mohammed ali and his house-第40部分

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nce；　no　matter　what　time　of　night　it　may　be。　I　shall　await　you。　Now　you　may　go；　my　friend；　and　Allah　be　with　you！〃




CHAPTER　XI

THE　TRIPLE　OATH。


〃We　must　assure　his　safety；〃　murmured　Osman；　as　he　looked　after　his　friend；　who　was　hastily　leaving　the　garden。　〃His　life　must　at　least　be　sacred；　and　I　will　go　at　once　with　my　father　to　Cousrouf　Pacha。　It　is　a　sacrifice；　for　I　hate　this　proud；　overbearing　man。　He　seems　to　consider　himself　as　conferring　a　favor　when　he　condescends　to　accept　our　hospitality。　I　hate　him！　Yet　I　will　humiliate　myself　for　my　friend's　sake；　and　play　the　humble　and　devoted　servant。　I　shall　find　strength　to　do　so；　for　it　is　for　Mohammed　and　his　white　dove。　Yes；　I　will　go　with　my　father　to　the　pacha's　apartments。〃

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　Tschorbadji　Hassan；　with　a　startled　and　sorrowful　expression　of　countenance　entered　the　room　where　Cousrouf　Pacha　lay　reclining　on　his　soft　cushions；　dreamily　smoking　his　chibouque。

〃Is　it；　then；　really　true？　The　whole　house　is　filled　with　dismay　and　regret。　Is　it　true　that　you　intend　leaving　us　tomorrow？〃

〃Perhaps；〃　replied　the　pacha；　composedly；　rising　slowly　from　his　cushions　to　quiet　the　governor；　with　haughty　condescension。

〃So　soon？　Then　it　is　indeed　true？　We　had　heard　so；　but　we　could　not　and　would　not　believe　it。　We　love　you　so　dearly　that　we　shall　unwillingly　see　you　depart。　Even　my　son；　my　poor　sick　Osman；　who　cannot　walk　up　a　stairway　because　of　his　weakness；　has　requested　that　he　may　be　permitted　to　come　in　person　to　take　leave　of　you；　and　to　beg　that　you　will　remember　and　be　gracious　to　him　in　the　future　also。　Will　your　excellency　permit　his　servants　to　bring　him　in？〃

Cousrouf　Pacha　made　no　reply；　but　arose；　walked　hastily　to　the　door；　opened　it　himself；　and　stepped　out　to　Osman；　who　lay　on　the　couch；　beside　which　stood　the　slaves　who　had　brought　him　up。

〃Osman；　I　thank　you　for　this　proof　of　your　friendly　consideration。　Take　hold　now；　ye　dogs；　and　bear　your　master　into　the　room！〃

He　walked　beside　the　couch　while　the　slaves　bore　it　into　the　room；　and　deposited　it；　at　his　command；　beside　his　own　cushions。

〃Now　come；　too；　tschorbadji；　and　seat　yourself　at　our　side；　and　let　us　smoke　the　chibouque　together　for　the　last　time。〃

〃The　pipe　of　peace；　Cousrouf　Pacha；　as　the　savages　do　when　seated　together　for　the　last　time　in　their　wigwam；〃　said　Osman；　smiling。

The　pacha　cast　a　searching　glance　at　him。

〃Tschorbadji；　you　have　a　very　learned　son。　I　know　nothing　of　such　things；　have　never　heard　of　them。　Who　smoke　the　pipe　of　peace？〃

〃The　savages　in　America；　when　they　become　reconciled　to　their　enemies；　and　receive　them　in　their　wigwam。〃

〃But　that　has　no　application　to　us。　In　the　first　place；　we　are　not　savages；　but　very　respectable　and　considerable　people；　and　secondly；　I　trust　I　am　not　receiving　enemies　here；　with　whom　it　is　necessary　to　smoke　the　pipe　of　peace。〃

〃Certainly　not；　but　very　faithful　friends　and　devoted　servants；　who　have　come　to　bid　you　a　last　farewell。〃

〃You　are　right；　tschorbadji；　a　last　farewell；　I　trust；〃　said　the　pacha；　laughing。　〃For　（and　forgive　me　for　saying　so）　it　is　horribly　dull　here　in　your　city　of　Cavalla。　Your　revolutionary　fishermen　and　the　rest　of　the　rabble　here　would　make　my　life　intolerable。　I　admire　you；　tschorbadji；　for　having　the　courage　to　bear　itand　particularly　you；　my　dear　Osman。　You　should　endeavor　to　obtain　some　position　in　Stamboul。　There　you　would　recover　your　health；　the　rude　sea　air　here　is　assuredly　injurious　to　your　weak　lungs。〃

