mohammed ali and his house-第32部分

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

With　his　sword　still　threateningly　raised；　Mohammed　gazed　around　him。

The　tschorbadji　and　his　son　now　approached　the　men；　and　pleaded　with　them　urgently。　They　explained　to　them　that　Mohammed　was　in　the　right；　that　he　could　not　act　differently。　As　he　had　sworn　by　his　honor　to　force　them　to　pay　the　double　tax；　he　must　therefore　keep　to　his　word。

〃Do　as　he　tells　you；〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　in　an　entreating　tone；　〃pay　the　tax　he　demands。　Do　it；　ye　men！　I　will　reward　you　well；　if　you　do　as　I　say。　He　who　goes　to　Mohammed　to　pay　the　money；　he　can　ask　at　my　hands　a　favor。〃

The　men's　anger　became　subdued　by　the　soft；　kind　words　of　their　master。　With　bowed　heads　and　gloomy　aspect；　they　approached　Mohammed　Ali；　who　still　stood　with　threatening　sword　before　the　cage。

〃We　kneel　before　you　in　the　dust；　we　have　returned　to　our　duty；〃　said　one　of　the　men。　〃Here　are　the　two　sequins　that　I　have　to　pay。〃

〃Here　are　mine；〃　〃And　mine；〃　cried　they　all；　with　one　accord。　They　knelt　and　offered　Mohammed　the　gold。

He　did　not　take　it；　but；　gazing　steadfastly　and　bitterly　at　the　pacha；　he　thrust　them　aside　with　a　movement　of　impatience。　〃Lay　your　gold　upon　the　block。　What；　through　your　obstinacy；　has　occurred；　cannot　be　obliterated　by　your　gold。　Lay　your　gold　upon　the　block；　for　to　it　you　offer　your　gold。〃

Laughing　wildly；　he　turned　and　bowed　before　the　veiled　maiden。　〃But　you　pay　for　it　with　your　honor；　with　your　shame。〃

She　fell　forward；　and　a　shriek　of　agony　burst　from　her　lips。　But　she　still　gazed　with　tender　eyes　upon　the　youth　who　looked　down　upon　her　so　fiercely。

〃Traitoress！　You　have　forgotten　your　oath！〃

〃No；　Mohammed；〃　whispered　she。　〃Hear　me！〃

〃Away　from　me！　do　you　still　wish　to　deceive　me？〃　Again　he　thrust　her　from　him。　Masa　would　have　fallen；　had　not　Osman　hurried　forward　and　sustained　her。

〃Forgive　him；〃　whispered　he；　softly。　〃He　is　wild　with　anger　and　pain。〃

〃O　Osman；　is　all　known　to　you？〃　asked　she；　in　trembling　tones。

Osman　bowed　his　head。　Tears　stood　in　his　eyes。　〃Be　quietwe　are　watched。　In　the　evening　I　will　send　you　word。〃

〃Open　now　the　gates；　and　let　the　prisoners　out；〃　said　the　tschorbadji　to　Mohammed。　〃The　law　has　been　vindicated。〃

〃It　shall　be　as　you　command；〃　said　Mohammed；　with　the　calmness　sometimes　born　of　despair。　He　drew　forth　the　key；　and　placed　it　in　the　lock。　Masa　sprang　forward。　The　gate　opened；　and　now　she　stood　beside　her　father。　She　threw　her　arms　about　him；　and　kissed　his　lips。　Then　she　bowed　her　head　upon　his　breast；　and　wept　bitterly。　The　old　man　held　her　close　to　his　heart；　and　then；　lifting　her　up；　bore　her；　trembling　with　emotion；　from　out　the　cage；　in　which　he　had　endured　such　torture　for　four…and…twenty　hours。

The　ulemas　followed　him。　Joyfully　the　men　greeted　the　released　prisoners；　and　prayed　that　they　might　escort　them　home　in　triumph。

〃I　see　no　cause　for　triumph；〃　said　the　sheik；　calmly。　〃You　have　done　what　I　cannot　approve。　It　were　better；　I　think；　to　have　laid　my　gray　head　upon　the　block；　rather　than　you　should　place　upon　it　your　hard…　earned　gold；　becoming　hereby　the　slaves　of　him　who　gave　it　to　you；　and　has　thus　lowered　you　by　his　gift。''

〃No；　sheik；〃　said　Cousrouf　Pacha；　advancing　proudly。　〃He　who　gave　this　gold　gave　it　not　with　such　intent。　He　gave　it　not　to　humiliate　these　men。　I　gave　it　for　your　sake；　and　for　your　daughter's　sake；〃　continued　he；　in　loud　tones；　and　for　an　instant　his　eyes　gleamed　passionately　on　Masa。

