactician to allow myself to be outflanked by this +artful little game, the concerted object of which I pretended not to +perceive. Whenever they fancied they had obtained a success over me, I +immediately transferred my attentions to Kondjé-Gul, and the attacking +party disbanded, surrendering unconditionally. + +Unfortunately Kondjé-Gul, relying upon my weakness for her, tried to +carry off a decisive victory by a sudden charge. The other evening, +having accompanied me up to the secret door, she rushed through it with +a laugh, and made off for the château, right through the grounds of +Férouzat. I ran after her and soon caught her, encumbered as she was by +her oriental slippers and her long train. I took her back to the harem, +where the others seemed to be awaiting, in a great state of excitement, +the result of this most audacious attempt. Then I learnt that "she had +boasted she would obtain this fresh triumph over them." This was a +flagrant offence. After such an act of rebellion it was necessary to +make an example: I spoke severely, and there was a tremendous scene. +Kondjé-Gul had too much pride to humiliate herself before her rivals, +who were rejoicing over her defeat. Distracted with vexation and carried +away by her foolish impulses, she made the breach between us complete. +For three days she remained haughty and arrogant, accepting her +disgrace, but too proud to make any advances for a reconciliation. +Needless to say, Nazli, Hadidjé, and Zouhra were more affectionate and +attentive to me than ever. + +Such was the condition of affairs when the critical incident took place +which I undertook to describe to you. + +The other evening, I was in the harem, and Nazli and Zouhra were playing +Turkish airs on the zither, while Hadidjé, seated at my feet, with her +head resting upon her hands, which were crossed on my knees, was singing +in a low murmur the words of each tune. + +Kondjé-Gul stayed near the verandah, looking cool and dignified, and +smoking a cigarette in the defiant, and at the same time resigned +attitude of a hardened rebel; but the furtive glances which she cast at +Hadidjé gave the lie to her affected calmness. For two evenings past we +had not exchanged a word with each other. She had dressed herself that +day with remarkable care, as if to impress me with the splendours of the +paradise I had lost: her glorious hair streamed down in long tresses, +somewhat disorderly, from under her pearl-embroidered cap. +Notwithstanding a great gauze veil with which she pretended to enshroud +herself in order to conceal her charms from my profane eyes, her bodice +was so slightly fastened that it dropped down just low enough to expose +to view the charming little pits under her arms and the snowy-whiteness +of her breasts. Like a wrathful Venus, the expression on her face was +both mutinous and resolute. She had put _kohl_ under her eyes (a thing +which I forbid), and had blackened and lengthened her eyebrows so that +they met together, in Turkish fashion. In this get-up the little sinner +looked ravishing! + +Now you can picture to yourself the scene, and guess my state of mind. +The weird tones of the zither, with their penetrating and singularly +melancholy vibrations, the strange yet graceful costumes, the scent of +those flowers with which the daughters of the East always adorn +themselves, the all-pervading voluptuous atmosphere the enchantment of +which I cannot explain to you; finally, the fair rebel gloomy and +jealous, in the corner of the picture! All this, without my being any +longer surprised by it, kept me in a sort of happy contentment, like +that of a well satisfied vizir, which defies all analysis, but which you +will understand. + +All at once the music ceased. + +"André," said Hadidjé to me, "won't you come into the garden for a +little while?" + +"Come along!" I replied, and rose up to go. + +She took my arm. Zouhra and Nazli followed us. As I went out by the +verandah, I passed close to Kondjé-Gul; she drew back with a superb air +of dignity, as if she feared lest her dress should be ruffled by me. +Then darting a look of withering scorn at Hadidjé, she wrapped herself +up in her veil and leant against the balustrade, watching us go off. It +was a delicious autumn evening, the air was soft and the sky clear and +starry. Under our feet the dry leaves crackled. Hadidjé wanted to have a +row in the boat, so we went towards the lake. As we rowed along we +caught glimpses of Kondjé-Gul from time to time, through the openings +between the trees; her motionless figure stood out like a solitary +shadow in front of the illuminated window of the drawing-room. + +"That's capital!" said Hadidjé, who was rowing with Nazli; "How dismal +she looks! But then why does she try to get privileges over us? Let us +stay here." + +"Oh!" answered Zouhra in an indifferent tone, as she lay back on the +cushions, "Not the whole evening, I hope, for it's rather cold." + +"Why didn't you bring your _feridjié_ then," said Nazli; "you poor +sensitive creature?" + +"I will go and fetch it if you like," I said to Zouhra. + +"Oh, no!" she answered quickly; "if you leave us we shall be afraid." + +"Very well then, _I'll_ go," said Hadidjé, who wanted to carry out her +plan. "Let us row to the bank." + +We pulled up to the point nearest to the château, and Hadidjé, not +without some nervousness after all, left us and ran off. + +"Keep your eye on me all the time, won't you?" she said to me as she +picked up her long skirt. + +Soon we saw her reach the verandah without any adventure. She ascended +the steps and passed in front of Kondjé-Gul. It seemed to us that +Kondjé-Gul spoke very passionately to her, and that she answered her in +the same tones. At last they both had gone in, when all at once we heard +piercing shrieks. Apprehending some skirmishing between my two jealous +houris, I rushed off, followed at a distance by Zouhra and Nazli, who +were frightened at the thought of being left alone. As I entered the +harem I found Hadidjé and Kondjé-Gul, with their hair dishevelled and +their clothes torn, struggling together. Kondjé-Gul was armed with a +little golden dagger, which she wore in her hair, and was striking +Hadidjé with it. When she saw me she fled and ran to her room to shut +herself in. + +We hastened to the assistance of poor Hadidjé. She had been wounded on +the shoulder, and blood was flowing. Happily the weapon, too harmless to +wound seriously, had not penetrated the flesh; but, breaking with the +blow, it had scratched her rather severely. I soon felt reassured, and +quieted her cries, but not without some trouble. + +Mohammed and the servants had run up to the rescue; I sent them all +back, and after calming Nazli and Zouhra, I staunched the wound with +some water. In a few minutes, Hadidjé, who had fancied herself murdered, +regained her tranquillity of mind, and only complained just enough to +keep alive our interest in her grievance. + +Then I questioned her, and she told us that as soon as she had entered +the drawing-room, Kondjé-Gul followed her, and giving vent there and +then to an outburst of passion, accused her of being the cause of her +disgrace, reproaching her with hypocritical devices for getting over me. +Hadidjé, according to her version of the affair, had only replied with +extreme moderation, when Kondjé-Gul, exasperated all of a sudden, rushed +at her with her dagger. + +I knew Hadidjé's character too well to place an implicit belief in the +whole of this account; still it was important to put an end to such +escapades. The happiness of my household, which had hitherto been so +peaceful, was endangered if I failed to act like a just but strict +husband. After this outrage committed by Kondjé-Gul, my houris, in their +indignation, insisted upon a signal vengeance, and demanded forthwith +that I should deliver her up to the _cadi_. The _cadi!_ that was coming +it strong. I had some difficulty, however, in overcoming their +persistency; at last they agreed to a less tragic form of punishment, +which went no further than the expulsion of this unworthy companion from +the harem. + +Such escapades might, I feared, get wind outside, and cause a scandal. +However much allowance I might make for the tempers of my houris in +these demands for a somewhat summary punishment, I could not conceal +from myself that, taking everything into consideration, it was really +necessary for me to punish the offence severely, into whatever +difficulties this adventure might lead me. I promised to give +satisfaction to their legitimate indignation. Then, leaving Hadidjé to +the care of Zouhra and Nazli, I proclaimed that I was going at once to +subject the culprit to an examination, after which I should pronounce +sentence upon her. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Kondjé-Gul was shut up in her room; I found her sitting on her bed, +which was disarranged, and the pillows of which seemed to have been +rumpled up in a fit of rage and despair; she appeared like one +stupified, with her gloomy looks, and hands clasping her knees. Her face +and her neck bore the marks of Hadidjé's nails. The _kohl_ from under +her eyes had been smeared on her cheeks, which were smudged all over; +she looked just like a little savage, with however the gracefulness of a +child. + +She did not stir when I came in; I walked right up to her, and in the +solemn tone of a judge, said-- + +"Wretched girl, do you know what you have done?" + +She remained silent and motionless, fixing her eyes on the carpet. + +"After such an act, will you not answer?" I continued. + +"Why do you love her?" she said at last, in a wild voice. + +"Say, why should I love _you_?" I replied, "when your bad temper and +your jealousy lead you to disobedience, to crime--when you stir up +quarrels and discords among us?" + +At these reproaches Kondjé-Gul all at once drew herself up erect before +me, and exclaimed passionately-- + +"Then you do not love me any longer?" + +My questions had not reached their mark. + +"This is not the time for me to answer you," I said. "I am now asking +you to account for the act which you have just committed." + +"Very well! If you love me no more, I want you to confess it, and I will +die! What have I done to you, that you should prefer Hadidjé to me? +Perhaps she is handsomer than I am, is she? If you think me ugly," she +added, in a tone of concentrated despair, "tell me straight, and I will +go and cast myself into the lake, and you shall see me no more!" + +"But no! I did not say that," I replied, trying to cut short this +diversion. + +"Then what are you reproaching me for? Hadidjé loves you better than I +do, perhaps?" + +"Neither Hadidjé's sentiments nor mine have anything to do with the +question. I am asking you about your violence, and the wound you have +given her with the dagger!" + +"Why did she tell me that you love her better than me?" she answered. + +"She told you that?" + +"Yes; and pretends that you swore to it. For my part, I do not want to +be loved like a slave. I have learnt from your books that women in your +country die when they are no longer loved. So if you have ceased to love +me, I wish to die! You have told me that I have a heart, a soul, and an +intellect, as they have, and that a woman's love makes her the equal of +her master. Do you mean to tell me, ungrateful man, that I do not love +you? Have I ever been jealous of Zouhra, or of Nazli? Why should this +Hadidjé be everything in your eyes? If you do not want me any more," she +added, in a transport of grief, "say so, then; crop my hair, shave off +my eyebrows, and place me among the servants!" + +As she said these words, she threw herself down at my feet, which she +hugged in a delirium of passion. Her tears coursed down her cheeks, and +upon my hands, which she covered with kisses. In her intense emotion her +voice betokened such bitter distress, that in spite of my determination +to punish her, I felt softened towards her. In presence of these +transports of a passion, which admitted no other motive but that of her +jealous rage, I saw that it was in vain for me to attempt to awaken her +conscience to the sense of her guilty conduct. She could neither hear +nor feel anything but the echo of her own grief. I loved her no longer, +and I loved Hadidjé! These words returned to her lips over and over +again, amid sobs so heart-rending that, overcome by pity, and +forgetting my resolution, I could not help uttering a word of +protestation. I had hardly spoken, when she exclaimed-- + +"Is that true? Do you really love me? Will you swear it?" + +I then understood the imprudence I had committed, but it was too late. +Kondjé-Gul, passing at once from affliction to joy, had clasped me in +her arms. I wanted to remain stern; but how could I contend by any +arguments with such outbursts of mad jealousy? She would not listen to +me: she implored me with all the frenzied entreaties and reproaches of +which an unreasoning nature is capable. At one moment I believed that I +had at last brought her mind to realise the actual situation between us, +and the justice of my complaints against her conduct. + +"Well, yes!" she said, "I have been very foolish. I ought to have thrown +myself at your feet three days ago! Ah, if you only knew how wretched +your coldness made me! Listen: when you came in just now, thinking that +I had lost your love for ever, I was considering how I could kill +myself. But you have forgiven me, have you not?--No, no! don't speak to +me about _them_!" she continued, sharply, seeing that I was about to +answer. "You know very well that I am no longer like them; you have +formed my heart for a different love to that of the harem. I no longer +love you just as they do. No! As for you, you shall love me just as you +please--as your servant, if such is your will. Imprison me, if you like, +as a punishment; all I want is to see you, and to love you. Yes, I was +wrong in striking that Hadidjé. You know very well that I am still a +savage, for you have often told me so. Well, then, teach me your own +ideas, your religion. Tell me what you wish me to be?" she added +finally, in tones so soft and tender that I was quite overcome by her. + +I was astounded by this language, by this impassioned eloquence which I +had never suspected in her, and which I now heard from her lips for the +first time. The butterfly of love had spread out its wings. Psyche was +born for love! No longer for that passive and vague love which was but +the awakening of the senses and of pleasure, but for that love of the +heart which is life itself, with its sorrows, its joys, and its +ecstacies. I contemplated it full of surprise, experiencing the +fascination of some new enchantment. + +Louis, how can I describe it? Within an hour after I had entered +Kondjé-Gul's room; our quarrel, her jealousies, her offence, and the +punishment I had resolved upon, were all forgotten! + +Nevertheless, appreciating more completely now the defeat to which I had +submitted, I could not fail to perceive the embarrassment which such +strange conduct would cause me. It would, at any rate, be remarkably +awkward for my wives to learn that the violent scene which had passed, +and poor Hadidjé's dagger-wound, had actually become the occasion for a +reconciliation with Kondjé-Gul. How could I show my face before the +victim to whom it was my duty to grant justice? It was really impossible +for me to show such contempt for _fas_ and _nefas_ as I should do were +I to reward her assault upon Hadidjé in such an extraordinary fashion as +by pardoning her. What in the world would Zouhra and Nazli say? It would +be all over with my authority and my reputation. + +At any cost, therefore, it was necessary for me to conceal my very +imprudent weakness until their passions had calmed down, or until some +conciliatory advances on the part of Kondjé-Gul to Hadidjé had led to +the forgiveness of this deplorable folly. But directly I attempted to +appeal to her reason, Kondjé-Gul, full of pride at having won me back, +and even making use of my desertion as a weapon in her hands, would not +hear of humiliating herself before a rival. In vain I represented to her +that my own dignity, "the proprieties," and justice were at stake; she +held fast to her victory, and would not forego any of its advantages. + +Finally, however, she comprehended the gravity of the situation. + +"Well, do you know what we'll do?" she said; "it will be so nice! They +will all believe that you have given me a tremendous scolding. And so +you have, for you _were_ cruel when first you came in!" + +"I suppose you did not deserve it then?" I answered. + +"Hold your tongue, sir!" she said, putting her finger up to her mouth, +and pouting like a little child. "You're going to begin again! Let me +tell you my plan, which will settle all our difficulties." + +"Let me hear your plan." + +"Very well; you shall tell them that you have been inexorable, and that +you have treated me as an odious creature. For my part, I shall look +still more angry with you. Before them, we will scowl at each other, and +make them believe that all is quite at an end between us, and that you +have decided to send me away and have me sold." + +"What a capital idea!" I said to her. + +"Yes, do let us. It will be so delightful, so clandestine! And then I +shall feel that you love me better than them!" + +"Because we shall deceive them, I suppose." + +"Yes, yes!" she exclaimed, with a laugh; "because we shall deceive them! +Besides," she added in a tone of conviction, "you must know very well +yourself that there is no other rational course for us. In the first +place I swear I will never beg the pardon of this miserable +Hadidjé--never!" + +For the present it was clearly necessary to agree to this compromise, +which at least provided for the exigencies of decorum. When I left +Kondjé-Gul I returned to the château from motives of prudence, in order +to avoid rousing the suspicions of my wives. + +Nevertheless I must admit it was not without some apprehensions that I +returned the next day to the harem. But I was soon reassured when I saw +the amiable satisfaction which prevailed among my houris. The absence of +Kondjé-Gul, who remained in stoic seclusion, left no doubt in their +minds that she was in complete disgrace and would certainly be sent +away. I even gathered that the silly creature had shown Nazli some blue +marks which she had made on her own skin, and told her that I had beaten +her! Hadidjé, rather proud of her wound, continued to give herself +interesting airs as the principal heroine of this terrible tragedy. As +it was in reality merely a scratch, which hurt her very little, her only +object in complaining was to emphasize her caprices. After the stormy +days we had just gone through, this morning passed like an idyl. Their +spirits were all harmonious; and I left them firmly convinced that from +the way I performed my great act of justice they had no longer anything +to fear at the hands of a rival. + +Satisfied at this termination of the incident, which had caused me no +small anxiety, I was returning to the château, when lo and behold! as I +was passing the bushes, who should appear but Kondjé-Gul, who ran up and +threw herself into my arms. + +"How's this?" I said to her; "you here!" + +"Yes, dear; I wanted to see you and kiss you," she exclaimed, bounding +with joy like a child; "and to hear you tell me that you love me still!" + +"You mad creature, suppose anyone were to see you!" + +"All right!" she replied; "I jumped down from my window, for they think +I am a prisoner there. I slipped under the verandah, so as not to be +noticed by Mohammed, and came here to wait for you. Now, don't scold me. +Now that I have seen you I am going back, for fear I should rouse the +suspicion of your _wives_. Tell me if I'm not clever!" + +Then, just as she was running away again, she added in a little tone of +importance, + +"And mind _you're_ careful too!" + + +Eight days have passed since the dramatic events, of which I have +related to you the singular termination. Here I am involved in a regular +conspiracy of deceit; I have a secret intrigue with one of my wives. +Kondjé-Gul plays her part of estrangement in a most curious fashion, +with an affectation of melancholy, combined with haughtiness, and the +silly creature is delighted with her efforts. After two or three days of +seclusion, she reappeared, talked cynically of her approaching +departure, and rejoiced over it. We treat each other like spouses +definitely divorced from each other, who are nevertheless paying each +other, as well-bred people should do, a final tribute of strict +politeness after the irreparable breach. Hadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra, +confident in a dominion which appears to them henceforth assured, admire +my great qualities as a dispenser of justice. + +My dear Louis, do you wish me to confess to you the most remarkable +consequence of this business? Yes, of course you do. I promised that +this psychological study should be conducted with sincerity, and that +nothing should be shirked. Well then, in the course of my analytical +observations, this mystery with Kondjé-Gul, these tastings of forbidden +fruit, form certainly the most exquisite experience I have met with. You +may tell me, if you like, that I am a _pandour_, and that my taste has +been perverted by a life of unbridled Epicureanism; you may tell me that +the charms of duplicity, of falsehood, and of this connivance in the +guise of a childish deception, are exercising a morbid fascination over +my demoralized heart. You may be right. I would only ask you to express +yourself somewhat less bluntly. At any rate, you will not, I presume, +expect me to account for the frailties of our mortal nature. I guess +what you are thinking--out with it! + +Notwithstanding my fine array of principles and the strict vows I made +to myself to distribute my affections equally between my _cadines_, it +certainly looks very much as if I have selected a favourite. Have I +fallen to this extent? I don't know. What is the good, moreover, of +arguing about it? Is it true that undisturbed possession is the rock +upon which love splits, and that constraint, on the contrary, acts as a +spur to it? Instead of arguing aimlessly about such inconsistencies in +human nature, it seems to me much simpler to recognise in them, as +Kondjé-Gul does, a decree of Fate. Can you blame me for sacrificing +futile theories to the higher motives by which I am guided? + +The fact is that this necessity for dissimulation, these deceptions, and +these clandestine interviews, have produced between Kondjé-Gul and me a +sort of spring-tide of delightful expansion of the affections. You +should see us in the daytime, both of us as stiff as starch in the +presence of the others. You should see the manoeuvres we perform in +order to exchange a sly smile or a shake of the hands out of sight. You +should see also what pretty little airs of disdain she puts on for her +rivals, who are slumbering in their paradise of illusion! If we are +alone by chance, she says, + +"Quick! _your wives_ are not here," and throws herself into my arms. + +Those words coming from her lips, will reveal to you quite a new order +of sentiments, a strange form of love, which could only spring from the +education of the harem. Although civilised already at heart, Kondjé-Gul +being still backward in her ideas and traditional associations, does not +trouble herself about my other wives. She could not conceive of my being +reduced to such a singular state of destitution as that of a poor or a +miserly man, who abstains from the luxury of a few odalisques. In her +eyes, Hadidjé, Zouhra, and Nazli, form part of my establishment, and of +my daily routine; while _she_ possesses me in secret. For her sake, I am +unfaithful to them, I enter her chamber at night by the window, which I +climb up to when all are asleep. + +All this, you will tell me, is folly on my part. Ah, my dear fellow, our +pleasure in life is only made up of such trifles, which our imagination +generally provides for us. In those secret interviews I discovered in +Kondjé-Gul, who was certainly endowed with a frank and straightforward +mind, a number of graces which I had never been able to detect before +during our intercourse in the harem. Nothing could be stranger or more +fascinating than the love of this poor slave-sweetheart, still so humble +and timid, and dazzled as it were by the brilliancy of her dream. Her +oriental ideas and the superstitions of her childhood, mingled with the +vague notions which she has acquired of our world and of a truer ideal, +form within her heart and in her mind a most original collection of +contrasts. One is reminded of a bird suddenly surprised at feeling her +wings, but not yet venturing to launch out into the open. Add to all +these attractions the impulses of a passion, exalted perhaps by solitude +or by satisfaction at her victory over her rivals, and, even if you +blame my conduct, you will at least understand the seductions which +precipitated my fall. + + +At Férouzat we have great news: the camels have been discovered! A +letter from Captain Picklock informed us of this. My uncle is quite +jubilant; and we have planned a trip to Marseilles to meet them. Another +piece of news is that my aunt has undertaken with Doctor Morand, without +appearing to have a hand in it, a great philanthropic work. I must tell +you that a few years ago the doctor discovered here a hot spring of +ferruginous water, the effects of which upon the few patients whom he +was able to induce to visit this hole, have been simply marvellous. What +is wanted now is to establish there some sort of hospital for +convalescents. My aunt at once decided that she, my uncle, and I should +find the funds for it. A hundred thousand francs are more than +sufficient for the modest foundation which we contemplate. But from +motives of delicacy, and in order to avoid any appearance of +ostentation, we arranged with the mayor and the vicar to open a +subscription, in order that the enterprise might appear to be supported +by public charity, and that all personal liberality should be concealed +by associating the whole district with it. The consequence was that +Férouzat has had a visit from the Prefect of the Department, accompanied +by several members of the General Council, and that, in addition to +this, my aunt has organised a committee of the leading inhabitants of +the neighbourhood. Of course I am her secretary, and I leave you to +guess whether her activity overworks me. I assure you my aunt has in her +the making of a statesman. + + +My dear friend, an incident of noteworthy importance, and of quite +exceptional gravity, has just thrown me into the greatest perturbation +of mind. + +The other morning my aunt started upon a round of calls on behalf of her +great enterprise. + +"André," she said to me, "come with me like a good nephew; I need your +help." + +So off we started in the carriage, down the great drive of the château; +I thinking that we were going to the doctor's, or else to the +Camboulions. When we arrived at the gate, Bernard asked from his box for +his orders. + +"To El-Nouzha," said my aunt. + +"What!" I exclaimed, "to Mohammed-Azis?" + +"Yes," she replied; "His Excellency's name will look very nice on our +list. It will be a sort of pledge of our excellent foreign relations." + +"Have you forgotten? A Mahometan!" + +"Certainly: an infidel's charity is quite as good in its effects as a +Christian's." + +"But he lives a very retired life. Such a visit will take him very much +by surprise." + +"You are intimate with him; you introduce me. Nothing could be more +correct; that's why I brought you with me." + +In truth nothing could be more correct; I was caught in her trap, and +could say nothing more, for fear of exciting suspicion in her alert and +penetrating mind. I had no doubt in my own mind that my aunt's real +object was to satisfy a curiosity which she had cherished for a long +time past. How could I oppose this tenacious purpose of hers? By what +plausible pretext could I divert her from taking a step so natural, and +so cleverly justified? I was caught, and my only hopes rested in +Mohammed's behaviour, and in his gibberish dialect, which would at least +render conversation so difficult, that it would be easy for me to +intervene. We rolled on in the carriage; my aunt was delighted. I +succeeded pretty well in concealing my apprehensions. After all, the +chief danger seemed to be over directly my aunt stopped at the official +entrance of El-Nouzha. The "selamlik," inhabited by Mohammed, where we +were received, is according to the Turkish custom, entirely separated +from the harem, the gardens of which are walled off from it, and hidden +from sight. + +In a quarter of an hour we arrived in front of His Excellency's abode. +The gate was shut, as it always is. The footman got down and rang, but +no one answered the bell. For a moment I had hopes; but at the third +ring of the bell (which my aunt ordered), one of Mohammed's servants, a +Cerberus stationed on this side of the house, showed himself at the +grating of the inner door. + +"His Excellency Mohammed-Azis is at home, is he not?" shouted my aunt. +"Tell him that Monsieur André de Peyrade has called to see him." + +Recognising me in the carriage, Cerberus hesitated. He was actually +going to open the gate to let the carriage pass through. I sharply +commanded him to do as my aunt told him. To give Mohammed warning, was +at once to put him on his guard. + +"There is no need for taking the carriage in," said my aunt; "we will +cross the lawn on foot. The lawn is there still, I suppose?" + +"Yes, aunt." + +"Well, then, give me your hand to get out, and now forward! If His +Excellency will not receive us, I shall at least have had a glimpse of a +corner of the park. What a funny idea it was of the Captain to let him +this place!" + +She led me on without any more ado, and we entered. + +"Oh! the sycamores have grown splendidly," she said. + +At that moment we noticed Mohammed coming down the steps, and walking +towards us. + +"Ah, His Excellency has not forsaken his old ideas!" said my aunt; "he +still wears the costume of the true believers. As he is coming, let us +hurry on, to be polite." + +The danger was impending, nothing could now save me from it. I summoned +up all my self-control. When I was a few steps off His Excellency, I +slipped away quickly and ran up to him. + +"Be careful," I said to him in a whisper; "it is my aunt. Keep your +counsel, and don't let her suspect anything." + +Then I went through the formal introduction, delivering it in the famous +_sabir_ which I told you of. Mohammed in the same idiom was fashioning a +compliment as profound as it was difficult to understand, when my aunt +all at once answered him in the purest Turkish.--I felt myself quite +lost. + +A minute afterwards we were ensconced in the drawing-room of the +"selamlik." My aunt described the object of her visit. I must tell you +that this rascal Mohammed played his part with the most affable gravity +imaginable, albeit somewhat timidly, as if he felt whizzing through the +air a shadowy reminder of the stick with which, no doubt, my uncle had +trained him. I kept my eye on him all the time, and his eye wandered +from me to my aunt with a distressed expression. Great drops of +perspiration started from his face. Finally, at a sign from me, he +generously promised his subscription, and on the whole got through the +ordeal very well. + +My anxieties being now removed, I was beginning to breathe more fully, +when my aunt, just as the interview was coming to a close, expressed to +him, in the most gracefully delicate manner possible, her desire to pay +a visit to his daughters, whose acquaintance she would be delighted to +make. + +I was stupefied. To have refused the _entrée_ of the harem to a lady of +my aunt's rank would have been an offence to her; she was too well +acquainted with Mussulman customs for it to be possible to put her off +with any pretext. Mohammed, still maintaining his dignified attitude, +replied without any hesitation, by a gesture of delighted acquiescence, +and without the least embarrassment got up, saying that he was about to +inform them of their good fortune. I felt rather reassured. From the +manner in which the old fellow had acted "His Excellency," it was clear +that this was not the first time he had been called upon to "save the +situation." + +"You would like to follow me, I daresay," said my aunt with a laugh, as +soon as he had left us. + +"Why, of course," I replied, in a careless enough tone. "Still, if his +daughters take after him, you will admit that it may be better to +content myself with my illusions." + +"You dear innocent boy! Why, with a Turk, you never know what to +expect!" + +Mohammed came back to tell my aunt that her visit had been announced, +and then, preceding her with a dignified bow he opened for her the gates +communicating with the harem. I remained behind. What would happen? +Although the remarkable self possession of my eunuch had set me more at +my ease, it was a critical moment. It was evident that there would be +great excitement among my houris. They would feel at home gossiping with +my aunt, as she spoke Turkish, and they would very likely let out +everything. If one of them mentioned my name only, my aunt would guess +it all. + +I waited in a state of suspense such as you can imagine. Finally, after +half-an-hour of cruel anxieties, the sound of the closed door in the +neighbouring room informed me that I was about to know my fate. My aunt +came in, and I did not dare look her in the face. Fortunately I gathered +from her first words that I had nothing more to fear; she complimented +Mohammed upon his good fortune as the father of such charming daughters, +promising often to return to spend a few hours with them, and then at +last we said "Good-bye" to His Excellency. + +On our return, my aunt persisted in her eulogiums upon the young Turkish +women, chaffing me about my long solitary period of waiting for her, +separated only by a few walls from those pretty birds shut up in their +golden cage. During the whole of luncheon she regaled my uncle with her +description of these wonderful beauties. He kept looking at me from the +corner of his eye with a furious expression. + +As soon as I could escape, I ran off to El-Nouzha to question Mohammed +about what had happened in the harem. He related the whole scene to me +in detail. Nazli, Hadidjé, and Zouhra were alone when he went to +prepare them for my aunt's visit. As Koudjé-Gul was reading in her room, +she had not been informed of it. At the news of such a great event my +houris screamed with joy. Trained as he had been by my uncle never to +forget his part as the father, he had taken care to remind them that, in +accordance with French usage, they must not allow it to be in the least +suspected that they knew me. They promised to do as he wished them, +swearing faithfully to keep all his commands. My aunt was then +introduced. When they saw her, my houris rose up rather frightened, but +she soon set them at ease with a kind word, and then conversation began. +Needless to say, the countess's toilet formed the chief topic of +discourse. + +I will not try to depict for you the state of excitement in which I +found my sultanas, nor the accounts which they had to give me themselves +of this great event. Their sanguine imaginations were already occupied +by the absolute necessity, as they deemed it, of returning my aunt's +call. Her kindness had very naturally charmed them to the point of +believing that no obstacle could arise to hinder the continuance of +friendly relations so well inaugurated. They went on chattering all the +evening about the incidents of this lucky and delightful event, taking +particular pleasure in repeating before Koudjé-Gul who had been absent +(and whom they confidently hoped to exclude from their new relations), +all the kind things which the pasha's wife had said to them. It was +certainly a splendid revenge upon their rival for that evening escapade +which she had boasted so much about. + +Poor Kondjé-Gul, disappointed as she was already at having had no share +in this unexpected treat, listened without a word, her sad eyes +questioning me all the time. I reassured her with a nod, letting the +silly creatures prattle away in their glee, and amuse themselves with +sanguine projects of such a revolutionary character that it would have +been impossible to discuss them. + +I began to consider for myself the best way to cut short these +unforeseen complications. Although I was out of danger for the present, +the veil which concealed the secrets of El-Nouzha was only supported by +a thread. My aunt was not the woman to remain long deceived, and with +her quick mind, the slightest imprudent word, the slightest clue, would +suffice to arouse her suspicions. I did not even feel sure but what my +aunt, impelled by her curiosity, might be only too eager to exchange +visits with His Excellency's daughters, and the very thought of this was +enough to make me tremble. + +The result of my cogitations was a resolve to take decisive measures for +putting a stop to such extremely delicate and critical complications as +I apprehended. It might, indeed, have been possible for me, while +carefully mystifying every one, to have continued unabashed my oriental +pursuits and avocations under the secure shelter of the walls of +El-Nouzha. They represented, after all, nothing worse than one of those +intrigues in the neighbourhood with which my aunt had herself credited +me, but after this visit to the Kasre which had brought her into contact +with my houris, the most ordinary respect for the proprieties required +me to prevent such conjunctures from recurring. Moreover, our time at +Férouzat was drawing to a close, for we were to spend the winter in +Paris. I therefore determined to anticipate our departure, and to remove +my harem immediately. Once lost in the crowd and din of Paris, my secret +would be safe. + +The removal is now settled. A talk with my uncle simplified matters. As +you may imagine, I had to explain to him the risks entailed by such an +occurrence as my aunt's visit, which might lead her mind to revert to +some incidents in the Captain's past life which had so far remained +unintelligible. Barbassou Pasha did not trouble himself very seriously +about it, but he approved of my decision, and, contenting himself with a +few growls at me by the way, affectionately proceeded to give me the +assistance of his experience. It seems that he has--or rather I have--a +house at Paris, which was furnished expressly for the use of His +Excellency Mohammed Azis during my uncle's visits there. Orders have +already been sent to have it ready. Then plausible reasons for my +departure have been invented; some pretended business of importance, +which we have been discussing several days past before my aunt, and +which "might necessitate my presence in Paris." Truly my uncle's +composure is wonderful! + +As to my houris of El-Nouzha, I need hardly tell you that the coming +journey has been the subject of a most extraordinary enthusiasm on their +part. The idea of seeing Paris has quite turned their heads, and caused +them to forget their proposed visits to Férouzat. In order to put all +conjectures off the scent, Mohammed is going to start to-morrow +ostensibly for Marseilles, as if he were returning to Turkey. The cool +November weather having set in, nothing could be more natural than this +return to his native land. The end of his journey, however, will be the +Faubourg St. Germain, to which he will direct his course by a circuitous +route, and where I shall rejoin him on my arrival at Paris next week. