L'Usurpateur. English Read online

  CHAPTER II.

  NAGATO'S WOUND.

  The Prince of Nagato had returned to his palace. He slept stretched outon a pile of fine mats; around him was almost total darkness, for theblinds had been lowered, and large screens spread before the windows.Here and there a black lacquer panel shone in the shadow and reflecteddimly, like a dull mirror, the pale face of the Prince as he lay on hiscushions.

  Nagato had not succeeded in seeing Hieyas: he was told that the Regentwas engaged with very important business. Pleased at the chance, theyoung Prince hurried home to rest for a few hours before the council.

  In the chambers adjoining the one in which he slept servants cameand went silently, preparing their master's toilette. They walkedcautiously, that the floor might not creak, and talked together in lowtones.

  "Our poor master knows no moderation," said an old woman, scatteringdrops of perfume over a court cloak. "Continual feasting and nightlyrevels,--never any rest; he will kill himself."

  "Oh, no! pleasure does not kill," said an impudent-looking boy, dressedin gay colors.

  "What do you know about it, imp?" replied the woman. "Wouldn't youthink the brat spent his life in enjoyment like a lord? Don't talk soboldly about things you know nothing of!"

  "Perhaps I know more about them than you do," said the child, making awry face; "you haven't got married yet, for all your great age and yourgreat beauty."

  The woman threw the contents of her flask in the boy's face; but hehid behind the silver disk of a mirror which he was polishing, and theperfume fell to the ground. When the danger was over, out popped hishead.

  "Will you have me for a husband?" he cried; "you can spare me a few ofyour years, and between us we'll make but a young couple."

  The woman, in her rage, gave a sharp scream.

  "Will you be quiet?" said another servant, threatening her with hisfist.

  "But who could listen to that young scamp without blushing and losingher temper?"

  "Blush as much as you like," said the child; "that won't make anynoise."

  "Come, Loo, be quiet!" said the servant.

  Loo shrugged his shoulders and made a face, then went on listlesslyrubbing his mirror.

  At this instant a man entered the room.

  "I must speak to Iwakura, Prince of Nagato," he cried aloud.

  All the servants made violent signs to impose silence on the new-comer.Loo rushed towards him and stopped his mouth with the rag with which hewas polishing the mirror; but the man pushed him roughly away.

  "What does all this mean?" he said. "Are you crazy? I want to speak tothe lord whom you serve, the very illustrious daimio who rules over theprovince of Nagato. Go and tell him, and stop your monkey tricks."

  "He is asleep," whispered a servant.

  "We cannot wake him," said another.

  "He is frightfully tired," said Loo, with his finger on his lip.

  "Tired or not, he will rejoice at my coming," said the stranger.

  "We were ordered not to wake him until a few moments before the hourfor the council," said the old woman.

  "I sha'n't take the risk of rousing him," said Loo, drawing his mouthto one side.--

  "Nor I," said the old woman.

  "I will go myself, if you like," said the messenger; "moreover, thehour of the council is close at hand. I just saw the Prince of Arima onhis way to the Hall of a Thousand Mats."

  "The Prince of Arima!" cried Loo; "and he is always late!"

  "Alas!" said the old woman; "shall we have time to dress our master?"

  Loo pushed aside a sliding partition and opened a narrow passage;he then softly entered Nagato's bedroom. It was cool within, and adelicate odor of camphor filled the air.

  "Master! master!" said Loo in a loud voice, "the hour has come; andbesides there is a messenger here."

  "A messenger!" cried Nagato, raising himself on one elbow; "what doeshe look like?"

  "He is dressed like a samurai:[1] he has two-swords in his sash."

  "Let him come in at once," said the Prince, in a tone of agitation.

  Loo beckoned to the messenger, who prostrated himself on the thresholdof the room.

  "Approach!" said Nagato.

  But the messenger being unable to see in the dark hall, Loo foldedback one leaf of a screen which intercepted the light. A broad band ofsunshine entered; it lighted up the delicate texture of the mattingwhich covered the wall and glistened on a silver stork with sinuousneck and spread wings, hanging against it.