〃I　wish　he　would　do　so；〃　said　the　tscborbadji；　with　a　sigh。　〃You　are　certainly　right；　the　keen　sea　air；　and　the　rough　storms　that　often　surge　down　from　the　mountains　are　injurious　to　my　son；　but　it　is　different　in　Stamboul；　where　one　is　protected　from　the　surrounding　mountains。　I　wish　he　would　go　to　Stamboul；　and　that　you　would　assist　him　in　obtaining　a　suitable　position　there。〃

〃Father；〃　replied　Osman；　gently；　〃I　will　not　separate　myself　from　you。　Wherever　you　are　there　will　I　remain；　for　we　two　are　inseparable。〃

〃Then　a　better　place　must　be　found　for　your　father；　Osman。〃

〃If　that　could　be；　excellency；　I　should　be　happy　indeed！〃　cried　the　governor。

〃I　am　under　obligations　to　you；　tschorbadji；〃　observed　the　pacha；　bowing　haughtily。　〃I　am　really　greatly　in　your　debt。　With　all　my　servants　I　have　been　your　guest　for　three　years；　and　I　vainly　urged　you　to　accept　payment。　Indeed；　I　hardly　dared　speak　of　it　to　the　wealthy　and　distinguished　tschorbadji；　and　it　was　not　fitting　to　attempt　to　remunerate　him；　But　yet；　I　assure　you；　this　weight　of　gratitude　rests　heavily　on　me。　I　have　accepted　your　hospitality　without　recompense　for　these　three　long　years。　Now；　however；　tschorbadji；　now　that　Cousrouf　Pacha　is　about　to　return　to　Stamboul；　he　can　at　last　repay　this　burden　of　gratitude　and　debt。　You　are　my　friend；　and　I　now　beg　you　to　tell　me　of　something　I　can　do　for　you。　Cousrouf　Pacha　now　has　power　and　influence　which　he　will　exert　for　those　he　loves。　Therefore　I　entreat　you；　tschorbadji；　acquaint　me　with　your　wishes。〃

〃I　have　no　other　wishes　than　those　of　my　son。　They　call　me　here　an　affectionate　father；　and　mention　me　as　an　example　of　passionate　paternal　love；　and　they　are　right。　My　Osman　is　every　thing　to　me；　he　is　my　wife；　child；　sister；　friend；　comrade；　my　all。　What　Osman　wishes　that　is　my　wish　also。　Therefore；　if　it　so　pleases　you；　transfer　your　gracious　favor　to　my　son；　and　grant　his　request；　if　he　has　one　to　prefer。〃

〃I　swear　by　my　beard；　by　Allah；　and　by　the　prophet；　if　Osman　expresses　a　wish；　I　will　grant　it　certainly　and　surely。　I　repeat　my　triple　oath；　and　call　Allah　to　witness　it。　What　he　requests　I　will　grant！〃

〃You　have　heard　this　oath；　father；　and　Allah　has　heard　it；　too；〃　said　Osman；　solemnly　rising　from　his　couch　and　turning　the　gaze　of　his　large　luminous　eyes　full　on　the　pacha's　countenance。　〃I　have　a　wish；　a　great；　a　cherished　wish。〃

〃And　can　I　grant　it？〃

〃You　can　if　you　will。〃

〃Certainly　I　will；　for　I　am　now　bound　by　the　triple　oath。　It　is　sacred　to　every　Moslem；　and　sacred　to　me　at　all　times。　So　speak；　Osman；　and　I　will　grant　what　you　request。〃

Osman　rose　from　his　seat；　and　the　pale；　weak　youth　stood　there　with　so　solemn　an　expression　that　the　tschorbadji　and　the　pacha　involuntarily　arose　from　their　cushions。

〃Cousrouf　Pacha；　hear　my　wish：　I　require；　wish；　and　expect　of　you；　that　you　hold　sacred；　that　is；　that　you　neither　personally；　nor　through　any　one　else；　insult　or　injure　the　person　of　my　friend　Mohammed　Ali；　the　only　being　I　love　beside　my　father。〃

The　pacha　regarded　him　with　a　long；　gloomy；　threatening　look；　and　made　no　reply。　Osman　read　in　his　face　the　struggle　that　was　raging　in　his　soul；　and　continued　in　gentle　tones：

〃Cousrouf　Pacha；　look　at　me。　I　am　a　frail　reed；　liable　to　be　thrown　to　the　ground　by　every　breath　of　wind。　I　am　a　poor　blade　of　grass　upon　the　sea…shore；　liable　to　be　swept　to　destruction　by　each　wave。　Oh；　grant　me　this　request；　in　order　that；　while　the　sun　still　shines　for　me；　I　may　enjoy　the　last　hours　of　my　existence　in　peace！〃

