mohammed ali and his house-第29部分

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tones。

〃Will　he　succeed？〃　This　is　now　the　question　that　agitates　the　tschorbadji。　He　had　sworn　by　all　that　was　holy　that　Mohammed　should　have　his　will；　and　a　Moslem　cannot　break　his　oath；　honor　forbids　it。　The　tachorbadji　knows　this　very　well；　and　therefore　is　he　sorrowful　and　dejected。　Should　the　young　man　persist；　he　must　therefore　unwillingly　allow　him　to　carry　out　his　purpose。　He　sits　there　on　the　divan；　tortured　with　doubt　and　apprehension。　Will　Mohammed　relent？　Will　Osman　succeed　in　softening　his　heart？

At　this　moment　the　door　opens；　and　a　veiled　woman　enters　the　room。　She　advances　with　light　and　noiseless　footstep；　and　kneels　down　before　the　tschorbadji。

〃O　master；　be　merciful　to　your　servant！　Sheik　Alepp's　daughter　kneels　before　you　！　Incline　your　heart　to　mercy；　and　give　back　to　me　my　father！〃

〃Gladly　would　I　do　so；　were　it　in　my　power；〃　sighed　he。　I　swear　it　by　Allah！　But　I　have　pledged　my　word　to　the　young　man　to　whom　I　gave　authority　to　act　in　the　name　of　the　law；　that　he　should　have　unlimited　power　to　do　as　he　should　deem　proper　in　the　matter。　I　can　therefore　do　nothing；　though　I　would　gladly　liberate　your　father　and　abandon　the　collection　of　the　tax。〃

〃O　master；　I　do　not　ask　you　to　give　up　the　tax！　You　shall　have　all　you　have　commanded　us　to　pay。〃

〃You　are　prepared　to　pay　it？〃　exclaimed　the　tschorbadji；　joyously。　〃Then　our　trouble　is　at　an　end。　But　pray　why　are　you；　the　daughter　of　the　noble；　worthy　sheik；　here？〃

〃I　have　come；　O　master；　because　I　have　an　act　of　mercy　to　implore　at　your　hands。　The　men　of　Praousta　are　really　not　able　to　pay　two　hundred　sequins；　but　what　they　lack　in　money　I　have　in　money's　worth。〃

〃You　speak　in　enigmas；　maiden；〃　said　the　tschorbadji。　〃You　have　the　money；　and　yet　you　have　it　not。　What　does　this　mean？〃

〃I　have　not　the　money　in　coined　sequins；〃　said　she；　looking　toward　the　door　as　though　she　feared　Mohammed　might　enter　and　be　angry　when　she　presented　her　love…offering。　〃Look　at　this；　tschorbadji；　these　were　my　mother's　jewels；　but　they　are　now　mine；　and　no　one　else　has　a　right　to　them。　Gladly　will　I　part　with　them　for　the　sake　of　the　men　of　our　village。　I　have　often　been　told　that　these　jewels　are　worth　more　than　a　hundred　sequins。　I　pray　you；　take　them　of　me　for　that　sum。〃

Still　kneeling；　she　handed　the　tschorbadji　the　casket　containing　the　jewelry。　He　took　it　and　regarded　it　thoughtfully。

〃Did　it　devolve　upon　me　alone　to　decide　this　question；　gladly　would　I　take　the　jewelry；　good　maiden。　But　remember；　I　have　sworn　to　Mohammed　Ali　that　the　prisoners　should　only　then　be　released　when　the　double　tax　shall　have　been　paid　in　glittering　gold…pieces。　And　I　must　keep　my　word。　Gladly　would　I　give　you　their　value；　but　I　must　confess　to　the　daughter　of　my　sheik　that　I　have　not　in　my　possession　so　large　a　sum。　But　remain　here；　a　thought　occurs　to　me；〃　said　he。　〃The　ambassador　who　comes　from　Stamboul　for　the　tax；　and　who　arrived　here　yesterday；　brought　with　him　for　Couspouf　Pacha　a　large　purse　filled　with　sequins。　If　I　show　him　this　jewelry　and　ask　himyes；　I　will　do　so。　Remain　here；　maiden；　until　I　return。　You　might　think　I　would　keep　your　jewels　and　not　return。　Take　your　jewelry　and　remain　here。　I　am　going　in　quest　of　one　who　may　be　able　to　assist　us。　I　say　us；　for　I；　too；　shall　be　much　pleased　if　the　matter　can　be　settled　in　this　peaceful　manner。　Wait　here；　daughter　of　my　sheik；　while　I　go　in　search　of　one　who　can　settle　this　matter　fit　the　satisfaction　of　all！〃