  The messenger approached the Prince and offered him a slender roll ofpaper wrapped in silk; then he left the room backwards.

  Nagato hastily unrolled the paper, and read as follows:

  "You have been here, illustrious one, I know it! But why this madness, and why this mystery? I cannot understand your actions. I have received severe reprimands from my sovereign on your account. As you know, I was passing through the gardens, escorting her to her palace, when all at once I saw you leaning against a tree. I could not repress an exclamation, and at my cry she turned towards me and followed the direction of my eyes. 'Ah!' she said, 'it is the sight of Nagato that draws such cries from you. Could you not stifle them, and at least spare me the sight of your immodest conduct?' Then she turned and looked at you several times. The anger in her eyes alarmed me. I dare not appear before her to-morrow, and I send you this message to beg you not to repeat these strange visits, which have such fatal consequences to me. Alas! do you not know that I love you, and need I repeat it? I will be your wife whenever you wish.... But it pleases you to adore me as if I were an idol in the pagoda of the Thirty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-three.[2] If you had not risked your life repeatedly to see me, I should think you were mocking me. I entreat you, expose me to no more such reproofs, and do not forget that I am ready to recognize you as my lord and master, and that to live by your side is my dearest desire."

  Nagato smiled and slowly closed the roll; he fixed his eyes upon thestreak of light cast on the floor from the window, and seemed lost indeep revery.

  Little Loo was greatly disappointed. He had tried to read over hismaster's shoulder; but the roll was written in Chinese characters,and his knowledge fell short of that. He was quite familiar with theKata-Kana, and even knew something of Hira-Kana; but unfortunately wasentirely ignorant of Chinese writing. To hide his vexation, he went tothe window and lifting one corner of the blind, looked out.

  "Ah!" he said, "the Prince of Satsuma and the Prince of Aki arrivetogether, and their followers look askance atone another. Ah! Satsumatakes precedence. Oh! oh! there goes the Regent down the avenue. Heglances this way, and laughs when he sees the Prince of Nagato's suitestill standing at the door. He would laugh far louder if he knew howlittle progress my master had made in his toilet."

  "Let him laugh, Loo! and come here," said the Prince, who had takena pencil and roll of paper from his girdle and hastily written a fewwords. "Run to the palace and give this to the King."

  Loo set off as fast as his legs could carry him, pushing and jostlingthose who came in his way to his utmost.

  "And now," said Iwakura, "dress me quickly."

  His servants clustered about him, and the Prince was soon arrayed inthe broad trailing trousers which make the wearer look as if he werewalking on his knees, and the stiff ceremonial mantle, made still moreheavy by the crest embroidered on its sleeves. The arms of Nagatoconsisted of a black bolt surmounting three balls in the form of apyramid.

  The young man, usually so careful of his dress, paid no attention tothe work of his servants; he did not even glance at the mirror so wellpolished by Loo, when the high pointed cap, tied by golden ribbons, wasplaced on his head.

  As soon as his toilette was complete he left the palace; but so greatwas his abstraction that, instead of getting into the norimono awaitinghim in the midst of his escort,
he set off on foot, dragging his hugepantaloons in the sand, and exposing himself to the rays of the sun.His suite, terrified at this breach of etiquette, followed in utterdisorder, while the spies ordered to watch the actions of the Princehastened to report this extraordinary occurrence to their variousmasters.

  The ramparts of the royal residence at Osaka, thick, lofty wallsflanked at intervals by a semicircular bastion, form a huge square,which encloses several palaces and vast gardens. To the south and westthe fortress is sheltered by the city; on the north the river whichflows through Osaka widens, and forms an immense moat at the foot ofthe rampart; on the east, a narrower stream bounds it. On the platformof the walls grows a row of centenarian cedars of a sombre verdure,their level branches projecting horizontally across the battlements.Within, a second wall, preceded by a moat, encloses the parks andpalaces reserved for the princes and their families. Between this walland the ramparts lie the houses of soldiers and officials. A third wallsurrounds the private palace of the Shogun, built upon a hill. Thisbuilding is of simple but noble design. Square towers with roof uponroof rise here and there from the general mass. Marble stair-ways,bordered by slender lacquer railings, and decorated at the foot bybronze monsters or huge pottery vases, lead to the outer galleries. Theterrace before the palace is covered with gravel and white sand whichreflects back the splendor of the sun.

