mohammed ali and his house-第35部分

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〃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　gruffly　replies。　〃Lock　the　gate　and　retire　to　the　harem。　It　must　be　a　misunderstanding；　she　supposed　I　meant　the　following　evening。　Go！〃

The　eunuch　prostrates　himself　to　the　earth；　and　takes　his　departure；　gliding　stealthily　out　into　the　garden。　When　he　feels　assured　that　no　one　can　see　or　hear　him；　be　stands　still；　and　laughs　mockingly：　〃It　is　a　great　pleasure　to　see　a　grand　gentleman　now　and　then　humiliated　like　the　rest　of　us。　He　was　terribly　annoyed；　I　could　tell　it　by　his　voice。　Serves　him　right！　I　am　delighted　to　see　that　grand　gentlemen　have　to　put　up　with　disagreeable　things　sometimes；　tootruly　delighted。〃

With　a　sorrowful　expression　of　countenance　he　now　walks　on　down　to　the　garden…gate；　where　the　other　eunuch　is　waiting；　and　tells　him　his　gracious　master　has　made　his　reckoning　without　his　host；　and　that　his　purchased　slave's　failure　to　come　has　grieved　him　deeply。

They　looked　at　each　other；　and　the　dawning　light　showed　that　they　nodded　triumphantly；　with　a　malicious；　mocking　grin。　They　understood　each　other　well；　without　telling　in　words　what　they　were　laughing　about　and　rejoicing　over。

The　morning　had　come　in　its　full　splendor；　and　the　town　and　village　had　again　awakened　to　life　and　activity。　The　sheik；　too；　had　arisen；　had　already　turned　to　the　east；　and　finished　his　prayers；　and　repaired　to　his　daughter's　room。　She　had　told　him；　through　her　servant；　the　evening　before；　that　she　would　come　to　him　early　in　the　morning；　to　hand　him　his　coffee　and　chibouque。　But　Masa；　did　not　come；　and　the　father's　heart　is　filled　with　an　inexplicable　feeling　of　anxiety。　He　hastily　ascends　the　stairway。　Djumeila　no　longer　watches　before　the　door；　she　has　gone；　and　is　perhaps　busied　with　her　morning　occupations。

The　sheik　opens　the　door　of　his　daughter's　sitting…room。

〃Masa〃　he　cries；　〃it　is　time　to　come　down　to　breakfast。〃　He　supposes　she　is　within；　in　her　bedchamber；　and　has　not　heard　him。　〃Masa；〃　he　cries　again；　〃come　out；　my　child；　come　to　your　father。〃

All　is　still　as　before。　He　calls　for　the　third　time；　no　one　replies。

〃Masa；　where　are　you；　my　child？〃　The　sheik　anxiously　walks　through　the　sitting…room　to　the　little　chamber　where　his　daughter's　bed　stands：　no　one　there　either。　〃　Masa；　my　child；　my　darling；　where　are　you？〃

He　stands　still；　listening　for　an　answer；　he　breathes　heavily　when　as　yet　no　answer　comes；　but　consoles　himself　with　the　thought　that　she　has　already　gone　down；　and　is　awaiting　him　below；　while　he　is　seeking　her　in　her　rooms　above。

Hastily；　with　the　quick　step　of　youth；　the　sheik　descends　the　stairway　again；　but　Masa　was　not　there。　The　father's　calls　grow　louder　and　more　anxious。

〃Masa；　where　are　you？　My　beloved　child；　come　to　your　father。〃

All　remains　still。　No　answer　comes　to　the　father's　anxious　calls。

The　sheik　now　hurries　to　the　kitchen；　where　breakfast　is　being　prepared；　Djumeila　is　standing　there　at　the　hearth；　perfectly　composed；　attending　to　her　cooking。　She　salutes　her　master　with　a　deferential　air。

〃Where　is　Masa；　my　daughter？　〃　cries　the　sheik。

〃I　do　not　know；　master；〃　she　quietly　replies；　〃I　have　not　yet　seen　her　today。　Early　in　the　morning；　before　sunrise；　I　went　out　to　the　meadow　to　milk　the　goats；　that　my　child；　my　darling　Masa；　might　have　fresh　sweet　milk　for　her　breakfast；　since　then　I　have　been　occupied　with　getting　breakfast　ready；　and　now　you　ask　me　'Where　is　Masa？'〃