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +The deed is done! We managed everything without the slightest hitch. I +write to you from Paris, from our house in the Rue de Varennes; it seems +like years since I was last there, so many things have happened during +the six months since I left it. All my surroundings belong to a life so +different from my present one, that it requires an exertion of thought +to identify myself and realise my position here. + +My harem is established in the Rue de Monsieur--in the former "Parc aux +Cerfs" of my uncle--a splendid mansion, the gardens of which reach to +the Boulevard des Invalides. My uncle has absolutely the genius of an +ancient Epicurean transferred by accident into our own century. To look +at the street, with its cold and deserted aspect, one might imagine +oneself in a corner of aristocratic Versailles. My mystery is safely +hidden away there. Mohammed while at Paris is no longer an exiled +Minister, but simply a rich Turk who has acquired a taste for European +civilisation. His name is Omer-Rashid-Effendi, a name under which he has +already passed here twice. + +My houris are astonished with all they see, and their pleasure is +indescribable. Of course my first care was to Europeanise their +toilettes. In pursuance of my orders (for, as you may be sure, I do not +appear in such matters) a fashionable dressmaker was sent for by +Mohammed. What a business it was! The difficulty was to avoid making +them, with their oriental styles and deportments, look stiff and awkward +when confined for the first time in the garb of our civilised +torture-house. + +By a happy compromise between fashion and fancy, the clever _artiste_ +has contrived for them costumes which are marvels of good taste and +simplicity. Nothing could be more successful than this metamorphosis; +their _coiffures_ complete the picture, and I can hardly recognise my +almées under the bewitching little hats worn by our Parisian women. I +assure you it is a transfiguration replete with surprises and unexpected +charms. Attired like our women of fashion, their striking and original +beauty, which was my admiration at El-Nouzha, impresses me in quite a +novel manner, which I seem to understand better as I compare them by the +side of our own women. Like young foreign ladies of distinction habited +in the costumes of our civilisation, they seem to shed around them +wherever they go a sort of exotic fragrance. + +Everything, of course, had to be changed now that they are in Paris; +they could no longer follow the routine of their former existence within +the four walls of the harem. They were now at liberty to go out walking, +and take little trips; but here at once appeared a most serious +difficulty for them to overcome. How could they show themselves in the +streets, the Champs Elysées, or the Bois, without their veils just like +infidels? That was a serious question! It was impossible for them to +make up their minds to such a shameful breach of Mussulman law; and, if +I must admit it, I myself experienced a strange sort of revulsion at the +thought of it. Yes, to this have I come! Nevertheless, on the other +hand, it was quite out of the question for them to shew themselves out +of doors enshrouded in their triple veils, attracting wherever they went +the remarks of the idle crowd. + +At last, after a great many hesitations, Zouhra, who is the bravest of +them all, ventured to go out with me, buried in the recesses of a +brougham, and protected by a very thick kind of mantilla, which after +all was hardly any less impenetrable than a _yashmak_. Then they grew +bolder, and impelled by curiosity, their coquetry getting the better of +their bashful timidity, they took a drive one day in a landau to the +Bois with Mohammed. I mounted on horseback and met them, without +appearing to know them. Everything went off as well as could be. + +The carriage which I had purchased is severely simple in style, as is +suitable for a foreigner of distinction. In his European disguise +Mohammed maintains that expression of serene dignity which so +excellently suits his part of a father escorting his three daughters. +There is, in short, nothing about the latter to excite attention. If a +dark pair of eyes is sometimes distinguishable through the embroidered +veils, the fashion, at any rate, permits the features to be sufficiently +disguised to conceal the beauty of my sultanas from over-bold glances. + +Of course poor Kondjé-Gul, still living away from the others, does not +take part in these frolics; but we thus gain some hours of liberty. On +the second day, while my _wives_ were driving in the Bois, we took our +opportunity of going out, like true lovers, arm in arm; it was most +delightful! + +We went on foot to the Boulevards. You may guess what raptures +Kondjé-Gul was in each step we took. It was the first time she had been +out with me alone, the first time she had felt herself free and released +from the imprisonment of the harem. Many an inquisitive fellow, seeing +us pass, and struck with her dignified manner, stopped of a sudden, and +tried to distinguish her features through the veil. We quietly laughed +at his disappointment. + +When we arrived at the Rue de la Paix, we went into some of the +well-known jewellers' shops. At the sight of so many marvels, you may +guess how she was dazzled. She felt as if in a dream. We spoke in +Turkish; and the puzzled shop-keepers gazed in astonishment upon this +strange display of Asiatic charms, which they had evidently met with for +the first time. All this amused us; and it is unnecessary to add that I +quitted these haunts of temptation with a considerably lighter purse +than when I entered them. + +We have already had several of these little sprees, and nothing can be +more fascinating than Kondjé-Gul's childish delight; everything is new +to her. Transported, as if by magic, from her monotonous existence at +El-Nouzha into the midst of these splendours, this free life, and this +animated world, she feels like one walking in a dream; the whole +atmosphere intoxicates her. + +We form plans innumerable. In the first place we have decided that her +position in regard to my wives shall be definitely fixed, and that she +shall live henceforth separated from them in another part of the house, +where she shall have private attendants. We shall thus be able to see +each other without any constraint, and she will no longer be subjected +to the sneers of my silly houris, who have been treating her apparent +disgrace too brutally since our arrival at Paris. My proud Kondjé-Gul, +in the consciousness of her ascendency over me, would be sure to make a +scene with them some day. + +Besides, as I have already told you, she furnishes me every day with a +more and more engrossing subject of study. I should like you to +understand what sweet and seductive labour this progressive initiation +is; I am watching the development of a mind which I am myself forming. +There is no subject in regard to her, not even her receptive +intelligence, which fails to afford me innumerable surprises. Sometimes +I discover original views and opinions of hers upon matters connected +with our European civilisation, at the correctness of which I am +absolutely amazed. Her progress is surprising, and she wishes to learn +everything, knowing how much is required in order to become "civilised," +as she calls it. + +My uncle and my aunt are in Paris. + + +A month without any news, you say. And you talk sarcastically about my +leisure, and rally me upon the subject of that famous system, which I +used to boast was a simplification of life. If I might judge from your +twaddle, you imagine me to be saddled with the very cares and worries +from which I justly boasted that I was exempt. You picture me running +backwards and forwards, and incessantly occupied with my four wives, so +that I have not even time to write to you. + +Absurd fancy: this is my real situation. + +As soon as my four wives were settled down in their new home, they +permitted me much more freedom than did the least burdensome of my +former amours. No anxieties now, no jealousies, no fears for the future. +They are not like some of those feminine taskmasters who take entire +possession of you, forcing you to follow the adored object to the +theatre, or take it to the ball, in order to have the pleasure of +watching it flirting bare-shouldered with some intimate friend, who will +perhaps be its next lover. No, in my _rôle_ of sultan my amours are +modestly hidden from profane eyes in the recesses of my harem, and there +I am always welcome whenever I choose to come. I keep the key in my +pocket. At any hour of the day or night I can go there in my quality of +owner without having to leave my club, my friends, my work, or my +amusements a moment earlier than I desire. + +Such, then, is the "anxious existence" which you attribute to me. Find +me a husband who can act in the same way. + +Still, as might have been foreseen, great changes have taken place in +the internal arrangements of my household, where it became necessary +that the Turkish elements should be partially replaced by others more +adapted to the exigencies of western civilization. + +A memorable event has occurred. + +Hadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra went the other day to the opera. It is +needless to say that I was there. I must admit that their nervousness +was so extreme at making this bold experiment that, watching them from +my own stall as they came in, I thought for a moment that they were +going to run away again. + +Already in their walks they were getting into training, and in regard to +their veils exhibited a certain amount of coquetry; but now it became +necessary to disregard the law of Mahomet entirely. They had never seen +the inside of a theatre before, so you can imagine that when they found +themselves in the box, with their unveiled faces exposed to the gaze of +a multitude of infidel eyes, all the bold resolutions which they had +made for this decisive effort were put to the rout. Strange as such +Mohammedan bashfulness may seem to us, they felt, as they afterwards +told me, that appearing there unveiled, was "just like exhibiting +themselves naked." + +However, as soon as this first impression was overcome, thanks chiefly +to the exhortations of Mohammed, who was almost at his wits' ends to +manage them, they succeeded in putting on sufficient assurance to +dissemble their very sincere dread, so that at a distance it looked +merely like excessive shyness. The lifting of the curtain for the first +act of "Don Juan" fortunately changed the current of their emotions. +During the _entr'acte_ their box became the object of attraction to the +subscribers and the frequenters of first night's performances. Their +indolent, oriental type of beauty, notwithstanding the partial disguise +effected by their present costumes, could not fail to produce a +sensation. + +Who, it was asked, was this old gentleman with his three daughters of +such surprising beauty? In the Jockey Club's box, where I went to hear +the gossip, everyone was talking about them, as of some important +political event; Mohammed was an American millionaire, according to +some, a Russian prince, or a Rajah just arrived from India, according to +others. When I smiled in a significant manner (as I began to do, on +purpose), they immediately surmised that I fancied I knew more about the +matter than the rest of them, thereupon they surrounded me, and pressed +me with questions. + +I had already come to the conclusion that it would be better to calm +their minds, and thus avoid all inconvenient enquiries. I therefore gave +them an account, which after all was not far from the truth, namely, +that Omer-Rashid-Effendi was a rich Turk, "whose acquaintance I had the +honour of making at Damascus, and who had come to stay at Paris with his +family." I thus insured myself against any suspicion of mystery arising +in connection with my visits to the house in the Rue de Monsieur, in the +event of these coming to light by any chance. + +Our relations, you will see, were thus defined once for all. This new +life is nothing but a succession of delights to my almées; and I have +really now attained the ideal in the way of harems, through the absence +of that monotony which is the inevitable result of the system of rigid +seclusion. Under the influence of our civilized surroundings, the ideas +of my houris are undergoing a gradual transformation. They have French +lady's maids, and their study of our refinements of fashion has opened +out quite a new world of coquettish charms to them. My "little animals" +have grown into women: this single word will convey to you the whole +delicious significance of this story of mine, the secret of which you +alone in the whole world possess. + +As we had decided, Kondjé-Gul has been separated from her over-jealous +companions. Hadidjé, Zouhra, and Nazli have taken this measure to be a +confirmation of her disgrace, and knowing that she lives in a +sequestered corner of the house, they fancy their triumph more assumed +than ever. I can place implicit confidence in the discretion of my +servants--who wait on us like mutes in a seraglio: consequently +Kondjé-Gul and I are as free as possible. When I want to go out with +her, I pay a short visit to my wives, and after a quarter of an hour's +talk, leave them and go off in my carriage, in the recesses of which my +darling reclines. Now you see what a simple device it is and how +ingenious; still it involves a certain amount of constraint for me, and +an isolation hard to endure for Kondjé-Gul. She reads and devours +everything that I bring her in the way of books; but the days are long, +and Mohammed, with his time taken up by the others, cannot accompany her +out of doors. I therefore conceived the idea of taking her away from the +harem altogether, and thus relieving her of the contemptuous insults +which my other silly women still find opportunities of inflicting upon +her. The difficulty was to procure a chaperon for her, some kind of +suitable and reliable duenna whom I could leave with her in a separate +establishment; this duenna has been found. + +The other day Kondjé-Gul and I were talking together about a little +house which I had discovered in the upper part of the Champs Elysées, +and of an English governess, who seemed to me to possess the right +qualifications for a pretended mother: + +"If you like," said Kondjé-Gul, "I can tell you a much simpler +arrangement." + +"Well?" I replied. + +"Instead of this governess whom I don't know, I would much rather have +my mother. I should be so happy at seeing her again!" + +"Your mother?" I exclaimed with surprise; "do you know where she is +then?" + +"Oh, yes! for I often write to her." + +She then told me all her past history, which I had never before thought +of asking her, believing that she had been left alone in the world. It +afforded me a complete revelation of those Turkish customs which seem so +strange to us. Kondjé-Gul's mother, as I have told you, was a +Circassian, who came to Constantinople to enter the service of a cadine +of the Sultan. Kondjé-Gul being a very pretty child, her mother had, in +her ambitious fancy, anticipated from her beauty a brilliant career for +her. In order to realise this expectation, she left her at twelve years +old with a family who were instructed to bring her up better than she +could have done herself, until Kondjé-Gul was old enough to be sought +after as a cadine or a wife. + +This hope on the part of her mother was accomplished, as you know, for +the girl was purchased for a good round sum by Mohammed. Thus poor +Kondjé-Gul fulfilled her destiny. Then she related to me how her mother, +several years ago, had found a better situation for herself with a +French consul at Smyrna, and had learnt French there. + +Kondjé-Gul's idea was a happy one, and I was inclined to entertain it. I +consented to her writing to Smyrna, and some days later she received an +answer to the effect that in about a couple of months her mother would +be able to join her providing the requisite means were sent her for this +purpose. I have a house in view where they can live together. It is a +little house belonging to Count de Téral, who is on his way back to +Lisbon: one might really fancy he had got it ready on purpose for me. + +What have you to say to this, you profound moralist? + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Again you complain of my silence, in a letter written with the object of +overwhelming me with abuse; and you mix up sarcasms (through which your +childish curiosity is very transparent) with philosophical remarks which +reveal the snobbishness of your nature. In fact, from the tone of your +letters, one might imagine I was threatened by strange complications, +and that you were hoping every morning to read the account of some +catastrophe. For once in a way your longing for an important event will +not be disappointed, for I have a weighty piece of news for you. As it +belongs to the most strictly moral order of events, you may listen +without any anxiety. + +As you are aware, my aunt and uncle came to Paris a fortnight ago, and +will stay here all the winter. The house in the Rue de Varennes has +resumed its gay honours; we give receptions, dinners, and everything +else that you are familiar with, but embellished this time by the +presence of the charming Countess of Monteclaro, who supplies that +lively element of family life which we rather missed formerly. My aunt +has discovered here a young cousin of hers, Count Daniel Kiusko, a +capital fellow, whom I have quite made friends with. + +Having given you these details, I will now proceed with my story. + +The other morning, after breakfast, as I was about to return to my room +(for whatever you may believe, I am working hard just now), my uncle +stopped me, and without any further preliminaries began: + +"By the way, André, I expect Madame Saulnier and my god-daughter Anna +Campbell, your betrothed, to dinner this, evening. I should not mind +letting you make her acquaintance. If you happen to be curious to see +her, don't make any engagements at the club, and come home punctually." + +"Really!" exclaimed my aunt with a laugh, and without giving me time to +answer: "from the way you put it, one might think you were talking of +some doll that you intended to offer André for his birthday!" + +"What the deuce do you mean by that, my dear?" asked the captain in his +imperturbable way. + +"I mean," said my aunt, "that this little acquaintance which you wish +they should make with each other before you marry them, seems to me a +very necessary preliminary." + +"Pooh! They've still a good year before them! Besides, this little +matter has nothing to do with romance." Then turning to me he continued; +"Well, if that suits you for to-day, I have given you notice." + +"Capital!" added my aunt. "Well, André! How does it suit you?" + +"Why, aunt," I said, laughing in my turn at their little dispute; "I +think my uncle may rely equally with you upon the pleasure it will give +me." + +"All right, that's settled!" continued my aunt in an inimitable tone of +hilarity; "at seven o'clock punctually, my dear nephew, you will come +and fall in love." + +My uncle took no more notice of this last ironical shaft than of the +rest, but occupied himself with selecting a cigar, remarking that what +he had were too dry. My aunt availed herself of the opportunity of +continuing her conversation with me. + +"Between you and me," she said, "I may tell you that you are not much to +be pitied, for she is a charming girl, and you would really lose a good +deal by not making her acquaintance." + +"I was only waiting for my uncle to decide the question." + +"You must at any rate be grateful to him for letting you meet _by +chance_ before your wedding-day," she continued. + +"Oh, dear! one might think I wanted to marry them at a minute's notice!" +said my uncle at these words. "Just like a woman's exaggerations! +Perhaps you would have liked me to have introduced her to him before my +last voyage, when she was a lass of fourteen, thin, awkward, and +gawkish, as you all are at that age." + +"Thanks; why don't you say monkeys while you are about it?" replied my +aunt with a curtsey. + +But my uncle intended to make a speech of it, and continued: + +"Who would have left in his mind the disagreeable recollection of a +small, flat, angular creature, with arms like flutes, and hands and feet +as long as that!" + +"Poor little creature! I shudder at the thought of it! However, in your +ineffable wisdom, you have fattened her up with mystery." + +"Ta, ta, ta!" continued my uncle; "I have made a fine, healthy, solid +young woman of her, who promises to make just the right sort of wife for +André! And I maintain, in spite of your ideas on the subject, that I +have done well to bring them up at a distance from each other, in order +to preserve the freshness of their feelings, and avoid the necessity of +that awkward and painful transformation of the affections which is so +difficult for a couple who have grown up together and eaten their bread +and butter together as brats in the nursery. To-day they will find each +other just as they ought to before they become husband and wife. All the +rest of the business must be left to them. If they like each other very +much they will make a love-match, if not, a _mariage de raison_, which +is just as good." + +My uncle having concluded thus, it only remained for me to signify my +compliance with his wishes. As you may well understand, I awaited with +impatience the hour for this first interview, and I was in the +drawing-room that evening some time before my _fiancée's_ arrival. My +aunt was in the heaven of delight, just like every woman looking forward +to a romantic incident, and she did not fail to remark my eagerness. As +to the captain, like a being superior to such sentimental trifles, he +was quietly reading his paper. He was just commencing a political +discussion when the servant opened the folding doors and announced: + +"Madame Saulnier and Mademoiselle Campbell." + +To tell the truth, I must admit that I felt somewhat nervous. A lady of +about forty years old came in, accompanied by a young person in a +regulation convent dress. I stood up, while my uncle went forward to +meet his _god-daughter_, and kissed her affectionately on the forehead. +Then he led me to her by the hand, in a dignified and ceremonious +manner, and said without more ado: + +"Anna, this is André! André, this is Anna! Kiss each other!" + +This form of introduction, with its laconic precision, had at least the +advantage that it left no uncertainty between us, and at once indicated +to us our proper course of procedure. Too well trained to my uncle's +habits, I did not hesitate a moment, but kissed my betrothed; after +which I said, "How do you do?" which, of course, gave me a nice +opportunity of looking at her. + +Anna Campbell is at the present time just seventeen. She is neither +short nor tall, thin nor stout--although the great blue ribbon which she +wears over her neck, with a cross suspended from it, already sets off +the plump outlines of her bosom. She is neither fair nor dark; her chin +is round, her face oval, her nose, mouth, and forehead are all +medium-sized, and she has rather pretty blue eyes. Generally speaking, +she is more pleasant-looking than handsome, and her features on the +whole suggest a very gentle disposition united with good health. My +uncle took care to impress upon me that she will continue to develop, +since her feet and hands are still large for her age, and promise a +handsome completion of her growth. + +In short, my lot is far from a disagreeable one--quite the contrary. As +my uncle expresses it, "All the symptoms are good." + +Our dinner was a very lively one. Anna Campbell, although rather subdued +in my presence, did not show any embarrassment. Nothing seemed to be new +to her; her manners and deportment, and everything about her, revealed +the familiar assurance of a child of the family who had come to take a +holiday there, and felt herself as much at home as I did. I perceived +that she knew the house as well as if she had been brought up in it, and +I learnt that during the time when I was at college she and Madame +Saulnier had really lived there for three years. + +The result of all this was that Anna Campbell exhibited a pleasant sort +of familiarity with my aunt and uncle which I did not at all expect to +see. Brought up away from each other, and without any previous +acquaintance, we were now meeting for the first time at this common +centre of our affections, which, unknown to us, had united us since our +childhood. This was both original and sweet to think of. + +Once, when my uncle asked for the pickles, Anna said: + +"They are near André." + +When the meal was over we left the dining-room. Following a Russian +fashion which my aunt had introduced among us, when we entered the +drawing-room, I pressed her hand to my lips, while she kissed me on the +forehead. Anna did the same; then, without even appearing to think what +she was doing, she quietly held up her two cheeks for me to kiss, and +afterwards offered them to her godfather. She then ran to the piano, and +sat down to it, while we were taking our coffee. + +"Well, what do you think of her?" my uncle asked me. + +"She is very nice," I replied. + +"Yes, isn't she? Just the thing for you, my boy," he observed, as he +stirred his cup, with the tranquillity of a pure conscience. "Go and +talk with her," he continued; "you will find she is not stupid." + +I went to sit down by Anna. + +"Come, play the bass!" she said, moving aside to make room for me, as if +we had often played in duet together before. + +When the piece was finished, we talked about her convent, her friends, +and the Mother Superior, Sainte Lucie, whom she was much attached to; +and she spoke about everything in a confident tone of familiarity, which +showed me that she had often talked of me, and had been used to think of +me as an absent brother. The understanding is that, on account of her +youth, our betrothal is to remain a family secret, which will only be +made public when the right time arrives. + +The evening concluded without any other special incident. At ten o'clock +Anna went home to her convent. As she was putting her things on, she +held out her hand to me, and said: + +"Good-bye, André!" + +"Good-bye, Anna!" I replied; and then my uncle took me away with him to +the club, where he sat down to his party at whist. + +While I am on the subject of my uncle, I must tell you about an +adventure which he has just had. He is _dead_, as you are aware, for I +have inherited his property. This privilege he will not give up, +_because the registration fees have been paid_. The result of this +peculiar situation is that he is under certain legal incapacities, +which, without troubling him more seriously, do nevertheless cause him +some annoyance. Three months ago at Férouzat, he had to renew his +gun-license, which he had taken out seven years before; but as his +decease had been formally entered at the prefecture, they would not +accept this document, bearing the signature of a defunct person. As you +may imagine, he did very well without it, and began to shoot as if +nothing had happened! + +The other morning, however, it chanced, as my uncle was passing our +banker's, that he wanted to draw twenty thousand francs for his +pocket-money. The cashier, who had known him years ago, was very much +surprised to see him in the flesh, but represented to him that it was +now quite impossible for him to open an account in his name, as he was +legally dead and buried. My uncle, like a law-abiding man, admitted the +justice of this observation, and I had to intervene in order to arrange +the matter for him. He took no further notice of it; only as he never +does anything by halves, he had his visiting cards printed with "The +late Barbassou" on them; and this was the way he signed himself at our +banker's, by which means he pretended that he conformed with all +requirements. + +"You see how simple the whole thing is," he said to me. + + +My amours with Kondjé-Gul have certainly taken a very remarkable turn. +The other day I took her to Versailles for an educational and historical +excursion; she is continuing her course of civilization, you know. After +visiting the palace and the museum, we went into the park. She was in +the best of spirits, still excited with the fresh air and freedom which +she was enjoying like an escaped prisoner from the harem, and was asking +me questions about everything with that charming simplicity of hers +which delights me so much, when we arrived in front of Diana's Bath, +where we found a group of three young women most brilliantly dressed, +two of whom, as I saw at the first glance, were old acquaintances of +mine, very well known in the gay world. Young Lord B---- accompanied +them, and they all recognised me; but Lord B----, with the well-bred +tact of a man of the world, seeing the company I was in, only nodded +slightly to me. With like discretion, as is usual on such occasions, the +women made no movement of recognition; yet they could not help--being +struck no doubt with the remarkable beauty of my companion--evincing +such evident curiosity, that Kondjé-Gul observed it. I, of course, +passed without appearing to notice them. Kondjé-Gul and I then took a +turn up the walk, while I expounded the mythology of the bath to her, +and then we went out. + +"Who are those ladies?" she asked me as soon as we were at a good +distance from them; "they know you, I could see." + +"Oh, yes," I replied in an indifferent tone, "I have met them several +times." + +"And the young man who was with them also looked at you as if he was one +of your friends; why did not you speak to him?" + +"For discretion's sake, because you were with me, and he was walking +with _them_." + +"Ah! I understand," she said; "no doubt they are the women of his +harem?" + +"Just so," I answered quite coolly, "and, as I have often told you, +according to our customs, the harem is always----" + +I was trying to think of the right word, when she burst out laughing +quite loud. + +"What are you laughing at, you silly thing?" I asked. + +"I am laughing at all those stories about your harems which you still +make up for me just as you used to do for that idiot Hadidjé. I listen +to them all, because,--whatever does it matter to me now that I love +you! I prefer the happiness of remaining your slave to that of these +women, who have no doubt been your mistresses, and whom you don't even +condescend to notice when you meet them." + +"What?" I exclaimed in astonishment; "have you got to know so much +already, you little humbug, and have concealed it from me?" + +"After all you have given me to read to form my mind according to your +ideas, surely it was natural that I should some day discover the truth! +I only waited for an opportunity of confirming my new knowledge," she +continued with a smile. "There are still a lot of things in your country +which I cannot understand. But you will teach me them now, won't you?" +she added in a coaxing tone. + +"Oh, you young flirt! It seems to me you know everything already!" + +"Why, yes, I feel I know that, for all you may say, I am still no more +than a curious toy in your eyes--a strange creature, like some rare bird +that you are rather fond of, perhaps, for her pretty plumage." + +"Ah! you're right upon the last point at any rate!" I replied with a +laugh. + +"Yes, sir!" she continued in a satisfied tone of pride, "I know that I +am handsome!