mohammed ali and his house-第57部分

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r。　Who　knows　but　he　may　yet　completely　cast　off　the　burden　of　dependence；　and　become　absolutely　free？　Every　thing　rests　on　the　acquisition　of　good　and　faithful　friends　and　servants；　and　he　will　acquire　such。　It　is　so　easy　for　the　great　to　acquire　friends！　Is　not　the　capitan　pacha　his　friend？　Does　he　not　owe　all　that　he　is　to　him？　He　has　elevated　him　from　the　dust；　and　made　him　commander　of　the　army　with　which　he　has　come　over　from　Turkey。　Yes；　he　is　a　true　and　devoted　friend；　and　he　will　easily　find　others。　His　power　will　become　greatgreat　as　all　Egypt。　He　rises；　calls　one　of　the　Nubian　slaves；　and　bids　him　show　him　the　way　to　the　walls　of　the　citadel。

The　slave　opens　a　secret　door　that　leads　into　a　narrow　passage　and　upon　the　outer　wall　of　the　citadel。　Motioning　to　the　slave　to　remain　in　the　passage；　Cousrouf　steps　out；　and　then　stands　still；　astonished　at　the　splendid　spectacle　that　lies　before　him。　Spread　out　at　his　feet　lies　the　holy　Mazr；　with　all　its　minarets　and　towers。　Farther　on　lies　a　whole　city　of　cupolasthese　are　the　graves　of　the　caliphs；　they　rear　their　heads　proudly　aloft　in　the　sunlight；　congratulating　the　new　ruler　on　his　magnificence；　but　also　reminding　him　of　the　perishable　nature　of　all　earthly　glorythe　saying　of　a　certain　wise　man　〃Thou　first　and　mightiest　of　mortals；　be　thankful　that　thou　art　alive！〃

〃I　thank　thee；　Allah；　that　I　am　alive；　and　I　bow　down　in　humility　before　thee！〃　murmurs　Cousrouf；　reverently。　He　then　again　looks　out　with　delight　upon　the　landscape　that　lies　before　him。　There；　in　a　wide　curve；　winds　the　river　Nile　like　a　silver　ribbon；　innumerable　decorated　boats　and　barks　dancing　upon　its　surface。　Here　all　is　life　and　animation；　beyond　the　Nile　reigns　a　solemn　stillness；　for　a　certain　distance　from　the　river　bank　stand　stately　palm…trees；　and　then　suddenly；　sharply　defined　beside　the　green　fields；　begins　the　yellow　sand。　That　is　the　desertthat　is　the　mysterious　theatre　of　so　many　adventures　throughout　the　ages；　the　receptacle　of　so　much　hidden　wealth；　the　great　burying…ground　of　the　unknown　dead。　There；　on　the　horizon；　where　the　yellow　sand　and　the　blue　sky　meet；　stand　the　pyramids　of　Gheezeh；　and　farther　on；　in　the　purple　distance；　the　pyramids　of　Sakkara。

〃A　world　lies　at　my　feet；　and　I　am　the　ruler　of　this　world。　I　have　attained　my　aim；〃　says　he　to　himself。　〃All　is　fulfilled；　but　one　thing　is　left　to　wish　for。　O　Allah；　grant　me　still　many　years　in　which　to　enjoy　this　magnificence！〃

Once　more　he　glances　around　at　the　beautiful　landscape　before　him；　and　then；　conducted　by　the　slave；　returns　to　his　private　apartments。　He　lies　on　his　cushions；　listening　to　the　shouts　of　the　delighted　multitude　without。

Suddenly　the　curtain　that　covers　the　doorway　is　noiselessly　withdrawn；　and　a　slave　announces　that　a　messenger　from　the　capitan　pacha；　accompanied　by　a　bim　bashi；　stands　in　the　antechamber；　awaiting　his　pleasure。

〃What　is　the　messenger's　name？〃　asks　Cousrouf；　wearily。

〃Hassan　Aga；　master；　bim　bashi　of　the　capitan　pacha。〃

〃And　his　favorite；〃　murmurs　Cousrouf　to　himself。　〃Let　Hassan　Aga　enter。〃

At　the　slave's　call　the　messenger　enters；　bows　his　head　to　the　ground；　and　hands　his　master's　letter　to　the　viceroy。

〃Do　you　know　its　contents？〃　asks　Cousrouf；　slowly　opening　the　letter。

〃Yes；　highness。　It　is　a　farewell　letter　from　my　master；　who　leaves　to…morrow　for　Stamboul。〃