〃Spare　your　words　and　listen：　Masa　has　vanished；　Masa　is　not　in　her　room。〃

Djumeila　cries　out　loudly：　〃Where　is　Masa？　where　is　my　white　dove？〃

She　rushes　out　and　runs　to　her　mistress's　room；　and；　not　finding　her　there；　falls　to　weeping　and　wringing　her　hands　in　despair。

〃Where　is　my　beloved　child？　she　is　not　with　her　father；　she　is　not　in　her　room。〃　She　then　hastens　to　the　other　maid…servant。　〃Where　is　Masa？　has　no　one　seen　my　master's　daughter？　has　no　one　seen　my　beloved　child？〃

The　sheik　stood　in　the　hall　and　listened　to　Djumeila's　cries　and　the　answer　of　the　other　servant。　He　then　walked　rapidly　all　over　the　house　again；　called　his　daughter's　name　loudly　once　more；　and　stood　still　to　listen　for　an　answer。

〃But　it　is　foolish　to　be　so　anxious。　Masa　is　fond　of　going　out　to　the　sea　to　listen　to　the　murmuring　and　whispering　of　the　waves。　My　child　is　pious；　and　may　have　gone　to　the　mosque　to　pray　and　to　thank　Allah。　That　is　itshe　has　gone　to　the　mosque。〃

The　sheik　rushes　out　into　the　street。　It　is　well　that　the　mosque　is　not　far　from　his　dwelling。　The　doors　are　open；　Masa　is　surely　there；　probably　on　her　knees　in　one　of　the　recesses；　addressing　herself　to　her　prayers。　No；　she　is　not　there；　the　recesses　are　empty；　and　she　is　not　up　in　the　choir　with　the　women　either。

〃She　is　nowhere　in　the　mosque；　but　she　may　be　down　on　the　beach。〃

The　sheik　no　longer　felt　the　weight　of　his　years；　he　no　longer　felt　exhausted　by　the　fatigues　of　the　preceding　day。

He　is　young　again；　and　his　blood　is　coursing　through　his　veins。　With　head　erect　and　firm　footstep　he　walks　down　to　the　beach。

〃Masa；　my　child；　come　to　me；　hasten　to　your　father's　arms！〃　he　cries；　so　loudly　that　his　voice　drowns　the　noise　of　the　rushing　waves。　But　no　one　replies。　Masa　is　not　there。

A　wild　cry　of　terror　resounds　from　his　lips；　he　sinks　down　upon　the　shore　exhausted；　and　stares　out　at　the　waves　as　though　he　would　ask；　〃Have　you　seen　my　child；　has　she　gone　to　you；　has　she　sought　a　resting…place　in　your　cold　bosom？〃　Yet　why　should　she　do　so？　Masa　is　happy　and　loves　her　father；　why　does　she　then　torment　him　thus？　Masa　must　have　gone　to　some　of　her　neighbors。　She　has　many　friends；　every　woman　and　girl　that　Masa　knows　loves　her　on　account　of　her　happy　disposition；　her　innocence；　and　her　loveliness。　She　will　have　returned　home　long　since。　Djumeila　cannot　know　that　her　master　has　gone　out；　or　she　would　have　called　him。

〃Masa　is　surely　at　home！〃

The　old　man　returns　to　his　dwelling　with　the　quick　step　of　a　youth。　Djumeila　is　standing　in　the　door…way；　weeping　and　lamenting　loudly

〃Master；　my　child；　my　Masa；　is　gone！　Allah　be　merciful；　and　take　me　from　this　earth；　now　that　my　Masa　is　no　longer　here！〃

The　sheik　says　not　a　word。　He　neither　speaks　nor　weeps；　but　only　beckons　to　the　men　who　have　been　drawn　to　the　spot　by　Djumeila's　loud　lamentations。　When　they　have　come　near；　he　bends　down　close　to　them；　as　if　to　prevent　even　the　wind　from　hearing　him；　and　whispers　in　their　ears：　〃My　child　is　gone。　Masa　is　not　in　the　mosque。　Masa　is　not　on　the　beach；　and　is　not　with　the　neighbors！〃

The　men　regarded　him　with　dismay；　and；　supposing　they　must　have　misunderstood　his　words；　ask　each　other；　〃What　did　the　sheik　say？〃

