rezanov-第12部分

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ectly　at　my　chair　of　state。　　And　such　an　escort　and　such　a　reception；　both　of　ceremony　and　of　curiosity；　no　Russian　had　ever　boasted　before。　Flags　waved；　kettledrums　beat；　fans　were　flung　into　my　very　lap　to　autograph。　　The　bay；　the　hills；　were　a　blaze　of　color　and　a　confusion　of　sound。　　The　barracks　were　hung　with　tapestries　and　gay　silks。　　I；　with　my　arms　folded　and　in　full　uniform；　my　fea…　tures　composed　to　the　impassivity　of　one　of　their　own　wooden　gods；　was　the　central　figure　of　this　magnificent　farce；　and　it　may　be　placed　to　the　ever…　lasting　credit　of　the　discipline　of　courts　that　not　one　of　my　staff　smiled。　　They　stood　with　their　arms　folded　and　their　eyes　on　the　inlaid　devices　at　their　feet。

〃When　this　first　act　was　over　and　I　was　locked　in　for　the　night　and　felt　myself　able　to　kick　my　way　through　the　flimsy　walls；　yet　as　completely　a　pris…　oner　as　if　they　had　been　of　stone；　I　will　confess　that　I　fell　into　a　most　undiplomatical　rage；　and　when　I　found　myself　played　with　from　month　to　month　by　a　people　I　scorned　as　a　grotesque　mix…　ture　of　barbarian　and　mannikin；　I　was　alternately　infuriated；　and　consumed　with　laughter　at　the　van…　ity　of　men　and　nations。〃

His　voice　dropped　from　its　light　ironical　note；　and　became　harsh　and　abrupt　with　reminiscent　dis…　gust。　　〃And　the　end　of　it　all　was　failure。　　The　superb　presents　of　the　Tsar　were　rejected。　　These　presents：　coats　of　black　fox　and　ermine；　vases　of　fossil　ivory　and　of　marble；　muskets；　pistols；　sabers；　magnificent　lustres；　table　services　of　crystal　and　porcelain；　tapestries　and　carpets；　immense　mirrors；　a　clock　in　the　form　of　an　elephant；　and　set　with　precious　stones；　a　portrait　of　the　Tsar　by　Madame　le　Brun；　damasks；　furs；　velvets；　printed　cotton；　cloths；　brocades　of　gold　and　silver；　microscopes；　gold　and　silver　watches；　a　complete　electrical　ma…　chinepresents　in　all；　of　the　value　of　three　hundred　thousand　roubles；　were　returned　with　scant　cere…　mony　to　the　Nadeshda　and　I　was　politely　told　to　leave。

〃But　the　mortification　was　the　least　of　my　wor…　ries。　　The　object　of　the　embassy　was　to　establish　not　only　good　will　and　friendship　between　Russia　and　Japan；　for　which　we　cared　little；　but　commercial　intercourse　between　this　fertile　country　and　our　northeastern　and　barren　possessions。　　It　would　have　been　greatly　to　the　advantage　of　the　Japanese；　and　God　knows　it　would　have　meant　much　to　us。〃

Then　Rezanov　having　tickled　the　imaginations　and　delighted　the　curiosity　of　the　priests；　began　to　play　upon　their　heartstrings。　　His　own　voice　vibrated　as　he　related　the　sufferings　of　the　servants　of　the　Company；　and　while　avoiding　the　nomen…　clature　and　details　of　their　bodily　afflictions；　gave　so　thrilling　a　hint　of　their　terrible　condition　that　his　audience　gasped　with　sympathy　while　experiencing　no　qualms　in　their　own　more　fortunate　stomachs。

He　led　their　disarmed　understandings　as　far　down　the　vale　of　tears　as　he　deemed　wise；　then　per…　mitted　himself　a　magnificent　burst　of　spontaneity。

