Chapter XIII: The “marriage.”

The 22nd of February was lovely, almost like summer in its warmth, not a cloud in the skies, the sea calm as a mirror, a holiday feeling in the air. The English consul had invited the count and Princess, and all their suite to luncheon. The Princess arrived, splendidly and tastefully dressed, and, as always, gay and lively. Where was her illness? She chatted merrily with the other guests. On the terrace, adorned with flowers, she walked, carelessly laughing and joking. Every one showed her the greatest attention and respect.

Count Alexis Gregorevitch was a model _cavalier-servant_ of the Princess, holding her fan and her gloves, and taking from the hands of the servants the cool refreshing drinks, to offer them himself to her. All noticed that his amorous glances followed her everywhere, and that she seemed born to new life. As by magic her languor had disappeared; her _preux chevalier_, the tamed lion, was at her feet.

“Ha! our Celadon, what think you of him?” whispered Christianok. “Yes, resting on his laurels of Chesma, the hero does not disdain another conquest!”

Admiral Greig, by nature of a very taciturn disposition, took no part in the conversation, but sat a little apart, extremely stern, sad of countenance, and with downcast eyes, seeming to notice nothing.

Some one walked up to the window. From there you could see the blue sea and the Russian flotilla. The ladies began talking of pleasant sails on the sea.

“Well, count! show us your ships,” said the Princess. “In Civita Vecchia you showed them the mock-fight of Chesma; you gave others pleasure, honour us also.”

“All is ready,” answered Orloff, bowing respectfully.

The whole party went down to the sea-shore. Count Alexis Gregorevitch was specially respectful to the Princess. He himself placed her shawl on her shoulders, and taking her parasol from the hands of her maid, opened it, and, walking by her side, shielded her from the sun, all the while whispering in her ears the most passionate protestations of love.

The whole crowd of spectators collected on the sea-shore looked admiringly at his general’s uniform of dark green with red facings, all covered with gold embroidery, which adorned his splendid figure, and on all sides we could hear cries of “_Vivat_,” mixed with whispers of “Oh! what a couple!”

They all took their places in the boats and barges standing ready by the sea-shore. The Princess seated herself in a splendid gilded barge, ornamented and arranged with imperial luxury. The wives of Admiral Greig and of the English consul took their places by her side. The count went with the Admiral, and I with the retinue of the Princess. The barge floated in the direction of the Russian flotilla. We were received by the squadron with the greatest pomp. Flags waved everywhere. The officers in their brightest uniforms stood at their posts; the sailors at the masts. From all the ships floated the most delicious music. The waves gently rocked us. The receding shore was covered with spectators.

As we touched the admiral’s ship, the _Three Hierarchs_, a splendid gilt arm-chair was let down, in which first of all the Princess was pulled up, and then the other ladies. We mounted the trap. The ladies had hardly stepped on deck, when from all sides came cries of “Hurrah!” and cannon were fired. The sight was splendid. The spectators in the streets and on shore merrily waved their hats and handkerchiefs. All were in high expectation that Orloff would conduct the manœuvres, and, to make the illusion more complete, would burn some old useless ship. A great many glasses were pointed at us from the shore. Dozens of little boats, filled with onlookers, started from the shore in the direction of our ship. On board the _Three Hierarchs_ there seemed to be great commotion. The whole staff of the admiral’s servants were running to and fro, with trays loaded with wine, bon-bons, and fruit. There was dancing in the saloon. The younger gentlemen and ladies were dancing with all their heart the _contre-danse_ and _cotillon_. The wives of the admiral and consul surrounded the Princess with little attentions.

The ladies were soon invited into a special cabin, where presently they were joined by the count and the admiral, who were busily talking together. The latter seemed quite out of sorts, and very gloomy.

“They are going to marry the count and the Princess,” I heard one of the officers whisper to another.

I was dumbfounded.

“But why here?” asked the one to whom the question was addressed. “Why all this mystery, all this haste?”

“There’s no Russian church here. The admiral has lent his, and that accounts for the Princess’s arrival at Livorno, and her presence on board.”

After a little while the decks began to be deserted, and many of the suite, getting into the barges, were rowed back to land, amongst others, the two cunning and clever Greeks, Ribas and Christianok.

On seeing them, I do not know why, there flashed through my mind the words of the count to Ribas,--“Priest and vestments.” In the meantime there were no clergy to be seen on board. The deck was becoming more and more deserted. The officers were walking backwards and forwards, gaily chatting and pointing their glasses at the occupants of the boats. The band played a very gay march, and then an aria from a well-known opera.

What took place below all this while has remained a mystery. Several asserted afterwards that nothing particular had occurred, but that at table the betrothal of the count and Princess had been solemnly announced, and that all had drunk the health of the bridal couple. Others on oath protested that in another cabin there had been a mock marriage between the count and Princess, so that Orloff, in her eyes at least, might seem to be keeping his word, and that in this sacrilegious ceremony the _rôle_ of Priest and Deacon had been played by Christianok and Ribas, who were dressed up in the vestments of the clergy of the fleet, the first acting the part of deacon, and the second that of priest.

But I am running on too fast; let us return to the deck of the _Three Hierarchs_.

My strength fails me; my heart bursts; the pen falls from my fingers when I recollect all that I was so soon to see.

Wherever I shall be,--if I remain, by a miracle of God, alive, or if I am destined to perish in the waves,--the remembrance of all that I then saw will only be effaced from my mind with my last dying groan.

The deck was full of life. All had left the cabins, and were now sitting in detached groups; there was laughing and talking on all sides; servants were running to and fro, with cooling drinks and wine.

The Princess was leaning over the side of the vessel. The wind was rising; it was getting cool. She called me to her side with a friendly nod. I helped her to put on her mantilla.

“If I live a hundred years I shall not forget this,” she whispered, with a happy smile, shaking me warmly by the hand. “You have kept your word. All is being fulfilled. I shall soon be in Russia, and once there--why not hope? They will proclaim the future Empress Elizabeth II.… Oh! now is the time for wonders. The present empress, what was she a little while ago?”

Those words filled me with astonishment. I was silent, bewildered by the wild fantasies of this poor blinded creature.

On board the _Three Hierarchs_ they hoisted a signal flag. Again the roar of the cannon was heard, mingled with the cries of “Hurrah!” The bands on all the ships again began playing; the flotilla was beginning its manœuvres. Enchanted by all this attention on the part of her future subjects, the Princess, still leaning against the side of the ship, seemed plunged in agreeable thought, as her eyes followed the curling smoke from the shots and the movements of the different ships.

I see her now, as she then stood, in her blue velvet mantilla, a small black straw hat, and a white parasol in her hands.

I also was lost in thought. Yes, all is finished now! The count has found a companion for life. He will know how to persuade her. Together they will fly to the feet of a merciful empress.