--Now don't laugh at me," she added with a charming +reproachful look; "what I have to say is quite serious, for it comes +from my heart. I was born for a different life, for different sentiments +to yours, and I know that I possess none of those qualities which they +say make the women of your country so attractive. Their ideas and +associations are very different to mine, which you call the +superstitions of a young barbarian, and which I want to forget in order +to learn to understand you and to have no rivals." + +"Are you quite sure that you would not lose by the change?" + +"Thank you," said Kondjé-Gul; "that's what I call a compliment." + +"The fact is," I replied, "the very thing I like about you is that you +do not in any way resemble the women whom we have just met." + +"Oh!" she said, with an indescribable gesture of pride, "it's not +_those_ women I envy! But I see others whom I would like to resemble--in +their manners and tone, of course. If you're a nice fellow, do you know +what you will do for me?" + +"What?" + +"It's a dream, a scheme which I have been continually thinking over. You +won't laugh at me, will you?" + +"No. Let's hear your grand scheme." + +"Well, then, if you would like to make me very happy, place me for a few +months in one of those convents where your young ladies are educated. +You would come and see me every day, so that I should not be too dull +away from you." + +"That's the queerest idea I have ever heard from you; fancy a Mahommedan +girl at a convent!" I said, with a laugh. + +I took a great deal of trouble in explaining to her what a foolish +project this was; but the result of my attempts at demonstrating the +serious obstacles which such ambitious aspirations would encounter, was +that in the end I myself entered into her views. The experiment might +indeed prove a most instructive one. With Kondjé-Gul's character, there +was an extremely interesting psychological experiment before me. I had +found her to be endowed with marvellous natural qualities. With her +ardour and enthusiasm, what would be the effect upon her simple +imagination of a sudden transition from the ideas of the harem to the +subtle refinements of our own society? + +Certainly, I was obliged to admit that such a trial was not without its +dangers; but then, was not Kondjé-Gul already aware that the marital +yoke which my houris still believed in was only imaginary? And was it +not better, such being the case, for me to complete this work of +regeneration, the fruits of which I should in the end reap for myself? + +So I submitted to Kondjé-Gul's wishes, and as soon as we returned to +Paris this important matter was settled. + +The next day I began to look for the means of carrying it into +execution, a search which was attended, however, with a good many +difficulties. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +My uncle is going to send for another of my aunts to come to Paris. + +Well! what of that?--My uncle is a Mussulman, you know; and, being a man +of principle, his duties are more onerous than yours, that's all! + +My services were required to take a little house at Passy, where she is +to live. I wonder whether it is my aunt Gretchen, my aunt Euphrosine, or +my aunt Cora? He has not given me the slightest hint on this point. + +While awaiting this addition to our family, Barbassou-Pasha pursues his +eccentric career in a manner that beats description. This visit to Paris +has brought out more than ever the quaint independence of his +character. One is reminded of a man who stands on a bridge watching the +river flow by, but now and then takes a header into it to cool himself. +The other day at the club, he lost sixty-three thousand francs to me at +baccarat, just for a little distraction. The evening after, he was +entertaining at our house his late Lieutenant Rabassu, whom he always +speaks of as "the cause of his death," and who has come here upon some +business. He won eleven francs from him at piquet, playing for a franc +the hundred points. For the moment I felt quite alarmed for the poor +victim! But my mind was soon set at ease; for Rabassu, who is used to +his captain's play, knows how to cheat as cleverly as his master. Their +losses soon balanced each other. + +Putting aside little dissipations of this kind, I should add that "the +late Barbassou" is really very steady-going for a man of his +temperament. He takes everything which comes in the routine of our +fashionable life so naturally, that nobody would imagine he had spent +several years at the hulks in Turkey. + +My aunt Eudoxia, of whom he stands in wholesome awe, and who keeps him +in check, forces him to cultivate the vanities of this world. He escorts +her to balls and fêtes with all that ceremony with which you are +familiar; and quitting the lofty regions of his own philosophical +existence, without however permitting anything to disturb his +self-possession, he goes forth into the gay and hurried throngs of Paris +with as little concern as he would into any village street. In short, he +is in exquisite form, and--but for the legal disabilities which deprive +him of his rights of citizenship--you would find him still exactly what +he was when you knew him five years ago. + +However, the other day he received a little shock in connection with a +very simple incident, which might have been perfectly anticipated. + +We were in my aunt's box at the Opera. The pasha, seated by her side, +was listening to a singer who was rather more buxom than elegant; and he +appeared to be calculating what her nett weight would be, after making +deduction for her queen's crown and robes of state. After a minute or +so, he seemed to have solved this equation and lost all further interest +in the problem, for he began to examine the audience. All of a sudden he +shouted out, quite forgetting himself, in his Provençal brogue: + +"_Té!_ What's that I see?" + +"Hush!" said my aunt, nudging him with her elbow, without turning round. + +"But, _bagasse!_ it's Mohammed!" he added, in a lower tone. + +It was indeed Mohammed, who attracted some attention as he walked with +my houris into their famous box. + +"Well, you're right," replied my aunt. "I recognise his charming +daughters." + +You may be sure my uncle put up his glasses. When all my people were +settled down in their box, he surveyed them carefully, interrupting his +examination occasionally in order to take a furtive scowl at me. But my +aunt's presence kept him quiet. His composure was perfect for that +matter, except that he seemed extremely puzzled. There were only three +of them--that evidently was not the right number for him. As for me, +prudence dictated that I should get out of the way as quickly as +possible, leaving him to make what observations he pleased. + +As I was slipping away quietly to the back of the box, I heard my aunt +saying: + +"Are you going to speak to him?" + +"No; we have had a quarrel!" he growled, looking again for me at his +side. + +But slam went the door, and I was out in the passage, whence I escaped +to the back of the scenes and to the green-room. There he joined me +during the _entr'acte_. But, as you are aware, "Turks do not discuss +harem matters." All I could see clearly was that he was in a fury with +me. + +To turn, however, to other things, my perseverance on behalf of +Kondjé-Gul is at last rewarded with complete success. + +After I had spent a whole week in looking about, I found, in the Beaujou +district, an institution for young ladies presided over by a Madame +Montier, a kind woman of polished manners. She had suffered a reverse of +fortune, which seems to have prepared her for the express purpose of +civilizing my Kondjé-Gul. There are never more than three or four +boarders in the house: at the present moment two American girls, +daughters of a commodore who is on a mission to the King of Siam, are +finishing their education there. Nothing could suit my purpose better. + +When the time arrived, however, for putting my plan into execution, I +must confess that I could not help feeling considerable embarrassment. I +could certainly have introduced Kondjé-Gul as a young foreign lady, +prematurely widowed, who was anxious to qualify herself for French +society; but I soon found that this would create an unnecessary +complication. Decidedly the better course would be for Mahommed to +introduce her either as his ward or his daughter. Under any +circumstances it was desirable that I should explain to her the +necessity of extreme prudence. + +At last, one evening, when I thought she was about to revert to this +great object of her ambition, I started the subject myself. + +"I am going to announce an important piece of news," I said to her; "I +have found a convent for you where you can stay pending your mother's +arrival." + +"Really!" she exclaimed, kissing me. "Oh, my dear André, how kind you +are!" + +"Yes; but I must warn you. This realisation of your dream is only +possible at the cost of sacrifices, which will perhaps be hard for you +to make." + +"What sacrifices? Tell me, quick!" + +"First, assiduous work, and next, the sacrifice of your liberty; for +during the whole time you remain at this establishment, you won't be +able to leave the place." + +"What does that matter?" she exclaimed, "provided I can see you every +day!" + +"But that's exactly what will be impossible." + +"Why?" she asked, in her simplicity. + +"Because, according to our customs, bachelors are never admitted into +young ladies' schools," I replied, with a laugh. + +"But as I belong to you," she continued, with an astonished look, "they +will not be surprised at your coming; are not you my master?" + +"This reason, my dear, although a convincing one for you, would +constitute the greatest obstacle; for they must not be allowed on any +account to suspect that you are my wife. Mohammed alone will introduce +you either as his daughter or as a young lady under his charge, and, for +conventional reasons, which you will understand later on, this period of +study will be a period of separation for us." + +I then let her know the whole truth about certain of our social +conventionalities, concerning which she was still in ignorance. When she +learned that our laws declared her free, and the equal of any +Frenchwoman, and that I had no longer any rights over her, she looked +inexpressibly pained. + +"Good heavens!" she exclaimed, throwing herself into my arms, "what do +you mean? Am I free, and my own mistress, and not yours for ever?" + +"You are mine, because I love you," I said to her very quickly, seeing +her agitation; "and so long as you do not _want_ to leave me--" + +"Leave you! But what would become of me, then, without you?" + +And her eyes filled with tears. + +"What a foolish girl you are!" I replied, quite touched at her evident +pain; "you are exaggerating the significance of my words: your liberty +will make no difference in our relations." + +"Why did you tell me this cruel truth, then? I was so happy in the +belief that I was your slave, and in obeying and loving you at the same +time." + +"Still it was necessary for me to tell you, as you wish to learn our +ideas and customs. Your ignorance was a source of danger, for even your +questions might lead to the betrayal of relations which must remain a +mystery for the rest of the world, and, above all, in the 'pension,' +where you are about to live with companions." + +I had some difficulty in consoling her for this terrible discovery that +our laws do not recognise slavery. Nevertheless, her desire for further +instruction remained very keen. + +Finally, two days afterwards, Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul entered Madame +Montier's institution, having been presented by her guardian, the worthy +Omer-Rashid-Effendi, who made all the necessary arrangements with the +majestic dignity which he displays on every occasion. + +Although I have kept myself carefully in the background in all this +matter, I watch its progress just the same, and superintend everything. +Every evening Kondjé-Gul writes to her guardian, and I get her letters +at once: I can assure you they constitute quite an interesting romance. +For a whole week Kondjé-Gul, who had been rather overawed at first and +astonished at all her new surroundings, seemed to live like one dazed. +She would not trust herself to speak, fearing to appear uncultivated; +but she observed, and the results of her observations were most curious. +After that I perceived that she was gradually trying her wings; for when +she had been initiated a few days into her new life, she soon abandoned +her reserve, and has by this time passed the first step in her +emancipation. Her simplicity of character, and her quaint Oriental +manners, have secured her some very cordial friendships; and nothing can +be more charming than the accounts she gives me of her devotion for her +friends, Maud and Suzannah Montague, who are the realisation of +perfection in her eyes. + +Of course Kondjé-Gul's educational programme, as fixed by me, is +confined within very modest limits. It consists of music, history, and a +slight and general acquaintance with literature. But above all she is +expected to acquire that indispensable familiarity with our ideas, and +those feminine graces and refinements which can only be learnt by +contact with women and girls brought up in good society. A few months at +Madame Montier's will be sufficient for this purpose, and the +cultivation of her mind can be completed later on by private lessons. + +My harem in the Faubourg St. Germain retains its Oriental aspect; it is +a corner of the world described in the "Arabian Nights," where I indulge +from time to time, in the midst of Paris, in the distractions of a +vizier of Samarcand or Bagdad. There, when the shutters are closed, in +my _gynæceum_ (or women's apartment), illuminated by lamps which shed a +soft lustre upon us, while the bluish-grey smoke from my narguilé +perfumes the atmosphere, my houris lull me to sleep to the music of +their taraboucks. + +With all this I am not quite so satisfied, as I would have liked to +describe myself, with certain incidents which have occurred in +connection with my harem. Certainly, they are all the natural +consequences of our life in Paris; for I don't suppose you imagine that +I had not foreseen the psychological effect which entirely new ideas +would unavoidably produce upon the profoundly ignorant minds of my +houris. Besides, a progressive and judicious emancipation from their +previous restraints formed part of my programme for them. But the +introduction into the harem of certain high-class lady's-maids, +indispensable for initiating my little animals into the subtle mysteries +of Parisian toilets, has of necessity led to their making a number of +discoveries, which have contributed in a remarkable degree to their +civilization:--hardly, however, in those elements which I could have +most desired. They have all of them got to know a great deal more than +was necessary for them about those famous "customs of our harems in +France," the principles of which I had endeavoured to teach them. Thus I +even noticed the other day that I set Zouhra and Nazli laughing when I +reminded them of some point of etiquette. Although they are still imbued +with the good principles of their native education, it is evident they +are being corrupted by the poison of Liberalism. This I am convinced of +by certain airs of assurance which they have put on, by their +coquetries, and by novel and unexpected caprices which they now display. + +The "Rights of Woman" have clearly been divulged to them. They talk of +walking out by themselves, of visiting the popular theatres and +music-halls, and even Mabille, the illuminations of which struck their +fancy very much the other night, as we were passing the Avenue Montaigne +in the carriage, on our way back from the Bois. One little instance will +illustrate the situation for you. Mohammed's rank and titles have ceased +to impress them with any respect; and the day before yesterday Zouhra +actually had the impudence to say "Chut!" to him. + +This expression will clearly indicate to you an astonishing progress in +the refinements of our language; but it will also, no doubt, afford you +a text upon which to declaim in that cruelly sarcastic style which your +Philistine genius revels in. I will, therefore, anticipate you by +replying: + +In the first place, that Mohammed does not understand French--a fact +which considerably diminishes the gravity of Zouhra's disrespect; + +In the second, that I never doubted but what their stay in Paris would +open my houris' minds to new ideas; + +And in the third, that neither did I doubt but what they would acquire, +in consequence, more precise notions upon the extent of their rights. + +Woman, like any other animal susceptible of education, possesses the +most subtle faculties of imitation. Now if, her weak nature being +overcome by those impulses towards mischief and malice with which she is +peculiarly endowed, she is tempted to commit trivial derelictions of +conduct--derelictions which, after all, are but faults of +discernment--is there any reason why we should make such a fuss about +it? + +In the midst of the supremely refined existence which my sultanas lead, +I seem to discover in these innocent little vagaries a frank simplicity +of character, more nearly related to purity of conscience than are the +accomplished manners of our most polished coquettes. + +While on this subject I must reply to the sarcasms contained in your +last letter. + +Let me tell you first of all that I have never laid claim to the +character of a superior being inaccessible to human vanities, as you are +trying to make out. I am quite willing to admit with you that I, like +any other man, am possessed by "the stupid satisfaction which every man +experiences in watching the success of the woman he loves." It is quite +possible that the effect produced by my odalisques upon the idle crowd +(or as you term it _la haute badauderie_) of Paris, has suddenly +invested them with new charms in my eyes. You say that the mystery with +which they are enshrouded, and the silly conjectures which I hear people +make about them as they pass by, have excited me and turned my head like +that of a simpleton. + +Well, I suppose you will hardly expect me to account for the human +weakness which leads us to measure our own happiness by the degree of +envy which it excites in others? Besides, what is the good of sifting +my passion or testing my love in a crucible in order to estimate its +value? + +In the midst of my pagan indulgences, you ask me if I really love, in +the usual sense of that word. This very reasonable question was at any +rate worth asking, however simple it may seem. It is concerned with the +great problem in psychology which I undertook to solve, namely, as to +which predominates in love, the heart or the senses, and whether true +love is possible when one loves four women at the same time? + +It is clear that in the restricted limits of our ideas, and under the +yoke of our customs and prejudices, we can only conceive of passion as +concentrated upon a single object. Too far removed from our primitive +origin and from the patriarchal age, and moulded by the influences of +more refined customs, our minds have been stimulated to the +contemplation of a certain recognized ideal. Still, as moralists and +philosophers, we must admit that among Orientals there is, doubtless, +another conception and another ideal of love, the character of which we +cannot grasp. It is only by divesting ourselves of our moral clogs, or +the restraints of our social conventionalities, that we can attain to +the understanding of this lofty psychological problem. Indeed, no one +has ever been able to say what love consists in. "Attraction of two +hearts," say some, and "mutual exchange of fancies;" but these are +nothing but words depending upon the particular instance in which they +are employed. + +The truth is that we are full of inconsistencies in all our +definitions. From a purely sentimental point of view, we start by laying +down, as an absolute axiom, that the human heart can only embrace one +object of love, and that man can only fall truly in love once in his +life. Yet if we abstract from love the distinct element which our senses +contribute to it, it is seen to consist of nothing but a form of +affection--an expansion of the soul analogous to friendship and to +paternal or filial love, sentiments equally powerful, but which we +recognize the duty of distributing between several objects. + +Whence arises this strange contradiction? + +Do not declare that it is a paradox, for our ideas on the subject +proceed entirely from our education and from the influence of custom +upon our minds. If we had been bred on the banks of the Ganges, of the +Nile, or of the Hellespont, our school of æsthetics would have been +different. The most romantic Turkish or Persian poet could not +understand the vain subtleties of our emotions. Since his laws permit +him several wives, it is his duty to love them all, and his heart rises +to the occasion. Do you mean to tell me that his is a different love to +ours? Upon what grounds? What do you know about it? Cannot you +understand the charms of the obligation he is under to protect them all, +in this equal distribution of his affections? It comes to this, in fact, +that our ideas on the point are simply and always a question of latitude +and of climate. We love like poor helpless creatures of circumstances. + +It is these very psychological considerations which form the basis of +the social argument which I intend to demonstrate in the important work +which I am preparing for the Academy of Science, and which I introduce +as follows:-- + +"Revered Mother, + +"Among the learned and celebrated members of whom your illustrious +Society so justly boasts, the most competent have already determined to +their satisfaction the general principles which should regulate the +study of biology. It would be the height of presumption on my part to +set up my unworthy opinion against theirs, were it not for the fact that +I can adduce, as a justification for doing so, certain data in my own +possession which very few, probably, of these highly-respected +authorities could have procured under such favourable conditions as I +have been enabled to do. As the nephew of a Pasha I have, &c." + +As you perceive, this modest preface is well calculated to soothe the +delicate susceptibilities of the Institute. + + +The civilization of my Kondjé-Gul has become quite the most delightful +subject of study for me. It presents a complete romance in itself, and +the denial which I have imposed upon myself adds a certain charm to it. +I must tell you that her stay with Madame Montier has gradually produced +a number of unforeseen complications. Commodore Montague has returned; +one of the consequences of which is that the intimacy between the Misses +Maud and Suzannah Montague and the ward of worthy Omer-Rashid-Effendi, +which has seemed to him a most desirable one, has been so much +encouraged that they have become inseparable, and Kondjé-Gul has of +course been invited by her young friends to entertainments given by +their father--invitations which she has been unable to decline for fear, +thereby, of arousing suspicions. + +Discretion on my part, you will thus perceive, has become more than ever +necessary, so long as Kondjé-Gul remains with Madame Montier. Our +amorous relations are absolutely reduced to epistolary effusions, and to +clandestine meetings, to bring about which we have recourse to all the +stratagems employed by separated lovers. There is a certain piquancy in +these adventures which affords us much delight--so true is it that the +deprivation of a pleasure enhances its value. In the morning Kondjé-Gul +takes riding-lessons in the Bois with Maud and Suzannah, who are +accompanied by their father. I sometimes take a canter that way, in +order to watch their party ride by. She looks charming in her +riding-habit, and the Montague girls are really very pretty, especially +Maud, who has a pert little playful expression which is very +fascinating. + +I forgot to tell you that Kondjé-Gul's mother, Murrah-Hanum, has +arrived. She is a woman of forty-five, tall, with a distinguished +bearing, and rather handsome still. Yet although she has been +Europeanized by her residence at the French consul's at Smyrna, and +speaks our language almost with fluency, she retains in her manners all +the peculiarities of the Circassian and the Asiatic; she has an +easy-going and indolent temperament, and in her large dark eyes you can +read the stern resignation of the fatalist races. When she appeared +before me, she lavished upon me, in Oriental fashion, the most ardent +expressions of devotion. I assured her of my desire to secure to her a +share in all the advantages which I wished to confer upon Kondjé-Gul. +She expressed her gratitude with calmness and dignity, and swore to +observe towards me the submissive obedience which she owed to her +daughter's husband. In short, you can picture the interview for +yourself; it was characterized by all the florid effusiveness of +Mahommedan greetings. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +I don't suppose you will be astonished at a curious encounter which has +just taken place. + +I must tell you that in my uncle's character while in Paris, +Barbassou-Pasha, General in the Turkish cavalry, predominates over +Captain Barbassou the sailor. He takes a ride every morning, and I of +course accompany him. These are our occasions both for intimate talks +and for discussing serious questions; and I beg you to understand that +my uncle's notions upon the latter are by no means ordinary ones. He +adorns such questions with quite original views--views which are +certainly not the property of any other mortal known or likely to be +known in this world below. He starts a subject for me, and I give him +the cue as well as I can. I know of nothing more instructive than to +follow his lines of argument--he has a separate one for each +subject--upon different departments of private and political life, +judged from his own standpoint. As a legislator I fancy he would commit +radical mistakes; but as a philosopher, I doubt very much if a match +could be found for him, for I don't think that his methods can be +compared with those of any existing school of thought. + +The other morning we went to the forest of Mendon; my uncle, as a lover +of the picturesque, considers that the Bois de Boulogne, with its lake, +looks as if it had been taken out of a box of German toys. We arrived at +Villebon, a sort of farm situated in the middle of the forest, with a +few fields attached to it. There is a restaurant there, which is much +frequented on Sundays during the summer. + +My uncle, enchanted with the place, wanted to stop and take his glass of +madeira there. So, leaving our horses in charge of a stable-boy, we went +into one of the rooms. At a table at the further end, quite a +stylish-looking woman, who looked as if she were out with somebody on +the spree, was sitting by herself, finishing a liqueur-ice, with her hat +off and lying by her side. Her figure, as viewed from the back, was +exquisite, with graceful and well-set shoulders, an elegantly poised +neck with a lovely little dimple on the nape, crowned by a luxuriant +chignon, from which emerged a profusion of rebellious tresses----. + +"Waiter! Madeira, please!" shouted my uncle in his formidable bass +voice. + +At this unexpected explosion, the strange lady jumped up from her chair +and looked suddenly round. But directly she saw the captain, she +screamed out and fainted away all at once. + +I must do my uncle the justice of admitting that when he noticed the +remarkable effect he had produced, he exhibited a slight gesture of +surprise; which, however, soon passed off. Without calling any help, in +four strides he reached the lady's side, and supported her against the +table, raising up her pretty head which had fallen back, and slapping +her hands. Then, having satisfied himself that she had completely lost +consciousness, he began without any more ado to unfasten her dress, tore +open her collar, and, with admirable dexterity, unhooked the upper part +of her stays--thereby revealing to our gaze two charming globes, +imprisoned in lace. + +This spectacle, I avow, might have made any other man pause in his +zealous operations,--not so my uncle, however; he did not think twice +about it, but with his usual unconcerned air proceeded to open out the +fair one's stays, then took up the water-bottle, and emptied it with one +dash into the hollow between her rounded charms. + +A convulsive start, and another scream, indicated immediately the +successful effect of this triumphant measure. + +"There!" he said to me, "you see that's all that was needed." + +Just at this moment the gentleman who belonged to the lady came in. It +is hardly necessary to add that when he saw my uncle occupied upon a +business so distinctly his own, the new-comer evinced some temper. + +"_Bon Dieu!_" he shouted out as he rushed forward, "What's the meaning +of this? What's the meaning of this?" + +"Nothing serious!" answered the pasha. "Your lady has simply been in a +swoon, nothing more; it's all over now!" + +"But what have you been about, sir? What do you mean by throwing water +like that, right upon people's bosoms--?" + +"It was all to do you a service," replied this saviour, quite +composedly. + +The lady, for her part, looked as if she was going off in another fit, +but my uncle, judging no doubt that he had fulfilled his part of the +duties, and without troubling himself any further about the mingled +alarms and stares of the people of the house who came up, made one of +his ceremonious bows to the whole company, and took me away with him, +saying, + +"Come, let us drink our madeira." + +So we went out. + +Being accustomed to Barbassou-Pasha's ways, I was certainly not +surprised at such a trifle as this. The waiter having served us, ten +minutes had elapsed, and while we were discussing the irreparable loss +of the Xerez and Douro vines, all of a sudden the door opened. It was +the lady's cavalier, and he came in raging like a storm. + +"_Bagasse!_" he exclaimed with a furious look, and his hair bristling up +like a porcupine. "But you won't get off quite so easily as that, sir! +Who ever heard of such a thing? Undressing a defenceless woman like +that, and quite a stranger too!! Not to mention that you have spoilt her +dress, which looks as if she had been under the pump!" + +His words rolled on like a torrent, in the purest Provençal accent. This +made my uncle smile, as if at some pleasant reminiscence; and putting on +his most engaging expression, he asked the new-comer in a gentle tone of +voice: + +"What are you to this lady?" + +"She is my sister-in-law, sir!" he replied in a fury, his voice swelling +louder and louder: "She is my brother's wife, sir; and he's no fool, no +more am I, sir!----Twenty-one years of service, eleven campaigns, and +sub-lieutenant of the Customs at Toulon, sir!----So you shall just let +me know how it was my sister-in-law fainted through your fault; and what +you meant by taking the liberty of exposing her in a way that no decent +man would be guilty of, not even with the consent of her family, nor if +she were in mortal danger of her life, sir!" + +"And where do you live?" continued my uncle, sipping his madeira, and +still fixing upon the fair one's brother-in-law the same charming gaze. + +"Hôtel des Bouches-du-Rhone, Rue Pagevin. I am escorting my +sister-in-law, and I am responsible for her to her husband." + +"My compliments to you, sir! She is a charming young person." + +This magnificent composure of my uncle's so completely disconcerted the +lieutenant of the Customs that he stopped short. But he had been carried +on too far by his hot meridional temper not to launch out again very +soon. He followed up with a perfect flood of abuse, interlarded with the +most approved insults, with violent epithets and noisy oaths. My uncle +listened to him quietly, stroking his chin, and contemplating him as if +watching the performance of some surprising feat. The Toulonnais said +that he considered this fainting fit of his sister-in-law's, and the +very unceremonious proceedings which had followed it, equally suspicious +and irregular. + +"My brother's honour has been outraged," and so on, he observed. + +But at last the good fellow was obliged to pause in order to take +breath. Barbassou-Pasha took advantage of the opening. + +"Pray what is _your_ name?" he asked, still smiling affably. + +"My name, my good man," loftily replied the man of Toulon, "is Firmin +Bonaffé, lieutenant in the Customs, seen twenty-one years of service and +eleven campaigns. And if that is not enough for you----" + +"Why, dear me! then this charming young person has married your brother, +has she?" + +"A week ago, sir, at Cadiz, where she lives! It was because he had to +go back over the sea to Brazil that he confided her to my charge. And +you must not imagine that I can let your outrageous behaviour to her +pass without further notice, sir!" + +"You are a man of spirit, sir, that I can see!" replied my uncle. He was +gradually falling into his native _assent_, charmed, no doubt, by the +soothing example of his adversary. "I can understand your feelings," he +continued; "and for my part, my good fellow, I confess I should not have +the slightest objection to taking a sabre and slicing off a piece of +your person." (He uttered this latter word, _individu_, in French, with +the Marseillais pronunciation, _inndividu_.) "Indeed," he continued +quite placidly, "I should have no objection to throwing you through the +window here, just as you are." + +This, following upon his imperturbable coolness throughout, had, I can +aver, a most aggravating effect. Being a little man and a braggart, +Firmin Bonaffé felt the insult all the more hotly. + +"Throw me through the window? _Me!_" he exclaimed, drawing himself up as +if he wanted to touch the sky. "Try then! Just try!" + +"By-and-by," said my uncle, pacifying him with a good-humoured gesture; +"but for the present let us have a talk, my good fellow! Certainly I +sympathise with your annoyance; for you must have perceived that I know +this lady, and that she knows me. There has even been a little _liaison_ +between us----" + +"_Bagasse!_ You confess to it, then?" + +"I confess to it!" responded the captain, in a conciliatory manner. +"But, my dear fellow, a brother's horns, as the saying goes, need not +trouble one so much as one's own. You will of course agree with me on +that point." + +"I agree with you there!" replied the Toulonnais, quite gravely, as if +struck by a specious argument. "But it does not follow from that----" + +"Stop a moment!" interrupted my uncle, who wished to pursue his +argument. "_I_, whom you see here, have also had the honour of being +made a cuckold, as they say in Molière. You are acquainted with Molière, +I dare say?" + +"I am; go on!" said the lieutenant, who had made up his mind to restrain +himself while my uncle was developing his explanations. + +"Very well! as you have read him, you ought to know that a misadventure +like that is not such a great matter after all. A second or two and it +is all over, just like having a tooth out. Besides, remember this, the +tooth cannot be replaced, while in the case of a woman, one can find +plenty to take her place." + +"That's true!" returned Firmin Bonaffé, who opened his eyes wide, as if +he wished to follow this chain of reasoning, which evidently astonished +him by its perspicuity. + +The issue began to be cleared. + +"Then we have arrived at the same opinion," continued Barbassou Pasha. +"All that remains is to come to an understanding." + +"By no means! by no means! I repeat, my brother confided his wife to my +charge. You have insulted her in public, and in the name of decency--" + +"Oh, no!" interrupted my uncle; "you are exaggerating! In the first +place, my nephew and I were the only persons present; therefore there +was no very great harm done. Then you brought the people up by your +shouting; consequently it is I who have cause to complain." + +"_Té!