mohammed ali and his house-第37部分

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〃Who　knows　where　Mohammed　Ali　now　is？〃

〃He　has　not　been　seen　at　the　palace　since　the　reception　of　the　soldiers　in　the　court…yard。〃

〃He　must　have　gone　to　the　hut　his　mother　once　occupied；　as　he　often　does　when　he　wishes　to　be　alone。〃

Of　late　he　had　been　absent　less　than　usual；　having　promised　his　friend　Osman　to　live　and　stay　with　him。　But　now　that　he　is　captain　of　a　company；　it　would　perhaps　not　become　him　to　remain　at　the　palace　as　the　tschorbadji's　guest；　for　this　reason　he　would　probably　go　to　his　own　hut　to　take　up　his　abode　there。　Yes；　he　has　passed　the　night　in　his　own　little　house；　and　he　has　just　quitted　it　and　walked　into　the　main　street　of　the　city；　on　his　way　to　the　store　of　the　merchant　Lion。

The　merchant　saw　him　coming；　and　hastened　forward　to　congratulate　him　on　the　high　honor　conferred　upon　him；　and　to　rejoice　over　the　stately　appearance　of　the　young　man；　who　pleased　him　well　in　his　uniform；　with　his　sword　at　his　side。

〃Truly　a　beautiful　uniform；　Mohammed　Ali；　and　I　have　but　one　regret；　and　that　is　that　your　mother；　Sitta　Khadra；　is　not　here　to　see　you　in　your　magnificence。　How　she　would　rejoice　to　see　her　son；　her　heart's　darling；　her　Mohammed　Ali；　in　all　his　glory！〃

〃I；　too；　wish　my　dear　mother；　Sitta　Khadra；　were　here　now；〃　said　Mohammed；　with　a　sigh。　〃I　have　never　before　missed　and　needed　her　as　much　as　now；　and　you　are　right；　too；　in　thinking　she　would　rejoice　could　she　see　me　now。　Yes；　with　all　her　heart；　Mr。　Lion。　Ah　life；　were　beautiful　indeed；　if　Death　were　not　always　standing　threateningly　before　us！　He　takes　from　us　what　we　love　most；　and　esteem　highest；　we　must　ever　be　on　our　guard　against　him；　and　keep　our　door　barred　that　he　may　not　steal　into　our　midst　and　rob　us　of　some　fair　life。〃

The　merchant　regards　him　with　amazement。　He　has　never　heard　the　young　boulouk　bashi　talk　in　this　sentimental　manner　before；　and　it　surprises　him　too；　to　see　his　countenance　so　changedso　radiant；　serene；　and　cloudless；　the　chaste；　thoughtful　browsso　bright；　the　flash　of　his　large　brown　eyes。

〃Mohammed；　my　young　friend；　what　bliss　has　Fortune　bestowed　on　you？　Tell　your　friend　the　secret；　for；　truly　all　that　concerns　and　pleases　you；　gladdens　my　own　heart。　Tell　me　what　has　worked　this　change　in　you？〃

〃And　you　still　ask？　You　see　me　in　my　uniformin　my　glory；　as　you　call　itit　is　this　that　has　worked　the　change！〃

The　merchant　shook　his　head。　〃No；　it　is　not　that；　Mohammed　Ali；　that　which　sparkles　in　your　eyes；　and　resounds　from　your　lips　in　such　joyous　words；　has　nothing　to　do　with　your　uniform　or　with　your　new　dignity。　It　must　be　something　entirely　different；　yet；　if　you　do　not　wish　to　tell　me；　I　will　ask　you　no　further。　May　Allah　be　with　you　in　all　things；　and　I　will　entreat　the　same　of　my　God。　I　think　and　trust　both　will　hear　the　prayer；　for　they　are　one　and　the　same；　after　all。　Now；　my　young　friend；　come　into　my　store　with　me　and　let　us　chat　with　each　other　while　we　smoke　the　nargile；　and　refresh　ourselves　with　a　cup　of　coffee。Ho！　ye　lads；　Admeh；　bring　us　coffee　and　the　nargile；　with　some　of　the　finest　tobaccosome　of　that　intended　for　the　sultana　at　Stamboul；　that　is　to　be　sent　off　to…morrow。　There　is　great　joy　in　my　house　to…day；　for　Mohammed　Ali；　the　young　boulouk　bashi；　is　here。〃

