mohammed ali and his house-第30部分

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

〃I　saw　him　this　morning；　and　implored　him　to　be　merciful。　I　went　down　on　my　knees　before　him；　and　besought　him　not　to　take　my　father's　life。〃

〃And　yet　he　will　do　it！　I　tell　you　this　Mohammed　is　a　fierce　youth。　Mercy　is　a　word　of　which　he　knows　nothing。　You　yourself　have　seen　that　he　is　relentless。〃

〃Yes；〃　murmured　she　；　〃he　is　relentless。〃

〃There　is；　therefore；　nothing　to　be　hoped　for　from　him；〃　said　the　pacha。　〃The　tax　must　be　paid；　or　the　prisoners'　heads　fall。〃

She　sighed　profoundly；　and　covered　her　face　with　her　hands。　She　knows　it　is　so；　he　told　her　so　himself；　in　an　agony　of　pain　and　sorrow。　The　men　must　pay　the　tax；　or　all　is　lost；　her　father；　or　he　whom　she　loves；　must　die。　She　knows　and　feels　this；　and；　therefore；　has　she　come　to　implore　mercy　of　the　stranger；　whose　gaze　fills　her　with　anxiety　and　terror。　She　thinks　of　her　father；　and　of　the　youth　whom　she　loves；　and　her　tongue　is　eloquent；　for　she　is　pleading　for　both。

〃I　can　help　you；〃　said　the　pacha；　tranquilly　and　haughtily；　〃and　I　will　do　so。〃

〃You　will？〃　cried　she；　joyously；　and　her　eyes　sparkled　like　the　stars　of　heaven；　and　filled　the　pacha；　whose　gaze　was　still　fixed　on　her；　with　delight。　〃You　will　help　me；　gracious　master；　sent　by　Allah　to　my　assistance；　you　will　deliver　my　father　from　prison？〃

〃I　will；〃　replied　the　pacha。　〃That　is；　it　depends　on　whether　you　will　grant　a　request　of　mine；　and　do　what　I　wish。〃

〃And　what　is　it　you　desire；　master？〃　asked　the　innocent；　anxious　maiden　in　tremulous　tones。

He　gazed　on　her　passionately；　a　smile　lighting　up　his　countenance。　〃Lift　your　veil；　and　let　me　look　upon　your　countenance。〃

She　shuddered；　and　drew　her　veil　so　closely　about　her　face；　that　it　concealed　her　eyes　also。

〃O　master！〃　said　she；　in　low　tones　of　entreaty。　〃As　you　know；　the　custom　of　our　land　forbids　a　girl　to　appear　unveiled　before　a　man。〃

〃Unless　he　be　the　man　who　takes　her　into　his　harem；〃　replied　he；　smiling。

〃Yes；　master；　only　before　him　whom　she　follows　into　the　harem；　and　then　only　when　she　has　already　followed　him；　may　she　unveil　her　face　before　him。　Therefore；　be　merciful；　O　master！　Honor　the　custom　of　our　land；　and　do　not　demand　of　me　what　I　could　never　confess　to　my　father！〃

〃Silly　girl；〃　answered　he。　〃I　do　demand　it；　and；　if　it　is　denied　me；　your　father's　head　falls。　You　admit　he　is　the　only　man　you　love；　and　your　only　shield。　When　he　is　dead；　you　will　be　a　beggar；　and　will　not　even　be　able　to　purchase　a　veil；　for　the　poor　are　everywhere　unveiled；　and　are；　on　that　account；　no　worse　than　you　who　mask　your　faces　with　veils。　Therefore；　daughter　of　the　sheik；　lift　your　veil！〃

〃Mercy！　mercy！〃　she　exclaimed；　raising　her　hands　entreatingly。　〃I　cannot　do　what　you　desire。　I　dare　not。　I　have　sworn　an　oath！〃

〃An　oath？〃　said　he；　gazing　at　her　piercingly。　〃To　whom　did　you　swear　this　oath？〃

She　trembled；　and　did　not　reply。　She　felt　that　she　must　not　confess　the　truth；　for　that　would　be　to　invoke　destruction　upon　the　head　of　Mohammed。

〃I　swore　it　to　myself；〃　she　whispered　in　low　tones。　〃I　swore　to　remain　pure　and　honest；　as　beseemed　my　mother's　daughter；　and　never　to　raise　my　veil　in　the　presence　of　a　strange　man。〃

〃Then　keep　your　oath！〃　said　he；　stepping　close　to　her。　〃You　shall　not　raise　your　veil；　but　I　will；　I　will　do　it。　I　must　see　your　face　before　I　fulfil　my　promise；　before　I　deliver　your　father　from　prison。〃

