The Prince of India; Or Why Constantinople Fell — Volume 02 Read online

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  THE PRINCE OF INDIA

  OR

  WHY CONSTANTINOPLE FELL

  BY LEW. WALLACE

  VOL. II.

  _Rise, too, ye Shapes and Shadows of the Past Rise from your long forgotten grazes at last Let us behold your faces, let us hear The words you uttered in those days of fear Revisit your familiar haunts again The scenes of triumph and the scenes of pain And leave the footprints of your bleeding feet Once more upon the pavement of the street_ LONGFELLOW

  CONTENTS

  BOOK IV

  THE PALACE OF BLACHERNE (_Continued_)

  CHAPTER

  XI. THE PRINCESS HEARS FROM THE WORLD XII. LAEL TELLS OF HER TWO FATHERS XIII. THE HAMARI TURNS BOATMAN XIV. THE PRINCESS HAS A CREED XV. THE PRINCE OF INDIA PREACHES GOD TO THE GREEKS XVI. HOW THE NEW FAITH WAS RECEIVED XVII. LAEL AND THE SWORD OF SOLOMON XVIII. THE FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS XIX. THE PRINCE BUILDS CASTLES FOR HIS GUL BAHAR XX. THE SILHOUETTE OF A CRIME XXI. SERGIUS LEARNS A NEW LESSON XXII. THE PRINCE OF INDIA SEEKS MAHOMMED XXIII. SERGIUS AND NILO TAKE UP THE HUNT XXIV. THE IMPERIAL CISTERN GIVES UP ITS SECRET

  BOOK V

  MIRZA

  I. A COLD WIND FROM ADRIANOPLE II. A FIRE FROM THE HEGUMEN'S TOMB III. MIRZA DOES AN ERRAND FOR MAHOMMED IV. THE EMIR IN ITALY V. THE PRINCESS IRENE IN TOWN VI. COUNT CORTI IN SANCTA SOPHIA VII. COUNT CORTI TO MAHOMMED VIII. OUR LORD'S CREED IX. COUNT CORTI TO MAHOMMED X. SERGIUS TO THE LION

  BOOK VI

  CONSTANTINE

  I. THE SWORD OF SOLOMON II. MAHOMMED AND COUNT CORTI MAKE A WAGER III. THE BLOODY HARVEST IV. EUROPE ANSWERS THE CRY FOR HELP V. COUNT CORTI RECEIVES A FAVOR VI. MAHOMMED AT THE GATE ST. ROMAIN VII. THE GREAT GUN SPEAKS VIII. MAHOMMED TRIES HIS GUNS AGAIN IX. THE MADONNA TO THE RESCUE X. THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ASSAULT XI. COUNT CORTI IN DILEMMA XII. THE ASSAULT XIII. MAHOMMED IN SANCTA SOPHIA

  BOOK IV

  THE PALACE OF BLACHERNE (_Continued_)

  CHAPTER XI

  THE PRINCESS HEARS FROM THE WORLD

  The sun shone clear and hot, and the guests in the garden were glad torest in the shaded places of promenade along the brooksides and underthe beeches and soaring pines of the avenues. Far up the extendedhollow there was a basin first to receive the water from the conduitsupposed to tap the aqueduct leading down from the forest of Belgrade.The noise of the little cataract there was strong enough to draw aquota of visitors. From the front gate to the basin, from the basin tothe summit of the promontory, the company in lingering groups amusedeach other detailing what of fortune good and bad the year had broughtthem. The main features of such meetings are always alike. There weregames by the children, lovers in retired places, and old people plyingeach other with reminiscences. The faculty of enjoyment changes butnever expires.

  An array of men chosen for the purpose sallied from the basement of thepalace carrying baskets of bread, fruits in season, and wine of thecountry in water-skins. Dispersing themselves through the garden, theywaited on the guests, and made distribution without stint ordiscrimination. The heartiness of their welcome may be imagined; whilethe thoughtful reader will see in the liberality thus characterizingher hospitality one of the secrets of the Princess's popularity withthe poor along the Bosphorus. Nor that merely. A little reflection willlead up to an explanation of her preference for the Homeric residenceby Therapia. The commonalty, especially the unfortunate amongst them,were a kind of constituency of hers, and she loved living where shecould most readily communicate with them.

