mohammed ali and his house-第61部分

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fi；　my　hand！　Let　us　unitedly　face　the　enemy！〃

L'Elfi　slowly　and　hesitatingly　laid　his　band　in　that　of　Osman　Bey。　〃I　accept　your　hand；　Osman；　in　token　of　our　resolve　to　confront　the　enemy　together。　But；　before　I　declare　myself　your　friend；　I　must　first　know　whether　you　are　my　rival　or　not。〃

Osman　Bey　quickly　withdrew　his　hand。　〃A　rival；　L'Elfi！　and　with　whom　do　you　suppose　me　to　be　your　rival？〃

〃With　you；　O　Sitta　Nefysseh！〃　said　L'Elfi；　falling　on　his　knee　before　her；　〃With　you；　whom　I　adore　as　one　adores　the　sun　and　the　stars。　For　your　love；　I　can　tolerate　no　rival！And　now　I　beg　you　to　withdraw；　Osman　Bey；　I　have　that　to　say　to　Sitta　Nefysseh　which　no　other　should　hear。〃

Osman　regarded　him　fiercely。　〃I　should　like　to　know　if　L'Elfi　is　privileged　to　advise　or　command　Osman　Bey　Bardissi　here；　where　it　devolves　upon　Sitta　Nefysseh　alone　to　determine　who　shall　go；　and　who　remain。〃

〃Then　decide；　O　Sitta！〃　said　L'Elfi。

〃You　shall　both　go；　neither　shall　remain；〃　replied　she；　sadly。　〃I　see　that　you　are　still　enemies。　Oh；　I　tell　you；　you　will　reap　a　bitter　harvest　from　this　bitter　seed。　The　struggle；　in　which　you　should　present　to　the　enemy　a　united　front；　already　begins；　and　you　are　still　at　enmity。　Therefore；　I　say　to　you；　leave　me；　and　return　no　more；　while　hatred　exists　between　you；　you　shall　never　more　come　into　my　presence！〃

〃Forgiveness；　forgiveness！　Our　hatred　shall　be　forgotten！〃　exclaimed　both；　falling　upon　their　knees　before　her。

〃My　only　entreaty　is　this；〃　cried　L'Elfi。　〃Allow　me　a　brief　quarter　of　an　hour。　Was　not　Osman　Bey　honored　with　an　audience　alone；　and　would　it　not　become　you　to　show　me　the　same　favor？〃

〃He　was　the　first　who　came；〃　replied　she；　quickly；　〃and；　therefore；　was　I　alone　with　him。　Had　you　accompanied　him；　you　would　have　heard　what　he　had　to　say；　just　as　he　shall　hear　what　you　have　to　say。〃

〃Then　let　it　be　so；　he　shall　hear！〃　exclaimed　L'Elfi；　springing　to　his　feet。　He　first　turned　haughtily　to　Osman　Bey；　and　then　bowed　profoundly　before　Sitta　Nefysseh。　〃Let　the　whole　world　hear　what　L'Elfi　has　to　say　to　the　widow　of　his　friend。　He　comes　here　to　lay　all　he　possesses　at　your　feet。　He　desires　to　consecrate　to　you　his　life　and　heart's　blood；　and　entreats　the　loveliest　and　noblest　of　women　to　hear　his　prayers。　L'Elfi　is　free！　No　wife　has　ever　stood　at　his　side；　he　has　no　harem；　as　many　others　have。　He　has　never；　like　others；　reclined　on　soft　cushions　gazing　at　the　dancing　of　the　voluptuous　almehshas　loved　naught　but　his　sword　and　ataghan；　but　his　heart　is　now　inclined　in　love　and　humility　toward　you；　the　only　woman　it　owns　as　its　mistress；　and　I　now　entreat　you；　O　Sitta　Nefysseh；　queen　of　my　heart；　become　also　queen　of　my　house　and　harem。〃