He　seats　himself　on　a　cushion　covered　with　Persian　carpet；　and　requests　Mohammed　to　seat　himself　on　another　at　his　side。　He　does　as　requested；　but　it　does　not　escape　the　merchant's　observant　eye　that　he　conforms　to　this　hospitable　usage　with　impatience；　and　does　not　wish　to　remain　long。　He　therefore　does　not　urge　him　to　remain　when　he；　after　a　short　time；　rises　and　asks　the　merchant　to　go　with　him　to　the　store。

He　wishes　to　buy　all　sorts　of　things。　He　has　received　his　first　salary　from　the　tschorbadji　to…day；　and　desires　to　spend　a　portion　of　it　for　some　of　the　pretty　things　of　which　there　are　such　quantities　and　varieties　in　the　merchant's　store。

〃It　depends　on　what　you　wish；　Mohammed。　Is　it　carpets　or　cushions？　or　is　it　female　attire　or　jewelry？　Do　you　want　mirrors；　embroidered　veils；　or　silken　shawls？　What　is　it　you　want？〃

Somewhat　confused　and　embarrassed；　Mohammed　looks　at　the　merchant　and　hardly　knows　what　to　say。

〃Then　let　me　have　a　carpet；　I　wish　to　spread　it　out　in　my　room。　I　have；　until　now；　changed　nothing　in　my　hut；　but　have　left　it　just　as　it　was　when　Sitta　Khadra　lived　in　it。　Now；　however；　it　seems　to　me　that　it　would　not　perhaps　become　the　boulouk　bashi　to　continue　to　live　so　wretchedly。〃

〃Yes；　the　old　storywith　office　comes　pride；〃　said　the　merchant；　laughing。　〃The　boulouk　bashi；　of　course；　needs　carpets　and　all　sorts　of　furniture。　Here　is　an　arm…chair　inlaid　with　mother…of…pearl；　does　it　suit？　Here　are　Persian　carpets；　the　colors　are　a　little　faded；　and　you　can　have　them　at　a　low　price。〃

〃No；　nothing　with　faded　colors。　Let　me　have　your　most　beautiful　carpet！　Let　the　ground　be　white　and　covered　with　flowers；　with　roses　and　violets；　and　I　wish；　too；　they　could　have　life　and　fragrance！〃

〃Oho；　Mr。　Boulouk　Bashi！〃　cried　the　merchant；　laughing；　and　raising　his　finger　threateningly。　〃Now　the　secret　is　out；　you　are　in；　love！　This　carpet　is　not　for　yourself；　but　for　some　beautiful　woman。　Ah；　yes；　I　have　heard　something　about　this　affair　before；　and　now　I　know　it　is　true。〃

〃What　have　you　heard；　sir？　What　is　it　that　is　said　of　me？〃　asked　Mohammed；　gravely；　his　countenance　suddenly　darkening。

〃Well；　people　ask　why　it　is　that　Osman；　the　tschorbadji's　son；　is　so　very　affectionate　to　you；　and　why　the　governor　himself　has　always　so　distinguished　you；　and　now　made　you　boulouk　bashi？〃

〃I　had　supposed　it　was　because　I　deserved　it；〃　said　Mohammed；　hastily；　〃and　I　thought　Osman　showed　his　affection　because　he　loved　the　friend　who　had　grown　up　with　him。〃

〃He　assuredly　does　love　you；　and　the　tschorbadji　also　rewards　you　on　account　of　your　merit；　or　he　would　not　have　done　so　at　all；　and　would　not　have　chosen　you　for　what　he　desires　of　you。〃

〃And　what　does　he　desire　of　me？　For　what　has　he　chosen　me？〃

〃It　is　said　he　wishes　you　to　become　the　husband　of　the　beautiful　Marina；　his　niece。〃

