mohammed ali and his house-第62部分

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Sitta　Nefysseh　sighed　profoundly　as　the　two　disappeared　through　the　gateway；　falling　back　upon　her　cushions　as　if　overwhelmed　with　grief。　She　heard　nothing　of　the　music；　that　still　resounded　from　the　rose…bushes；　she　heard　only　the　secret　and　sacred　voices　which　lamented　in　her　soul；　and　she　shuddered　at　what　they　said。

〃No；　no；　it　may　not　be；〃　said　she　to　herself。　〃I　saved　myself　from　their　importunity　by　the　falsehood　of　the　oath。　I　never　swore　to　my　husband　that　Mourad's　wife　would　become　the　wife　of　no　other。　It　was　not　because　an　oath　bound　her　that　she　rejected　them；　but　because　her　heart　so　willed　it。　Not　without　love　is　Mourad's　widow；　but　whom　she　loves　no　one　must　know；　no　one　must　even　suspect。〃

She　arose　and　threw　back　her　veil　to　wipe　away　the　tears　that　burned　her　eyes。　Suddenly　she　trembled；　a　deep　blush　overspreading　her　countenance。　She　saw　the　young　kachef　Youssouf　coming　up　the　walk。　She　saw　his　proud；　erect　figure；　his　countenance　full　of　youthful　freshness　and　nobility。　She　drew　heir　veil　more　closely　about　her；　but　the　veil　cannot　hide　the　brightness　of　her　eyes。　They　fairly　sparkled　as　he　advanced。　He　approached　slowly。　She　seemed　not　to　see　him；　leaned　back　on　her　cushions；　raised　the　crimson　rose　to　her　face；　and　inhaled　its　fragrance。　Kachef　Youssouf；　his　arms　folded　on　his　breast；　stood　at　the　entrance　of　the　kiosk。

〃Sitta　Nefysseh；　mistress；　you　command　to　have　your　carriage　ready；　as　you　wished　to　drive　out　at　this　hour。　It　is　ready；　and　I　humbly　ask　if　it　is　your　pleasure　to　go　now；　and　if　I　may　have　the　honor　of　accompanying　your　suite；　and　riding　at　the　side　of　your　carriage？〃

Sitta　Nefysseh；　who　was　still　inhaling　the　fragrance　of　the　rose；　slowly　let　fall　her　hand　to　her　side；　and　the　flower　fell　from　her　fingers　to　the　ground。

〃You　are　an　attentive；　punctual　servant；〃　said　she。　〃I　thank　you；　I　will　drive　out　at　once　with　two　of　my　women；　you　may　ride　beside　my　carriage。〃

Sitta　Nefysseh　arose　and　left　the　kiosk。　She　passed　close　by　him；　and　her　white　veil　lightly　touched　Youssouf's　shoulder。　He　stood　as　if　touched　by　a　magic　wand　and　fixed　to　the　spot。　He　could　not　follow　his　mistress；　who　walked　proudly　toward　the　place　where　the　women　awaited　her。　He　followed　her　with　his　eyes；　however；　and　saw　how　her　long　flowing　garment　adjusted　itself　to　her　lovely　figure；　and　how　her　white　veil　fluttered　about　her　noble　head；　enveloping　it　as　with　a　delicate　white　cloud。

〃Would　that　I　were　the　wind　that　kisses　your　cheek！〃　murmured　he；　lost　in　contemplation　of　his　idol。　〃Would　I　were　the　sand　your　foot　blesses　with　its　touch！　To　die　near　you；　beholding　you　in　death；　were　heavenly　bliss。〃

Sitta　Nefysseh　had　disappeared　behind　the　clump　of　bushes。　Kachef　Youssouf　still　stood　before　the　kiosk。　He　listened。　The　music　had　ceased。　He　knew　that　his　mistress　was　returning　with　her　women　to　the　house。　He　hastily　glanced　around　the　garden；　fastening　his　large；　black　eyes；　on　every　bush；　as　if　expecting　to　find　an　enemy　concealed　there。　No　one　is　to　be　seen。　Only　Heaven　and　the　bees　in　the　air　see　Youssouf　as　he　rushes　into　the　kiosk；　picks　up　the　rose；　presses　it　passionately　to　his　lips；　and　then　conceals　it　in　his　bosom。