〃As　he　entreats；　so　do　I　entreat　also！〃　cried　Osman　Bey；　in　angry　tones；　thrusting　L'Elfi　aside；　and　falling　on　his　knee　before　her。　〃Be　mine；　Nefysseh！　True；　I　have　loved　others；　and　have　also　looked　with　pleasure　at　the　dancing　of　the　female　slaves　in　the　harem；　yet　I　have　hitherto　adored　no　woman。　Military　glory；　my　adoration　heretofore；　grows　pale　when　Sitta　Nefysseh　appears；　and　all　else　that　I　have　loved　and　hoped　for　is　as　nothing　in　her　presence。　For　your　sake；　I　will　sacrifice　not　only　life；　but　renown。　Command；　and　I　will　be　your　slave；　at　your　feet　will　I　lay　my　sword　and　dagger。　With　my　head　bowed　down；　and　my　beard　shorn；　will　I　follow　you　into　the　desert；　blessing　each　day　and　hour　in　which　I　am　permitted　to　look　upon　my　queen。　Now；　O　Sitta　Nefysseh；　you　know　what　Osman　Bey　Bardissi　feels；　and　that　he　can　boast　of　a　greater　love　than　L'Elfi；　he　even　offers　to　sacrifice　renown　for　you！　Decide　whom　you　will　bless；　Nefysseh！　One　thing　more　I　will　say　to　you：　if　you　select　the　hand　of　my　rival；　and　command　me　to　love　him；　I　cannot　promise　to　do　so！　Yet　this　I　swear；　that　I　will　be　contented　with　your　choice；　and　that　I　will　never　seek　to　take　or　shorten　his　life。　Consider；　Nefysseh；　that　this　is　the　most　enormous　sacrifice　that　Osman　can　make　for　the　woman　he　loves；　he　promises　not　to　kill　him　upon　whom　she　bestows　her　hand。〃

〃And　you；　L'Elfi；〃　said　Nefysseh；　in　a　soft　voice；　〃will　you　swear　the　same？〃

〃I　will；〃　cried　L'Elfi。　〃I　swear　that　I　will　do　as　Osman　Bey　has　saidI　will　still　detest　my　enemy；　but　I　will　not　kill　him　whom　you　love。　Now　speak；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　and　decide　between　us！〃

For　a　moment　all　were　silent。　The　two　beys　awaited　her　decision　with　wildly…throbbing　hearts。　She　was　still　silent；　her　large　eyes　turned　toward　heaven　with　a　wondrous　expression。

At　this　moment　the　song　of　the　slaves；　accompanied　by　the　music　of　the　clarinet　and　violin；　again　resounded　from　the　midst　of　the　oleander　and　rose…bushes。　The　voice　of　a　slave　arose；　singing　of　a　slave　who　loves　his　mistress；　and　dies　because　of　her　indifference。　He　has　borne　this　bitter　sorrow　for　long　days　and　nights；　and　dares　not　tell　the　tale　of　his　love。　He　bore　it；　and　was　blessed　in　being　permitted　to　see　her；　but　her　heart　was　cold　and　knew　no　love　for　him。　But　greater　unhappiness　was　in　store　for　him。　One　day　there　came　a　proud　and　mighty　bey；　and　succeeded　in　winning　the　love　of　his　adored；　and　Fate　willed　it　that　the　poor；　tortured　slave　should　see　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　bey　in　a　loving　gaze；　and　he　also　saw　him　fall　on　his　knees　before　his　mistress　and　take　her　hand　and　carry　it　to　his　lips。　Then　the　poor　slave's　heart　broke；　and；　falling　to　the　earth；　he　died；　sighing；　〃I　love　thee！〃

All　three　had　listened　to　the　sad　air　and　words　of　the　song。　Sitta　Nefysseh　now　turned　to　the　beys。

〃This　song　has　no　bearing　upon　you。　You　will　never　see　Sitta　Nefysseh　give　her　love　and　hand　to　another！　You　who　were　my　husband's　friends　I　will　ever　consider　my　friends！　But　hear　me：　Mourad's　widow　will　never　marry　again！　As　I　knelt　at　the　death…bed　of　my　husband；　bathing　his　wound　with　my　tears；　I　swore　that　I　would　ever　remain　true　to　him　I　had　loved　so　ardently　my　life　long；　and　never　become　the　wife　of　another。　And　now　I　ask；　noble　beys；　can　you　desire　Mourad's　widow　to　perjure　herself？　I　know　you　will　say　the　heart　knows　no　oaths；　love　cannot　be　restrained。　That　may　be；　but　do　not　speak　of　it　to　me。　You　have　come　to　ask　with　which　of　you　I　will　share　the　remainder　of　my　days；　I　ask　you；　decide　yourselves；　can　I　break　this　solemn　oath？〃

The　two　beys　bow　their　heads　still　deeper；　and　sigh　profoundly。

〃Decide！〃　repeated　Sitta　Nefysseh。

They　raise　their　heads　and　gaze　at　her　sadly。　〃No；　Sitta　Nefysseh！　You　may　not　break　the　oath　to　your　husband；　sworn　in　the　name　of　Allah　and　the　prophet！　No；　you　can　never　bestow　your　hand　upon　another。　Alas；　that　this　is　so！　alas；　that　we　must　submit！〃

