Consuelo, page 87
"Joseph is no longer in my employment, my good Karl; he is my friend. He is no longer embarrassed; he is a musician, and earns his bread easily. Do not strip yourself, therefore, on his account."
"As to you, signora," said Karl, "I cannot do any thing for you, because you are a great actress, they say; but if you ever want a servant, do you see? and cannot pay him, send to Karl—that is all. He will wait upon you for nothing, and be glad to do it."
"Your gratitude, my friend, is sufficient recompense. I ask no further."
"Stay! Here is Master Porpora returning. Remember, signora, that I have not the honor to know you otherwise than as a servant placed at your command by my master."
The next day our travelers having risen very early, arrived not without difficulty about mid-day at the château of Roswald. It was situated in an elevated region, on the slope of one of the most magnificent mountains in Moravia, and so well protected from cold winds, that the spring was already felt there while at half a league round the winter still prevailed. Although the season was exceedingly early and the weather lovely, the roads were hardly passable. But Count Hoditz, who doubted of nothing and for whom the impossible was a jest, had already arrived, and had a hundred pioneers at work smoothing the road over which the majestic equipage of his noble spouse was to roll the next day. It would, perhaps, have been a more conjugal plan, as well as one more likely to be of assistance to the fair traveler, to have journeyed along with her, but it was not of so much consequence, it seemed, to hinder her from breaking her arms and legs on the road, as to give her a fête; and dead or alive, she must needs have a splendid entertainment on taking possession of Roswald.
The count hardly allowed our travelers time to change their dress until he forced them to sit down to a splendid entertainment, served in a mossy and rocky grotto, which an enormous stove, skillfully masked by false rocks, warmed to an agreeable temperature. At first sight this place seemed enchanting to Consuelo. The view which opened from the entrance of the grotto was really magnificent. Nature had done every thing for Roswald. Precipitous and picturesque hills, forests of evergreens, abundant springs of water, lovely and extensive prospects, immense prairies, surrounded it on every side. It seemed that with a comfortable habitation all this was enough to constitute a perfect paradise. But Consuelo soon perceived the strange contrivances by which the count had succeeded in spoiling the sublimity of nature. The grotto would have been charming without the windows, which made it merely an unseasonable dining-room. As the honeysuckles and climbing plants were only beginning to bud, the frames of the doors and the windows had been masked with artificial leaves and flowers, which only served to make the whole seem ridiculous. The shells and stalactites, somewhat damaged by the winter, disclosed to view the plaster and mastic which fastened them to the walls, and the heat of the stove, melting the remains of the frost which had been concentrated in the vaulted ceiling, brought down upon the heads of the guests a blackish and unhealthy rain, which the count was determined not to observe. Porpora was exceedingly annoyed, and two or three times put his hand to his hat, but without daring to clap it on his head, as he was dying to do. He feared above all that Consuelo might take cold, and he ate very fast, pretending a great impatience to see the music which was to be executed the next day.
"What is the matter with you, dear maestro?" said the count, who was a great eater, and loved to dilate on the pieces of plate of which his dinner service was composed; "able and accomplished musicians such as you are need but little time for study. The music is simple and natural. I am not one of those pedantic composers who seek to astonish by strange and elaborate combinations of harmony. In the country, we require simple pastoral music, and like the margravine, my spouse, I admire only unambitious and easy airs. You will see that everything will get on well. Besides we do not lose any time; while we breakfast my major-domo is giving the necessary directions, and we shall find the choruses ready and the musicians at their post."
As the lord of the mansion said these words he was informed that two strangers, traveling through the country, requested permission to pay their respects to the count, and to visit the palace and gardens of Roswald.
The count was accustomed to visits of this sort, and nothing afforded him greater pleasure than to be the cicerone of those who desired to inspect the splendors of his abode.
"Show them in, they are welcome!" he exclaimed; "and place seats for them at the table."
