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regal magnificence their figures； stepping out freely in a shower
of broken sunshine。 The whiteness of their teeth was still more
dazzling than the splendour of jewels at their ears。 The shaded
side of the ravine gleamed with their smiles。 They were as
unabashed as so many princesses； but； alas！ not one of them was the
daughter of a jet…black sovereign。 Such was my abominable luck in
being born by the mere hair's breadth of twenty…five centuries too
late into a world where kings have been growing scarce with
scandalous rapidity； while the few who remain have adopted the
uninteresting manners and customs of simple millionaires。
Obviously it was a vain hope in 187… to see the ladies of a royal
household walk in chequered sunshine； with baskets of linen on
their heads； to the banks of a clear stream overhung by the starry
fronds of palm…trees。 It was a vain hope。 If I did not ask myself
whether； limited by such discouraging impossibilities； life were
still worth living； it was only because I had then before me
several other pressing questions； some of which have remained
unanswered to this day。 The resonant； laughing voices of these
gorgeous maidens scared away the multitude of humming…birds； whose
delicate wings wreathed with the mist of their vibration the tops
of flowering bushes。
No； they were not princesses。 Their unrestrained laughter filling
the hot； fern…clad ravine had a soulless limpidity； as of wild；
inhuman dwellers in tropical woodlands。 Following the example of
certain prudent travellers； I withdrew unseen … and returned； not
much wiser； to the Mediterranean； the sea of classic adventures。
XL。
It was written that there； in the nursery of our navigating
ancestors； I should learn to walk in the ways of my craft and grow
in the love of the sea； blind as young love often is； but absorbing
and disinterested as all true love must be。 I demanded nothing
from it … not even adventure。 In this I showed； perhaps； more
intuitive wisdom than high self…denial。 No adventure ever came to
one for the asking。 He who starts on a deliberate quest of
adventure goes forth but to gather dead…sea fruit； unless； indeed；
he be beloved of the gods and great amongst heroes； like that most
excellent cavalier Don Quixote de la Mancha。 By us ordinary
mortals of a mediocre animus that is only too anxious to pass by
wicked giants for so many honest windmills； adventures are
entertained like visiting angels。 They come upon our complacency
unawares。 As unbidden guests are apt to do； they often come at
inconvenient times。 And we are glad to let them go unrecognised；
without any acknowledgment of so high a favour。 After many years；
on looking back from the middle turn of life's way at the events of
the past； which； like a friendly crowd； seem to gaze sadly after us
hastening towards the Cimmerian shore； we may see here and there；
in the gray throng； some figure glowing with a faint radiance； as
though it had caught all the light of our already crepuscular sky。
And by this glow we may recognise the faces of our true adventures；
of the once unbidden guests entertained unawares in our young days。
If the Mediterranean； the venerable （and sometimes atrociously ill…
tempered） nurse of all navigators； was to rock my youth； the
providing of the cradle necessary for that operation was entrusted
by Fate to the most casual assemblage of irresponsible young men
（all； however； older than myself） that； as if drunk with Provencal
sunshine； frittered life away in joyous levity on the model of
Balzac's 〃Histoire des Treize〃 qualified by a dash of romance DE
CAPE ET D'EPEE。
She who was my cradle in those years had been built on the River of
Savona by a famous builder of boats； was rigged in Corsica by
another good man； and was described on her papers as a 'tartane' of
sixty tons。 In reality； she was a true balancelle； with two short
masts raking forward and two curved yards； each as long as her
hull； a true child of the Latin lake； with a spread of two enormous
sails resembling the pointed wings on a sea…bird's slender body；
and herself； like a bird indeed； skimming rather than sailing the
seas。
Her name was the Tremolino。 How is this to be translated？ The
Quiverer？ What a name to give the pluckiest little craft that ever
dipped her sides in angry foam！ I had felt her； it is true；
trembling for nights and days together under my feet； but it was
with the high…strung tenseness of her faithful courage。 In her
short； but brilliant； career she has taught me nothing； but she has
given me everything。 I owe to her the awakened love for the sea
that； with the quivering of her swift little body and the humming
of the wind under the foot of her lateen sails； stole into my heart
with a sort of gentle violence； and brought my imagination under
its despotic sway。 The Tremolino！ To this day I cannot utter or
even write that name without a strange tightening of the breast and
the gasp of mingled delight and dread of one's first passionate
experience。
XLI。
We four formed （to use a term well understood nowadays in every
social sphere） a 〃syndicate〃 owning the Tremolino： an
international and astonishing syndicate。 And we were all ardent
Royalists of the snow…white Legitimist complexion … Heaven only
knows why！ In all associations of men there is generally one who；
by the authority of age and of a more experienced wisdom； imparts a
collective character to the whole set。 If I mention that the
oldest of us was very old； extremely old … nearly thirty years old
… and that he used to declare with gallant carelessness； 〃I live by
my sword；〃 I think I have given enough information on the score of
our collective wisdom。 He was a North Carolinian gentleman； J。 M。
K。 B。 were the initials of his name； and he really did live by the
sword； as far as I know。 He died by it； too； later on； in a
Balkanian squabble； in the cause of some Serbs or else Bulgarians；
who were neither Catholics nor gentlemen … at least； not in the
exalted but narrow sense he attached to that last word。
Poor J。 M。 K。 B。； AMERICAIN； CATHOLIQUE； ET GENTILHOMME； as he was
disposed to describe himself in moments of lofty expansion！ Are
there still to be found in Europe gentlemen keen of face and
elegantly slight of body； of distinguished aspect； with a
fascinating drawing…room manner and with a dark； fatal glance； who
live by their swords； I wonder？ His family had been ruined in the
Civil War； I fancy； and seems for a decade or so to have led a
wandering life in the Old World。 As to Henry C…； the next in age
and wisdom of our band； he had broken loose from the unyielding
rigi