CHAPTER　XI

THE　COUNCIL　OF　WAR。


From　the　day　of　their　first　meeting；　when　Cousrouf　Pacha　appointed　Mohammed　Ali　sarechsme；　the　new　general　had　proved　his　bravery　and　his　shrewdness　in　many　a　skirmish　and　battle　with　the　Mamelukes。　He　had　already　captured　from　them　two　strongholds；　and　had　returned　victorious　from　every　battle　with　them。　Cousrouf　praised　his　fortune　at　having　such　a　general　at　his　side。　Mohammed　Ali　showed　himself　so　zealous　and　devoted　in　his　service　that　the　viceroy　listened　to　his　advice　only；　and　called　him　his　favorite　and　confidant。

〃Truly；　I　am　a　happy　man；〃　said　Cousrouf　to　himself。　〃I　am　the　ruler　of　a　great　kingdom。　I　have　friends　at　my　side　in　whom　I　can　confide；　and　who　will　assist　me　in　all　my　plans；　executing　all　I　determine。　Who　knows　but　that　a　great　future　still　awaits　me；　and　that　the　crown　which　now　hangs　suspended　over　my　head　may　not　one　day　adorn　it　in　reality？　Mohammed　shall　aid　me。　He　is　the　bravest　of　the　brave；　and　the　wisest　of　the　wise。〃

He　walked　to　and　fro　in　his　room　as　he　said　this　to　himself；　his　countenance　radiant　with　smiles。

〃I　will　soon　have　my　wives　brought　to　me；　and　my　daughters　also。　Who　knows；　perhaps　it　were　well　to　chain　the　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali；　to　my　side　with　still　closer　bonds？　Who　knows？　Sometimes　a　strange　presentiment　comes　over　me　when　I　look　at　him。　Mohammed's　eyes　sometimes　glitter　so　strangely　and　angrily；　but　he　is　conscious　of　it　at　once；　and　then　becomes　more　gentle　and　devoted　than　ever。　There　are　times　when　I　distrust　him。　It　were　perhaps　well　to　fasten　him　to　my　side　so　firmly　that　he　cannot　free　himself。　Yes；　I　had　best　give　him　one　of　my　daughters　in　marriage。　He　must　be　submissive　and　devoted　to　his　father…in…law　at　all　times；〃　said　he；　in　low　tones；　〃Sometimes　I　think　his　smooth　countenance　conceals　a　gloomy　soul；　and　that　Mohammed　Ali　has　not　yet　forgotten　the　evil　done　the　young　lad　in　Cavalla。　But　these　are　mere　fancies。　He　has　proved　on　every　occasion　that　he　no　longer　thinks　of　it。　I　will　have　him　called　and　study　his　countenance　while　speaking　with　him。〃

He　sent　one　of　his　slaves　to　request　the　sarechsme　to　come　to　him。　After　a　few　minutes　Mohammed　entered。　He　bowed　profoundly　before　Cousrouf；　and　seemed　delighted　when　invited　to　seat　himself　beside　the　pacha　on　the　divan；　and　smoke　the　chibouque　with　him。

〃Tell　me；　Mohammed；　how　old　are　you？〃　asked　Cousrouf；　after　a　pause；　blowing　clouds　of　smoke　from　his　lips；　and　seeming　to　regard　the　general　with　kindly　composure。　〃How　old　are　you？〃

〃I　hardly　know；　highness；〃　replied　Mohammed；　smiling。　〃But　let　me　count。　I　believe　I　was　fifteen　when；　at　Cavalla；　I　first　had　the　happiness　of　meeting　you；　my　distinguished　master。〃

〃Let　us　proceed　with　the　calculation；〃　said　Cousrouf。　〃I　remained　three　years　in　Cavalla。　By　Allah；　they　seemed　to　me　to　be　three　centuries！　Yes；　I　remained　there　three　years；　and　you　were　therefore　eighteen　when　I　left　Cavalla？〃

〃Yes；　eighteen　years　old；　and　a　wild；　reckless　lad　I　was；　too！　Even　now　I　beg　your　forgiveness　for　my　conduct　at　that　time；〃　said　Mohammed；　humbly。

The　viceroy　bowed　a　gracious　consent。

〃Since　then　twelve　years　have　passed；　and　you　are　therefore　now　thirty。〃

〃You　see；　I　am　an　old　man！　And　when　I　look　back　at　the　past　it　seems　to　me　I　have　lived　an　eternity。　Yes；　highness；　I　am　an　old　man；　and　can　hardly　say　that　any　wishes　or　aspirations　now　find　a　place　in　my　bosom。〃

〃Are　you　alone　in　the　world？〃　asked　Cousrouf。　〃Have　you　no　family？〃

A　strange　fire　gleamed　for　an　instant　in　Mohammed's　eyes；　and　he　compressed　his　lips　firmly。　How　could　he　who　had　inflicted　such　intolerable　anguish　upon　him；　how　could　he　question　him　as　to　his　heart's　history？　Woe　to　him　for　so　doing！　for　this；　too；　shall　retribution　be　visited　upon　him！