A few seconds after, two officers were introduced dressed in the Prussian uniform. He who walked first, and behind whom his companion seemed determined to conceal himself, was little and had rather a disagreeable countenance. His long, thick, and vulgar nose made his gaping mouth and retreating or rather absent chin seem more repulsive than they would otherwise have been. His shoulders were of a round and ungainly shape, and together with the ugly military costume invented by Frederick, gave him a sort of antiquated and even decrepit air. Yet this man was at the farthest about thirty years of age; his step was firm; and when he took off the hideous hat which concealed the upper portion of his face, he displayed the only redeeming features it possessed—a decided, intelligent, reflecting forehead, expressive eyebrows, and eyes of extraordinary animation and brilliancy. His glance produced the same startling change in his appearance as the sun's rays which animate and embellish the most dreary and unpoetical landscape. He seemed a whole head taller when his eyes lighted up his pale, restless, and mean-looking countenance.
Count Hoditz received them with more cordiality than ceremony, and without losing time in compliments, he made them sit down at table, and helped them from the best dishes with true patriarchal hospitality; for Hoditz was one of the kindest of men, and his vanity, far from corrupting his heart, only increased his confidence and generosity. Slavery still reigned over his domain, and all the wonders of Roswald were created at little cost by his numerous vassals, whose chains, however, he decked with flowers. He made them forget what was necessary, in loading them with superfluities; and, convinced that pleasure was happiness, he amused them so well that they never thought of freedom.
The Prussian officer—for in reality there was only one, the other being little better than his shadow—appeared at first somewhat astonished, not to say affronted at the count's bluntness, and affected a degree of polite reserve, when the count said to him: "I entreat you, Captain, to put yourself at your ease, and act just as if you were in your own house. I know that you are accustomed to the strict and admirable regularity of the armies of the great Frederick; but here you are in the country, and if we do not amuse ourselves in the country, why do we visit it? I perceive that you are well-educated, polite persons, and you certainly are not officers of the king of Prussia without having given proofs of military science and unflinching bravery. I consider that you do honor to my poor dwelling, and I trust you will dispose of it at your pleasure, and prolong your stay so long as it shall be agreeable to you."
The officer immediately responded to this invitation like a man of tact and good sense. After having thanked his host he began to try the champagne, without however its producing the slightest effect on his coolness and self-possession, and vigorously attacked a pasty, on the cookery of which he made such profound and scientific remarks as were not calculated to raise him in the esteem of the abstemious Consuelo. She was nevertheless struck with his piercing glance; but although it astonished it did not charm her, as it seemed to express something haughty, prying, and suspicious, which was not calculated to inspire affection.
While eating, the officer informed the count that he was called the Baron de Kreutz, that he was originally from Silesia, where he had been sent to procure horses for the cavalry, and that finding himself at Neisse, he could not resist the desire of visiting the celebrated palace and gardens of Roswald. That in consequence he had that morning crossed the frontier with his lieutenant, and had purchased some cattle by the way, in order to turn the opportunity to good account. He even offered to visit the count's stables, if he had any horses to dispose of. He traveled on horseback and intended to return the same evening.
"I will not hear of it," said the count; besides, I have none to spare at present—indeed I have too few to carry out all my improvements here. But if you have no objection I will employ the time much better in enjoying your society, as long as you can make it convenient to remain."
"But we learned on our way hither that you were in momentary expectation of the Countess Hoditz's arrival, and as we should be most unwilling to put you to inconvenience, we shall take our leave the moment she arrives."
"I do not expect the countess till tomorrow," replied the count; "she will be accompanied by her daughter, the Princess Culmbach. For you are not unaware perhaps, gentlemen, that I have had the honor to contract a lofty alliance——"
"With the Dowager Margravine of Bareith," replied the baron rather abruptly, who did not appear so much dazzled with this title as the count had expected.
"She is the King of Prussia's aunt," resumed the latter with emphasis.
"Yes, yes, I know that," said the Prussian officer, taking a huge pinch of snuff.
"And as she is a most affable and condescending lady," continued the count, "I have no doubt she will feel infinite pleasure in receiving and entertaining the brave servants of his majesty, her illustrious nephew."
"We are truly sensible of the honor," said the baron, smiling; "but we have not leisure to avail ourselves of it. Our duties call us imperatively hence, and we must take leave of your highness this evening; meanwhile we shall be happy to admire this delightful residence with which the king our master has nothing that can be compared."
