Hairdresser Flushing
On the heights behind were fifteen squadrons of Dragoons, on the Mons road a regiment of Black Hussars watched for the possible approach of the enemy. Behind the left of the cavalry, thirty battalions were arranged in two divisions, one to the right and the other to the left of the woods of Barry. There were four cannon in the centre of the first division, and eight squadrons behind. "The presence of the Emperor," he remarked, pleased with the spirit of the troops, "is worth five hundred thousand men, not only for the effect on our own soldiers, but for the impression it makes upon the enemy."
"Let Eleanora come down to dinner to-night, and set her out in the finery you are both so fond of. I want Hensdorff to take a good report to Vienna." "Well," replied the Prince, pettishly, "we will see about that—perhaps not, and anyhow we shall be able to wring large concessions for the Protestants artistic salon from Hensdorff. It will give us all a great deal of influence in affairs." He was a small, lean, fair, faded man, with a dry, pompous manner of fussy self-importance; he was now secretly elated, for he had just received Leopold and Hensdorff, a visit which he considered very flattering.
"But for the moment I did not think of that. I thought that you, and I, and all of us, Sire, owed something to Christian, and that it was scarcely decent to permit private dislike to efface gratitude." "They are all in his hands, anyhow," said Hensdorff, brusquely, "and I cannot see in what possible way he has offended Your Majesty." "He has," said Hensdorff, not knowing that he struck at the very heart of the matter between these two—"he has Eleanora of Anhalt-Dessau; and that, I think, was a great bribe for him." He was stung by the effeminacy of his own countenance; never could he glance into a glass without being reminded of his own inadequacy. He had sickened at the sights and sounds he had had to see and hear traversing the encampment to the Emperor's headquarters. Christian was not much affected by all these flattering plaudits; he had been victor on many a field, and the engagement had been too brief to fatigue his superb physique or to excite his even mind.
But the fireworks continued to rise from the market square, and Gabor remained at his window, watching these, flying up high, making their brief and violent display of clustered blue and purple constellations, then vanishing into nothingness. The rest he could leave, he believed, to his own well-tuned destiny. He rode on out of the sight of Gabor, and soon all the soldiers had passed, and left the street empty. The name and prestige of General Crack, the soldier who had never lost a battle nor failed to take a town, had rendered Gabor's task an easy one. All the German princelings were eager to be on the winning side, and they believed that the winning side would be that championed by Christian. Also, they were much impressed and flattered by his joining the Lutheran faith and marrying the heiress to so many of their admired dignities.
The French troops were encamped between this line and the village church, Our Lady of the Woods. Further behind, twelve battalions formed the second line of infantry; they had fourteen pieces at their left, between the church and the woods; they protected the reserves, the baggage and the road to Ath. "That would hearten the men, no doubt," agreed Christian, sincerely.
He with his influence at Rome could have that futile ceremony annulled easily. That pure, sweet and delicate creature, shut up with all the mercenary's plunder and all his gaudy and vulgar wealth in Ottenheim! No, she was still Eleanora of Anhalt-Dessau, and that Lutheran marriage was as nothing. The Transylvanian bowed, and gracefully stepping backwards, left the Royal presence, congratulating himself on having struck a shrewd blow at that proud edifice of Christian's fortunes; a blow that would bring down the glittering fabric of Christian's ambitions, and those of Leopold; and those of that foolish, thoughtless, scared girl to one quick ruin. "How then shall I find Your Majesty? It is not so easy for me, once we have left the city, to come into your Imperial presence. Hensdorff can see no reason why I should be closeted with you, Sire; and as for Prince Christian, I am in his deep displeasure."
There was even a rift in these dark vapours through which she could see a star, immeasurably far away, and darting icy, bluish rays into the blackness of the uttermost sky. Eleanora felt she understood his passion, his intention; and her senses warmed to a yielding concession. And yet she knew nothing, either of him or of what he meant to do; she put her hand in his and drew him across the threshold, and as he entered those lofty and haughty doors he shuddered, and tried to forget who was the master of this opulent house. Walking daintily across the soft carpet, he stopped before Leopold, who had not looked up at his approach, but sat there, sullen, with downcast head before that wide-flung window which opened on the winter darkness.
And Gabor bowed ironically to the back of his bent figure, then turned towards the door. "I have nothing more to say. You may, Sir, begone, and endeavour, for your own good, to forget all this affair." "In her waiting—in her expectations?" smiled Gabor, with a slight shrug. "What more can I tell Your Majesty? She wrote to you, and did not, I think, get an answer."
The fields, that had been so brilliant with harvest, were now dry and barren; the peasants all gathered into their huts and hovels, save those few who were miserably abroad, searching for sticks, and the remnants of grass and herbage. IT was no affectation that made Prince Christian absorbed in the sheaf of notes within the pages of Montecuculi as the berline proceeded slowly under the starlight from Schönbuchel in Dürsheim to Château Ottenheim; he had never been a man to triumph over his achievements; the coveted Eleanora was his, and he could afford to put her out of his mind. He was also satisfied by the understanding he had come to with the Duchess and by her presence in Ottenheim, fellow watchdog with Pons; so at ease he read between the covers of the little red, leather-covered book.
