Velasco

“ SCENE I Before the Castle of De Lerma---Time, sunset.
( Enter Velasco in the full costume of a knight of the eleventh century, followed by Alfonzo, his squire. )
Velasco
Home! home, at last, Alfonzo! There they shine, the old ancestral bulwarks, in the rays of the declining sun! A year has passed since last I gazed upon them---there they rise, the same, as when a careless child I play'd beneath their mighty shadows. How each nook prates of the olden time! The very air is fragrant as the breath of infancy! Old towers! ”

“ Trembling she returns the goblet to the cupbearer.
Velasco
What wouldst thou, Izidora? Izidora
Taste it not. Thou wouldst not quaff before the bride has sipp'd? Julio
I'll not be thwarted by thee. Ferdinand
Ah! Prevent him. Julio
My father aims the blow! It is Gonzalez! ( As Izidora springs to meet Velasco, he falls at her feet. )
Izidora (bending over him)
Oh, fatal treason! terrible revenge! Velasco
Thy love supports me---and thy arm enfolds me---my ebbing sight heaves its last glance on thee---thus dying, death is grateful. Oh, farewell! ”

“ Velasco! De Lerma
My son!
Gonzalez (Aside)
The heir of my detested foe! It is unnatural! It must not be! Ferdinand
Velasco! thou art welcome---this surprise has pluck'd away the only sharp regret that rankled in our breast. Let music hail the lost one found, the banish'd one return'd; on! to the banquet-room! There will we pledge joy to this fair alliance! May the stars shed their auspicious influence upon it! ”

“ Ritter's voice lowered suddenly to a whisper, and he leaned forward, touching the other's hand with his own: "I tell you, Velasco, and I know what I say—you played to-day at rehearsal as none of them played, not even Sarasati, king of virtuosi; or Joachim, prince of artists. You played as if the violin were yourself, and your bow were tearing your own heart strings.... Don't move! Don't get up! What is it, Velasco? You are white as death and your eyes are staring! ”

“ An official rushed forward and took the valise from Velasco's hand: "Here, sir—here! First class compartment!"
Velasco nodded breathlessly, and the two sank down on the crimson cushions; the door slammed. "Ye gods!" They were alone in the compartment; they were saved! Velasco gave a little laugh of triumph. He was hugging his violin close in his arms, and opposite him sat the slim veiled figure. She was looking at him from behind the veil—and she was his wife. "Ye gods!" he laughed again.
"Why are you trembling?" he said, "We are safe now. I told you I had the passports. ”

“ Velasco
Ah, lady! poorly can the heart disguise, in flippant Fancy's garniture of words, its true emotion. Love's a sorry masker. Izidora
'Then Love bears no similitude to thee. 'Twas of the wars we spake. Velasco
Enough of them. Oh! ne'er did mariner long toss'd at sea, with no benignant star to point his course, hail with more rapture the first gleam of land, than I from War's seam'd visage and wild glance, turn to the blue eyes of maternal peace! Oh! not the joyous shout of victory was e'er to me so grateful as the sight, which the declining sun this day revealed. Izidora
What sight? ”

“ It is horrible, the storm and the blackness. Hear the wind shriek! The hoofs of the horses are padded with snow; they are galloping. How the carriage lurches and sways! Are you afraid, Kaya? Don't—don't take your hand away."
Velasco's voice was husky and forced like a string out of tune. It was strange, extraordinary to be sitting there in that dark, black cave, his hand clasping the hand of a woman, a stranger. The two sat silent. The horses plunged forward.
Suddenly they stopped. Velasco started as out of a dream and sprang to the window, wiping the steam from the panes with his sleeve. ”

“ Impregnable in honour! brave and noble! But dost thou not condemn me in thy heart, for the blind weakness of that sense of duty, or, for the strength of that o'ermastering passion, which wrongs a father for a lover's sake? Velasco
Why, what a restless conjurer of ill thy fancy is! Thou know'st, that all my hopes are staked upon the promise of this day. Izidora
Thou'rt pale, methinks. Velasco
And thou art beautiful! Izidora
We should be happy at a time like this. Velasco
Am I not happy? Is it not a joy to look into thy face? to hear thee speak? Izidora
Why should we not be happy? ”