He　raised　his　arm。　She　sought　to　defend　herself；　and　prayed　for　mercy。　In　vain！　With　a　quick　movement　he　lifted　her　veil；　and　fastened　his　gaze　on　her　countenance。　At　that　moment　a　cry　resounded　through　the　apartment；　a　cry　of　rage；　and　at　the　door　of　the　adjoining　room　appeared　Mohammed　Ali；　pale　and　infuriated。　He　was　about　to　rush　into　the　room；　but　with　a　bound　the　tachorbadji　sprang　to　his　side；　grasped　him　with　all　the　strength　which　his　anxiety　gave　him；　drew　him　back；　closed　the　door；　locked　it；　and　drew　the　key　out　of　the　lock。

〃You　ought　not　to　enter；　and；　by　Allah；　you　shall　not！〃

〃I　must　enter！〃　cried　Mohammed；　gnashing　his　teeth；　and　looking　like　an　enraged　lion；　as　he　endeavored　to　wrest　the　key　from　the　tschorbadji。　But　the　latter　grasped　the　key　firmly；　and　anxiously　called　his　son。

〃What　has　happened？〃　asked　Osman　in　anxious　tones；　as　he　entered　the　room。　Mohammed　stood　still；　controlling　his　wrath　with　a　gigantic　effort。

〃You　ask；　Osman；　what　has　happened。　Within　is　Cousrouf　Pacha　with　the　sheik　Alepp's　daughter；　and　he　treats　with　her　for　her　honor　and　innocence；　and　she　allows　him　to　do　so！〃　cried　he；　loudly　and　fiercely。

〃That　is　not　true；〃　said　the　governor。　〃You　accuse　him　wrongly。　There　is　no　reason　why　all　the　world　should　not　see　and　hear　what　is　going　on　within。　It　is　your　fault　alone　that　I　found　it　necessary　to　lock　the　door。　What　was　your　object　in　coming？〃

〃I　came　because　the　decisive　hour　has　arrived；　and　I　saw；　in　the　adjoining　room；　Cousrouf　Pacha　raising　the　girl's　veil。〃

〃You　came　and　rushed　past　me　like　a　madman。　How　do　the　girl's　actions　concern　you。　She　came　to　seek　deliverance　for　her　father。〃

〃How　her　actions　concern　me；　you　ask；　tschorbadji？〃　he　cried；　clinching　his　fists。　〃How　Masa's　actions　concern　me；　you　wish　to　know？〃

〃Be　still；　Mohammed！〃　said　Osman；　whose　keen　vision　had　read　the　youth's　soul；　in　low；　entreating　tones。　〃I　pray　you　do　not　betray　your　secret。〃

Mohammed　shook　convulsively；　and　covered　his　face　with　his　hands。　〃It　is　true；〃　he　murmured。　〃I　must　and　will　be　silent。　She　is　lost　to　me。　I　will　think　of　nothing　but　revenge；　let　all　else　be　forgotten。　Tschorbadji；　you　swore　that　I　alone　should　decide　the　fate　of　the　prisoners；　and　you　will　keep　your　oath！〃

〃I　will　keep　my　oath；　as　beseems　an　honest　man；　yet　I　hope；　Mohammed；　that　you　will　not　be　relentless；　if　you　had　heard；　as　I　have；　the　poor　young　girl's　lamentations；　it　would　have　softened　your　heart；　and　it　would　not　have　become　necessary　to　resort　to　the　pacha。〃

〃As　if　he　could　assist　her；〃　he　murmured　to　himself。　〃As　if　all　assistance　were　not　now　out　of　the　question。〃

〃Be　composed；　Mohammed；〃　said　Osman；　entreatingly；　as　he　threw　his　arms　around　his　friend's　neck。　〃Do　not　complain；　do　not　accuse。　Be　firm；　and　prove　that　you　have　a　strong　and　noble　heart。〃

He　cried　out　in　piercing　tones；　as　the　lion　cries　when　it　sees　the　hyena　rending　his　young；　as　the　eagle　cries　when　the　storm…wind　sweeps　away　its　nest　with　its　young。　Then　in　wild　emotion　he　threw　his　arms　around　his　friend's　neck；　and　groaned　heavily。　Within；　in　the　saloon；　nothing　could　be　heard　of　the　loud　talking　in；　the　adjoining　room。　The　pacha　still　held　the　veil　high　uplifted　and　gazed　at　Masa。

〃What　is　your　name？〃　asked　he；　in　low；　soft　tones。　She　cast　down　her　eyes　before　his　passionate　glances；　and　a　deep　blush　suffused　itself　over　her　features；　making　her　still；　more　beautiful。

