"Your praise is exaggerated," Lucrezia chuckled. She was wearing an Italian-style dress, exposing her seductive shoulders and neck, and holding an embroidered scarf in one hand to pretend to cover her hair.
Shut up and let the lace sleeves slide down to reveal a jade arm, which is enough to make all Spanish men ecstasy.
"I cannot be Euterpa. But you, Count, all the wisdom and talents of Mars and Orpheus are gathered in you. Give me the beautiful song you composed, "Beautiful Spain"
"Girl", this gift is so precious."
"A lewd and gaudy ditty," Sanavria heard someone singing this song in pubs and various occasions, and wanted to ridicule it loudly. But in the end, he did not speak, and just hummed a few times.
"It's my pleasure."
"-I'm afraid I'm not entirely worthy of your precious gift," the hostess' clear voice continued in a pretentiously coquettish tone: "I'm not even beautiful, nor was I born in Spain."
There began to be some whispering in the crowd.
"I was born in Madeira, grew up in Porto, and got married in Naples. Until I came to the Philippine Colony, I never had the opportunity to set foot on Spanish soil. But thanks to His Majesty Philip, I have traveled everywhere.
The Spanish sun shines, bathed in his greatness and mercy."
The low whispers among the guests turned into loud noises. The male guests took off their hats and put them on their chests respectfully and shouted: "Long live the king!" Taking advantage of this warm moment, the count announced that he would play a song for the king.
A march composed in praise of His Majesty Philip. He used a fresh technique that the audience had never seen before. While playing the harpsichord, he also used the sound of the piano and gestures to signal the small band next to him to follow him. The Filipino musicians
It is obvious that the musical talent is extremely high, and he actually played the entire piece completely. Although a modern audience would think that the performance of the solo and the orchestra was very rough. The tone was thin and dim, and the "Mighty March" was played without any majesty. But the guests
The reaction and emotions of the audience were unprecedentedly high. Applause and cheers fell like a thunderstorm. The male guests waved their hats and the female guests dropped their folding fans. Everyone rushed towards the performer like a tide, everyone wanted to hold it.
The count's hand. Sanabria was caught in the flow of people and walked forward involuntarily. When he finally stood still, he saw an enthusiastic woman bringing the count's hand to her lips, two distinguished ladies.
Regardless of his own identity, he scrambled for the handkerchief that the count had placed on the piano cover. In addition to jealous resentment, the richest businessman in the colony increasingly felt the humiliation and anger of being ignored by people.
Suddenly, a strong wind blew violently. The female guests screamed and held their skirts. They ran around to avoid falling petals and leaves. Most of the lanterns and candles floating in the garden pool were blown over and extinguished.
.As soon as you look up, you can see that the dark clouds that were only lingering on the horizon at dusk have now covered the sky. It is obvious that the weather is going to get bad and the fun in the garden can no longer continue.
Mrs. Charlo was still in high spirits. She greeted the guests back to the house. She took Count Vananova on her arm and walked in front holding the hem of her skirt in one hand. Sanavria wanted to follow, but was followed by a group of people who wanted to get close.
The count's guests stood behind. The light from the burning torches under the porch shone through the glass windows into the room. The servants walked around and lit the candlesticks one by one. Sanabria found that the candles had not yet been lit.
Deep in the corridor. The dim light of the torch coming through the glass window illuminated a shrine. In front of the statue of the Virgin, a figure wearing a black robe was kneeling. It looked like a priest was praying.
Who could that priest be? Sanavria knew that the late Baron Charlo had always been quite cold to the dominant local Dominicans. Although Mrs. Charlo presided over the House of Mercy in Manila, she shared Jesus
The colorful fundraiser in Macao has a closer relationship than the local religious order. There is no time to make any more guesses, and there is no time to even take another look at the shrine. In the blink of an eye, the crowded flow of people pushed him into the big living room, and was involved in
Into a swirling whirlpool of music, wine and feasting.
After dark, the clouds that accumulated in the evening finally turned into an endless curtain of rain and poured into the colonial capital of the Philippines. The villa of Baroness Charlo is like a moving water system, with corridors like rivers leading the flow of people to the large living room.
It is a sea of brilliant lights. The walls are densely lined with lights, and servants have placed candlesticks on tables and cabinets everywhere. Hundreds of Australian candles are lit as if they are free. This kind of candle not only has a bright flame, but also
There is no black smoke and unpleasant stench that are common in other candles, so they sell for a lot of money in Manila and become gifts for wealthy people. Glass, porcelain and silverware sparkle under the candlelight, as well as the jewelry on women,
The silk dresses and the men's medal ribbons were shining together. Guests came in an endless stream despite the heavy rain, some whispering in low voices, some chatting and laughing loudly, which was different from the formal ceremonies held by the governor and mayor.
