mohammed ali and his house-第60部分

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　the　terrors　of　the　day　in　a　heavenly；　silver　veil。

〃I　did　not　return　to　my　tent　that　night；　however。　Where　was　I？　If　you　should　ask；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　I　could　not　tell　you。　But　this　much　I　can　tell　you；　I　was　in　paradise！　I　thought　of　this　when　I　just　now　heard　your　slaves　sing　the　song　I　then　heard　for　the　first　time；　and　that　has　resounded　in　my　heart　ever　since。　I　covered　it　with　thick　veils；　and　laid　my　hand　on　it　to　silence　it：　and　I　found　it　possible　to　do　so　while　my　noble　friend　Mourad　still　lived。　I　forced　my　heart　to　bury　in　its　depths　its　wishes　and　longings。　I　have　been　silent；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　not　only　while　Mourad　lived；　but　I　have　also　honored　the　period　allotted　to　a　widow's　mourning。　But　this　is　now　passed；　pain　has　vanisbed　from　your　heart；　I　trust。　Your　heavenly　countenance　is　again　radiant　with　youthful　loveliness；　and　no　longer　shows　the　traces　of　sorrow。〃

〃It　is　true；　Osman　Bey；〃　said　Nefysseh；　with　a　low　sigh；　〃time　heals　all　wounds；　and　sorrow　no　longer　darkens　my　soul；　yet　know　that　Mourad　Bey　still　lives　in　my　heart；　and　it　is　because　he　still　lives　for　me　that　I　am　able　to　bear　this　life　and　this　separation。〃

〃I　well　know；　O　Sitta；　your　fidelity；　your　noble　sentiments；〃　replied　Bardissi；　〃it　is　this　knowledge　that　makes　me　adore　and　reverence　you；　and　were　it　not　strange　if　I；　too；　could　ever　forget　the　man　who　loved　you　so　passionately；　and　whose　memory　you　still　love？　But　such　love；　Sitta；　excites　no　jealousy；　and　even　he　who　loves　passionately　respects　such　love。　Listen　to　me；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　hear　why　I　have　come　to　you；　I　can　endure　it　no　longer；　the　seal　must　at　last　fall　from　his　lips；　and　Bardissi　must　give　utterance　to　what　he　feels；　to　that　which　glows　in　his　heart；　and　can　no　longer　be　repressed。　Yes；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　you　must　at　last　hear　that　I　am　dying　for　love；　and　that　if　you　refuse　to　hear　me；　I　must〃

〃Silence！〃　exclaimed　Nefysseh；　interrupting　him；　with　queenly　composure；　as　she　rose　from　her　seat〃silence；　Osman　Bey！　do　you　not　know　that　my　husband　Mourad　lived　here　in　this　garden；　in　this　place？　How　could　his　wife；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　have　received　you　unveiled　if　her　husband　had　not　stood　by　her　side？　Do　you　not　see　him；　Osman　Bey？　Do　you　not　see　his　eyes　fixed　on　you　with　an　angry　expression；　and　do　not　his　lips　ask　his　friend　how　he　can　betray　friendship？　What　was　your　promise　to　Mourad？　To　honor　and　guard　his　wife　while　you　lived。〃

〃And　I　will；　Sitta　Nefysseh。　I　do　guard　and　honor　her；　but　I　also　love　her　as　ardently　as　ever　man　loved　woman！〃　exclaimed　Bardissi；　in　passionate　tones。　〃Does　not　man　honor　woman　most　when　he　loves　her　best？　How　can　I　better　prove　my　adoration　and　reverence　than　by　laying　my　life　at　your　feet；　and　saying；　in　tones　of　humble　entreaty；　‘Sitta　Nefysseh；　be　my　wife；　follow　me　to　my　house；　and　be　mistress　of　myself　and　of　all　that　I　am？〃

〃Do　not　say　this；　Osman　Bey；　I　entreat　you；　do　not　speak　thus　to　me！〃　cried　Sitta　Nefysseh　in　a　loud　voice。　〃It　would　give　pain　to　me　to　have　to　answer　you；　and　it　will　be　better　not　to　have　heard　your　words。　I　call　you　friend；　and　I　wish　you　to　remain　my　friend　all　your　life　long。　Yet；　hear　me；　my　heart　is　open　to　no　other　love；　and　my　hands　must　remain　unfettered。　Mourad's　widow　remains　true　to　herself；　and　to　him　who　dwells　in　her　heart；　and　is　ever　at　her　side。　Let　us　forget；　Osman；　what　you；　carried　away　by　your　friendship；　have　said。　You　thought　Mourad's　wife　felt　herself　alone　in　the　world；　and；　out　of　friendship　for　your　deceased　friend；　you　desired　to　offer　her　the　support　of　your　heroic　hand。　If　ever　I　should　need　assistance；　and　a　friend；　rest　assured；　Osman；　I　shall　call　on　you。　But　now；　step　back；　one　of　my　slaves　is　approaching　with　a　message。　Turn　your　countenance　away；　Osman；　it　looks　so　gloomy　and　passionate；　I　would　not　have　her　notice　your　love。〃

