mohammed ali and his house-第31部分

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t　calls　me　to　Stamboul；　and　you；　Masa；　shall　go　with　me。　At　the　court　of　the　grand…vizier　you　shall　be　the　first；　I　will　honor　you　above　all　the　rest；　and　lay　at　your　feet　all　that　I　possess；　for　you　are　beautiful；　and　my　heart　is　filled　with　love　for　you。　I　will　make　you　happy　at　my　side。　And　now　decide。　Without　in　the　iron　cage　stands　your　father　awaiting　his　deliverance；　and　here　stands　his　daughter；　and　beside　her　Cousrouf　Pacha；　who　offers　her　money；　all　she　may　desire；　and　lays　every　thing　that　he　possesses　at　her　feet。　If　you　accept　this　offer；　Masa；　your　father　walks　out　of　his　prison　a　free　man　in　spite　of　the　blood…thirsty　youth。　Take　the　money　and　do　not　think　I　am　purchasing　you；　it　shall　only　be　an　earnest　of　your　future。　If　you　suppose　you　are　to　be；　as　you　say；　a　slave；　you　are　mistaken。　You　will　only　become　the　slave　of　your　love　for　me。〃

〃No；　sir！　never　can　I　love　you；〃　she　cried；　vehemently。

〃You　cannot？　It　is　thus　the　heart　of　the　wild…dove　speaks！　Masa；　you　will；　because　you　will　be　touched　by　my　love。　When　you　see　me　doing　every　thing　to　make　you　happy　it　will　touch　your　heart；　and　you　will　love　me。〃

At　this　moment　loud　cries　and　lamentations　were　heard　from　without。

〃Those　are　the　men　of　Praousta；　who　have　come　up　and　are　lamenting。　Do　you　not　hear　the　call　from　the　mosque？　The　second　hour　of　prayer　is　at　hand；　the　time　has　came。　Decide；　Masa！〃

She　sank　down　on　her　knees；　groaning；　and　prayed　to　Allah　for　mercy。

〃O　Mass；〃　said　the　pacha；　raising　her　from　her　knees；　〃Cousrouf　prays　to　you；　be　merciful　to　your　father；　yield；　be　mine　and　save　him。〃

Loud　cries　of　grief　again　resounded　without。　Masa；　shook　with　terror。　〃I　cannot　allow　my　father　to　die；　I　cannot！　I　yield；　I　am　ready；　give　me　the　money；　that　I　may　bring　it　to　these　people。〃

〃I　will　give　it　to　you；　and　you　shall　rescue　your　father。　And　now　you　are　mine；　not　my　slave；　but　my　queen。　Go　up　into　my　harem　while　I　take　the　money　out　to　these　people。〃

〃No；　not　so；〃　she　cried；　entreatingly。　〃Leave　me　my　freedom　for　this　one　day　only；　let　me　remain　this　one　day　with　my　father；　and　do　not　let　him　have　a　suspicion　of　the　price　I　have　paid　for　his　liberty。〃

〃Then　let　it　be　so；〃　said　he；　regarding　her　fixedly。　〃You　swear；　by　the　memory　of　your　mother；　that　you　will　voluntarily　return　to　my　harem　early　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃I　swear；　by　the　memory　of　my　mother；　that　I　will　return　here　early　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃You　will　come　to　the　back…gate　of　my　garden；　where　my　servants　will　await　you　to　conduct　you　to　me。　And　now　I　am　going　after　the　money。　Go　into　the　adjoining　room；　to　the　tachorbadji。〃

He　opened　the　door；　and　beckoned　to　the　governor。　〃Await　me　here　a　moment；　I　am　going　after　the　money　with　which　to　release　the　prisoners。〃

He　turned　to　her　once　more：　〃You　understand；　until　early　to…morrow　morning。　You　have　sworn　by　all　you　hold　sacredby　Allah　and　by　your　mother。〃

〃Yes；　I　have　so　sworn；〃　said　she；　in　a　low　voice。

〃You　will　keep　your　word；　and　henceforth　you　will　belong　to　me；　for　you　are　now　mine：　remember　this。　You　are　mine　wherever　you　go；　my　property；　my　slave。　This　evening；　when　the　night　sinks　down；　and　when　your　father　has　retired　to　rest；　then　you　will　come　to　my　garden；　where　I　shall　await　you　with　my　eunuchs。〃

〃I　shall　come；　master。　Am　I　not　your　slave；　and　have　you　not　paid　for　me？〃

He　nodded　to　her；　and　then　turned　and　left　the　room。

Masa　drew　her　veil　closer　about　her　face；　that　none　might　see　that　it　was　wet　with　her　tears。




