the land of the changing sun-第6章

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〃It　is　the　voices　of　the　people　and　their　footsteps　on　the　stone。〃

〃What　people？〃

〃Don't　you　see　them？　Your　eyes　are　dazzled　by　the　light；　I　ought　to　have　warned　you　against　looking　up　into　the　dome。　The　people　are　down　there；　do　the　views　in　the　pavement　not　look　a　little　blurred？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Well；　if　you　will　look　more　closely　you　will　see　that　it　is　a　multitude　of　people。〃

〃Great　heavens！〃　exclaimed　the　Englishman；　and　he　became　deeply　absorbed　in　the　contemplation　of　the　rarest　sight　he　had　ever　seen。　As　he　looked　closely　he　noticed　a　black　spot　growing　larger　and　nearer；　and　he　glanced　inquiringly　at　the　captain。

〃It　is　an　elevator。　There　are　a　great　many　of　them　used　in　the　palace；　but　none　have　happened　to　rise　as　high　as　this　since　we　came。　The　one　you　see　is　coming　for　us。〃　The　next　moment　the　strange　vehicle　was　floating　toward　them。　The　captain　opened　the　door　and　preceded　the　captives　into　the　interior。

〃The　royal　audience　chamber；〃　he　said；　carelessly；　to　the　driver　behind　the　glass　of　the　adjoining　compartment；　and　down　they　floated　as　lightly　as　a　bubbledown　past　balcony　after　balcony；　laden　with　moving　throngs；　until　they　alighted　in　a　great　conservatory。

Near　them　was　a　tall　fountain　the　water　of　which　was　playing　weird　music　on　great　bells　of　glass；　some　of　which　hung　in　the　fountain's　stream　and　others　rose　and　fell；　giving　forth　strange；　submerged　tones　in　the　foaming　basin。

〃It　is　a　new　invention　recently　placed　here　by　the　king's　son　who　is　a　musical　genius；〃　explained　Tradmos。　〃You　will　be　astonished　at　some　of　his　inventions。〃

He　led　them；　as　if　to　avoid　the　great　crowds　that　they　could　now　hear　on　all　sides；　down　a　long　vista　of　palms；　the　branches　of　which　met　over　their　heads；　to　the　wide　door　of　the　audience　chamber。　A　party　of　men　dressed　in　uniforms　of　white　silk　with　gold　and　silver　ornaments　bowed　before　the　captain　and　made　way　for　him。

The　captives　now　found　themselves　in　the　most　splendid　and　spacious　room　they　had　ever　seen；　at　the　far　end　of　which　was　a　long　dais　and　on　it　an　elaborate　throne。

〃I　shall　be　obliged　to　leave　you　when　the　king　comes；〃　said　Tradmos　to　Thorndyke；　〃but　I　shall　hope　to　see　you　again。　Don't　forget　my　name　and　rank；　for　I　may　send　you　a　message　some　time　that　may　aid　you。〃　〃Thank　you；〃　replied　the　Englishman；　and　then　as　a　throng　of　beautiful　young　women　came　from　a　room　on　the　side　and　gathered　about　the　throne　he　added　inquisitively：　〃Who　are　they？〃

〃The　wives　and　daughters　of　the　king　and　the　wives　of　the　princes；〃　was　the　cautious　answer；　〃but　don't　look　at　any　one　of　them　closely。〃

〃I　don't　see　how　a　fellow　can　help　it；　they　are　ravishingly　beautiful；　don't　you　think　so；　Johnston？〃

〃Don't　be　a　fool；〃　snapped　the　American；　〃don't　you　know　enough　to　hold　your　tongue。〃

Tradmos　smiled　as　if　amused；　and　when　he　had　shown　them　to　seats　near　the　great　golden　throne；　he　said：

〃Stay　where　you　are　till　the　king　sends　for　you；　and　then　go　and　kneel　before　the　throne。　Do　not　rise　till　he　bids　you。〃

The　captives　thanked　him　and　the　captain　turned　away。　The　eyes　of　all　the　royal　party　now　rested　on　the　strangers；　and　it　was　hard　for　them　to　appear　unconscious　of　it。　A　great　crowd　was　slowly　filling　the　room　and　an　orchestra　in　a　balcony　on　the　left　of　the　dais　began　to　make　delightful　music　on　instruments　the　strangers　had　never　before　seen。　After　an　entrancing　prelude　a　sound　of　singing　was　heard；　and　far　up　in　a　grand　dome；　lighted　like　the　one　the　captives　had　just　admired　over　the　central　court　of　the　palace；　they　saw　a　bevy　of　maidens；　robed　in　white；　moving　about　in　mid…air；　apparently　unsupported　by　anything。

〃How　on　earth　is　that　done？〃　asked　Thorndyke。

〃I　don't　know；〃　returned　Johnston；　speaking　more　freely　now　that　the　captain　had　gone。　〃I　am　not　surprised　at　anything。〃