〃No；　it　is　well　that　it　is　so！〃　said　Sitta　Nefysseh；　with　a　soft　smile。　〃Mourad's　widow　has　the　right　to　be　the　friend　of　both　of　you；　she　may　hold　out　her　hands　to　you　and　say：　‘Be　my　friends；　my　brothers；　and；　as　you　love　me；　also　love　one　another。'　For　the　second　time　I　entreat　you；　grasp　each　other's　hands　and　be　friends。　For　both　let　there　be　one　common　enemythe　enemy　who　confronts　you　on　the　field　of　battlethe　Turk！　Grasp　hands　in　love　and　friendship！〃

The　two　beys　grasped　each　other's　hands　firmly。

〃Let　it　be　as　our　friend　and　sister　wishes；　she　shall　see　us　united。　Let　there　be　for　us　but　one　common　enemythe　Turk！〃

〃An　enemy　who　grows　stronger　each　day！〃　said　Sitta　Nefysseh。　〃We　thought　to　have　peace　when　the　Franks　should　have　left；　but　unfortunately　it　is　not　so。　The　Turks　are　resolved　to　subjugate　us。　I　know　they　will　not　rest　until　they　have　overthrown　and　destroyed　the　haughty　Mameluke　beys！　They　are　continually　bringing　new　troops；　into　the　country；　and　their　leader　is　a　dangerous　enemy；　believe　me！〃

〃For　the　second　time　you　speak　of　this　‘dangerous　enemy。'　Tell　us；　Sitta；　who　is　he？〃

〃He　it　is；〃　said　she；　in　earnest　tones；　〃who　brought　the　letter　to　the　capitan　pacha　at　Aboukir；　he　it　is　who　confronted　you　in　that　bloody　struggle；　and　whose　courage；　boldness；　and　determination；　captured　the　stronghold　Rosetta。　I　have　read　the　countenance　of　the　sarechsme；　and　in　his　eye　I　have　recognized　the　lion　and　the　fox　combined。　Before　him；　I　for　the　first　time　in　my　life　experienced　fear。　Beware　of　him；　if　possible；　make　a　friend　of　him；　for　the　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali；　would　prove　a　mighty　ally！〃

〃I　know　him　well；〃　said　Osman　Bey；　smiling。　〃I　met　him　when　a　boy；　and　even　then　we　confronted　each　other　as　enemies。　A　short　time　since　I　met　him　again；　and　he　then　protected　me　from　the　fury　of　his　soldiers；　and　I　am　grateful。　I　will　endeavor；　Sitta；　to　win　him　over　to　our　interests；　as　you　suggest。　If　we　succeed；　and　when　this　formidable　enemy　shall　have　become　our　ally；　the　Mameluke　beys　will　have　great　cause　to　congratulate　themselves；　and　thank　Sitta　Nefysseh　again。〃

〃The　only　proof　of　your　gratitude　that　I　ask　is；　that　you　stand　united。　Thank　me　by　pronouncing　my　name　when　you　stand　side　by　side　on　the　battle…field；　from　which　you　have　driven　the　enemy！〃

〃We　will　do　so。　Your　name　will　I　pronounce　when　I　go　out　to　battle！　And　your　name　will　my　lips　utter；　O　Sitta　Nefysseh；　when　I　sink　down　upon　the　bloody　field！〃　Thus　spoke　both；　and　then　bowed　profoundly　before　Mourad's　widow。

〃And　now　you　may　go；〃　said　she；　gently。　〃Walk　arm…in…arm　through　the　Muskj　Street；　that　all　the　world　may　see　that　the　two　greatest　Mameluke　beys　are　friends。　If　these　are　united；　then　will　the　struggle　soon　terminate。　Now　go　and　show　the　people　that　you　are　friends。〃

〃And　if　they　express　surprise　at　our　friendship；〃　cried　Osman　Bey；　his　eyes　sparkling；　〃we　will　say　Mourad's　widow　wills　it　so；　and　we　humbly　and　cheerfully　obey。〃

〃Yes；　we　will　say　this；〃　cried　l'Elfi；　joyously。　〃Mourad's　widow　commanded　us　to　be　united；　and　therefore　are　we　united。And　now　let　us　go；　Osman　Bey；　it　is；　however；　not　necessary　that　we　walk　arm…in…　arm　here；　only　when　we　have　passed　the　threshold　of　this　house　shall　Osman　give　me　his　arm；　that　the　world　may　see　your　influence　over　us。〃

Osman　Bey　walked　rapidly　down　the　avenue。　L'Elfi　followed　him　slowly　and　hesitatingly；　looking　back　twice　at　Sitta　Nefysseh。　The　latter　waved　her　hand　deprecatingly；　and　he　then　rapidly　followed　Osman。

Sitta　Nefysseh　sighed　profoundly　as　the　two　disappeared　through　the　gateway；　falling　back　upon　her　cushions