At the banquet, everyone wanted to have a great time at the home of the most beautiful lady in the colony.
"Hey, ho, look who's here?" shouted Don Basilio, who was as eager to chase every feast in Manila as he was to empty the purses of all the shipowners who came to port.
The guests' attention was attracted by the shout of the port tax officer. They saw a man walking into the hall on tiptoes, as if he was afraid of stepping on something unclean and soiling his polished Persian sheepskin boots.
.Except for the earl, this man can be called the tallest person in this hall, but his figure looks slender rather than strong. He wears a velvet coat with a thigh-length hem, a belt covered with gold and silver embroidery, and stockings tied with bows.
and garters all accentuated his playboy-like delicacy.
The visitor ignored the other guests, including the tax collector. He shook his head habitually so that his brilliant blond hair would be more dazzling under the lamplight. He twisted his carefully combed mustache with his left hand and fiddled with one of his hair with his right hand.
He walked arrogantly through the crowd, squeezed in front of the count, stretched out a hand tightly tied with a lace cuff: "Don Eugenio Garcia Zapatero, Your Highness the Governor is loyal.
Geng Geng's followers and servants. Greetings to you." As if he was afraid of being crushed, he quickly took his hand out of Weiss's palm, then grabbed the baroness's delicate hand and put it to his lips respectfully.
side.
Weiss took two steps back, pretending to be careless to avoid the "sweating" mayor's wife who was rushing toward him with open arms, took a glass of Madeira from the servant's tray, and walked to the treasurer.
Next to Andrade. "Is that gentleman a local celebrity?" the count asked in a casual tone: "Maybe it's because I'm so rare. It's rare to see such an elegant celebrity in the Eastern colonies."
"Eugenio Garcia Zapatero, File Supervisor, Secretary of the Governor's Palace," Andrade sipped sherry to hide a sarcastic smile, "Or you can call him Salaman
Mr. Ka's little bee. Nowadays, every peninsula who is willing to condescend to come to the East Indies Colony can add "tang" before his name on his own initiative, even if he is just a poor guy in his hometown who can't pay off his debts.
Or a fugitive from a slave ship."
"It is said that he also writes a fourteen-line Latin poem for His Excellency the Governor every week. Last week, he even composed a poem to celebrate the relief of the Governor's constipation." A bored young gentleman never misses any sarcasm.
Not to mention that the secretary’s blond hair and his Latin are equally suspicious, “Sir, count, if you can also write a short poem in Latin, Mr. Secretary will be like Sanabria.
I hate you so much. Now, he only has a little bit of hostility."
"Hostility, why?"
"Ah, isn't it enough that the ladies in Manila are so fascinated by the songs you played?" The young gentleman played with the glass in his hand, "I'm worried, Mr. Count, that your femininity will bring you many enemies...
"
"Including you?"
"Oh, I am not in urgent need of a respectable widow to enrich my pocket, but there are many people in this place who are coveting the money and the title." The young gentleman was surrounded by stars.
Mrs. Charlo glanced at it.
Andrade couldn't help but chuckle a few times, because his nephew was also one of Mrs. Charlo's many suitors. In the face of property and title, the age gap was obviously not a problem.
This conversation prevented the two of them from hearing Eugenio's compliments to the hostess, but Lucrezia's crisp laughter still came through: "--Although it is a pity that I cannot welcome His Highness, but it is up to you.
It is very nice to send you greetings from His Excellency the Governor."
"Where has the Governor gone?" Captain Iker Suvezareta asked with a thick Basque accent. This somewhat silly question was immediately countered by Eugenio: "Sir Salamanca personally
I went to inspect the newly built fortifications in Cavite, and even though the weather was bad, my lord decided to stay in the military camp for the night. From Madrid to Manila, I can swear before the Savior and the Blessed Mother that I will serve God and the King just like Lord Salamanca.
There is no such thing as an official who devotes himself to the noble cause, and it is hard to find in the world!" The governor's secretary waved his hands and began to show his extremely noble passion and absolutely deep emotions, and it seemed that he was going to use a torrent of words to drown out all those who were unfavorable to the governor.
Remarks. In the end, it was the count who rescued Captain Suvesareta from the embarrassing situation and proposed that in order to show respect to His Royal Highness the Governor, he would play "The Majestic March" again. (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature,