"There is no purple left to infect a man with, in the modern slum of
Royalty!" he said; "Tobacco-smoke, not incense, perfumes the palaces of
the great nowadays--and card-playing is more appreciated than music!
Yet I and my fiddle have made many long journeys lately,--and we have
sent our messages of Heaven thrilling through the callous horrors of
Hell! A few nights since, I played at the Russian Court--before the
beautiful Empress--cold as a stone--with her great diamonds flashing on
her unhappy breast,--before the Emperor, whose furtive eyes gazed
unseeingly before him, as though black Fate hovered in the air--before
women, whose lives are steeped in the lowest intrigue--before men,
whose faces are as bearded masks, covering the wolf's snarl,--yes!--I
played before these,--played with all the chords of my heart vibrating
to the violin, till at last a human sigh quivered from the lips of the
statuesque Empress,--till a frown crossed the brooding brow of her
spouse--till the intriguing women shook off the spell with a laugh, and
the men did the same with an oath--and I was satisfied! I received
neither 'pay,' nor jewel of recognition,--I had played 'for the honour'
of appearing before their Majesties!--but my bow was a wand to wake the
little poisoned asp of despair that stings its way into the heart under
every Royal mantle of ermine, and that sufficed me!"
"Sometimes," said Leroy, turning towards him; "I pity kings!"
"I' faith, so do I!" returned Valdor.
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