"Alexis Andreovitch! What is the matter--where are you rushing?"
"Pardon, your Majesty; I must go back to Grusino."
"You will not leave me now? Affairs of state--the country?"
Zeneida, placing herself directly in front of Araktseieff, with arms crossed on her breast, gave him one look.
That look sobered him for an instant. Compelling his countenance to resume its cold exterior, while the Czar laid his hand soothingly on his arm, his official self fought the real Araktseieff for the mastery. But this time the man conquered. Striking his forehead with the crushed letter still held in his hand, he burst out:
"What do I care for Russia? What do I care for all this miserable earth--for the Czar--for all the G.o.ds, when they could let such things happen? Oh, woe is me!"
And, pushing away the Czar"s hand, he rushed screaming from the room like one struck to death. The letter to the Czar he took with him.
"What can have come to the man?" exclaimed the Czar in amazement.
He had but now been investing him with virtues such as had never been possessed save by that one man, and here this very man suffers himself to indulge in so coa.r.s.e and violent an outbreak as would not be ventured upon before a petty prince, let alone a Russian Czar.
Was there some witchcraft in Zeneida"s gaze that could madden the soberest men, until, flinging down the seals of office at the feet of their sovereign, they should say:
"What is your country to me? What care I for you and your G.o.ds?"
The eyes of the Czar strove to read the secret from Zeneida"s face.
The artiste would have withdrawn.
"Stay!"
"If your Majesty commands, I will stay altogether and not leave St.
Petersburg."
"Do you know what ails this man?"
"I do."
"Then speak."
CHAPTER x.x.xVIII
THE TRAGI-COMEDY AT GRUSINO
The double wedding was to be celebrated. The whole of the tenantry had been commanded to attend. The courtyard of the castle had been thronged with wondering serfs from early dawn. Two couples--one handsome, the other loathsome--were to be married that day.
The preparations were on a magnificent scale. For three whole days the castle cooks had been engaged in making the national dishes. Long floral walks had been erected in the courtyard; the gateway had been converted into a triumphal arch by means of wreaths and colored transparencies. In the centre of the great courtyard was a stage erected, covered with gay-hued carpets of goat"s hair. Upon it stood a table bearing an image of the Virgin Mary, the covered plate in which were the wedding-rings, a goblet, bread and salt--in fine, everything required for the ceremony preceding the marriage service. For there is much to be gone through before a bridal couple reaches the church portion of the ceremony--much to be gone through at the hands of the bystanders, the groomsmen, bridesmaids, and wedding-mother.
The wedding-mother has an important part to play. Until they arrive at the church doors she is the princ.i.p.al personage.
Daimona is the wedding-mother in this instance. She is marrying one of her serfs to her slave; she is mother to both. The high-backed chair upon the tribune is for her. At first sound of the bells the ceremony begins. From the priest"s house the bridesmaids bring the bride in her bridal array. Diabolka"s dress glistens with heavy gold embroidery; a costly girdle encircles her slender waist, on her neck hangs a fivefold necklace of gold coins; her head-dress is of precious stones. One might think she was a princess. From the opposite side resounds a horn, and the bridegroom, Sc.h.i.n.ko, is seen advancing with his supporters and groomsmen; his coal-black, curly hair, falling on to his shoulders, betraying, despite the national costume, the bridegroom"s Indian descent.
The groomsmen welcome the approaching bride with song, and follow the bridal pair to the altar. From out the stables the second couple are now brought. Wild screeches and the squeak of the bagpipe accompany them in their progress. The pomp of wedding garments only serves to make them more ridiculous. They are received with mocking rhymes, which seem to please them highly. Both are very drunk; they kiss every one who comes in their way; but as they near each other they cut hideous grimaces at one another; and as they go up to the altar steps the bride gives the bridegroom a good pinch on the arm, while the bridegroom deals her out a smart kick with his foot.
This couple is also placed at the table, so that bridegrooms and brides stand one at each corner.
At the second peal of bells the wedding-mother descends with her whole retinue from the castle. The retinue is composed of twelve female slaves, clad in white, who line the steps on either side. The wedding-mother mounts the tribune alone, and takes her seat upon the throne.
She is dressed like a queen, and wears a purple mantle; her cap of marten-skin is embroidered with gold and pearls; her face painted white and red. She begins the ceremony.
"Sc.h.i.n.ko, what do you bring the bride for your wedding present?"
And Sc.h.i.n.ko details what he brings her:
"Two gay-colored beds, a cloak of Kara.s.sia cloth lined with fox, a breastplate with silver b.u.t.tons, a kokosnik set with pearls, two pair of red boots, an embroidered linen shirt, twelve zinc plates, a dish, and a gold-embroidered head-dress and veil--if she behaves well!"
All these gifts were brought round by the bridegroom"s supporters, and severally shown to the guests.
The bride, on her side, gives the bridegroom clothes, ornaments, household utensils, and, last, a bundle of birch rods, "with which he is to chastise me when I do not behave well."
Now it is the turn of the second couple.
"Well, Polyka, and what do you bring your bridegroom?"
But this well-a.s.sorted couple are not content that one should speak before the other; one interrupts the other, and they splutter out:
"I, a ragged cloak."
"I, a pot with a hole in it."
"I, a footless stocking in which ten cats could not catch one mouse."
"I, an empty jug that once had brandy in it."
"I, a bed sacking, with no blankets, and that lacks feathers."
The wedding guests laughed themselves ill over this dialogue of the bridal couple.
"And then twelve pair of "dubina"!" shouted the bridegroom, with a loud laugh.
"With two ends to them," returned the bride, with a giggle.
The word "dubina," so soft-sounding in Russian, signifies in the barbaric English tongue--stick! The sack has found a mouth, the vinegar jar a stopper, and he his match, grinned the wedding guests.
"Now exchange rings," says Daimona to the couples. "They are in this covered plate. Those of the one couple are of gold and silver; the gold one is the bride"s; the silver, the bridegroom"s. The rings of the second couple are of copper and lead."
The wedding-mother, removing the silken cover from the plate, signed to Diabolka to set the example.