〃Their　voices　are　exquisite；　and　that　orchestraa　Boston　symphony　concert　couldn't　be　compared　to　it。〃

〃There　goes　the　sunlight　again；〃　cried　Johnston；　〃by　Jove；　it　is　blue！〃

The　transition　was　sublime。　They　seemed　transported　to　some　other　scene。　The　great　multitude；　the　elegantly…dressed　attendants　about　the　throne；　the　courtiers；　the　beautiful　women；　all　seemed　to　change　in　appearance；　on　the　view　through　the　wide　doors　leading　to　the　conservatory；　and　the　great　swarming　court　beyond；　the　soft　blue　light　fell　like　a　filmy　veil　of　enchantment。

〃Wonderful！〃　exclaimed　the　American。

〃It　is　ahead　of　our　clocks；　anyway；〃　jested　Thorndyke。　〃Any　child　that　can　count　on　its　fingers　could　tell　that　this　is　the　fifth　hour　of　the　day。〃

The　music　grew　louder；　there　was　a　harmonious　blare　of　mighty　trumpets；　the　clang　of　gongs　and　cymbals；　and　then　the　music　softened　till　it　could　scarcely　be　heard。　There　was　commotion　about　the　throne。

The　king　was　coming。　Every　person　on　the　dais　stood　motionless；　expectant。　A　page　drew　aside　the　rich　curtain　from　a　door　on　the　right；　and　an　old　man；　wearing　a　robe　of　scarlet　ornamented　with　jewels　and　a　crown　set　with　sparkling　gems；　entered　and　seated　himself　on　the　throne。　The　music　sank　lower；　so　soft　did　it　become　that　the　tinkling　bells　of　the　great　fountain　outside　could　be　heard　throughout　the　room。

The　king　bowed　to　the　throng　on　the　dais　and　spoke　a　few　words　to　a　courtier　who　advanced　as　he　sat　down。　The　courtier　must　have　spoken　of　them；　for　the　king　at　once　looked　down　at　Johnston　and　Thorn…dyke　and　nodded　his　head。　The　courtier　spoke　to　a　page；　and　the　youth　left　the　dais　and　came　toward　the　captives。

〃We　are　in　for　it；〃　cautioned　Thorndyke；　〃now　don't　be　afraid　of　your　shadow；　we'll　come　out　all　right。〃

〃The　king　has　sent　for　you；〃　said　the　page；　the　next　instant。　〃Go　to　the　throne。〃

They　were　the　cynosure　of　the　entire　room　as　they　went　up　the　carpeted　steps　of　the　dais　and　knelt　before　the　king。



Chapter　VI。

〃Rise！〃　commanded　the　king；　in　a　deep；　well…modulated　voice；　and　when　they　had　arisen　he　inspected　them　critically；　his　eyes　lingering　on　Thorndyke。

〃You　look　as　if　you　take　life　easily；　you　have　a　jovial　countenance；〃　he　said　cordially。

Thorndyke　returned　his　smile　and　at　once　felt　at　ease。

〃There　is　no　use　in　taking　it　any　other　way；〃　he　said；　〃it　doesn't　amount　to　much　at　best。〃

〃You　are　wrong；〃　returned　the　king；　playing　with　the　jewels　on　his　robe；　〃that　is　because　you　have　been　reared　as　you　havein　your　unsystematic　world。　Here　we　make　life　a　serious　study。　It　is　our　object　to　assist　nature　in　all　things。　The　efforts　of　your　people　amount　to　nothing　because　they　are　not　carried　far　enough。　Your　scientists　are　dreaming　idiots。　They　are　continually　groping　after　the　ideal　and　doing　nothing　with　the　positive。　It　was　for　us　to　carry　out　everything　to　perfection。　Show　me　where　we　can　make　a　single　improvement　and　you　shall　become　a　prince。〃

〃If　my　life　depended　on　that；　my　head　would　be　off　this　instant；〃　was　the　quick…witted　reply　of　the　Englishman。

This　so　pleased　the　king　that　he　laughed　till　he　shook。　〃Well　said；〃　he　smiled；　〃so　you　like　our　country？〃

〃Absolutely　charmed；　my　friend　（Thorndyke　was　determined　to　bring　his　companion　into　favor；　if　possible）　and　I　have　been　in　raptures　ever　since　we　rose　this　morning。〃

A　flush　of　pleasure　crossed　the　face　of　the　king。　〃You　have　not　seen　half　of　our　wonders　yet。　I　confess　that　I　am　pleased　with　you；　sir。　The　majority　of　people　who　are　brought　here　are　so　frightened　that　they　grow　morbid　and　desirous　to　return　to　their　own　countries　as　soon　as　they　learn　that　such　a　thing　is　out　of　the　question。〃