_ Are you trying to make a fool of me?" exclaimed the Toulonnais, +bursting out upon us like a bomb with another explosion. "Do you +suppose, then, that I am going down on my knees to thank you for having +undressed Jean Bonaffé's wife?" + +"Jean Bonaffé's wife? No, no, my good fellow!" briefly replied my uncle. + +"Why 'No'?" + +"Why, in the first place, because she is actually my own wife!" + +"Yours?" + +"As I have the pleasure of informing you. And consequently it is I who +would be entitled not to be at all pleased by your intervention in the +little domestic occurrence which took place just now." + +The Toulonnais, for the moment, was struck dumb with astonishment. + +"Then, _bagasse!_ who are you?" he asked. + +"_The late_ Barbassou, retired general, seen fifty years of service, and +thirty-nine campaigns, and the husband of your sister-in-law, who is +now a bigamist--rather an awkward mistake for a lady." + +My uncle might have gone on speaking for the rest of the day, and had it +all his own way. The unfortunate lieutenant stared at him, crushed and +dumbfounded by this astounding revelation. All at once, and without +waiting to hear any more, he turned on his heels, and beat a precipitate +retreat by the door. + +The late Barbassou indulged in a smile at this very intelligible +discomfiture of his adversary. He had finished his madeira, and we went +out to get our horses again. + +Directly he had mounted into the saddle, he said to me, reverting to the +subject of our interrupted conversation: + +"Do you know, I think it's all up with the Madeira vines; but as to +those of the Douro, with careful grafting, we might still pull them +through!" + +"I hope so, uncle!" I replied. + +And, as a matter of fact, I think he is right. Perhaps we shall soon +know. + + +Come, I must tell you about a new occurrence which is already +influencing my romance in the most unexpected manner. + +I don't suppose you have forgotten our Captain Picklock and the famous +story of the camels which were recovered through his good offices. Well, +the captain, having returned from Aden with the fever, and being at +Paris on his way home, accepted the hospitality of Baron de Villeneuve, +late consul at Pondicherry, whom you know. Two days ago we were invited +to a farewell dinner, given in his honour. It was quite a love-feast: +half a dozen friends, all of whom had been several times round the +world, and had met each other in various latitudes. The ladies consisted +of the amiable Baroness de Villeneuve, Mrs. Picklock, and my aunt. You +may imagine what a number of old recollections they discussed during +dinner. After the coffee we went into the drawing-room, where a +card-table was being set out for whist, when my uncle said: + +"By the bye, what has become of our good friend Montague?" + +"Oh, Montague," answered the baron; "he is in Paris. He has been +prevented from dining with us by an invitation to his ambassador's; but +he will look in this evening, and you will see him." + +"Ah, that's capital!" exclaimed my uncle; "I shall be delighted to see +him again." + +When I heard this name mentioned, I pricked up my ears. Still there was +nothing to indicate that the Montague spoken of was the commodore. I +listened with curiosity. + +"Will he stay in Paris any length of time?" my uncle continued. + +"The whole winter," replied the baroness. "He has come to pick up his +daughters, whom he had left in my charge two years ago, before he went +off to the North Pole." + +"Ah, yes! little Maud and Suzannah," observed my uncle. + +"Yes, captain; only your _little_ Maud and Suzannah are now grown-up +young ladies," added the baroness with a laugh. + +It was impossible for me to entertain any more doubts; and I confess my +mind was far from easy when I heard this. At the thought of meeting the +commodore, my first idea was to get away at once, before he arrived. +Although I was confident of the perfect security of my secret, and +although it was the merest chance that had brought about the intimacy +which I could not have foreseen between Kondjé-Gul and his daughters, I +could not conceal from myself the embarrassment which I should feel in +his presence. As bad luck would have it, I was already seated at the +card-table. I lost my tricks as fast as I could in order to shorten the +game, swearing inwardly at the captain and my uncle, who were both of +them playing with a provoking deliberation, and lecturing me upon my +careless play. At last, having succeeded in losing my three rubbers, I +got up from the table, alleging a sudden attack of head-ache, when at +this very moment, in the next drawing-room where the baroness was +sitting, the servant announced, + +"Commodore Montague!" + +Just imagine my stupefaction, Louis, when I saw the commodore come in, +followed by his two daughters and Kondjé-Gul, whom he introduced to the +baroness and to my aunt as a schoolfellow of his daughters, Maud and +Suzannah! + +You may guess what a state of confusion I was thrown into by this +spectacle. Whatever would happen? My chances of retreat being now +completely cut off, I withdrew myself to the midst of a group who were +talking together in a corner of the room. Kondjé-Gul was listening +timidly to the baroness's compliments, and I heard the latter say: + +"I am much indebted, mademoiselle, to our friend the commodore who has +done us the favour of bringing you with him; Maud and Suzannah had +already spoken to me so often about you, that I had a great desire to +make your acquaintance." + +The striking beauty of the young foreigner had created quite a +sensation, and feeling that all their eyes were fixed on her, she did +not venture to look about her. Still it was necessary to anticipate the +dangerous consequences of the least imprudence on the part of either of +us, by putting her on her guard before the baroness had the opportunity +of introducing me to the commodore and his daughters.----By rather a +clever manoeuvre, therefore, I managed to slip behind my aunt while +she was talking to the American young ladies. + +When Kondjé-Gul saw me, she could not help giving a start of surprise, +but I had time to put my finger to my lips, and signify to her that she +must not show that she knew me. Our encounters in the Bois, during our +morning rides, had fortunately trained her already for this necessary +piece of dissimulation: and she had sufficient self-control not to +betray our secret. My aunt turned round at that very moment, and seeing +me standing by her chair, said to me: + +"Oh, André, come and let me introduce you to this young lady!" + +Kondjé-Gul blushed when I bowed to her, and returned my bow very +prettily. I was introduced in the same way to the commodore and his +daughters. There was a vacant chair close to them on which the baroness +made me sit down, and I soon found myself engaged in a general +conversation with them; I may add that the liveliness of the Montague +girls rendered our conversation much easier than I had expected. Having +been brought up in the American way, they possessed that youthful +independence of spirit which is stifled in our own girls by a more +strict and formal education, on the false ground of the requirements of +modesty. Kondjé-Gul, although rather reserved at first, expanded +gradually, and I was astonished at the change which had been effected in +her whole bearing. Certainly one could still guess that she was a +foreigner, but she had acquired quite a new ease in her deportment and +in her language. Being reassured by her behaviour against the risks of +this encounter, which I had at first so much dreaded, I freely accepted +the peculiar position in which I was placed. There was a positive charm +about this mystery, the pleasure of which I can hardly explain to you. + +Although this was quite a small and friendly party, there were now +enough young people to get up a "hop," so the baroness instructed me to +lead off with Miss Suzannah, which I did very willingly, asking her for +a polka. + +"What do you think of my friend Kondjé-Gul?" she said to me, when we sat +down after a few turns. + +"She is remarkably pretty," I replied. + +"I suppose you'll ask her for a dance with you?" she continued, with a +smile. + +"I shall certainly not fail in this duty to a friend of yours and Miss +Maud's!" + +"Miss Maud and I thank you very much for the attention," she said, with +a ceremonious bow; "only," she added, smiling maliciously at me, "I must +prepare you for a disappointment, which you will, no doubt, feel very +much afflicted by--our friend does not dance!" + +"What, never?" + +"We have given several little parties at my father's rooms, and have +never been able to persuade her to." + +"Ah! that's no doubt because she only knows her oriental dances." + +"You're quite wrong there! She has taken lessons just as we have, and +waltzes splendidly; but she won't even dance with the professor; it's +always Maud or I who act as her partners. She has some principles on +this subject which appear to be rooted in her, and which we have not yet +succeeded in overcoming." + +"If you would help me this evening," I said, "perhaps we can succeed +between us." + +"What, is it to be a conspiracy?" + +"Quite a friendly one, for you must admit that it is for her own +interest." + +"I won't deny it," she replied, with a laugh; "but how are we to force +her?" + +Then I noticed poor Kondjé-Gul, who was watching us, and seemed to envy +us. + +"Listen!" I said, as if a sudden idea had struck me. "I know of a likely +way." + +"Well?" + +"Let us take my aunt into our confidence; I see them over there talking +Turkish together. My aunt will perhaps be able to exercise sufficient +influence over your friend to convince her that she may conform to our +usages without committing any offence." + +"Yes, that's the way to manage it!" exclaimed Miss Suzannah, in delight. +"Our conspiracy is making progress; but how shall we get at your aunt?" + +"Does Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul understand English?" I asked her. + +"No, not a word." + +"Then it's a very simple matter," I added. "After this polka I'll take +you back to your seat; you then communicate our scheme to my aunt in +English, and ask for her assistance; I come up, as if by chance, and try +my luck with her for the next waltz." + +We did as we said. I watched from the distance this important +conference, all the details of which I guessed. While Miss Suzannah was +addressing my aunt in English, I saw her laugh in a sly manner, casting +a glance at me. She at once understood our request; then turned her +attention again to Kondjé-Gul, and continued, quite undisturbed, the +subject which she had last commenced talking about with her. I had so +perfectly anticipated all the phases of this scene, that I seemed to +hear what she said. By Kondjé-Gul's face I could tell the moment my aunt +approached her on our subject, and the negative gesture with which she +replied was so decisive--I was nearly saying so full of horror--that, +fearing lest she should cut off her retreat completely, I deemed it +advisable to intervene as quickly as possible. + +I advanced, therefore, without any more ado, joined their group, and +addressing myself to the handsome young foreigner, I said to her: + +"I should not like you to think me indifferent to the pleasure of +dancing with you, mademoiselle; I meant to have asked you for the first +waltz; but, alas! Miss Suzannah tells me that you do not dance!" + +"You have come to the rescue, André," chimed in my aunt. "I was just +endeavouring to convert the young lady to our customs by telling her +that she would be taken for a little savage." + +At this expression, which she had so often heard me utter, Kondjé-Gul +smiled and cast a furtive glance at me. Miss Suzannah supported my aunt, +and the victory was already won. They were beginning to play a waltz, so +Maud took her hand and forced it into mine; I clasped her by the waist +and led her off. During the first few turns Kondjé-Gul trembled with +excitement; I felt her heart beating violently against my bosom, and I +confess I was nearly losing my own self-possession. Once we found +ourselves some way removed from the rest, and, with her head resting on +my shoulder, she whispered in my ear: + +"Do you still love me, dear? Are you satisfied with me?" + +"Yes, but take care!" I answered hurriedly: "you are too beautiful, and +all their eyes are fixed upon us." + +"If they only knew!"----she added, with a laugh. + +I stopped a moment, to let her take breath. Each time any couple came +near us, we appeared to be engaged in one of those ball-room +conversations the only characteristic of which is their frivolity, and +as soon as they were out of hearing, we talked together in a low voice. + +"You naughty fellow," she said, "I have not seen you in the Bois for +three days!" + +"It was from motives of prudence," I replied. "And now prepare yourself +for a surprise. Your new house is ready and you can go there the day +after to-morrow." + +"Do you really mean it?" exclaimed she, "Oh! what happiness! Then you +find me sufficiently Europeanized?" + +"You coquette! you are adorable!----What a nice fan you have, +mademoiselle!" added I, changing my manner as Maud came close to us. + +"Do you think so," she answered, "Is it Chinese or Japanese?" + +Maud having passed we resumed our conversation, overjoyed at the idea of +constantly seeing each other again. The waltz was just ending and I was +obliged to conduct Kondjé-Gul back to my aunt. + +"Listen!" she remarked, "whenever I put my fan up to my lips, that will +mean 'I love you'----You must come back soon to invite me for another +dance, won't you?" + +"My dear girl, I can't." + +"Why?" + +"Because it is not usual, and would be remarked," I replied. + +"But I don't want to dance with anyone else!" she said, almost with a +terrified look. + +I had not for once thought of this very natural consequence of our +little adventure, and I must confess that the idea of anyone else asking +her after me took me quite by surprise--like some improbability which no +mortal could conceive. + +"What shall I do?" she said. + +It was necessary at all costs to repair the effects of our imprudence. I +invented for her a sudden indisposition, a dizziness which obliged her +to leave off waltzing, and I conducted her back to my aunt. This pretext +would be sufficient to justify her in declining to dance for the rest of +the evening. + + +I know very well, my dear fellow, that you will cry out against me when +I tell you of this strange feeling which pierced me suddenly like a +thorn in the heart, at the notion of seeing Kondjé-Gul dance with +another man. But how could I help it? + +I simply relate to you a psychological fact and nothing more. + +You may tell me, if you like, that this is a ridiculous exaggeration, +and that I am giving myself the morose airs of a jealous sultan. The +truth is that in my harem life, I have contracted prudish alarms and +real susceptibilities which are excited by things which would not have +affected me formerly. Contact with the outside world will, no doubt, +restore me to the calm frame of mind enjoyed by every good husband. +Perhaps some day I may even be able to feel pride as I watch my wife +with naked arms and shoulders whirling round the room in the amorous +embrace of a hussar. At present my temper is less complaisant: my love +is a master's love, and the notion that any man could venture to press +my Kondjé-Gul's little finger would be enough to throw me into a fit of +rage. That's what we Orientals are like, you know! + +However that be, I led Kondjé-Gul back to my aunt's side, and she did +not dance any more. + +From a corner of the drawing-room I saw some half-a-dozen of my friends +march up to get introduced to her, anxiously longing to obtain the same +favour as I had, and I laughed at their discomfiture. + +Meanwhile the commodore, who, by the way, is a highly educated and +thoroughly good-natured man, had marked me out, and was so kind in his +attentions to me, that I felt constrained, in spite of my scruples, to +accept his advances. His relations with my uncle, moreover, might have +made the cold reserve which I had so far maintained appear singular. +Finally, towards the middle of the entertainment, when he was going away +with his daughters and Kondjé-Gul, whom he had to see home to Madame +Montier's, I had, without meaning it, so completely won his good +opinion, that I found myself invited to accompany my aunt who was dining +with him the next day but one. + +Although it was only a fatality that had led to this extraordinary +complication, I must own that, when I began to think over it and to +contemplate the possible consequences, I felt a considerable anxiety. +Hitherto, by a compromise with conscience, which Kondjé-Gul's childlike +simplicity rendered almost excusable, I had been enabled to deceive +myself about the consequences of this school-friendship with two +American girls who were strangers to me. This, I thought, would never be +more than a chance companionship, and when her time with them was over, +the Misses Maud and Suzannah would remain ignorant of her real position, +which they had no occasion for suspecting. But I could not fail to +perceive that our relations with the commodore must aggravate our +difficulties to a remarkable extent. + +Our society affords shelter, certainly, to many a hidden romance: we +have both honest loves and shady intrigues confused and interlaced in +its mazes so that they escape all notice. Yet, certain as I felt that +nothing could occur to betray our extraordinary secret, I was troubled +all the same at the part which I should have to play in this family with +which my uncle was on such intimate terms. + +Placed face to face with the inexorable logic of facts, I could not long +deceive myself as to the course which the most elementary sense of +delicacy prescribed to me. I could see clearly during this last evening +party, that Kondjé-Gul had no further need of Madame Montier's lessons +to complete her social education. Count Térals house being now ready to +receive her, I need only settle her there with her mother in order to +commence at once the happy life of which we had so often dreamed. Then +it would be easy to withdraw gradually from the society of the Montague +girls, and thus banish all future risks. + +Having decided upon this course, I wrote the same evening to Kondjé-Gul +to ask her to prepare for her return. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +You know, my dear Louis, that whenever I have formed any plan, whether a +reckless one or even a wise one, I go straight at it with the +stubbornness of a mule. This, perhaps, explains many of my follies. +According to my view (as a believer in free-will), man is himself a will +or independent power served by his organs; he is a kind of manifestation +of the spirit of nature created to control matter. Any man who abdicates +his rights, or gives way before obstacles, abandons his mission and +returns to the rank of the beasts. His is a lost power, which has +evaporated into space. Such is my opinion. + +This highly philosophical prelude was necessary, as you will see, in +order to fix my principles before proceeding any further; and, above +all, in order to defend myself beforehand against any rash accusation of +fickleness in my plans. Science has mysterious paths, along which we +feel our way, without seeing clearly our destination. The consequence of +which is that, just when we fancy that we have reached the end, new and +immense horizons open out before us. + +But I am getting tired of my metaphor. + +It all amounts to this--that having the honour of being my uncle's +nephew, nothing happens to me in the same way as to other mortals, and +that consequently all the careful arrangements that I made in regard to +Kondjé-Gul have eventuated in a manner completely opposed to my express +intentions. But although my objective has been considerably enlarged, it +remains substantially the same, as I think you will remark. + +Kondjé-Gul and her mother are now settled down in Count Téral's house; +and it is hardly necessary for me to describe to you the joy which she +felt at the termination of her educational seclusion. The first few days +after her return were days of frenzied delight, and we spent them almost +entirely together. Her metamorphosis was now so complete, that I felt as +if I were witnessing one of the fabulous Indian _avatars_, and that +another soul had taken up its dwelling in this divinely beautiful body +of hers. I could not tire of watching her as she walked, and listening +to her as she spoke. In her Oriental costume, which she occasionally +resumes, in order to please me, the American girl's ways, which she has +picked up from Suzannah and Maud, produce a most remarkable effect. And +with all this was mingled that exquisitely blended aroma of youth, +beauty, and dignity, which permeated her and surrounded her like the +sweet perfume of some strange Oriental blossom! + +We have settled our plan of life. Knowing the whole truth, as she does +now, about our social habits, she understands the necessity of veiling +our happiness under the most profound mystery. Confiding in the sanctity +of a tie which her religion legitimizes, she is aware that we must +conceal it from the eyes of the world, like any secret marriage. +Besides, what advantage would there be in lifting the veil of mystery, +and taking the poetry out of this romantic union--thus reducing it to +the vulgar level of an ordinary intrigue? If I were to treat my Kondjé +like a common mistress, would not that be degrading her? + +When I tried to console her for the dulness which this constraint must +cause her, she exclaimed, with vehemence-- + +"Be so good as not to calumniate my woman's heart! What do I care for +your country, and its laws, so long as you love me? I don't care to know +either your society, or its customs, or its conventionalities. I belong +to you, and I love you; that is all I see, all I feel. I am neither your +wife, nor your mistress. From the depths of my soul I feel that I am +more than either. I am your slave, and I wish to preserve my bonds. +Command me, do what you like with me; and when you love me no longer, +kill me, that's all!" + +"Yes, dear!" I replied, laughing at her rhapsodies, "I will sew you up +in a sack, and go and throw you in the Bosphorus some evening!" + +She received this remark with a peal of childish laughter. + +"Goodness me!" she said, in her confusion; "why, I was quite forgetting +that I am civilised!" + +Count Téral's house has been quite a find for us; it seems just as if it +had been built expressly for Kondjé-Gul and her mother. On the +ground-floor, approached by a short flight of eight steps, is a +drawing-room, which opens into a sort of hall, resembling an artist's +studio. The latter serves as picture-gallery, library, and concert-room. +Above the wainscoting the eye is relieved by silk hangings, of a large +grey-striped pattern on white ground, in contrast with which is the rich +garnet of a velvet-covered suite of furniture. There are some curious +old cabinets in carved ebony, set out with statuettes, vases, flowers, +and nick-nacks. The general effect is lively, enchanting, and luxurious; +in fact, just what the home of a young lady of patrician birth, who +confines herself to a small circle of friends, should be. On the first +floor are the private apartments, and on the second the servants' rooms. +The establishment is maintained on the elegant, yet simple scale, which +seems proper for members of good society; they keep three horses, and a +neat brougham: nothing more. Their luxuries, in short, are all in the +well-considered style suitable for a rich foreign lady and her daughter, +who mix in Parisian society with the reserve and delicate taste of two +women anxious to avoid attracting too much attention. + +Kondjé-Gul's private life is contrived, as well as everything else, to +preserve her against solitude or dulness. She is completing her +"civilisation" with industrious zeal. Every morning, from eight o'clock +to twelve, is devoted to work; governesses from Madame Montier's come to +continue her course of lessons; then from one to two she practises on +the piano. Her curious mind, with its mixture of ardent imagination and +youthful intelligence, is really producing a wonderful intellectual +structure upon its original foundation of native belief and +superstitions. I am often quite surprised by hearing her display, on the +subject of our social contradictions, an amount of observation and a +grasp of view which would do credit to a philosopher. + +After two o'clock she dresses, and takes a walk or a ride, or makes +calls with her friends, the Montague girls; for in spite of all my +excellent intentions, their intimacy has only increased since they were +all emancipated from the restraints of school life. Kondjé-Gul being now +under her mother's protection, the most regular position she could have +in the world, it would have been difficult indeed to find a pretext for +breaking it off. Moreover, I had come to the conclusion that, owing to +my having been introduced to the commodore's family by my uncle, there +could be no danger in these encounters with Kondjé-Gul at their house. +It was by Maud and Suzannah that I had been presented to their fair +foreign companion, and who would suspect it was not at Madame de +Villeneuve's party that I had first spoken to her? Consequently, if any +unforeseen circumstance should some day betray our secret, I could at +least rest assured that Commodore Montague would never think of accusing +me of anything more than a romantic adventure, resulting by a natural +train of circumstances from that introduction. + +Nothing, as you perceive, could be more correct from the worldly point +of view. I am well aware that as a rigid moralist you would not neglect +the opportunity, if I gave it you, of lecturing me upon the rashness of +my course. Well, for my part, I maintain that our respect for the +proprieties consists chiefly in our respect for ourselves. Chance, which +led us into the society of the foreign colony, together with +Kondjé-Gul's charming manner, have naturally created for her a number of +pleasant acquaintances, which I should never perhaps have aimed at +obtaining for her. All that was needed to secure her this advantage was +that we should both pay to the world this tribute of mystery to which it +is entitled. Our society is so mixed that I do not think you would have +been scandalised if you had met Kondjé-Gul at the ball at the British +Embassy, where she went the other night with her mother, and Commodore +Montague. The admiration which she excited as she passed must certainly +have disarmed your objections. + +Being always about with the Montague girls, Kondjé-Gul soon got invited +with them to the balls to which the commodore took his daughters. Having +been admitted to two or three aristocratic drawing-rooms, such as that +of Princess B---- and Marchioness d'A----, she obtained the entry to all +the others. With your knowledge of the infatuations of our fashionable +world, you can imagine the extravagant style of admiring gossip with +which such a beautiful rising star is greeted wherever she goes. I +should add that the young sinner understands it all very well, and is +very much flattered by it. + +The mystery which surrounds her increases the peculiarity of our +situation. Being always chaperoned by her mother, whose foreign type of +features creates an imposing impression, Kondjé-Gul is taken for one of +those young ladies who are models of filial respect. The style of their +house and of their dress, and that refined elegance which stamps them as +ladies of distinction, designate them no less indisputably the +possessors of a large fortune and of high rank. All this, you will +perceive, formed a crowning justification for the success which +Kondjé-Gul's remarkable beauty had of itself sufficed to achieve for +her. Then of course the fashionable reporters of the official receptions +fulfilled their duty by heralding the advent of this brilliant star. +They only made the mistake--one of those mistakes so common with +journalists--of describing her as a Georgian. + +Confident in the security of our mystery, Kondjé-Gul and I find nothing +more delightful than the manoeuvres by which we deceive them all. We +have invented a code of signs, the meaning of which we keep to +ourselves, and which leads to some very amusing by-play between us. + +Thus the other evening, at Madame de T----'s, she was sitting by Maud +and Suzannah, surrounded by a number of admirers, when the young Duke de +Marandal, one of the most ardent of my acknowledged rivals, was +lavishing upon her his most seductive attentions. Kondjé was listening +to him with a charming smile on her face. Now that evening, I must tell +you, she had resolved upon a bit of fun; and knowing that in France +unmarried girls are not supposed to wear jewellery, she had fastened on +her wrist a heavy gold bracelet as a token of her servitude. So while +the young duke was talking, she looked at me, playing carelessly the +while with what she calls her "slave's ring." You may guess how we +laughed together over it. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +I have to inform you, my dear fellow, that my uncle, who has always been +admired so far for his virtuous conduct, and whom I should certainly +have been ready to quote as a paragon of husbands, seems just now on the +way to forfeiting his character. + +Here is what I have to relate: + +Two days ago I went to the Theâtre des Variétés to see for the second +time the play which is just now the rage. Not having obtained a good +place, I left my stall at the end of the first act with the intention of +not returning, when, as I passed a rather closely-curtained stage-box, +I was quite surprised by seeing Barbassou-Pasha, who had pretended to be +going out that evening to an important dinner with some business +friends. He was accompanied by a lady whose features were obscured by +the darkness. + +Being a discreet and respectful nephew, I was about to turn my eyes the +other way, when he beckoned me with an imperative gesture to join him in +his box. I immediately obeyed this peremptory summons, and, going round +by the passage, got the box-opener to usher me in. + +"Come in, and sit down," said my uncle, pointing out to me a chair +behind him. + +Once more I obeyed him, bowing politely to the lady, whose features I +could not clearly distinguish. I was hardly seated when I recognised the +fair heroine of the fainting fit last week. + +Exquisitely attired in a perfectly ravishing costume, Madame Jean +Bonaffé replied to my compliments by a charming smile, and a pretty +glance from her fine Spanish eyes, which showed me clearly that she was +troubled by no remnants of that sudden indisposition which the too +unexpected encounter with my uncle had produced. + +Our conversation turned upon the play. As she spoke French rather badly +(although she understood it very well), she asked my uncle from time to +time to tell her the words she was in need of. This he did, pronouncing +them with grammatical deliberation, and then leaving us to talk alone, +while he surveyed the audience like one superior to such frivolities as +feminine smalltalk. + +My companion was very gay, and was crunching bonbons all the time. + +I, as you may be sure, was gallant and attentive, and I followed her +example with the bonbons. + +My former aunt, Christina de Portero, is at the happy age of between +twenty-eight and thirty. Or, possibly, she is as old as thirty-two. Her +figure is slender and supple, with those bold expansions of the hips +which, in dancing the fandango, make short work of the skirt. Add to +these fascinating details the accurate information with which I have +already supplied you on the subject of her exuberant bust, and you can +picture her very well for yourself. + +She has a fine erect head, clear and singularly expressive features, a +warm complexion, a Grecian nose, with quivering nostrils, and a mouth +adorned with pearly teeth, with a soft, black, downy growth on her upper +lip. She is an Andalusian, overflowing with life and spirits, whose +exuberance, however, is tempered by her graceful and truly refined +demeanour. One can guess what a fire of passion smoulders within her. + +My uncle was in perfection that evening. From time to time he discarded +his philosophic calm in order to take a look at us and reply in Spanish +to his fair friend's questions. He addressed her as "querida," in that +indulgent tone which is peculiar to him, like a pasha who is signifying +his approbation. + +During the course of our conversation I discovered that things had gone +on like this between them since the day after that famous scene at +Villebon, whose lively incidents had doubtless conduced to this friendly +reconciliation. How had my uncle managed to get round the ferocious +native of Toulon? That I could never discover. However this may have +been, after the play was over, we went off, all three of us, to the Café +Anglais. + +We had a capital supper, during which Madame Jean Bonaffé, feeling more +at her ease under these intimate circumstances, gave free play to her +fascinations. I could soon perceive that in her pleasure at forgetting +her regrettable escapades of the past, her grief over her supposed +widowhood, and also the short-lived and illegal marriage which she had +contracted by mistake, she expected that my uncle would settle her at +Paris. She appeared to speak of this happy prospect as of something upon +which her mind was set, and it gave rise to a number of beautiful +castles in the air. + +Barbassou-Pasha, gallant and attentive as ever, listened to all these +proposed arrangements for her felicity, in that good-natured, +patronizing manner which he always maintains with women, and only +departs from in the case of my aunt Eudoxia, who keeps him in check. +Nodding his approval of everything she said, he went on eating and +drinking, like a practical man who will not neglect the claims of a good +supper, and he allowed the fair Andalusian to lavish all her attentions +upon him. + +About two o'clock in the morning, we took a brougham, drove back my +aunt to the Rue de l'Arcade, where she occupies a splendidly furnished +suite of rooms, and then returned home. + +"What do you think of all that, my dear Louis? Hum!" + + +Our little circle has been augmented by a very pleasant and genial +addition, Mr. Edward Wolsey, a nephew of the commodore's, who may very +likely be engaged to Maud. + +As I have become quite intimate with Commodore Montague's party, I +generally join their group, without the smallest fear of raising a +suspicion regarding these encounters. The attention which I pay to +Kondjé-Gul and to Suzannah have caused no little envy, for, as you know, +Kondjé-Gul pretends she does not dance. This peculiarity, together with +her original fascinations with which a certain childish simplicity is +mingled, give rise to the most extraordinary conjectures. What is the +cause of all this reserve? men ask. Is it modesty, bashfulness, or +pride? They know that she can dance splendidly, for she has been seen +dancing occasionally at private parties with Maud and Suzannah. They +think it must be due to some jealous _fiancé_, her betrothal to whom is +kept secret, and to whom she is devoted. + +Lent having interrupted the course of public entertainments, our private +parties which usually took place at Teral House, became the gainers by +it. Maud and Suzannah felt more free and easy there, and Kondjé-Gul +experienced quite a childish delight in holding what she called her +"receptions." Our small circle was soon augmented by a dozen select +friends, picked carefully from the ranks of their young ball-room +acquaintances. There