CHAPTER　VI

THE　FLIGHT。


The　court…yard　without　now　presents　a　busy　appearance。　The　fishermen　of　Praousta；　becoming　impatient　and　anxious；　had　hurried　in　a　body　up　the　stairway　in　the　rock。　When　the　signal　for　the　morning　prayer　was　sounded　from　the　minarets　they　knew　that　nothing　was　to　be　hoped　for　from　the　efforts　of　the　sheik's　daughter；　and　they　agreed　among　themselves　that　they　would　go　up　in　a　body　and　petition　for　mercy。

They　hastily　agreed　upon　what　they　should　say　to　the　governor；　and　determined；　of　course；　in　their　generosity　of　heart；　that　they　would　yield；　and　promise　the　governor　to　pay　the　double　tax　if　he　would　only　patiently　wait　a　little　while。　This　was　their　resolve。　The　sheik　and　the　ulemas　must　be　rescued；　cost　what　it　might。　With　this　firm　resolve　they　hastened　up　the　stairway；　entered　the　outer　court…　yard　of　the　palace；　and　loudly　demanded　to　be　conducted　to　the　governor。

But　their　clamors　were　in　vain。　At　the　gate　of　the　palace　stood　the　eight　soldiers　of　the　body…guard；　with　drawn　swords；　prepared　to　defend　the　entrance。

Enraged；　the　fishermen　pressed　forward　with　uplifted　knives；　threatening　destruction　to　all　who　should　attempt　to　bar　their　passage。

〃Where　is　the　governor？　We　must　speak　with　him；　we　must　have　mercy。〃

〃No；　no　mercy；〃　cried　a　loud；　sonorous　voice；　and；　as　they　turned　in　the　direction　from　which　the　voice　came；　they　saw　a　fearful　object　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　court…yardthe　block　covered　with　black　cloth。　Near　by；　proudly　erect；　his　lips　firmly　compressed；　as　if　to　repress　words　of　imprecation　or　wrath　that　struggled　for　utterance；　stood　Mohammed　Ali；　like　an　angry　spirit；　ready　to　judge　and　to　punish。　Thus　he　stood　there；　and；　behind；　a　slave　holding　in　his　hands　the　glittering　axe。　〃Behold　this；　ye　men　of　Praousta；　and　bow　down　in　the　dust；　pay　what　the　tschorbadji　has　demanded　of　you；　or　the　heads　of　my　prisoners　shall　fall　as　I　have　sworn。〃

Horror；　rage；　and　anger；　were　combined　in　the　single　cry　that　resounded　from　the　breasts　of　all。

〃Mercy；　mercy！　you　cruel　boy！　Do　you　intend　to　prevent　the　men　of　Praousta　from　returning　tranquilly　to　their　homes？　do　you　wish　to　make　slaves　of　them？〃

〃I　have　authority　to　act　as　I　am　acting；　and　I　will　grant　no　mercy　to　the　men　of　Praousta。　Men　must　obey　the　laws；　and　humbly　submit　to　them；　and　this　you　have　not　done；　ye　rebels！　Why　have　you　followed　the　sheik　and　the　ulemas？　You　see　they　must　bow　down　in　the　dust；　after　all；　and；　unless　you　pay　the　tax　demanded　by　the　tschorbadji；　they　shall　die。〃

〃Listen；　ye　men　of　Praousta；　listen！〃　cried　a　loud　voice　from　one　of　the　windows　of　the　palace。

There　stood　Cousrouf　Pacha；　beckoning　to　the　fishermen　with　his　uplifted　hand。

〃Come　into　the　palace；　I　wish　to　speak　with　you。Make　free　the　passage；　ye　soldiers！　In　the　name　of　the　tschorbadji；　command　you　to　allow　these　men　to　enter！〃

With　a　loud　shout　the　men　rushed　toward　the　door；　and　the　body…guard　stepped　aside；　and　left　the　passage　free。

Mohammed's　glittering　eyes　followed　them；　and　he　suddenly　turned　pale；　for　Masa's　lovely　form　now　appeared　on　the　threshold　of　the　palace。　A　cry　resounded　from　his　lips。　He　stood　helpless　and　motionless　with　anger　and　humiliation。　It　was　now　clear　to　him。　She；　who　had　sworn　to　love；　who　had　sworn　by　her　father's　spirit　that　no　man　but　he　should　ever　raise　her　veil；　had　proved　unfaithful。　She　had　broken　her　sacred　oath！　She；　whom　he　now　loved　with　his　whole　heart　and　soul；　had　blasted　his　hopes。　The　thought　almost　stopped　the　beating　of　his　heart。　〃Masa　shall　repent！　Mohammed　will　wreak　vengeance　upon　humanity　for　her　broken　faith。〃