  In the centre of the edifice stands a large, lofty, and magnificentlyornate square tower. It supports seven roofs, whose angles are bentupward; on the topmost roof two enormous goldfish[3] writhe and twist,glittering so that they may be seen from every point of the city.

  In that part of the palace nearest to this tower is the Hall of aThousand Mats, the meeting-place for the Council.

  The lords arrived from all directions, climbed the hill, and movedtowards the central portico of the palace, which opens upon a longgallery loading directly into the Hall of a Thousand Mats.

  This lofty, spacious hall is entirely bare of furniture. Movablepartitions sliding in grooves intersect it and, when closed, formcompartments of various sizes. But the partitions are always openedwide in such a way as to produce agreeable effects of perspective. Thepanels in one compartment are covered with black lacquer decoratedin gold, in another of red lacquer or of Jeseri wood, the veins ofwhich form natural and pleasing designs. Here, the screen, paintedby a famous artist, is lined with white satin heavily embroideredwith flowers; there, on a dead gold ground, a peach-tree loaded withits pink blossoms spreads its gnarled branches; or perhaps merelyan irregular sprinkling of black, red, and white dots oil dark wooddazzles the eye. The mats which cover the floor are snow white, andfringed with silver.

  The nobles, with their loose pantaloons falling below their feet, seemto move forward on their knees, and their robes brush the mats witha continuous sound, like the murmur of a waterfall. The spectators,moreover, preserve a religious silence. The _Hattamotos_, members ofan order of nobility, recently instituted by the Regent, crouch in thefarthest corners, while the _Samurais_, of ancient lineage, ownersof fiefs and vassals of princes, pass these newly made nobles by,with scornful glances, and come perceptibly closer to the great drawncurtain veiling the platform reserved for the Shogun. The _Lords ofthe Earth_, princes supreme in their own provinces, form a wide circlebefore the throne, leaving a free space for the thirteen members of theCouncil.

  The councillors soon arrive. They salute each other, and exchange a fewwords in low voices; then take their places.

  On the left, presenting their profile to the drawn curtain, arethe superior councillors. They are five in number, but only fourare present. The nearest to the throne is the Prince of Satsuma, avenerable old man with a long face full of kindness. Next to him isspread the mat of the absentee. Then comes the Prince of Satake, whobites his lip as he carefully arranges the folds of his robe. He isyoung, dark-skinned, and his jet black eyes twinkle strangely. Next tohim is established the Prince of Ouesougi, a fat and listless-lookingman. The last is the Prince of Isida, a short, ugly-faced fellow.

  The eight inferior councillors crouching opposite the throne are theprinces of Arima, Figo, Wakasa, Aki, Tosa, Ise, and Coroda.

  A stir is heard in the direction of the entrance, and every headis bent to the ground. The Regent advances into the hall. He movesrapidly, not being embarrassed, like the princes, by the folds of histrailing trousers, and seat's himself, cross-legged, on a pile of matsto the right of the throne.

  Hieyas was at this time an old man. His back was slightly bent, buthe was broad-shouldered and muscular. His head, entirely shaven,revealed a high forehead, with prominent eyebrows. His thin lips,cruel and obstinate in expression, were deeply marked at the cornerswith downward wrinkles. His cheek-bones were extremely marked, and hisprominent eyes flashed forth abrupt and insincere glances.

  As he entered, he cast an evil look, accompanied by a half-smile,towards the vacant place of the Prince of Nagato. But when the curtainrose, the Shogun appeared, leaning with one hand on the shoulder of hisyouthful councillor.