CHAPTER　V

THE　DELIVERANCE。


〃This；　dear　sir；　is　the　woman　of　whom　I　spoke；〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　throwing　open　the　door　of　the　room；　and　stepping　aside　respectfully　to　allow　his　distinguished　guest；　Cousrouf　Pacha；　to　pass　in。　〃Salute　this　gentleman　with　reverence；　daughter　of　my　sheik；〃　said　he；　turning　to　Masa。　〃You　stand　in　the　presence　of　a　mighty　man；　he　alone　can　help　you。〃

〃O　master；　if　it　is　in　your　power；　I　pray　you　to　help　me；〃　cried　the　maiden；　falling　upon　her　knees　before　the　pacha。　〃Be　merciful！　Deliver　my　father　from　his　prison；　deliver　us　all　from　fear　and　danger！〃

〃What　does　all　this　mean？〃　asked　Cousrouf；　haughtily；　turning　to　the　tschorbadji；　who　had　respectfully　stepped　aside。　〃You　bade　me　come　to　decide　an　important　question；　and　I　find　here　only　a　young　woman　who　is　weeping。　What　does　this　mean？〃

〃This　young　maiden　is　the　daughter　of　Sheik　Alepp；　who　is；　as　you　know；　imprisoned　in　the　court…yard。　She　loves　her　father　dearly；　and　has　continually　worked　and　pleaded　for　him　since　his　imprisonment。　She　now　comes　to　say　that　the　men　of　Praousta　are　really　not　able　to　pay　the　double　tax。　You　know　that；　although　I　would　now　gladly　abandon　the　collection　of　the　tax；　I　have　sworn　to　Mohammed　Ali　that　he　alone　should　settle　the　matter。　This　tender…hearted　maiden　has　now　thought　of　a　means　of　solving　this　difficulty。　She　brings　these　jewels；　inherited　from　her　mother；　and　asks　me　to　give　her　their　value；　a　sum　sufficient　to　pay　the　second　tax。　I；　however；　am　a　poor　man；　and　have　not　the　hundred　sequins　to　give　her　for　her　jewelry；　in　order　that　she　may　take　them　to　the　people　of　Praousta；　for　from　them　only　will　Mohammed　accept　payment　of　the　tax。　Therefore；　pardon　my　importunity。　You　are　rich　and　mighty；　when　your　purse　is　empty　you　can　easily　refill　it。　You　are　noble　and　generous；　and　will　perhaps　be　disposed　to　take　the　jewelry；　and　let　the　loving　daughter　have　the　money　wherewith　to　obtain　the　deliverance　of　her　father。〃

〃Where　are　the　jewels？〃　asked　the　pacha；　gazing　with　impassioned　eyes　upon　the　veiled　figure　of　the　maiden　of　whose　countenance　the　eyes　alone　were　visible。　But　they　were　so　beautiful；　and　rested　upon　him　with　such　an　expression　of　tender　entreaty；　that　he　was　moved　to　the　depths　of　his　soul。　〃Where　are　the　jewels？〃　repeated　he；　slightly　bending　down　over　her。

She　raised　her　hand　and　gave　him　the　casket。　〃Here　they　are；　noble　master。　May　Allah　soften　your　heart；　that　I　may　not　be　deprived　of　my　beloved　father！〃　He　listened　attentively　to　this　voice。　It　seemed　to　him　he　had　never　heard　sweeter　music　than　the　tender；　tremulous　tones　of　this　maiden　pleading　for　her　father。　His　gaze　still　fixed　upon　her；　he　opened　the　casket　and　glanced　indifferently　at　its　precious　contents。　For　a　moment　a　strange　smile　played　about　his　lips；　and　he　then　turned　with　a　mocking；　contemptuous　expression　of　countenance；　and　addressed　the　tschorbadji：

〃Tschorbadji；　can　you　really　so　poorly　distinguish　between　genuine　gold　and　precious　stones　and　a　worthless　imitation？　These　are　playthings　for　children。　These　are　not；　pearls；　and　this　is　not　gold。　A　well…planned　swindle；　truly。　No　Jew　would　give　you　two　sequins　for　these　things；　not　to　speak　of　a　hundred。〃