〃My　name　is　Masa；〃　replied　the　girl；　in　a　low　voice。　〃But　I　pray　you；　sir；　let　my　veil　fall　over　my　face　again。　I　am　afraid！〃

〃Let　me　gaze　on　you　one　short　moment　longer；〃　whispered　he；　ardently。　〃You　are　beautiful；　Masa；　as　are　the　stars　of　heaven；　as　are　the　blush…roses　in　my　garden。　No；　you　are　still　more　beautiful；　for　they　soon　fade；　but　you　are　in　the　rosy　dawn　of　your　loveliness；　and　your　youth　is　still　radiant　in　the　morning…dew　of　innocence。　Oh；　you　are　surpassingly　beautiful；　and　it　seems　to　me　the　prophet　has　graciously　sent　me　one　of　his　houris　from　Paradise。〃

〃I　entreat　you；　sir；　let　go　my　veil；〃　said　she；　in　dismay；　while　two　great　tears　trickled　through　her　long　black　eyelashes　and　rolled　down　her　cheeks。

〃These　are　pearls；　more　beautiful　pearls；　Masa；　than　are　contained　in　yonder　casket；〃　whispered　the　pacha。　〃They　will　be　genuine　pearls　if　you　let　me　kiss　them　from　your　cheeks。〃

She　stepped　back　proudly；　tore　the　veil　from　his　hand；　and　drew　it　down　over　her　face　again。　〃I　have　given　no　one　the　right　to　insult　me；　and　you　insult　me！〃

〃How　musical　this　sounds！　How　sweet　three　words　of　indignant　innocence！〃

At　this　moment　Mohammed's　voice；　in　loud；　angry　tones；　was　heard　in　the　adjoining　room。　The　pacha　smiled；　and　motioned　with　his　head　in　that　direction。

〃You　have　seen　Mohammed　Ali；　and　you　now　hear　him；　he　is　a　desperado；　and　will　kill　your　father！〃

〃Yes；〃　she　murmured　to　herself；　〃he　will　now　be　pitiless；　he　will　now　kill　him。〃

〃But　I；〃　said　the　pacha；　in　gentle　tones；　〃I　have　pity；　and　I　will　save　your　father。〃

〃You　will　save　him？〃　she　said；　tremblingly。

〃I　will；〃　said　he。　〃But　hear　me；　Masa；　charming　crimson　rose；　hear　me。〃

〃I　am　listening；〃　said　she；　sobbing。

He　did　not　heed　this；　but　stepped　nearer；　and　bent　down　over　her。　〃Masa；　your　jewelry　I　will　not　take；　I　want　no　such　recompense；　you　shall　even　have　money；　all　you　may　desire；　if　I　can　purchase　you　with　it。

〃Me；　sir？〃　she　cried；　in　horror。　〃You　wish　to　purchase　me？〃

〃Why　are　you　so　terrified？　I　have　in　my　harem　many　women　who　are　as　beautiful　and　young　as　you　are；　and　of　much　nobler　birth；　and　they　esteem　themselves　happy　in　belonging　to　me。　But　I　tell　you；　Masa；　I　will　hold　you　higher　than　them　all。　You　shall　rule　over　them　all；　and　they　shall　all　bow　down　before　you；　for　Cousrouf　Pacha　will　set　them　the　example。　By　Allah！　I　swear　it　to　you　with　the　triple　oath：　not　my　slave；　but　my　favorite；　shall　you　be。　Cousrouf　Pacha　will　honor　you　as　the　first；　as　the　queen　of　his　harem。〃

〃It　is　impossible；　sir；〃　she　cried；　in　terror。　〃My　father's　daughter　cannot　sell　herself。　She　is　a　free　woman；　and　must　remain　so。〃

〃Then　remain　so；　and　your　father　dies；〃　said　he；　composedly。　〃Plume　yourself　with　your　freedom；　but　say；　too；　in　your　proud　arrogance；　that　you　are　the　murderess　of　your　father。　For；　I　say　to　you；　Mohammed　swore　the　oath；　and　he　will　keep　it。　Your　father　will　die；　and　you　will　be　his　murderess。〃

〃Allah　be　merciful！　I　cannot　allow　my　father　to　die。　No！〃　she　groaned　aloud。

〃He　dies　if　you　do　not　accept　what　I　offer。　I　repeat　it；　wealth　and　honors　shall　be　yours。　The　daughter　of　the　poor　sheik　of　the　wretched　village　shall　become　the　favorite　of　the　pacha。　I　shall　not　remain　here　long。　The　message　will　soon　come　that　calls　me　to　Stamboul；　and　you；　Masa；　shall　go　with　me。　At　the　court　of　the　grand…vizi