〃Yes；　highness；　I　have　a　family。　I　have　a　wife　and　three　sons　at　home　in　Cavalla。〃

〃One　wife　only！〃　said　the　pacha。　〃Are　you　contented　with　one　wife？〃

〃One　is　often　too　many；〃　replied　Mohammed。　〃But　this　does　not　apply　to　my　wife。　She　is　the　niece　of　the　tschorbadji；　and　devoted　to　me。　I　have　no　cause　to　complain　of　her。〃

〃Is　that　all？〃　asked　the　pacha；　with　an　air　of　indifference。　〃You　have　nothing　further　to　say　of　her？　Then　you　do　not　love　her；　I　suppose？〃

〃Highness；　I　believe　love　was　torn　from　my　heart　in　my　youth。〃

〃Everyone　says　that　until　he　loves；〃　replied　Cousrouf；　composedly　blowing　clouds　of　smoke　from　his　mouth。　〃Yet；　in　my　opinion；　one　is　never　too　old　to　love；　the　heart　never　grows　old。　Let　me　know　it　if　you　feel　that　another　love　can　blossom　in　your　heart；　and　that　you　wish；　in　addition　to　the　wife　you　have　long　possessedand　I　know　that　possession　gives　satietyanother；　a　young　and　beautiful　wife。　Perhaps　I　can　find　such　a　one　for　you。　And　I　will　do　so；　Mohammed；　if　you　return　victorious　from　the　new　campaign。〃

〃A　new　campaign？　and　against　whom？〃　was　Mohammed's　only　response。

〃Against　whom？　Against　the　insolent　Mameluke　beys；　of　course。　The　time　has　come　to　dispose　of　them　finally；〃　said　Cousrouf。　〃Listen；　general。　The　grand…sultan；　weary　of　these　incessant　struggles　with　the　rebellious　Mameluke　beys；　is　resolved　to　bring　them　to　a　conclusion；　and　restore　peace　to　the　province　of　Egypt。　You；　however；　have　now　been　here　long　enough　to　know　that　peace　in　Egypt　means　death　and　destruction　to　the　Mameluke　beys。〃

〃Yes；　highness；　peace　in　Egypt　means　death　to　the　Mameluke　beys！〃　replied　Mohammed　Ali。　〃Truly；　while　one　of　them　survives；　so　long　will　his　proud；　ambitious　heart　prompt　him　to　endeavor　to　reconquer　the　rule　which　he　believes　is　predestined　for　the　Mameluke　beys　by　Allah　and　the　prophet。〃

〃They　shall　learn　that　Allah　has　doomed　them　to　destruction！〃　cried　Cousrouf；　passionately。　〃All　is　arranged。　To　the　Franks　we　are　indebted　for　one　thing；　and　that　is　for　having　fought　these　rebellious　beys。　Since　the　French　expedition　the　number　of　the　Mamelukes　is　diminished　by　at　least　one…half。　In　order　to　prevent　them　from　recruiting　their　decimated　ranks；　the　grand…sultan　has　issued　a　firman　which　prohibits　further　importation　into　Egypt　of　Circassian　and　Georgian　slaves。〃

〃And　yet；　as　I　have　heard；　they　resort　to　other　sources　to　refill　their　depleted　ranks；〃　said　Mohammed；　respectfully。　〃I　am　told　that　they　recruit　their　forces　with　the　inhabitants　of　the　desert；　with　the　children　of　Albania；　and　the　tribe　of　Achmed　Ali。〃

〃They　do；　it　is　true。　But　the　Arabs　and　Bedouins　are　poor　substitutes　for　the　Georgian　and　Circassian　slaves。　You　cannot　make　lions　of　wild…cats；　nor　tigers　of　jackals。　Moreover；　discord　has　fallen　out　among　the　Mameluke　beys　themselves；　since　Mourad　Bey　fell。　He　was　a　great　man　and　a　hero！　But　since　his　death　they　have　lacked　a　chieftain　who　could　unite　them；　Tamboudji　Bey　was　such　a　one　for　a　brief　season；　but；　as　you　know；　he　fell　at　Aboukir。　Three　others　are　now　quarrelling　over　the　succession。　There　is　Osman　Bey　Bardissi；　Ibrahim　Bey；　the　old　Mameluke　chieftain；　and　finally；　L'Elfi　Bey；　a　protege　of　the　English；　as　Bardissi　is　of　the　French。　These　three　are　now　at　dagg