rezanov-第12节
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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
