mohammed ali and his house-第48部分

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n　the　habit　of　doing。

〃You　wished　to　see　me　about　something；　Osman。　What　is　it？〃

〃What　is　it？〃　said　Osman；　with　his　softest　smile；　laying　his　hand　on　his　friend's　shoulder　and　regarding　him　fixedly。　〃Well；　I　should　think　you　ought　to　know。　Try　to　divine　it！〃

Mohammed　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃By　Allah；　I　am　ignorant　what　it　is；　Osman！〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　latter；　smiling；　〃I　wish　to　speak　of　our　departure　with　the　troops。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃

〃What　do　I　mean？　The　pacha；　Cousrouf；　has　appointed　me　captain　of　the　three　hundred　soldiers；　and　you　my　lieutenant。〃

〃He　has　done　so；　to　be　sure；　but　we　of　course　decline　the　appointment；〃　said　Mohammed；　shrugging　his　shoulders。

〃And　why？〃　asked　Osman；　with　an　expression　of　profound　astonishment。

〃Why？　Well；　my　Osman；　you　surely　cannot　think　of〃

〃I　understand　you；〃　said　Osman；　nodding　his　head；　〃you　mean　I　cannot　think　of　accepting　any　such　position　as　it　would　beseem　a　man　of　my　rank　to　hold。　But　I　feel　myself　in　better　health；　it　seems　as　though　the　thought　of　such　a　possibility　had　given　me　new　strength　and　energy。　Who　knows；　perhaps；　the　luxurious；　effeminate　life　I　have　always　led　is　the　great　cause　of　my　ill…health　and　weakness；　a　new　or　adventurous　life　may　do　me　good。　It　is　often　said　that　the　greater　part　of　disease　is　mere　imagination。　If　one　shakes　this　off；　he　shakes　his　disease　off　with　it。　Therefore；　I　have　decided　to　try　this　remedy　myself。　After　full　consideration；　I　have　concluded　to　accept　the　position　of　captain　of　our　troops。〃

〃You　are　really　in　earnest！〃　exclaimed　Mohammed；　springing　to　his　feet　in　alarm。　〃You　will　actually　take　this　position　of　captain；　go　to　the　war；　and　leave　as！〃

〃Leave　us？　〃　repeated　Osman。　〃No；　we　two；　of　course；　remain　together；　my　friend。　You　go　with　me。　You　are　selected　as　my　lieutenant。　You　know　Cousrouf　Pacha　added　words　of　praise　and　acknowledgment　for　you；　too。〃

Mohammed's　eye　glittered　for　a　moment；　but　he　looked　down　quickly。　〃Yes；　he　did　this；　and　his　conduct　is　very　noble　and　generous；　for　he　well　knows　that　I　do　not　love　him；　and　that　I　was　once　his　enemy。〃

〃Once；〃　repeated　Osman；　closely　regarding　his　friend。　〃But　that　was　a　long　while　ago；　and　we　have　done　with　the　dreams　of　our　youth　long　since；　have　we　not；　Mohammed？　What　then　was；　has　passed　away。　He　no　longer　thinks　of　the　childlike　defiance　you　displayed　toward　him；　the　great　pacha；　and　the　sorrow　and　suffering　he　caused　you　are　long　since　forgotten。〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Mohammed；　in　low　tones；　〃yes；　it　is　forgotten。　All　sorrow　and　suffering　are　over。　You　are　right。　All　things　pass　away；　and　time　heals　all　wounds…mine；　too。　They　are　healed。　Cousrouf　has　forgotten　the　boy's　defiance；　as　you　say；　and　you　observe　that　what　I　have　suffered　at　his　hands　is　also　forgotten。　But　I　shall　not　leave　this　place…I　may　not。〃