He　turns　aside；　and　seems　to　be　listening　to　the　distant　singing　and　playing　of　the　slaves；　he；　however；　hears　the　slave；　who　now　enters　the　kiosk；　announce　that　L'Elfi　Bey　desires　to　see　her　mistress。　He　hears　it；　and　shudders。　L'Elfi　Bey；　his　friend　and　companion…in…　arms；　what　brings　him　here　to　Mourad's　widow？

Sitta　Nefysseh　sends　word　that　the　bey　is　welcome；　and　the　slave　departs　on　her　errand。

〃L'Elfi　Bey　is　permitted　to　come　to　you！〃

〃And　why　not？〃　asked　she　proudly。　〃Was　not　Osman　Bey　permitted　to　visit　me；　and　was　not　L'Elfi　also　my　husband's　friend？〃

〃It　is　true；　forgive　my　thoughtlessness；〃　replied　Osman　in　low　and　almost　angry　tones。　〃Permit　me　to　take　my　leave；　Sitta　Nefysseh。　I　do　not　wish　to　disturb　your　interview　with　the　great　L'Elfi　Bey。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　you　will　please　remain；〃　replied　she；　quietly；　gracefully　drawing　her　fragrant　veil　over　her　head；　and　covering　her　face。

Bardissi's　heroic　countenance　became　radiant　with　delight。　She　had　received　him　unveiled；　and　now　that　L'Elfi　comes　she　veils　herself。　Allah　be　praised；　that　is　a　favorable　omen；　a　ray　of　light　penetrating　the　gloom　that　enveloped　his　soul；　he　has　seen　her　unveiled；　and　

〃L'Elfi　Bey　comes；〃　said　Sitta　Nefysseh；　rising　to　welcome　her　new　visitor。




CHAPTER　X

L'ELFI　BEY。


Haughtily　erect；　the　bey　advanced；　followed　by　four　Mamelukes　in　rich；　gold…embroidered　garments；　who　bore　a　casket　covered　with　a　purple　cloth；　whose　golden　fringe　hung　down　to　the　ground。

As　L'Elfi　came　near；　his　countenance　assumed　a　deferential　appearance；　and；　his　arms　crossed　on　his　breast；　he　stepped　forward　and　bowed　profoundly　before　Sitta　Nefysseh。

〃Queen　of　my　heart；　sun　of　my　eyes！　Allow　me　to　do　homage；　and　to　lay　my　present　at　your　feet　as　a　token　of　my　devotion！〃

He　beckoned　to　the　Mamelukes　to　come　forward　and　lay　the　casket　down　before　her。

〃I　rejoice　that　you　have　come；　L'Elfi；〃　said　Nefysseh；　quietly。　〃I　rejoice；　because　it　proves　that　your　wounds　are　now　healed；　as　are　those　of　Osman　Bey。　Yet；　I　see　no　necessity　for　such　outward　proofs　of　your　friendship。〃

〃O　Sitta　Nefysseh！〃　cried　L'Elfi。　〃One　brings　his　offerings　to　the　good　spirits；　and；　if　I　were　a　heathen；　I　would　say；　'I　lay　on　the　altar　of　my　goddess　the　tokens　of　my　adoration；　of　my　love！'〃

〃You　are；　however；　no　heathen；　but　a　Moslem；　and　what　becomes　a　heathen　does　not　become　the　brave　Mameluke　L'Elfi　Bey！〃

〃What　I　am　elsewhere　is　forgotten；〃　cried　L'Elfi；　〃here　I　am　nothing　but　your　slave；　nothing　but　a　man　who　would　gladly　pluck　the　stars　from　heaven　to　lay　them　at　your　feet！　Therefore　allow　me　to　do　homage　to　my　queen　as　my　heart　prompts！〃

He　drew　the　cloth　from　the　casket；　and　golden　dishes；　goblets；　and　vases；　glittered　in　the　sunshine；　and　these　vessels　contained　jewelry　of　varied　design；　set　with　precious　stones　that　would　have　delighted　the　eyes　of　many。

