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ary that they should speak to him or even that they should see him； they conjured up before them especially when the scenery was romantic； or the sun was setting； the figure of a noble gentleman in silk stockings。 Upon the poor and uneducated； he had the same power as upon the rich。 Shepherds； gipsies； donkey drivers； still sing songs about the English Lord ‘who dropped his emeralds in the well’； which undoubtedly refer to Orlando； who once； it seems； tore his jewels from him in a moment of rage or intoxication and flung them in a fountain； whence they were fished by a page boy。 But this romantic power； it is well known； is often associated with a nature of extreme reserve。 Orlando seems to have made no friends。 As far as is known； he formed no attachments。 A certain great lady came all the way from England in order to be near him； and pestered him with her attentions； but he continued to discharge his duties so indefatigably that he had not been Ambassador at the Horn for more than two years and a half before King Charles signified his intention of raising him to the highest rank in the peerage。 The envious said that this was Nell Gwyn’s tribute to the memory of a leg。 But； as she had seen him once only； and was then busily engaged in pelting her royal master with nutshells； it is likely that it was his merits that won him his Dukedom； not his calves。
Here we must pause； for we have reached a moment of great significance in his career。 For the conferring of the Dukedom was the occasion of a very famous； and indeed； much disputed incident； which we must now describe； picking our way among burnt papers and little bits of tape as best we may。 It was at the end of the great fast of Ramadan that the Order of the Bath and the patent of nobility arrived in a frigate manded by Sir Adrian Scrope； and Orlando made this the occasion for an entertainment more splendid than any that has been known before or since in Constantinople。 The night was fine； the crowd immense； and the windows of the Embassy brilliantly illuminated。 Again； details are lacking； for the fire had its way with all such records； and has left only tantalizing fragments which leave the most important points obscure。 From the diary of John Fenner Brigge； however； an English naval officer； who was among the guests； we gather that people of all nationalities ‘were packed like herrings in a barrel’ in the courtyard。 The crowd pressed so unpleasantly close that Brigge soon climbed into a Judas tree； the better to observe the proceedings。 The rumour had got about among the natives （and here is additional proof of Orlando’s mysterious power over the imagination） that some kind of miracle was to be performed。 ‘Thus；’ writes Brigge （but his manuscript is full of burns and holes； some sentences being quite illegible）； ‘when the rockets began to soar into the air； there was considerable uneasiness among us lest the native population should be seized。。。fraught with unpleasant consequences to all。。。English ladies in the pany； I own that my hand went to my cutlass。 Happily；’ he continues in his somewhat long–winded style； ‘these fears seemed； for the moment； groundless and； observing the demeanour of the natives。。。I came to the conclusion that this demonstration of our skill in the art of pyrotechny was valuable； if only because it impressed upon them。。。the superiority of the British。。。Indeed； the sight was one of indescribable magnificence。 I found myself alternately praising the Lord that he had permitted。。。and wishing that my poor； dear mother。。。By the Ambassador’s orders； the long windows； which are so imposing a feature of Eastern architecture； for though ignorant in many ways。。。were thrown wide； and within； we could see a tableau vivant or theatrical display in which English ladies and gentlemen。。。represented a masque the work of one。。。The words were inaudible； but the sight of so many of our countrymen and women； dressed with the highest elegance and distinction。。。moved me to emotions of which I am certainly not ashamed； though unable。。。I was intent upon observing the astonishing conduct of Lady—which was of a nature to fasten the eyes of all upon her； and to bring discredit upon her sex and country； when’—unfortunately a branch of the Judas tree broke； Lieutenant Brigge fell to the ground； and the rest of the entry records only his gratitude to Providence （who plays a very large part in the diary） and the exact nature of his injuries。
