mohammed ali and his house-第34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！


morning　communion　with　his　curses；　perhaps；　too；　with　his　tears。'　Now　I　am　at　the　place　to　which　Masa　sent　me；　and　here；　too；　is　he　to　whom　she　sent　me。　Mohammed　Ali；　do　not　turn　from　me；　do　not　shake　your　head。　Rather　let　us　sit　down；　and　listen　to　what　Djumeila　has　to　say。〃

He　did　not　reply。　He　only　made　a　motion　as　if　to　shake　off　the　hand　she　had　laid　on　his　arm；　in　order　to　draw　him　down　to　her　side。　But　now　against　his　will　he　permits　her　to　draw　him　down　to　a　seat　on　the　stone　beside　her。

〃Listen；　Mohammed！　Masa　is　at　home；　locked　in　her　room。　She　weeps　and　laments；　and　has　sworn　to　me　by　her　mother's　spirit　that　she　would　die　to…night。　The　waves　are　to　close　over　her　if　Mohammed　does　not　rescue　her　from　disgrace　and　misery。　Listen；　Mohammed；　and　take　what　I　say　to　heart。　Will　you　do　so；　Mohammed！〃

〃Well；　then；　I　will！〃　said　he；　after　a　short　pause。　〃May　Allah　judge　you　if　you　are　about　to　deceive　me　again！〃

〃Then　incline　your　ear　closer　to　me；　that　the　ghins　may　not　hear　what　I　say　and　carry　it　further。　What　Masa　confided　to　me　is　intended　for　you　only。〃

He　inclines　his　head　close　to　hers。　For　a　long　time　she　whispers　and　speaks　to　him　in　impressive　tones；　and　he　listens　at　first　against　his　will；　but　gradually　a　new　life　courses　through　his　being；　a　delicate　color　suffuses　itself　over　his　pale　cheeks；　and　his　brow　quivers　with　emotions　of　mingled　joy　and　pain。

The　woman　continues　to　speak　in　low；　earnest　tones。

When　she　has　finished；　Mohammed　bounds　to　his　feet。　Suddenly　he　is　completely　changed。　His　eyes　sparkle；　his　lips　smile　and　part　to　give　utterance　to　a　cry；　to　a　loud；　piercing；　joyous　cry；　such　as　the　eagle　utters　when　he　returns　after　a　long　journey　and　sees　his　young　looking　up　and　opening　their　beaks　to　greet　him。　He　felt　that　he　must　cry　out　to　relieve　his　breast。　He　extends　his　arms　into　the　air；　as　though　he　saw　before　him　the　white　dove；　and　wished　to　clasp　it　to　his　heart；　as　though　he　saw　on　the　murmuring　sea　at　his　feet　the　swan　approaching；　singing　to　him　the　song　of　holy　virgin　purity　and　of　chaste　maidenly　love。

〃O　how　beautiful　is　the　world！〃　he　exclaims；　exultingly。　〃How　heavenly　to　live　in　it！　But　then　this　is　not　earthly　delight；　but　the　bliss　of　Paradise。　I　shall　enter　Paradise　to…day；　and　be　one　of　the　blessed；　I　shall　revel　in　heavenly　joys　already　here　on　earth　as　man　never　did　before。　Come；　Djumeila；　and　listen　to　my　words。　Come　to　this　spot。　See；　here　she　stood　this　morning；　here　she　exchanged　with　me　vows　of　eternal　fidelity；　and　this　holy　place　I　have　consecrated　with　my　tears　and　my　despair。　I　was　a　fool；　oh；　forgive；　Masa；　forgive　me；　and　I　will　repay　you　with　life…long　devotion。　So　long　as　a　drop　of　blood　flows　in　my　veins　will　I　love　you　and　belong　to　you　alone。　Come；　seat　yourself　beside　me；　Djumeila；　and　listen　attentively　to　each　word　I　shall　speak　to　you。〃




CHAPTER　VIII

VANISHED。


The　inhabitants　of　Praousta　had　insisted　on　making　the　release　of　the　sheik　and　the　ulemas　the　occasion　of　general　rejoicing；　and　the　latter　were　compelled　to　yield　to　the　general　desire　and　take　part　in　the　festivities。

But　it　is　well　that　evening　is　now　come；　and　that　the　night　is　spreading　her　rest…bringing　mantle　over　the　earth。　It　is　well　that　the　opportunity　has　at　last　come　to　breathe　freely　in　the　stillness　of　one's　chamber；　and　to　thank　Allah；　with　earnest　prayer；　for　having　given　them　a　happy　issue　out　of　the　cares　and　dangers　of　the　preceding　day。

