登陆注册
15315100000012

第12章

"The pictures of him aren't handsome enough," declared a pretty girl, taking great care that I should hear.No doubt it was mere flattery.

But, in spite of these signs of approval and interest, the mass of the people received me in silence and with sullen looks, and my dear brother's portrait ornamented most of the windows--which was an ironical sort of greeting to the King.I was quite glad that he had been spared the unpleasant sight.He was a man of quick temper, and perhaps he would not have taken it so placidly as I did.

At last we were at the Cathedral.Its great grey front, embellished with hundreds of statues and boasting a pair of the finest oak doors in Europe, rose for the first time before me, and the sudden sense of my audacity almost overcame me.

Everything was in a mist as I dismounted.I saw the Marshal and Sapt dimly, and dimly the throng of gorgeously robed priests who awaited me.And my eyes were still dim as I walked up the great nave, with the pealing of the organ in my ears.

I saw nothing of the brilliant throng that filled it, I hardly distinguished the stately figure of the Cardinal as he rose from the archiepiscopal throne to greet me.

Two faces only stood out side by side clearly before my eyes--the face of a girl, pale and lovely, surmounted by a crown of the glorious Elphberg hair (for in a woman it is glorious), and the face of a man, whose full-blooded red cheeks, black hair, and dark deep eyes told me that at last I was in presence of my brother, Black Michael.And when he saw me his red cheeks went pale all in a moment, and his helmet fell with a clatter on the floor.Till that moment I believe that he had not realized that the King was in very truth come to Strelsau.

Of what followed next I remember nothing.I knelt before the altar and the Cardinal anointed my head.Then I rose to my feet, and stretched out my hand and took from him the crown of Ruritania and set it on my head, and I swore the old oath of the King;and (if it were a sin, may it be forgiven me) I received the Holy Sacrament there before them all.Then the great organ pealed out again, the Marshal bade the heralds proclaim me, and Rudolf the Fifth was crowned King; of which imposing ceremony an excellent picture hangs now in my dining-room.

The portrait of the King is very good.

Then the lady with the pale face and the glorious hair, her train held by two pages, stepped from her place and came to where I stood.And a herald cried:

"Her Royal Highness the Princess Flavia!"She curtsied low, and put her hand under mine and raised my hand and kissed it.And for an instant I thought what I had best do.

Then I drew her to me and kissed her twice on the cheek, and she blushed red, and--then his Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop slipped in front of Black Michael, and kissed my hand and presented me with a letter from the Pope--the first and last which I have received from that exalted quarter!

And then came the Duke of Strelsau.His step trembled, I swear, and he looked to the right and to the left, as a man looks who thinks on flight; and his face was patched with red and white, and his hand shook so that it jumped under mine, and I felt his lips dry and parched.

And I glanced at Sapt, who was smiling again into his beard, and, resolutely doing my duty in that station of life to which I had been marvellously called, I took my dear Michael by both hands and kissed him on the cheek.I think we were both glad when that was over!

同类推荐
  • 玉耶经

    玉耶经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 定庵诗话续编

    定庵诗话续编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 修西闻见录

    修西闻见录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 玉泉其白富禅师语录

    玉泉其白富禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 皇明本纪

    皇明本纪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 堕落天使都市行

    堕落天使都市行

    本是天界炽天使长的路西法因恨堕落,与神王耶和华一战不小心穿越现代,初来乍到的他开始了新的生活。平淡一生?开玩笑,我可是黑暗之主,就算在这个世界也一样!——路西法(PS:本书内容纯属虚构)
  • 不一样的30天

    不一样的30天

    一个婚姻失败的女人偶尔间重新回到高中校园,在这个熟悉的环境中发现同学都不再是从前认识的人,学校的气氛也发生了截然不同的变化。在女主朦朦晕晕之中男神突然完美的降临到女主面前,让她措手不及,更让她惊讶的是男神竟是她的男友,女主对凭空出现的完美男友感到震惊、兴奋、开心幸福,甚至是所有女人都会向往的学生爱情故事......但随之发生的一系列诡异事件,让她陷入了矛盾与纠结。事实的结果究竟如何,故事结尾的逆转性变化让故事更增添了趣味与惊悚!请关注我的作品吧~~~胜利,加油!!!
  • 唐书志传通俗演义

    唐书志传通俗演义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 网王之消失的唯一

    网王之消失的唯一

    越前龙马竟然不是她的亲生哥哥,她的亲生哥哥竟然是幸村精市。她喜欢着不二周助,为什么家里人让她和迹部景吾订婚?这一切的到来让她不知所措,她该如何选择呢?
  • 20几岁要知道点历史常识(外国卷)

    20几岁要知道点历史常识(外国卷)

    《20几岁要知道点历史常识.外国卷》是一本用小标题形式解读外国历史真相的书籍。本书从历史谜团、世界历史进程、重大历史事件、历史战争、政治领袖和风云人物几个方面来阐述外国历史,尤其注重的是西方历史。本书让读者对外国历史有重新的认知,并开阔读者的思维,吸收外国的历史文化精髓。
  • 不可思议!原来我的英语这么溜!

    不可思议!原来我的英语这么溜!

    由徐维克编著的《不可思议原来我的英语这么溜》内容从基本的打招呼到话题应对,涵盖日常生活的方方面面,内容丰富。 关键时刻必备的一句话,依个人情况不同,可选择简易版或是升级版来回答,书里还将最夯的偶像剧对话与情境做链接,让您在练习时更容易融入情感,效果自然就会double再double啰!另外,对于想要将哪一句话延伸,从一句变两句变三句的读者朋友,书里也设计单词便利贴,提供与该情境相关、可延伸的单词,《不可思议原来我的英语这么溜》是一本实用性5颗星、趣味性也5颗星的生活英语会话书,推荐给您。
  • 厨医男神

    厨医男神

    快乐不起来,悲伤不下去,柳寒的生活状态就是亚健康。男神学生遭遇男神经老师,演绎疯狂快乐的征程。
  • 在哈佛听到的12堂幸福课

    在哈佛听到的12堂幸福课

    本着世界上最真诚的心,马银春编写了这本有关幸福的小书:《在哈佛听到的12堂幸福课》。如果你是个渴望幸福追求成功的人,那么请轻轻地翻翻这本充满温情的《在哈佛听到的12堂幸福课》吧。倘若你能够从中寻找到幸福的感觉,那么我的心也会由衷地欣慰。倘若你能够从中寻找到走向成功的方法,那么我会由衷地恭喜你。
  • 365天的赛跑

    365天的赛跑

    0.98∧365=0.00060.99∧365=0.02551.00∧365=1.00001.01∧365=37.7831.02∧365=1377.4在这365天中我们又属于哪一道公式呢?每天比别人多努力一点,一年下来你已无人能及;每天比别人落后一点,一年下来你已迷失人生的方向!
  • 超级巨树

    超级巨树

    现代人叶晨重生成了一棵树,一颗会进化的树。且看叶晨如何成为最超然的存在。带领地球生物不断进化,成为宇宙的主宰。境界划分:凡境,先天境,真境,仙境,神境,圣境。本书主角会一直是棵树,不化形,不喜勿喷。