were one or two mothers among them whose presence +did not interfere with the harmony of these charming gatherings, and the +tone of elegant distinction which prevailed in no respect interfered +with their exuberant gaiety. + +This break in the giddy circle of fashionable dissipation, afforded +quite a new happiness to Kondjé-Gul and me. In the course of her +initiation into the refinements of our life, her exotic charms had +acquired some new and indescribable embellishments. We spent many a long +evening alone together in that delightful privacy which affords the +sweetest opportunities for communion between loving hearts, and we grew +to feel like a modern Darby and Joan. I was quite proud of my handiwork, +and contemplated with joy this pure and ideal being whose nature I had +inspired, whose soul and whose heart I had moulded. The cultivation of +this young and virgin mind, as I may be permitted to call it, so +possessed by its Oriental beliefs, had produced a charming contrast of +enthusiasm and calm reason which imparted a most original effect to her +frank utterances of new ideas. I was often quite surprised to find in +her mingled with her Asiatic superstitions, and transformed as it were +by contact with a simpler faith, the substance of my own private +sentiments and of my wildest aspirations. One might really think that +she had borrowed her thoughts, nay, her very life, as it were, from me, +and that her tender emotions had their source in my own heart. + +Our happiness seemed so assured, and we had it so completely under our +own control, that it would have appeared absurd for us to imagine it to +be at the mercy of Fate. Still, in the midst of this tranquillity there +sometimes arose in my mind an anxious thought. Light clouds floated +across my clear azure sky, and often, as I sat by her side, I began to +think, in spite of myself, about the future--about this marriage of +which you yourself have reminded me, and from the obligations to which +nothing could save me. However great the sacrifice might be, I could not +even think of failing to carry out my uncle's wishes in this matter. My +heart bound me to this adoptive father who had placed unlimited faith in +my loyalty: my whole life was pledged to this chivalrous benefactor who +had left all his fortune in my hands, nor could I permit the least +suspicion of ingratitude on my part to pass over his mind. + +But melancholy as was the recollection of this duty to which I had +resigned myself, I must confess that, after all, this impression was but +a fugitive one. I no longer attempted to struggle against the temptation +to a compromise, by means of which I had determined to reconcile my +passion for Kondjé-Gul with my marital duties to Anna Campbell. The +retiring nature of the latter would surely permit our union to be +treated as one of those arrangements known as _mariages de convenance_, +and my charming romantic connection with Kondjé-Gul would always remain +a secret. Moreover, my uncle, should he ever discover this after-match +of my oriental life, was certainly not the man to be seriously +scandalised at it, directly he assured himself that "the +respectabilities" had not been violated. + + +By-the-bye, I should tell you that was a false alarm I sounded about my +uncle! I calumniated him when I believed him to have committed anything +so shocking as a double adultery. + +We went again yesterday to the forest of Meudon, which we had almost +given up visiting of late, my uncle having been engaged for the last +fortnight upon "some important morning business," as he says. Well, we +arrived at Villebon's restaurant, our usual destination. When we entered +that celebrated room--empty this time--which had been the scene of the +drama which you remember, the latter came back very naturally to our +memory, and would have done so even without the superfluous aid of the +grins with which our waiter greeted us. Equally naturally, and as +becomes a dutiful nephew, who does not wish to appear indifferent to +family matters, I, seeing my uncle cast a glance towards the window near +which the incident that produced such momentous consequences occurred, +took the opportunity of asking after my pseudo-aunt Christina, about +whom I had not had any previous chance of questioning him. + +"Christina!" exclaimed Barbassou-Pasha, "why, she's gone back!" + +"Dear me! I thought she wanted to settle in Paris?" + +His eye lightened up with a sly look. + +"Oh, yes! She would have liked to do so very well," he replied. "In +fact, we made the round of the upholsterers' shops,--and she fancied, up +to the last moment, that it was all settled. But I had made up my mind, +and I sent her back to Jean Bonaffé." + +"The deuce you did!" I said, quite astonished at the news. + +Then my uncle just closed one of his eyes, and looked at me out of the +other, as he added-- + +"You see, I was not sorry to return that rascal the little trick he +played me before!" + +And, with that, Barbassou-Pasha began to whistle a hunting song, with +all the calm complacency of an honest soul on satisfactory terms with +his neighbour. I accompanied him whistling the bass, and we got on very +well together that time. + +I believe that after this explanation, you will at once renew the esteem +which you used to accord to my uncle, and will join me in a sincere +expression of regret for having suspected him for one moment in this +matter:--in which, in reality, he had merely played the part of an +avenging deity, punishing sinners with remorse by recalling to them the +blisses of their lost Paradise. And I am ready to testify that he has +spared no expense; for during the last three weeks he has had from me +more than twenty thousand francs in pocket-money. I warrant you he has +given his fair friend a jolly time of it, purposely holding the golden +cup to her faithless lips, and letting them taste of all the +pleasures---- + +The severe lesson of an abrupt return to her husband, Jean Bonaffé, +after the awakening of such delightful anticipations, will certainly +impress the guilty one, and engrave in her heart a keen remorse for her +past misconduct. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +We have been four months at Paris without anything to disturb the happy +life which we have led, secure from all suspicions. Nothing can be more +original or sweeter than this love concealed from all prying eyes, the +exquisite pleasures of which you can imagine. Kondjé, delighted with her +triumphs, plays everywhere her part of enchantress. + +My romance is, however, complicated by a circumstance which I must at +once relate to you. + +You will not have forgotten that my aunt had seen Kondjé-Gul at +Baroness de Villeneuve's party, and that she conceived a great liking +for her. Their friendship having been cemented during several parties at +the commodore's, where they met each other, my aunt very naturally +invited Madame Murrah and her daughter to dinner one evening. She is +fond of young people, as you know; and Suzannah, Maud, and Kondjé-Gul +formed such a charming trio, that she soon insisted on their coming to +dine with her every Thursday. Indeed, Kondjé has frequently met Anna +Campbell there, for the latter has leave out from her convent twice a +month. The consequence was, we became in time so completely involved in +intimate relations together, that it would have been imprudent to make +any break in them: moreover, Kondjé-Gul was so very happy and so proud +of this intimacy which allied her still more closely with me! All of +them were charmed with her; even my uncle, who, delighted at the +opportunity of conversing with her in Turkish, treated her with quite a +display of gallantry. + +Among the constant visitors at our house, I should have mentioned Count +Daniel Kiusko, a fabulously rich young Slav, the owner of platinum mines +in the Krapacks mountains, and in the forests of Bessarabia. This being +his first visit to Paris, I found myself selected to act as his guide or +bear-leader, and to introduce him to our gay world. It was a simple +enough task, for that matter, since I had hardly anything to do but to +present him in society. + +He was tall, slenderly built, and a fine specimen of the young boyard, +with that determined expression of countenance which suggests a habit of +acting and being obeyed as the feudal lord. In less than a week, with +the most lofty recklessness, he had thrown away half a million francs in +the club at baccarat, and his other doings are all in the same vein. +With such a start, you may be sure he has taken the world by storm, so +that his friendship is sought after as a prize. A successful duel which +he fought with a Brazilian made his reputation as a skilful swordsman. + +His gratitude to me, and a sort of frank admiration of superior +qualities, which he fancies he recognises in me, have won for me his +friendship. I have quite become "his guide, philosopher, and friend." I +find him a capital companion, and, like some modern Damon and Pythias, +we hardly pass a day without seeing one another. At first he was rather +surprised that I abstained from the promiscuous pleasures of the gay +world; but he soon divined that I was restrained by the spell of a +secret passion, and this placed me still higher in his estimation. + +I gained credit with Kiusko by taking him into my confidence, and +telling him that I had in truth a _liaison_ with a young widow, whose +high position in society demanded extreme prudence on my part. With the +tact of a thorough-bred gentleman, he never referred to the subject +again. Being himself associated with us in our relations with the +Montagues, through meeting them at my aunt's, he would never dream of my +having any attachment in that quarter; indeed, he was now almost on an +equal footing of friendship with me in our intercourse with the fair +trio, and was spoken of as one of their "tame cats." Such was the +position of things when the following event occurred. + +It happened a few days ago. I was in my aunt's boudoir, talking about +some matter, which I forget; she was knitting away at a little piece of +ornamental work, with her usual business-like industry, and I was +playing with her dog "Music," a young animal from Greece. + +"By the bye, André," she said, "I have an important commission to +discharge, concerning which I must consult you." + +"All my wisdom is at your service, aunt." + +"Let us talk seriously," she continued; "you have to undergo a regular +cross-examination, and I command you to reply like an obedient nephew." + +"Oh, you frighten me!" + +"Don't interrupt me, please. In my person you see before you a family +council." + +"What, all at once, and without any preparation?--without even changing +your dress?" + +"You impertinent boy, do you mean to say this does not suit me?" + +"On the contrary, I find it quite bewitching." + +"Well, then?" + +"All right, I ought not to have interrupted you." + +"Very well! let us resume--let me see, what was I saying?" + +"That in that handsome dark violet velvet dress you represent the +grandmother of the family." + +"Just so, you're quite right! Now, attention please! The trial has +commenced, be on your guard." + +"Right you are!" + +"Well, what do you think of Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul Murrah?" she asked +me point blank, looking me straight in the face. + +This question was so unexpected that I felt myself blush like a girl of +sixteen. + +"Why," I answered, "I think her--most charming and beautiful." + +"That's right! Pray don't alarm yourself, my dear young man!" continued +my aunt with a smile. + +"Oh, I'm not the least alarmed!" + +"That's quite clear!--Well, you admit that you find her most charming +and beautiful. Let us proceed. What is your present position with regard +to her? Tell me the whole truth, and mind don't keep anything back." + +I had found time to recover my self-possession. + +"Take care," I said, laughing in my turn; "this question of yours may +lead us much further than you imagine." + +"That's all nonsense. Don't try to turn off my questions with jokes, and +please leave my dog's ear alone! If you pull it about like that, you'll +make it grow crooked. There, that'll do! Now, answer me seriously, and +with all the respect which you ought to feel in speaking of a young +lady like Kondjé-Gul Murrah." + +I was inspired with the brilliant idea of making game of her. + +"Must I tell you the whole truth?" I replied. "Do you really require to +know it?" + +"I _demand_ it," she said, "in its naked, unsophisticated reality." + +"All right, aunt! you shall have it;" I said, in a confident tone. "I +suppose you know that Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul is a Circassian. Well, she +belongs to my harem; I bought her at Constantinople eight months ago." + +My aunt split her sides with laughter. + +"There now!" she exclaimed; "what ever is the use of expecting a word of +sense from a lunatic like you?" + +"You asked me for the truth, and I have told it to you!" I replied, +laughing secretly at the trick I was playing her. + +"Leave off talking rubbish! Can't you understand, you silly boy, that I +am speaking to you about Kondjé-Gul because I can see how the land lies? +It is quite clear to me that between you two there is some sort of +secret understanding; now what is it? I know nothing about it, but +however innocent this mystery may be, I see too much danger about it not +to caution you. Mademoiselle Murrah is not one of those drawing-room +dolls with whom it is safe for a man to risk a little of his heart in +the game of flirtation; no, the man who once falls in love with her +will love her for ever, body and soul, he will be bewitched." + +"Why, then, she must be Circe herself," I exclaimed: "it's a terrible +look-out for me!" + +"Oh, you need not laugh," she continued: "your lofty philosophical +contempt would not serve you in the least. A beautiful sorceress like +that girl is all the more dangerous because her own heart is liable to +be kindled by the flames of her incantations. In her heart slumber +passions which will devour her some day, both her and the man she loves. +That is why I am reading you this lecture, with the object of warning +you in time, before your youthful recklessness has carried you too far +in this affair; especially as you are already betrothed to another." + +Notwithstanding the semi-jocular manner which my aunt had preserved +throughout this lecture, I could easily perceive that she was seriously +alarmed on my behalf. I therefore abandoned my jesting tone, assuring +her that neither my imagination nor my heart were in the smallest danger +with Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul Murrah, and that "no change whatever would +be made in our present relations." This jesuitical reply appeared to +satisfy her. + +"In that case," she continued, "I may set to work to get her married?" + +"Get her married?" I exclaimed in astonishment. + +"Certainly. Did I not tell you, before I began questioning you, that I +had an important commission to discharge? My young cousin Kiusko adores +her, he has begged me to see Madame Murrah on his behalf, and I expect +to call on her this very day, to set this important business in train." + + +Although I might have long ago foreseen the consequences of emancipating +Kondjé-Gul from her harem life, and the conflict which it would involve +me in with our social customs, I must admit that this revelation of my +aunt's intentions caused me no small anxiety. Kondjé's remarkable beauty +created too much sensation in the world for me to hope that rivals would +not turn up in large numbers, against whom I should have to defend +myself. Her personal independence, the wealth which her mother's +establishment indicated, and her youth, all seemed to leave the field +open to sanguine hopes, and to attempts to win her hand, to the open +acknowledgment of which no obstacle appeared. Nevertheless, well +prepared as I was for such attempts, and fully expecting to witness +them, I was very much affected by the news that Kiusko was my rival. It +was impossible for me to doubt that his determination to marry +Kondjé-Gul was the result of reflection as well as of love, and that it +would be only strengthened by any obstacle. Of a calm and energetic +nature, endowed with an iron will, and accustomed to see everything +submit to his law, he had also preserved that freshness of the +affections which would be intensified by the impulses of a first love. + +All the same, and notwithstanding my friendship for him, I certainly +could not think of explaining to him the strange situation in which he +had in his ignorance placed himself. To proclaim Kondjé-Gul to be my +mistress would be to banish her from the society into which she had won +her way: it would have wounded her spirit to the quick and determined +her degradation, without reason or advantage either for Kiusko or for +myself. Moreover, did I not owe a stricter fidelity to her than to this +friend of yesterday? + +I resolved accordingly to keep my counsel, and wait upon events. I felt +too confident of regulating them in my own interests to be afraid of the +consequences. However, I was surprised by an incident which at first +seemed insignificant. Having been informed of my aunt's projected visit +to Kondjé's mother, I went to her the same evening, thinking that she +would at once tell me about it, but she said nothing. I thought, of +course, that some obstacle had occurred which had deferred my aunt's +negotiations. + +The next day, without seeming to attach any importance to the matter, I +questioned my aunt about it. She informed me that she had been to Madame +Murrah's the day before. + +"Did you commence your overtures on behalf of Kiusko's grand scheme?" I +asked her. + +"Yes," she answered. + +"And--were they entertained?" + +"Oh, you are going too fast! According to Mussulman usage, matters don't +proceed at that rate. We did not get any further than the preliminaries. +I explained our amorous friend's eager anxiety, and the next step is to +consult Kondjé-Gul." + +"Meanwhile, does the mother appear favourable to your request?" + +"It was not her duty to declare herself at the first interview," said my +aunt. "She has, as you know, all the fatalistic composure of her race; +still, when I described Daniel's fortune, I fancied she listened to me +with some approval." + +"Did she tell you what dowry she could give her daughter?" + +"Dowry! are you mad? We talked in Turkish and discussed the matter in +the Turkish way. I think I should have surprised her exceedingly if I +had given her the idea that I was asking, not only for Kondjé-Gul +herself, but for some pecuniary remuneration to the noble Kiusko for +taking her. That would have been sufficient to upset all her ideas, for +don't you know that in the East it is the husband, on the contrary, who +always makes a present to the parents of the girl he wants to have? This +arrangement, by the way, seems to me more chivalrous and more manly. +Kiusko, for that matter, cares about as much for money as for a straw: +he loves her, and that is enough for him." + +I took good care not to disturb the illusive hopes which my aunt had +already conceived. Being reassured by the manner in which Madame Murrah +had played her part, it only remained for me to determine the time and +the form of refusal best adapted to the circumstances. + +While I was in the midst of these reflections, Count Kiusko came in, +like any familiar friend, without being announced. He held out his hand +to me with more than his usual cordiality. By his happy looks I judged +that he had already had a word of encouragement from my aunt, and that +he had come to learn in detail the result of her first attempt. Not +wishing to disturb their interview, I pretended after a minute or two +that I had some letters to write, and left them. + +The following morning I was only just out of bed when Kiusko came up +with his spurs on. We had decided the day before to ride together to the +Bois. As he usually went to the rendezvous by himself, I guessed that +to-day he wanted to appear to have been taken there by me, in order to +cover his embarrassment, or perhaps his bashfulness when he met +Kondjé-Gul. Having made up my mind to avoid all confidences, I kept my +valet in the room with me, dressing myself very deliberately, and +without any compassion for Kiusko's impatience. This compelled us, +directly we were mounted, to gallop to the Bois, a procedure not very +favourable to confidential effusions. + +We only joined the party at the Avenue of Acacias on their way back. I +took care to watch Kiusko as he saluted Kondjé-Gul. He blushed and +stammered out a compliment addressed collectively to all the three +girls. Kondjé's countenance betrayed nothing more than the flush +produced by her ride. We started off in two separate parties. From +motives of discretion, I suppose, Kiusko remained behind with Suzannah +and the commodore. Edward and I had gone in front with Kondjé-Gul and +Maud, who was quarrelling with her cousin upon the important question, +as to whether we should gallop straight ahead or make a round between +the trees. Kondjé-Gul decided the matter by suddenly entering the cover. + +"Who loves me, let him follow me!" she said, with a laugh. + +I followed her, and in a few moments we found ourselves side by side. + +"Oh, such a fine piece of news!" she said to me, as soon as Maud and +Edward, who were behind us, were out of hearing. + +"What is it?" I asked. + +"Well, I must tell you that the day before yesterday your aunt came to +see my mother while I was away, and there and then formally requested my +hand in marriage for the noble Count Daniel Kiusko. My mother related +this to me this morning, when I got up." + +"And what did you answer her?" + +"Oh, I laughed at first, and then I told mamma that she must inform you +at once, so that you may decide upon the manner in which she shall +repulse the enemy." + +"That's simple enough," said I. "She has only to tell my aunt, when next +she calls, that she has consulted you." + +"Is it as simple as that?" + +"Certainly," I said, with a feeling of annoyance at the idea that she +knew of Daniel's love. "Is it not solely your will that has to be +consulted?" + +Kondjé-Gul regarded me with astonishment. + +"My will?" she said. "Good heavens! do you love me no longer?" + +"Why should you imagine I love you no longer?" I answered. + +"One might suppose that you wished to remind me of that horrible liberty +which I am so much afraid of." + +I then realised how stupid and abrupt I had been, and asked her +forgiveness. + +"You naughty fellow!" she said, pointing to the golden bracelet clasped +round her arm. + +We decided that I should go to her mother to concert with her and +dictate to her the precise terms of a refusal which should cut short all +Kiusko's hopes. We were just then emerging from the narrow avenue, and +Maud and Edward were joining us again. Our ride came to an end without +any other incident of note, except indeed that it appeared to me Daniel +was watching Kondjé and myself, as if he wanted to guess what had taken +place during our _tête-à-tête_, which he had observed from a distance. I +troubled myself no further about this, but made up my mind to take +measures that very day to put an end to this stupid adventure. + +About three o'clock I went to Téral House, and in an interview with +Kondjé-Gul's mother drew up the precise terms of her answer to my aunt, +which consisted of a formula usually employed on similar occasions. + +"Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul feels greatly flattered by the honour which +Count Daniel Kiusko has intended to confer upon her, but is unable to +accept it." To this we added, in order to convince him it was not one of +those half-decisive answers which he might hope to overcome: "She +desires to inform their friend confidentially that her heart is no +longer free, and that she is engaged to one of her relations." This +partly-confidential answer possessed the merits of a candid +communication, after receiving which no honourable man could press her +without giving offence. Moreover, it established a definite status, +under which Kondjé-Gul could shelter herself for the future from all +importunate attempts on the part of my rival. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +You are returning once more, my dear Louis, to your favourite occupation +of knocking down skittles which you have set up yourself, and are trying +to exercise your humorous spirit at my expense. + +You tell me that my Oriental system of life crumbles away upon contact +with the hard world, and with those sentiments which I venture to class +among the antiquated prejudices of a worn-out civilisation. + +You do not perceive, you subtle scoffer, that every one of your +arguments can be turned against you to establish the superiority of the +customs of the harem. Can't you see that all these mishaps, these +troubles, and these outbursts of jealousy, which you have intentionally +magnified, originate solely in Kondjé-Gul's emancipation from the harem, +and that none of them would have occurred if I had not departed from +Turkish usages? Consider on the one hand the tranquillity of my amours +with Zouhra, Nazli, and Hadidjé, my easy life with them, as a poet and a +sultan, secure from all annoying rivalries, and on the other hand look +at these difficulties and contests arising all at once out of our social +conventionalities. + +I do not really know why I should waste any more time discussing the +question with you. + +Being now confident that after the declaration which Madame Murrah would +next day make to my aunt, Kondjé-Gul would be freed henceforth from the +importunities of Count Kiusko, I soon recovered my peace of mind. I +entertained no doubts as to the effect which such a decisive answer +would produce upon Daniel. I knew that he was too deeply in love not to +feel the blow severely. + +I expected, accordingly, to hear that he was mourning in some secluded +retreat over his lost hopes. For him to see Kondjé-Gul again after such +an unqualified refusal would only revive his sorrows and cause him more +suffering. More than this, it would place her in an uncomfortable +position since his declaration of love to her. But while I was +convincing myself as to this necessity for him to break off his +relations with her, great was my surprise at seeing him reappear among +us the following day as calm as ever, and just as if no unpleasant +incident had befallen him. Time went on, and still there was no change +in this respect. One might even have said, to judge from his easy +demeanour and from a certain increase of assurance in his manner, that +he felt confident in the future success of his endeavours, and was only +waiting for the happy moment when his aspirations would be realized. + +I could not help being puzzled by this remarkable result of a decided +rejection of his suit, but as I had so plainly avoided my rival's +confidences in my embarrassment at the part I was playing, I could not +now attempt to regain them. I began to suspect that Kondjé-Gul's mother +had rehearsed her part imperfectly, and at last made up my mind to +question my aunt discreetly on this point. + +"By the by, my dear aunt," I said to her one morning in a perfectly +unconcerned tone of voice, "you have not told me anything more about +Kiusko's intended marriage." + +"Ah, there is no longer any question of it!" she answered me. "He +presented himself too late: the fair Kondjé-Gul's heart is occupied. She +is even engaged to one of her own relations I hear." + +"Then he seems to me to be bearing his disappointment very easily." + +"Oh, don't be too sure about that! Daniel is not one of those whining +lovers who publish their lamentations to the whole world. He loves her, +as I could see by his sudden paleness when I announced to him the +definite rejection of his offer; but he has an iron will, and you may be +certain that if he is so calm, that only shows he still cherishes some +hope. As for me, I won't believe in Kondjé-Gul's marriage with her +cousin, until I see them coming out of church together." + +Now although it was of small consequence to me that Kiusko, in his +robust faith, still preserved a remnant of hope, I must admit that I +felt somewhat aggravated by his presumptuous pertinacity. As he had +formally declared his love, Kondjé-Gul could not henceforth feign to +ignore it. There was an offensive kind of impertinence to her about that +coolness of his, which affected to take no account of an engagement of +which she had informed him as a justification for her refusal. However +reserved he might be, and even if he never betrayed by a single word the +secret feeling which he concealed so carefully during our intercourse as +friends, it would be impossible for me not to feel the constraint of +such a situation. So far as he was concerned, it did not seem to trouble +him in the least. This demeanour, and this insolent confidence of +his--such as might be expected in a petty feudal tyrant--irritated me +inexpressibly; but an incident occurred, at first sight insignificant, +which diverted the current of my suspicions into quite a different +channel. + +One morning, about ten o'clock, I was accompanying my aunt upon one of +her rounds of visiting the poor. As we happened to be passing Count +Téral's house, I was very much surprised to see Daniel coming out of it. +What had he been doing there? This was Kondjé-Gul's lesson time, and +certainly not the time of day for callers. This discovery put me into a +state of agitation which it was extremely difficult for me to avoid +showing. + +I reflected, however, that it was quite possible Maud or Susannah had +entrusted him with a message or with some book, which he had come to +deliver. However that might be, I wanted to clear up the mystery. When +half-way down the Champs Elysées, I pretended to have an order to give +to a coachmaker, and leaving my aunt to return home alone, I went back +to Téral House. + +As I had anticipated, Kondjé-Gul was shut up with her music-mistress. I +sent up my name in the ordinary way, and was immediately introduced. + +"What! is it you?" she said, pretending before her mistress to be +surprised at such an early visit. "Have you come to play a duet with +me?" + +"No," I answered, "I was passing by this way, and I will only trouble +you long enough to find out if you have formed any plans for to-day with +your friends the Montagues." + +"None," she replied, "beyond that they are expecting me at three +o'clock." + +"Then they did not send you any message this morning?" + +"No. Has anything happened?" she added in Turkish. + +"Nothing whatever," I replied, with a laugh. "My aunt brought me this +way, so I thought I would come and say good morning to you." + +"How kind and nice of you!" she said, with evident warmth. + +She had not left her piano, and I remained standing, so as to show that +I had only called on my way, to receive her orders. I shook hands with +her, saying that I did not wish to interrupt her lessons any more, and +took my departure. + +It was evident that Kondjé knew nothing about Daniel's visit. On my way +out I spoke to Fanny, and gave her some instructions, telling her that I +was going to send some flowers. This girl was quite devoted to me, and +her discretion might be perfectly relied upon. However, as I did not +wish her to think that I was questioning her about her mistress, I asked +her in an indifferent manner if the count had not brought anything for +me. + +"I don't know, sir," she answered. "The count came an hour ago, but he +told me to send in his name to Mademoiselle Kondjé's mother, who was +expecting him, I think, and who ordered me to show him into the small +drawing-room, where she went to see him. When he left, he said nothing +to me." + +"Did he say nothing to Pierre?" I added. + +"Pierre was not in, sir," replied Fanny. "The count only spoke to Madame +Murrah." + +"Ah, very well!" I said, carelessly. + +These inquiries had led me to a curious discovery. What was the meaning +of this private interview between Kondjé's mother and Daniel? Determined +to get to the bottom of this mystery, I went up without any more ado to +Madame Murrah's private sitting-room. She did not appear surprised, from +which I concluded that she knew I was in the house, and was prepared to +see me. For my part I pretended to have come to settle some details +connected with the house and the stables, for I was obliged to assist +her in the management of all her domestic affairs. She listened to what +I said with that deferential sort of smile which she invariably assumes +with me. When she was quite absorbed in the calculations which I had +submitted, I said to her all at once: + +"By the way, what did Count Kiusko come here for so early in the day?" + +I thought I noticed her face redden, but this was only a transient +impression. + +"The count?" she answered, in a most profoundly surprised tone. "I did +not see him! Has he been here?" + +"Why, Fanny showed him in here," I replied, "and you have spoken to +him." + +"Ah, yes! _this morning_," she exclaimed sharply, and with emphasis on +these words. "Goodness me, what a poor head I have! I thought you said +_yesterday evening_. I understand French so badly, you know. Yes, yes, +he has been here. The poor young man is off his head. This is the second +time he has been here to beg me for Kondjé-Gul's hand. He is quite +crazy! crazy!" + +"Oh, then he has been before! But why did not you inform me?" + +"It is true: I had forgotten to do so!" she replied. + +I deemed it useless to appear to press her any more on the matter. Had +Madame Murrah tried to keep me in ignorance of these visits of Count +Kiusko's? Or was this merely a proof, or the contrary, of the slight +importance which she attached to them? In any case, for me to let her +see my distrust in her would only put her on her guard. So I broke off +the subject, and resumed my household instructions, as if I had remarked +nothing more important in this matutinal incident than the stupid +pertinacity of a discomfited lover. A quarter of an hour afterwards I +took my leave of her in quite a jaunty way. + +Once out of the house, I considered the matter over calmly, and made my +reflections upon it. Had I, by accident, stumbled upon a plot, or was my +jealous mind alarmed without occasion by a foolish attempt which +Kondjé-Gul's mother could not avert? Accustomed as she was to a sort of +passive submission, had she allowed herself to be cowed by a man who +spoke in the tone of a master? Was it not possible that, in her +embarrassment with the part she had to play, she had let out rather more +than was prudent? Was anything more than this necessary in order to +explain Daniel's conduct? + +Without any kind of scruple Kiusko brought to the contest all the savage +energy of a will constituted to bend everything before it. The choice of +instruments was a matter of small importance to a man of his nature, the +incompleteness of whose education had left him scarcely half-civilized. +Accustomed to have all his own way, he made straight for his object, +rushing like a bull at every obstacle. The suppleness of his Slavonic +character displayed itself in this desperate game, in which, the +happiness of his life was at stake. He loved Kondjé-Gul, as I knew full +well, with that blind love which admitted no compromise with reason. +With the mother as his ally, he no doubt conjectured that the marriage +would be brought about in accordance with Turkish custom without +Kondjé-Gul being consulted. + +My first idea was to interfere violently and so frustrate this plot, but +enlightened upon those manoeuvres, which afforded me an explanation of +Daniel's incredible constancy after the repulse which he had sustained, +I could see the folly of any provocation on my part, and the consequent +danger of injuring Kondjé-Gul and perhaps creating a scandal. Henceforth +I hold the threads of these underhand intrigues: I am about to catch my +rival in his own trap and mislead him as much as I please. + +These reflections calmed me a little. After all, would it not be insane +for me to lose my temper about a rivalry which, all said and done, was +only one of the innumerable incidents which I had foreseen as +consequences of Kondjé-Gul's beauty? Such beauty would of course attract +passionate admiration wherever she went. Good heavens! what would become +of me if I took any more notice of Kiusko than of the rest of them? +Besides, being informed now of all his movements, I was in a position to +intervene whenever it became necessary to put an end to his hostile +projects. + + +A great worry has come upon me, my friend. + +I must tell you that there are some barracks in the Rue de Babylone; +from which it follows that a great many officers lodge in the vicinity. +Moreover, the garden of my house, although enclosed by a wall on the +boulevard side, is not sufficiently screened to prevent daring eyes from +peering into it from various neighbouring windows. + +Now, as a few days of sunshine had favoured us with very mild weather, +my houris did not fail to go and stroll about the lawns. Naturally +enough they attracted the attention of some indiscreet persons whose +curiosity had been quickened by the apparent mystery of this closed +house, and by all the gossip in the neighbourhood about "the Turk." It +also happens that the house adjoining mine is tenanted by the colonel, +whence it results that from morn to eve, there is a constant coming and +going of sergeant-majors, lieutenants and captains, who rival one +another in casting fascinating glances upon this corner of Mahomet's +paradise. + +I must do my houris the justice to say that they do not show themselves +unveiled; still I will leave you to imagine the agitation which they +cause among the whole regimental staff. + +All this was certainly but an inconvenience which pure chance threw in +my way, amid my methodical experiments with the new manners and customs +of which I wish to show the superiority. It would not have been fitting +for a sincere psychologist to convert a purely adventitious difficulty +into a defeat; and the removal of my harem would have furnished a +specious argument for some detractor of my doctrines who would not have +failed to seize hold of this slight practical obstacle in order to raise +a controversy. Then, too, I should have been violating human dignity and +confessing the fragility of my system of social renovation if I had so +lowered myself as to completely sequestrate the women after the fashion +of some vile Asiatic satrap. + +To be brief, I stood firm; and I conscientiously instructed Mohammed, +who was already alarmed, not to interfere with the freedom of their +diversions in the garden. + +Being confident in the healthy effects of an application of the immortal +principles, I had ceased to busy myself about this affair, when, as I +arrived in the evening three days ago, I saw Mohammed hasten to me, +looking scared. With signs of acute emotion, he begged of me to hear him +privately, having an important communication to make. + +I entered his room where I invited him to unbosom himself. + +He then informed me--in a tone of genuine despair, I will admit--that +the honour of the harem and also his own were terribly compromised. In +point of fact, he had during the day surprised Zouhra at her window +corresponding by signs with a young and superb nobleman who had come to +one of the windows of the neighbouring house. This audacious lover, +judging by his military uniform, bedizened with gold lace, must at the +least be a _muchir_ or general. + +Had a thunderbolt fallen at Mohammed's feet it certainly would not have +caused him greater consternation. The unfortunate fellow did not seem to +doubt for one moment what punishment awaited him. But I reassured him, +for as you may well suppose, with my system this useless practice is +destined to disappear as being superfluous: the dignified position of +eunuch not being compatible with our laws. However, under the +circumstances, I did not think that I could dispense with opening a +serious inquiry concerning this offence which, according to Mohammed, +had been perpetrated repeatedly for some days past. Even letters, thrown +over the walls, had been exchanged. + +On the morrow then, I repaired to the house before the hour usually +selected for this correspondence, and placing myself on the upper floor, +I waited, screened by a curtain, thanks to which I could watch the +manoeuvres of the accomplices, at my ease. Mohammed was moaning like a +fallen man, deprived of his grandeur and dishonoured. I soon saw Zouhra +appear, charmingly adorned and carrying a nosegay in her hand; but the +other window, which had been indicated to me, remained unoccupied. After +ten minutes or so she became restless and began to pace up and down her +room in a way that conclusively proved her impatience. + +Provided with a good opera-glass I carefully watched her goings-on. + +Nearly half an hour elapsed. There was still nobody at the other window. +Mohammed, who became more and more downcast, was beginning to fear that +he would be unable to prove to me the full extent of my disgrace, when +suddenly the swift approach of my houri to her window betokened +something fresh. She lowered her nosegay by way of saluting, and my +glasses were at once turned to the direction in which she was darting +her glances. + +On the third floor of the colonel's house I could see a splendid +drum-major in full uniform, with large epaulets, his chest bedizened +with broad gold braid and his hand resting upon his heart. As the room +was not high enough to accommodate the lofty plume towering above his +bearskin, my rival was leaning half out of the window, and his tricolour +insignium seemed to pierce the sky. + +I remained dazzled at the sight of him: he glistened like the sun! + +With Zouhra it had been love at first sight. The pantomimic business +gradually began on both sides; on the girl's part it was naïve and still +restrained; on the drum-major's, ardent and passionate, though now and +then he struck a contemplative attitude. He showed her a letter and she +showed him another one, which she held in readiness. The sight made a +flush rise to Mohammed's brow. + +In presence of such avowals doubt was no longer possible. The drum-major +soon became emboldened and raised the tips of his fingers to his lips. +His kisses journeyed through space; and then with his hands clasped he +begged of Zouhra to return them. + +I must confess that the wretched girl defended herself for a few minutes +with bashful reserve. But she was so pressed and implored that at last I +saw her weaken, and anxious and hesitating, she yielded. + +I was betrayed! + +Mohammed sank down, uttering a plaintive moan. For my own part I thought +of my uncle's misfortune. Was it fate? + +However, my uncle is not the only man who comes from Marseilles; I also +come from that city, and although I am merely his nephew, I have at +times enough of his hot disposition to feel as he felt after similar +strokes of fate. Having been drawn into his irregular orbit, passing +through the same phases as he passed through, I must expect that nothing +will ever happen to me in the same way as it would happen to others, +himself excepted. Thus the similarity of our adventures--the drum-major +in my case taking the place of my uncle's Jean Bonaffé,--ought not to +have surprised me; it should have been foreseen like a philosophical +contingency previously inscribed in the book of destiny. And, indeed, to +tell the truth, I should have considered the slightest departure from +the precise law of fate illogical. + +However, I was either in a bad disposition of mind or I had been too +suddenly and speedily awakened from the presumptuous quietude into which +I had sunk, for I will admit to you that on thinking over my case, I +experienced at the moment a singular feeling of astonishment. + +Horns are like teeth, a witty woman once said: they hurt while they are +coming, but afterwards one manages to put up with them! + +True as this remark of an experienced person may be, yet having my own +ideas as to these vain appendages which I could not prevent from +sprouting; and being, moreover, sufficiently provided with proofs which +I had duly weighed, my first idea was to dart head first athwart this +intrigue in which my dishonour was a certainty. Leaving Mohammed upon +the divan where he had stranded, I hastened by way of the stairs to the +guilty creature's room. + +I softly opened the closed door, stepped gently over the carpet, and +approached her from behind in time to catch her just as she had one hand +on her heart and the other on her lips. + +She gave a little shriek, while the drum-major, on seeing me appear so +suddenly, made a gesture of despair. Then he drew back with such haste +that his plume caught against the wall above the window, with the result +that his bearskin was knocked off, and turning a sommersault fell into +the courtyard. + +Zouhra thereupon gave another shriek. + +All this had occurred with the rapidity of a flash of lightning. My +rival, closing his window, had disappeared like a jack-in-the-box. + +We were alone. + +"Ah! ha!" I then said to the unworthy creature, "so this is your +conduct----" + +She answered nothing; she still hoped, no doubt, that she would be able +to deny the facts, with the brazen assurance of the woman who, although +surprised in the act, puts on a grand air, and waxes wrathful as at an +insult. + +"Who was that man up there," I resumed, "with whom you were +corresponding?" + +"A man!" she finally answered with her strong Turkish accent which I +will spare you. "I don't know what you mean--I don't know any men--I +have never seen any!" + +"But he was at that window--there." + +"Well, what does that prove?" she retorted. "Does that concern me? Can I +prevent people from coming to their windows?" + +"No, but when they are there you might prevent yourself from making +signs to them; and especially from returning the kisses they send to +you." + +"Signs, I? I made signs!" she exclaimed. "Ah! that is really too bad! +Who do you take me for then?" + +"Why, I surprised you, and I stayed your hand when you had your fingers +raised to your lips." + +"Well, can't I put my fingers to my lips now? What, am I not to have the +right to make a gesture, without accounting for it, without being +insulted? Did any one ever see a woman treated in such an odious +fashion? Well, tie me up then!" + +You are acquainted with women's tactics, my dear Louis: they are always +the same in such cases. I put a stop to it all after letting her deny +the facts. + +"Come, come," I said to her. "This is not the time for you to play the +part of a persecuted victim. For the last half hour I have been watching +you from behind those curtains. I saw everything--with my opera-glass," +I added, showing her the glass in proof of my assertion. + +Struck by this victorious demonstration she stood there in +consternation. For a moment I enjoyed the effect I had produced and then +continued: + +"I saw the letter which he showed you, and the one which you have in +your pocket--I can still see a bit of it peeping out." + +On hearing this she became very red; and with incredible swiftness drew +forth the incriminating missive, which she tore into a hundred pieces. + +"All right," said I. "It would seem then that you had written something +very compromising to that soldier, whom you have never met and whom you +don't know." + +"It was a letter for the modiste," she replied with assumed indignation. + +"Yes, and you no doubt wanted him to deliver it," I retorted in an +ironical strain. + +This last bitter dart went home and set her beside herself. She assumed +a superb attitude. + +"I shall not give you any explanation," she said. "Believe whatever you +please. Do whatever you choose. As for myself, I know what I have to do +now. Since I am spied upon and treated in this fashion I have had enough +of leading such a life--I prefer to put an end to it at once!" + +"And how do you purpose putting an end to it?" I resumed. "It will +perhaps be necessary to consult me a little bit on that subject." + +"But you are neither my husband nor my brother, my dear fellow," she +exclaimed in the most airy way imaginable, "and I don't suppose that you +are going to talk to me any more of those stupid Turkish rights. We are +in Paris and I know that I am free!" + +"Well, where will your freedom take you?" + +"Oh! don't worry yourself about me--I should not have any trouble to +secure a husband. Do you imagine, my dear fellow, that I should be +embarrassed to find a _position_?" + +This characteristic word showed me that she was far more completely +initiated than I had suspected. + +"And you expect," I retorted, "to obtain this _position_ from that fine +nobleman, eh?" + +These disdainful words exasperated her; she lost all self-restraint and +burnt her ships. + +"That fine nobleman is a duke!" she exclaimed vehemently. "I will not +allow you to insult him. And since you dare to threaten me, I will tell +you that I love him and that he adores me, and that he offers to marry +me and promises me every bliss--" + +In spite of my misfortune I could not help laughing at this fiery +indignant declaration to which Zouhra's Turkish accent imparted an +irresistibly comic effect. My gaiety brought her anger to a climax. + +Frenzied, decided upon everything, she darted to a chiffonier, drew out +an illuminated card, upon which two doves were pecking one another, and +threw it at me with a queenly air, exclaiming: + +"There, my dear fellow you will see if I still have any need of you!" + +I picked up the card and read what was written upon it: + + LEDUC (D'ARPAJON), + + _Drum-Major of the 79th Regt. of the Line._ + + _To the divine ZOUHRA--Everlasting Love!_ + +It would be useless for me to describe to you the end of the scene. + +When I had laughed enough, I allowed myself the delightful pleasure of +undeceiving my faithless houri by explaining to her her unfortunate +mistake as to the rank of her conqueror, whom she had mentally endowed +with a fortune in keeping with the height of his plume.[A] I destroyed +her dream of every bliss by reducing it to so much bliss as was +procurable with a full pay of a franc and a half _per diem_. + + [Footnote A: Zouhra with her imperfect knowledge of French had + concluded that Leduc (D'Arpajon) meant "the Duke of + Arpajon"--whereas, in reality, Leduc, a single word, was the + drum-major's name; D'Arpajon implying that he came from, or + belonged to, the little market town of Arpajon, not far from + Paris.--_Trans._] + + +As I made these crushing revelations you might have seen her gradually +sinking and collapsing, with her pretty purple lips just parted, and her +gazelle's eyes staring with frightened astonishment. She was the picture +of consternation. + +All at once she darted towards me and abruptly caught me in her arms. + +"Ah! it is you that I love!--you that I love!" she exclaimed in a +pathetic tone amid her transports. + +I had some difficulty in releasing myself from her passionate embrace; +still I eventually succeeded in doing so, but only to confront a fresh +crisis of despair, whereupon I immediately confided Zouhra to the care +of her maids. + +Then, without any further explanations, which would have been +superfluous, I withdrew. + +Of course I am perfectly aware that you will try to derive from this +mishap some argument intended to triumph over my discomfiture. + +I would have you remark, however, that you have no right to seize upon a +general fact--for infidelity is inherent in woman's nature--and draw +deductions respecting my particular case. All that you can reasonably +conclude is that the man who has four wives is bound to be deceived four +times as often as the man who has but one wife. + +That is certainly a weighty argument, I confess. + + +However all that may be, my misfortune having been made evident to me, +and Zouhra being banished from my heart, it was necessary that I should +come to a decision with regard to her. + +The most simple course was to consult my uncle; his own experience in a +similar mishap pointed him out as the best of advisers. + +He listened to me, stroking his beard with the somewhat derisive phlegm +of a practical man, who is not sorry to find that he has some companions +in misfortune. It even seemed to me that I could detect a touch of +malicious satisfaction, as if he still resented my conduct as an heir. + +When I had finished he quietly remarked: + +"What an old stupid you are! You should have let her get married without +saying anything! In that way you would have saved us the expense of +sending her back home again." + +"Well, unfortunately it's too late now for that, uncle," I answered. + +To be brief, as the Turkish law does not allow the desertion or +dismissal of a cadine unless she be provided for, Zouhra is to be exiled +to Rhodes. The pasha has established there for his own use, a kind of +Botany Bay, which is a place both of retirement and rustication for his +invalided wives who have lost their freshness with age. The place is an +old abbey with spacious gardens planted with mimosas and orange trees, +and was purchased by auction for some ten thousand francs. The island is +delightful, and provisions are to be had there for nothing, according to +what my uncle tells me. Judge for yourself: fowls cost twopence each, +and everything else is to be had at correspondingly low prices. There +are already eleven women there, and it does not cost more than nine +thousand francs a year to keep them all on a proper footing, including +the board and wages of their servants. + +Find me among our own boasted institutions any one to be compared with +that of my uncle--an institution established to provide for similar +contingencies, and the arrangements of which are equally good. + +[Illustration: ] + +[Illustration: ] + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +For the last three days that unworthy girl Zouhra has been on her way to +Rhodes. + +Well, what does that matter? I admit that I have only three wives left, +that's all. And what of that? Is it fitting that you, my dearest friend, +should try to make me feel ashamed of it? + +While exercising your facetiousness, it seems to me that you especially +level your irony at certain other worries necessarily occasioned by the +position of Kondjé-Gul and what you call the wooing of the "fierce +Kiusko." Ye Gods! so I have a rival. Really, you make me laugh! + +I fancy, however, that all this will inevitably end in a duel between +us, which indeed, as time goes on, seems to me quite unavoidable. + +One evening when I arrived rather late at Téral House by reason of one +of those tedious dinners with which Anna Campbell's leaves-out were +celebrated, I found Kondjé-Gul quite downcast, and her eyes red with +crying. I had left her a few hours before in the best of spirits, and +delighted about a pretty little pony which I had given her in the +morning, and which we had been trying. Surprised and alarmed at such a +sudden grief as she evinced, and which had caused her to shed tears, I +anxiously questioned her about it. + +Directly I began speaking to her I saw that she wanted to conceal from +me the cause of her affliction: but I pressed her. + +"No, it's nothing," she said, "only a story which mamma told me." + +But when she tried to smile, a sob broke out from her lips, and, +bursting into tears, she threw her arm round my neck, nestling her head +on my bosom. + +"Good heavens! what's the matter, dear?" I exclaimed, quite alarmed. +"Tell me all about it, I entreat you. What has happened? And why are you +crying like this?" + +She could not answer me. Her bosom heaved, and she seized my hand and +covered it with kisses, as if in order to demonstrate her love for me in +the midst of her distress. + +I succeeded in calming her; and then, making her sit down by my side, +with her hands in mine, I pressed her to confess her troubles to me. Her +hesitation increased my alarm: she turned her eyes away from me, and I +could see that she feared to reply to me. At last, quite frantic with +anxiety, I resorted to my marital authority. + +Then, with childlike submission, she related to me the following strange +story, which filled me with astonishment. + +After luncheon her mother had joined her in the drawing-room, when in +the course of a general conversation she began to speak about their +native country and their family, and about the pleasure it would be for +them to revisit them after so long an absence. Kondjé-Gul let her go on +in this strain, thinking that she was just indulging in one of those +dreams of a far-off future which the imagination is fond of cherishing, +however impossible their realisation may be. But soon she was very much +surprised by noticing that her mother was discussing this scheme as one +which might be carried out at an early date. She then questioned her +about it. At last, after a lot of fencing, Madame Murrah informed her +that she had learnt a marriage was arranged between me and Anna +Campbell, who had been betrothed to me for a long while past; also that +this marriage would take place in six months' time, and that I should +have to go away with my wife the day after the wedding. + +The end of all these arrangements would be the abandonment of +Kondjé-Gul. + +I was dismayed by this unexpected revelation. The plan of my marriage +with Anna had remained a family secret, known only to my uncle, to +herself, to my aunt, and to me. How had it got to Madame Murrah's ears? +I was unable to conceal my uneasiness. + +"But this marriage is true then?" continued my poor Kondjé with an +anxious look in my face. + +"Nothing is true but our love!" I replied, distressed by her fears; +"nothing is true but this, that I mean to love you always, and always to +live with you as I do now." + +"But this marriage?" she again repeated. + +It was impossible for me to escape any longer from the necessity of +making a confession which I had intended to have prepared her for later +on. + +"Listen, my darling," I said, taking her by the hands, "and above all +things trust me as you listen to me! I love you, I love no one but you; +you are my wife, my happiness, my life. Do you believe me?" + +"Yes, dear, I believe you. But what about her?" she added in a tremble. +"What about Anna Campbell? Are you going to marry her?" + +"Come," I said, wishing to begin by soothing her fears; "if, as so often +happens in your own country, I were obliged, if only in order to assure +our own happiness, to make another marriage, would not you understand +that this was only a sacrifice which I owed to my uncle if he required +it of me--a family arrangement, in fact, which could not separate us +from each other? What have you to fear so long as I only love you? Did +you trouble yourself about Hadidjé or Zouhra?" + +"Oh, but they were not Christians! Anna Campbell would be your real +wife; and your religion and laws would enjoin you to love her." + +"No," I exclaimed, "neither my religion nor my laws could change my +heart or undo my love for you. It is my duty to protect your life and +make it a happy one; for are not you also my wife? Why should you alarm +yourself about an obligation of mine which, if we lived in your country, +would not disturb your confidence in me? Anna Campbell is not really in +love with me: we are only like two friends, prepared to unite with each +other in a conventional union, such as you may see many a couple around +us enter upon--an association of fortunes, in which the only personal +sentiments demanded are reciprocal esteem. My dear girl, what is there +to be jealous of? Don't you know that you will always be everything to +me?" + +Poor Kondjé-Gul listened to these somewhat strange projects without the +least idea of opposing them. Still under the yoke of her native ideas, +those Oriental prejudices in which she had been brought up were too +deeply grafted in her mind to permit of her being rapidly converted by +acquaintance with our sentiments and usages--very illogical as they +often appeared to her mind--to a different view of woman's destiny. +According to her laws and her religion, I was her master. She could +never have entertained the possibility of her refusing to submit to my +will; but I could see by the tears in her eyes that this very touching +submission and resignation on her part was simply due to her devoted +self-control, and that she suffered cruelly by it. + +"Come, why do you keep on crying?" I continued, drawing her into my +arms. "Do you doubt my love, dear?" + +"Oh, no!" she replied quickly. "How could I mistrust you?" + +"Well, then, away with those tears!" + +"Yes," she said, giving me a kiss, "you are right, dear: I am very +silly! What can you expect of me? I am still half a barbarian, and am +rather bewildered with all I have learnt from you. There are still some +things in my nature which I can't understand. Why it is that I feel more +jealous of Anna Campbell than I was of Hadidjé, of Nazli, or of Zouhra, +I can't tell you; but I am afraid--she is a Christian, and perhaps you +will love her better than me. I feel that the laws and customs of your +country will recover their hold over you and will separate us. That +odious law which you once told me of, which would enfranchise me, so you +said, and make me my own mistress if I desired to leave you, often comes +back to my mind like a bad dream. It seems to me that this imaginary +liberty, which I don't want at any price, would become a reality if you +get married." + +I reassured her on this point. There is a much more persuasive eloquence +in the heart than in the vain deductions of logic. During this +extraordinary scene, in which my poor Kondjé-Gul's mind was alarmed by +the conflict going on between her own beliefs and what she knew of our +society, I was quite sincere in my illusions concerning the moral +compromise which, I fancied, was imposed upon me as an absolute duty. +Singular as it may all appear to you, I had already been subjected too +long to the influence of the harem not to have become gradually +permeated by the Oriental ideas. The tie which bound me to Kondjé-Gul +had acquired a kind of sacred and legitimate character in my eyes. + +However this may have been, her revelation disclosed an impending +danger. It was clear to me that the news of the marriage arranged +between Anna Campbell and myself could only have reached Madame Murrah +through Kiusko. His relationship with my aunt had made him a member of +our family, and he had been acquainted with our projects. I could easily +understand that his jealous instincts had penetrated one side of the +secret between Kondjé and myself. He had at least guessed that she loved +me, and that I was an obstacle to the attainment of his desires. He was +following up his object. He wished to destroy Kondjé-Gul's hopes in +advance, by showing her that I was engaged to marry another. + +With my present certitude of his mean devices, I began to wonder whether +everything had been already let out through slips of the tongue made by +Madame Murrah, in the course of those interviews which he had obtained +with her either by chance or by appointment. For several days past I +fancied I had remarked in him an increased reserve of manner. It was +possible that, being convinced now of the futility of his hopes, his +only object henceforth was to revenge himself on his rival by at least +disturbing his feeling of security. + + +Yes! you are quite right: I love her! Why should you imagine I would +wish to deny it, or dissemble it as a weakness? Did I ever tell you that +the consequence of indulgence in the pleasures of harem loves would be +to drown the heart, the soul, and the aspirations towards the ideal for +the sole advantage of the senses? Where you seem to see the defeat of +one vanquished, I find the triumph of my happiness and the enchantment +of a dream which I am realizing during my waking hours. Compare with +this secret and charming bond of union which attaches me to Kondjé-Gul, +the prosaic and vulgar character of those common intrigues which one +cynically permits the whole world to observe, or of those illicit +connections which the hypocritical remnant of virtue with us constrains +us to conceal, like crimes, in the darkness. Deceptive frenzies they +are, the enjoyment of which always involves of necessity the degradation +of the woman and the contempt of the lover! You may preach and dogmatise +as much as you like in your endeavours to uphold the superiority of our +habits over those of the East, which you declare to be barbarous; you +will never succeed in doing anything more than entangling yourself in +your own paradox. + +The fact is that in the refined epoch, so-called, in which we live, +every description of non-legitimized union in love becomes a +libertinage, and the woman who abandons herself to it becomes a profane +idol. Whether she be a duchess, or a foolish maid, you may write verses +over her fall, but you cannot forget it. The worm is in the fruit. My +love for Kondjé-Gul knows no such shame, and needs no guilty excuses. +Proud of her slavish submission, she can love me without derogating in +the least from her own self-respect. In Kondjé's eyes, her tender +embraces are legitimate, her glory is the conquest of my heart. I am her +master, and she abandons herself to me without transgressing any duty. +Being a daughter of Asia, she fulfils her destiny according to the moral +usages and the beliefs of her native land: to these she remains faithful +in loving me: her religion has no different rule, her virtue no +different law. + +That is why I love her, and why my heart is possessed by such a frank +and open loyalty towards her. You speak to me about the future, and ask +me what will happen when the time comes for my marriage to Anna +Campbell? Well, the future is still in the distance, my dear fellow; +when it comes upon me we will see what I will do! Meanwhile I love and +content myself with loving! + +Will that satisfy you? Oh yes, I confess my errors, I abjure my pagan +vanities, and my sultanic principles. I give up Mahomet! I have found my +Damascus road. True love has manifested itself to me in all its glory, +shining through the clouds; it has inspired me with its grace, and my +false idols lie prostrate in the dust----Would you like me to make you a +present of my harem? If this offer suits you, send me a line, and I will +forward what remains of it to you with all despatch: you shall then give +it my news, for it is six weeks now since I have seen my two sultanas. +Only make haste--in eight days' time they are to return to +Constantinople. The blessings of civilization are decidedly banes to +these little animals. Liberty in Paris would soon ruin them. I have +provided for them, and am sending them away. + +I mention all this to show you in what happiness I bask. Reassured by my +affection, and confident in the future, my Kondjé-Gul has recovered that +sweet serenity which makes our love such a delicious dream. As the +fierce Kiusko is now unmasked, we laugh at his foolish plots as you may +well imagine! + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +My aunt Gretchen van Cloth is in Paris! + +Well, why do you assume your facetious tone on reading that? I know you +and can guess your thoughts. + +After all, Barbassou is a pasha, is it still necessary to remind you of +that? + +Well, the other day my uncle informed me that he would take me home to +dine with him. I repaired to the boulevard at the appointed hour and we +started in his brougham for Passy. On the way he told me what it was +necessary I should know. We reached a rather nice looking house in the +Rue Raynouard, from which you can see the boats floating down the +Seine. There is a railing and a little garden in front. On hearing our +footsteps, a young lady whom I at once recognised, from the +recollections of my childhood, hurried to the door. + +"Kiss your aunt," my uncle said to me: and I did as I was told. + +We then entered a modest little drawing-room, the commonplace aspect of +which, reminding one of furnished apartments, was improved by its +general neatness and by a few bunches of flowers displayed in sundry odd +vases. Three youngsters, the smallest of whom was between three and four +years old, were eating bread and butter there. My uncle saluted each of +them with a hurried kiss, and then they ran off to their nurse. + +My aunt Gretchen is just reaching her thirty-fourth birthday. She +confesses to her age. If she did not come from Amsterdam she ought to +have been born there. She has blossomed like a flower among the tulips, +and she looks like a Rubens, in that painter's more sober style, as in +the portrait of the Friesland woman, with the prim pink and white flesh +of the healthful natures of the North. You realise that good blood flows +quietly and temperately beneath the pleasantly plump charms of this +worthy Dutchwoman, who claims only her due, but is desirous of getting +it. And she does get it. She has luxuriant light chestnut hair, and a +very attractive face with the smiling, placid, and even somewhat simple +expression of a good housewife, who is as expert in bringing up her +children as in making pastry and pineapple jam. Being of a gay and +amiable disposition, she greeted her husband with the ordinary, hearty +affection of a woman who has never been a widow. After bringing him his +foxskin cap she established him in a comfortable arm-chair, and then +mixed his absinthe for him. I guessed that the captain was returning to +old habits, with the dignified composure which he displays in +everything. + +They began to talk in Dutch, and as I looked at them without +understanding it, my uncle said to me: + +"Your aunt tells me that her kitchen range is too small to make any good +_soufflés_, and it worries her on your account." + +"Oh! my aunt is too kind to disturb herself about such a trifling +matter," I replied; "the pleasure I feel in seeing her again amply +compensates me for this slight mishap." + +"Well, instead of the _soufflés_ you shall have some _wafelen_ and some +_poffertjes_!" quickly rejoined my aunt with her kindly smile. + +I remarked that she spoke French much better than formerly. However, +probably on account of her voyages with the captain, who recruited his +crews at Toulon, her Dutch accent has now become a Provençal one. + +The dinner was delightful, substantial and plentiful, like the charms of +my aunt, who was victorious along the whole line, and notably with the +spicy sauce of a _gebakken schol_, which was excellently baked. + +The conversation was simple and of a free and easy character, my uncle +talking with all the freedom of a man who has a quiet conscience. He was +as much at his ease in his Dutch household as any good citizen could +be, and I perceived that my aunt knew absolutely nothing about him, +unless it were the important position that he occupied in the spice +trade. She gave him some news about the great doings of the Van Hutten +firm of Rotterdam and Antwerp, in which he seemed to take a particular +interest. It seems, too, that Peter van Schloss, junior, is married to a +young lady of Dordrecht, who presented him with twins after six months +of matrimony, a circumstance which my uncle found very natural. Old +Joshua Schlittermans, having been utterly ruined by the failure of +Gannton Brothers of New York, has now taken to drink. + +When the coffee was served (Dirkie had brought it from Amsterdam, +purchasing it on the Damplaatz, at the corner of Kalver Straat), my aunt +filled a long porcelain pipe which my uncle took from her hands and +lighted, puffing out clouds of smoke, with the serene gravity