mohammed ali and his house-第58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！


I　will　keep　my　oath。　Vengeance　for　Masa；　vengeance　for　the　torments　I　have　endured。　My　head　is　now　bowed　in　humility　before　you；　yet　I　swear　to　repay　you　for　the　evil　you　have　done　me；　not　by　killing　you；　but　by　torturing　your　soul。　We　are　alone；　without　witnesses；　it　were　an　easy　thing　to　slay　you。　The　door　stands　open；　and　I　could　flee　before　the　deed　could　be　known。　But　death　is　no　revenge　for　years　of　torture。　You　shall　live；　and　live　in　agony　and　pain。　Thus　will　Mohammed　Ali　be　avenged！〃

In　his　heart　he　swears　this　oath。　His　lips　do　not　quiver；　no　feature　of　his　countenance　betrays　what　is　passing　within。　Cousrouf　stands　still　before　him；　and　lays　his　hand　on　Mohammed's　shoulder。　〃Look　at　me；　Mohammed！〃

The　latter　looks　up；　and　the　eyes　of　both　are　firmly　fixed　on　each　other。　The　young　general　divines　Cousrouf's　thoughts；　but　the　pacha　does　not　divine　Mohammed's。

〃You　said　that　the　Mohammed　of　the　days　when　I　resided　in　Cavalla　is　dead。　Is　it　true？〃

〃Yes；　highness；　it　is　true。　He　is　dead；　or　he　has　at　least　transformed　himself　into　a　better　man。　Yet；　highness；　he　suffered　much　before　he　could　accomplish　this　transformation。〃

〃That　I　can　readily　believe；〃　says　Cousrouf；　in　low　tones。　〃I　have　often　regretted　having　caused　you　this　misery。　Yet　you　must　have　become　satisfied　yourself；　young　man；　that　I　could　not　do　otherwise。　I　acted　in　accordance　with　the　law。〃

〃You　only　acted　in　accordance　with　the　law；〃　replies　Mohammed；　in　a　low　voice。　〃The　law　ordains　that　the　faithless　runaway　be　punished；　and　also　he　with　whom　she　has　fled。　The　captured　slave　was　killed；　and　it　seems　to　me　it　was　an　act　of　clemency　to　permit　him　who　loved　her　to　witness　her　execution　without　being　able　to　help　her。　Yes；　an　act　of　great　clemency。　You　might　have　punished　me　more　severely。〃

Again　Cousrouf　gazes　into　his　countenance　searchingly。　The　tone　of　his　voice　is　mild　and　submissive；　yet　his　words　bear　stings。

〃I　should　think；　Mohammed；　that　death　itself　were　preferable　to　the　punishment　of　being　compelled　to　witness　the　execution　of　the　beloved　without　being　able　to　help　her。　In　the　years　that　have　since　passed；　I　have　often　thought　that　it　was　cruel；　and　wished　I　had　not　dealt　so　harshly　with　you。　Does　it　suffice　that　I　confess　this　to　you？　Will　you　say　this　to　the　otherthe　dead　and　transformedand　will　it　console　him？〃

〃O　master；　what　magnanimity！〃　exclaims　Mohammed。

〃You　are　generous　enough　to　confess　that　you　feel　regret　at　having　done　justice　to　that　slave？〃

〃I　was　passionate；　and　you　had　excited　my　wrath；〃　replies　the　pacha；　gently　inclining　his　head。

〃Not　I；　highness；〃　says　Mohammed；　smiling。　〃Not　I；　the　sarechsme；　but　that　wild；　insolent　boy；　Mohammed；　of　whom　no　trace　now　remains。　He　is　buried　in　the　sea；　at　the　place　where　the　waves　closed　over　Masa。　Yet；　if　that　Mohammed　still　lived　and　heard　what　you　say；　he　would　bow　down　in　the　dust　before　the　great　man　who　condescends　to　confess　that　he　regrets　what　he　has　done。　However；　should　I　see　that　Mohammed；　I　will　tell　him　of　this　never…to…be…forgotten　magnanimity。〃

〃I　will　give　you　a　souvenir　of　this　hour；〃　says　Cousrouf；　gently。　〃I　am　so　happy　myself　to…day　that　I　desire　to　see　the　happy　only　about　me。　You　are　now　a　general。　I　should　like　to　see　you　worthily　fitted　out　for　your　new　dignity。　Have　you　a　steed　suitable　to　your　rank？〃

〃I　am　poor；　highness；　and　have　nothing　but　the　salary　which　your　highness　will　bestow　on　me。〃

