魔天记小说网

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第15部分（第1页）

most　important　part　of　a　diplomatist’s　duties；　he　was　undoubtedly　fatigued　by　them；　and　often　depressed　to　such　a　pitch　of　gloom　that　he　preferred　to　take　his　dinner　alone　with　his　dogs。　To　them；　indeed；　he　might　be　heard　talking　in　his　own　tongue。　And　sometimes；　it　is　said；　he　would　pass　out　of　his　own　gates　late　at　night　so　disguised　that　the　sentries　did　not　know　him。　Then　he　would　mingle　with　the　crowd　on　the　Galata　Bridge；　or　stroll　through　the　bazaars；　or　throw　aside　his　shoes　and　join　the　worshippers　in　the　Mosques。　Once；　when　it　was　given　out　that　he　was　ill　of　a　fever；　shepherds；　bringing　their　goats　to　market；　reported　that　they　had　met　an　English　Lord　on　the　mountain　top　and　heard　him　praying　to　his　God。　This　was　thought　to　be　Orlando　himself；　and　his　prayer　was；　no　doubt；　a　poem　said　aloud；　for　it　was　known　that　he　still　carried　about　with　him；　in　the　bosom　of　his　cloak；　a　much　scored　manuscript；　and　servants；　listening　at　the　door；　heard　the　Ambassador　chanting　something　in　an　odd；　sing–song　voice　when　he　was　alone。

It　is　with　fragments　such　as　these　that　we　must　do　our　best　to　make　up　a　picture　of　Orlando’s　life　and　character　at　this　time。　There　exist；　even　to　this　day；　rumours；　legends；　anecdotes　of　a　floating　and　unauthenticated　kind　about　Orlando’s　life　in　Constantinople—（we　have　quoted　but　a　few　of　them）　which　go　to　prove　that　he　possessed；　now　that　he　was　in　the　prime　of　life；　the　power　to　stir　the　fancy　and　rivet　the　eye　which　will　keep　a　memory　green　long　after　all　that　more　durable　qualities　can　do　to　preserve　it　is　forgotten。　The　power　is　a　mysterious　one　pounded　of　beauty；　birth；　and　some　rarer　gift；　which　we　may　call　glamour　and　have　done　with　it。　‘A　million　candles’；　as　Sasha　had　said；　burnt　in　him　without　his　being　at　the　trouble　of　lighting　a　single　one。　He　moved　like　a　stag；　without　any　need　to　think　about　his　legs。　He　spoke　in　his　ordinary　voice　and　echo　beat　a　silver　gong。　Hence　rumours　gathered　round　him。　He　became　the　adored　of　many　women　and　some　men。　It　was　not　necessary　that　they　should　speak　to　him　or　even　that　they　should　see　him；　they　conjured　up　before　them　especially　when　the　scenery　was　romantic；　or　the　sun　was　setting；　the　figure　of　a　noble　gentleman　in　silk　stockings。　Upon　the　poor　and　uneducated；　he　had　the　same　power　as　upon　the　rich。　Shepherds；　gipsies；　donkey　drivers；　still　sing　songs　about　the　English　Lord　‘who　dropped　his　emeralds　in　the　well’；　which　undoubtedly　refer　to　Orlando；　who　once；　it　seems；　tore　his　jewels　from　him　in　a　moment　of　rage　or　intoxication　and　flung　them　in　a　fountain；　whence　they　were　fished　by　a　page　boy。　But　this　romantic　power；　it　is　well　known；　is　often　associated　with　a　nature　of　extreme　reserve。　Orlando　seems　to　have　made　no　friends。　As　far　as　is　known；　he　formed　no　attachments。　A　certain　great　lady　came　all　the　way　from　England　in　order　to　be　near　him；　and　pestered　him　with　her　attentions；　but　he　continued　to　discharge　his　duties　so　indefatigably　that　he　had　not　been　Ambassador　at　the　Horn　for　more　than　two　years　and　a　half　before　King　Charles　signified　his　intention　of　raising　him　to　the　highest　rank　in　the　peerage。　The　envious　said　that　this　was　Nell　Gwyn’s　tribute　to　the　memory　of　a　leg。　But；　as　she　had　seen　him　once　only；　and　was　then　busily　engaged　in　pelting　her　royal　master　with　nutshells；　it　is　likely　that　it　was　his　merits　that　won　him　his　Dukedom；　not　his　calves。

