mohammed ali and his house-第38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！



Mohammed　did　not　reply；　he　had　probably　not　heard　him。　He　quietly　selected；　from　the　box　handed　him；　a　beautiful　ring　set　with　a　precious　stone；　then　four　beautiful　cups　and　saucers　of　the　finest　Chinese　porcelain；　and　a　variety　of　other　articles　necessary　for　housekeeping。　He　concluded　by　demanding　a　pair　of　pillows　and　coverlids。

Mr。　Lion　asks　no　more　questions；　he　now　knows　that　Mohammed　intends　to　marry；　and　is　furnishing　his　house。　He　is　satisfied；　and　lets　his　young　friend　have　all　he　has　selected　at　half　the　price　he　would　have　charged　other　purchasers。

Mohammed　joyfully　paid　the　price；　and　gazed　at　the　beautiful　articles　he　had　purchased；　with　sparkling　eyes。

〃If　you　wish　it；　Mohammed；〃　said　the　merchant；　〃I　will　send　a　servant　with　you。〃

〃Thank　you；　I　am　going　to　my　house；　and　he　can　accompany　me　with　the　things。〃

Mohammed　took　leave　of　the　merchant；　and　left　the　store；　the　servant　following　heavily　laden。

After　a　few　moments　Mohammed；　however；　turned；　and　came　back　to　the　merchant；　who　was　standing　on　the　threshold　looking　after　him。

〃One　thing　more；　dear　sir。　You　are　my　friend；　and；　as　I　well　know；　mean　well　by　me；〃　said　he；　in　low；　hasty　tones。

〃Certainly；　Mohammed　Ali；　and　gladly　would　I　prove　to　you　my　friendship。〃

〃You　can　do　so；　tell　no　one　of　my　purchasesno　one；〃　replied　Mohammed　with　a　look　of　entreaty。

The　merchant　promised　to　be　silent　on　the　subject。

〃Thank　you；　kind　friend。　I　am　happy；　yet　all　depends　on　Allah's　blessing。〃

He　pressed　the　merchant's　hand　once　more；　and　walked　out；　hastily　beckoning　to　the　servant；　who　had　remained　standing　in　the　street；　to　follow　him。　He　then　walked　on　to　the　little　hut　of　his　mother　Khadra。

He　pushes　open　the　door；　and　the　servant　follows　him　into　the　room。　The　bundle　is　laid　on　the　floor；　on　the　place　where　his　mother　died；　and　Mohammed　generously　and　proudly；　like　a　man　of　rank；　hands　the　servant　a　gratuity；　and　bids　him　return。　He　walks　off　well　pleased；　and　Mohammed　is　now　left　alone　in　his　mother's　hut。

An　old　woman　is　sitting　just　opposite　the　hut。　She　was　there　when　he　entered；　smoking　a　short　pipe；　her　arms　crossed　on　her　knees。　She　looked　about　carelessly；　only　now　and　then　casting　a　glance　at　the　house　of　the　young　boulouk　bashi；　who　had　locked　himself　in。

Mohammed　had　thought　nothing　of　her　presence。　What　cared　he　for　the　old　woman　there　on　the　stone；　smoking　her　pipe？

When；　after　a　short　time；　he　steps　out　of　his　hut；　she　stretches　out　her　hand　and　begs　for　alms。

Hardly　looking　at　her；　he　draws　a　copper　coin　from　his　pocket；　gives　it　to　her　and　walks　on。

The　old　woman　keeps　her　seat；　and　mutters　a　few　words　to　herself。

Mohammed　walks　on　rapidly。

A　boy　is　skipping　along　on　the　other　side　of　the　street；　whistling　a　merry　air。

What　does　this　concern　Mohammed？　He　walks　on　down　the　street　on　the　one　side；　the　boy　follows　him　on　the　other。

Mohammed　heeds　the　boy　as　little　as　he　had　heeded　the　old　woman。　What　does　he　care　for　the　boy；　who　seems　wholly　absorbed　in　his　musical　efforts？

He　entered　the　store　of　the　merchant；　who　dealt　in　all　kinds　of　provisions；　in　olives；　meats；　chocolate；　sugar；　and　eggs。　Mohammed　purchases　some　of　all　these　articles；　and　it　amuses　and　astonishes　the　merchant　to　see　the　young　officer　become；　of　a　sudden；　his　own　housewife。　But　he　does　not　venture　to　say　so；　or　ask　any　questions；　Mohammed's　grave　looks　and　bearing　forbid　any　attempt　at　raillery。