〃Above　all；　you　must　have　a　good　horse。　I　have　received　from　the　grand…sultan；　in　Stamboul；　in　honor　of　my　entrance　into　Cairo；　four　beautiful　horses。　I　make　you　a　present　of　one　of　them。　Go　down　to　the　stables；　they　shall　be　shown　you；　and　you　shall　select　the　one　that　pleases　you　best。　Be　still！　no　word　of　thanks！　Show　your　gratitude　by　serving　me　faithfully。　Are　you　already　provided　with　a　dwelling？〃

〃No；　highness。　The　bim　bashi　had　but　just　arrived　with　Hassan　Aga　from　Alexandria；　and　has　as　yet　had　no　time　to　look　after　a　dwelling。〃

〃A　house　shall　be　prepared　for　you；〃　said　the　pacha；　〃I　will　see　to　this　myself。　Remain　in　my　palace　to…day；　tomorrow　you　shall　have　a　house　of　your　own。　Now　go　and　select　the　best　of　the　horses。　I　hope　you　are　a　connoisseur；　and　will　easily　pick　out　the　best　one；　it　shall　be　delivered　to　you　completely　equipped。〃　He　calls　a　slave　who　stood　waiting　without；　and　commands　him　to　conduct　the　sarechsme　to　the　courtyard；　and　order　the　horses　to　be　led　before　him。

Mohammed；　his　head　bowed　down　in　profound　reverence；　withdraws　to　the　door；　walking　backward。　Cousrouf　follows　him　with　his　eyes　until　the　door　has　closed　behind　him；　and　then　a　smile　glides　over　his　countenance。

〃This　man　is　won　over　to　my　interests。　He　is　right；　he　is　transformed；　body　and　soul；　and　he　is　mine。　And　truly　such　a　friend　is　a　valuable　possession。〃

Mohammed　descends　with　the　slave　to　the　court…yard。　The　latter　hastily　summons　the　equerry；　and　delivers　his　master's　message。　The　beautiful　horses；　with　their　splendid　trappings；　are　now　led　before　Mohammed。　The　new　sarechsme　selects　the　handsomest　and　best；　he　wishes　to　show　the　viceroy　that　he　can　judge　of　the　beauty　and　fire　of　a　horse。　Mohammed　then　retires　to　the　rooms　set　apart　for　him　in　a　wing　of　the　palace。　When　left　alone；　his　grave　countenance　relaxes；　and　a　triumphant　smile　plays　about　his　lips。

〃The　work　is　begun；〃　murmurs　he　to　himself。　〃The　viceroy　has　himself　called　his　enemy　to　his　side。　He　thinks；　with　his　favor　and　flattery；　to　make　me　forget　what　I　have　endured。　He　shall　learn　that　Mohammed　Ali　never　forgives。　You　are　lost；　Cousrouf；　for　you　slumber；　while　I　watch　and　will　take　advantage　of　your　slumber。　Beware；　Cousrouf；　beware！　I　will　not　be　your　murderer；　you　shall　live；　but　I　will　humble　you；　you　shall　sink　down　in　the　dust　before　me！　Let　that　be　the　revenge　for　Masa；　my　white　dove；　and　for　myself！〃




CHAPTER　IX

SITTA　NEFYSSEH。


She　was　reposing　in　her　garden…kiosk。　She　had　ordered　her　female　slaves　to　place　themselves　in　the　rear　of　some　rose…bushes　in　the　background；　and　make　sweet　harmony　with　their　cymbals　and　clarinets。　She　wished　to　be　left　alone　with　her　thoughts。　She　lay　reclining　at　full　length　on　her　silver…embroidered　silken　cushions。　The　white　silk　dress；　inworked　with　crimson　roses；　enfolded　her　closely；　displaying　the　contour　of　her　graceful　form。　The　sunlight　pierced　the　airy　latticework　of　the　kiosk；　around　which　clustered　roses　and　orange…blossoms；　and　shed　a　soft　light　over　her　charming　countenance。　The　veil；　which　Sitta　Nefysseh　only　wears　when　she　goes　into　the　streets　or　meets　strangers　in　her　house；　is　laid　aside。

Beautiful　is　Sitta　Nefysseh；　more　beautiful　than　a　young　girl；　than　the　unblown　rose；　radiant　with　loveliness　and　dignity。　〃Queen　of　the　Roses；〃　thus　is　she　called　by　all　Cairo。

Who　does　not　know　herwho　has　not　heard　of　her；　of　the　Rose　of　Cairo；　of　the　wife　of　the　great　Mourad　Bey；　the　Mameluke　chieftain？　Even　the　Franks　bowed　humbly　before　her　grace　and　dignity；　and　the　scha…er　sings　and　relates；　on　the　street…corners；　of　the　French　general；　Kleber；　who　loved　Mourad's　beautiful　wife；　and　who　often；　in　the　stillness　of　the　evening；　haunted　the　vicinity　of　his　palace；　awaiting；　perhaps；　an　opportunity　to　invade　the　harem　in　which　the　Rose　of　Cairo　dwelt。　And　in　his　songs　he　also　intimates　that　the　dagger…stroke　which　lay　the　general　low　near　the　palace；　was　dealt　at　the　instigation　of　the　jealous　bey。

Who　does　not　know　Sitta　Nefysseh；　the　benefactress　of　the　poor；　the　proud　heroine　who　fought　at　her　husband's　side；　who　shared　with　Mourad　the　dangers　of　war；　a　heroine　in　battle；　a　gentle；　modest　woman　in　the　harem？

All　is　still　about　her。　The　waters　of　the　fountains　near　the　kiosk　murmur　gently　as　they　fall　in　the　basins　beneath；　as　if　to　lull　the　beautiful　woman　to　rest　with　their　music；　and　now　the　soft　music　from　behind　the　rose…bushes　is　also　wafted　over；　to　the　kiosk。

The　slaves　accompany　the　instruments　with　their　voices。

What　are　they　singing？　What　song　is　this　that　exults　and　is　yet　filled　with　sadness？　whose　strains　are　so　passionate；　so　lamenting；　so　longing？

Sitta　Nefysseh　well　knows　what　they　are；　although　the　words　are　inaudible；　yet　she　knows　them；　knows　the　sad　love…song　〃of　her　whom　he　loved；　of　him　who　slew　her。〃　The　song　is　a　familiar　one。　But　why　does　it　excite　such　emotion　in　her　heart；　why　do　her　large　black　eyes　fill　with　tears？　She　would　permit　no　one　to　see　these　tears；　she　would　quickly　brush　them　from　her　sparkling　eyes　with　her　hand；　white　as　the　lily；　if　the　eye　of　any　human　being　could　now　behold　her。

But　no　one　sees　herSitta　Nefysseh　is　alone。

At　least　she　thinks　so。　The　pair　of　black　eyes　that　peer　out　from　behind　the　shrubbery　and　flowers　near　the　garden…wall；　she　does　not　see；　and　yet　these　eyes　are　fixed　with　such　anguish　and　longing；　with　such　passionate　ardor；　on　the　lovely　woman　who　lies　there　dreamily　on　her　cushions。

Of　what　is　she　dreaming？　The　slaves　are　singing　of　love　and　bliss；　the　waters　murmuring　of　love　and　bliss；　and；　in　the　heart　of　the　beautiful　Sitta　Nefysseh；　there　are　also　singing；　sighing；　and　murmuring　of　love　and　bliss！

People　say　that　Sitta　Nefysseh　is　proud　and　has　a　cold　heart。　Love　has　never　dared　to　approach　her　since　the　death　of　her　husband；　Mourad　Bey。　She　is　kindly　in　her　manner　toward　all；　yet　no　one　dares　suppose　she　views　him　with　more　favor　than　others。　She　keeps　all　men　at　a　distance；　they　all　love　her　and　bow　down　in　reverence　and　adoration　before　her；　but　Sitta　Nefysseh　remains　proud　and　cold；　she　loves　no　one！

This　the　people　say；　and；　if　she　heard　it；　she　would　nod　her　beautiful　head；　would　smile　and　say：　〃They　are　right；　I　love　no　one。　Mourad　Bey；　my　husband　and　my　hero；　him　I　loved！　Since　he　is　dead；　I　am　alone　and　love　no　one！〃

The　black　eyes　are　still　peering　out　through　the　shrubbery　and　flowers；　fixed　on　her　with　passionate　ardor。　She　does　not　see　them；　but　now；　as　she　raises　her　head　as　if　to　rise　from　her　cushions；　these　eyes　quickly　disappear；　and　a　tall；　manly　figure；　stooping　forward　behind　the　trees　and　shrubbery；　glides　noiselessly　along　to　the　gate　that　leads　into　the　inner　court…yard。　But；　before　he　steps　out；　young　Youssouf　stands　still；　draws　a　long　breath；　and　seems　to　summon　all　his