  The Regent frowned.

  All the spectators prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads onthe ground. When they rose, the Prince of Nagato had taken his placewith the rest.

  Fide-Yori seated himself, and motioned to Hieyas that he might speak.

  Then the Regent read various unimportant reports,--nominations ofmagistrates, movements of the troops on the frontier, the change ofresidence of a governor whose term had expired. Hieyas explainedbriefly and volubly the reasons which had actuated him. The councillorsran their eyes over the manuscripts, and having no objection to make,acquiesced by a gesture. But soon the Regent folded all these papersand handed them to a secretary stationed near him; then resumed hisspeech, after first coughing:--

  "I called this special meeting to-day," he said, "that its membersmight share the fears which I have conceived for the tranquillity ofthe kingdom, on learning that the severe supervision ordered overthe European bonzes and such Japanese as have embraced their strangedoctrine, are strangely relaxed, and that they have resumed theirdangerous intrigues against the public peace. I therefore demand theenforcement of the law decreeing the extermination of all Christians."

  A singular uproar arose in the assembly,--a mixture of approval,surprise, cries of horror and of anger.

  "Would you witness a renewal of the hideous and bloody scenes whoseterror still lingers in our minds?" cried the Prince of Satake with hiswonted animation.

  "It is odd to affirm that poor people who preach nothing but virtue andconcord can disturb the peace of an empire," said Nagato.

  "The Daimio speaks well," said the Prince of Satsuma; "it is impossiblefor the bonzes of Europe to have any effect upon the tranquillity ofthe kingdom. It is therefore useless to disturb them."

  But Hieyas addressed himself directly to Fide-Yori.

  "Master," said he, "since no one will share my anxiety, I must informyou that a dreadful rumor is beginning to circulate among the noblesand among the people."

  He paused a moment, to add solemnity to his words.

  "It is said that he who is still under my guardianship, the futureruler of Japan, our gracious lord, Fide-Yori, has embraced theChristian faith."

  An impressive silence followed these words. The spectators exchangedglances which said clearly that they had heard the report, which mighthave a solid basis.

  Fide-Yori took up the word.

  "And should a calumny spread by ill-intentioned persons be avenged uponthe innocent I I command that the Christians shall not be molested inany way. My father, I regret it, thought it his duty to pursue with hiswrath and to exterminate those unhappy men; but I swear, while I live,not one drop of their blood shall be shed."

  Hieyas was stupefied by the resolute accent of the young Shogun; forthe first time he spoke as a master, and commanded. He bowed in sign ofsubmission, and made no objection. Fide-Yori had attained his majority,and if he was not yet proclaimed Shogun it was because Hieyas was inno haste to lay down his powe
r. He did not, therefore, wish to enterinto open strife with his ward. He set the question aside for the timebeing, and passed to something else.

  "I am told," he said, "that a nobleman was attacked and wounded lastnight on the Kioto road. I do not yet know the name of this noble;but perhaps the Prince of Nagato, who was at Kioto last night, heardsomething of this adventure?"

  "Ah! you know that I was at Kioto," muttered the Prince; "then Iunderstand why there were assassins on my path."

  "How could Nagato be at Osaka and at Kioto at one and the same time?"asked the Prince of Satake. "There is nothing talked of this morningbut the water-party which he gave last night, and which ended somerrily with a fight between the lords and the sailors from the shore."

  "I even got a scratch in the squabble," said Nagato, smiling.

  "The Prince traverses in a few hours distances that others would take aday to go over," said Hieyas; "that's all. Only, he does not spare hishorses; every time he comes back to the palace, his animal falls downdead."

  The Prince of Nagato turned pale, and felt for the sword missing fromhis girdle.

  "I did not suppose that your anxious care extended even to the beastsof the kingdom," said he, with an insolent irony. "I thank you in thename of my dead horses."