This compliment completely restored all the Moravian count's good humor toward his Prussian guest. They rose from table. Porpora, who cared much less for the promenade than the rehearsal, wished to excuse himself.
"By no means," said the count; "you shall see, my dear maestro, that we can manage both at the same time."
He offered his arm to Consuelo, and preceded the rest. "Excuse me, gentlemen," said he, "if I offer my arm to the only lady present; it is my right as host. Have the goodness to follow me; I shall serve as your guide."
"Permit me to ask, sir," said the Baron de Kreutz, addressing Porpora for the first time, "who this amiable lady is?"
"Sir," replied Porpora, who was not in the best of tempers, "I am an Italian; I understand German indifferently, and French still worse."
The baron who had hitherto conversed with his host in French, according to the fashion of the time, repeated his question in Italian.
"This amiable lady, who has not spoken one word before you," replied Porpora, dryly, "is neither margravine, nor princess, nor baroness, nor countess; she is an Italian singer not wholly devoid of talent."
"On that account I should wish so much the more to know her name," said the baron, smiling at the maestro's bluntness.
"It is my pupil, the Porporina," replied Porpora.
"I am informed that she is very clever," observed the other, "and that she is impatiently expected at Berlin. And since she is your pupil, I perceive that I address the illustrious Master Porpora."
"At your service," replied Porpora, hastily, and clapping on his hat, which he had taken off in reply to a low bow from the Baron Kreutz. The latter, seeing him so little disposed to be communicative, dropped behind and rejoined his lieutenant. Porpora, who might almost be said to have eyes in the back of his head, observed that they were laughing together and speaking about him in their own language. This conduct did not advance them in his opinion, and he did not so much as even look at them during the rest of the promenade.
CHAPTER CIII
THEY descended a steep little slope, at the bottom of which they found a river in miniature, which had been formerly a pretty, limpid, and gurgling streamlet; but as it was necessary to make it navigable, its bed had been smoothed, its fall diminished, its banks pared and trimmed regularly, and its beautiful waters muddied by recent labors. The workmen were still busied in clearing away some rocks which obstructed its progess, and gave it some appearance of nature. A gondola was in waiting to receive the party, a real gondola which the count had brought from Venice, and which made Consuelo's heart beat with a thousand pleasant and painful reminiscences. The party embarked. The gondoliers were also real Venetians, speaking their native dialect; they had been brought along with the bark, as, in the present day, the negro-keepers are with the giraffe when they exhibit. Count Hoditz, who traveled a good deal, imagined that he could speak every language, but though he had a great deal of confidence, and gave his orders to the gondoliers in a loud voice and marked accent, the latter would have understood him with difficulty had not Consuelo served as interpreter. They were directed to sing some verses of Tasso, but these poor wretches, chilled by the icy coldness of the north, banished from their native clime, and bewildered by the strange scenes around them, gave the Prussians a very poor specimen of their style. Consuelo was obliged to prompt them at every stanza, and promise to hear them rehearse the portions they were to sing before the margravine the next day.
When they had rowed about a quarter of an hour in a space which might have been passed in three minutes, but in which the poor stream, thwarted in its course, had been tortured into a thousand intricate windings, they reached the open sea. This was a tolerably large basin which opened to their view from between clumps of cypresses and firs, and the unexpected coup d'œil of which was really pleasing. But they had no time to admire it. They were obliged to embark on board of a pocket man-of-war, in which every mast, sail, and rope was critically correct, and which presented a complete model of a ship with all her rigging. It was rather inconveniently crowded, however, with sailors and passengers, and ran the utmost risk of foundering. Porpora was shivering with cold, the carpets were quite damp, and I even believe that, in spite of the particular examination which the count, who had arrived the day before, had already made of every portion of her, the vessel leaked badly. No one was at ease excepting the count—who, thanks to his character of entertainer, never cared for the little discomforts connected with his pleasures—and Consuelo, who began to be much amused by the follies of her host. A fleet proportioned to the flag-ship came to place itself under her orders, and executed maneuvers which the count himself gravely directed, armed with a speaking-trumpet, and standing erect upon the poop, getting quite annoyed when matters did not go to his liking, and making them recommence the rehearsal. Afterward they advanced in squadron to the villainous music of a brass band, which completed Porpora's exasperation. "It is well enough to freeze us and make us catch cold," said he, between his teeth; "but to flay our ears in this style—it is too much!"