He　trembled；　and　pressed　his　lips　firmly　together；　when　her　white　figure　appeared　in　the　doorway。　But　Masa　saw　him　not；　nor　thought　of　him；　her　whole　attention　was　occupied　with　her　father。　With　a　joyous　cry；　and　widely…extended　arms；　she　flew　to　the　enclosure。　〃O　father；　O　my　father；〃　cried　she；　in　loud；　exultant　tones；　〃you　are　free！〃

〃Free？〃　exclaimed　the　sheik。　〃It　is　impossible！　It　cannot　be！〃

Mohammed　sprang　forward；　and　thrust　Masa　aside　with　such　force　that　she　sank　upon　the　ground。　A　cry　of　anguish　escaped　her　lips。　She　veiled　herself；　and　gazed　at　him　with　anxious；　imploring　glance。　He　could　not　endure　it；　he　turned　his　eyes　away　from　her；　he　would　not　see　her；　he　would　be　as　strong　in　his　hatred　as　he　was　in　his　love！

〃There　is　no　mercy　for　the　traitoress！〃　murmured　he。　〃I　will　punish　thee　for　thy　unfaithfulness。　I　will　revenge　myself　upon　thee！〃

The　men　of　Praousta　now　issue　from　the　house；　and　shout　joyfully　before　the　cage　in　which　the　aged　men　are　imprisoned。

〃You　are　savedyou　are　free。　A　noble　man　was　found　who　sent　us　assistance。　Long　live　Cousrouf　Pacha；　your　deliverer！〃

The　pacha　threw　open　the　window。　He　stood　there；　his　form　proudly　erect。　Upon　his　turban　glittered　the　golden　half…moon；　above　it　waved　the　eagle's　wing；　the　sun　fell　upon　his　sword　and　richly…　chased　poniard；　playing　gayly　with　the　precious　stones　with　which　his　garments　were　adorned。　His　eyes　sparkled；　and　a　wondrous　smile　hovered　about　his　lips。　And　again　they　shouted：　〃Long　live　Cousrouf　Pacha；　our　deliverer　in　time　of　need；　our　savior！〃

He　bowed　his　haughty　head；　and　his　eyes　rested　passionately　upon　the　young　maiden；　kneeling　upon　the　ground　in　her　agony。　From　her　his　glance　passed　over　to　Mohammed　Ali。　He　saw　the　pain　and　anguish　imprinted　upon　the　livid　countenance　of　the　youth；　and　smiled　triumphantly。

He　withdrew　from　the　window；　and　hastened　down　to　the　court…yard；　followed　by　the　tschorbadji。　He　approached　Masa；　and；　bending　over　her；　said；　softly：　〃Rise；　daughter　of　thy　father。　Your　sorrow　and　trouble　have　passed　away。　Be　gay　and　happy　once　more。　That　which　wicked　men　sought　to　do　unto　you　has　been　frustrated。　Your　father　is　free。Tschorbadji；〃　said　he；　〃command　your　servant　Mohammed　command　him　to　unlock　the　gate　of　this　cage；　and　to　release　the　prisoners　he　has　guarded　so　closely。〃

〃No！〃　shouted　Mohammed；　in　a　voice　of　thunder。　With　my　consent　alone　can　it　be　opened！Guard　the　gates；　ye　officers；　I　go　in　quest　of　the　key；　and　not　one　shall　be　released　until；　kneeling　at　my　feet；　with　their　heads　in　the　dust；　the　rebels　pay　to　me　the　double　tax。　What　I　have　swornwhat　I　have　sworn　by　my　honor；　that　must　be　done。〃

〃We　will　not　consent！　We　will　never　yield！〃　cried　the　men；　rushing　about　in　confusion。

〃Then　the　prisoners'　heads　shall　fall！〃　cried　he；　exultingly　waving　his　sword　in　the　air。　〃The　hour　until　which　I　granted　a　respite　has　come；　the　gold　has　not　been　paid；　the　law　cannot　be　broken　with　impunity。　You　pay；　or　the　hour　of　vengeance　is　at　hand！〃

〃We　will　not　kneel；　we　will　not　humiliate　ourselves　before　you；　you　boy！〃

With　his　sword　still　threate