new burlesques(新讽刺诗)-第22节
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fingers in admiration of McFeckless's Florentine dress。
〃But you？what is this ravishing costume？〃 asked McFeckless； with a
pang of jealousy。 〃You are god…like。〃
〃It is the dress of what you call the Koster； a transplanted Phenician
tribe；〃 answered the other。 〃They who knocked 'em in the road of Old
Kentknow you not the legend？〃 As he spoke； he lifted his superb form
to a warrior's height and gesture。
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〃But is this quite correct？〃 asked Fitz…Fulke of the doctor。
〃Perfectly；〃 said the doctor oracularly。 〃The renowned ''Arry Axes'I
beg his pardon；〃 he interrupted himself hastily； 〃I mean the Chevalieris
perfect in his archaeology and ethnology。 The Koster is originally a
Gypsy； which is but a corruption of the word 'Egyptian；' and； if I mistake
not； that gentleman is a lineal descendant。〃
〃But he is called 'Chevalier；' and he speaks like a Frenchman；〃 said
Fluffy。
〃And； being a Frenchman； of course knows nothing outside of Paris；〃
said Sir Midas。
〃We are in the Land of Mystery；〃 said the doctor gravely in a low
voice。 〃You have heard of the Egyptian Hall and the Temple of
Mystery？〃
A shudder passed through many that were there； but the majority were
following with wild adulation the superb Koster； who； with elbows
slightly outward and hands turned inward； was passing toward the
ballroom。 McFeckless accompanied him with conflicting emotions。
Would he see the incomparable Princess； who was lovelier and even still
more a mystery than the Chevalier？ Would she terrible thought！
succumb to his perfections？
III
The Princess was already there； surrounded by a crowd of admirers；
equal if not superior to those who were following the superb Chevalier。
Indeed； they met almost as rivals！ Their eyes sought each other in
splendid competition。 The Chevalier turned away； dazzled and
incoherent。 〃She is adorable； magnificent！〃 he gasped to McFeckless。
〃I love her on the instant！ Behold； I am transported； ravished！ Present
me。〃
Indeed； as she stood there in a strange gauzy garment of exquisite
colors； apparently shapeless； yet now and then revealing her perfect figure
like a bather seen through undulating billows； she was lovely。 Two
wands were held in her taper fingers； whose mystery only added to the
general curiosity； but whose weird and cabalistic uses were to be seen later。
Her magnificent face strange in its beautywas stranger still； since； with
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perfect archaeological Egyptian correctness； she presented it only in
profile； at whatever angle the spectator stood。 But such a profile！ The
words of the great Poet…King rose to McFeckless's lips： 〃Her nose is as a
tower that looketh toward Damascus。〃
He hesitated a moment； torn with love and jealousy； and then
presented his friend。 〃You will fall in love with herand then you will
fall also by my hand；〃 he hissed in his rival's ear； and fled tumultuously。
〃Voulez…vous danser； mademoiselle？〃 whispered the Chevalier in the
perfect accent of the boulevardier。
〃Merci； beaucoup；〃 she replied in the diplomatic courtesies of the
Ambassadeurs。
They danced together； not once； but many times； to the admiration； the
wonder and envy of all； to the scandalized reprobation of a proper few。
Who was she？ Who was he？ It was easy to answer the last question：
the world rang with the reputation of 〃Chevalier the Artist。〃 But she was
still a mystery。
Perhaps they were not so to each other！ He was gazing deliriously
into her eyes。 She was looking at him in disdainful curiosity。 〃I've seen
you before somewhere； haven't I？〃 she said at last； with a crushing
significance。
He shuddered； he knew not why； and passed his hand over his high
forehead。 〃Yes； I go there very often；〃 he replied vacantly。 〃But you；
mademoiselleyouI have met before？〃
〃Oh； ages； ages ago！〃 There was something weird in her emphasis。
〃Ha！〃 said a voice near them； 〃I thought so！〃 It was the doctor；
peering at them curiously。 〃And you both feel rather dazed and creepy？〃
He suddenly felt their pulses； lingering； however； as the Chevalier fancied；
somewhat longer than necessary over the lady's wrist and beautiful arm。
He then put a small round box in the Chevalier's hand； saying； 〃One before
each meal；〃 and turning to the lady with caressing professional accents
said； 〃We must wrap ourselves closely and endeavor to induce
perspiration；〃 and hurried away； dragging the Chevalier with him。 When
they reached a secluded corner； he said； 〃You had just now a kind of
feeling； don't you know； as if you'd sort of been there before； didn't you？〃
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〃Yes； what you call apreexistence；〃 said the Chevalier wonderingly。
〃Yes； I have often observed that those who doubt a future state of
existence have no hesitation in accepting a previous one；〃 said the doctor
dryly。 〃But come； I see from the way the crowd are hurrying that your
divinity's number is upI mean；〃 he corrected himself hastily； 〃that she is
probably dancing again。〃
〃Aha！ with him； the imbecile McFeckless？〃 gasped the Chevalier。
〃No； alone。〃
She was indeed alone； in the centre of the ballroomwith outstretched
arms revolving in an occult； weird； dreamy； mystic； druidical； cabalistic
circle。 They now for the first time perceived the meaning of those
strange wands which appeared to be attached to the many folds of her
diaphanous skirts and involved her in a fleecy； whirling cloud。 Yet in the
wild convolutions of her garments and the mad gyrations of her figure； her
face was upturned with the seraphic intensity of a devotee； and her lips
parted as with the impassioned appeal for 〃Light！ more light！〃 And the
appeal was answered。 A flood of blue； crimson； yellow； and green
radiance was alternately poured upon her from the black box of a
mysterious Nubian slave in the gallery。 The effect was marvelous； at one
moment she appeared as a martyr in a sheet of flame； at another as an
angel wrapped in white and muffled purity； and again as a nymph of the
cerulean sea； and then suddenly a cloud of darkness seemed to descend
upon her； through which for an instant her figure； as immaculate and
perfect as a marble statue； showed distinctlythen the light went out and
she vanished！
The whole assembly burst into a rapturous cry。 Even the common
Arab attendants who were peeping in at the doors raised their melodious
native cry； 〃Alloe； Fullah！ Aloe； Fullah！〃 again and again。
A shocked silence followed。 Then the voice of Sir Midas Pyle was
heard addressing Dr。 Haustus Pilgrim：
〃May we not presume； sir； that what we have just seen is not unlike
that remarkable exhibition when I was pained to meet you one evening at
the Alhambra？〃
The doctor coughed slightly。 〃The Alhambraah； yes！youer
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refer； I presume； to Granada and the Land of the Moor； where we last met。
The music and dance are both distinctly Moorishwhich； after all； is akin
to the Egyptian。 I am gratified indeed that your memory should be so
retentive and your archaeological comparison so accurate。 But see！ the
ladies are retiring。 Let us follow。〃