  The Shogun, full of alarm, cast supplicating glances at Nagato. Butit seemed as if the Regent's patience were proof against all trialsto-day. He smiled and made no reply.

  However, Fide-Yori saw that anger smouldered in his friend's soul;and dreading some fresh outburst, he put an end to the council bywithdrawing.

  Almost immediately one of the palace guards informed the Prince ofNagato that the Shogun was asking for him. The Prince said a pleasantword to several nobles, bowed to the rest, and left the hall withoutturning his head in the direction of Hieyas.

  When he reached the apartments of the Shogun, he heard a woman's voice,petulant, and at the same time complaining. He caught his own name.

  "I have heard all," said the voice,--"your refusal to accede to thewishes of the Regent, whom you suffered to be insulted before your veryeyes by the Prince of Nagato, whose impudence is truly incomparable;and the rare patience of Hieyas, who did not take up the insult fromrespect for you, from pity for him whom you believe to be your friend,in your ignorance of men."

  Nagato recognized the speaker as the Shogun's mother, the beautiful andhaughty Yodogimi.

  "Mother," said the Shogun, "turn your thoughts to embroidery and dress:that is woman's sphere."

  Nagato entered hurriedly, that he might not longer be an unsuspectedlistener.

  "My gracious master asked for me," he said. Yodogimi turned and blushedslightly on seeing the Prince, who bowed low before her.

  "I have something to say to you," said the Shogun.

  "Then I will retire," said Yodogimi bitterly, "and go back to myembroidery."

  She crossed the room slowly, rustling her trailing silken robes, andcasting as she went out a singular look at Nagato, compounded ofcoquetry and hate.

  "You heard my mother," said Fide-Yori.

  "Yes," said Nagato.

  "Every one is anxious to detach me from you, my friend: what can betheir motive?"

  "Your mother is blinded by some calumny," said the Prince; "the otherssee in me a clear-sighted foe, who can outwit the plots which theycontrive against you."

  "It was of a plot I wished to speak to you."

  "Against your life?"

  "Precisely. It was revealed to me in a strange fashion, and Ican scarcely credit it; yet I cannot resist a certain feeling ofuneasiness. To-morrow, at the feast of the God of the Sea, a bridgewill give way beneath me."

  "Horrible!" cried Nagato. "Do not go to the feast."

  "If I stay away," said Fide-Yori, "I shall never know the truth, forthe plot will not be carried out. But if I go to the feast," he addedwith a smile, "if the conspiracy really exist, the truth would besomewhat difficult of proof."

  "To be sure," said Nagato. "Still, our doubts must be set at rest; somemeans must be found. Is your route fixed?"

  "Hieyas has arranged it."

  Fide-Yori took a roll of paper from a low table and read:--

  "Yedogava Quay, Fishmarket Square, Sycamore Street, seashore. Return byBamboo Hill and Swallow bridge.

  "The wretches!" cried Iwakura; "that is the bridge swung across thevalley!"

  "The place would be well chosen indeed," said the Shogun.

  "It must be that bridge; those crossing the countless city canals wouldnot expose you to death by crumbling under your feet, but at the utmostto a disagreeable bath."

  "True," said Fide-Yori; "and from the Swallow bridge I should be hurledupon the rocks."

  "Have you full trust in my friendship for you?" asked the Prince ofNagato, after a moment's thought.

  "Can you doubt it, Iwakura?" said the Shogun.

  "Very well, then. Fear nothing, feign complete ignorance, let them leadthe way, and march straight up to the bridge. I have thought of a wayto save you, and yet discover the truth."

  "I trust myself to you, friend, in perfect confidence."

  "Then let me go; I must have time to carry out my scheme."

  "Go, Prince; I place my life in your hands untremblingly," said theShogun.

  Nagato hastened away, first saluting the king, who replied by afriendly gesture.

  [1] Noble officer in the service of a daimio or prince.

  [2] Temple at Kioto containing 33,333 idols.

  [3] These fish actually exist, and are valued at an immense sum, manyplacing it as high as a million dollars.