〃Swindle！〃　she　cried；　springing　to　her　feet；　and　her　voice　as　now　clear　and　threatening。　〃You　accuse　me　of　planning　a　swindle！　You　are　wrong；　sir；　and　if　there　be　any　one　here　who　cannot　distinguish　true　gold　and　pearls　from　a　base　imitation；　you　are　he！　The　gold　and　pearls　are　genuine；　and　were　inherited　by　me　from　my　mother；　who　was　the　daughter　of　a　rich　jeweler　in　Stamboul。　She　bequeathed　them　to　me；　and　the　casket　has　not　been　opened　before　since　her　death。　And　you　accuse　me　of　attempting　to　defraud　you！　You　act　ungenerously。〃

〃Dear　sir；　forgive　her；　forgive　her　bold　words！〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　addressing　in　earnest　tones　the　pacha；　whose　eager　gaze　was　still　fixed　on　the　maiden。　It　seemed　as　though　her　anger　had　power　to　excite　his　sympathy　and　admiration。

〃It　is　of　no　moment；〃　said　he；　haughtily：　〃I　pray　you；　tschorbadji；　withdraw　into　the　adjoining　room。　I　wish　to　converse　with　her　alone；　and　if　in　my　power　I　will　assist　her；　notwithstanding　her　imitation　jewelry。〃

〃O　master；　you　are　assuredly　wrong；〃　urged　the　maiden。　〃The　pearls　are　real；　and　the　gold　of　the　purest。　I　swear　it　by　Allah！　If　you　do　not　intend　to　purchase　my　jewelry；　and　enable　me　to　save　my　father；　tell　me　so　at　once；　but　you　must　not　mock　me。〃

〃I　am　not　mocking　you　IKindly　withdraw　into　the　next　room；　tschorbadji；　but　leave　the　door　open。　You　shall　see　all　that　passes　between　us；　but　I　beg　that　you　will　close　your　ear。　I　wish　to　deal　with　the　maiden　alone；　and　it　concerns　no　one　to　hear　what　we　have　to　say。〃

〃I　shall　withdraw　to　the　farther　end　of　the　adjoining　room；　where　no　word　of　your　conversation　can　reach　me；〃　said　the　tachorbadji；　respectfully。　The　pacha　smiled　condescendingly　on　the　tschorbadji；　who　walked　into　the　next　room；　and　seated　himself　at　its　farthest　end。

〃Now；　daughter　of　Sheik　Alepp；　now　we　will　consider　this　matter；〃　said　the　pacha。　〃I　am　willing　to　assist　you；　but　you　must　do　your　part。〃

〃Master；　what　shall　I　do？　I　am　anxious　to　do　all　I　can。〃

〃Do　you　love　your　father？〃

〃Yes；　master！　I　love　him　with　all　my　soul；　he　is　the　master　given　me　by　Allah；　and　he　is　at　the　same　time　my　friend。　He　is　every　thing　to　me；　mother；　brother；　sister。　We　two　are　alone　together；　and　love　nothing　in　the　world　but　each　other！〃

〃Then　I　am　sorry　for　you；　poor　child！〃　said　the　pacha。　〃Your　father　is　lost　if　the　tax　is　not　paid。　You　say　yourself　that　the　men　of　Praousta　cannot　pay　the　double　tax；　and　should　they　fail　to　do　so　the　heads　of　the　four　prisoners　must　fall。〃

〃Be　merciful！　O　master；　be　merciful；〃　cried　Masa。　〃You　are　rich　and　mighty。　You　can　save　him。　Oh；　save　him！〃

〃You　are　in　error；〃　said　the　pacha；　〃in　this　case　I　am　powerless；　even　the　tschorbadji　can　do　nothing。　He　pledged　this　word　to　Mohammed　Ali；　he　took　the　triple　oath　that　he　would　allow　him　to　act　as　he　should　think　best　in　this　matter。　Mohammed　Ali　has　sworn　that　the　heads　of　the　prisoners　shall　fall　unless　the　people　of　Praousta　pay　the　tax；　and　that　he　will　behead　them　himself　if　no　other　executioner　can　be　found。〃

〃Horrible！　and　thus　was　his　oath；〃　cried　Masa；　shuddering。

〃I　pray　you；　master；　tell　me；　were　these　his　words；　did　he　swear　he　would　himself　execute　my　father？〃

〃He　did。　And；　believe　me；　the　youth　will　keep　his　word。　He　is　blood…　thirsty　and　cruel；　and　it　will　gladden　his　heart　to　cool　his　wrath　in　your　father's　blood。〃

〃No！　It　is　impossible！〃　cried　Masa；　in　terror。　〃He　cannot　be　so　cruel；　and　he　is　not！〃

〃Then　you　know　him？　〃　said　the　pacha；　his　eyes　gleaming　with　hatred。

〃I　saw　him　this　morning；　and　implored　h