〃I　must　tell　you　the　object　of　my　mission　to　California；　my　kind　friends！〃　he　cried；　〃although　I　beg　you　will　not　betray　me　to　the　other　powers　until　I　think　it　wise　to　speak　myself。　　But　I　must　have　your　sympathy　and　advice。　　It　has　long　been　my　desire　to　establish　relations　between　Russia　and　Spain　that　should　be　of　mutual　benefit　to　the　col…　onies　of　both　in　this　part　of　the　western　hemis…　phere。　　I　have　told　you　of　the　horrible　condition　and　needs　of　my　men。　　They　must　have　a　share　in　the　superfluities　of　this　most　prodigal　land。　　But　I　make　no　appeal　to　your　mercy。　　Trade　is　not　founded　on　charity。　　You　well　know　we　have　much　you　are　in　daily　need　of。　　There　should　be　a　bi…　yearly　interchange。〃　　He　paused　and　looked　from　one　staring　face　to　the　other。　　He　had　been　wise　in　his　appeal。　　They　were　deeply　gratified　at　being　taken　into　his　confidence　and　virtually　asked　to　out…　wit　the　military　authorities　they　detested。

Rezanov　continued：

〃I　have　brought　the　Juno　heavy　laden；　my　fathers；　and　for　the　deliberate　purpose　of　barter。　She　is　full　of　Russian　and　Boston　goods。　　I　shall　do　my　utmost　to　persuade　your　Governor　to　give　me　of　his　corn　and　other　farinaceous　foods　in　ex…　change。　　It　may　be　against　your　laws；　and　I　am　well　aware　that　for　the　treaty　I　must　wait；　but　I　beg　you　in　the　name　of　humanity　to　point　out　to　his　ex…　cellency　a　way　in　which　he　can　at　the　same　time　relieve　our　necessities　and　placate　his　conscience。〃

〃We　will！　　We　will！〃　cried　Father　Abella。　〃Would　that　you　had　come　in　the　disguise　of　a　common　sea…captain；　for　we　have　hoodwinked　the　commandantes　more　than　once。　　But　aside　from　the　suspicion　and　distrust　in　which　Spain　holds　Russia　with　so　distinguished　a　visitor　as　your　excellency；　it　would　be　impossible　to　traffic　undetected。　　But　there　must　be　a　way　out。　　There　shall　be！　　And　will　your　excellency　kindly　let　us　see　the　cargo？　　I　am　sure　there　is　much　we　sadly　need：　cloth；　linen；　cot…　ton；　boots；　shoes；　casks；　bottles；　glasses；　plates；　shears；　axes；　implements　of　husbandry；　saws；　sheep…　shears；　iron　wareshave　you　any　of　these　things；　Excellency？〃

〃All　and　more。　　Will　you　come　to…morrow？〃

〃We　will！　and　one　way　or　another　they　shall　be　ours　and　you　shall　have　breadstuffs　for　your　pitiable　subjects。　　We　have　as　much　need　of　Europe　as　you　can　have　of　California；　for　Mexico　is　dilatory　and　often　disregards　our　orders　altogether。　　One　way　or　anotherwe　have　your　promise；　Excellency？〃

〃I　shall　not　leave　California　without　accomplish…　ing　what　I　came　for；〃　said　Rezanov。



VIII

Concha　boxed　Rosa's　ears　twice　while　being　dressed　for　the　ball　that　evening。　　It　was　true　that　excitement　had　reigned　throughout　the　Presidio　all　day；　for　never　had　a　ball　been　so　hastily　planned。　Don　Luis　had　demurred　when　Concha　proposed　it　at　breakfast；　officially　to　entertain　strangers　not　yet　officially　received　exceeded　his　authority。　　Concha；　waxing　stubborn　with　opposition；　vowed　that　she　would　give　the　ball　herself　if　he　did　not。　　Business　immediately　afterward　took　the　Commandante　ad。　in。　down　to　the　Battery　at　Yerba　Buena。　　Before　he　left　he　gave　orders　that　the　large　hall　in　the　bar…　racks；　where　balls　usually　were　held；　should　be　locked　and　the　key　given　up　to　no　one　but　himself。　He　returned　in　the　afternoon　to　find　that　Concha　had　outwitted　him。　　The　sala　of　the　Commandante's　house　was　very　large。　　The　furniture　had　been　re…　moved　and　the　walls　hung　with　flags；　those　of　Spain　on　three　sides；　the　Russian；　borrowed　by　San…　tiago　from　the　ship；　at　the　head　of　the　room。　　Con…　cha　laughed　gaily　as　Luis　stormed　about　the　sala　rasping　his　spurs　on　the　bare　floor。

