mohammed ali and his house-第39部分

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They　knock　at　the　shutters；　they　shake　the　door；　but　all　remains　silent　within；　the　light　of　the　fire　does　not　awake　him；　the　cries　do　not　reach　his　ear。　He　is　not　there；　he　is　assuredly　not　passing　the　night　in　his　house。　It　has　certainly　been　set　on　fire　in　vain；　the　poor　people　have　sacrificed　their　property；　and　the　spies　have　failed　to　discover　where　Mohammed　Ali　has　passed　the　night。

On　the　following　morning　howls　and　lamentations　are　heard　in　the　lower　apartments　of　the　harem；　from　time　to　time　the　sound　of　blows　can　be　distinguished；　and　then　again　howls　and　cries　of　pain。

No　one　dares　inquire　into　the　cause　of　these　outcries；　for　in　his　own　apartments　Cousrouf　Pacha　is　master；　and　even　the　governor　would　not　venture　to　call　him　to　account　for　his　treatment　of　his　own　servants。

Osman　lay　on　his　cushions　in　the　little　portion　of　his　garden　that　had　alone　been　reserved　for　the　use　of　himself　and　father；　since　Cousrouf　Pacha　had　been　occupying　the　remainder　with　his　harem。　He　heard　the　howls　and　cries　of　pain　that　came　from　the　harem；　and　bowed　his　head　in　sadness。

〃These　poor　wretches　must　suffer　for　it！〃　he　murmured　to　himself。

But　suddenly　his　countenance　brightens；　as　he　sees　his　friend　approaching　in　his　glittering　uniform；　and　he　extends　both　hands　to　greet　him。

〃I　am　delighted　to　see　you；　Mohammed；　after　this　long　absence！〃

〃As　I　am　you！〃　said　the　latter；　his　countenance　radiant　with　smiles。　〃Forgive　me　for　not　having　come　to　see　you　all　day　yesterday。　I　was　so　busy　with　my　soldiers；　and　still　more　so　with　myself；　Osman！　I　have　had　much　to　learn　to　keep　the　soldiers　from　observing　that　I　was　a　mere　beginner　in　the　art　of　war。〃

〃And　that　is　all　you　have　to　say　in　excuse　for　your　conduct？〃　said　Osman；　looking　searchingly　into　his　friend's　countenance。

〃That　is　all；〃　replied　he；　hastily；　endeavoring　to　look　his　friend　full　in　the　face。　But　be　could　not；　and　looked　aside。

Osman　notices　this；　and　nods　his　head　with　a　smile　full　of　meaning。

〃Pray　seat　yourself　at　my　side　Mohammed？　Let　me　throw　my　arm　around　your　neck；　and　then　listen　to　me；　my　friend。　Offer　no　resistance；　for　I　must　confess　that　your　friend　Osman　has　been　employing　spies　for　some　time　past；　and　be　knows　more　than　Mohammed　supposes；　and　much　more　than　Consrouf　Pacha　dreams　of。〃

〃What　do　you　know？〃　asked　Mohammed；　trembling　slightly。　〃I　pray　you　tell　me；　Osman！〃

〃Listen；　Mohammed；〃　said　Osman；　bending　toward　him；　in　a　low　voice。　〃Lamentations　have　just　resounded　from　the　interior　of　the　pacha's　harem。　Two　of　his　eunuchs　have　received　the　bastinado；　and　do　you　know　why？　Because　they　could　not　inform　him　where　Mohammed　Ali　passed　the　last　and　the　preceding　night。〃

〃For　that　reason？〃　asked　Mohammed。　〃I　was　in　my　house。　If　Cousrouf　Pacha　had　himself　asked　me；　I　should　have　told　him　I　was　there！〃

Osman　gently　shook　his　head。　〃No；　Mohammed；　you　were　not　in　your　house；　and　Cousrouf　Pacha　well　knows　you　were　not。　Do　you　know　why？　He　lighted　a　lamp　to　look　for　you。〃

〃A　lamp？〃　asked　Mohammed。

〃Yes；　a　lamp！　And　do　you　know　what　this　lamp　consisted　of？　Of　the　house　that　stood　opposite　yours。　They　set　it　on　fire；　and　knocked　at　your　doors　and　window　shutters　to　awaken　you。And；　if　you　had　been　there；　you　would　have　heard　the　outcries　of　the　people；　and　would　assuredly　have　gone　to　their　assistance。　No；　Mohammed；　you　were　not　in　your　house　last　night！〃

〃I　was　above；　on　the　summit　of　the　rock；〃　said　Mohammed；　hastily；　and　in　a　somewhat　embarrassed　manner。