"Make all sail for the Peloponnesus!" roared the count through his trumpet, and the squadron floated toward a bank crowned with miniature buildings in imitation of Greek temples and antique tombs. They steered toward a little bay masked by rocks, from which, when about ten paces distant, they were received by a discharge of musketry. Two men fell dead upon the deck, and an active cabin-boy, who had his station in the rigging, uttered a loud cry, descended, or rather let himself slide down adroitly, and rolled into the very midst of the company, screaming that he was wounded and holding his head, which he said had been fractured by a ball.
"Come this way," said the count to Consuelo, "I want you for a little rehearsal I intend having on board my ship. Have the goodness to represent the margravine for a moment, and order this dying youth and these dead men, who, by the way, died very awkwardly, to rise, be cured, and defend her highness against the insolent pirates entrenched in yonder ambuscade." Consuelo hastened to assume her part, and filled it with far more natural grace and dignity than the countess would have done. The dead and dying rose on their knees and kissed her hand. The count however informed them that they were not really to touch her highness' fingers with their lips, but to kiss their own hands while they pretended to salute hers. Then dead and dying rose to arms with the utmost enthusiasm, while the little tumbler who acted the cabin-boy ran up the mast like a cat and discharged a light carbine at the pirates of the bay. The fleet ranged up close round this new Cleopatra and discharged their miniature broadsides with a fearful rattle.
Consuelo, warned by the count who did not wish to alarm her, was not taken by surprise at this rather strange comedy, but the Prussian officers, toward whom the same precaution had not been observed, seeing two men fall at the first fire, drew closer to each other and grew very pale. He who said least appeared terrified for his captain, and the visible uneasiness of the latter did not escape Consuelo's close and observing glance. It was not fear, however, that was depicted on his countenance so much as a sort of haughty indignation, as if his dignity as a Prussian soldier had been outraged. Hoditz paid no attention to him, and when the combat was at its height, the captain and his lieutenant laughed with the loudest, took the joke in good part, and soon waved their swords in the air, to add to the effect of the scene.
The pirates, who were embarked in light skiffs, and were dressed in Grecian costume, and armed with pistols and blunderbusses charged with powder, boarded the vessels, bold as lions. They were however repulsed with great slaughter, so as to give the good margravine an opportunity of bringing them to life. The only cruelty practiced was that of tumbling some of them into the sea. The water was very cold, and Consuelo felt very sorry for them, until she saw that they liked it, and took a pleasure in showing their companions how well they could swim.
When Cleopatra and her attendant fleet had thus borne off the victory and taken the pirate flotilla, they proceeded, to the sounds of triumphal strains—enough, according to Porpora, to raise the devil—to explore the isles of Greece. They soon approached an unknown island, on which were seen rude wigwams peeping forth from strange and exotic plants, real or imitated, one could not say which, so much was the real and the false everywhere confounded together. To the shores of this island were fastened canoes into which the natives of the country threw themselves, and with savage cries came out to meet the fleet, bringing with them fruits and flowers recently culled from the hot-houses of the establishment. The savages were frizzled, bristling, tattooed, and more like demons than men. The costumes were rather indifferently in keeping, some being crowned with feathers like Peruvians, others furred like Esquimaux, but they were not subjected to too close a scrutiny; provided they were ugly enough, they passed for cannibals at the very least. These creatures made abundant grimaces, and the giant who seemed their chief, and who had a false beard flowing down to his waist, delivered a discourse which Count Hoditz had composed in the supposed dialect of the country. This was a species of gibberish arranged at random to represent a language at once barbarous and grotesque. The man having finished his harangue to the count's satisfaction, the latter undertook to translate this fine speech to Consuelo, who still continued to play for the time the part of the absent countess.
