Odo, as in duty bound, waited the next morning on the Duchess; but wordwas brought that her Highness was indisposed, and could not receive himtill evening.
He passed a drifting and distracted day. The fear lay much upon him thatdanger threatened Gamba and his associates; yet to seek them out in thepresent conjuncture might be to play the stalking-horse to theirenemies. Moreover, he fancied the Duchess not incapable of usingpolitical rumours to further her private caprice; and scenting noimmediate danger he resolved to wait upon events.
On rising from dinner he was surprised by a summons from the Duke. Themessage, an unusual one at that hour, was brought by a slender pale lad,not in his Highness's service, but in that of the German physicianHeiligenstern. The boy, who was said to be a Georgian rescued from theGrand Signior's galleys, and whose small oval face was as smooth as agirl's, accosted Odo in one of the remoter garden alleys with therequest to follow him at once to the Duke's apartment. Odo complied, andhis guide loitered ahead with an air of unconcern, as though not wishingto have his errand guessed. As they passed through the tapestry gallerypreceding the gentlemen's antechamber, footsteps and voices were heardwithin. Instantly the boy was by Odo's side and had drawn him into theembrasure of a window. A moment later Trescorre left the antechamber andwalked rapidly past their hiding-place. As soon as he was out of sightthe Georgian led Odo from his concealment and introduced him by aprivate way to the Duke's closet.
His Highness was in his bed-chamber; and Odo, on being admitted, foundhim, still in dressing-gown and night-cap, kneeling with a disorderedcountenance before the ancient picture of the Last Judgment that hung onthe wall facing his bed. He seemed to have forgotten that he had askedfor his kinsman; for on the latter's entrance he started up with asuspicious glance and hastily closed the panels of the picture, which(as Odo now noticed) appeared to conceal an inner painting. Then,gathering his dressing-gown about him, he led the way to his closet andbade his visitor be seated.
"I have," said he, speaking in a low voice, and glancing apprehensivelyabout him, "summoned you hither privately to speak on a subject whichconcerns none but ourselves.--You met no one on your way?" he broke offto enquire.
Odo told him that Count Trescorre had passed, but without perceivinghim.
The Duke seemed relieved. "My private actions," said he querulously,"are too jealously spied upon by my ministers. Such surveillance is anoffence to my authority, and my subjects shall learn that it will notfrighten me from my course." He straightened his bent shoulders andtried to put on the majestic look of his official effigy. "It appears,"he continued, with one of his sudden changes of manner, "that theDuchess's uncle, the Duke of Monte Alloro, has heard favourable reportsof your wit and accomplishments, and is desirous of receiving you at hiscourt." He paused, and Odo concealed his surprise behind a profound bow.
"I own," the Duke went on, "that the invitation comes unseasonably,since I should have preferred to keep you at my side; but his Highness'sgreat age, and his close kinship to my wife, through whom the request isconveyed, make it impossible for me to refuse." The Duke again paused,as though uncertain how to proceed. At length he resumed:--"I will notconceal from you that his Highness is subject to the fantastical humoursof his age. He makes it a condition that the length of your stay shallnot be limited; but should you fail to suit his mood you may findyourself out of favour in a week. He writes of wishing to send you on aprivate mission to the court of Naples; but this may be no more than apassing whim. I see no way, however, but to let you go, and to hope fora favourable welcome for you. The Duchess is determined upon giving heruncle this pleasure, and in fact has consented in return to oblige me inan important matter." He flushed and averted his eyes. "I name this," headded with an effort, "only that her Highness may be aware that itdepends on herself whether I hold to my side of the bargain. Your papersare already prepared and you have my permission to set out at yourconvenience. Meanwhile it were well that you should keep yourpreparations private, at least till you are ready to take leave." Andwith the air of dignity he could still assume on occasion, he rose andhanded Odo his passport.
Odo left the closet with a beating heart. It was clear that hisdeparture from Pianura was as strongly opposed by some one in highauthority as it was favoured by the Duchess; and why opposed and by whomhe could not so much as hazard a guess. In the web of court intrigues itwas difficult for the wariest to grope his way; and Odo was still new tosuch entanglements. His first sensation was one of release, of a futuresuddenly enlarged and cleared. The door was open again to opportunity,and he was of an age to greet the unexpected like a bride. Only onethought disturbed him. It was clear that Maria Clementina had paid highfor his security; and did not her sacrifice, whatever its nature,constitute a claim upon his future? In sending him to her uncle, whoseknown favourite she was, she did not let him out of her hand. If heaccepted this chance of escape he must hereafter come and go as shebade. At the thought, his bounding fancy slunk back humbled. He sawhimself as Trescorre's successor, his sovereign's official lover, takingup again, under more difficult circumstances, and without the zest ofinexperience, the dull routine of his former bondage. No, a thousandtimes no; he would fetter himself to no woman's fancy! Better find apretext for staying in Pianura, affront the Duchess by refusing her aid,risk his prospects, his life even, than bow his neck twice to the sameyoke. All her charm vanished in this vision of unwillingsubjection...Disturbed by these considerations, and anxious to composehis spirits, Odo bethought himself of taking refuge in the Bishop'scompany. Here at least the atmosphere was clear of mystery: the Bishopheld aloof from political intrigue and breathed an air untainted by theodium theologicum. Odo found his lordship seated in the cool tessellatedsaloon which contained his chiefest treasures--marble busts ranged onpedestals between the windows, the bronze Venus Callipyge, and varioustables of pietra commessa set out with vases and tazzas of antiquepattern. A knot of virtuosi gathered about one of these tables wereengaged in examining a collection of engraved gems displayed by alapidary of Florence; while others inspected a Greek manuscript whichthe Bishop had lately received from Syria. Beyond the windows, acedrario or orange-walk stretched its sunlit vista to the terrace abovethe river; and the black cassocks of one or two priests who werestrolling in the clear green shade of a pleached alley made pleasantspots of dimness in the scene.
