rezanov-第3部分

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　excellency　comes　to　us　so　late　and　in　so　small　a　ship；　rather　than　in　the　state　with　which　he　sailed　from　Europe。〃

〃The　explanation　is　simple；　my　father。　　The　original　ships；　from　a　variety　of　circumstances；　were；　upon　our　arrival　at　Kamchatka；　at　the　con…　clusion　of　the　embassy　to　Japan；　under　the　neces…　sity　of　returning　at　once　to　Europe。　　His　Imperial　Majesty；　Alexander　the　First；　ordered　the　Cham…　berlain　and　plenipotentiary；　the　representative　of　imperial　power　in　the　Russo…American　possessions；　to　remove　to　the　Juno　for　the　purpose　of　visiting　the　Kurile　and　Aleutian　Islands；　Kadiak　and　the　northwestern　coast　of　America。〃　　The　Tsar　had　never　heard　of　the　Juno；　but　as　Rezanov　was　prac…　tically　his　august　self　in　these　far…away　waters；　there　was　enough　of　truth　in　this　statement　to　ap…　pease　the　conscience　of　a　subordinate。

The　Spaniards　were　satisfied。　　Lieutenant　Ar…　guello　begged　that　the　emissaries　would　return　to　the　ship　and　invite　the　Chamberlain　and　his　party　to　come　at　once　to　the　Presidio　and　do　it　the　honor　to　partake　of　the　poor　hospitality　it　afforded。　　An　officer　galloped　furiously　for　horses。

A　few　moments　later　they　were　still　more　deeply　impressed　by　the　appearance　of　their　distinguished　visitor　as　he　stood　erect　in　the　boat　that　brought　him　to　shore。　　In　full　uniform　of　dark　green　and　gold　lace；　with　cocked　hat　and　the　splendid　order　of　St。　Ann　on　his　breast；　Rezanov　was　by　far　the　finest　specimen　of　a　man　the　Californians；　themselves　of　ampler　build　than　their　European　ancestors；　had　ever　beheld。　　Of　commanding　stature　and　physique；　with　an　air　of　highest　breeding　and　repose；　he　looked　both　a　man　of　the　great　world　and　an　intol…　erant　leader　of　men。　　His　long　oval　face　was　thin　and　somewhat　lined；　the　mouth　heavily　moulded　and　closely　set；　suggestive　of　sarcasm　and　humor；　the　nose　long；　with　arching　and　flexible　nostrils。　His　eyes；　seldom　widely　opened；　were　light　blue；　very　keen；　usually　cold。　　Like　many　other　men　of　his　position　in　Europe；　he　had　discarded　wig　and　queue　and　wore　his　short　fair　hair　unpowdered。

It　was　a　singularly　imposing　but　hardly　attractive　presence；　thought　young　Arguello；　until　Rezanov；　after　stepping　on　shore　and　bowing　formally；　sud…　denly　smiled　and　held　out　his　hand。　　Then　the　im…　pressionable　Spaniard　〃melted　like　a　woman；〃　as　he　told　his　sister；　Concha；　and　would　have　embraced　the　stranger　on　either　cheek　had　not　awe　lingered　to　temper　his　enthusiasm。　　But　Rezanov　never　made　a　stauncher　friend　than　Louis　Arguello；　who　vowed　to　the　last　of　his　days　that　the　one　man　who　had　fulfilled　his　ideal　of　the　grand　seigneur　was　he　that　sailed　in　from　the　North　on　that　fateful　April　morning　of　1806。



II

As　Rezanov；　heading　the　procession　with　young　Arguello；　entered　the　wide　gates　of　the　Presidio；　he　received　an　impression　memorably　different　from　that　which　led　earlier　travelers　to　describe　it　in…　clemently　as　a　large　square　surrounded　by　mud　houses；　thatched　with　reeds。　　It　is　true　that　the　walls　were　of　adobe　and　the　roofs　of　tule；　nor　was　there　a　tree　on　the　sand　hills　encircling　the　stronghold。　But　in　this　early　springtimethe　summer　of　the　peninsulathe　hills　showed　patches　of　verdure；　and　all　the　low　white　buildings　were　covered　by　a　net…　work　of　soft　dull　green　and　archaic　pink。　　The　Cas…　tilian　rose；　full　and　fluted；　and　of　a　chaste　and　pene…　trating　fragrance；　hung　singly　and　in　clusters　on　the　pillars　of　the　dwellings；　on　the　barracks　and　chapel；　from　the　very　roofs；　bloomed　upon　bushes　as　high　as　young　trees。　　The　Presidio　was　as　delicately　per…　fumed　as　a　lady's　bower；　and　its　cannon　faced　the　ever…changing　hues　of　water　and　island　and　hill。

