mohammed ali and his house-第28部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



He　turns　away　as　she　requested；　and　gazes　in　the　opposite　direction；　at　the　blue　sky　and　the　foaming　sea。　He　sees　her　not；　but　the　pain　he　feels　tells　him　Masa　is　leaving；　he　knows；　without　hearing　her　footsteps；　that　she　is　walking　from　him。　He　remains　above　as　she　had　requested。　After　a　while　he　turns　around　and　looks　after　her。　He　sees　the　white　dove　fluttering　downward　from　rock　to　rock；　and　at　last　disappear　on　the　stairway　that　leads　to　Praousta。

〃May　Allah　bless　her　mission；　that　I　may　live；　live　for　Masa；　for　her　I　love　so　passionately！　All　that　I　do　shall　henceforth　be　for　her；　and　Mohammed's　life　will　be　bliss　and　sunshine。〃




CHAPTER　IV。

MASA'S　JEWELRY


THE　village　of　Praousta　had　now　assumed　a　busy　look。　The　men　had　assembled　around　the　mosque；　and　were　conversing　in　eager；　anxious　tones。

When　they　saw　the　veiled　girl　approaching　they　bowed　their　heads　respectfully；　as　is　becoming　in　the　presence　of　the　unhappy。　They　knew　the　beautiful　Masa；　in　spite　of　her　veil。　They　knew　she　had　gone　up　to　her　father　to　implore　him　to　take　pity　on　himself　and　on　her。　They　now　stepped　up　to　her　and　asked　if　her　father　still　lived；　and　if　there　was　any　hope　of　preserving　his　life。

〃His　life　is　in　your　hands；〃　replied　Masa。　〃I　come　to　conjure　you　to　save　the　life　of　my　father；　and　of　the　noble　old　men；　the　ulemas。〃

〃How　can　we；　daughter　of　Sheik　Alepp？〃　cried　the　men。　〃How　can　we　save　their　lives？〃

〃You　ask　me？　Then　I　will　tell　you：　You　must　bow　your　heads　beneath　the　yoke。　You　must　obey　the　commands　of　the　tschorbadji。〃

〃Never！　never！〃　cried　the　men。　〃Has　not　the　sheik　himself　forbidden　us　to　do　so？　Did　not　the　ulemas；　as　late　as　yesterday　evening　at　sunset；　command　us　in　Allah's　name　to　be　firm？〃

〃They　did　command　it；〃　cried　the　girl；　passionately；　〃and　they　did　so　because　they　wished　to　do　their　duty　and　obey　the　law。　But　it　devolves　upon　you；　ye　men；　to　obey　the　higher　law　that　dwells　in　us。　Will　you；　ye　men　of　Praousta；　allow　your　best　and　noblest　men　to　be　murdered　for　the　sake　of　a　paltry　sum　of　money。　Do　you　wish　that　your　children　and　grandchildren　should　one　day　point　at　you　and　say：　Look　at　them；　they　are　murderers！　They　slaughtered　them　that　they　might　keep　their　money；　that　they　might　keep　that　which　they　held　dearest！〃

〃No；　Masa；　it　is　not　on　account　of　the　money！〃　cried　the　men。　〃It　is　a　question　of　our　honor；　of　law；　and　of　justice。　And　therefore　the　sheik　has　commanded　us　not　to　pay。　A　double　tax　was　imposed　on　us；　that　was　unjust。　The　sheik　and　the　ulemas　say　that；　if　we　pay　this　double　tax；　they　will　the　next　time　demand　a　treble；　and　the　third　time　a　quadruple　tax。　In　this　way　they　would　consume　our　substance；　and　our　fate　would　be　poverty　and　the　beggar's　staff。　Thus　spoke　the　sheik　and　the　ulemas　as　late　as　yesterday　evening；　and　therefore　must　we　remain　firm；　and；　therefore；　oh；　forgive　us；　we　should　not　dare　to　pay　even　if　we　could。〃

〃But　we　cannot　even　do　it；〃　cried　one　of　the　men。　〃No；　Masa；　you　may　believe　us；　it　is　not　in　our　power。　The　tobacco…crop　has　turned　out　badly；　and　the　storms　have　destroyed　our　nets；　and　let　the　fish　escape。　Really；　we　could　not　pay　even　if　we　would。　It　was　with　the　greatest　difficulty　that　we　got　the　simple　tax　together；　and　now　the　tschorbadji　sends　us　word；　by　his　collectors；　that　we　must　pay　as　much　more。　By　Allah；　it　is　impossible；　we　cannot　do　it。〃