For　an　instant　a　smile　glides　over　Cousrouf's　countenance；　but　then　it　assumes　a　sad　expression。　〃The　capitan　pacha　is　about　to　depart　to　leave　me。〃

〃He　wishes　to　leave　to　you　alone　the　honor　of　having　laid　subjugated　Egypt　at　the　feet　of　his　master　the　grand…sultan；　in　Stamboul。　He　has　done　what　lay　in　his　power。　The　most　dangerous　Mamelukes　have　fallen　beneath　his　blows。　Shall　I　narrate　to　your　highness　how　it　was　done？〃

Cousrouf　signifies　his　assent。　Hassan　hastily　relates　the　bloody　story　of　the　assassination　of　the　Mamelukes　in　the　roadstead　of　Aboukir；　Cousrouf　listening　with　the　greatest　attention。　〃The　capitan　pacha　has　erected　a　bloody　but　a　great　monument　to　himself；〃　says　be；　when　Hassan　has　finished　his　narrative。　〃Yet　it　is　questionable　whether　I　shall　be　benefited　by　it。　It　would；　perhaps；　have　been　wiser　to　reconcile　ourselves　with　the　Mamelukes；　than　to　excite　them　to　new　anger。〃

〃Highness；　reconciliation　with　the　Mamelukes　is　impossible；〃　replies　Hassan。　〃The　capitan　pacha；　who　has　ever　been　faithful　in　your　service；　wishes　to　give　you　a　final　proof　of　his　friendship。〃

〃And　in　what　does　this　proof　consist？〃　asks　Cousrouf。

〃He　sends　your　highness　a　hero　who　has　the　determination　to　do　all　things；　and　the　capacity　to　do　all　he　determines。　He　gave　evidence　of　his　courage　and　address　at　Aboukir。　The　capitan　pacha　can　leave　you　no　better　token　of　his　friendship　than　this　young　hero；　who　is　entirely　devoted　to　you。　May　I　present　this　last　best　gift　of　the　capitan　pacha；　may　I　present　to　your　highness　the　young　bim　bashi？〃

The　pacha　nods　his　assent；　and　Hassan　noiselessly　withdraws；　returning　in　a　few　moments；　accompanied　by　the　young　bim　bashi；　so　warmly　recommended　to　the　viceroy。　Cousrouf　Pacha　wearily　raises　his　head　and　casts　a　glance　of　indifference　at　the　tall　figure　of　the　bim　bashi；　but　as　his　glance　falls　on　the　young　man's　countenance；　he　starts。　It　seems；　to　him　that　he　has　seen　those　eagle　eyes　before。　He　hastily　casts　his　eyes　down；　and　then　looks　up　again　at　the　bim　bashi；　who　holds　his　head　proudly　erect；　awaiting　the　viceroy's　address。

〃What　is　your　name；　bim　bashi？　Where　do　you　come　from？〃　asks　Cousrouf；　after　along　pause。

The　bim　bashi　advances　a　step；　and；　looking　steadily　in　the　viceroy's　countenance；　bows　profoundly。　〃My　name　is　Mohammed　Ali；　and　I　come　from　Cavalla。〃

〃Cavalla！〃　repeats　Cousrouf；　with　a　start。　Now　he　remembers　that　he　has　sometimes　seen　these　eyes　before　him　in　sleepless　nights。　They　have　impressed　themselves　deeply　into　his　heart　with　their　fearful　glances。　The　haughty　pacha　had　never　reproached　himself　for　killing　the　slave　Masathat　was　his　right；　he　acted　according　to　law　when　he　punished　the　runaway　slave　by　deathbut　it　was　cruel　to　compel　the　man　who　loved　her　to　witness　her　death。　Cousrouf　had　felt　this　at　the　time；　and　that　was　why　these　eyes　had　penetrated　his　heart　like　daggers'　points。　But　that　was　long　ago；　and　these　eyes　are　now　very　different。　They　no　longer　glitter　with　curses；　they　now　sparkle　with　animation；　energy；　and　courage；　only。

〃You　come　from　Cavalla；〃　says　he；　after　a　pause；　〃and　your　name　is　Mohammed　Ali？　It　seems　to　me　that　once；　when　I　sojourned　for　a　time　at　Cavalla；　I　also　knew　a　Mohammed　Ali；　a　daring　young　lad；　the　friend　of　Osman；　with　whose　father　I　resided；　I　had　appointed　Osman　bim　bashi　of　the　soldiers　he　was　to　bring　over　to　me；　and　I　also　permitted　him　to　select　young　Mohammed　Ali　as　his　boulouk　bashi。　Yet　Osman　has　not　come；　nor　do　you　appear　to　be　the　Mohammed　Ali　I　then　knew。〃