〃You　may　and　you　shall；〃　said　Osman；　and　there　was　a　more　earnest　and　manly　ring　in　his　voice　than　Mohammed　had　ever　before　heard。　〃Do　you　not　suppose；　my　boy；　my　beloved；　my　second　selfdo　you　not　suppose　that　I　read　your　soul；　and　know　what　is　smouldering　and　lamenting　in　your　inmost　heart？　Mohammed；　I　believe　you　do　not　wish　to　understand　yourself。　You　have　enveloped　your　heart　in　a　veil　which　you　do　not　wish　to　rend　asunder；　even　before　your　own　vision。　But　I；　my　Mohammed；　can　see　through　this　covering；　and　know　your　heart's　most　secret　thoughts。　Be　stillsay　nothing　yet。　First　consider；　and　then　give　me　a　reply。　Your　Osman　accepts　the　position；　and　it　seems　to　me　it　would　become　his　friend　Mohammed　to　go　with　him　where　laurels；　glory；　and　magnificence；　are　awaiting　you。　Look　at　me；　my　friend；　look　at　the　poor；　frail　body　for　which　you　are　so　necessary　a　support；　and　let　us　be　silent　about　all　the　rest　for　the　present。　Yet　do　not　forget　that　Osman　loves　you；　and　is　ready　to　make　any　sacrifice　for　you。　Say　nothing　now；　Mohammed；　but　reflect　on　what　I　have　said。　And　if　you　love　me；　and　think　you　owe　me　your　love；　and　wish　to　prove　your　friendship　for　me；　accept　the　proffered　position；　and　go　out　with　me　into　the　world。　Go；　and　reflect　about　it；　Mohammed；　and；　when　you　have　decided；　come　to　me　with　your　answer。〃

Mohammed　left　the　garden　as　his　friend　had　asked　him；　the　words　〃you　must　go　with　me　where　laurels；　glory；　and　magnificence　await　you；〃　resounding　in　his　heart。　He　hears　them　everywhere；　at　home　with　his　wife；　in　the　midst　of　his　family。　And　then　the　voice　of　reason　would　in　its　turn　make　itself　heard：　〃You　should　not　abandon　the　woman　who　rescued　you　from　death；　and　has　given　you　comfort；　wealth；　and　position。　You　should　not　abandon　the　children；　whom　you　are　called　on　to　instruct　and　protect。〃

〃No；　I　ought　not　to　go；〃　he　repeated　to　himself；　as　he　sat　down　beside　Ada；　and　called　his　children　to　him。　〃No；　I　must　remain　here。〃

And　yet；　again　and　again；　Osman's　words　come　back　to　him。

He　could　not　bear　to　chat　with　his　lips；　while　such　voices　were　speaking　in　his　heart。　He　must　leave　the　house；　seek　solitude；　and　consult　with　his　own　thoughts。　He　made　some　pretence　of　pressing　business　requiring　his　attention；　and　went　out　into　the　street。　He　started　to　walk　rapidly　toward　the　spot　on　the　rock；　where　he　had　so　often　sought　solitude　and　consolation。　Suddenly　he　felt　a　hand　laid　on　his　shoulder；　he　turned　and　saw　the　old　Sheik　of　Praousta；　the　successor　of　Masa's　father；　who　gave　him　a　kindly　greeting。

Mohammed　always　found　pleasure　with　the　old　man　of　whom　the　people　said　that　he　had　the　gift　of　prophecy；　and　could　read　the　future。　Mohammed　did　not　believe　in　this；　but　he　did　believe　in　his　wisdom　and　experience　of　the　world；　and　knew　that　much　was　to　be　learned　from　the　old　man；　who　had　been　a　great　traveller；　and　had　now　returned　to　his　home　to　rest；　to　spend　the　evening　of　his　days　as　Sheik　of　Praousta。

〃How　fares　it　with　you？〃　repeated　the　sheik；　fixing　his　large　dark　eyes　on　Mohammed　in　a　kindly　gaze。

〃Well；　my　business　affairs　are　prosperous。〃

The　sheik　shook　his　head。　〃It　was　not　concerning　such　matters　that　I　inquired。　Ah；　Mohammed；　it　is　frequently　well　with　our　business　affairs；　and　just　the　reverse　with　ourselves。〃

〃Well；　then；　things　go　well　with　myself；　also；〃　replied　Mohammed；　but　with　averted　gaze。

The　old　man　shook　his　head。　〃I　can　read　a　man's　thoughts　on　his　forehead；　Mohammed；　and　I　tell　you　sad　thoughts　are　inscribed　on　yours。〃　And　with　another　shake　of　the　head　he　continued：　〃The　governor　has；　as　you　know；　raised　a　body　of　three　hundred　soldiers；　Osman　has　been　appointed　their　captain；　and　yourself　his　lieutenant。〃

〃Cousrouf　Pacha　is　a　generous　man；〃　said　Mohammed；　in　a　peculiar　tone。　〃He　graciously　forgets　the　days　that　have　been。〃

〃No；　my　son；〃　said　the　sheik；　〃Cousrouf　Pacha　is　a　proud；　cruel　man；　and　he　now　wishes　to　show　himself　to　those　who　saw　him　in　those　days　when　he　was　powerless；　and　an　exile；　in　his　grandeur　and　magnificence。　You　must　know；　my　son；　that　oftentimes　that　which　seems　noble　and　generous；　consists　really　only　of　vaingloriousness　and　love　of　display。〃