〃No；〃　said　Osman；　gently。　〃You　forget；　Mohammed；　that　you　came　down　in　the　evening　with　the　four　pigeons　you　had　shot；　and　you　also　forget　that　you　went　on　down　to　Praousta　as　it　grew　dark。〃

〃No；〃　said　Mohammed；　hastily；　〃no；　that　I　did　not　do！〃

〃Yes；　you　did；　my　friend；〃　said　Osman；　quietly。　〃A　cripple　stood　by　the　way…side；　whom　you　brushed　against　in　passing　by；　he　cursed　you；　and　followed　you　for　a　while；　continually　cursing；　but　you　walked　on　without　heeding　him。〃

Mohammed　looked　at　him　in　dismay。　〃How　do　you　know　all　this？〃

〃I　told　you　before　that　I　had　spies　who　watched　both　you　and　the　pacha。　I　employ　them　because　I　love　and　wish　to　protect　my　Mohammed！〃　He　placed　his　lips　close　to　his　ear；　and　whispered：　〃To　protect　you　and　the　white　dove　that　has　sought　safety　in　your　bosom。　Be　still！　Do　not　deny　me　this　favor！　Consider　that　your　happiness　is　also　that　of　your　friend；　and　that　he　watches　over　you　when　you　are　imprudent　in　the　rashness　of　your　overflowing　bliss。　Listen；　Mohammed！　You　went　down　to　the　sea…shore；　to　the　secret　place　among　the　cliffs；　known　only　to　you　and　me！　Do　you　not　remember　the　time　when；　filled　with　anxiety　on　your　account；　we　were　seeking　you　in　that　vicinity；　and　Mr。　Lion　saw　you　creep　out　of　a　crevice　in　the　rocks？　You　afterward　pointed　out　to　me　the　place　to　which　it　led；　and〃

〃For　Heaven's　sake；　mention　to　no　one　that　there　is　a　cave　there；　and　that　you　know　the　way　to　it！〃　said　Mohammed；　anxiously。

〃Did　I　not　tell　you　that　I　was　watching　over　you？〃　said　his　friend；　gently。　〃No　one　shall　hear　of　it；　only　be　careful　yourself　that　no　one　sees　you　enter　it。　You　are　surrounded　by　spies。　Cousrouf　Pacha　is　called　away；　and　the　ship　lies　in　the　harbor　awaiting　him。　And　do　you　know　what　he　told　the　captain　who　asked　him　if　he　would　sail　to…　day？　He　replied　'It　is　uncertain；　it　depends　on　circumstances　not　entirely　within　my　control。'　Do　you　know　what　that　means？　He　will　not　sail　until　he　has　discovered　and　punished　Masa；　the　runaway　slave；　as　he　calls　her。　Do　you　know　the　nature　of　the　punishment　administered　to　runaway　female　slaves；　and　to　women　who　have　been　guilty　of　infidelity　to　their　masters？〃

Mohammed　shuddered。　〃By　Allah；　Osman；　you　do　not　mean　to　say　that　the　pacha　would　carry　out　here；　with　us；　where　the　cruel　laws　of　the　harem　are　unknown；　the　punishment　administered　to　runaway　female　slaves　among　the　Turks？〃

Osman　nodded　in　assent。　〃You　must　know；　Mohammed；　that　the　commander；　now　fully　restored　to　the　favor　of　the　imperial　majesty；　in　Stamboul；　has　the　right；　wherever　he　may　be；　to　punish　his　slaves；　that　is；　his　property；　as　he　pleases。　To　save　her　father；　Masa　made　herself　his　property。　We；　my　father　and　I；　were　witnesses；　when　she　received　the　money；　and　when　he　said　to　her：　'Here　is　the　money　you　asked　me　for！　I　give　it　gladly；　but　you　know　what　I　give　it　for；　and　you　have　agreed　to　the　bargain！'〃

〃O　unhappy　woman！〃　groaned　Mohammed。

〃Be　still；　my　Mohammed！〃　said　Osman；　in　warning　tones。　〃Be　on　your　guard！　You　are　beset　with　spies；　for　these　eunuchs　are　battling　for　their　lives。　If　they　have　not　restored　Masa　alive　to　their　master　in　a　week；　their　heads　fall；　he　has　sworn　this；　and　they　know　he　will　keep　his　word。　They　are　cunning；　and　have　sharp　eyes。　Mohammed；　if　you　can　avoid　it；　do　not　go　down　into　the　grotto　to…day。　Everything　pends　on　deceiving　the　spies　and　putting　them　on　a　false　track。　Therefore；　pass　the　night　in　your　own　house。〃