〃Whitewashed　walls　for　guests　from　St。　Peters…　burg！〃　she　jeered；　as　Luis　menaced　the　flags。　　〃We　have　little　enough　to　offer。　　Besideswhat　more　wise　than　to　flaunt　our　flag　in　the　face　of　the　Rus…　sian　bear？　　Their　flag；　of　course；　is　a　mere　idle　compliment。　　Let　me　tell　you　two　things；　Luis　mio：　this　morning　I　invited　the　Russians　to　dance　to…　night；　and　told　Padre　Abella　to　ask　all　our　neigh…　bors　of　the　Mission　besides；　and　Rafaella　Sal　helped　me　to　drape　every　one　of　those　flags。　When　I　told　her　you　might　tear　them　down；　she　vowed　that　if　you　did　she　would　dance　all　night　with　the　Bostonian。〃

Luis　lifted　his　shoulders　and　mustache　to　express　an　attitude　of　contemptuous　resignation；　but　his　face　darkened；　and　a　moment　later　he　left　the　room　and　strolled　up　the　square　to　the　grating　of　Rafaella　Sal。

Concha　well　knew　that　the　frank　gray　eyes　of　the　Bostonianall　citizens　of　the　United　States　were　Bostonians　in　that　part　of　the　world；　for　only　Bos…　ton　skippers　had　the　enterprise　to　venture　so　far　were　for　no　one　but　herself。　　But　his　face　was　bony　and　freckled；　and　his　figure　less　in　height　and　vigor　than　her　own。　　He　was　rich　and　well…born；　but　shy　and　very　modest。　　Concha　Arguello；　La　Favorita　of　California；　was　for　some　such　dashing　caballero　as　Don　Antonio　Castro　of　Monterey；　or　Ignacio　Sal；　the　most　adventurous　rider　of　the　north。　　Meanwhile　he　could　look　at　her　and　adore　her　in　secret；　and　Dona　Rafaella　Sal　was　very　kind　and　danced　as　well　as　himself。　　He　never　dreamed　that　he　was　being　used　as　a　stalking　horse　to　keep　alive　in　the　best　match　in　the　Californias　the　jealous　desire　for　exclusive　possession　that　had　animated　him　in　1800　when　he　had　applied　through　the　Vice…　roy　of　Mexico　for　royal　consent　to　his　marriage　with　the　Favorita　of　her　year。　　That　was　six　years　ago　and　never　a　word　had　come　from　Madrid。　　Luis　was　faithful；　but　men　were　men；　and　girls　grew　older　every　day。　　So　the　wise　Rafaella　was　alter…　nately　indifferent　and　alluring；　the　object　of　more　admiration　than　a　maid　could　always　repel；　yet　with　wells　of　sentiment　that　only　one　man　could　dis…　cover。　　And　the　American　was　patient；　and　even　had　he　known；　would　not　in　the　least　have　minded　the　use　she　made　of　him。　　He　still　could　look　at　Concha　Arguello。

William　Sturgis　had　sailed　in　one　of　his　father's　ships；　now　six　years　ago；　from　Boston　in　search　of　health。　　The　ship　in　a　dense　fog　had　gone　on　the　rocks　in　the　straits　between　the　Farallones　and　the　Bay　of　San　Francisco。　　He　alone；　and　after　long　hours　of　struggle　with　the　wicked　currents；　not　even　knowing　in　what　direction　land　might　be；　was　flung；　senseless；　on　the　shore　below　the