〃Yes；　do　so；　mighty　pacha；〃　cried　the　tschorbadji；　bursting　into　tears；　and　falling　upon　his　knees　with　folded　hands。　〃Cousrouf　Pacha；　see　me　here　at　your　feet；　and　grant　my　son's　request　in　order　that　he　may　live。　I　know　that　he　loves　Mohammed　Ali；　that　he　loves　him　even　more　than　his　father。　He　fears　that　his　friend　is　in　danger　through　you！〃

〃And　why　do　you　fear　this；　Osman？〃　asked　the　pacha；　slowly　and　angrily。

〃I　fear　it；〃　replied　Osman；　softly；　〃because　I　well　know　that　Mohammed　has　often　offended　you。　He　is　still　so　young　and　impetuous；　and　the　consciousness　of　his　poverty　and　obscure　descent　burdens　his　soul　and　irritates　him；　in　the　presence　of　your　greatness　and　power。〃

〃And　yet　he　dares；　in　his　littleness；　to　meet　me　with　haughty　words　and　to　look　at　me　as　though　he　were　my　equal！　Should　the　boy　not　step　respectfully　aside；　and　bow　his　head　in　humility；　when　he　sees　me？　You　are　right；　Osman；　I　hate　this　proud；　obstinate　lad！〃

〃I　have　uttered　my　only　wish；〃　said　Osman；　gently。　〃You　will　grant　it；　for　I　have　your　triple　oath。　I　repeat　my　wish　once　more：　Cousrouf　Pacba；　protect　and　spare　my　friend　Mohammed　Ali；　swear　that　no　harm　shall　be　done　him；　either　by　you　or　by　your　servants。　Let　no　wicked　hand　seek　his　life；　neither　by　poison；　by　weapons；　nor　by　any　other　means。　Let　him　go　his　way　in　peace。　By　the　triple　oath　which　you　have　sworn；　I　conjure　you　to　grant　this　wish。〃

The　pacha　regarded　him　long　and　gloomily；　and　then　bowed　his　head　slowly。

〃I　swore　the　triple　oath；　and　Cousrouf　Pacha　has　never　yet　broken　his　word。　Your　wish　is　accorded；　the　life　of　this　lad　shall　be　sacred　to　me　henceforth；　no　hair　of　his　head　shall　be　injured；　his　life　shall　not　be　sought　either　by　poison；　by　dagger；　or　by　other　means；　he　may　go　his　way　in　peace；　but　woe　to　him　if　we　should　meet　elsewhere　than　here；　in　Cavalla；　where　I　honor　my　host　and　my　oath！　Be　assured　now　and　fear　nothing。　Mohammed　Ali's　life　is　sacred　to　me；　I　swear　it！〃

〃I　am　content；　and　I　thank　you。　You　have　made　me　happier　than　I　have　been　for　a　long　time。　I　do　not　deny　that　Mohammed　has　sometimes　deserved　to　be　reprimanded　for　his　conduct；　but；　I　also　repeat；　he；　is　still　so　young；　his　heart　so　fiery；　his　soul　so　full　of　ardor　and　nobility。　He　will　yet　learn　to　conform　to　the　customs　of　the　world。〃

〃I　sincerely　hope　he　may；〃　said　the　pacha；　quietly。　〃As　yet　he　has；　however；　not　learned　it；　he　should　come　to　Stamboulthere　he　would　be　taught　to　bend　his　proud　neck。　Tell　me；　Osman；　have　I　now　paid　off　the　debt　of　gratitude　that　rested　on　my　shoulders？〃

〃You　have　now　transferred　it　to　our　shoulders；〃　exclaimed　the　tschorbadji；　ardently。　〃See　how　happy　my　Osman　looks；　how　his　countenance　is　wreathed　in　smiles！　There　is　no　trace　of　sorrow　or　pain　in　his　features　now；　joy　is　restoring　him　to　health；　and　I　owe　this　to　you；　and　shall　continue　to　thank　you　for　it；　when　you　are　no　longer　here。　We　wish　you　all　happiness！　Our　friend　and　benefactor；　the　great　general；　Cousrouf　Pacha；　will　in　the　future　be　called　on　to　perform　great　things；　and　the　report　of　his　glory　and　power　will　reach　us　here　on　our　peninsula。〃

〃I　hope　it　may；〃　said　the　pacha；　softly；　as　he　proudly　inclined　h