Even here, however, Odo was aware of a certain disquietude. The Bishop'svisitors, instead of engaging in animated disputations over hislordship's treasures, showed a disposition to walk apart, conversing inlow tones; and he himself, presently complaining of the heat, invitedOdo to accompany him to the grot beneath the terrace. In this shadedretreat, studded with shells and coral and cooled by an artificial windforced through the conchs of marble Tritons, his lordship at once beganto speak of the rumours of public disaffection.
"As you know," said he, "my duties and tastes alike seclude me frompolitical intrigue, and the scandal of the day seldom travels beyond mykitchens. But as creaking signboards announce a storm, the hints andwhispers of my household tell me there is mischief abroad. My positionprotects me from personal risk, and my lack of ambition from politicalenmity; for it is notorious I would barter the highest honours in thestate for a Greek vase or a bronze of Herculanaeum--not to mention thefamous Venus of Giorgione, which, if report be true, his Highness hasburned at Father Ignazio's instigation. But yours, cavaliere, is a lesssheltered walk, and perhaps a friendly warning may be of service. Yet,"he added after a pause, "a warning I can scarce call it, since I knownot from what quarter the danger impends. Proximus ardet Ucalegon; butthere is no telling which way the flames may spread. I can only adviseyou that the Duke's growing infatuation for his German magician has bredthe most violent discontent among his subjects, and that both partiesappear resolved to use this disaffection to their advantage. It is saidhis Highness intends to subject the little prince to some mysterioustreatment connected with the rites of the Egyptian priesthood, of whosesecret doctrine Heiligenstern pretends to be an adept. Yesterday it wasbruited that the Duchess loudly opposed the experiment; this afternoonit is given out that she has yielded. What the result may be, none canforesee; but whichever way the storm blows, the chief danger probablythreatens those who have had any connection with the secret societiesknown to exist in the duchy."Odo listened attentively, but without betraying any great surprise; andthe Bishop, evidently reassured by his composure, suggested that, theheat of the day having declined, they should visit the new Indianpheasants in his volary.
The Bishop's hints had not helped his listener to a decision. Odo indeedgave Cantapresto orders to prepare as privately as possible for theirdeparture; but rather to appear to be carrying out the Duke'sinstructions than with any fixed intention of so doing. How to find apretext for remaining he was yet uncertain. To disobey the Duke wasimpossible; but in the general state of tension it seemed likely enoughthat both his Highness and the Duchess might change their minds withinthe next twenty-four hours. He was reluctant to appear that evening inthe Duchess's circle; but the command was not to be evaded, and he wentthither resolved to excuse himself early.
He found her Highness surrounded by the usual rout that attended her.
She was herself in a mood of wild mirth, occasioned by the drolleries ofan automatic female figure which a travelling showman introduced byCantapresto had obtained leave to display at court. This lively puppetperformed with surprising skill on the harpsichord, giving the company,among other novelties, selections from the maestro Piccini's latestopera and a concerto of the German composer Gluck.
Maria Clementina seemed at first unaware of her kinsman's presence, andhe began to hope he might avoid any private talk with her; but when theautomaton had been dismissed and the card-tables were preparing, one ofher gentlemen summoned him to her side. As usual, she was highly rougedin the French fashion, and her cold blue eyes had a light which set offthe extraordinary fairness of her skin.
"Cousin," said she at once, "have you your papers?" Her tone was haughtyand yet eager, as though she scorned to show herself concerned, yetwould not have had him believe in her indifference. Odo bowed withoutspeaking.
"And when do you set out?" she continued. "My good uncle is impatient toreceive you.""At the earliest moment, madam," he replied with some hesitation.
The hesitation was not lost on her and he saw her flush through herrouge.
"Ah," said she in a low voice, "the earliest moment is none tooearly!--Do you go tomorrow?" she persisted; but just then Trescorreadvanced toward them, and under a burst of assumed merriment sheprivately signed to Odo to withdraw.