Here　we　must　pause；　for　we　have　reached　a　moment　of　great　significance　in　his　career。　For　the　conferring　of　the　Dukedom　was　the　occasion　of　a　very　famous；　and　indeed；　much　disputed　incident；　which　we　must　now　describe；　picking　our　way　among　burnt　papers　and　little　bits　of　tape　as　best　we　may。　It　was　at　the　end　of　the　great　fast　of　Ramadan　that　the　Order　of　the　Bath　and　the　patent　of　nobility　arrived　in　a　frigate　manded　by　Sir　Adrian　Scrope；　and　Orlando　made　this　the　occasion　for　an　entertainment　more　splendid　than　any　that　has　been　known　before　or　since　in　Constantinople。　The　night　was　fine；　the　crowd　immense；　and　the　windows　of　the　Embassy　brilliantly　illuminated。　Again；　details　are　lacking；　for　the　fire　had　its　way　with　all　such　records；　and　has　left　only　tantalizing　fragments　which　leave　the　most　important　points　obscure。　From　the　diary　of　John　Fenner　Brigge；　however；　an　English　naval　officer；　who　was　among　the　guests；　we　gather　that　people　of　all　nationalities　‘were　packed　like　herrings　in　a　barrel’　in　the　courtyard。　The　crowd　pressed　so　unpleasantly　close　that　Brigge　soon　climbed　into　a　Judas　tree；　the　better　to　observe　the　proceedings。　The　rumour　had　got　about　among　the　natives　（and　here　is　additional　proof　of　Orlando’s　mysterious　power　over　the　imagination）　that　some　kind　of　miracle　was　to　be　performed。　‘Thus；’　writes　Brigge　（but　his　manuscript　is　full　of　burns　and　holes；　some　sentences　being　quite　illegible）；　‘when　the　rockets　began　to　soar　into　the　air；　there　was　considerable　uneasiness　among　us　lest　the　native　population　should　be　seized。。。fraught　with　unpleasant　consequences　to　all。。。English　ladies　in　the　pany；　I　own　that　my　hand　went　to　my　cutlass。　Happily；’　he　continues　in　his　somewhat　long–winded　style；　‘these　fears　seemed；　for　the　moment；　groundless　and；　observing　the　demeanour　of　the　natives。。。I　came　to　the　conclusion　that　this　demonstration　of　our　skill　in　the　art　of　pyrotechny　was　valuable；　if　only　because　it　impressed　upon　them。。。the　superiority　of　the　British。。。Indeed；　the　sight　was　one　of　indescribable　magnificence。　I　found　myself　alternately　praising　the　Lord　that　he　had　permitted。。。and　wishing　that　my　poor；　dear　mother。。。By　the　Ambassador’s　orders；　the　long　windows；　which　are　so　imposing　a　feature　of　Eastern　architecture；　for　though　ignorant　in　many　ways。。。were　thrown　wide；　and　within；　we　could　see　a　tableau　vivant　or　theatrical　display　in　which　English　ladies　and　gentlemen。。。represented　a　masque　the　work　of　one。。。The　words　were　inaudible；　but　the　sight　of　so　many　of　our　countrymen　and　women；　dressed　with　the　highest　elegance　and　distinction。。。moved　me　to　emotions　of　which　I　am　certainly　not　ashamed；　though　unable。。。I　was　intent　upon　observing　the　astonishing　conduct　of　Lady—which　was　of　a　nature　to　fasten　the　eyes　of　all　upon　her；　and　to　bring　discredit　upon　her　sex　and　country；　when’—unfortunately　a　branch　of　the　Judas　tree　broke；　Lieutenant　Brigge　fell　to　the　ground；　and　the　rest　of　the　entry　records　only　his　gratitude　to　Providence　（who　plays　a　very　large　part　in　the　diary）　and　the　exact　nature　of　his　injuries。

Happily；　Miss　Penelope　Hartopp；　daughter　of　the　General　of　that　name；　saw　the　scene　from　inside　and　carries　on　the　tale　in　a　letter；　much　defaced　too；　which　ultimately　reached　a　female　friend　at　Tunbridge　Wells。　Miss　Penelope　was　no　less　lavish　in　her　enthusiasm　than　the　gallant　officer。　‘Ravishing；’　she　exclaims　ten　times　on　one　page；　‘wondrous。。。utterly　beyond　description。。。gold　plate。。。candelabras。。。negroes　in　plush　breeches。。。　pyramids　of　ice。。。fountains　of　negus。。。jellies　made　to　represent　His　Majesty’s　ships。。。swans　made　to　represent　water　lilies。。。birds　in　golden　cages。。。gentlemen　in　slashed　crimson　velvet。。。Ladies’　headdresses　AT　LEAST　six　foot　high。。。musical　boxes。。。。Mr　Peregrine　said　I　looked　QUITE　lovely　which　I　only　repeat　to　you；　my　dearest；　because　I　know。。。Oh！　how　I　longed　for　you　all！。。。surpassing　anything　we　have　seen　at　the　Pantiles。。。oceans　to　drink。。。some　gentlemen　overe。。。Lady　Betty　ravishing。。。。Poor　Lady　Bonham　made　the　unfortunate　mistake　of　sitting　down　without　a　chair　beneath　her。。。Gentlemen　all　very　gallant。。。wished　a　thousand　times　for　you　and　dearest　Betsy。。。But　the　sight　of　all　others；　the　cynosure　of　all　eyes。。。as　all　admitted；　for　none　could　be　so　vile　as　to　deny　it；　was　the　Ambassador　himself。　Such　a　leg！　Such　a　countenance！！　Such　princely　manners！！！　To　see　him　e　into　the　room！　To　see　him　go　out　again！　And　something　INTERESTING　in　the　expression；　which　makes　one　feel；　one　scarcely　knows　why；　that　he　has　SUFFERED！　They　say　a　lady　was　the　cause　of　it。　The　heartless　monster！！！　How　can　one　of　our　REPUTED　TENDER　SEX　have　had　the　effrontery！！！　He　is　unmarried；　and　half　the　ladies　in　the　place　are　wild　for　love　of　him。。。A　thousand；　thousand　kisses　to　Tom；　Gerry；　Peter；　and　dearest　Mew’　＇presumably　her　cat＇。