“ His eyes, half veiled and dreamy, looked straight across the House into a loggia next to the Imperial Box, impelled thereto by some force outside of his own consciousness.
A girl with an exquisite flower-like face was leaning over the crimson rail, her gaze on his, fixed and intent. The gold of her hair glistened in the light. Her lips were parted, the bosom of her dress rising and falling; her small hands clasped.
Velasco gazed steadily for a moment; then he dropped his head again, and swaying slightly played on. ”

“ After a moment or two the door closed, and the sound of footsteps, scuffling in list slippers, died slowly away in the corridor. Velasco leaned forward with his head in his hands, his bloodshot eyes staring into the coals.
"He may be one of them," he murmured, "or he may not. You can't trust people. He is better out of the way."
The haggard look had deepened on his face; then he rose suddenly from his chair and went into the next room, dropping the curtain behind him. ”

“ Exit Julio.
Sir knight, we've cut the Gordian knot of counsel to play the host to thee. Hast thou no boon to crave, within our royal power to grant? Unless thou proudly wouldst refuse to cancel a portion of the countless debt we owe thee. Give us the clew whereby our gratitude may lead unto the dear wish of thy heart. Velasco
Behold it here, my liege! (Pointing to Izidora) Could thy decree make this fair hand mine own, I should be blest beyond requital in a gift so rich. Ferdinand
A gallant boon! We'll be thine intercessor. Gonzalez, speak! thou wilt not thwart our wish? ”

“ When a man of your fame, Velasco, insists on befriending a Countess, and one who is the daughter of Mezkarpin, and an anarchist to boot—"
He spread out his hands: "Ah, she is beautiful, I know. I saw her at the Mariínski. She stared at you as if she were bewitched. You had every excuse; but get down on your knees, Velasco, and give thanks. It is no fault of yours that you are not tramping through the snow to Siberia now, just as she is. A lesser man, one whose career was less marked! By heaven, Velasco, what is it?—You are choking me!" ”

“ Not the Tsar himself! She was breathing, she was there; she was a woman and he was a man, and his strength was as the strength of a lion. What harm could befall her?
He bent his head on his breast and his lips touched her hair. Across the sodden floor of the prison, suddenly, came the first rays of dawn falling aslant, touching the shadows, the two figures crouching, the rats as they fled.
Velasco drew the cloak closer about the sleeping form of the girl, with a tender, protecting gesture. His eyes were alert. He had forgotten himself; he had forgotten his violin; he had forgotten his art. ”

“ Is that the dawn, those faint, grey streaks in the distance?"
"You are stumbling again, Kaya! It is wonderful the way you have tramped the whole night through. We are almost there."
"It is only my feet, Velasco; they are frozen a little by the snow, and numb. That is nothing for a boy. Let us run a race together. Come!"
"The wind mocks at you, little one. Run in such a blast—fight rather! Put your head down and battle with it. The demon! Keep behind me a little; use my cloak and my arm as a shield. It is not far now."
"Shall we stop at the inn, Velasco; is it safe, do you think? ”

“ By God, will you tell me, or not?—I'll force it out of you!"
"Let go of my throat!" gasped the Manager. "Sit down, Velasco! Don't be so excitable, so violent! No wonder you play with such passion; but I am not a violin, if you please. Take your hands off my throat and sit down."
"Where is she?"
Galitsin straightened his collar and necktie before the mirror of the mantel-piece. "What is the matter with you, Velasco? Any one would suppose you were in love with her! Better not; she is doomed—she is practically dead." ”

“ Hernando
We must be speedy in the achievement of our purposes. To horse! We'll reach the castle of Gonzalez ere the alarm is raised. There we are safe; and Izidora's mine. The massive gates shall keep out all intruders, even the king; and should Velasco venture to approach us, our cross-bow men shall send an arrow through him. Come! fortune beckons us. ”

“ Thy father dying, with an oath bound Izidora to pursue to th' death the man to whom she gives her hand this day. Julio
It must not be! Religion shudders at it, and filial piety recoils with horror! It must not be. Hernando
But how wilt thou prevent it? Th' appointed hour is near: the king commands; and Izidora, urged to madness, yields. If thou dost push a quarrel on Velasco, thy solemn pledge is broken; and the king forbids the contest, stripping thee perchance even of thy knighthood, and thy right to challenge. And more, Velasco never will contend, whate'er the provocation, with thyself. ”