He　then　shrieks；　as　if　to　make　himself　heard　by　the　heavens　and　the　earth；　by　the　mountains　and　the　sea：　〃My　child　is　gone！　Masa　is　not　in　her　father's　house；　Masa　is　not　at　the　mosque；　and　not　on　the　beach！　Where　is　my　child？〃

He　then　swoons　away。　Djumeila　now　rushes　down　the　street；　and　her　cries　of　anguish　resound　through　all　Praousta。

〃Masa；　the　sheik's　daughter；　has　disappeared！　Where　is　Masa？　Up；　ye　men　and　women；　let　us　search　for　her。　Let　us　search　everywhere　among　the　rocks　and　cliffs；　in　the　hills　and　in　the　valleys。　Masa；　the　sheik's　daughter；　is　gone！〃

From　every　house；　men；　women；　and　children；　rush　out　and　gaze　at　each　other　in　sorrow　and　dismay。　〃Masa；　our　sheik's　daughter；　has　vanished！　let　us　search　for　her。〃　And　now　they　begin　the　search。　People　are　to　be　seen　running　in　every　directionto　the　rocks　above；　down　to　the　shore。　The　air　everywhere　resounds　with　their　loud　cries：

〃Masa；　daughter　of　the　sheik；　where　are　you？〃

Suddenly　the　music　of　the　trumpet；　cymbal　and　fife；　and　the　roll　of　the　drum；　breaks　in　upon　and　mingles　with　these　tumultuous　cries。　With　warlike　music　the　company　of　soldiers　from　the　nearest　city　marches　into　Praousta；　in　accordance　with　the　command　given　by　the　governor　to　his　captain。

The　men　have　been　on　the　march　all　night；　and　now　enter　the　village　in　the　broad　light　of　day；　with　their　band　playing。

The　military　music　rings　out　so　loud　and　clear　that　the　cries　of　lamentation　are　no　longer　heard。　The　crowd　stand　still　and　gaze　at　the　gaudily…attired　men　who　are　marching　into　Cavalla。　The　tschorbadji　is　standing　with　his　distinguished　guest；　Cousrouf　Pacha；　in　the　court…yard　of　the　palace。　He　has　requested　him　to　be　present　at　the　reception　of　the　soldiers。　The　pacha's　countenance　and　bearing　are　unchangedall　haughtiness　and　dignityonly　his　cheeks　are　paler　and　his　glance　more　threatening　than　usual。　As　he　now　turns　toward　the　gate　of　the　court…yard；　Mohammed　Ali；　the　boulouk　bashi；　appears　for　the　first　time；　attired　in　his　handsome；　glittering　uniform；　advancing　with　his　company　toward　the　palace。　On　the　governor's　left　stands　his　son　Osman；　who　has　risen　from　his　couch；　overcoming　for　the　moment　his　weakness　and　ill…health　in　order　to　participate　in　the　triumph　of　witnessing　Mohammed　Ali　lead　his　company；　as　boulouk　bashi；　for　the　first　time。

Yes；　there　comes　Mohammed　Ali；　marching　at　the　head　of　his　company；　to　the　sound　of　the　martial　music。　He　holds　his　sword　uplifted　in　his　right　hand；　and　salutes　the　governor　as　he　approaches　by　lowering　its　point　to　the　ground　with　a　deferential　glance。　He　recognizes　his　friend；　and　Osman　joyously　returns　the　greeting。　Mohammed　seems　to　him　entirely　changed　at　this　moment；　his　figure　taller　and　more　powerful。　His　countenance　is　manly　and　joyous；　his　eyes　sparkle　with　a　mysterious　fire；　a　smile　plays　about　his　lips；　and　his　whole　bearing　is　firm　and　commanding。

It　is　not　Osman　alone　who　sees　this　change。　Cousrouf　Pacha　has　also　observed　it。　His　countenance　darkens。　He　compresses　his　lips　as　if　to　repress　a　curse　that　is　struggling　for　utterance。　Yet　he　retains　his　air　of　indifference　and　grave　countenance；　though　his　cheeks　grow　a　shade　paler；　and　his　brow　somewhat　darker。

The　band　plays　a　lively　air。　Mohammed　conducts　his　soldiers　before　the　eyes　of　the　governor　and　his　guest　through　a　series　of　movements　and　evolutions　which　he　has　long　since　practiced　in　secret。　As　they　now　advance　toward　him；　〃Right　about；　halt！〃　r