michael-第18部分

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〃I　am　much　pleased　to　see　you；　Lord　Comber；〃　said　he。　　〃I　could　not　resist　the　pleasure　of　a　little　chat　with　you　about　our　beloved　England。　　And　your　excellent　father；　how　is　he？〃

He　indicated　a　chair　to　Michael；　who；　as　advised；　instantly　took　it；　though　the　Emperor　remained　a　moment　longer　standing。

〃I　left　him　in　very　good　health；　Your　Majesty；〃　said　Michael。

〃Ah！　I　am　glad　to　hear　it。　　I　desire　you　to　convey　to　him　my　friendliest　greetings；　and　to　your　mother　also。　　I　well　remember　my　last　visit　to　his　house　above　the　tidal　estuary　at　Ashbridge；　and　I　hope　it　may　not　be　very　long　before　I　have　the　opportunity　to　be　in　England　again。〃

He　spoke　in　a　voice　that　seemed　rather　hoarse　and　tired；　but　his　manner　expressed　the　most　courteous　cordiality。　　His　face；　which　had　been　as　still　as　a　statue's　when　he　showed　himself　to　the　house；　was　now　never　in　repose　for　a　moment。　　He　kept　turning　his　head；　which　he　carried　very　upright；　this　way　and　that　as　he　spoke；　now　he　would　catch　sight　of　someone　in　the　audience　to　whom　he　directed　his　glance；　now　he　would　peer　over　the　edge　of　the　low　balustrade；　now　look　at　the　group　of　officers　who　stood　apart　at　the　back　of　the　box。

His　whole　demeanour　suggested　a　nervous；　highly…strung　condition；　the　restlessness　of　it　was　that　of　a　man　overstrained；　who　had　lost　the　capability　of　being　tranquil。　　Now　he　frowned；　now　he　smiled；　but　never　for　a　moment　was　he　quiet。　　Then　he　launched　a　perfect　hailstorm　of　questions　at　Michael；　to　the　answers　to　which　（there　was　scarcely　time　for　more　than　a　monosyllable　in　reply）　he　listened　with　an　eager　and　a　suspicious　attention。　　They　were　concerned　at　first　with　all　sorts　of　subjects：　inquired　if　Michael　had　been　at　Baireuth；　what　he　was　going　to　do　after　the　Munich　festival　was　over；　if　he　had　English　friends　here。　　He　inquired　Falbe's　name；　looked　at　him　for　a　moment　through　his　glasses；　and　desired　to　know　more　about　him。　　Then；　learning　he　was　a　teacher　of　the　piano　in　England；　and　had　a　sister　who　sang；　he　expressed　great　satisfaction。

〃I　like　to　see　my　subjects；　when　there　is　no　need　for　their　services　at　home；〃　he　said；　〃learning　about　other　lands；　and　bringing　also　to　other　lands　the　culture　of　the　Fatherland；　even　as　it　always　gives　me　pleasure　to　see　the　English　here；　strengthening　by　the　study　of　the　arts　the　bonds　that　bind　our　two　great　nations　together。　　You　English　must　learn　to　understand　us　and　our　great　mission；　just　as　we　must　learn　to　understand　you。〃

Then　the　questions　became　more　specialised；　and　concerned　the　state　of　things　in　England。　　He　laughed　over　the　disturbances　created　by　the　Suffragettes；　was　eager　to　hear　what　politicians　thought　about　the　state　of　things　in　Ireland；　made　specific　inquiries　about　the　Territorial　Force；　asked　about　the　Navy；　the　state　of　the　drama　in　London；　the　coal　strike　which　was　threatened　in　Yorkshire。　　Then　suddenly　he　put　a　series　of　personal　questions。

〃And　you；　you　are　in　the　Guards；　I　think？〃　he　said。

〃No；　sir；　I　have　just　resigned　my　commission；〃　said　Michael。

〃Why？　　Why　is　that？　　Have　many　of　your　officers　been　resigning？〃

〃I　am　studying　music；　Your　Majesty；〃　said　Michael。

〃I　am　glad　to　see　you　came　to　Germany　to　do　it。　　Berlin？　　You　ought　to　spend　a　couple　of　months　in　Berlin。　　Perhaps　you　are　thinking　of　doing　so。〃

He　turned　round　quickly　to　one　of　his　staff　who　had　approached　him。

〃Well；　what　is　it？〃　he　said。

Count　von　Bergmann　bowed　low。

〃The　Herr…Director；〃　he　said；　〃humbly　craves　to　know　whether　it　is　Your　Majesty's　pleasure　that　the　opera　shall　proceed。〃