of some +worthy burgomaster at home. We drank some schiedam and two sorts of dry +curaçoa. While my aunt sat knitting at the table she questioned me as to +my occupations, asking me if I were working in my uncle's establishment; +and upon my replying affirmatively to her, she gave me some very good +advice, telling me to be very industrious so that I might take my +uncle's place later on. + +At half-past ten we rose from table and went into the drawing-room. +Dirkie got everything ready for a game of dominoes, and they began to +play in the Dutch fashion. My uncle kept the markers, and noted the +points made: he himself speedily scored between three and four hundred, +and then, feeling satisfied with his success, he said: + +"Well, give us a little music!" + +My aunt did not require any pressing, but went to the piano in a very +good-humoured manner. She opened the top so that the instrument might +give out a louder sound, then passed behind and arranged everything; and +suddenly I heard the splendid introduction of Haydn's seventh symphony +in _F major_ bursting forth, while my aunt turned the handle with rare +skill and gracefulness. (I recognised the superb instrument mentioned in +the fourth legacy of the famous will.) + +I must admit that if my aunt played the minuet rather quickly, she +executed the _andante_ in a very delicate style, and the _scherzo_ and +the _finale_ were both dashed off in a spirited way. At the last chord, +I applauded with sincere enthusiasm. + +"She plays very well, doesn't she?" my uncle quietly asked me, in a +modest tone. "You, who are a connoisseur--" + +"Oh! she plays perfectly," I rejoined, without stinting my praise. + +"And besides she puts expression into it," he resumed. "One can see that +she feels what she plays." + +My aunt kissed him for this compliment, which he paid her with the +gravest assurance. + +"Ah! you are still a flatterer!" she said to him. + +As may readily be guessed, some of Strauss's waltzes and two or three +polkas followed the classical symphonies, together with the overtures of +"Don Giovanni" and "Fra Diavolo." It was really a perfect concert till +midnight. But by that time my aunt's plump arm being somewhat tired it +was necessary to bring the entertainment to a close. + + +Now, my dear fellow, I am not one of those who give way to the stupid +prejudices of our foolish traditions; still less am I one of those who +seek to evade frivolous objections, or fight shy of plain and open +discussion. I have myself officially abandoned polygamy, that is +true--but you are meditating another attack upon my uncle--I see it and +I feel it--and from the depths of your troglodytic intellect you intend +to drag out some commonplace hackneyed argument accompanied by frivolous +sarcasms, and directed, not at the point in question, but all round it. +As you are even incapable of understanding your own so-called virtue in +its true and primitive sense, you will no doubt repeat your usual stupid +remarks, denouncing my uncle's conduct as scandalous. + +Let us go straight to the moral point, without haggling over words. My +uncle, who has the advantage of being a Turk, distributes himself +between his two wives, like a worthy husband faithful to his duty. Do +you presume to blame him? In that case what have you to say to our +friends A. B. C. D. E. F. (I spare you the rest of the alphabet, and it +is understood that the reader and present company are excepted), our +friends, I say, who deceive their wives for the sake of hussies who have +several protectors, as they are well aware? It is not a question here of +fighting on behalf of the holy shrine of monogamy. With how many +faithful, irreproachable husbands are you acquainted? Those hussies are +mistresses, you will say to me! I know it: that is to say, they are +females who belong to everybody. The question is settled: my uncle is a +virtuous man by the side of our friends. As he is incapable of such +vulgar and promiscuous intrigues he has a supplementary household, that +is all! Like the prudent traveller who is acquainted with the length of +the journey he judiciously prepares relays. + +Compare that family gathering at my aunt Van Cloth's with those +unhealthy stolen pleasures of debauched husbands who feel ashamed and +tremble with the fear of being surprised. My uncle is a patriarch and +takes no part in the licentiousness of our times. So much for this +subject. + + +I have just received a most unforeseen blow, my dear Louis, and even +while I write have scarcely recovered from the alarm of a horrible +machination from which we were only saved by a miracle. + +I told you about my poor Kondjé-Gul's passing grief on account of her +mother's foolish ideas. Reassured as to the future by my vows and +promises, she was too amenable to my influence to refuse to submit to a +trial which I was forced by duty to prepare her for. Proud at the +thought that she was sacrificing her jealousy for me, sacrificing +herself for my happiness, her tears having been dried up by my kisses, I +found her the day after this cruel blow to her heart as expansive and +confiding as if no cloud had darkened our sky. + +But a very few days after I was quite surprised to observe a sort of +melancholy resignation about her. I attributed this trouble to some of +the childish worries which her mother's temper occasionally gave her. +However, after several days had passed like this, I came to the +conclusion that the cause of her sadness must be something more than a +transitory one, and that she was harassed by some new grief which even +my presence was not sufficient to dissipate. By her replies to me, which +seemed to be pervaded by more than usual tenderness, I judged that--in +her fear of alarming me, no doubt,--she wished to conceal from me the +real cause of her anxiety. + +One evening at one of our little parties at the Montagues, which had +begun as a concert, but was converted by us, in our gay and sociable +mood, into a dance, Maud had trotted me off to make up a quadrille. +Kondjé-Gul, who, as you know, never dances, had withdrawn into the +boudoir adjoining the drawing-room, where she was looking through the +albums. I suspected nothing, and was engaged in a frivolous conversation +with Maud, when from where I stood, through the glass partition which +separated the two rooms, I noticed Kiusko come and sit down by her side. +It was natural enough that, seeing her alone, he considered himself +bound not to leave her so, for that might have looked like a want of +politeness on his part. It seemed to me, moreover, from their faces, +that their conversation was upon indifferent topics, and was being +conducted in that tone of ordinary friendliness which was usual between +them. + +He was turning over the pages of an album as he talked to her. I had no +reason to pay much attention to this _tête-à-tête_, and was not even +intending to follow it, but once, near the end of the quadrille, my eyes +being again turned by chance in Kondjé-Gul's direction, I saw her rise +up all of a sudden, as if something that Daniel had said had excited her +suddenly. I thought I saw her blush, raising her head proudly and +answering him in an offended tone. + +The dance being now over, I left Maud, and, agitated by an anxious kind +of feeling, walked up to the boudoir. They were standing up, and +Kiusko's back being turned to the door, he did not see me enter. +Kondjé-Gul saw me and said: + +"André, come and give me your arm!" + +At this unusually bold request, Daniel could not repress a gesture of +astonishment, and cast a bewildered glance at me. I advanced, and she +seized my arm with a convulsive movement, and addressed herself to my +rival: + +"This is the second time, sir, that you have declared your love to me. +Let me tell you why I decline it: I am the slave of Monsieur André de +Peyrade, and I love him!" + +If a thunderbolt had fallen at Daniel's feet, it could not have startled +him more than this. He turned so pale that I thought he was going to +faint. He gazed at both of us with a desperate and ferocious look, as if +some terrible thought was revolving in his mind. His features were +contracted into such a savage expression that I instinctively placed +myself between him and Kondjé-Gul. But, all at once, frightened no doubt +at his own passion, he gave one glance of despair and rage, and fled +from the room. Kondjé-Gul was all of a tremble. + +"What has happened, then?" I asked her. + +"I will tell you all about it," she answered, in a voice still quivering +with emotion. "I am going home with my mother. Come after us as soon as +we are off." + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +Half an hour later I joined Kondjé-Gul again at her house. She had sent +Fanny out of the room, and was waiting for me. When she saw me, she +threw her arm round my neck, and the long pent-up tears seemed to start +from her eyes like a fountain. + +"Good heavens!" I exclaimed, "what is it, then?" + +And taking her on my knees like a child, I held her in my arms; but she +soon recovered her energy. + +"Listen, dear," she said in a firm voice, "you must forgive me for what +I have just done: you must forgive me for having concealed my thoughts +and my troubles from you, even at the risk of distressing you." + +"I forgive you, everything," I answered immediately, "go on, tell me +quickly." + +"Well, then! For a whole week I have been deceiving you," she continued, +"by telling you that I had no troubles, and that I did not know the +cause of that sadness which I could not conceal from you. I was afraid +of making you angry with my mother, by confessing to you that it was she +who was tormenting me." + +"Your mother!" I exclaimed: "and what had she to say to you, then?" + +"You shall hear all," she said, with animation, "for I must justify +myself for having kept a secret from you. I daresay you remember," she +continued, "that a fortnight ago she spoke to me about your marriage, +telling me that you were going to leave me." + +"Yes, yes, I understand," I said. "What then?" + +"My mother had made me promise to keep this revelation a secret, because +it was necessary, so she said, that Count Kiusko should not suspect that +we loved each other. She said that he had expressly attributed my +refusal to become his wife to some hope which I doubtless entertained of +marrying you." + +"Well, go on; tell me what has occurred since." + +"You know the state of trouble you found me in that night. I could not +hold back my tears, and you commanded me to tell you all. At last you +reassured me with so much warmth of feeling, that after that I did not +believe anyone but you. Quite happy at the thought of sacrificing myself +to your will, and to your peace of mind, I left off thinking about my +alarms, and regretted them as an insult to our love; I repeated to my +mother all your kind promises, and thought that I had set her mind at +rest. Imagine my astonishment at hearing her, a few days afterwards, +return to the subject: she had seen the count again, who had declared +that your uncle would disinherit you if you did not carry out his +wishes." + +"And did you believe all that?" + +"No," she replied promptly, "for you had not told me so! But then my +mother, seeing that I would only believe you, changed her tactics: she +spoke about Count Kiusko, his wealth, and his love for me." + +"She did that, did she?" + +"Oh, forgive her!" she continued; "she gets anxious both on my account +and her own. She is alarmed about the future, and fancies she sees me +deserted by you! Well, it was simply a cruel struggle for me, in which +my heart could not betray you. I suffered through it, and that's all! +But three days ago, I don't know what can have passed during your aunt's +party, my mother, on our way home, said to me in a decided manner that +she had resolved 'to live no longer among the infidels,' and intended +'to return to the land of the Faithful, in order to expiate the great +wrong she had committed by living here.' + +"I was dismayed at this resolution of hers. As she based it upon our +faith, I could not oppose her, for that would have been a sacrilege, but +I could at least invoke her affection for me, and entreat her not to +leave. Then, while I was on my knees before her, and was kissing her and +crying, she startled me by saying: 'You shall not leave me; for, when I +go, I shall take you away with me'!" + +"Why, she must be crazy!" I exclaimed. + +"Well, dear," added Kondjé-Gul, "you can easily understand what a +thunderbolt this was to me! I felt it so painfully that I nearly swooned +away. My mother was alarmed and called for Fanny. The next day, I +attempted to prevail upon her to change her mind, declaring that it +would kill me to be separated from you. I thought I had mollified her, +for she kissed me and said that all she cared about was my happiness. +But this evening, while we were in the carriage on our way to +Suzannah's, she spoke again to me about Count Kiusko. I have a +presentiment that the greatest enemy to our love and happiness is that +man; and that he it is who has been influencing my mother, hoping, no +doubt, that when separated from you I should no longer be able to resist +her wishes. + +"Well, you know the rest, I had gone into the boudoir while you were +dancing, when the count came and sat down by my side.--'Is it true that +you are going away?' he said to me, after a minute or so. 'Who could +make you believe such a thing?' I replied coldly. 'Why, something your +mother told me which seemed to imply it.' I remained silent--he did not +venture to follow up the subject, and said nothing more for a few +minutes. I kept my eyes on a book which I was looking through, for I +felt that his eyes were fixed upon me. 'Perhaps you will regret André a +little,' he continued, 'but what can you do? He is not free,--and +besides, do you suppose he would have loved you?' + +"At this question, the cruel irony of which wounded me to the quick, I +was possessed by some mad impulse, I raised my head and replied to him +in such a scornful tone that he rose up in confusion. Just then you came +in. I wished to overwhelm him with my contempt so as to destroy all +further hopes he might cherish. You know what I said--" + +"And quite right, too! For it was necessary to put a stop to his +nonsense. I will attend to it." + +"But what if my mother wants to separate us?" + +"Your mother, indeed!" I exclaimed; "your mother who sold you, abandoned +you to the life of a slave, do you think she can come and claim the +rights which she has thrown away?" + +"Can you defend me against her, then?" + +"Yes, dear, I will defend you," I exclaimed in a passion, "and now set +your mind at ease. There is a miserable plot at the bottom of all this, +which I intend demolishing. When I leave you I am going to Count Kiusko, +and I assure you that he sha'n't trouble you any more: after that I +shall see your mother." + +"Good heavens!" said Kondjé-Gul, "are you going to fight him?" + +"No, no," I answered with a laugh, in order to remove her fears; "but +you must understand that it is necessary for me to have an explanation +with him." + + +In the morning I returned home and arranged all my affairs ready for any +eventuality; then when all was in order I went after two of my friends, +and asked them to hold themselves ready to act as my seconds in an +affair which I might be compelled by grave circumstances to settle that +very day. Having obtained their promise to do so, I proceeded to +Kiusko's in the Rue de l'Elysée. + +When I arrived at his house, I saw from the windows being open that he +was up. A footman, who knew me, was standing under the peristyle. He +told me that he did not think his master would see anyone then. I gave +him my card and instructed him to send it up at once to the count. In a +minute or two after he returned and asked me to come up to his master's +private room: he showed me into a little smoking-room adjoining the +bedroom, to which the count's intimate friends only are admitted. I had +hardly entered it when Daniel appeared; he was dressed in a Moldavian +costume which he uses as a dressing-gown. + +"Hullo, here's our dear friend André!" he said when he saw me, in such +an indifferent tone that I could detect in it the intentional +affectation of a calmness to which his pale countenance gave the lie. + +Still he did not hold out his hand to me, nor did I proffer mine; he sat +down, indicating to me an arm-chair on the other side of the fire-place. + +"What good fortune has brought you here so early this morning?" he +continued, taking a few puffs at his cigar. + +"Why, I should have thought you expected to see me," I replied, looking +him straight in the face. + +He returned my look with a smile. + +"I expected you, without expecting you, as they say." + +By the peculiar tone in which he uttered these words, I could see that +he was determined to make me take the initiative in the matter upon +which I had come. + +"Very well!" I said, wishing to show him that I guessed his mind. "I +will explain myself." + +"I am all attention, my dear fellow," he answered. + +"I have come to speak to you," I continued drily, "about Mademoiselle +Kondjé-Gul Murrah, and about what passed yesterday between her and you." + +"Ah, yes! I understand: you are referring to the somewhat severe lecture +which I drew upon myself, and to the confidential communication she made +me." + +"Precisely so," I added; "you could not sum up the two points better +than you have done: a lecture, and a confidence. Now as one outcome of +the second point is that I am responsible for all Mademoiselle Murrah's +acts, I have come to place myself at your command respecting the lecture +she thought fit to give you." + +"What nonsense, my dear fellow!" he exclaimed, puffing a cloud of smoke +into the air. "After all I only had what I deserved, for I can only +blame my own presumption. Besides the very anger of such a charming +young lady is a favour to the man who incurs it, so that my only regret +is that I offended her. I should therefore really laugh at myself to +think that I could hold you responsible for this little incident: nay, I +will go so far as to say that, strictly speaking, I should owe you an +apology for what you might be justified in complaining of as an act of +disloyalty between friends, but for the fact that I can plead as my +excuse the complete ignorance in which you left me of certain mysterious +relations. You must know very well that a simple word from you, my +relative, my _friend_, would have made me stop short on the brink of the +precipice." + +I appreciated the reproachful irony concealed in this last sentence; but +I had gone too far to trouble myself about remorses of conscience +regarding him. + +"So then," I replied, "you have nothing to say, no satisfaction to +demand of me in respect to this lecture?" + +"None whatever, my dear fellow!" he answered, in the same easy tone +which he had preserved all along. "And I may add that there could be +nothing more ridiculous than a quarrel between two friends like you and +me upon such a matter!" + +"Let's think no more about it then!" I continued, imitating his +composure. "Since you take it so good-naturedly, I sha'n't press it. +But, having settled this first point, it remains now for us to discuss +what you have termed the _confidence_." + +At this he could not repress a slight gesture. His dark eye flashed up, +but for a moment only: he was soon quite calm again. + +"Ah, yes!" he said carelessly; "now we've come to the second point." + +"This is the point of importance for me," I added; "and I am going to +ask you, on my side, what you propose to do after this revelation?" + +"I must compliment you, my dear fellow, for upon my word it's a most +wonderful romance. Do you really mean to say that this beautiful young +lady whom we have all been admiring from a distance, fascinated by her +charms, and who like a young queen has been starring it in the most +aristocratic drawing-rooms of your society, exciting enthusiastic praise +wherever she goes,--that she is your slave?--You must admit that no +mortal man could help envying you!" + +"Do your compliments," I continued, "imply an engagement, on your part, +to abandon importunities, which you now recognise to be useless?" + +"Oh, indeed!" he exclaimed, with a laugh; "so you're going to ask me now +to make _my_ confession?" + +Exasperated by this imperturbable composure of his, which I could not +break down, I again looked him straight in the face, and asked-- + +"Do you mean to say you refuse to understand me?" + +"No, my good sir!" he answered, resuming his peculiar smile, "I +understand you perfectly well; you want to pick a quarrel with me, or to +force me to demand satisfaction from you for a matter to which I do not +attach as much importance as you do. Between ourselves, a duel would be +an act of folly." + +"Do you understand, at any rate," I retorted, "that I forbid your ever +presenting yourself before Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul Murrah again?" + +"Fie! my dear fellow! What do you take me for? After such an astonishing +confession on her part, I should prove myself deficient in the most +ordinary discretion, if I did not henceforth spare her my presence; so +you may set your mind at ease on that point." + +"Do you also imply by this evasive answer that you will abandon certain +plots with her mother, which I might describe in terms that would not +please you?" + +"_Corbleu!_ I should be too heavily handicapped in such a game, you must +admit. Nor do I think that the good lady would be of much service to me, +from what I know of her. Moreover," he added, "you have made me your +confidences, as a friend, and, late though they arrive, I shall feel +bound by them henceforth, if only on the ground of the mutual +consideration, which, in grave circumstances, relations owe to each +other." + +The idea, then, occurred to me of provoking him in another way; but I +clearly realised that, as he was playing such a perfidious part, it +would be dangerous for me to commit this imprudence. + +"Come, my dear Daniel," I said, as I rose from my chair, "at any rate, I +can see that you have a very good-natured disposition." + +"Of course I have," he replied; "and yet there are people who accuse me +of evil designs." + + +The most formidable perils are those which you feel darkly conscious of, +without being able to discern either the enemy or the snare. This +interview with Kiusko left almost an impression of terror on my mind. +Knowing him to be as brave as I did, I felt convinced that his +insensibility to my insults could only be due to the calculated calm of +an implacable will, which was pursuing its object, whether of love, of +vengeance, or of hatred, with all the energy of desperation. + +Notwithstanding the humiliations he had undergone, I made sure that he +had by no means given up the game. He meant to have Kondjé-Gul, even if +he had to capture her forcibly, and to carry her off as his prey. When I +considered his sinister calm, which seemed to be abiding its +opportunity, I wondered whether we were not already threatened by some +secret machinations on his part. + +Still I was not the man to be overcome by childish panics; so I soon got +over this transitory feeling of alarm. I knew that after all we were so +unequally matched, that I need not seriously fear his success. However +determined Kiusko might be not to abandon the cowardly _rôle_ he had +assumed, I felt sure that an open affront at the club would compel him +to fight. + +Feeling reassured by this consideration, I decided to be guided in my +action by the result of the interview which I was going to have with +Kondjé-Gul's mother. It was necessary for me to commence by putting a +stop to the foolish proceedings of this woman, who was perhaps acting +unintentionally as Kiusko's accomplice in schemes the object of which +she could not foresee. It was eleven o'clock, an hour at which I knew I +should find her alone, while Kondjé-Gul was taking her lessons: I went +accordingly to Téral House. + +When I arrived a carriage was coming in and drawing up under the +portico. I saw Madame Murrah get out of it. She could not avoid showing +some annoyance on observing me. Rather surprised at her taking such an +early drive, I asked her to go into the drawing-room. She went there +before me, and, seeing me take an arm-chair, she sat down on the divan +in her usual indolent manner, and waited to hear what I had to say. + +The scene which I am now going to relate to you, my dear Louis, was +certainly, according to our ideas, a remarkable one. I tell it you just +as it happened; but you must not forget that, for the Circassian woman, +there was nothing in it which was out of conformity with her principles +and the ideas of her race. + +"I have come to talk with you," I said, "upon a serious subject, the +importance of which perhaps you do not comprehend; for, without +intending it, you are causing Kondjé-Gul a great deal of trouble." + +"How am I causing my daughter trouble?" she answered, as if she had been +trying to understand. + +"By continually telling her that I am going to leave her in order to get +married,--by telling her that you wish to go away, and have even decided +to take her with you. She is of course alarmed by all these imaginary +anxieties." + +"If it is so decreed by Allah!" she said quietly, "who shall prevent +it?" + +I had been expecting denials and subterfuges. This fatalistic utterance, +without answering my reproaches, took me quite aback and made me +tremble. + +"But," I replied in a severe tone, "Allah could not command you to bring +unhappiness to your daughter." + +"As you are going to be married----" + +"What matters my marriage?" I answered. "It cannot in any way affect +Kondjé-Gul's happiness! She knows that I love her, and that she will +always retain the first place in my affections." + +Madame Murrah shook her head for a minute in an undecided manner. The +argument which I had employed was a most simple one. + +At last she said: "Your wife will be an infidel; and, according to your +laws, she will be entitled to demand my daughter's dismissal." + +Dumb-founded at hearing her raise such objections, when I had fancied +that I only needed to express my commands, I gazed at her in complete +astonishment. + +"But my wife will never know Kondjé-Gul!" I exclaimed. "She will live in +her own home, and Kondjé-Gul will live here, so that nothing will be +changed so far as we are concerned." + +Upon this reasoning of mine, which I thought would seem decisive to her, +the Circassian reflected for a moment as if embarrassed as to how she +should answer me. But suddenly, just when I thought she was convinced, +she said: + +"All that you have said would be very true, if we were in Turkey; but +you know better than I do that in your country, your religion does not +permit you to have more than one wife." + +"But," I exclaimed, more astounded than ever at her language, "do you +suppose, then, that Kondjé-Gul could ever doubt my honour or my +fidelity?" + +"My daughter is a child, and believes everything," she continued. "But, +for my own part, I have consulted a lawyer, and have been informed that +according to your law she has become as free as a Frenchwoman, and has +lost all her rights as _cadine_ which she would have enjoyed in our +country. Moreover I am informed that you can abandon her without her +being able to claim any compensation from you." + +I was struck dumb by this bold language and the expression with which it +was accompanied. This was no longer the apathetic Oriental woman whose +obedience I thought I commanded like a master. I had before me another +woman whose expression was thoughtful and decided--I understood it all. + +"While informing you that your daughter is free," I said, changing my +own tone of voice, "this lawyer no doubt informed you also, that you +could marry her to Count Kiusko?" + +"Oh, I knew that before!" she replied, smiling. + +"So you have been deceiving me these two months past, by leaving me to +believe that you had answered him with a refusal?" + +"It was certainly necessary to prevent you from telling him what he now +knows.--The silly girl told him everything yesterday." + +"How do you know that?" + +I saw her face redden. + +"I know it. That's enough!" she replied defiantly. + +Feeling certain that Kondjé-Gul had not told her anything of the +incident of the day before, I divined that she had just left Kiusko's, +where she had been, no doubt, during our interview. + +"May I ask you, then, what you propose to do, now that Count Kiusko +knows everything?" I continued, controlling my anger. + +"I shall do what my daughter's happiness impels me to do. You cannot +marry her without being obliged to give up your uncle's fortune. If +Count Kiusko should persist in wishing to make her his wife, knowing all +the circumstances that he now does, you can understand that I, as her +mother, could not but approve of a marriage which would assure her such +a rich future." + +At this I could no longer restrain myself, but exclaimed: + +"Oh, indeed! Do you imagine I shall let you dispose of her like that, +without defending her?" + +"No, of course, I know all this.--And that's the very point upon which I +consulted a counsel; but, according to what he has advised me, I should +like to ask what authority you can claim over my daughter? What rights +can you set up against mine?" + +"Well, I should like to remind you also that I can ruin your comfortable +expectations by killing Count Kiusko," I said, quite beside myself with +rage. + +"If so it is written!" she rejoined in a calm voice. + +Exasperated by her fatalistic imperturbability, I felt moved by some +furious and violent impulse. I got up from my chair to calm myself. I +could see that for two months past I had been duped by this woman, who +had been pursuing with avidity a vision of unexpected fortune, and that +nothing could now divert her from this pursuit. I felt myself caught in +their abominable toils. + +Sitting motionless on her divan, with her hands folded over her knees, +she regarded me in silence. + +"Well!" I said, coming close to her again, "I can see that your maternal +solicitude is all a question of money. For what sum will you sell me +your daughter a second time, and go back to live by yourself in the +East?" + +She hesitated a moment, and then she said: + +"I will tell you in a week's time." + +By her deceitful looks I judged that she still placed some hope in +Kiusko, and that she probably wished to wait until she could make sure +about it, one way or the other--but from motives of discretion I held my +tongue, and took leave of her. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Events had succeeded each other with such strange rapidity since the day +before, that I felt like one walking in a dream. First, Kondjé-Gul's +revelations of her mother's duplicity, then my discussion with Daniel, +and now finally this cynical dialogue with the Circassian, in the course +of which she had just confessed her schemes quite openly; all these +things had given such a succession of rude shocks to my spirit, which +had been reposing until then in the tranquil assurance of undisturbed +happiness, that I had hardly found time to estimate the extent of my +misfortune. Overwhelmed with distress when I perceived the possibility +of losing Kondjé-Gul, I almost thought I should go mad. I made a +desperate struggle against the despair which was taking possession of my +mind. It was necessary for me to carry on the contest in order to defend +my very soul and life, yet I felt my soul slipping out of control. Like +a mystic fascinated by his vision, I might have allowed myself to be +deluded by a vain mirage of security, for I had never imagined that my +rights could be disputed. I had been living in the peaceful but foolish +confidence that I could obtain redress, when necessary, by the sword, +for my rival's presumption. + +And now I had woke up in consternation at finding myself caught in this +stupid trap which I had permitted them to set in my path. Kondjé-Gul's +mother had become Kiusko's accomplice. How was I to defeat this +conspiracy between two minds animated by consuming passions, resolute +and pitiless, who were determined not to be deterred by any scruples or +any sense of honour? I could now see my weakness; I was paralysed and +defenceless against this wretched woman who, in order to constrain her +daughter and dispose of her future, had only to claim her legal +authority over her. She could take her from me, and carry her away. Once +back in Turkey, supported by the horrible laws of Islam, all she need do +was to sell her to Kiusko and thus give her up to him. + +My mind was struck by a sudden idea. Was it not the height of folly on +my part to give way to childish alarms, and to defer action until after +Kiusko and the Circassian had matured their plans? Was it not possible +for me to escape, carrying Kondjé-Gul off with me, and placing her out +of reach of their pursuit? + +As soon as this idea had taken possession of my mind, it fixed itself +there, and soon developed into a resolution. I felt surprised that it +had not occurred to me earlier, and decided to put it into execution +that very day. I knew that Kondjé-Gul would follow me, for we had often +cherished the idea of taking a journey together alone, and I had +promised her we would carry it out some day. In order to assure our +successful escape, I resolved to give her no notice beforehand, lest she +should let it out to her mother. + +It was necessary, however, to provide for the consequences of this +disappearance, and the gossip which would inevitably result in +connection with it. Well, after a good deal of hesitation, I confided +the whole matter to my uncle. + +"You old stupid!" said he to me, "why, I have known all about your +little love-knot for the last six months!" + +"What! do you mean to say you knew that Kondjé-Gul?--" + +"Lord bless you! Don't you suppose that I heard enough from Mohammed to +make me keep my eyes open?" + +After I had come to a complete understanding with my uncle, I made my +own arrangements. I was expected to dinner at Kondjé's that day. I found +her quite sad; and on the pretext of giving her some distraction, I +ordered the carriage at about half-past eight, as if for a drive to the +Bois. We started off. + +As soon as we were alone, she said to me: + +"Good gracious, André! whatever has been passing between you and my +mother? I am worried to death. She has been talking again to me about my +departure with her, and Fanny believes that she is making her +preparations for it already.