From　the　Gazette　of　the　time；　we　gather　that　‘as　the　clock　struck　twelve；　the　Ambassador　appeared　on　the　centre　Balcony　which　was　hung　with　priceless　rugs。　Six　Turks　of　the　Imperial　Body　Guard；　each　over　six　foot　in　height；　held　torches　to　his　right　and　left。　Rockets　rose　into　the　air　at　his　appearance；　and　a　great　shout　went　up　from　the　people；　which　the　Ambassador　acknowledged；　bowing　deeply；　and　speaking　a　few　words　of　thanks　in　the　Turkish　language；　which　it　was　one　of　his　acplishments　to　speak　with　fluency。　Next；　Sir　Adrian　Scrope；　in　the　full　dress　of　a　British　Admiral；　advanced；　the　Ambassador　knelt　on　one　knee；　the　Admiral　placed　the　Collar　of　the　Most　Noble　Order　of　the　Bath　round　his　neck；　then　pinned　the　Star　to　his　breast；　after　which　another　gentleman　of　the　diplomatic　corps　advancing　in　a　stately　manner　placed　on　his　shoulders　the　ducal　robes；　and　handed　him　on　a　crimson　cushion；　the　ducal　coro。’

At　length；　with　a　gesture　of　extraordinary　majesty　and　grace；　first　bowing　profoundly；　then　raising　himself　proudly　erect；　Orlando　took　the　golden　circlet　of　strawberry　leaves　and　placed　it；　with　a　gesture　which　none　that　saw　it　ever　forgot；　upon　his　brows。　It　was　at　this　point　that　the　first　disturbance　began。　Either　the　people　had　expected　a　miracle—some　say　a　shower　of　gold　was　prophesied　to　fall　from　the　skies—which　did　not　happen；　or　this　was　the　signal　chosen　for　the　attack　to　begin；　nobody　seems　to　know；　but　as　the　coro　settled　on　Orlando’s　brows　a　great　uproar　rose。　Bells　began　ringing；　the　harsh　cries　of　the　prophets　were　heard　above　the　shouts　of　the　people；　many　Turks　fell　flat　to　the　ground　and　touched　the　earth　with　their　foreheads。　A　door　burst　open。　The　natives　pressed　into　the　banqueting　rooms。　Women　shrieked。　A　certain　lady；　who　was　said　to　be　dying　for　love　of　Orlando；　seized　a　candelabra　and　dashed　it　to　the　ground。　What　might　not　have　happened；　had　it　not　been　for　the　presence　of　Sir　Adrian　Scrope　and　a　squad　of　British　bluejackets；　nobody　can　say。　But　the　Admiral　ordered　the　bugles　to　be　sounded；　a　hundred　bluejackets　stood　instantly　at　attention；　the　disorder　was　quelled；　and　quiet；　at　least　for　the　time　being；　fell　upon　the　scene。

So　far；　we　are　on　the　firm；　if　rather　narrow；　ground　of　ascertained　truth。　But　nobody　has　ever　known　exactly　what　took　place　later　that　night。　The　testimony　of　the　sentries　and　others　seems；　however；　to　prove　that　the　Embassy　was　empty　of　pany；　and　shut　up　for　the　night　in　the　usual　way　by　two　A。M。　The　Ambassador　was　seen　to　go　to　his　room；　still　wearing　the　insignia　of　his　rank；　and　shut　the　door。　Some　say　he　locked　it；　which　was　against　his　custom。　Others　maintain　that　they　heard　music　of　a　rustic　kind；　such　as　shepherds　play；　later　that　night　in　the　courtyard　under　the　Ambassador’s　window。　A　washer–woman；　who　was　kept　awake　by　toothache；　said　that　she　saw　a　man’s　figure；　wrapped　in　a　cloak　or　dressing　gown；　e　out　upon　the　balcony。　Then；　she　said；　a　woman；　much　muffled；　but　apparently　of　the　peasant　class；　was　drawn　up　by　means

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