the land of the changing sun-第9章
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as if fascinated by his appearance。 Thorndyke's heart beat quickly； the blood mantled his face and he stood entranced as she touched the resonant strings with her white fingers and began to play and sing。 An innocent； artless smile parted her lips from her matchless teeth； and her face glowed with inspiration。 Far above in the nooks and crannies of the vast dome； with its divergent corridors and arcades； the faint echoes of her voice seemed to reply to her during the pauses in her song。 Then she ceased singing and to the far…away and yet distinct accompaniment of some stringed instrument in the orchestra； she began to dance。 Holding her instrument in a graceful fashion against her shoulder as one holds a violin； and with her flowing white gown caught in the other hand； she bowed and smiled and instantly seemed transformed。 From the statuesque and dreamy singer she became a marvel of graceful motion。 To and fro she swept from end to end of the great rug； her tiny feet and slim ankles tripping so lightly that she seemed to move without support through the air。
Thorndyke stood as if spell…bound； for； at every turn； as if seeking his approval； she glanced at him inquiringly。 When she finished she stood for a moment in the centre of the rug panting； her beautiful bosom； beneath its filmy covering of lace； gently rising and falling。 Then； asking her father's consent with a mute glance； she ran forward impulsively； and； kneeling at Thorndyke's feet； she took his hand and pressed it to her lips。 And rising； suffused with blushes； she tripped from the dais and disappeared behind the curtain。
The king frowned as he looked after her。 〃It is a mark of preference；〃 he said coldly。 〃It is one of our customs for a dancer or singer to favor some one of her spectators in that way。 My daughter evidently mistook you for an ambassador from one of my provinces； but it does not matter。〃
〃She is wonderfully beautiful；〃 replied the tactful Englishman； pretending not to be flattered by the notice of the princess。
〃Do you think our people fine looking as a rule？〃 asked the king； to change the subject。
〃Decidedly； I never imagined such a race existed。〃
Again the king was pleased。 〃That is one of the objects of our system。 Generation after generation we improve mentally and physically。 We are the only people who have ever attempted to thoroughly study the science of living。 Your medical men may be numbered by the million； your remedies for your ills change daily； what you say is good for the health to…day is to… morrow believed to be poison； to…day you try to make blood to give strength； and half a century ago you believed in taking it from the weakest of your patients。 With all this fuss over health； you will think nothing of allowing the son of a man who died with a loathsome hereditary disease to marry a woman whose family has never had a taint of blood。 Here no such thing is thought of。 To begin with； no person who is not thoroughly sound can remain with us。 Every heart…beat is heard by our medical men and every vein is transparent。 You see evidences of the benefit of our system in the men and women around you。 All our conveniences； the excellence of our products； our great inventions are the result。〃
〃I have been wondering about the size of your country；〃 ventured Thorndyke cautiously。
The king smiled。 〃That will be one of the things for you to discover later；〃 he returned。 〃But this； the City of Moron； is the capital； our provinces； farming lands； smaller cities； towns and hamlets lie around us。 Come with me and I will show you something。〃
He waved his hand and dismissed a number of courtiers who were waiting to be called； and rose from the throne and led the two captives into a large apartment adjoining the throne…room。 Here they found six men in blue uniforms looking into a large circular mirror on a table。 They all bowed and moved aside as the king approached。
〃These men are the municipal police；〃 explained the king； resting his hand on the gold frame of the glass； 〃they are watching the city。〃 And when the strangers drew nearer they were surprised to see reflected； in the deeply concave glass； the entire city in miniature； its streets； parks； public buildings； and moving populace。 And what seemed to be the most remarkable feature of the invention was； that the instant the eye rested on any particular portion of the whole that part was at once magnified so that every detail of it was clearly observable。
〃This is an improvement on your police system；〃 continued the king。 〃No sooner does anything go wrong than a red signal is given on the spot of the trouble and the attention of these officers is immediately called to it。 A flying machine is sent out and the offender is brought to the police station； but trouble of any nature rarely occurs； and the duties of our police are merely nominal； my people live in thorough harmony。 Now； come with me and I will give you an idea of the surrounding country。〃
As the king spoke he led them into a circular room； the roof of which was of white glass； and the walls were lined with large mirrors。
〃This is our general observatory from which every part of Alpha can be seen；〃 said the king with a touch of pride in his tone。 〃Look at the mirror in front of you。〃
They did as he requested； and at first saw nothing； but； as he went to a stone table in the centre of the room and touched an electric button； a grand view of green fields； forests； streams； lakes and farm…houses flashed upon the mirror。 The king laughed at their surprise and touched another button。 As he did so the scene shifted gradually； the landscapes ran by like a panorama。 A pretty village came into sight； and passed； then a larger town and still a larger； then fields； hills and valleys and forests of giant trees。
〃It is that way all over my kingdom；〃 said the king； 〃in an hour I can inspect it all。〃
〃But how is it done？〃 asked Thorndyke； forgetting himself in wonder。
〃Through a telescopic invention； aided by electricity and the clearness of our atmosphere；〃 replied the king。 〃It would take too long to go into the details。 The views； however； are reflected to this point from various observatories throughout the land。 Such a system would be impossible in any other country on account of the clouds and atmospheric changes； but here we control everything。〃
〃I noticed；〃 returned the Englishman； 〃that green fields lie beside ripening ones and those in which the grain is being harvested。〃
〃We have no change of seasons；〃 answered the king。 〃Change of seasons may be according to nature； but it is in the province of man's intellect to improve on nature。 But I must leave you now； I shall summon you again when I have the leisure to continue our conversation。〃
〃Well； what do you think of it？〃 asked Johnston； as the king disappeared behind a curtain in the direction of the audience chamber。
〃I give it up； I only know that the old fellow's daughter； the Princess Bernardino is the most beautiful； the most bewitching creature that ever breathed。 Did you notice her eyes and form？ Great heavens！ was there ever such a vision of human loveliness？ Her grace； her voice； her glances drove me wild with delight。〃
〃You are dead gone；〃 grumbled the American despondently； 〃we'll never get away from here in the world。 I can see that。〃
〃I gave up all hope in that direction some time ago；〃 said Thorndyke； 〃and why should we care？ We were awfully bored with life before we came； for my part I'd as soon end mine up here as anywhere else。 Besides； didn't his majesty say that they live longer under his system than we do？〃
〃I don't take stock in all he says；〃 growled the American； 〃he talks like a Chicago real estate agent who wants to sell a lot。 Why doesn't he chop off our heads and be done with it？〃
Thorndyke burst into a jovial laugh。 〃You are coming round all right； that is the first joke you have got off since we came here； his royal Nibs may need a court…jester and give you a job。〃
〃There goes that blamed sunlight again；〃 exclaimed Johnston； grasping his companion's arm； 〃don't you see it changing？〃
〃Yes； and this time it is white； like old Sol's natural smile； but isn't it clear？ It seems to me that I could see