Happily； Miss Penelope Hartopp； daughter of the General of that name； saw the scene from inside and carries on the tale in a letter； much defaced too； which ultimately reached a female friend at Tunbridge Wells。 Miss Penelope was no less lavish in her enthusiasm than the gallant officer。 ‘Ravishing；’ she exclaims ten times on one page； ‘wondrous。。。utterly beyond description。。。gold plate。。。candelabras。。。negroes in plush breeches。。。 pyramids of ice。。。fountains of negus。。。jellies made to represent His Majesty’s ships。。。swans made to represent water lilies。。。birds in golden cages。。。gentlemen in slashed crimson velvet。。。Ladies’ headdresses AT LEAST six foot high。。。musical boxes。。。。Mr Peregrine said I looked QUITE lovely which I only repeat to you； my dearest； because I know。。。Oh！ how I longed for you all！。。。surpassing anything we have seen at the Pantiles。。。oceans to drink。。。some gentlemen overe。。。Lady Betty ravishing。。。。Poor Lady Bonham made the unfortunate mistake of sitting down without a chair beneath her。。。Gentlemen all very gallant。。。wished a thousand times for you and dearest Betsy。。。But the sight of all others； the cynosure of all eyes。。。as all admitted； for none could be so vile as to deny it； was the Ambassador himself。 Such a leg！ Such a countenance！！ Such princely manners！！！ To see him e into the room！ To see him go out again！ And something INTERESTING in the expression； which makes one feel； one scarcely knows why； that he has SUFFERED！ They say a lady was the cause of it。 The heartless monster！！！ How can one of our REPUTED TENDER SEX have had the effrontery！！！ He is unmarried； and half the ladies in the place are wild for love of him。。。A thousand； thousand kisses to Tom； Gerry； Peter； and dearest Mew’ ＇presumably her cat＇。
From the Gazette of the time； we gather that ‘as the clock struck twelve； the Ambassador appeared on the centre Balcony which was hung with priceless rugs。 Six Turks of the Imperial Body Guard； each over six foot in height； held torches to his right and left。 Rockets rose into the air at his appearance； and a great shout went up from the people； which the Ambassador acknowledged； bowing deeply； and speaking a few words of thanks in the Turkish language； which it was one of his acplishments to speak with fluency。 Next； Sir Adrian Scrope； in the full dress of a British Admiral； advanced； the Ambassador knelt on one knee； the Admiral placed the Collar of the Most Noble Order of the Bath round his neck； then pinned the Star to his breast； after which another gentleman of the diplomatic corps advancing in a stately manner placed on his shoulders the ducal robes； and handed him on a crimson cushion； the ducal coro。’
At length； with a gesture of extraordinary majesty and grace； first bowing profoundly； then raising himself proudly erect； Orlando took the golden circlet of strawberry leaves and placed it； with a gesture which none that saw it ever forgot； upon his brows。 It was at this point that the first disturbance began。 Either the people had expected a miracle—some say a shower of gold was prophesied to fall from the skies—which did not happen； or this was the signal chosen for the attack to begin； nobody seems to know； but as the coro settled on Orlando’s brows a great uproar rose。 Bells began ringing； the harsh cries of the prophets were heard above the shouts of the people； many Turks fell flat to the ground and touched the earth with their foreheads。 A door burst open。 The natives pressed into the banqueting rooms。 Women shrieked。 A certain lady； who was said to be dying for love of Orlando； seized a candelabra and dashed it to the ground。 What might not have happened； had it not been for the presence of Sir Adrian Scrope and a squad of British bluejackets； nobody can say。 But the Admiral ordered the bugles to be sounded； a hundred bluejackets stood instantly at attention； the disorder was quelled； and quiet； at least for the time being； fell upon the scene。
