Dragon's Teeth by Eça de Queirós

AT about this time a paragraph appeared one Saturday in the "Diario do Governo," announcing that the order of Santiago had been conferred upon the Counsellor Accacio in recognition of his great literary abilities, and the works of acknowledged merit which he had produced.

When he entered Jorge's parlor on the following evening, he was made the subject of a general ovation. After embracing the company one by one, he sank on the sofa, overcome by his emotion, saying, --

"I did not expect so much as this from the royal favor, -- I did not expect so much as this. " And laying his hand upon his heart he added, "I may say, in the words of the philosopher, ‘The day on which I received this honor was the happiest day of my life. " He then proceeded to invite Jorge, Sebastião, and Julião to partake with him, on Thursday next, of a modest bachelor's dinner in his humble abode, in honor of the royal favor.

On Thursday the three invited guests met accordingly at the counsellor's, and were shown into the parlor by a slatternly-looking little girl. Another guest was already there, -- Senhor Alves Coutinho. Shortly afterwards the well-known figure of Savedra, the editor of the "Seculo," entered the room.

"We are all here now! " exclaimed the counsellor, who received his guests in the habit of Santiago, which he wore over his black coat. "Welcome, my friends! " he continued, bowing. "Perhaps we should be more at ease in my study; this way, -- there is a step; take care. This is my _sancta sanctorum_."

The counsellor's study was a small apartment, very neatly arranged, with heavy curtains draping the windows.

Julião began at once to examine the bookcase.

"I take pride in possessing the most illustrious authors, friend Zuzarte," said the counsellor, with a self-complacent air.

He pointed out to Julião the "History of the Consulate and Empire," the works of Delille, the "Dictionary of Conversation," the pocket edition of the "Encyclopedia Roret," and the "Lusitanian Parnassus. " He alluded to his own works, and said he would like to read, before persons so well-informed as his guests, the proofs which he had been just correcting of his new book, "A Description of the Principal Cities of the Kingdom, and their Institutions," in order to hear their severe and impartial judgment of it.

"With pleasure."

"Certainly, Counsellor, with pleasure."

He chose, as best calculated to give an idea of the importance of the work, the passage relating to Coimbra. He rose, and standing in the middle of the apartment, holding the proof-sheets in his hand, he read, with sonorous voice and measured gesture: --

"Reclining peacefully on her verdurous hills, like an odalisque on her couch, is the learned Coimbra, the Portuguese Athens. The softly-flowing Mondego kisses her as he whispers to her tender secrets. In her groves the nightingale and other amorous birds warble their melancholy strains. As you approach the city by the road from Lisbon, with which it was formerly connected by a well-organized coach-mail, replaced to-day by the smoky locomotive, you can see it gleaming whitely, crowned by the imposing bulk of the University, that stronghold of wisdom."

"Dinner is on the table," said a robust girl in a white apron, from the door.

"Bravo! Counsellor, bravo! " exclaimed Savedra, of the "Seculo," rising. "Admirable!"

"What is your opinion, my friend? " said the counsellor, in a low voice to Julião, laying his hand upon his shoulder. "Your impartial opinion, friend Zuzarte?"

"Senhor Counsellor," said Julião, gravely, "I envy you -- "

While he spoke his gaze was fixed intently, and with evident curiosity, on a corner of the room which was occupied by what seemed to be a large pile of books, judging from so much of it as was visible beneath the edges of the gray cloth that covered it. What could it be?

"Do not expect a Lucullian banquet," the counsellor said gayly, as he conducted his guests to the dining-room. "It will be nothing more than the modest repast of a humble philosopher."

Alves Coutinho, however, went into ecstasies over the abundance of the sweetmeats; there was cream, lightly browned; a plate of egg-paste, and a rice pudding ornamented with the initials of the counsellor in powdered cinnamon.