As　the　party　approached；　heads　of　all　ages　ap…　peared　between　the　vines；　and　there　was　a　low　mur…　mur　of　irrepressible　curiosity　and　delight。

〃We　do　not　see　many　strangers　in　this　lonely　land；〃　said　Arguello　apologetically。　　〃And　never　before　have　we　had　so　distinguished　a　guest　as　your　excellency。　　It　was　always　a　gala　day　when　ever　a　Boston　skipper　came　in　with　a　few　bales　of　goods　and　a　complexion　like　the　hides　we　sold　him。　　Now；　alas！　they　are　no　longer　permitted　to　enter　our　ports。　　Governor　Arrillaga　will　have　none　of　contra…　band　trade　and　slaying　of　our　otter。　　And　as　for　Europeans　other　than　Spaniards；　save　for　an　Eng…　lish　sea　captain　now　and　then；　they　know　naught　of　our　existence。〃

But　Rezanov　had　not　come　to　California　on　the　impulse　of　a　moment。　　He　replied　suavely：　〃There　you　are　mistaken。　　Your　illustrious　father；　Don　Jose　Mario　de　Arguello；　is　well　known　to　us　as　the　most　respected；　eminent　and　influential　character　in　the　Californias。　　It　was　my　intention；　after　paying　a　visit　of　ceremony　to　his　excellency；　Governor　Ar…　rillaga；　to　come　to　San　Francisco　for　the　sole　pur…　pose　of　meeting　a　man　whose　record　has　inspired　me　with　the　deepest　interest。　　And　we　have　all　heard　such　wonderful　tales　of　your　California；　of　its　beauty；　its　fertility；　of　the　beneficent　lives　of　your　missionariesso　different　from　oursand　of　the　hospitality　and　elegance　of　the　Spaniards；　that　it　has　been　the　objective　point　of　my　travels；　and　I　have　found　it　difficult　to　curb　my　impatience　while　attending　to　imperative　duties　elsewhere。〃

〃Ay！　senor！〃　exclaimed　the　young　Californian。　〃What　you　say　fills　me　with　a　pride　I　cannot　ex…　press；　and　I　can　only　regret　that　the　reports　of　our　poor　habitations　should　be　so　sadly　exaggerated。　Such　as　our　possessions　are；　however；　they　are　yours　while　you　deign　to　remain　in　our　midst。　　This　is　my　father's　house。　　I　beg　that　you　will　regard　it　as　your　own。　　Burn　it　if　you　will！〃　he　cried　with　more　enthusiasm　than　commonly　enlivened　the　phrases　of　hospitality。　　〃He　will　be　proud　to　know　that　a　lifetime　of　severe　attention　to　duty　and　of　devotion　to　his　King　have　won　him　fame　abroad　as　well　as　at　home。　　He　has　risen　to　his　present　position　from　the　ranks；　but　he　is　of　pure　Spanish　blood；　not　a　drop　of　Indian；　and　my　mother　was　a　Moraga；　of　the　best　blood　of　Spain；〃　he　added　art…　lessly。　　〃As　to　the　beauty　and　variety　of　our　country；　senor；　of　course　you　will　visit　our　opulent　south；　but〃　　They　had　dismounted　at　the　Comman…　dante's　house　in　the　southeast　corner　of　the　square。　Arguello　impulsively　led　Rezanov　back　to　the　gates　and　pointed　to　the　east。　　〃I　have　crossed　those　mountains　and　the　mountains　beyond；　Excellency；　and　seen　fertile　and　beautiful　valleys　of　a　vast　ex…　tent；　watered　by　five　rivers　and　bound　far；　far　away　by　mountains　covered　with　snow　and　gigantic　trees。　The　valley　beyond　the　southern　edge　of　the　bay；　where　the　Missions　of　Santa　Clara　and　San　Jose　are；　is　also　rich；　but　those　between　the　ranges　is　an　empire；　and　one　day　when　the　King　sends　us　more　colonists；　we　shall　recompense　Spain　for　all　she　has　lost。〃