Sitta　Nefysseh　regarded　all　this　magnificence　with　an　air　of　indifference。

〃Accept　the　offering　my　adoration　lays　at　your　feet！〃　entreated　L'Elfi。　〃You　know　I　was　with　the　British　general　in　England；　and；　while　there；　I　thought　of　you；　and；　before　the　ship　left　London；　it　was　for　days　my　sole　occupation　and　endeavor　to　select　beautiful　things　for　you　from　among　the　articles　displayed　in　the　magnificent　stores。　I　could　not　bring　them　with　me；　but　they　were　sent　after　me；　and　have　this　day　arrived。　Pray　accept　them　at　the　hands　of　your　slave！〃

〃It　seems　to　me　that　no　one　is　privileged　to　offer　Mourad　Bey's　widow　presents　of　such　value；〃　said　she；　almost　severely。　〃Yet；〃　she　continued　in　milder　tones；　〃I　will　not　humiliate　him　who　was　my　husband's　friend　and　companion。　I　will　accept　your　gifts；　they　shall　be　placed　in　the　saloon；　and　all　the　world　shall　see　how　L'Elfi　Bey　seeks　to　honor　the　widow　of　his　former　chieftain　and　friend。　Thus　will　I　accept　your　gifts；　and　give　you　thanks　for　them！Come；　Osman　Bardissi！〃　she　continued　in　louder　tones；　beckoning　to　the　bey；　who　stood　without　in　the　shade　of　an　oleander…tree〃come　and　see　the　magnificent　presents　which　L'Elfi　Bey　has　brought　me　from　England！〃

L'Elfi's　countenance　darkened；　and　he　recoiled　a　step　almost　in　anger。　〃What！　Osman　Bey　is　here？〃

〃And　why　not？　He　has　recovered　from　the　wounds　received　at　Aboukir。　Does　it　not　become　him　to　pay　his　respects　to　me？　He　has　this　privilege　in　common　with　yourself。〃

〃True；　my　queen；　pray　forgive　me　for　daring　to　find　fault　with　your　pleasure。I　greet　you；　Osman　Bey　Bardissi。　I　am　glad　to　see　you　here！　And　now；　I　pray　you；　let　me　also　see　the　gifts　which　you　have　brought　the　Rose　of　Cairo　in　token　of　your　reverence　and　devotion。　What　becomes　you；　becomes　me　also；　and；　as　Sitta　Nefysseh　has　allowed　you　to　see　what　I　have　brought；　she　will　not　refuse　to　permit　me　to　see　the　offering　of　your　devotion。〃

〃You　shall　see　it；　L'Elfi　Bey；〃　said　Osman；　in　a　somewhat　derisive　tone。　He　stepped　to　the　lattice…work　of　the　kiosk；　and；　plucking　the　most　beautiful　crimson　rose　he　could　see；　knelt　down　before　Sitta　Nefysseh　and　laid　it　at　her　feet。　〃This；　Sitta；　is　my　gift。　I　lay　at　your　feet；　the　most　beautiful　of　your　sisters；　your　image！〃

She　smiled。　〃I　thank　you；　Osman　Bey；　and　gladly　accept　your　offering；　for　Allah　has　created　it。〃

He　handed　her　the　rose。　She　took　it；　held　it　to　her　face；　and　inhaled　its　fragrance。　She　then　gracefully　fell　back　on　her　cushion。

〃Arise；　Bardissi！〃　said　she。　〃I　have　accepted　the　gifts　of　both　of　you；　and；　now　that　you　are　both　the　same　in　sentiment；　but　one　thing　is　wanting。〃

〃And　what　is　this　one　thing　still　wanting？〃

〃Grasp　each　other's　hands；〃　said　she；　smiling。　〃I　know　that　you　have　long　been　at　enmity　with　each　other；　discord　prevails　in　the　land　of　my　great　beys。　Let　hatred　now　be　set　aside。　You　are　both　mighty　and　renowned；　but　your　power　will　be　much　greater　if　you　join　hands。　Let　your　followers　see　that　you　stand　united　against　the　common　enemy。　Oh；　how　can　the　fatherland　be　saved　when　its　defenders　are　at　enmity　with　each　other！　The　enemy　has　grown　stronger。　You　know　that　new　troops　have　arrived　here　from　Turkey；　and　a　man　is　at　their　head；　of　whom　I　will　announce　to　you　that　he　is　dangerous。　Therefore　grasp　hands；　and　let　me　see　that　you　are　friends！〃

〃Then　let　it　be　so；〃　said　Bardissi；　after　a　pause。　〃See；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　how　great　your　power　over　me。Here；　L'Elfi；　my　hand！　Let　us　unitedly　face　the　enemy！〃

L'Elfi　slowly　and　hesitatingly　laid　his　band　in　tha