A　servant　is　ordered　to　put　the　things　in　a　basket；　and　take　them　to　his　house。

As　he　walks　out　of　the　store　again；　he　hears　the　boy's　shrill　whistling　in　the　distance。　He　pays　no　attention　to　this；　and　walks　on　quietly。　The　whistling　suddenly　ceases；　and　the　boy；　who　had　posted　himself　in　the　vicinity；　so　that　Mohammed　could　not　see　him　on　coming　out；　now　runs　after　him；　stepping　close　to　the　basket　in　passing；　he　casts　a　quick；　searching　glance　at　the　articles　it　contained；　as　if　taking　note　in　expectation　of　being　called　on　to　give　an　account　of　its　contents。

The　old　woman　is　still　sitting　opposite　Mohammed's　house；　reposing　there；　apparently；　after　smoking　her　pipe。　Her　head　is　thrown　back；　resting　against　the　door；　and　her　eyes　are　closed；　she　seems　to　be　sleeping。




CHAPTER　X

THE　DEPARTURE。


A　new　and　great　event　occupied　the　attention　of　the　inhabitants　of　Cavalla　and　Praousta　on　the　following　morning。　A　large　and　magnificent　ship　had　entered　the　harbor　during　the　night；　a　vessel　of　the　Turkish　navy：　its　dark…red　flag；　with　the　grand…sultan's　crown　on　its　dark　field；　showed　it　to　be　such。　The　sailors　were　attired　in　glittering　uniforms；　and　on　the　deck　stood　a　tent　embroidered　with　gold；　beneath　it　a　luxurious　couch　of　swelling　cushions。　The　ship　was　still　handsomer　than　the　one　on　which　Cousrouf　Pacha　had　arrived　three　years　before。　But　then　he　had　come　to　Cavalla　as　an　exile；　and　had　not　been　sent　away　with　the　same　ceremony　with　which　they　were　now　prepared　to　welcome　him　back。　For　it　is　already　known；　and　the　intelligence　has　rapidly　spread；　that　this　ship　has　come　from　Stamboul　to　convey　Cousrouf　Pacha　back　to　his　home；　and；　therefore；　was　it　so　festively　decorated　with　flags；　and　carpets；　and　garlands　of　flowers。

His　friend　the　grand…admiral；　Hussein　Pacha；　has　been　working　in　his　interest；　and　the　sunlight　of　his　master's　favor　is　once　more　shed　upon　the　head　of　the　exile。

With　great　dignity　Cousrouf　received　the　captain；　who　bowed　profoundly　before　him；　while　those　who　accompanied　him　threw　themselves　upon　the　ground；　touching　the　earth　with　their　foreheads。　He　received　the　imperial　missive　with　perfect　composure；　opened　it；　and　inclined　his　head　with　a　gracious　expression　of　countenance；　as　though　he　were　dispensing　and　not　receiving　a　favor。

〃'Tis　well；　captainI　am　ready！　Our　most　gracious　emperor　and　master　has　written　to　me；　and　as　he　WISHES〃（he　emphasized　this　word；　the　sultan　only　expresses　a　wish；　he　does　not　command　Cousrouf　Pacha）〃as　he　wishes　me　to　return　to　Stamboul　with　all　convenient　speed；　keep　every　thing　in　readiness　to　sail。〃

〃Will　your　excellency　sail　to…day？〃　asked　the　captain。

Cousrouf　Pacha　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃I　do　not　know。　It　may　be　to…　day；　and　yet　it　may　not　be　possible　to　depart　for　a　week。　It　depends　on　circumstances　which　I　cannot　entirely　control；　but　keep　everything　in　readiness；　as　I　may；　should　matters　take　a　favorable　turn；　be　enabled　to　depart　at　any　hour。〃

Walking　backward；　his　head　profoundly　inclined；　the　captain　quits　the　saloon；　his　suite　creep　out　on　their　knees。

Cousrouf　stands　haughtily　erect；　gazing　proudly　after　them。　When　they　had　gone　out；　he　utters　a　cry；　a　command；　and　a　side…door　opens；　and　two　of　his　eunuchs；　his　confidants；　enter　the　room。

〃Make　your　report！〃　he　exclaims；　sternly；　as　he　raises　his　hand　threateningly；　and　then　lets　it　fall　again　to　his　side。　〃Tell　me；　dogs；　where　is　the　runaway　slave？〃