〃I　thank　you　for　these　words；　O　sheik；〃　cried　Mohammed；　with　a　fierce　gesture；　〃I　thank　you　for　having　spoken　from　my　soul。　Young　as　I　then　was；　I　believe　I　thoroughly　understood　this　man；　and　I　am　glad　you　interpret　my　thoughts　so　well。〃

〃Mohammed；〃　said　the　sheik；　after　a　pause；　〃you　must　accompany　your　young　friend　Osman。〃

〃Osman！　no；　that　is　impossible；　how　can　Osman　fill　such　a　position？〃

〃He　can；〃　said　the　sheik；　〃for　you；　Mohammed；　will　accompany　him。〃

〃No；　sheik；　I　shall　not　accompany　him；　I　shall　remain　here。〃

〃You　will　remain　here；　and　why？〃

〃I　have　a　wife　and　children；〃　replied　Mohammed；　quickly；　as　if　speaking　to　himself。　〃I　cannot　separate　myself　from　them。　I　must　not　think　of　it；　I　have　a　home；　a　family；　a　prosperous　business；　and　I　live　a　peaceful　life；　why；　therefore；　O　sheik；　go　out　into　the　troubled　world　to　end　my　days；　perhaps；　in　misery？　Here；　I　know　what　I　ama　respected　merchant；　a　favorite　of　the　governor；　the　friend　of　his　son；　and　I　may　boast　of　your　friendship；　too；　sheik。　Tell　me；　why　should　I　subject　myself　to　the　tempest　of　life　again；　and　go　to　Egypt　to　fight　the　unbelievers？　The　distance　is　great；　the　future　beset　with　danger　and　difficulties；　and　here　I　have　happiness；　and　an　assured　future。〃

〃You　are　right；　the　distance　is　great；　and　your　future　one　of　danger　and　difficulties；〃　replied　the　sheik。　〃Yes；　therein　you　are　right；　but　you　are　wrong　when　you　determine　not　to　go。〃

〃Wrongwrong；　you　say？〃

〃Yes；　Mohammed；　you　are　wrong；　for；　though　the　way　is　long　and　the　future　one　of　danger　and　difficulty；　yet　is　the　reward　that　awaits　you；　laurels　and　renown；　glorious。〃

〃Sheik；　do　not　speak　thus　to　me；〃　cried　Mohammed；　〃do　not　tempt　me　to　do　what　I　may　repent；　what　may　bring　misfortune　upon　my　wife　and　children。　No；　rather　tell　me　to　silence　these　voices　that　are　ever　resounding　in　my　heart。　Oh；　do　not　tell　me　to　make　ambition　the　pursuit　of　my　life。〃

〃And　yet　I　must　do　so；〃　replied　the　sheik。　〃I　tell　you；　you　would　act　with　great　injustice　if　you　should　refuse　to　awaken　the　hero　that　slumbers　in　you；　if　you　should　condemn　the　warrior　to　inactivity；　for　the　sake　of　the　merchant。　Allah　himself　would　be　displeased；　Mohammed；　for　he　has　given　you　the　capacity　to　perform　great　things；　and　implanted　great　thoughts　and　plans　in　your　heart。　And　now　the　way　is　open　to　you；　and　you　can　carry　out　these　plans。　Therefore；　when　you　see　Osman　again；　tell　him　that　you　will　go　with　him。　And　now；　farewell；　Mohammed；　consult　with　your　thoughts；　and　be　strong。〃

Greeting　Mohammed　with　a　wave　of　his　hand；　the　sheik　turned　and　walked　away；　leaving　his　friend　gazing　after　him　in　amazement。

The　people　are　right：　the　sheik　is　a　prophet；　else　how　could　he　know　what　he　had　discussed　with　Osman　that　day；　inducing　him　to　consider　the　matter　and　give　his　decision　by　the　following　morning？　But；　then；　if　he　is　a　prophet；　he　has　also　announced　the　truth　and　foretold　the　future。　Very　great　things　are　in　store　for　him；　and　the　whole　world　of　glory　dreamed　of　in　his　youth　lies　open　to　him。　This　may　then　still　be　realized。　No；　Mohammed；　deny　yourself　and　be　strong。　Bow　beneath　the　will　of　Allah；　and　it　surely　cannot　be　his　will　that　you　should　forsake　wife　and　children；　but；　rath