Indeed He Had Vast Advantages Over Me, Not Only By His
Superior Command Of Language And His Far More Spirited
Style of
address, but also in his consciousness of a good cause; for whilst
I felt myself completely in the
Wrong, his Excellency had really
worked himself up to believe that the Pasha's refusal to permit our
landing was a gross outrage and insult. Therefore, without
deigning to defend our conduct he at once commenced a spirited
attack upon the Pasha. The poor Italian doctor translated one or
two sentences to the Pasha, but he evidently mitigated their
import. The Russian, growing warm, insisted upon his attack with
redoubled energy and spirit; but the medico, instead of
translating, began to shake violently with terror, and at last he
came out with his non ardisco, and fairly confessed that he dared
not interpret fierce words to his master.
Now then, at a time when everything seemed to depend upon the
effect of speech, we were left without an interpreter.
But this very circumstance, which at first appeared so
unfavourable, turned out to be advantageous. The General, finding
that he could not have his words translated, ceased to speak in
Italian, and recurred to his accustomed French; he became eloquent.
No one present except myself understood one syllable of what he was
saying, but he had drawn forth his passport, and the energy and
violence with which, as he spoke, he pointed to the graven Eagle of
all the Russias, began to make an impression.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 311 of 325
Words from 85139 to 85391
of 89094