The　Kaiser　laughed。

〃There；　Lord　Comber；〃　he　said；　〃you　see　how　I　am　ordered　about。　They　wish　to　cut　short　my　conversation　with　you。　　Yes；　Bergmann；　we　will　go　on。　　You　will　remain　with　me；　Lord　Comber；　for　this　act。〃

Immediately　after　the　lights　were　lowered　again；　the　curtain　rose；　and　a　most　distracting　hour　began　for　Michael。　　His　neighbour　was　never　still　for　a　single　moment。　　Now　he　would　shift　in　his　chair；　now　with　his　hand　he　would　beat　time　on　the　red　velvet　balustrade　in　front　of　him；　and　a　stream　of　whispered　appreciation　and　criticism　flowed　from　him。

〃They　are　taking　the　opening　scene　a　little　too　slow；〃　he　said。　　〃I　shall　call　the　director's　attention　to　that。　　But　that　crescendo　is　well　done；　yes；　that　is　most　effective。　　The　shawlobserve　the　beautiful　lines　into　which　the　shawl　falls　as　she　waves　it。　　That　is　wonderfula　very　impressive　entry。　　Ah；　but　they　should　not　cross　the　stage　yet；　it　is　more　effective　if　they　remain　longer　there。　　Brangane　sings　finely；　she　warns　them　that　the　doom　is　near。〃

He　gave　a　little　giggle；　which　reminded　Michael　of　his　father。

〃Brangane　is　playing　gooseberry；　as　you　say　in　England；〃　he　said。　〃A　big　gooseberry；　is　she　not？　　Ah；　bravo！　bravo！　　Wunderschon！　Yes；　enter　King　Mark　from　his　hunting。　　Very　fine。　　Say　I　was　particularly　pleased　with　the　entry　of　King　Mark；　Bergmann。　　A　wonderful　act！　　Wagner　never　touched　greater　heights。〃

At　the　end　the　Emperor　rose　and　again　held　out　his　hand。

〃I　am　pleased　to　have　seen　you；　Lord　Comber；〃　he　said。　　〃Do　not　forget　my　message　to　your　father；　and　take　my　advice　and　come　to　Berlin　in　the　winter。　　We　are　always　pleased　to　see　the　English　in　Germany。〃

As　Michael　left　the　box　he　ran　into　the　Herr…Director；　who　had　been　summoned　to　get　a　few　hints。

He　went　back　to　join　Falbe　in　a　state　of　republican　irritation；　which　the　honour　that　had　been　done　him　did　not　at　all　assuage。　There　was　an　hour's　interval　before　the　third　act；　and　the　two　drove　back　to　their　hotel　to　dine　there。　　But　Michael　found　his　friend　wholly　unsympathetic　with　his　chagrin。　　To　him；　it　was　quite　clear；　the　disappointment　of　not　having　been　able　to　attend　very　closely　to　the　second　act　of　Tristan　was　negligible　compared　to　the　cause　that　had　occasioned　it。　　It　was　possible　for　the　ordinary　mortal　to　see　Tristan　over　and　over　again；　but　to　converse　with　the　Kaiser　was　a　thing　outside　the　range　of　the　average　man。　　And　again　in　this　interval；　as　during　the　act　itself；　Michael　was　bombarded　with　questions。　　What　did　the　Kaiser　say？　　Did　he　remember　Ashbridge？　　Did　Michael　twice　receive　the　iron　grip？　　Did　the　All…　highest　say　anything　about　the　manoeuvres？　　Did　he　look　tired；　or　was　it　only　the　light　above　his　head　that　made　him　appear　so　haggard？　　Even　his　opinion　about　the　opera　was　of　interest。　　Did　he　express　approval？

This　was　too　much　for　Michael。

〃My　dear　Hermann；〃　he　said；　〃we　alluded　very　cautiously　to　the　'Song　to　Aegir'　this　morning；　and　delicately　remarked　that　you　had　heard　it　once　and　I　twice。　　How　can　you　care　what　his　opinion　of　this　opera　is？〃