So far； we are on the firm； if rather narrow； ground of ascertained truth。 But nobody has ever known exactly what took place later that night。 The testimony of the sentries and others seems； however； to prove that the Embassy was empty of pany； and shut up for the night in the usual way by two A。M。 The Ambassador was seen to go to his room； still wearing the insignia of his rank； and shut the door。 Some say he locked it； which was against his custom。 Others maintain that they heard music of a rustic kind； such as shepherds play； later that night in the courtyard under the Ambassador’s window。 A washer–woman； who was kept awake by toothache； said that she saw a man’s figure； wrapped in a cloak or dressing gown； e out upon the balcony。 Then； she said； a woman； much muffled； but apparently of the peasant class； was drawn up by means of a rope which the man let down to her on to the balcony。 There； the washer–woman said； they embraced passionately ‘like lovers’； and went into the room together； drawing the curtains so that no more could be seen。
Next morning； the Duke； as we must now call him； was found by his secretaries sunk in profound slumber amid bed clothes that were much tumbled。 The room was in some disorder； his coro having rolled on the floor； and his cloak and garter being flung all of a heap on a chair。 The table was littered with papers。 No suspicion was felt at first； as the fatigues of the night had been great。 But when afternoon came and he still slept； a doctor was summoned。 He applied remedies which had been used on the previous occasion； plasters； tles； emetics； etc。； but without success。 Orlando slept on。 His secretaries then thought it their duty to examine the papers on the table。 Many were scribbled over with poetry； in which frequent mention was made of an oak tree。 There were also various state papers and others of a private nature concerning the management of his estates in England。 But at length they came upon a document of far greater significance。 It was nothing less； indeed； than a deed of marriage； drawn up； signed； and witnessed between his Lordship； Orlando； Knight of the Garter； etc。； etc。； etc。； and Rosina Pepita； a dancer； father unknown； but reputed a gipsy； mother also unknown but reputed a seller of old iron in the market–place over against the Galata Bridge。 The secretaries looked at each other in dismay。 And still Orlando slept。 Morning and evening they watched him； but； save that his breathing was regular and his cheeks still flushed their habitual deep rose； he gave no sign of life。 Whatever science or ingenuity could do to waken him they did。 But still he slept。
On the seventh day of his trance （Thursday； May the 10th） the first shot was fired of that terrible and bloody insurrection of which Lieutenant Brigge had detected the first symptoms。 The Turks rose against the Sultan； set fire to the town； and put every foreigner they could find； either to the sword or to the bastinado。 A few English managed to escape； but； as might have been expected； the gentlemen of the British Embassy preferred to die in defence of their red boxes； or； in extreme cases； to swallow bunches of keys rather than let them fall into the hands of the Infidel。 The rioters broke into Orlando’s room； but seeing him stretched to all appearances dead they left him untouched； and only robbed him of his coro and the robes of the Garter。
And now again obscurity descends； and would indeed that it were deeper！ Would； we almost have it in our hearts to exclaim； that it were so deep that we could see nothing whatever through its opacity！ Would that we might here take the pen and write Finis to our work！ Would that we might spare the reader what is to e and say to him in so many words； Orlando died and was buried。 But here； alas； Truth； Candour； and Honesty； the austere Gods who keep watch and ward by the inkpot of the biographer； cry No！ Putting their silver trumpets to their lips they demand in one blast； Truth！ And again they cry Truth！ and sounding yet a third time in concert they peal forth； The Truth and nothing but the Truth！
At which—Heaven be praised！ for it affords us a breathing space—the doors gently open； as if a breath of the gentlest and holiest zephyr had wafted them apart； and three figures enter。 First； es our Lady of Purity； whose brows are bound with fillets of the whitest lamb’s wool； whose hair is as an avalanche of the driven snow； and in whose hand reposes the white quill of a virgin goose。 Following her； but with a statelier step； es our Lady of Chastity； on whose brow is set like a turret of burning but unwasting fire a diadem of icicles； her eyes are pure stars； and her fingers； if they touch you； freeze you to the bone。 Close behind her； sheltering indeed in the shadow of her more stately sisters； es our Lady of Modesty； frailest and fairest of the three； whose face is only shown as the young moon sh