  This was the hour she chose to go out and personally visit her guests.Descending from the portico, she led her household attendants into thegarden. She alone appeared unveiled. The happiness of the many amongstwhom she immediately stepped touched every spring of enjoyment in herbeing; her eyes were bright, her cheeks rosy, her spirit high; in aword, the beauty so peculiarly hers, and which no one could look onwithout consciousness of its influence, shone with singular enhancement.

  News that she was in the garden spread rapidly, and where she wenteveryone arose and remained standing. Now and then, while makingacknowledgments to groups along the way, she recognized acquaintances,and for such, whether men or women, she had a smile, sometimes a word.Upon her passing, they pursued with benisons, "God bless you!" "May theHoly Mother keep her!" Not unfrequently children ran flinging flowersat her feet, and mothers knelt and begged her blessing. They had livelyrecollection of a sickness or other overtaking by sorrow, and of herboat drawing to the landing laden with delicacies, and bringing whatwas quite as welcome, the charm of her presence, with words inspiringhope and trust. The vast, vociferous, premeditated Roman ovation,sonorously the Triumph, never brought a Consular hero the satisfactionthis Christian woman now derived.

  She was aware of the admiration which went with her, and the sensationwas of walking through a purer and brighter sunshine. Nor did sheaffect to put aside the triumph there certainly was in thedemonstration; but she accounted it the due of charity--a triumph ofgood work done for the pleasure there was in the doing.

  At the basin mentioned as the landward terminus of the garden theprogress in that direction stopped. Thence, after gracious attentionsto the women and children there, the Princess set out for the summit ofthe promontory. The road taken was broad and smooth, and on the lefthand lined from bottom to top with pine trees, some of which are yetstanding.

  The summit had been a place of interest time out of mind. From itswoody cover, the first inhabitants beheld the Argonauts anchor off thetown of Amycus, king of the Bebryces; there the vengeful Medeapractised her incantations; and descending to acknowledged history, itwere long telling the notable events of the ages landmarked by thehoary height. When the builder of the palace below threw his scheme ofimprovement over the brow of the hill, he constructed water basins ondifferent levels, surrounding them with raised walls artisticallysculptured; between the basins he pitched marble pavilions, looking inthe distance like airy domes on a Cyclopean temple; then he drew thework together by a tesselated pavement identical with the floor of thehouse of Caesar hard by the Forum in Rome.

  Giving little heed to the other guests in occupancy of the summit, theattendants of the Princess broke into parties sight seeing; while shecalled Sergius to her, and conducted him to a point commanding theBosphorus for leagues. A favorite lookout, in fact, the spot had beenprovided with a pavement and a capacious chair cut from a block of thecoarse brown limestone native to the locality. There she took seat, andthe ascent, though all in shade, having been wearisome, she was glad ofthe blowing of the fresh upper air.

  From a place in the rear Sergius had witnessed the progress to thepresent halt. Every incident and demonstration had been in his view andhearing. The expressions of affection showered upon the Princess weredelightful to him; they seemed so spontaneous and genuine. As testimonyto her character in the popular estimate at least, they left nothingdoubtful. His first impression of her was confirmed. She was a woman towhom Heaven had confided every grace and virtue. Such marvels had beenbefore. He had heard of them in tradition, and always in a strain tolift those thus favored above the hardened commonplace of human life,creatures not exactly angels, yet moving in the same atmosphere withangels. The monasteries, even those into whose gates women areforbidden to look, all have stories of womanly excellence which themonks tell each other in pauses from labor in the lentil patch, and intheir cells after vesper prayers. In brief, so did Sergius' estimate ofthe Princess increase that he was unaware of impropriety when, trudgingslowly after the train of attendants, he associated her with heroinesmost odorous in Church and Scriptural memories; with Mothers Superiorfamous for sanctity; with Saints, like Theckla and Cecilia; with theProphetess who was left by the wayside in the desert of Zin, and thelater seer and singer, she who had her judgment-seat under the palmtree of Deborah.

  Withal, however, the monk was uncomfortable. The words of his Hegumenpursued him. Should he tell the Princess? Assailed by doubts, hefollowed her to the lookout on the edge of the promontory.

  Seating herself, she glanced over the wide field of water below; fromthe vessels there, she gazed across to Asia; then up at the sky, fullto its bluest depth with the glory of day. At length she asked:

  "Have you heard from Father Hilarion?"

  "Not yet," Sergius replied.