When he returned to the salon, Colonel Pons was awaiting him and saluted him in a cordial and respectful manner. "Here are my credentials—I wish to hand them to your master." He was also hot and tired, and his horse drooped as soon as the rein was slackened; he whistled and two tall grooms came from one of the long low wings that housed the stables. I feed the man at the entrance to the Château, and prepared to take my departure. His sunken eyes gleamed with satisfaction at seeing the last of me. "I told you he was nothing and no one knows anything about him."
"I was able," replied Leopold, "to spare you; at least we have not come to that degradation. Prince Christian will take charge of my armies without the price of your hand." Indeed, he looked travel-stained and weary enough, and his notable face was hidden. He passed into the crowded streets, where the people went cheerfully to and fro beneath the florid palaces as if there were no such things as war or politics.
The hermit said that he might as well, save that in the city one must spend money, and he had never had money nor the capacity to earn any; here he was freed of that anxiety; at best, able to let life slip through his fingers as the fine sand slipped through the hour glass, without sound. Leopold was pleased by this simile, soothed by the way it was given; he wondered if this state of mind was more easily achieved in these solitudes than in those grand halls where he repined so fretfully. He wished to leave Schönbuchel without being observed, but he was not so fortunate as to achieve this.
They reached the Palace, which sparkled with many lights through the thickening snowstorm; for, though it was yet early in the day, an increasing darkness had overspread the city. They crossed the bridge, over the black and rapid river, the main cortege flashing many colours through the greyness and the heavy, falling snow. The snow, which had not ceased for twenty-four hours, was still falling. It lay a foot deep in the narrow streets, and white and blank upon the sloping roofs, and outlined with ghastly lividness the tall spires. For all these sharp rigours of this inclement weather, the streets were crowded; there were masques and carnivals to-night. The people pressed at the windows and on the pavements, in doorways and on balconies.
Take a break from the city and head to the rooftop, where blissful cabanas and a bar are ready and waiting. Experience Japanese hospitality at its finest with a night—or several—at Aman Kyoto. Far from the flashing neon lights of the city, a stay here is all about indulging in the quiet side of this coveted destination. After all, the hotel is tucked away in a secret forest beneath the Hidari Daimonji mountain. Kick back in the well-appointed suites, sample local flavours at their restaurant or get among the healing benefits of onsen bathing. Plus, you’re ideally placed to soak up Japan’s heritage with Kyoto’s golden Kinkaku-ji Temple and plenty more Unesco sites mere minutes away.
"Let Eleanora come down to dinner to-night, and set her out in the finery you are both so fond of. I want Hensdorff to take a good report to Vienna." "Well," replied the Prince, pettishly, "we will see about that—perhaps not, and anyhow we shall be able to wring large concessions for the Protestants artistic salon from Hensdorff. It will give us all a great deal of influence in affairs." He was a small, lean, fair, faded man, with a dry, pompous manner of fussy self-importance; he was now secretly elated, for he had just received Leopold and Hensdorff, a visit which he considered very flattering.
"But for the moment I did not think of that. I thought that you, and I, and all of us, Sire, owed something to Christian, and that it was scarcely decent to permit private dislike to efface gratitude." "They are all in his hands, anyhow," said Hensdorff, brusquely, "and I cannot see in what possible way he has offended Your Majesty." "He has," said Hensdorff, not knowing that he struck at the very heart of the matter between these two—"he has Eleanora of Anhalt-Dessau; and that, I think, was a great bribe for him." He was stung by the effeminacy of his own countenance; never could he glance into a glass without being reminded of his own inadequacy. He had sickened at the sights and sounds he had had to see and hear traversing the encampment to the Emperor's headquarters. Christian was not much affected by all these flattering plaudits; he had been victor on many a field, and the engagement had been too brief to fatigue his superb physique or to excite his even mind.
But the fireworks continued to rise from the market square, and Gabor remained at his window, watching these, flying up high, making their brief and violent display of clustered blue and purple constellations, then vanishing into nothingness. The rest he could leave, he believed, to his own well-tuned destiny. He rode on out of the sight of Gabor, and soon all the soldiers had passed, and left the street empty. The name and prestige of General Crack, the soldier who had never lost a battle nor failed to take a town, had rendered Gabor's task an easy one. All the German princelings were eager to be on the winning side, and they believed that the winning side would be that championed by Christian. Also, they were much impressed and flattered by his joining the Lutheran faith and marrying the heiress to so many of their admired dignities.
The French troops were encamped between this line and the village church, Our Lady of the Woods. Further behind, twelve battalions formed the second line of infantry; they had fourteen pieces at their left, between the church and the woods; they protected the reserves, the baggage and the road to Ath. "That would hearten the men, no doubt," agreed Christian, sincerely.
