Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
5. Zaemon’s Curse
But,bethesethingshowtheymay,aself-respectingmanmustpreservehisindividualityalso,andthoughIconsentedtoenterapavilionofcrimsoncloth,speciallyerectedtosheltermetilltheEmpressshoulddeigntoarrive,theremycomplaisanceended.Againthematterofclotheswasharpedupon.Thethreegorgeouslycaparisonedchamberlains,whohadinductedmetotheshelter,laidbeforemechangesofraimentbedeckedwitheveryimaginablekindoffrippery,andwouldhavemetransformmyselfintoapopinjayinfashionliketheirown.
Curtlyenough,Irefusedtoaltermygarb,andwhenoneofthemstammeringlyreferredtotheEmpress’stastesIaskedhimwithplainnessifhehadgotanydefinitecommandsonthispaltrymatterfromhermightiness.
Ofcourse,hehadtoconfessthattherewerenone.
UponwhichIretortedthatPhorenicehadcommandedDeucalion,theman,toattendbeforeher,andhadsentnowordofherpleasureastohisoutercasing.
“Thisdress,”Isaid,“suitsmytemperwell.Itshieldsmypoorbodyfromtheheatandthewind,and,moreover,itisclean.Itseemstome,sirs,”Iadded,“thatyourinterferingsavourssomewhatofanimpertinence.”
Withoneaccordthechamberlainsdrewtheirswordsandpushedthehiltstowardsme.
“Itwouldbeafavour,”saidtheirspokesman,“ifthegreatLordDeucalionwouldtakehisvengeancenow,insteadofdeliveringustothetormentorshereafter.”
“Poof,”Isaid,“thematterisforgotten.Youmaketoomuchofalittle.”
Nevertheless,theiractiongavemesomeenlightenment.