--She is going to carry me away." + +"All right, never mind her!" I answered with a laugh; "you're out of +danger already." + +"How so?" + +"I'm taking you away! You won't go back to the house, for we are off to +Fontainebleau, where we shall both of us remain in concealment, while +watching events." + +Need I describe to you her joy? In the Champs Elysées we got out, as if +in order to walk, and I sent back the carriage. An hour after this, a +cab set us down at the railway station! + + +We spent a delightful week in the forest, playing truant. Fanny, who is +a reliable girl, has joined us here. We really had a narrow escape; for +it seems that Madame Murrah had, the very day we made our flight, got +everything planned for leaving the day after. When she found in the +morning that Kondjé-Gul was gone, she nearly had a fit. Kiusko came to +the house, being sent for at once; all of which pretty clearly +indicates an understanding between them. The Circassian of course rushed +after me to the Rue de Varennes, noisily demanding her daughter. So my +aunt got to know all about it! My uncle, whom I had taken into my +confidence, put them at once completely off the scent, by replying that +I had started for Spain. + + +We are safe! Everything has been accomplished, as if by enchantment. For +fifteen days past my Kondjé-Gul has been settled in a charming cottage +at Ermont, in the middle of the forest, hidden away like a daisy in a +field of standing corn. She has disappeared from view, leaving no more +traces behind her than a bird in its flight through the air; and I am +back in Paris, as if I had just returned from a journey. I have sent +word to Madame Murrah that her daughter, having resolved to become a +Christian, has taken refuge in a remote convent. You may picture to +yourself her rage; but, as she is henceforth powerless, I fear her no +more. Being a foreigner, and in her precarious position, she cannot +venture to charge me with abduction, and, as you may imagine, I am not +likely to let her take us by surprise. In order to get rid of her, I +have offered to give her an annuity to live in Turkey, but she has +declined it. + +There can be no doubt that Kiusko guides her, and that they have by no +means given up their game, but are ready to resort to any violence. You +may be sure I keep a sharp eye on them, and am prepared for them. The +contest, however, is too unequal for me to alarm myself very much. My +uncle, who never troubles himself much with legal scruples, telegraphed +to a couple of his old sailors, Onésime and Rupert, to come up from +Toulon: they were born on our Férouzat estate, and are, moreover, his +"god-children." They are ridiculously like him, except that one of them +is two inches taller than the captain. Their godfather has installed +them at Ermont, and I don't mind betting that, with a couple of +strapping fellows like them about the place, any attempt at carrying off +Kondjé-Gul in my absence would meet with a few trifling obstacles! + +As to myself, I defy them to get on my scent. + +Being accustomed to taking morning rides, I could find my way to our +happy cottage home by various routes, starting from opposite sides of +the city. Once on the road, it was impossible to follow me, even at a +distance; for I should soon recognize any one on horseback who appeared +too inquisitive about my journey. Moreover, if these tactics failed, the +pace at which Star goes would easily baffle any pertinacious pursuit. I +often stay for two or three days at this delicious retreat. My uncle +delights in coming there from time to time to take his madeira. + +In short, after the little adventures we have lately gone through, we +are now leading a very pleasant existence. + +You can see what a simple matter it is. + + +My famous system, you will tell me, has come to grief. Here I am, all +forlorn, among the ruins of my harem, running my head against +impossibilities opposed to our laws, morals, and conventionalities, with +my last sultana leaning on my arm; here I am, like some little St. +John,[B] reduced to shady expedients in order to get a minute's +interview with my mistress, imprisoned in her tower. I am trembling +between our caresses, you will say, lest a commissary of police should +come to cut the golden thread upon which my remaining blisses hang, and +force me by legal authority to give back Kondjé-Gul to her cruel mother. + + [Footnote B: Referring to a familiar French nursery-legend similar + to that of Santa Claus.--_Trans._] + +Well, my dear friend, I will answer you very briefly, I am in love! Yes, +I am in love! These words are a reply, I think, to everything; although +I must own that fear of the commissary, which certainly does threaten my +felicity, has considerably humbled my Oriental pride--I am in love! I +have burnt my essay for the Academy. + +Well, then, I have abjured my polygamy. What more can I say to you? + +To-day I must confide to you a most valuable discovery I have made; for +I beg you to believe that love is not, as so many foolish people +imagine, an extinguisher to the fire of the human intellect. On the +contrary, it stimulates the perceptions; and an enthusiastic lover, who +is familiar with the elements of science, can extend therein his field +of observations quite as easily as persons whose hearts are whole. + +As an example of this, then, I have just been realising the beauty of a +charming phenomenon of nature--a most ordinary one, and yet one which so +far has remained, I think, completely unobserved. I refer to the spring! + +As a great artist, you of course know, as well as any one in the world, +that this is the season which leads from the winter to the summer; but +what I feel sure you don't know is the full charm of this transitory +period, in which the whole forest awakens, in which the bushes sprout, +and the young birds twitter in their nests! + +According to Vauvenargues, "The first days of spring possess less charm +than the growing virtue of a young man." + +Well, it would ill befit me to depreciate the value of such an axiom, +coming from the pen of such a great philosopher; still, and without +wishing to disdain his politeness in so far as it is really flattering +to myself at this particular moment of my career, I do not hesitate to +raise my voice after his, and assert, without any pretence of modesty, +that this charm is at least as great in the case of Flora's lover as in +mine, and that it is only fair to accord to each his just portion. If my +budding virtue possesses ineffable charms, no less powerful are those of +the lilacs and the roses. It is really, I assure you, a wonderful +spectacle. You ought to have witnessed it! Some day I will tell you all +about it, as I have just been doing to my uncle, who finds it all very +curious, although he professes only to understand me "very +approximately." + +Getting up at sunrise, Kondjé and I take a run through the coppices, her +little feet all wet with the dew. We feel free, merry, and careless, +dismissing the commissary to oblivion, and trusting to each other's +love, the full charms of which this solitary companionship has revealed +to us. I do not risk more than two excursions to Paris each week, one to +my aunt Eudoxia's, and one to my aunt Van Cloth's. Having made these +angel's visits, and performed various family duties, I vanish, by day or +by night as the case may be, eluding the vigilance of the spies who have +no doubt been set at my heels by the unscrupulous mother, or by _that +rascal Kiusko_, as we now call him. These adventures augment my +rapturous felicity; and if time and destiny have shorn me of the +privilege of my sultanship, which you say rendered me so proud and vain, +I retain at all events the glory of being happy. + +I am in love, my dear fellow; and therefore I dream and forget. But +there is another still darker speck on my serene sky. Anna Campbell is +just approaching her eighteenth birthday, and I cannot think of this +without a good deal of melancholy. Although my uncle is delighted to +take occasional walks here, at the end of which he finds a capital glass +of madeira waiting for him, he, as you are aware, is not a person of +romantic temperament, and has already noted with his scrutinising eye +the ravages caused by a double passion, which bodes no good for his +daughter's married life. + +The other night, on my return from my aunt Van Cloth's, he questioned me +very seriously on the subject. As to my disappointing his hopes, he +knows that the idea of such a thing would not even occur to me. That is +a matter of honour between us. + +I spoke of a further delay before preparing my poor Kondjé-Gul for the +blow. He seemed touched at this token of the sincerity of my entirely +filial devotion to him. + + +The commissary has at last come; we have been discovered! + +Yesterday afternoon we were sitting in the garden, under the shade of a +little clump of trees. My uncle, in a big arm-chair, was smoking and +listening, while I read to him the newspapers, which had just been +brought to us. Suddenly Kondjé-Gul, who was standing a few steps off +from us, arranging the plants for her window, uttered a suppressed cry, +and I saw her run up to me all at once, pale and trembling. + +"What's the matter, dear?" I said to her. + +"Look there! look there!" she answered, in a terrified voice, pointing +towards the house, "my mother!" + +At the same moment, on the door-step of the cottage, through which she +had passed, and found it empty, appeared the Circassian. + +She was accompanied by a man. + +"This is my daughter, sir," she said to him. + +I sprang forward to throw myself in front of Kondjé-Gul. + +"Come, don't agitate yourself, my dear fellow!" said my uncle. "Do me +the favour of keeping quiet!" + +Then, rising up as he would to receive guests, he walked a few steps +towards Madame Murrah, who had advanced towards us, and addressing +himself to the man, said to him: + +"Will you inform me, sir, to what I am indebted for the honour of this +visit from you?" + +"I am a Commissary of Police, sir, and am deputed by the court to assist +this lady, who has come to demand the restitution of her daughter, +illegally harboured by you at your house." + +"Very well, sir," continued my uncle; "I am delighted to see you! But be +so kind, if you please, as to walk into the house, where we can consider +your demand more comfortably than in this garden." + +"Take care," said the Circassian to the commissary: "they want to +contrive her escape!" + +"Nothing of the sort, my dear madam," replied my uncle: "this gentleman +will tell you that we could not venture to do such a thing in his +presence. Your daughter will remain with us to answer any questions +which may be put to her. I am taking her arm, and if you will kindly +follow us, I shall have the honour of showing you the way." + +Onésime and Rupert might be distinguished in the dim perspective, +waiting apparently for a signal from the captain to remove both the +commissary and the unwelcome lady visitor. + +Our hearts were beating fast: Kondjé-Gul could hardly restrain her +feelings. We went in, and my uncle, as calm as ever, offered chairs to +Madame Murrah and to the emissary of justice. Then he addressed him +again, saying: + +"May I inquire, sir, whether you are provided with a formal warrant +authorizing you to employ force to take this young lady away, according +to her mother's wish?" + +"I have the judge's order!" exclaimed Madame Murrah with vehemence. + +"Excuse me, excuse me," continued my uncle, "but let us avoid all +confusion! Be so kind, if you please, madam, as to permit the commissary +to answer my question. We are anxious to observe the respect which we +owe to his office." + +I felt done for. How could we resist the law? My poor Kondjé cast +despairing looks at me. + +"Madame Murrah being a foreigner, sir," answered the officer of the law, +"as you appear to understand, my only instructions are to accompany her, +and, in the event of opposition being made to her rights, to draw up a +report in order to enable her to bring an action against you in a court +of justice." + +"Ah!" continued my uncle. "Well, then, sir! you may proceed, if you +please, to take down our replies. In the first place, then, the young +lady formally declines to return to her mother." + +"That's false!" said the Circassian. "She is my daughter, and belongs +only to me! She will obey me, for she knows that I shall curse her +if----" + +"Let us be quite calm, if you please, and have no useless words!" +replied my uncle. "It is your daughter's turn to reply.--Ask her, sir." + +The commissary then addressed himself to Kondjé-Gul, repeating the +question. I saw her turn pale and hesitate, terror-stricken by her +mother's looks. + +"Do you want to leave me, then?" I said to her passionately. + +"Oh, no!" she exclaimed. Then turning towards the commissary, she added +in a firm voice: "I do not wish to go with my mother, sir." + +At this the Circassian rose up in a fury. + +Kondjé-Gul fell on her knees before her, supplicating her with tears, in +piteous tones. + +In my alarm I rushed forward. + +"Get her out of the room; take her away!" my uncle said to me sharply. + +My poor Kondjé-Gul resisted, so I took her up in my arms and carried her +out. At the door I found Fanny, who had come up, and I left my darling +in her care. + +Madame Murrah darted forward to follow her daughter, but my uncle had +seized her by the wrist, and forcing her down again, said to her in +Turkish: + +"We have not finished; and if you stir, beware!" + +"Sir," exclaimed the Circassian, addressing the officer of the law, "you +see how violently they are treating me, and how they are threatening +me!" + +All this had taken place so quickly that the commissary hardly had time +to intervene with a gesture. Onésime and Rupert were strolling about +outside the window. + +"Excuse me for having sent this child out, sir," continued my uncle; +"but you are, I believe, sufficiently acquainted already with her +decision. Moreover, she is there to reply afresh to you, if you desire +to question her alone, secure from all influence and pressure. It +remains for me to speak now upon a subject which she ought not to hear +mentioned. After her refusal to follow her mother, which she has just +given so clearly, be so good as to add on your report that I also refuse +very emphatically to give her up to her." + +"You have no right to rob me of my daughter," exclaimed the Circassian, +who was nearly delirious with rage. + +"That is just the point we are about to discuss," replied my uncle. +"Firstly, then, allow me to introduce myself to you, sir," he continued, +quite calmly; "and to explain my position and rights in this matter. My +name is _The Late_ Barbassou, ex-General and Pasha in the service of His +Majesty the Sultan--ranks which entitle me to the privileges of a +Turkish subject." + +The commissary smiled and nodded to him, thus indicating that the name +of Barbassou-Pasha was already known to him. + +"As a consequence of these rights, sir," continued my uncle, "my private +transactions cannot come before the French courts; so that this affair +must be settled entirely between Madame Murrah and myself. I should +even add, while expressing to you my regrets for the inconvenience which +it is causing you, that it is I who have brought about this very +necessary interview. I presented myself twice at Madame Murrah's house +in Paris, with the object of bringing this stupid business to a +conclusion. For reasons, no doubt, which you are already in a position +to estimate, she refused to see me. I arranged, therefore, that she +should be informed yesterday that her daughter was concealed in this +house; and I came here at once myself, in order to have the pleasure of +meeting the lady. There you have the whole story." + +"I refused to see you," said Kondjé-Gul's mother, "simply because I do +not know you! And I ask the judge to order the restitution of my +daughter, which the Ambassador of our Sultan supports me in demanding. I +have his order to this effect." + +Here the commissary intervened, and, addressing my uncle, whose +imperturbable composure quite astounded me, said gravely: + +"Would you oblige me, sir, by stating your motive for refusing to give +up this young lady to her mother? According to our laws, as you are +aware, this is a circumstance which, notwithstanding the purely +voluntary character of my mandate, I am bound to enter in my report." + +"Certainly, sir," replied my uncle, "your request is a very proper one, +and I will at once reply to it, as I would have done in the presence of +the consul of His Excellency the Turkish Ambassador, were it not that +Madame Murrah has strong motives for avoiding such an explanation before +him, between good Mussulmans like herself and me." + +"I understand you," continued the commissary, suppressing another smile +at this declaration of Barbassou-Pasha. + +"Sir," added my uncle, "I have the advantage of being a Mahometan; and +according to the special customs of my country, with which you are +acquainted, this lady sold me her daughter by a straightforward and +honourable contract, sanctioned by our usages, recognized and supported +by our laws: these laws formally enjoin me to protect her, and to +maintain her always in a position corresponding with my own rank and +fortune, while they forbid me ever to abandon her. Under the same +contract this lady duly received her 'gift' or legitimate remuneration, +which had been estimated, fixed, and agreed to by her. Therefore, as you +will perceive, sir," he added, "no discussion in this case would ever be +listened to by an Ottoman tribunal, and Madame Murrah's suit would be +ignominiously dismissed." + +"We are in France," said Madame Murrah, "and my daughter has become +free!" + +"To conclude, sir," continued my uncle, without taking any notice of +this objection, "this lady and I are both subjects of His Majesty the +Sultan. Ours is simply a private dispute between fellow-Turks, coming +entirely under the jurisdiction of our national tribunals, and is one in +which your French courts, as you will understand, have no authority to +interfere." + +"You are not my daughter's husband!" exclaimed the Circassian; "she does +not belong to you any longer, for you have given her to your nephew, a +Giaour, an infidel!" + +"Quite true, madam!" replied my uncle. "But," he continued, "these are +details in a private dispute, with which this gentleman is not +concerned. And I fancy he has by this time obtained sufficient +information." + +"Certainly, sir," said the officer of the law, rising from his seat. "I +have taken down your replies, and my mission is accomplished." + +Barbassou-Pasha, upon this conclusion, saluted him in his most dignified +manner and conducted him out with every polite attention. + +The Circassian, exasperated beyond measure, had not moved: rage was +depicted on her whole countenance, and she looked like one determined to +fight it out to the bitter end. + +"I must insist upon speaking to my daughter," she said passionately, +"and then we shall see!" + +Just as he caught these words, my uncle came in, leading my poor +Kondjé-Gul by the hand. + +"Come, you silly old fool," he said to Madame Murrah, changing his tone +quite suddenly, "you can see now that there is nothing left to you but +to submit. Swallow all your stupid threats! You will make a good thing +out of it all the same--for I give your daughter in marriage to my +nephew!" + +I thought I must have misunderstood him. + +"Uncle!" I exclaimed, "what did you say?" + +"Why, you rascal, I see that I must give her to you, since you love each +other so consumedly!" + +Kondjé-Gul could not repress a scream of joy. We both threw ourselves +into my uncle's arms at the same time. + +"Yes," he said, "what a jolly couple they look! But it was your aunt +Eudoxia who led me at last to play this card! Here I am nicely balked of +all my fine schemes!" + +"Oh!" exclaimed Kondjé-Gul, "we will love each other so much!" + +"Well, well! There, they're quite smothering me! May the good God bless +you! go along. But now we shall have to come to an understanding with +this excellent mother; for according to these infernal French laws, +which complicate everything, her consent is necessary for your +marriage." + +"I certainly shall not give it," said Madame Murrah furiously. + +"All right! We will see about that," he continued. "That is a matter to +be arranged between us, and for that purpose I shall go to your house +to-morrow. Only, I give you warning, no noise, please, no silly attempts +to carry off your daughter, otherwise we shall wait until she is of age +in two years' time, and then you will have nothing." + +Don't be surprised, Louis, if for the rest of this page I scrawl like a +monkey. At the recollection of this scene, my eyes are quite obscured +by a veil of mist. By Jove, so much the worse! for now it's all breaking +into real tears. + +Dear me, what a brick of an uncle he is to me! + +Notwithstanding Barbassou-Pasha's Turkish tactics, and in spite of the +happiness which for the moment quite overwhelmed us, my poor Kondjé-Gul +began to tremble again with fear after the departure of her mother, whom +we knew to be capable of any mad act. We decided that, in order to avoid +a very real danger, we would take her that very day to the convent of +the Ladies of X.; this we did. Before she becomes my wife she is going +to become a Christian, in pursuance of the wish which, as you know, she +has expressed a long time since, of embracing my faith. This visit, +which will account to the world for her disappearance, will be explained +quite naturally by this _finale_ of our marriage; and if people ever +discover anything about this queer story of our amours, well--I shall +have married my own slave, that's all. + +Eh? What? You incorrigible carper! Is it not, after all, a charming +romance? + +A fortnight has passed since the intervention of the commissary. Kiusko +has gone: he disappeared one morning. My aunt Eudoxia, who has taken us +under her special care, goes to see Kondjé-Gul every day at the convent. +She is charming in her kindness to us, but still we have our anxieties. +The negotiation of the maternal consent is an arduous task, for the +Circassian makes absurd pretensions; my uncle, however, undertakes to +bring her down. + +What will you say next, I wonder? That I am reduced to buying my own +wife? I flatter myself that I shall find happiness in that bargain! How +many others are there, who have done the same, that could say as much as +that? + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Here's a fine business! It is my uncle who has got into trouble this +time! My aunt Eudoxia has found out everything, and I have just spent +two days in helping my aunt Van Cloth to pack up and get back to Holland +with my long string of cousins, the fat Dirkie, the cooking moulds, and +the barrel-organ following by goods' train. + +It was a veritable thunderclap! + +I have told you all about this Dutch household and its patriarchal +felicity, its sweetmeat and sausage pastries, and its inimitable +tarts--less appetizing, however, than my aunt's fine eyes. I have told +you about their quiet family evenings with my uncle's pipe and +schiedam, in which domino-parties of three were varied by the delightful +treat of a symphony from one of the great masters, executed in a +masterly style by a pretty little plump hand covered with pink dimples. + +Once or twice a week, as became a favourite and affectionate nephew, I +came into the midst of this idyll of the land of tulips; and always +quitted it full of sweetmeats and good advice. + +However, the day before yesterday, Ernest, the second of my cousins, who +is five years old, suddenly caught a violent fever; he grew scarlet in +the face, and his stomach swelled up like a balloon. + +My poor aunt, having exhausted all her arsenal of aperients and +astringents against what she reckoned to be an indigestion due to +preserved plums, quite lost her head. In the afternoon the child grew +worse. Where in Paris could she find a Dutch doctor? She could only +place confidence in a Dutchman. At the end of her wits with fear, she +thought she would go after my uncle or me; so, without thinking any more +about it, as she knew our address, she takes a cab and gets driven to +the Rue de Varennes, believing in her simplicity that this was where our +shops and offices were. + +She arrives and asks for my uncle. Being seven o'clock, the hall-porter +tells her that the captain will soon be in, shows her to the staircase, +and rings the bell; one of the men-servants asks her for her name, and +then opens the folding doors, announcing-- + +"Madame Barbassou!" + +It is my aunt Eudoxia who receives her. + +My aunt Van Cloth, who is distracted with anxiety, thinks that she sees +before her some lady of my family, and in order to excuse herself for +disturbing her, begins by saying that she has come to see Captain +Barbassou, _her husband_. + +Imagine the stupefaction of my aunt Eudoxia! But being too astute to +betray herself, she lets the other speak, questions her and learns the +whole story. Then, like the good soul that she is, and feeling sorry for +poor Ernest and his swollen stomach, she rings and orders the carriage +to be ready, so that she may go as soon as possible to her own doctor; +upon which my aunt Van Cloth, who is of an effusive nature, embraces her +most affectionately, calling her her dearest friend. + +Just then my uncle arrives. + +I was not present; but my aunt Eudoxia, who continues to laugh over it, +has related to me all the details of the affair. At the sight of this +remarkable fusion of "the two branches of his hymens," as she termed it, +the Pasha was positively dumbfounded. All the more so as my aunt Van +Cloth, who understood no more about this extraordinary position of +affairs than she did of Hebrew, threw herself into his arms, and +exclaimed: + +"Ah! Anatole! here you are, dear!--Our Ernest is in danger!" + +The bravest man will quail occasionally; and at this unfortunate and +unavoidable attack, which tore asunder the whole veil of mystery, the +splendid composure with which Nature has armed my uncle Barbassou really +deserted him for a moment. But, like a man who is superior to +misfortunes of this sort, when he found himself caught he did not on +this occasion, more than on any other, waste any time over spilt cream. + +"Quick! we must go and fetch the child!" he said. + +And taking advantage of the fact that my aunt Van Cloth was hanging to +him, he carried her off without any more ado, and went out by the door, +without leaving her time to kiss the Countess of Monteclaro, as she +certainly would have done out of politeness. From the ante-room he +dragged her down to the carriage, where he packed her in. + +I was coming down from my own chambers just as he returned from this +summary execution. Although about the last thing I expected to come in +for was the climax of a tragic occurrence, I could see easily enough +that my uncle had experienced some little shock; but the announcement of +dinner and the ordinary tone of my aunt's reception creating a +diversion, I did not feel certain until we were seated at table that +there was some storm in the air which was only restrained from bursting +by the presence of the servants. The Pasha, sitting in silence with his +head bent down into his plate, seemed to be absorbed by some abstruse +considerations, which caused him that evening to forget to grumble at +the cook. My aunt, on the contrary, sparkling with humour, and in her +most charming and gracious mood, suggested by her smiles a certain +lightness of heart: he eyed her suspiciously from time to time, like a +man with an uncomfortable conscience. + +When the meal was over we returned to the drawing-room, and coffee being +served, remained there alone. The Countess of Monteclaro, still as +gracious as ever, made some sly thrusts at him, the significance of +which escaped me somewhat. The captain evidently was keeping very quiet. +Finally, after half an hour, as I was about to leave, and he showed +symptoms of an intention to slip off, she said to him, in her most +insinuating manner-- + +"I will detain you for a minute, my dear; I must have a little +conversation with you about a matter on which I want to take your +advice." + +I kissed the hand which she held out to me, and which indicated that my +presence was not wanted. + +"Well, good night, old good-for-nothing!" she added, as she accompanied +me as far as the door of the adjoining room. + +What passed after I left, none will ever know. My aunt, with her +exquisite tact, has only related to me the original and amusing side of +the matter, laughing at her unfortunate discovery in the lofty manner of +a noble lady who is smoothing over a family trouble. Apart from her very +genuine affection for my uncle, she entertains also a certain esteem for +him, which she could never depart from before his nephew. + +As for myself, I remained still in ignorance of everything until nine +o'clock, when the Pasha joined me again at the club, where he had +particularly asked me to wait for him. + +At the first glance I guessed that there had been a row. Without saying +a word, he led me into a little detached room: there he fell into an +arm-chair, and shook his head in silence, as he looked at me. + +"Good gracious! what's the matter, uncle?" I asked. + +"Pfuiii!" he replied, staring with his full eyes, and prolonging this +kind of whistling exclamation, like a man who is breathing more freely +after a narrow escape. + +His gestures were so eloquent, his sigh so expressive and so +reinvigorating, that I waited until he had given complete vent to it. +When I saw him quite exhausted by it, I continued, feeling really +anxious-- + +"Come! what is it?" + +"Oh, I've just had such a nasty turn!" he answered at last, "Pfuiii!" + +I respected this new effort at relief, which, moreover set him right +this time. + +"You've had some words with my aunt, I suppose?" I added, at a venture, +recollecting the cloud which seemed to hang over us at dinner. + +"A regular earthquake!" he drawled out, in that appalling Marseilles +accent which he falls into whenever he is overcome by any strong +emotion. "Your aunt Eudoxia has discovered the whole bag of tricks! The +story of the Passy house, your aunt Gretchen, the children, Dirkie, and +the whole blessed shop!" + +"But, perhaps she has only suspicions--the consequence of some gossip +she has heard?" + +"Suspicions?" he exclaimed; "why, they have met each other!" + +"Nonsense, that's impossible!--Are you really sure of this?" + +"_Tê!_ Sure indeed? I should think so! I return home to dinner, come +into the drawing-room, and I actually find them both there, talking +together. They were kissing each other!" + +"The deuce!" I exclaimed, quite alarmed this time. + +"Well, that was a stunner, wasn't it, my dear boy?" + +"It was indeed! Whatever did you do?" + +"I separated them, carrying Gretchen back at once to her carriage." + +"Then now I understand the chill which seemed to be over us all +dinner-time. So, after I went out, you had a heavy downfall?" + +"Pfuiii!" my uncle began again. + +This last sigh seemed to lose itself in such a vista of painful +souvenirs, that the whole of Théramène's narrative would certainly have +taken less time to tell. I proceeded as quickly as I could, foreseeing +that my intervention would be necessary. + +"Had I not better run over to my aunt Gretchen's?" I asked him. + +"Yes, I certainly think you had. I promised that, except in case of +Ernest's illness proving serious, they should all leave Paris to-morrow! +You may still have time to arrange that this evening," he added, looking +at the clock. + +"All right, I'm off!" I replied, rising up. + +As I was about to go out, he called me back. + +"Ah! above all," he continued sharply, "don't forget to tell Eudoxia +to-morrow that it is you who have undertaken this business, and that as +for me, I have not stirred from here!" + +"That's quite understood, uncle," I answered, laughing to myself at the +blue funk he was in. + +Needless to add, I did not lose any time. In a quarter of an hour I was +at Passy. It so happened that a favourable crisis had come over Ernest +and relieved him, and he gave no further cause for anxiety. My aunt +Gretchen, who had gone through all this business as a blind man might +pass under an arch, without knowing anything about it, did not evince +the least surprise on hearing that my uncle "having received a telegram +which had obliged him to leave Paris that evening, had commissioned me +in his absence to send her off immediately to Amsterdam." She entrusted +me with no end of compliments for the Countess of Monteclaro, whose +acquaintance she was charmed to have made. + +The next morning she was rolling away in the express, delighted to have +made such an agreeable and enjoyable visit. + +A week has now passed since this affair, and beyond that my uncle is +still quite humiliated by a malicious sort of gaiety affected by my +aunt, who often calls him "The Pasha," instead of "The Captain," which +is the title she always gave him formerly, everything has resumed the +harmonious tranquillity of the best regulated household. Attentions, +politenesses, gallantries, &c., are quite the order of the day. Only he +is ruining me with all the presents he lavishes upon her; and I have +been forced to make serious complaints on the subject to my aunt, who +has laughed insanely at them, maintaining that it is "the sinner's +ransom." Still, some kind of restrictions are necessary in families, and +I have warned her that, if it continues, I shall stop "the late +Barbassou's" credit, seeing that he is dead. + +"You see what a simple matter it is, as my uncle says," I added. + +But she only laughed again, louder than ever. We have got on no further. + + +Louis, go and hang yourself! I was married yesterday, and you were not +there! + +The ceremony was very fine. It was at the church of Sainte Clotilde; all +the Faubourg St. Germain was there, delighted at Kondjé-Gul's +conversion, and with her beauty, her charming manners, and the romance +connected with our marriage. Everyone was there who has made any name in +the world of art, not to speak of that of finance. There was Baron +Rothschild, who had a long conversation with my uncle. Three special +correspondents for London newspapers were present, and all our own Paris +reporters. High Mass, full choral; Fauré sang his _Pie Jesus_, Madame +Carvalho and Adelina Patti the _Credo_. + +At the entrance, the crowd nearly crushed us. Barbassou-Pasha, Count of +Monteclaro, gave his arm to the bride. Poor Kondjé, what agitation, what +emotion, what delight she evinced! I escorted Madame Murrah in a +splendid costume, tamed but very dignified still, and playing her part +with noble airs, like a fatalist. "It was written!" She started off the +same day to Rhodes, where my uncle is finding a position for her--as +head manager of his Botany Bay. + +The Countess of Monteclaro was there, and Anna Campbell was smiling all +over as she acted, in company with Maud and Susannah Montague, as +bridesmaid to her friend Kondjé-Gul. + +It took them all exactly an hour to pass in procession through the +vestry. We had to sign the register there, and my uncle headed it with +his self-assumed title of "_The late_ Barbassou," to which he clings. + +Then came the deluge of congratulations, my beautiful Christian wife +blushing in her emotion, with her garland of orange-flowers. (Well, yes! +And why not? It's the custom, you know.) + +At two o'clock, back to the house, a family love-feast, and preparations +for the flight of the young couple to Férouzat. Peace and joy in all +hearts. My uncle, at last admitted to absolution, quivering with +pleasure at hearing my aunt Eudoxia calling him no longer "Pasha," but +"Captain," as of old. + +Everywhere Love and Spring! + +Come now, Louis, quite seriously, are you, who have made the experiment, +quite sure that one heart suffices for one veritable love? I am anxious +to know. + +When evening arrived, the Count and Countess of Monteclaro accompanied +us to the railway station. They will join us at the end of the month. + +I leave you to imagine for yourself all the kisses and salutations, +promises and grandparents' advice. + +While my aunt was exhorting Kondjé-Gul, my uncle favoured me with a few +words on his part. + +"You see," he said to me quietly, standing by the side of our carriage, +"there is one thing which it is indispensable for you not to forget, and +that is never on any account to have _two wives_--in the same town!" + +Louis, I think my uncle is a little wanting in principle. + +[Illustration] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of French and Oriental Love in a Harem, by +Mario Uchard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRENCH AND ORIENTAL LOVE *** + +***** This file should be named 21868-8.txt or 21868-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/8/6/21868/ + +Produced by David Starner, Ginirover and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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