He　well　knew　his　words　would　enter　Mohammed's　heart　like　a　knife。　Turning　slowly；　be　glanced　at　him；　and　smiled　at　seeing　him　turn　pale。

〃I　am　now　about　to　leave　you；〃　said　the　pacha。　〃The　grand…sultan　calls　me　from　here。　Fear　not；　therefore；　O　sheik；　that　my　countenance　will　longer　humiliate　you。　I　give　you　freedom。　Return　to　your　friends；　you　are　free！〃

〃Long　live　Cousrouf　Pacha！〃　was　the　exultant　cry　of　the　men　of　Praousta。

No　one　heard；　amid　the　many　voices；　the　one　crying　〃Cursed　be　Cousrouf　Pacha！　Cursed　be　my　enemy　unto　death！　I　swear　revenge　upon　him！〃

〃Cease；　Mohammed；　be　guarded；　be　silent！　Dissemble　your　anger；　your　pain；　O　friend　of　my　heart！　Believe　me；　all　will　soon　be　changed：　the　sky　that　now　seems　so　dark；　will　soon　be　clear　with　the　light　of　the　sun　and　of　love！〃

〃No；　never；　Osman；　never；〃　murmured　Mohammed；　gazing　bitterly　at　Masa；　who；　leaning　upon　her　father's　arm；　and　followed　by　the　ulemas　and　the　jubilant　fishermen；　was　now　leaving　the　court…yard。　〃Nevermore；　Osman；　nevermore；　will　the　sun　shine　for　me！　Night　and　impenetrable　darkness　envelop　my　fate！　But　I　swear　to　revenge　myself　upon　those　who　have　done　me　this　wrong！〃

〃Silence；　silence；　Mohammed！〃　said　Osman；　entreatingly；　to　his　friend。　〃See；　my　father　approaches；　and　with　him　Cousrouf　Pacha。　How　triumphant　he　seems！　He　knows　he　has　pained　you。　Will　you　permit　him　to　see　and　rejoice　in　your　pain？〃

〃No；　no；　you　are　right！　He　shall　not　rejoice　in　my　pain！　Bitter　heartache　shall　I　prepare　for　him　someday！〃　Laughing　bitterly　to　himself；　he　advanced　toward　the　two　approaching　him。

〃Mohammed　Ali；〃　said　the　governor；　solemnly；　〃I　thank　you　for　your　good　services。　You　have　accomplished　that　which；　by　your　honor；　you　swore　to　fulfil。　And　I　affirm　that　I　also　have　kept　my　word。　I　allowed　you　to　do　as　you　thought　best；　and　did　not　restrain　you　when　I　thought　your　acts　cruel；　but　I　must　nevertheless　admit　that　you　have　acted　with　wisdom　and　with　courage。　Gladly　will　I　reward　you　for　that　which　you　obtained　through　your　daring。　It　is　fit　that　such　a　man　should　have　an　office；　and　exercise　the　duties　thereof　from　now　on。　Mohammed　Ali；　I　have　good　news　to　impart　to　you！　The　scenes　of　yesterday　have　taught　me　that；　to　preserve　peace　and　quiet；　it　is　necessary　to　have　soldiers　at　hand。　I　have　already　dispatched　a　courier　to　the　neighboring　town；　and　a　garrison　shall　hereafter　stay　here　or　at　Cavalla。　You；　Mohammed　Ali；　I　appoint　boulouk　bashi；　or　captain　of　this　company　that　is　to　enter　Cavalla　to…morrow。〃

A　deep　color　overspread；　like　the　morning　sunlight；　Mohammed's　countenance：〃Master；　you　well　know　how　to　reward　generously　him　who　has　done　naught　but　his　duty。〃

〃And　now；　my　Mohammed；〃　whispered　Osman；　softly；　〃or　rather　boulouk　bashi；　let　me　be　the　first　to　congratulate　you。　How　proud　and　happy　I　shall　be　when　I　see　Mohammed　Ali；　in　his　glittering　uniform；　marching　at　the　head　of　his　company。　Proud　and　happy　shall　I　account　myself　when　so　handsome；　so　brave　a　soldier；　considers　me　worthy　of　his　protection！〃

〃You　make　sport　of　me；〃　murmured　Mohammed；　a　soft　smile　illuminating　his　countenance。　In　the　spirit　he　saw　himself　in　his　handsome　uniform　at　the　head　of　his　company。　Truth　and　justice　are　once　more　acknowledged。　The　hour　of　humiliation　and　pain　has　gone　by。　The　time　he　had　so　long　looked　for　had　arrived。　He　listened　calmly　to　the　tschorbadji's　announcement　that　on　the　morrow　his　uniform　would　be　ready；　as　well　as　those　of　his　soldiers；　which　were　to　be　sent；　at　once　to　Cavalla。