〃I　do　not　even　know　this　lady；〃　said　Mohammed；　shrugging　his　shoulders。

〃You　do　not　know　her；　but　she　perhaps　knows　you；〃　said　the　merchant；　smiling。　〃She　is　very　beautiful；　it　is　said。　She　is　married；　as　you　are　aware；　to　my　rival；　the　merchant　across　the　street；　I　have　observed　that　this　fair　lady　opens　her　shutters；　to　peep　out　at　Mohammed；　whenever　he　passes　by。　The　neighbors　say　this　is　why　her　husband　has　become　jealous；　and　threatens　to　drive　her　away；　if　she　continues　to　look　after　the　young　men。　You　now　perceive；　Mohammed；　that　Marina；　the　tschorbadji's　niece；　has　an　eye　on　you；　and　perhaps　even　two；　and　that　her　husband　knows　it。　The　peace　of　the　house　has　thus　been　broken　on　your　account；　and　the　people　say　the　tschorbadji　will　now　take　his　niece　home　again；　and　that　you　are　to　marry　her　afterward。　It　is　a　good　match；　Mohammed；　a　very　good　match。　I　shall　be　disappointed　if　you　do　not　marry　this　lady。　She　is　rich；　very　rich；　and　are　you　aware　that；　with　your　epaulets；　your　uniform；　and　your　handsome　sword；　you　must　have　money。　Moreover；　my　son；　he　who　intends　to　rise　in　the　world　must　have　a　great　deal　of　money！　It　is　not　through　his　own　merit　that　a　man　is　advanced。　If　he　is　poor；　he　remains　in　the　dust。　You　know　I　have　offered　to　assist　you；　but　you　refused　me　because　you　did　not　wish　to　accept　benefits；　and　you　were　right。　My　advice　you　can；　however；　accept；　and　my　advice　is；　marry　the　beautiful；　the　rich　Marina；　when　her　husband　divorces　her；　and　sufficient　time　has　elapsed。　She　is　very　young；　younger　than　you；　my　young　friend　Mohammed　numbers　eighteen　years；　and　the　tschorbadji's　young　niece　only　fifteen。　Take　my　advice；　and　preserve　your　heart　until　it　is　time　to　let　its　wings　grow；　and　then　stretch　out　your　hand　after　the　fair　Marina。〃

〃Thanks　for　your　advice；〃　cried　Mohammed；　laughing。

Never　before　had　the　merchant　heard　him　laugh　so　heartily；　never　before　had　he　seen　him　make　such　a　display　of　his　white　teeth。　Until　to…day；　Mohammed　had　been　a　remarkably　grave　youth。　What　can　it　be　that　makes　him　look　so　joyous　and　laugh　so　heartily　all　of　a　sudden？

〃Let　us；　however；　hear　no　more　about　this　fair　Marina。　I　do　not　know　her；　and　have　never　seen　her。　That　is　to　say；　I　may　have　seen　her　once　or　twice；　with　Osman；　when　we　happened　to　pass　the　veiled　woman　and　her　husband　on　the　street；　and　I　believe　she　did　stand　still　and　look　after　us。　I　thought；　at　the　time；　it　was　on　Osman's　account；　and　probably　it　was。　How　could　the　rich　lady　have　turned　to　look　at　the　poor　lad　Mohammed　Ali？　And　now　to　other　matters。　Show　me　goods；　show　me　carpets；　and　I　want　the　best　and　the　handsomest。　The　carpet　is　to　lie　where　my　mother's　mat　once　lay；　and　on　which　she　died；　and　this　spot　cannot　be　too　handsomely　adorned。　Therefore；　give　me　a　costly　carpet。〃

〃Let　it　be　just　as　you　say；〃　said　the　merchant；　smiling。　He　then　called　his　servants；　and　ordered　them　to　bring　down　his　handsomest　carpets；　and　spread　them　out　before　the　young　captain；　in　order　that　he　might　select　one。

〃You　want　nothing　else；　only　a　carpet？〃

Mohammed　turned　his　head　a　little　to　one　side；　and　avoided　meeting　the　merchant's　keen　gaze。　〃　O　yes；　a　number　of　other　things。　I　want　some　table…ware；　cups；　glasses；　and　the　like。　I　also　want；〃　he　continued　talking　rapidly；　and　with　forced　indifference；　〃I　also　want　a　warm　woollen　cloak；　such　as　women　wear。　I　promised　a　cloak　to　an　old　friend　of　my　mother。　Give　me　a　warm　woollen　cloak。〃

The　merchant　made　no　reply。　He　only　smiled　significantly；　and　brought　out　the　goods；　dark；　plain　goods；　such　as　became　an　old　woman；　and　a　friend　of　poor　Sitta　Khadra。

But　Mohammed　promptly　rejected　it。　That　would　not　be　nice　enough　for　a　present。　He　wanted　better；　finer　material；　and　in　lighter　colors。

The　merchant　expressed　no　astonishment；　but　silently　brought　out　finer　goods。　Mohammed　selected　the　very　handsomest　cloak　for　the　old　friend　of　his　deceased　mother。　Finally；　he　timidly　asked　for　finger…　rings　and　bracelets。

〃Also　for　the　old　friend　of　your　good　mother　Khadra？〃　inquired　the　merchant；　with　an　air　of　mock　gravity。

Mohammed　did　not　reply；　he　had　probably　not　heard　him。　He　quietly　se