〃No；　it　is　impossible；　we　cannot　do　it；〃　cried　the　rest；　in　a　chorus　of　lamentation。

〃Then　you　are　ready　to　let　my　father　dieto　become　the　murderers　of　our　ulemas；〃　cried　Masa；　falling　on　her　knees；　and　stretching　out　her　arms　imploringly。　〃Oh；　be　merciful　to　yourselves；　for　I　tell　you　the　evil　spirits　will　obtain　power　over　you；　if　you　do　not　abandon　your　cruel　intention。　I　tell　you；　misery　will　be　your　portion；　if　you　allow　your　noblest　men　to　be　murdered　for　the　sake　of　vile　money。〃

〃And　we　tell　you；　Masa；　that　we　cannot　pay；〃　cried　the　men；　in　defiant；　despairing　tones。　〃We　repeat；　and　call　Allah　to　witness；　we　have　not　the　money　they　demand　of　us。〃

〃You　have　not　this　money？　But　if　you　had　it；　would　you　then　pay？　Would　you　bend　your　heads　to　save　the　heads　of　our　noblest　men？　Would　you　go　to　the　tschorbadji　and　sayHere　is　the　double　tax。　You　do　us　injustice；　yet　we　humble　ourselves　in　order　to　save　the　lives　of　our　sheik　and　the　ulemas！'　Say；　would　you　do　this？〃

The　people　made　no　reply；　but　cast　sorrowful　glances　at　each　other；　and　whispered　among　themselves

〃The　sheik　would　not　forgive　us；　he　gave　strict　orders　that　we　should　not　pay。〃

〃But　his　life；　and　the　lives　of　the　ulemas　are　at　stake；〃　murmured　one　of　them。

〃Yes；　his　life　is　at　stake！〃　cried　Masa；　who　had　heard　this。　〃I　entreat　you　to　grant　my　request。　Let　each　of　you　go　after　the　tax　he　has　laid　by；　and　then　come　with　me；　all　of　you；　to　the　tschorbadji。　I　will　attend　to　the　rest。〃

〃Masa；　what　are　you　about　to　do？　〃　asked　the　men；　regarding　her　in　astonishment。　〃It　does　not　become　a　woman　to　meddle　with　such　affairs。〃

〃It　becomes　a　daughter　to　save　her　father's　life。　This　is　my　only　purpose；　and　may　Allah　assist　me　in　accomplishing　it！〃　cried　she；　with　enthusiasm。　〃I　pray　you；　go　after　the　money；　and　wait　at　the　rocky　stairway。　I　am　only　going　to　my　house；　and　shall　return　directly。〃

She　flew　across　the　square　to　her　father's　house。　Two　female　servants；　who　had　been　standing　in　the　hall；　anxiously　awaiting　the　return　of　their　mistress；　cried　out　with　joy；　and　hastened　forward　to　kiss　her　bands。

She　rushed　past　them　up　the　stairway；　and　into　her　room；　looking　the　door　behind　her；　that　none　might　follow。　She　then　took　hastily　from　a　trunk；　inherited　from　her　mother；　a　casket；　adorned　with　mother…　of…pearl　and　precious；　stones。　She　opened　it　and　looked　at　its　contents。

〃Yes；　there　are　the　ear…rings；　and　there　are　the　tiara　and　the　necklace。〃

Her　mother　had　given　her；　on　her　death…bed；　these；　the　bridal　ornaments　she　had　brought　with　her　from　her　father's　house；　and　the　sheik　had　often　remarked　that　these　jewels　were　worth　at　least　a　hundred　sequins。

Until　now；　their　value　had　been　a　matter　of　indifference　to　her。　What　cared　she　how　much　money　could　be　had　for　her　pearls　and　necklace？　She　loved　this　jewelry　because　it　came　from　her　mother；　but　now　she　thinks　differently。

〃The　jewelry　is　worth　at　least　a　hundred　sequins；　and　the　tax　certainly　does　not　amount　to　more。　And；　if　it　were　more；　I　should　entreat　the　governor　until　he　accepted　the　jewelry　as　the　second　tax。　Thus　it　shall　be。　O　dear　mother；　look　down　upon　your　daughter；　and　do　not　be　angry　with　her　for　parting　with　the　costly　souvenir　given　her　by　you　on　your　death…bed！　Do　not　be　angry；　and　see　in　it　only　love　for　my　father！〃

She　bowed　her　head；　and　kissed　the　pearls　which　had　once　adorned　her　mother；　kissed　the　necklace　and　the　tiara　that　had　once　shone　on　her　dear　head。