〃Impossible！　quite　impossible！〃　said　Mohammed；　his　eyes　kindling　at　the　thought　of　his　love。　〃It　cannot　be；　even　if　it　should　cost　my　heart's　blood！　I　cannot　remain　in　my　house。〃

〃Then　remain　with　me。　Do　so　for　her　sake。　I　tell　you　your　white　dove　is　in　danger！　I　am　better　informed　than　the　rest；　for　I　have　in　my　service　a　spy；　a　good　angel；　whose　eyes　rest　neither　by　day　nor　night；　and　whose　ears　hear　everything　that　concerns　Mohammed　Ali。〃

〃And　who　is　this　angel？　〃　asked　Mohammed。

〃You　know　her　well；〃　said　Osman。　〃It　is　Marina；　my　dear　cousin。　She　often　goes　into　the　pacha's　harem；　and　has　formed　the　acquaintance　of　two　of　the　young　women；　who　tell　her　a　great　many　things　in　their　thoughtlessness。　Nothing　escapes　Marina's　ear；　for　I　will　confess；　my　friend；　that　she　loves　the　young　boulouk　bashi；　and　is　ready　to　separate　herself　from　her　jealous　husband　on　his　account。　But　I　candidly　told　her　that　he　did　not　love　her；　and　that　she　must　bury　her　wishes。　She　wept　long；　Mohammed；　but　when　she　had　dried　her　eyes；　she　said　she　loved　him　so　dearly　that　she　would　do　all　that　lay　in　her　power　to　secure　his　happiness；　and　that　she　would　watch　over　him　as　his　friend。〃

〃She　is　a　noble　woman；〃　said　Mohammed。　〃Bear　my　greeting　to　her；　but　I　pray　you　tell　her　nothing　more　concerning　me。〃

〃You　may　rest　assured；〃　said　Osman。　〃We　do　not　confide　our　dearest　secrets　to　women；　for　we　are　not　always　certain　of　their　silence。　She　knows　nothing；　except　that　the　pacha　is　your　enemy；　and　that　the　latter　has　told　these　women　that　he　is　seeking　an　opportunity　to　destroy　you。　You　have　often　offended　him　with　your　hasty　words　and　threatening　manner；　and　Cousrouf　Pacha　is　not　the　man　to　pardon　any　offence。　Marina　is　well　aware　of　this；　and　therefore　observes　and　listens　to　everything。〃

〃Does　Cousrouf　Pacha　know　that　there　is　any　connection　between　me　and　Masa？〃

〃Yes；　he　is　a　close　observer；　and；　on　the　morning　of　the　flight；　he　read　in　your　countenance；　as　I　also　did；　that　there　was　no　happier　man　in　Cavalla　than　Mohammed　Ali。　But　yesterday　his　countenance　was　gloomy；　to…day　it　is　radiant。　Cousrouf　Pacha　did　not　fail　to　divine　the　cause　of　this　sudden　transformation。　Therefore　be　on　your　guard；　my　friend；　and　wait　until　it　is　dark　and　all　are　asleep　before　you　go　to　your　cave。〃

〃I　will　do　so；　I　will　be　careful；　OsmanI　swear　it。　Accept　my　warmest　thanks　for　your　care　and　watchfulness。　Allah　will　some　day　enable　me　to　prove　my　gratitude；　and　will　also　permit　you　to　be　a　witness　of　your　friend's　happiness。　And　now；　farewell；　and　to…　morrow；　if　it　be　Allah's　will；　I　shall　return　to　you　in　joyousness　and　safety。〃

〃May　Allah　grant　it！〃　said　Osman。　〃Allah　be　with　you；　and　the　prophet　illumine　your　heart！　One　thing　more；　my　Mohammed：　Lovers；　it　is　said；　are　forgetful；　the　warning　voice　easily　escapes；　their　hearing；　and　with　open　eyes　they　dream　blissful　dreams　which　make　them　oblivious　of　reality。　It　may　therefore　be　well　to　arouse　them　sometimes；　and　I　will　try　to　awaken　my　dear　dreamer。　If　you　hear　the　report　of　a　pistol　in　the　night；　consider　that　it　is　Osman　warning　you　to　be　on　your　guard。　But　if　two　other　shots　soon　after　follow　the　first；　this　signal　shall　announce　that　danger　threatens；　and　that　I　am　calling　you。　In　that　case；　come　to　me　at　once；　no　matter　what　time