He was glad to make his escape, for the sense of walking among hiddenpitfalls was growing on him. That he had acquitted himself awkwardlywith the Duchess he was well aware; but Trescorre's interruption had atleast enabled him to gain time. An increasing unwillingness to leavePianura had replaced his former impatience to be gone. The reluctance todesert his friends was coupled with a boyish desire to stay and see thegame out; and behind all his other impulses lurked the instinctiveresistance to any feminine influence save one.
The next morning he half-expected another message from the Duchess; butnone came, and he judged her to be gravely offended. Cantaprestoappeared early with the rumour that some kind of magical ceremony was tobe performed that evening in the palace; and toward noon the Georgianboy again came privately to Odo and requested him to wait on the Dukewhen his Highness rose from supper. This increased Odo's fears forGamba, Andreoni and the other reformers; yet he dared neither seek themout in person nor entrust a message to Cantapresto. As the day passed,however, he began to throw off his apprehensions. It was not the firsttime since he had come to Pianura that there had been ominous talk ofpolitical disturbances, and he knew that Gamba and his friends were notwithout means of getting under shelter. As to his own risk, he did notgive it a thought. He was not of an age or a temper to weigh personaldanger against the excitement of conflict; and as evening drew on hefound himself wondering with some impatience if after all nothingunusual would happen.
He supped alone, and at the appointed hour proceeded to the Duke'sapartments, taking no farther precaution than to carry his passportabout him. The palace seemed deserted. Everywhere an air of apprehensionand mystery hung over the long corridors and dimly-lit antechambers. Theday had been sultry, with a low sky foreboding great heat, and not abreath of air entered at the windows. There were few persons about, butone or two beggars lurked as usual on the landings of the greatstaircase, and Odo, in passing, felt his sleeve touched by a womancowering under the marble ramp in the shadow thrown by a colossalCaesar. Looking down, he heard a voice beg for alms, and as he gave itthe woman pressed a paper into his hand and slipped away through thedarkness.
Odo hastened on till he could assure himself of being unobserved; thenhe unfolded the paper and read these words in Gamba's hand: "Have nofear for any one's safety but your own." With a sense of relief he hidthe message and entered the Duke's antechamber.
Here he was received by Heiligenstern's Oriental servant, who, with amute salutation, led him into a large room where the Duke's pagesusually waited. The walls of this apartment had been concealed underhangings of black silk worked with cabalistic devices. Oil-lamps set ontripods of antique design shed a faint light over the company seated atone end of the room, among whom Odo recognised the chief dignitaries ofthe court. The ladies looked pale but curious, the men for the most partindifferent or disapproving. Intense quietness prevailed, broken only bythe soft opening and closing of the door through which the guests wereadmitted. Presently the Duke and Duchess emerged from his Highness'scloset. They were followed by Prince Ferrante, supported by his governorand his dwarf, and robed in a silken dressing-gown which hung involuminous folds about his little shrunken body. Their Highnesses seatedthemselves in two armchairs in front of the court, and the little princereclined beside his mother.
No sooner had they taken their places than Heiligenstern stepped forth,wearing a doctor's gown and a quaintly-shaped bonnet or mitre. In hislong robes and strange headdress he looked extraordinarily tall andpale, and his features had the glassy-eyed fixity of an ancient mask. Hewas followed by his two attendants, the Oriental carrying a frame-workof polished metal, not unlike a low narrow bed, which he set down in themiddle of the room; while the Georgian lad, who had exchanged hisfustanella and embroidered jacket for a flowing white robe, bore in hishands a crystal globe set in a gold stand. Having reverently placed iton a small table, the boy, at a signal from his master, drew forth aphial and dropped its contents into a bronze vat or brazier which stoodat the far end of the room. Instantly clouds of perfumed vapour filledthe air, and as these dispersed it was seen that the black hangings ofthe walls had vanished with them, and the spectators found themselvesseated in a kind of open temple through which the eye travelled downcolonnaded vistas set with statues and fountains. This magical prospectwas bathed in sunlight, and Odo observed that, though the lamps had goneout, the same brightness suffused the room and illuminated the wonderingfaces of the audience. The little prince uttered a cry of delight, andthe magician stepped forward, raising a long white wand in his hand.
"This," said he, in measured accents, "is an evocation of the Temple ofHealth, into whose blissful precincts the wisdom of the ancients wasable to lead the sufferer who put his trust in them. This deceptiovisus, or product of rhabdomancy, easily effected by an adept of theEgyptian mysteries, is designed but to prefigure the reality whichawaits those who seek health through the ministry of the disciples ofIamblichus. It is no longer denied among men of learning that those whohave been instructed in the secret doctrine of the ancients are able, bycertain correspondences of nature, revealed only to the initiated, toact on the inanimate world about them, and on the animal economy, bymeans beyond the common capabilities of man." He paused a moment, andthen, turning with a low bow to the Duke, enquired whether his Highnessdesired the rites to proceed.
The Duke signed his assent, and Heiligenstern, raising his wand, evokedanother volume of mist. This time it was shot through with green flames,and as the wild light subsided the room was onc............