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ThePurpleOfTheBalkanKings
Saki
LuitpoldWolkenstein, financieranddiplomatonasmall, obtrusive, self-importantscale, satinhisfavouredcafeintheworld-wiseHabsburgcapital, confrontedwiththeNeueFreiePresseandthecupofcream-toppedcoffeeandattendantglassofwaterthatasleekheadedpiccolohadjustbroughthim. Foryearslongerthanadog'slifetimesleek-headedpiccoloshadplacedtheNeueFreiePresseandacupofcream-toppedcoffeeonhistable; foryearshehadsatatthesamespot, underthedust-coated, stuffedeagle, thathadoncebeenaliving, soaringbirdontheStyrianmountains, andwasnowmademonstrousandsymbolicalwithasecondheadgraftedontoitsneckandagiltcrownplantedoneitherdustyskull. To-dayLuitpoldWolkensteinreadnomorethanthefirstarticleinhispaper, butreaditagainandagain.
"TheTurkishfortressofKirkKilissehhasfallen . . . TheSerbs, itisofficiallyannounced, havetakenKumanovo . . . ThefortressofKirkKilissehlost, KumanovotakenbytheSerbs, thesearetidingforConstantinopleresemblingsomethingoutofShakspeare'stragediesofthekings . . . TheneighbourhoodofAdrianopleandtheEasternregion, wherethegreatbattleisnowinprogress, willnotrevealmerelythefutureofTurkey, butalsowhatpositionandwhatinfluencetheBalkanStatesaretohaveintheworld."
Foryearslongerthanadog'slifetimeLuitpoldWolkensteinhaddisposedofthepretensionsandstrivingsoftheBalkanStatesoverthecupofcream-toppedcoffeethatsleek-headedpiccoloshadbroughthim. Nevertravellingfurthereastwardthanthehorse-fairatTemesvar, neverinvitingpersonalriskinanencounterwithanythingmorepotentiallydesperatethanahareorpartridge, hehadconstitutedhimselfthecriticalappraiserandarbiterofthemilitaryandnationalprowessofthesmallcountriesthatfringedtheDualMonarchyonitsDanubeborder. Andhisjudgmenthadbeenoneofunsparingcontemptforsmall-scaleefforts, ofunquestioningrespectforthebigbattalionsandfullpurses. OverthewholesceneoftheBalkanterritoriesandtheirtroubledhistorieshadloomedthecommandingmagicofthewords "theGreatPowers" -- evenmoreimposingintheirTeutonicrendering, "DieGrossmachte."
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