〃There　will　be　a　number　of　uniforms；　and　the　young　boulouk　bashi　can　make　his　choice　from　among　them。〃

〃And　the　sword；　my　father；　the　sword；　I　will　give　to　my　friend　Mohammed　Ali！〃　cried　Osman；　joyously。　〃Do　you　remember　the　gold…　handled　sword　given　me　by　the　grand…vizier　on　his　last　visit？　I　have　kept　it　jealously；　though；　alas！　I　can　never　wear　it　myself。　And　now　my　friend　shall　wear　it　in　my　place；　and；　when　I　see　him　pass　by　with　the　glittering　weapon　at　his　side；　it　will　seem　as　if　I　carried　it　myself　in　defence　of　my　beloved　country。　Come　with　me；　Mohammed；〃　said　he；　taking　his　friend's　arm。　〃You　are　in　need　of　rest。　You　have　been　deeply　moved；　and　now　let　us　retire。　It　is　quiet　within　my　father's　apartments；　there　we　will　betake　ourselves　and　repose　together。〃

〃We　will　all　follow　you；〃　said　the　governor。〃I　pray　Cousrouf　Pacha　to　accompany　us。　The　day　is　bright　and　lovely；　and　I　think　we　all　stand　in　need　of　rest　and　refreshment。　There　we　will　take　our　coffee；　and　at　the　same　time　something　more　substantial　together；　and；　enveloped　by　the　smoke　from　our　pipes；　we　will　discuss　the　events　of　this　day；　which　commenced　so　stormily；　and　now　seems　to　end　so　pleasantly　to　our　general　joy。〃

〃Who　knows；　tschorbadji；　that　it　brings　joy　to　all？〃　said　Cousrouf　Pacha；　sneeringly。　〃I；　of　course；　have　cause　to　rejoice　and　be　thankful；　this　day。　But　it　strikes　me；　Mohammed　Ali　is　by　nature　little　inclined　to　be　thankful。　Instead　of　joyfully　receiving　his　honors；　he　seems　to　gaze　wrathfully　upon　us　all。〃

〃I　think　I　have　cause　to　do　so；〃　said　Mohammed；　impetuously　turning　to　him。

〃And　wherefore？〃　said　Cousrouf　Pacha。　〃Wherefore？　Speak　on。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Mohammed；　〃many；　I　think；　receive　honors　which　they　have　not　deserved；　and　have　done　naught　to　earn；　as　if　they　were　to　be　bought；　and　they　knew　how　to　purchase　them。　I　say　that　honor；　power；　and　consideration；　often　spring　from　hypocrisy　and　slavish　submission；　and　that　through　cunning；　deceit；　and　shame；　many　a　free　human　soul　becomes　abject　and　lost。　I　hope　I　am　understood　by　Cousrouf　Pacha！〃

〃I　regret　that　I　can　neither　understand　nor　explain　these　strange　words。　But　you　must　feel；　tachorbadji；　that　I　have　to　deny　myself　the　pleasure　of　remaining　longer　with　you　in　the　company　of　this　wild　young　man；　whose　mind　seems　bewildered　by　the　honors　conferred　on　him。　Enjoy　yourselves　in　quiet　repose；　and　be　happy　at　your　feast。〃

〃Do　as　it　suits　you；〃　cried　Mohammed。　〃I　shall　not　share　it。　I　am　exhausted；　and　shall　retire　to　rest　and　refresh　myself。　Farewell！〃

He　bowed　his　head；　and　carried　his　hand　in　greeting　both　to　lip　and　brow。　He　then　turned；　and　hastened　rapidly　away。

The　pacha　followed　him　with　an　evil　glance。　〃The　forward　youth　is　forever　in　my　path；〃　said　he；　threateningly。　〃It　was　well　for　him　he　withdrew；　for　it　might　have　come　to　bitter　enmity　between　us。　Should　he　dare　again　what　he　this　day　ventured　upon；　his　life　would　no　longer　be　secure。　Being　a　guest　in　your　house；　and　meeting　him　there；　made　me　considerate　to…day。　But　woe　unto　him　should　he　cross　my　path；　when　no　such　considerations　restrain　me！　Bitterly　shall　he　repent　of　his　words。〃




CHAPTER　VII

THE　MESSENGER。


Joy　and　merriment　prevailed　th