They　threw　themselves　on　their　knees　before　him；　and　crossed　their　arms　on　their　breasts。

〃O　lord　and　master；　we　do　not　know。〃

〃You　do　not　know；　you　dogs？　Then　you　are　determined　to　be　chastised？〃　cries　the　pacha。　〃You　have　no　trace　of　her　whatever？〃

〃No；　O　master；　not　as　yet。〃

〃Yet　you　are　aware　that　I　have　only　given　you　seven　days'　time？　If　you　do　not　restore　her　to　me　within　that　time；　your　heads　fall！　You　have　not　forgotten　that？〃

〃No；　master；　we　have　not　forgotten　it。〃

〃You　are　wise；〃　said　the　pacha；　quietly。　〃What　about　Mohammed　Ali；　have　you　caused　his　movements　to　be　closely　watched？〃

〃Yes；　master；　we　have　done　so。〃

〃Then　speak；〃　commanded　the　pacha；　falling　back　on　his　cushions　with　closed　eyes；　slowly　smoking　his　chibouque；　and　opening　his　lips　from　time　to　time　to　allow　a　whiff　of　smoke　to　curl　slowly　upward。　〃Your　report；　dogs！〃

With　ready　tongues　the　eunuchs　reported　all　the　old　woman　and　boy　had　observed。

〃Continue；〃　commanded　the　pacha；　as　they　both　ceased　speaking；　〃continue。〃

〃Master；　we　have　nothing　further　to　report。〃

〃You　are　a　couple　of　blockheads；〃　observed　their　gracious　master。　〃Goods；　table…ware；　provisionsyou　know　nothing　else。〃

〃No；　lord　and　master；　we　know　of　nothing　else。〃

〃But　the　one　thing；　the　most　important；　tell　me：　where　did　the　boulouk　bashi　pass　the　night？〃

〃Master；　we　believe　he　passed　it　in　his　house。〃

〃You　only　believe　it？　This　night　you　must　know。　But　take　notice　of　this：　Be　careful　not　to　injure　himself　or　his　property。　His　person　and　his　property　shall　not　be　touched　this　I　have　sworn。　Yet　know　this：　If　you　do　not　tell　me　tomorrow　morning　where　the　boulouk　bashi　has　passed　the　night；　you　shall　both　receive　the　bastinado；　and　after　such　a　fashion　that　you　will　find　walking　anything　but　pleasant；　and　yet　I　will　have　you　driven　through　the　city　in　search　of　the　information　you　are　so　slow　in　getting。〃

With　a　gesture　of　the　hand　he　motioned　to　them　to　leave　the　room；　and　they　withdrew　as　they　had　entered；　on　their　knees。　After　closing　the　door　behind　them；　they　jumped　hastily　to　their　feet。

〃The　bastinado！　Did　you　hear？〃　asked　the　one；　〃We　must　find　out　at　every　cost　where　the　boulouk　bashi　passes　the　night。　But　how　can　we？　We　are　neither　to　injure　his　property；　nor　to　touch　him　or　what　belongs　to　him。　We　are　not　allowed　to　open　his　door　or　break　into　his　house；　what　are　we　to　do？〃

〃I　have　thought　of　something；〃　said　the　other。　〃Come；　I　will　tell　you。　Let　us　get　everything　ready。〃

Dark　clouds　covered　the　heavens；　shutting　out　the　light　of　the　moon　and　stars；　and　night　sank　down　over　the　earth　earlier　than　usual。

The　people　had　retired　to　rest；　and　the　houses　were　dark。　Suddenly　a　bright　light　illumined　the　surrounding　darkness；　and　cries　for　help　resounded　through　the　air。　The　house　that　stood　opposite　Mohammed's　is　enveloped　in　flames；　and　its　occupants　rush　out　yelling　and　screaming　for　help。

The　old　woman　and　the　boy　ran　over　the　way　and　knocked　at　the　window…shutters　of　the　young　boulouk　bashi。

〃Come　out；　come　out；　Mohammed　Ali！　Save　yourself！　Your　house　has　commenced　to　burn！〃

All　was　still　in　the　house；　as　though　Mohammed　knew　the　voice　lied；　that　there　was　no　danger；　and　that　he　could　sleep　on　quietly。

They　knock　at　the　shutters；　they　shake　the　door；　but　all　remains　silent　within；　the　light　of　the　fire　doe