  "I was thinking of him," she continued. "He used to tell me of theprimitive church--the Church of the Disciples. One of his lessonsreturns to me. He seems to be standing where you are. I hear his voice.I see his countenance. I remember his words: 'The brethren while of onefaith, because the creed was too simple for division, were of twoclasses, as they now are and will always be'--ay, Sergius, as they willalways be!--'But,' he said, 'it is worthy remembrance, my dear child,unlike the present habit, the rich held their riches with theunderstanding that the brethren all had shares in them. The owner wasmore than owner; he was a trustee charged with the safe-keeping of hisproperty, and with farming it to the best advantage, that he might bein condition to help the greatest number of the Christian brotherhoodaccording to their necessities.' I wondered greatly at the time, butnot now. The delight I have today confirms the Father; for it is not inmy p
alace and garden, nor in my gold, but in the power I derive fromthem to give respite from the grind of poverty to so many lessfortunate than myself. 'The divine order was not to desist from gettingwealth'--thus the Father continued--'for Christ knew there were who,labor as they might, could not accumulate or retain; circumstanceswould be against them, or the genius might be wanting. Poor withoutfault, were they to suffer, and curse God with the curse of the sick,the cold, the naked, the hungry? Oh, no! Christ was the representativeof the Infinitely Merciful. Under his dispensation they were to bepartners of the more favored.' Who can tell, who can begin to measurethe reward there is to me in the laughter of children at play under thetrees by the brooks, and in the cheer and smiles of women whom I havebeen able to draw from the unvarying routine of toil like theirs?"

  There was a ship with full spread sail speeding along so close in shoreSergius could have thrown a stone on its deck. He affected to be deeplyinterested in it. The ruse did not avail him.

  "What is the matter?"

  Receiving no reply, she repeated the question.

  "My dear friend, you are not old enough in concealment to deceive me.You are in trouble. Come sit here.... True, I am not an authorizedconfessor; yet I know the principle on which the Church defends theconfessional. Let me share your burden. Insomuch as you give me, youshall be relieved."

  It came to him then that he must speak.

  "Princess," he began, striving to keep his voice firm, "you know notwhat you ask."

  "Is it what a woman may hear?"

  A step nearer brought him on the tesselated square.

  "I hesitate, Princess, because a judgment is required of me. Hear, andhelp me first."

  Then he proceeded rapidly:

  "There is one just entered holy service. He is a member of an ancientand honorable Brotherhood, and by reason of his inexperience,doubtless, its obligations rest the heavier on his conscience. Hissuperior has declared to him how glad he would be had he a son likehim, and confiding in his loyalty, he intrusted him with gravestsecrets; amongst others, that a person well known and greatly belovedis under watch for the highest of religious crimes. Pause now, OPrincess, and consider the obligations inseparable from the relationand trust here disclosed.... Look then to this other circumstance. Theperson accused condescended to be the friend and patron of the sameneophyte, and by vouching for him to the head of the Church, put him onthe road to favor and quick promotion. Briefly, O Princess, to which isobligation first owing? The father superior or the patron in danger?"

  The Princess replied calmly, but with feeling: "It is not asupposition, Sergius."

  Though surprised, he returned: "Without it I could not have yourdecision first."

  "Thou, Sergius, art the distressed neophyte."

  He held his hands out to her: "Give me thy judgment."

  "The Hegumen of the St. James' is the accuser."

  "Be just, O Princess! To which is the obligation first owing?"

  "I am the accused," she continued, in the same tone.

  He would have fallen on his knees. "No, keep thy feet. A watchman maybe behind me now."

  He had scarcely resumed his position before she asked, still in thequiet searching manner: "What is the highest religious crime? Orrather, to men in authority, like the Hegumen of your Brotherhood, whatis the highest of all crimes?"

  He looked at her in mute supplication.

  "I will tell you--HERESY."

  Then, compassionating his suffering, she added: "My poor Sergius! I amnot upbraiding you. You are showing me your soul. I see it in its firstserious trial.... I will forget that I am the denounced, and try tohelp you. Is there no principle to which we can refer the matter--noChristian principle? The Hegumen claims silence from you; on the otherside, your conscience--I would like to say preference--impels you tospeak a word of warning for the benefit of your patroness. There, now,we have both the dispute and the disputants. Is it not so?"

  Sergius bowed his head.

