按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Look while you may；〃 exclaimed Feofar…Kahn； stretching his arm
towards Michael in a threatening manner。 Doubtless Ivan Ogareff；
being well acquainted with Tartar customs； had taken in the full meaning
of these words； for his lips curled for an instant in a cruel smile；
he then took his place by Feofar…Khan。
A trumpet call was heard。 This was the signal for the amusements
to begin。 〃Here comes the ballet；〃 said Alcide to Blount；
〃but； contrary to our customs； these barbarians give it
before the drama。〃
Michael had been commanded to look at everything。 He looked。
A troop of dancers poured into the open space before the Emir's tent。
Different Tartar instruments； the 〃doutare；〃 a long…handled guitar；
the 〃kobize；〃 a kind of violoncello； the 〃tschibyzga；〃 a long
reed flute； wind instruments； tom…toms； tambourines； united with
the deep voices of the singers； formed a strange harmony。
Added to this were the strains of an aerial orchestra； composed of
a dozen kites； which； fastened by strings to their centers；
resounded in the breeze like AEolian harps。
Then the dancers began。 The performers were all of Persian origin；
they were no longer slaves； but exercised their profession at liberty。
Formerly they figured officially in the ceremonies at the court
of Teheran； but since the accession of the reigning family；
banished or treated with contempt； they had been compelled to seek
their fortune elsewhere。 They wore the national costume； and were
adorned with a profusion of jewels。 Little triangles of gold；
studded with jewels； glittered in their ears。 Circles of silver；
marked with black； surrounded their necks and legs。
These performers gracefully executed various dances； sometimes alone；
sometimes in groups。 Their faces were uncovered； but from time
to time they threw a light veil over their heads； and a gauze
cloud passed over their bright eyes as smoke over a starry sky。
Some of these Persians wore leathern belts embroidered
with pearls； from which hung little triangular bags。
From these bags； embroidered with golden filigree； they drew
long narrow bands of scarlet silk； on which were braided verses
of the Koran。 These bands； which they held between them；
formed a belt under which the other dancers darted； and； as they
passed each verse； following the precept it contained； they either
prostrated themselves on the earth or lightly bounded upwards；
as though to take a place among the houris of Mohammed's heaven。
But what was remarkable； and what struck Alcide；
was that the Persians appeared rather indolent than fiery。
Their passion had deserted them； and； by the kind of dances
as well as by their execution； they recalled rather the calm
and self…possessed nauch girls of India than the impassioned
dancers of Egypt。
When this was over； a stern voice was heard saying：
〃Look while you may！〃
The man who repeated the Emir's wordsa tall spare Tartar
was he who carried out the sentences of Feofar…Khan against offenders。
He had taken his place behind Michael； holding in his hand a broad
curved saber； one of those Damascene blades which are forged
by the celebrated armorers of Karschi or Hissar。
Behind him guards were carrying a tripod supporting a chafing…dish
filled with live coals。 No smoke arose from this； but a light
vapor surrounded it； due to the incineration of a certain aromatic
and resinous substance which he had thrown on the surface。
The Persians were succeeded by another party of dancers；
whom Michael recognized。 The journalists also appeared to
recognize them； for Blount said to his companion； 〃These are
the Tsiganes of Nijni…Novgorod。〃
〃No doubt of it；〃 cried Alcide。 〃Their eyes； I imagine；
bring more money to these spies than their legs。〃
In putting them down as agents in the Emir's service； Alcide Jolivet was；
by all accounts； not mistaken。
In the first rank of the Tsiganes； Sangarre appeared；
superb in her strange and picturesque costume； which set off
still further her remarkable beauty。
Sangarre did not dance； but she stood as a statue in the midst
of the performers； whose style of dancing was a combination
of that of all those countries through which their race
had passedTurkey； Bohemia； Egypt； Italy； and Spain。 They were
enlivened by the sound of cymbals； which clashed on their arms；
and by the hollow sounds of the 〃daires〃a sort of tambourine
played with the fingers。
Sangarre； holding one of those daires； which she played between
her hands； encouraged this troupe of veritable corybantes。
A young Tsigane； of about fifteen years of age； then advanced。
He held in his hand a 〃doutare；〃 strings of which he made
to vibrate by a simple movement of the nails。 He sung。
During the singing of each couplet； of very peculiar rhythm；
a dancer took her position by him and remained there immovable；
listening to him； but each time that the burden came from the lips
of the young singer； she resumed her dance； dinning in his ears
with her daire； and deafening him with the clashing of her cymbals。
Then； after the last chorus； the remainder surrounded the Tsigane
in the windings of their dance。
At that moment a shower of gold fell from the hands of the Emir and
his train； and from the hands of his officers of all ranks； to the noise
which the pieces made as they struck the cymbals of the dancers；
being added the last murmurs of the doutares and tambourines。
〃Lavish as robbers；〃 said Alcide in the ear of his companion。
And in fact it was the result of plunder which was falling；
for； with the Tartar tomans and sequins； rained also Russian
ducats and roubles。
Then silence followed for an instant； and the voice of the executioner；
who laid his hand on Michael's shoulder； once more pronounced the words；
which this repetition rendered more and more sinister：
〃Look while you may〃
But this time Alcide observed that the executioner no longer held
the saber bare in his hand。
Meanwhile the sun had sunk behind the horizon。 A semi…obscurity began
to envelop the plain。 The mass of cedars and pines became blacker
and blacker； and the waters of the Tom； totally obscured in the distance；
mingled with the approaching shadows。
But at that instant several hundreds of slaves； bearing lighted
torches； entered the square。 Led by Sangarre； Tsiganes and
Persians reappeared before the Emir's throne； and showed off；
by the contrast； their dances of styles so different。
The instruments of the Tartar orchestra sounded forth in harmony
still more savage； accompanied by the guttural cries of the singers。
The kites； which had fallen to the ground； once more winged
their way into the sky； each bearing a parti…colored lantern；
and under a fresher breeze their harps vibrated with intenser
sound in the midst of the aerial illumination。
Then a squadron of Tartars； in their brilliant uniforms；
mingled in the dances； whose wild fury was increasing rapidly；
and then began a performance which produced a very strange effect。
Soldiers came on the ground； armed with bare sabers and
long pistols； and； as they executed dances； they made the air
re…echo with the sudden detonations of their firearms；
which immed