queen victoria-第52章
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is heart； it precisely expressed his vision of the Queen。 The Spenserian allusion was very pleasantthe elegant evocations of Gloriana； but there was more in it than that： there was the suggestion of a diminutive creature； endowed with magicaland mythicalproperties； and a portentousness almost ridiculously out of keeping with the rest of her make…up。 The Faery； he determined； should henceforward wave her wand for him alone。 Detachment is always a rare quality； and rarest of all； perhaps； among politicians； but that veteran egotist possessed it in a supreme degree。 Not only did he know what he had to do； not only did he do it； he was in the audience as well as on the stage； and he took in with the rich relish of a connoisseur every feature of the entertaining situation； every phase of the delicate drama； and every detail of his own consummate performance。
The smile hovered and vanished； and； bowing low with Oriental gravity and Oriental submissiveness； he set himself to his task。 He had understood from the first that in dealing with the Faery the appropriate method of approach was the very antithesis of the Gladstonian； and such a method was naturally his。 It was not his habit to harangue and exhort and expatiate in official conscientiousness； he liked to scatter flowers along the path of business； to compress a weighty argument into a happy phrase； to insinuate what was in his mind with an air of friendship and confidential courtesy。 He was nothing if not personal； and he had perceived that personality was the key that opened the Faery's heart。 Accordingly； he never for a moment allowed his intercourse with her to lose the personal tone； he invested all the transactions of State with the charms of familiar conversation； she was always the royal lady； the adored and revered mistress； he the devoted and respectful friend。 When once the personal relation was firmly established； every difficulty disappeared。 But to maintain that relation uninterruptedly in a smooth and even course a particular care was necessary： the bearings had to be most assiduously oiled。 Nor was Disraeli in any doubt as to the nature of the lubricant。 〃You have heard me called a flatterer；〃 he said to Matthew Arnold； 〃and it is true。 Everyone likes flattery； and when you come to royalty you should lay it on with a trowel。〃 He practiced what he preached。 His adulation was incessant； and he applied it in the very thickest slabs。 〃There is no honor and no reward；〃 he declared； 〃that with him can ever equal the possession of your Majesty's kind thoughts。 All his own thoughts and feelings and duties and affections are now concentrated in your Majesty； and he desires nothing more for his remaining years than to serve your Majesty； or； if that service ceases； to live still on its memory as a period of his existence most interesting and fascinating。〃 〃In life；〃 he told her； 〃one must have for one's thoughts a sacred depository； and Lord Beaconsfield ever presumes to seek that in his Sovereign Mistress。〃 She was not only his own solitary support； she was the one prop of the State。 〃If your Majesty is ill；〃 he wrote during a grave political crisis； 〃he is sure he will himself break down。 All； really； depends upon your Majesty。〃 〃He lives only for Her；〃 he asseverated； 〃and works only for Her； and without Her all is lost。〃 When her birthday came he produced an elaborate confection of hyperbolic compliment。 〃To…day Lord Beaconsfield ought fitly； perhaps； to congratulate a powerful Sovereign on her imperial sway； the vastness of her Empire； and the success and strength of her fleets and armies。 But he cannot； his mind is in another mood。 He can only think of the strangeness of his destiny that it has come to pass that he should be the servant of one so great； and whose infinite kindness； the brightness of whose intelligence and the firmness of whose will； have enabled him to undertake labours to which he otherwise would be quite unequal； and supported him in all things by a condescending sympathy； which in the hour of difficulty alike charms and inspires。 Upon the Sovereign of many lands and many hearts may an omnipotent Providence shed every blessing that the wise can desire and the virtuous deserve！〃 In those expert hands the trowel seemed to assume the qualities of some lofty masonic symbolto be the ornate and glittering vehicle of verities unrealised by the profane。
Such tributes were delightful； but they remained in the nebulous region of words； and Disraeli had determined to give his blandishments a more significant solidity。 He deliberately encouraged those high views of her own position which had always been native to Victoria's mind and had been reinforced by the principles of Albert and the doctrines of Stockmar。 He professed to a belief in a theory of the Constitution which gave the Sovereign a leading place in the councils of government； but his pronouncements upon the subject were indistinct； and when he emphatically declared that there ought to be 〃a real Throne；〃 it was probably with the mental addition that that throne would be a very unreal one indeed whose occupant was unamenable to his cajoleries。 But the vagueness of his language was in itself an added stimulant to Victoria。 Skilfully confusing the woman and the Queen； he threw； with a grandiose gesture； the government of England at her feet； as if in doing so he were performing an act of personal homage。 In his first audience after returning to power； he assured her that 〃whatever she wished should be done。〃 When the intricate Public Worship Regulation Bill was being discussed by the Cabinet； he told the Faery that his 〃only object〃 was 〃to further your Majesty's wishes in this matter。〃 When he brought off his great coup over the Suez Canal； he used expressions which implied that the only gainer by the transaction was Victoria。 〃It is just settled；〃 he wrote in triumph； 〃you have it； Madam。。。 Four millions sterling！ and almost immediately。 There was only one firm that could do itRothschilds。 They behaved admirably； advanced the money at a low rate； and the entire interest of the Khedive is now yours； Madam。〃 Nor did he limit himself to highly…spiced insinuations。 Writing with all the authority of his office； he advised the Queen that she had the constitutional right to dismiss a Ministry which was supported by a large majority in the House of Commons； he even urged her to do so； if； in her opinion； 〃your Majesty's Government have from wilfulness； or even from weakness； deceived your Majesty。〃 To the horror of Mr。 Gladstone； he not only kept the Queen informed as to the general course of business in the Cabinet； but revealed to her the part taken in its discussions by individual members of it。 Lord Derby； the son of the late Prime Minister and Disraeli's Foreign Secretary； viewed these developments with grave mistrust。 〃Is there not；〃 he ventured to write to his Chief； 〃just a risk of encouraging her in too large ideas of her personal power； and too great indifference to what the public expects？ I only ask； it is for you to judge。〃
As for Victoria； she accepted everythingcompliments； flatteries； Elizabethan prerogativeswithout a single qualm。 After the long gloom of her bereavement； after the chill of the Gladstonian discipline； she expanded to the rays of Disraeli's devotion like a flower in the sun。 The change in her situation was indeed miraculous。 No longer was she obliged to puzzle for hours over the complicated details of business； for now she had only to ask Mr。 Disraeli for an explanation； and he would give it her in the most concise； in the most amusing； way。 No longer was she worried by alarming novelties； no longer was she put out at finding herself treated； by a reverential gentleman in high collars； as if she were some embodied precedent； with a recondite knowledge of Greek。 And her deliverer was surely the most fascinating of men。 The strain of charlatanism； which had unconsciously captivated her in Napoleon III； exercised the same enchanting effect in the case of Disraeli。 Like a dram…drinker； whose ordinary life is passed in dull sobriety； her unsophisticated intelligence gulped down his rococo allurements with peculiar zest。 She became intoxicated； entranced。 Believing all that he told