〃Pardon　me；　highness；〃　said　Mohammed　Ali；　with　a　slight　smile；　for　he　well　understood　the　secret　meaning　of　this　question；　〃pardon　me；　highness；　I　am　this　Mohammed；　and　yet　another。　The　first　was　a　bold；　insolent　lad；　who　dared　to　defy　your　authority　and　refused　to　bow　his　head　in　humility　before　your　highness。　He　who　now　stands　before　you；　however；　is　your　devoted　servant；　who　brings　you　greetings　from　his　friend　Osman。　He　is　deeply　touched　by　your　graciousness；　and；　hoping　for　a　continuance　of　your　favor；　he　undertook　to　do　your　bidding。　But　alas！　the　will　of　man　is　often　frustrated　by　bodily　weakness。　It　was　thus　with　my　friend　Osman。　The　first　day　of　the　conflict　at　Aboukir　prostrated　him　so　completely　that　he　was　compelled　to　return　home　to　Cavalla；　and　the　capitan　graciously　granted　his　request　and　placed　me　in　his　position。　Yet　I　lay　my　new　dignity　at　your　feet；　all　that　I　am　I　wish　to　receive　at　your　hands。〃

Cousrouf　had　regarded　him　fixedly　while　he　spoke；　and　had　listened　attentively　to　his　words　and　voice。　He　was　satisfied　with　him。　〃Yes；　Mohammed；　you　are　right；〃　said　Cousrouf；　〃there　is　nothing　of　the　fierce　boy　of　those　days　in　you　now。　Your　voice　is　flattering；　and　your　words　well　chosen　and　devoted；　and　Cousrouf　will　attach　you　to　himself　through　gratitude。　He　will　cherish　you；　and　make　of　you　a　devoted　servant。　You　say；　you　lay　your　dignity　of　bim　bashi　at　my　feet？〃

〃Yes；　highness；　I　lay　all　at　your　feet；　and　all　that　I　am　I　wish　to　receive　at　your　hands。〃

〃Well；　then；　if　your　destiny　rests　with　me；　I　must　promote　the　bim　bashi　to　a　higher　dignity。　From　this　moment　the　bim　bashi　is　the　sarechsme；　the　general　of　the　Albanian　troops。　You　are　their　countryman；　and　you　shall　be　their　leader。〃

〃O　highness；　how　great　is　your　generosity！〃　exclaims　Mohammed；　his　countenance　beaming　with　joy。

Cousrouf　had　observed　him　closely；　and　the　young　man's　delight　showed　him　that　he　had　acquired　in　Mohammed　a　true　and　devoted　friend；　and　he　will　have　great　need　of　such　friends　in　the　impending　struggles　to　uphold　his　power；　which　the　course　pursued　by　his　friend　the　capitan　pacha　will　have　made　inevitable。　The　bloody　massacre　at　Aboukir；　which　the　capitan　claims　as　a　friendly　service　rendered　him；　has；　he　well　knows；　made　him　many　passionate　and　irreconcilable　enemies。　Yes；　he　needs　true　friends；　and　Mohammed　shall　be　chained　to　his　service　through　gratitude。

Mohammed　expresses　his　gratitude　and　devotion　in　such　eloquent　terms　that　Cousrouf's　heart　is　touched；　and　he　feels　impelled　to　address　some　kindly　words　to　the　new　sarechsme。　He　dismisses　Hassan　Aga　with　friendly　greetings　to　the　capitan　pacha；　and　motioned　to　the　sarechsme　to　remain。　Cousrouf　walks　thoughtfully　to　and　fro　in　the　room　for　a　time；　his　gold…embroidered　caftan　trailing　on　the　carpet　behind　him；　and　the　crescent　on　his　turban　glittering　in　the　sunlight。　Mohammed　raises　his　eyes　for　an　instant；　and　sees　the　figure　sweep　past　him　like　a　brilliant　meteor。　Quickly　he　casts　down　his　eyes　again；　that　his　soul's　inmost　thoughts　may　not　be　betrayed；　and　least　of　all　to　the　viceroy。　No　one　but　Allah　hears　the　oath　that　now　resounds　in　his　soul；　as　he　stands　in　an　humble　attitude　at　the　door；　waiting　to　be　addressed。　〃I　have　sworn　vengeance；　and　I　will　keep　my　oath。　Vengeance　for　Masa；　vengeance　for　the　torments　I　have　endured。　My　head　is　now　b