The　sheik　has　finished　his　prayer　in　the　silence　of　his　chamber。　He　now　lightly　ascends　the　stairway　to　the　harem　where　his　beloved　child；　his　Masa；　sojourns。　Before　the　door　of　her　chamber　sits　Djumeila；　the　faithful　servant；　and　with　upraised　hand　she　motions　to　the　sheik　to　step　softly　and　make　no　noise；　that　Masa　may　not　be　disturbed。

〃You　know；　master；　that　she　has　been　complaining　the　whole　day。　Anxiety　and　care　for　you；　and　the　pain　and　exposure　she　has　endured；　have　made　my　dove　ill；　and　she　has　gone　to　her　room　to　rest　and　restore　her　strength。　She　therefore　requests　you；　through　me；　to　allow　her　to　remain　undisturbed　until　tomorrow　morning。　She　has　not　been　able　to　sleep　at　all　during　the　day；　and　has　continually　wept　and　complained；　but　at　last；　toward　evening　she　partook　of　some　food　and　fell　asleep。　Yesterday　she　was　so　courageous　and　strong；　but　today　she　has　been　weak　and　dejected。　Before　going　to　sleep　she　called　me　to　her　bedside　and　told　me　to　bear　her　greeting　to　her　father；　and　to　say　to　him　that　she　hoped　to　be　entirely　recovered　by　tomorrow　morning；　and　would　come　down　to　breakfast　to　hand　you；　my　master；　your　coffee　and　chibouque。〃

〃It　is　well；〃　said　the　sheik；　softly。　〃Let　my　child　rest；　let　my　Masa　sleep；　tread　lightly；　and　be　careful　that　you　do　not　disturb　her。　I；　too；　feel　that　I　need　sleep。　Let　the　whole　house　repose；　and　avoid　making　any　noise　before　tomorrow　morning。　Then　I　will　come　to　her　room　to　see　her。〃

The　old　man　took　off　his　shoes　and　noiselessly　descended　the　stairway　to　his　bed…chamber。　It　was　now　still　in　the　house。　All　Praousta　was　silent。　The　people　were　resting　from　the　pleasures　of　today；　and　the　anxiety　and　care　of　yesterday。

In　Cavalla；　also；　all　was　now　quiet。　The　windows　of　the　tschorbadji's　palace　were　dark；　and　silence　prevailed　everywhere。　The　governor　and　his　son　Osman　had　retired　to　rest。

In　the　apartments　occupied　by　Cousrouf　Pacha　darkness　also　prevails；　and　in　the　harem　the　blinds　have　been　let　down　behind　the　latticed　windows。　One　room　alone　is　dimly　lighted。　On　the　table　stands　a　silver　lamp；　which　sheds　a　faint　light　through　the　spacious　room；　upon　the　gold…embroidered　caftan　of　the　pacba；　and　upon　his　proud；　gloomy　countenance。　He　rises　from　his　seat；　and　walks　hastily　through　the　room。　He　then　suddenly　stands　still。　The　pacha　waits　the　arrival　of　the　girl　he　has　purchased　with　the　blood…money　given　for　her　father。

All　is　quiet　in　the　tschorbadji's　palace；　and　also　in　the　sheik's　house。　The　windows　are　dark；　the　gate　is　locked。　Now　she　will　come：　she　has　given　her　word；　she　has　sworn　by　Allah；　she　has　sworn　by　the　spirit　of　her　mother；　she　has　sworn　by　all　she　holds　sacred。　She　will　come　for　the　daughter　of　Alepp　knows　that　one　who　breaks　a　treble　oath　is　doomed　to　inevitable　destruction；　and　walks　a　welcome　prey　to　the　evil　spirits；　to　the　ghins。　Surely；　she　will　not　dare　to　do　this！　She　will　comeshe　must　come。

Something　rustles　in　the　garden。　The　pacha　steps　hastily　to　the　window；　throws　it　open；　and　looks　out　eagerly　into　the　darkness。　It　is　well　that　the　moon　is　at　this　moment　concealed　by　clouds；　he　might　otherwise　now　see　her　coming　up　the　walk　from　the　end　of　the　avenue。　No；　nothing　approaches。　It　is　not　the　beautiful　virgin；　with　the　eyes　of　the　gazelle；　with　the　light；　airy　step。　How　beautiful　she　is；　how　fair；　how　lovely！　Is　she　not　yet　coming？　Does　he　not　hear　approaching　footsteps？　No；　neither　of　the　eunuchs　is　stealthily　approaching　to　announce　to　his　mighty　master　that　the　virgin　has　entered　the　harem。