“ He had seen it all before many times; but never so beautiful, so vast an audience, such a glory of colour, such closeness of attention. Raising his violin, with a strange, dreamy swaying of his young body, Velasco drew the bow over the quivering strings in the first solo passage of the Vieuxtemps.
The tones rose and fell above the volume of the orchestra. The depth of them, the sweetness seemed to penetrate to the uttermost corner. A curious tenseness came over the listening audience. Not a soul stirred. The Grand-Duke sat motionless with his head in his hands. ”

“ Velasco began to pace the room slowly. "If you had a costume like mine," he said, "If your hair were cut—" Then he brightened suddenly and ran forward to the girl, snatching her hands from her eyes, dragging her to her feet.
"What a fool I was!" he cried, "What an idiot! Quick, Kaya! My chum is an artist; he is off now in Sicily, painting the rocks, and the sea, and the peasants; but his things are all there in his room next to mine, just duds for his models you know. Go—go! Put on one like mine. You shall be a boy. We will be boys together, gypsies, and play for our living. ”

“ The girl by his side was a wraith; they were dead, and this was some strange unaccountable happening in another world. The marble felt cold to his knees. Velasco tried to move, to rise, but the hand of the priest held him down. The voice chanted on:
"Hast thou, Velasco, a good, free and unconstrained will and a firm intention to take unto thyself to wife this woman, Kaya, whom thou seest here before thee?" ”

“ Velasco sat huddled on the floor of the cart, his violin and the knapsack slung from his shoulders; his arms still clasping the slight, dark form, protecting it from the jolting of the runners. He was muttering to it under his breath:
"Kaya—poor little one! Your curls are damp against my cheek; your forehead is ice! Courage, little comrade. Now—your heart beats faster—your eye-lids are flickering! Another moment and you will be warm and safe. The lights of the tea-house are ahead. Moujik—faster! We will drink a glass of vodka together, all three! Faster—faster!" ”

“ The younger gypsey sank back on the floor cross-legged, half hidden by the chair and the form of Velasco. Her hands were still trembling and she put them in the pockets of her jacket, trying to force her red lips to a whistle; but no sound came through the arch. She heard the voice of Velasco smooth, and wicked, and humble, just above her.
"There is a musician," he was saying, "Perhaps you have heard of him? His name is Velasco."
"Bosh!" said Petrokoff in an angry tone, and then he blew his nose loudly. "Velasco—bosh! He is only a trickster! ”

“ Velasco—dear Velasco! Open your eyes and look at me—smile at me! We are safe. We are alone in the forest and the horses are galloping. Soon we shall be at the station—in the train! A few hours from the frontier—only a few hours—Velasco!"
He stirred in her arms and moaned, and his eye-lids quivered as if trying to open. Kaya took the scarf from her waist and began to wind it slowly about the wound on his forehead. Her breath came in little gasps through her parted lips.
"Have I your blood too on my hands, Velasco? Ah, waken and look at me! We have only a few hours more together—a few hours! ”

“ At length, the whispering Court dared to revive Hernando's baseless charge, that by foul means thy father had been slain; that, dying, he reveal'd unto thy sister what fill'd her with unconquerable hate against Velasco. To her ears it came, the slanderous rumour, and in one wild burst of renew'd love, of sympathy and scorn, she proved it false, consenting to these nuptials! Julio
Here let them end. Ferdinand
How, Julio! wouldst thou dare dispute my ordinance. Attend thy sister, and lead her to the banquet-room. Anon, I, with Velasco and the bridal train, will meet you there ”

“ Am I just like a gypsey, the real ones? Is it right, do you think?" She faltered.
Velasco took a step forward and looked down at the reflection in the mirror, the profile averted, the flush on her cheek, the curls on her brow, the boyish swagger and the hands in the pockets, the cap on the back of the tilted head, the laughing eyes, half veiled. He towered above her, gazing. And presently her eyes crept up to his under the lashes and they met in the mirror. She drew slowly away.
"How little you are!" he cried, "You never seemed so little before; in a cloak, in a veil, you were tall. ”