〃I　congratulate　you！〃　　Rezanov；　indifferent　to　his　host's　ancestral　tree；　had　lifted　an　alert　ear。　　His　quick　incisive　brain　was　at　work。　　〃I　should　like　to　stretch　my　legs　over　a　horse　for　a　week　at　a　time；　and　even　to　climb　your　highest　mountains。　　You　may　imagine　how　much　exercise　a　man　may　get　on　a　vessel　of　two　hundred　and　six　tons；　and　it　is　thirty…two　days　since　I　left　Sitka。　　To　look　upon　a　vast　expanse　of　greento　say　nothing　of　possible　sportafter　a　winter　of　incessant　rain　and　impene…　trable　forestswhat　a　prospect！　　I　beg　you　will　take　me　off　into　the　wilderness　as　soon　as　possible。〃

〃I　promise　you　the　Governor　shall　not　withhold　his　consentand　there　are　bear　and　deerquail；　wild　duckyour　excellency　will　enjoy　that　beauti…　ful　wild　country　as　I　have　done。〃　　Arguello　was　enchanted　at　the　prospect　of　fresh　adventure　in　the　company　of　this　fascinating　stranger。　　〃But　we　are　once　more　at　our　poor　abode；　senor。　　I　beg　you　to　remember　that　it　is　your　own。〃

They　ascended　the　steps　of　the　piazza；　suddenly　deserted；　and　it　seemed　to　Rezanov　that　every　sense　in　his　being　quivered　responsively　to　the　poignant　sweetness　of　the　Castilian　roses。　　He　throbbed　with　a　sudden　exultant　premonition　that　he　stood　on　the　threshold　of　an　historic　future；　with　a　pagan　joy　in　mere　existence；　a　sudden　rush　of　desire　for　the　keen　wild　happiness　of　youth。　　Such　is　the　elixir　of　California　in　the　north　and　the　spring。

They　entered　a　long　sala　typical　of　its　day　and　of　many　to　come；　whitewashed　walls　hung　with　colored　prints　of　the　Virgin　and　saints；　horsehair　furniture；　matting；　deep　window　seats；　and　a　perennial　coolness。　　The　Chamberlain　（his　court　title　and　the　one　commonly　attached　to　his　name）　made　himself　as　comfortable　as　the　slippery　chair　would　permit；　and　Arguello　went　for　his　mother。

Langsdorff；　who　had　lingered　on　the　piazza　with　the　priest；　entered　in　a　moment。

〃The　good　padre　tells　me　that　this　rose　of　Cas…　tile　is　the　only　imported　flower　in　California；〃　he　cried；　with　enthusiasm；　for　although　not　a　bot…　anist；　there　was　a　bump　between　his　eyes　as　big　as　a　child's　fist　and　he　had　a　nose　like　the　prow　of　a　toy　ship。　　〃Many　cuttings　were　brought　from　Spain〃

〃What　difference　does　it　make　where　it　came　from？〃　interrupted　Rezanov　testily。　　〃Is　it　not　enough　that　it　is　beautiful；　but　it　must　have　a　pin　stuck　through　it　like　some　poor　devil　of　a　butter…　fly？〃

〃Your　excellency　has　also　the　habit　to　probe　into　things　he　deems　worthy　of　his　attention；〃　re…　torted　the　offended　scientist；　but　he　was　obliged　to　closet　his　wrath。　　An　inner　door　opened　and　the　host　reappeared　with　his　mother　and　a　fair　demonstration　of　her　virtues。　　She　was　a　very　large　woman　dressed　loosely　in　black；　but　she　car…　ried　herself　with　an　air　of　complete；　if　somewhat　sleepy；　dignity；　and　it　was　evident　that　her　beauty　had　been　great。　　Her　full　face　had　lost　its　con…　tours；　but　time　had　spared　the　fine　Roman　nose　and　the　white　skin；　that　birthright　of　the　high…bred　Castilian。　　Arguello　presented　his　family　ceremo…　niously　as　the　guest　of　honor　rose　and　bowed　with　formal　deference。

〃My　mother；　Dona　Ignacia　Arguello；　your　ex…　cellency；　who　unites　with　me　in　praying　that　you　will　regard　our　home　as　yours　during　your　so…　journ　in　the　north。　　My　sister；　Maria　de　la　Con…　cepcion　Marcella　Arguello；　and　my　little　sisters；　Ana　Paula　and　Gertrudis　Rudisinda。　　My　brothers：　Gervasiosoldado　distinguido　of　the　San　Francisco　Company；　Santiago；　a　cadet　in　the　same　company；　Francesco　and　Toribio；　whose　prese