  "Father Hilarion once said to me: 'Daughter, I give you the ultimatecriterion of the divineness of our religion--there cannot be aninstance of human trial for which it does not furnish a rule of conductand consolation.' A profound saying truly! Now is it possible we havehere at last an exception? I do not seek to know on which side thehonors lie. Where are the humanities? Ideas of honor are of menconventional. On the other hand, the humanities stand for Charity. Ifthou wert the denounced, O Sergius, how wouldst thou wish to be doneby?"

  Sergius' face brightened.

  "We are not seeking to save a heretic--we are in search of quiet forour consciences. So why not ask and answer further: What would befallthe Hegumen, did you tell the accused all you had from him? Would hesuffer? Is there a tribunal to sentence him? Or a prison agape for him?Or torture in readiness? Or a King of Lions? In these respects how isit with the friend who vouched for you to the head of the Church? Alas!"

  "Enough--say no more!" Sergius cried impulsively. "Say no more. OPrincess, I will tell everything--I will save you, if I can--if not,and the worst come, I will die with you."

  Womanlike the Princess signalized her triumph with tears. At length sheasked: "Wouldst thou like to know if I am indeed a heretic?"

  "Yes, for what thou art, that am I; and then"--

  "The same fire in the Hippodrome may light us both out of the world."

  There was a ring of prophecy in the words.

  "God forbid!" he ejaculated, with a shiver.

  "God's will be done, were better! ... So, if it please you," she wenton, "tell me all the Hegumen told you about me."

  "Everything?" he asked doubtfully.

  "Why not?"

  "Part of it is too wicked for repetition."

  "Yet it was an accusation."

  "Yes."

  "Sergius, you are no match in cunning for my enemies. They are Greekstrained to diplomacy; you are"--she paused and half smiled--"only apupil of Hilarion's. See now--if they mean to kill me, how important toinvent a tale which shall rob me of sympathy, and reconcile the publicto my sacrifice. They who do much good, and no harm"--she cast a glanceat the people swarming around the pavilions--"always have friends. Suchis the law of kindness, and it never failed but once; but today asplinter of the Cross is worth a kingdom."

  "Princess, I will hold nothing back."

  "And I, Sergius--God witnessing for me--will speak to each denunciationthou givest me."

  "There were two matters in the Hegumen's mind," Sergius began, butstruck with the abruptness, he added apologetically: "I pray you,Princess, remember I speak at your insistence, and that I am not in anysense an accuser. It may be well to say also the Hegumen returned fromlast night's Mystery low in spirits, and much spent bodily, and beforespeaking of you, declared he had been an active partisan of yourfather's. I do not think him your personal enemy."

  A mist of tears dimmed her eyes while the Princess replied: "He was myfather's friend, and I am grateful to him; but alas! that he isnaturally kind and just is now of small consequence."

  "It grieves me"--

  "Do not stop," she said, interrupting him.

  "At the Father's bedside I received his blessing; and asked leave to beabsent a few days. 'Where?' he inquired, and I answered: 'Thou knowestI regard the Princess Irene as my little mother. I should like to gosee her.'"

  Sergius sought his auditor's face at this, and observing no sign ofobjection to the familiarity, was greatly strengthened.

  "The Father endeavored to persuade me not to come, and it was with thatpurpose he entered upon the disclosures you ask.... 'The life thePrincess leads'--thus he commenced--'and her manners, are outside thesanctions of society.'"

  Here, from resting on her elbow, the listener sat upright, grasping themassive arm of the chair.

  "Shall I proceed, O Princess?"

  "Yes."

  "This place is very public"--he glanced at the people above them.

  "I will hear you here."

  "At your pleasure.... The Hegumen referred next to your going aboutpublicly unveiled. While not positively wrong, he condemned thepractice as a pernicious example; besides which there was a defiantboldness in it, he said, tending to make you a subject of discussionand indelicate remark."

  The hand on the stony arm trembled.

  "I fear, O Princess," Sergius continued, with downcast look, "that mywords are giving you pain."

  "But they are not yours. Go on."

  "Then the Father came to what was much more serious."

  Sergius again hesitated.

  "I am listening," she said.

  "He termed it your persistence in keeping up the establishment here atTherapia."

  The Princess grew red and white by turns.

  "He said the Turk was too near you; that unmarried and unprotected yourproper place was in some house of God on the Islands, or in the city,where you could have the benefit of holy offices. As it was, rumor wasfree to accuse you of preferring guilty freedom to marriage."