Thorndyke's　stout　heart　suffered　a　sudden　pang　at　the　words；　but　he　did　not　change　countenance　in　the　slightest；　for　the　king　was　closely　watching　the　effect　of　his　announcement。

〃Of　course；〃　went　on　the　ruler；　gratified　by　the　indifference　of　the　Englishman；　〃of　course；　it　could　not　be　done。　No　one；　outside　of　a　few　of　the　royal　family　and　our　trusted　agents；　has　ever　left　us。〃

〃I　can't　see　how　any　one　could　be　so　unappreciative　as　to　want　to　go；〃　answered　Thorndyke；　with　a　coolness　that　surprised　even　Johnston。　〃I　have　travelled　in　all　countries　under　the　sunthe　sun　I　was　born　underand　got　so　bored　with　them　that　my　friend　and　myself　took　to　ballooning　for　diversion；　but　here；　there　is　a　delightful　surprise　at　every　turn。〃

〃I　was　told　you　were　aeronauts；〃　returned　the　ruler；　deigning　to　cast　a　glance　at　the　silent　Johnston；　who　stood　with　eyes　downcast；　〃and　I　confess　that　it　interested　me　in　you。〃

At　that　juncture　a　most　beautiful　girl　glided　through　the　curtains　at　the　back　of　the　throne　and　came　impulsively　toward　the　king。　Her　brown　hair　fell　in　rich　masses　on　her　bare　shoulders；　her　eyes　were　large；　deep　and　brown；　and　her　skin　was　exquisitely　fine　in　texture　and　color；　her　dress　was　artistic　and　well　suited　to　her　lithe　figure。　She　held　an　instrument　resembling　a　lute　in　her　hands；　and　stopped　suddenly　when　she　noticed　that　the　king　was　engaged；

〃It　is　my　daughter；　the　Princess　Bernardino；〃　explained　the　king；　as　he　heard　her　light　step　and　turned　toward　her；　〃she　shall　sing　for　you；　and；　yes　（nodding　to　her）　you　shall　dance　also。〃

As　she　took　her　position　on　a　great　rug　in　front　of　the　throne；　she　kept　her　eyes　on　the　handsome　Englishman　as　if　fascinated　by　his　appearance。　Thorndyke's　heart　beat　quickly；　the　blood　mantled　his　face　and　he　stood　entranced　as　she　touched　the　resonant　strings　with　her　white　fingers　and　began　to　play　and　sing。　An　innocent；　artless　smile　parted　her　lips　from　her　matchless　teeth；　and　her　face　glowed　with　inspiration。　Far　above　in　the　nooks　and　crannies　of　the　vast　dome；　with　its　divergent　corridors　and　arcades；　the　faint　echoes　of　her　voice　seemed　to　reply　to　her　during　the　pauses　in　her　song。　Then　she　ceased　singing　and　to　the　far…away　and　yet　distinct　accompaniment　of　some　stringed　instrument　in　the　orchestra；　she　began　to　dance。　Holding　her　instrument　in　a　graceful　fashion　against　her　shoulder　as　one　holds　a　violin；　and　with　her　flowing　white　gown　caught　in　the　other　hand；　she　bowed　and　smiled　and　instantly　seemed　transformed。　From　the　statuesque　and　dreamy　singer　she　became　a　marvel　of　graceful　motion。　To　and　fro　she　swept　from　end　to　end　of　the　great　rug；　her　tiny　feet　and　slim　ankles　tripping　so　lightly　that　she　seemed　to　move　without　support　through　the　air。

Thorndyke　stood　as　if　spell…bound；　for；　at　every　turn；　as　if　seeking　his　approval；　she　glanced　at　him　inquiringly。　When　she　finished　she　stood　for　a　moment　in　the　centre　of　the　rug　panting；　her　beautiful　bosom；　beneath　its　filmy　covering　of　lace；　gently　rising　and　falling。　Then；　asking　her　father's　consent　with　a　mute　glance；　she　ran　forward　impulsively；　and；　kneeling　at　Thorndyke's　feet；　she　took　his　hand　and　pressed　it　to　her　lips。　And　rising；　suffused　with　blushes；　she　tripped　from　the　dais　and　disappeared　behind　the　curtain。

The　king　frowned　as　he　looked　after　her。　〃It　is　a　mark　of　preference；〃　he　said　coldly。　〃It　is　one　of　our　customs　for　a　dancer　or　singer　to　favor　some　one　of　her　spectators　in　that　way。　My　daughter　evidently　mistook　you　for　an　ambassador　from　one　of　my　provinces；　but　it　does　not　matter。〃

〃She　is　wonderfully　beautiful；〃　replied　the　tactful　Englishman；　pretending　not　to　be　flattered　by　the　notice　of　the　princess。

〃Do　you　think　our　people　fine　looking　as　a　rule？〃