Excerpt

Excerpt from Rezanov, by Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton

And Sturgis, who after all was a gallant gentleman, made no comment.

XIV

Governor Arrillaga, Commandante Arguello, and Chamberlain Rezanov sat
in the familiar sala at the Presidio content in body after a culinary
achievement worthy of Padre Landaeta, but perturbed and alert of mind.
Upon the arrival of the two California dignitaries in the morning,
Rezanov had sent Davidov and Langsdorff on shore to assure them of his
gratitude and deep appreciation of the hospitality shown himself, his
officers and men. The Governor had replied with a fulsome apology for
not repairing at once to the Juno to welcome his distinguished guest in
person, and, pleading his age and the one hundred and seventy-five
English miles he had ridden from Monterey, begged him as a younger man
to waive informality, and dine at the house of the Commandante that
very day. Rezanov had complied as a matter of course, and now he was
alone with the men who held his fate in their hands. The dark worn
rugged face of Don Jose, who had been skilfully prepared by his oldest
daughter to think well of the Russian, beamed with good-will and
interest, in spite of lingering doubts; but the lank, wiry figure of
the Governor, who was as dignified as only a blond Spaniard can be, was
fairly rigid with the severe formality he reserved for occasions of
ceremony--being a gentleman who loved good company and cheer--and his
sharp gray eyes were almost shut in the effort to penetrate the designs
of this deputy, this symbol, this index in cipher, of a dreaded race.
Rezanov smoked calmly, made himself comfortable on the slippery
horse-hair chair, though with no loss of dignity, and beat about the
bush with the others until the Governor betrayed himself at last by a
chance remark:

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Explanation

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Rezanov by Gertrude Atherton

Context of the Work

Gertrude Atherton’s Rezanov (1930) is a historical novel based on the real-life figure Nikolai Rezanov (1764–1807), a Russian nobleman, diplomat, and explorer who played a key role in early 19th-century Russian expansion into Alaska and California. The novel dramatizes his ill-fated mission to secure Spanish support for Russian settlements in Alaska by negotiating trade agreements—and, in a personal subplot, his doomed romance with Concepción "Concha" Argüello, the daughter of the Commandante of San Francisco.

This excerpt takes place in 1806, when Rezanov arrives in Spanish California aboard the Juno, seeking provisions for Russia’s struggling Alaskan colonies. The Spanish authorities—Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga and Commandante Don José Darío Argüello—are wary of Russian intentions, as Spain and Russia were rivals in the colonization of the Pacific Coast.

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Breakdown of the Excerpt

1. Setting and Atmosphere

• The scene is set in the sala (parlor) of the Presidio of San Francisco, a Spanish military and administrative center.
• The men have just finished a lavish meal ("a culinary achievement worthy of Padre Landaeta"), suggesting both hospitality and tension—food is a social lubricant, but the real business is political.
• The atmosphere is one of outward cordiality masking deep suspicion:
  • The Spanish hosts are "perturbed and alert of mind" despite their physical comfort.
  • Rezanov, though relaxed in demeanor, is engaged in diplomatic maneuvering.

2. Character Dynamics and Power Play

The excerpt introduces three key figures, each with distinct personalities and motivations:

• Chamberlain Rezanov (Nikolai Rezanov)

  • A Russian envoy, charming but calculating.
  • His calm demeanor ("smoked calmly," "made himself comfortable") contrasts with the Spaniards’ rigidity, suggesting confidence and control.
  • He is "beating about the bush"—engaging in indirect conversation to probe the Spaniards’ intentions before revealing his own.
  • His role as a "deputy, this symbol, this index in cipher, of a dreaded race" highlights how the Spanish view him: not just as a man, but as a representative of Russian imperial ambition.

• Commandante Don José Darío Argüello

  • The local military leader and father of Concha Argüello (Rezanov’s future love interest).
  • His "dark worn rugged face" suggests a man of action, hardened by frontier life.
  • He has been "skilfully prepared by his oldest daughter" (Concha) to favor the Russian, hinting at the personal and political entanglements that will develop.
  • His "good-will and interest, in spite of lingering doubts" shows he is more open to Rezanov than the Governor, possibly due to his daughter’s influence.

• Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga

  • The highest Spanish authority in California, representing the Crown’s interests.
  • His "lank, wiry figure" and "dignified" bearing reflect his rigid adherence to protocol.
  • His "sharp gray eyes" are "almost shut"—a metaphor for suspicion, as if he is squinting to see through Rezanov’s motives.
  • He is "rigid with severe formality", unlike his usual love of "good company and cheer", showing that this meeting is high-stakes and untrusting.
  • His apology for not greeting Rezanov immediately is diplomatic posturing—he claims age and travel as excuses, but the delay is likely intentional, a way to assert dominance by making Rezanov wait.

3. Themes

• Colonial Rivalry & Distrust

  • The Spanish see Rezanov as a "symbol... of a dreaded race"—Russia is an emerging threat in the Pacific, and Spain fears losing control of California.
  • The formality and indirect speech ("beat about the bush") reflect the unspoken power struggle between empires.

• Diplomacy vs. Sincerity

  • Rezanov’s charm and ease contrast with the Spaniards’ stiffness, suggesting he is the more skilled diplomat.
  • The Governor’s forced politeness ("fulsome apology") masks his hostility, while Rezanov’s relaxed posture is a calculated performance.

• Personal vs. Political Motivations

  • The mention of Argüello’s daughter preparing him to like Rezanov foreshadows the romantic subplot, where personal connections intersect with geopolitics.
  • Rezanov’s mission is officially about trade, but his personal charm will later complicate matters.

• Age and Youth as Metaphors for Power

  • The Governor pleads his age (175 miles ridden from Monterey) as an excuse, while Rezanov, the "younger man", is expected to adapt and comply.
  • This mirrors the decline of Spanish power in the Americas versus Russia’s rising influence.

4. Literary Devices

• Imagery & Symbolism

  • "Dark worn rugged face" (Argüello) vs. "blond Spaniard" (Arrillaga) – contrasts frontier practicality with old-world aristocracy.
  • "Index in cipher" – Rezanov is a code the Spanish must decipher, emphasizing mistrust and hidden meanings.
  • "Slippery horse-hair chair" – suggests the unstable, precarious nature of diplomacy; Rezanov must balance dignity and comfort without losing his footing.

• Irony & Subtext

  • The lavish meal (symbol of hospitality) is undercut by the tension in the room.
  • The Governor’s apology is insincere, a power move rather than genuine remorse.
  • Rezanov’s calmness is strategic, not naive—he knows he is being scrutinized.

• Foreshadowing

  • The Governor’s suspicion hints at future obstacles to Rezanov’s mission.
  • Argüello’s preparation by his daughter foreshadows Concha’s role in the story (she will fall in love with Rezanov, complicating his diplomatic goals).

5. Significance of the Scene

This passage is pivotal because it:

1. Establishes the central conflict—Russian expansion vs. Spanish resistance.
2. Introduces the key players and their personalities, biases, and strategies.
3. Sets the tone for the novel’s blend of romance and politics—Rezanov’s charm will be both an asset and a liability.
4. Highlights the theme of deception in diplomacy—no one says what they truly mean, and every gesture is calculated.

The Governor’s "chance remark" (not quoted here) that betrays his true feelings will likely be the turning point where Rezanov realizes how deep the Spanish distrust runs, forcing him to adjust his approach.

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Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters

Atherton masterfully captures the tension of colonial diplomacy, where personal charm, political maneuvering, and cultural clashes intersect. Rezanov is neither a villain nor a pure hero—he is a pragmatic envoy navigating a hostile environment. The Spaniards, particularly the Governor, represent old-world rigidity, while Argüello’s softening stance (influenced by his daughter) introduces the human element that will drive the tragedy of Rezanov’s mission.

This scene is microcosmic of the novel’s larger themes:

• The futility of empire-building (both Spain and Russia will fail in their Pacific ambitions).
• The cost of love in a world ruled by politics (Rezanov’s romance with Concha will be doomed by these very tensions).
• The masks people wear in power struggles—no one is entirely honest, and every word is a weapon or a shield.

Atherton’s rich prose and psychological insight make this more than just historical fiction—it’s a study of human nature under pressure, where dinner table politeness barely conceals the daggers beneath.