  The breeze fell off that moment, leaving the Princess in the centre ofa profound hush; except for the unwonted labor of her heart, the leavesoverhead were not more still. The sight of her was toooppressive--Sergius turned away. Presently he heard her say, as if toherself: "I am indeed in danger. If my death were not in meditation,the boldest of them would not dare think so foul a falsehood....Sergius," she said.

  He turned to her, but she broke off diverted by another idea. Had thislast accusation reference to the Emperor's dream of making her hiswife? Could the Emperor have published what took place between them?Impossible!

  "Sergius, did the Hegumen tell you whence this calumny had origin?"

  "He laid it to rumor merely."

  "Surely he disclosed some ground for it. A dignitary of his rank andprofession cannot lend himself to shaming a helpless woman withoutreason or excuse."

  "Except your residence at Therapia, he gave no reason."

  Here she looked at Sergius, and the pain in the glance was pitiful. "Myfriend, is there anything in your knowledge which might serve such arumor?"

  "Yes," he replied, letting his eyes fall.

  "What!" and she lifted her head, and opened her eyes.

  He stood silent and evidently suffering.

  "Poor Sergius! The punishment is yours. I am sorry for you--sorry weentered on this subject--but it is too late to retire from it. Speakbravely. What is it you know against me? It cannot be a crime; much Idoubt if it be a sin; my walk has been very strait and altogether inGod's view. Speak!"

  "Princess," he answered, "coming down from the landing, I was stoppedby a concourse studying a brass plate nailed to the right-hand pillarof your gate. It was inscribed, but none of them knew the import of theinscription. The hamari came up, and at sight of it fell to saluting,like the abject Eastern he is. The bystanders chaffered him, and heretorted, and, amongst other things, said the brass was a safeguarddirected to all Turks, notifying them that this property, its owner,and inmates were under protection of the Prince Mahommed. Give heednow, I pray you, O Princess, to this other thing of the man's saying.The notice was the Prince Mahommed's, the inscription his signature,and the Prince himself fixed the plate on the pillar with his own hand."

  Sergius paused.

  "Well," she asked.

  "The inferences--consider them."

  "State them."

  "My tongue refuses. Or if I must, O Princess, I will use the form ofaccusation others are likely to have adopted. 'The Princess Irene livesat Therapia because Prince Mahommed is her lover, and it is aconvenient place of meeting. Therefore his safeguard on her gate.'"

  "No one could be bold enough to"--

  "One has been bold enough."

  "One?"

  "The Hegumen of my Brotherhood."

  The Princess was very pale.

  "It is cruel--cruel!" she exclaimed. "What ought I to do?"

  "Treat the safeguard as a discovery of to-day, and have it removedwhile the people are all present." She looked at him searchingly. Onher forehead between the brows, he beheld a line never there before.More surprising was the failure of self-reliance observable in herrequest for counsel. Heretofore her courage and sufficiency had beenremarkable. In all dealings with him she had proved herself thedirectress, quick yet decided. The change astonished him, so little washe acquainted with the feminine nature; and in reply he spoke hastily,hardly knowing what he had said. The words were not straightforward andhonest; they were not becoming him any more than the conduct suggestedwas becoming her; they lingered in his ear, a wicked sound, and hewould have recalled them--but he hesitated.

  Here a voice in fierce malediction was heard up at the pavilions,together with a prodigious splashing of water. Laughter, clapping ofhands, and other expressions of delight succeeded.

  "Go, Sergius, and see what is taking place," said the Princess.

  Glad of the opportunity to terminate the painful scene, he hastened tothe reservoirs and returned.

  "Your presence will restore quiet at once."

  The people made way for their hostess with alacrity. The hamari, itappeared, had just arrived from the garden. Observing Lael in the midstof the suite of fair ladies, he advanced to her with many strangesalutations. Alarmed, she would have run away had not Joqard brokenfrom his master, and leaped with a roar into the water. The poor beastseemed determined to enjoy the bath. He swam, and dived, and playedantics without number. In vain the showman, resorting to every knownlanguage, coaxed and threatened by turns--Joqard was self-willed andhappy, and it were hard saying which appreciated his liberty most, heor the spectators of the scene.

  The Princess, for the time conquering her pain of heart, interceded forthe brute; whereupon the hamari, like a philosopher used to making thebest of surprises, joined in the sport until Joqard grew tired, andvoluntarily returned to control.