He with his influence at Rome could have that futile ceremony annulled easily. That pure, sweet and delicate creature, shut up with all the mercenary's plunder and all his gaudy and vulgar wealth in Ottenheim! No, she was still Eleanora of Anhalt-Dessau, and that Lutheran marriage was as nothing. The Transylvanian bowed, and gracefully stepping backwards, left the Royal presence, congratulating himself on having struck a shrewd blow at that proud edifice of Christian's fortunes; a blow that would bring down the glittering fabric of Christian's ambitions, and those of Leopold; and those of that foolish, thoughtless, scared girl to one quick ruin. "How then shall I find Your Majesty? It is not so easy for me, once we have left the city, to come into your Imperial presence. Hensdorff can see no reason why I should be closeted with you, Sire; and as for Prince Christian, I am in his deep displeasure."
There was even a rift in these dark vapours through which she could see a star, immeasurably far away, and darting icy, bluish rays into the blackness of the uttermost sky. Eleanora felt she understood his passion, his intention; and her senses warmed to a yielding concession. And yet she knew nothing, either of him or of what he meant to do; she put her hand in his and drew him across the threshold, and as he entered those lofty and haughty doors he shuddered, and tried to forget who was the master of this opulent house. Walking daintily across the soft carpet, he stopped before Leopold, who had not looked up at his approach, but sat there, sullen, with downcast head before that wide-flung window which opened on the winter darkness.
And Gabor bowed ironically to the back of his bent figure, then turned towards the door. "I have nothing more to say. You may, Sir, begone, and endeavour, for your own good, to forget all this affair." "In her waiting—in her expectations?" smiled Gabor, with a slight shrug. "What more can I tell Your Majesty? She wrote to you, and did not, I think, get an answer."
The fields, that had been so brilliant with harvest, were now dry and barren; the peasants all gathered into their huts and hovels, save those few who were miserably abroad, searching for sticks, and the remnants of grass and herbage. IT was no affectation that made Prince Christian absorbed in the sheaf of notes within the pages of Montecuculi as the berline proceeded slowly under the starlight from Schönbuchel in Dürsheim to Château Ottenheim; he had never been a man to triumph over his achievements; the coveted Eleanora was his, and he could afford to put her out of his mind. He was also satisfied by the understanding he had come to with the Duchess and by her presence in Ottenheim, fellow watchdog with Pons; so at ease he read between the covers of the little red, leather-covered book.
When he returned to the salon, Colonel Pons was awaiting him and saluted him in a cordial and respectful manner. "Here are my credentials—I wish to hand them to your master." He was also hot and tired, and his horse drooped as soon as the rein was slackened; he whistled and two tall grooms came from one of the long low wings that housed the stables. I feed the man at the entrance to the Château, and prepared to take my departure. His sunken eyes gleamed with satisfaction at seeing the last of me. "I told you he was nothing and no one knows anything about him."
"I was able," replied Leopold, "to spare you; at least we have not come to that degradation. Prince Christian will take charge of my armies without the price of your hand." Indeed, he looked travel-stained and weary enough, and his notable face was hidden. He passed into the crowded streets, where the people went cheerfully to and fro beneath the florid palaces as if there were no such things as war or politics.
The hermit said that he might as well, save that in the city one must spend money, and he had never had money nor the capacity to earn any; here he was freed of that anxiety; at best, able to let life slip through his fingers as the fine sand slipped through the hour glass, without sound. Leopold was pleased by this simile, soothed by the way it was given; he wondered if this state of mind was more easily achieved in these solitudes than in those grand halls where he repined so fretfully. He wished to leave Schönbuchel without being observed, but he was not so fortunate as to achieve this.
They reached the Palace, which sparkled with many lights through the thickening snowstorm; for, though it was yet early in the day, an increasing darkness had overspread the city. They crossed the bridge, over the black and rapid river, the main cortege flashing many colours through the greyness and the heavy, falling snow. The snow, which had not ceased for twenty-four hours, was still falling. It lay a foot deep in the narrow streets, and white and blank upon the sloping roofs, and outlined with ghastly lividness the tall spires. For all these sharp rigours of this inclement weather, the streets were crowded; there were masques and carnivals to-night. The people pressed at the windows and on the pavements, in doorways and on balconies.
Take a break from the city and head to the rooftop, where blissful cabanas and a bar are ready and waiting. Experience Japanese hospitality at its finest with a night—or several—at Aman Kyoto. Far from the flashing neon lights of the city, a stay here is all about indulging in the quiet side of this coveted destination. After all, the hotel is tucked away in a secret forest beneath the Hidari Daimonji mountain. Kick back in the well-appointed suites, sample local flavours at their restaurant or get among the healing benefits of onsen bathing. Plus, you’re ideally placed to soak up Japan’s heritage with Kyoto’s golden Kinkaku-ji Temple and plenty more Unesco sites mere minutes away.
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