Falbe　shook　his　handsome　head；　and　gesticulated　with　his　fine　hands。

〃You　don't　understand；〃　he　said。　　〃You　have　just　been　talking　to　him　himself。　　I　long　to　hear　his　every　word　and　intonation。　　There　is　the　personality；　which　to　us　means　so　much；　in　which　is　summed　up　all　Germany。　　It　is　as　if　I　had　spoken　to　Rule　Britannia　herself。　　Would　you　not　be　interested？　　There　is　no　one　in　the　world　who　is　to　his　country　what　the　Kaiser　is　to　us。　　When　you　told　me　he　had　stayed　at　Ashbridge　I　was　thrilled；　but　I　was　ashamed　lest　you　should　think　me　snobbish；　which　indeed　I　am　not。　But　now　I　am　past　being　ashamed。〃

He　poured　out　a　glass　of　wine　and　drank　it　with　a　〃Hoch！〃

〃In　his　hand　lies　peace　and　war；〃　he　said。　　〃It　is　as　he　pleases。　The　Emperor　and　his　Chancellor　can　make　Germany　do　exactly　what　they　choose；　and　if　the　Chancellor　does　not　agree　with　the　Emperor；　the　Emperor　can　appoint　one　who　does。　　That　is　what　it　comes　to；　that　is　why　he　is　as　vast　as　Germany　itself。　　The　Reichstag　but　advises　where　he　is　concerned。　　Have　you　no　imagination；　Michael？　Europe　lies　in　the　hand　that　shook　yours。〃

Michael　laughed。

〃I　suppose　I　must　have　no　imagination；〃　he　said。　　〃I　don't　picture　it　even　now　when　you　point　it　out。〃

Falbe　pointed　an　impressive　forefinger。

〃But　for　him；〃　he　said；　〃England　and　Germany　would　have　been　at　each　other's　throats　over　the　business　at　Agadir。　　He　held　the　warhounds　in　leashhe；　their　master；　who　made　them。〃

〃Oh；　he　made　them；　anyhow；〃　said　Michael。

〃Naturally。　　It　is　his　business　to　be　ready　for　any　attack　on　the　part　of　those　who　are　jealous　at　our　power。　　The　whole　Fatherland　is　a　sword　in　his　hand；　which　he　sheathes。　　It　would　long　ago　have　leaped　from　the　scabbard　but　for　him。〃

〃Against　whom？〃　asked　Michael。　　〃Who　is　the　enemy？〃

Falbe　hesitated。

〃There　is　no　enemy　at　present；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　enemy　potentially　is　any　who　tries　to　thwart　our　peaceful　expansion。〃

Suddenly　the　whole　subject　tasted　bitter　to　Michael。　　He　recalled；　instinctively；　the　Emperor's　great　curiosity　to　be　informed　on　English　topics　by　the　ordinary　Englishman　with　whom　he　had　acquaintance。

〃Oh；　let's　drop　it；〃　he　said。　　〃I　really　didn't　come　to　Munich　to　talk　politics；　of　which　I　know　nothing　whatever。〃

Falbe　nodded。

〃That　is　what　I　have　said　to　you　before；〃　he　remarked。　　〃You　are　the　most　happy…go…lucky　of　the　nations。　　Did　he　speak　of　England？〃

〃Yes；　of　his　beloved　England；〃　said　Michael。　　〃He　was　extremely　cordial　about　our　relations。〃

〃Good。　　I　like　that；〃　said　Falbe　briskly。

〃And　he　recommended　me　to　spend　two　months　in　Berlin　in　the　winter；〃　added　Michael；　sliding　off　on　to　other　topics。

Falbe　smiled。

〃I　like　that　less；〃　he　said；　〃since　that　will　mean　you　will　not　be　in　London。〃

〃But　I　didn't　commit　myself；〃　said　Michael；　smiling　back；　〃though　I　can　say　'beloved　Germany'　with　equal　sincerity。〃

Falbe　got　up。

〃I　would　wish　thatthat　you　were　Kaiser　of　England；〃　he　said。

〃God　forbid！〃　said　Michael。　　〃I　should　not　have　time　to　play　the　piano。〃

During　the　next　day　or　two　Michael　often　found　himself　chipping　at　the　bed…rock；　so　to　speak；　of　this　conversation；　and　Falbe's　revealed　attitude　towards　his　country　and；　in　particular；　towards　its　supreme　head。　　It　seemed　to　him　a　wonderful　and　an　enviable　thing　that　anyone　could　be　so　thoroughly　English　as　Falbe　certainly　was　in　his　ordinary；　everyday　life；　and　that　yet；　at　the　back　of　this　there　should　lie　so　profound　a　patriotism　towards　another　country；　and　so　profound　a　reverence　to　its　ruler。　　In　his　general　outlook　on　life；　his　friend　appe