〃O　mother；　I　had　thought；　that　on　my　wedding…day；　I　too　should　wear　these　costly　ornaments。　But　I　know　that　it　will　be　a　matter　of　indifference　to　him；　the　only　one　for　whom　I　wish　this　day　to　come。　He　would　not　look　at　the　glittering　jewels；　but　only　at　me。　I　therefore　willingly　part　with　them；　I　do　not　care；　for　he　whom　I　love　will　not　be　grieved　if　I　come　to　him　unadorned。〃

A　blissful　smile　overspread　her　lovely　countenance。

She　closed　and　locked　the　casket；　and　hid　it　under　her　veil。　She　hastily　walked　down　the　stairway；　out　of　the　house；　and　toward　the　mosque；　where　the　men　had　begun　to　assemble；　each　one　bringing　with　him　his　proportion　of　the　tax。

〃Tell　me；　ye　men；〃　asked　Masa；　quickly；　〃what　is　the　amount　of　the　tax　you　are　called　on　to　pay？〃

〃The　simple　tax；　Masa；　amounts　to　one　hundred　sequins。　Consider　how　heavy　a　burden　this　alone　is。　There　are　hardly　fifty　men　of　us　living　here　in　Praousta；　and　really　it　seems　to　us　quite　sufficient　that　each　of　us　has　two　sequins　to　pay　at　the　end　of　each　summer。　But　to　pay　the　double　tax　is　simply　impossible。　Your　father　well　knew　this；　Masa；　and　he　therefore　sternly　commanded　us　not　to　pay；　as　the　demand　was　contrary　to　law　and　justice。〃

〃A　hundred　sequins；〃　cried　she；　with　sparkling　eyes。　〃Then　all　is　well。　Come；　ye　men　of　Praousta　let　us　ascend　the　stairway。　The　hour　of　the　second　prayer　has　not　yet　come；　and　until　then；　with　the　tschrobadji's　consent；　Mohammed　Ali　has　granted　us　a　respite。　Wait　on　the　crest　of　the　rock　above　until　I　call　you。　I　shall　now　go　to　the　tschorbadji；　pray　ye；　in　the　mean　while；　to　Allah；　that　my　words　may　prove　effectual。〃

She　ascended　the　stairway　with　flying　footsteps。　With　dejected　looks；　the　men　slowly　followed。　〃We　are　wrong　in　allowing　her　to　persuade　us　to　submit　to　the　tschorbadji。　We　will；　however；　pay　the　just　tax；　and　no　more。　We　would　not　pay　more；　even　if　we　could。　Here　let　us　stay　and　await　the　call　of　our　sheik's　daughter。〃

〃And　let　us　pray；　as　she　requested；〃　murmured　others。　On　bended　knees；　and　with　solemn　countenances；　the　men；　but　now　so　noisy　and　fierce；　awaited　Masa's　return　in　silence。

The　white　dove　flew　up　the　pathway；　through　the　courtyard；　and　into　the　palace；　regardless　of　a　number　of　her　father's　old　friends　who　were　lying　on　the　ground　before　the　gate。　She　dare　not　stop　to　speak　to　them；　for　the　sheik　could　seek　to　learn　on　what　errand　his　daughter　goes　alone　to　the　palace。　If　she　should　tell　him；　he　would　command　her　to　return　to　her　father's　harem；　there　to　await　in　patience　the　fate　Allah　should　have　in　store　for　his　children。　No；　she　cannot　approach　him；　cannot　brave　his　questioning；　she　would　then　be　compelled　to　disobey　him；　for　her　father's　life　must　and　shall　be　preserved。

The　tschorbadji　stood　in　the　lower　hall。　His　heart　was　troubled；　and　his　countenance　sorrowful。　He　should　not　have　permitted　Mohammed　Ali　to　go　so　far。　How　terrible　it　would　be　if　this　execution　should　really　take　place　here　in　his　courtyard；　if　the　heads　of　the　best　men　of　Praousta　should　really　fall　to　the　ground！　No；　he　should　not　have　permitted　the　stern；　pitiless　young　man　to　pledge　his　honor　for　the　fulfullment　of　what　he　had　undertaken。　He　had　already　asked　his　son　Osman　to　seek　his　friend　and　entreat　him　to　desist　from　his　stern　purpose。　Osman　was　now　pleading　with　his　friend　in　soft；　persuasive　tones。

〃Will　he　succeed？〃　This　is　now　the　questio