He　stands　and　waits；　his　face　quivering　with　anger　and　impatience。　He　is　angry　with　the　girl　for　daring　to　come　so　late。　But　come　she　will；　and　come　she　must；　for　whoever　breaks　the　treble　oath　is　lost　before　Allah　and　the　prophet。　He　remains　at　the　window；　looking　out　into　the　quiet　garden　and　dark　night　for　a　long　time。　The　wind　extinguishes　the　lamp　that　stands　on　the　table。　Now　all　is　profound　darkness。　It　is　dark　in　the　garden；　and　in　the　room。　It　is　dark；　too；　in　Cousrouf　Pacha's　breast。

〃Woe　to　her；　if　she　dares　to　break　her　oath！　In　that　case；　I　will　go；　with　my　servants；　in　the　broad　light　of　day；　to…morrow；　to　the　sheik's　house；　and　demand　my　propertymy　slave。　Mine　is　she；　for　I　purchased　her　with　money　which　she　accepted。　Then；　however；　she　shall　not　be　my　queen；　but　my　slavemy　servant。　Come　she　shall；　by　Allah！　I　must　possess　her；　for　I　love　her　with　all　the　passion　of　my　heart。〃

He　bends　forward；　and　listens　attentively　again。　He　hardly　dares　to　breathe；　and　his　heart　throbs　loudly　as　he　anxiously　gazes　out　into　the　garden。　He　does　not　notice　that　the　hours　are　rapidly　passing；　to　him　it　seems　an　eternity　of　waiting。

Without；　at　the　garden…gate；　the　two　watchful　eunuchs　are　still　standing。　They；　like　their　master；　have　been　looking　out　into　the　darkness；　and　listening　throughout　the　entire　night。

〃No　sign　of　her　yet；〃　said　one　of　the　eunuchs　to　the　other。　〃Woe　to　the　girl　if　she　dares　to　deceive　our　mighty　master！　She　thinks；　perhaps；　he　will　abandon　his　claim。　There　will　be　a　nice　piece　of　work　to　be　done　tomorrow。　Cousrouf　Pacha；　our　mighty　master；　is　not　in　the　habit　of　being　trifled　with。　He　will　send　us　down　after　his　property；　and　there　will　be　no　lack　of　bloody　heads　in　Praousta；　tomorrow；　for　we　shall　certainly　have　to　regain　possession　of　this　slave。　He　says　she　accepted　the　purchase…money；　and　she　therefore　belongs　to　the　master　who　bought　her。　Will　she　come；　or　shall　we　have　to　get　possession　of　her　by　force　tomorrow？〃

〃I　hope　she　will　come　of　her　own　word；〃　said　the　other。　〃These　fishermen　are　so　brave；　and　have　such　hard　fists。〃

〃And　I　hope　she　will　not；〃　said　the　first；　laughing。　〃We　must　take　her　by　force。　I　should　relish　just　such　a　row。　If　they　have　hard　fists；　we　have　sharp；　glittering　weapons。　And　then；　as　you　know；　the　soldiers　are　coming　to　take　up　their　quarters　here　tomorrow；　the　tschorbadji　will　send　a　part　of　them　to　help　us　when　the　company　arrives。〃

The　pacha　is　still　standing　at　the　window；　looking　out　into　the　night。　He　raises　his　hands　threateningly；　and　his　eyes　glitter　like　those　of　the　panther；　lying　in　wait　for　his　prey。

〃Woe　to　her　if　she　breaks　the　triple　oath！　Cousrouf　Pacha　will　know　how　to　avenge　himself。　She　must　become　mineshe　is　mine　already。　I　have　bought　this　slave；　and；　by　Allah；　what　I　have　bought　I　will　also　possess！〃

At　last；　day　dawns。　The　sun　sends　out　into　the　heavens　its　purple　heralds；　and　it　begins　to　grow　lighter　in　the　garden。　The　pacha　now　sees　a　figure　coming　up　the　walk。　It　is　one　of　the　eunuchs。　He　goes　noiselessly　into　the　house；　to　his　master。

〃Has　she　come？〃　asks　he；　with　quivering　lips。

〃No；　master；　she　has　not　come。　The　path　that　leads　up　from　the　village　is　still　empty。　Shall　we　wait　longer；　master？〃

〃　No；〃　he