mohammed ali and his house-第70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　know　you　all　honor　and　love　her！〃　said　Mohammed；　with　a　slight　smile。　〃May　I　now　depart？〃

Bardissi　inclined　his　head。　〃You　are　free！　I　shall　ride　on　in　advance；　and　deprive　myself　of　the　pleasure　of　accompanying　you　through　the　desert。　We　might　be　seen　together；　and　suspicion　excited　against　you。　I　ride　in　that　direction。　The　dromedary　will　bear　you　back　to　your　camp　by　a　shorter　route　across　the　desert。　She　who　brought　you　here　will　also　accompany　you　back。　She　knows　the　way；　and　is　discreet　and　cautious；　like　her　father。　My　horse　and　servants　await　me　behind　that　hill。　And　now　let　us　part！〃

〃Let　us　part！〃　repeated　Mohammed；　extending　his　hand　for　a　parting　grasp。

〃I　will　accompany　you　to　the　tent；〃　said　Bardissi；〃　and　give　orders　to　have　the　dromedary　saddled　for　you　while　you　are　strengthening　yourself　for　the　ride。〃

They　walked　to　the　tent　side　by　side；　and　Bardissi　called　the　sheik；　and　gave　him　his　instructions。

Mohammed　entered　the　tent。　No　one　was　there。　He　walked　into　the　inner　apartment；　and　so　noiselessly　that　his　step　was　not　heard　by　her　who　stood　behind　the　partition；　by　Butheita。　She　stood　there；　her　head　bowed　down；　and　her　gaze　fixed　on　the　spot　where　she　had　broken　bread　with　Mohammed。　Now；　hearing　her　name　murmured　behind　her；　she　started　and　turned　around。　He　observed　that　her　manner　was　sad；　and　that　the　smile　had　departed　from　her　lips。

〃You　are　sad；　Butheita；〃　whispered　he；　approaching　her。

She　cast　down　her　eyes　before　his　glance。　〃You　are　going　away；〃　said　she。　〃Father　is　already　saddling　the　dromedary；　and　you　are　about　to　leave　us。〃

〃I　must　go；〃　said　be；　gently。　〃Duty　calls　me　away；　while　love　would　gladly　hold　me　back。　But　I　am　a　man；　and　must　listen　to　the　voice　of　duty　only。　They　say　you　are　to　accompany；　and　show　me　the　way？〃

She　shook　her　head　resolutely。　〃I　beg　you；　say　that　you　do　not　wish　it；　that　you　desire　my　father　to　accompany　you。〃

〃And　why　should　I　do　so？〃　asked　he；　gazing　searchingly　into　her　countenance。　〃Do　you　hate　me　so　that　you　are　unwilling　to　pass　an　hour　in　my　company？　Did　I　conduct　myself　unbecomingly　while　we　were　together　in　the　palanquin　this　morning？　Why　will　you　not　accord　me　the　happiness　of　riding　across　the　desert　with　you　again？　Why　do　you　hate　me？〃

She　remained　silent　for　a　while；　and　then　slowly　shook　her　head。　〃No；　it　is　not　that；　it　is　something　quite　different。　It　pains　me　to　see　you　leave。　This　morning；　I　could　ride　with　you　across　the　desert；　then　I　did　not　know　you；　and　did　not　fear　you。〃

〃And　now　you　are　afraid　of　me？〃　said　he；　gazing　in　her　eyes　intently。

〃No；　not　afraid　of　you；　but　afraid　of　myself；〃　said　she；　in　a　low　voice。　〃I　am　afraid　I　might　love　you；　and　that　may　not　be；〃　cried　she；　in　a　firmer　tone。　〃You　are　a　great　and　distinguished　man；　and　would　laugh　at　the　poor　Bedouin　child　if　she　should　regard　you　otherwise　than　as　a　great　sarechsme；　who　had　condescended　to　honor　her　father's　tent　by　accepting　his　daughter's　hospitality。　I　had　best　not　ride　with　you。　And　I　have　already　told　father　so。〃

〃And　the　reason；　too；　Butheita？　〃　said　he；　smiling。

〃No；　sarechsme！　I　told　father　I　was　weary　with　my　long　ride。　He　loves　me　dearly；　and；　although　he　had　intended　returning　with　the　bey　to　collect　the　spoils　from　the　field；　he　is；　nevertheless；　ready　to　accompany　you　if　you　will　permit　him。〃

〃I　am　to　permit　you　to　cause　me　pain；　and　deny　myself　a　great　happiness；　Butheita。　Yet；　I　understand　you；　and　must　say　that　I　rejoice　to　see　you　act　as　you　do。　I　rejoice　in　you；　my　star…eyed　desert　queen！　Be　assured；　Mohammed　Ali　will　never　forget　you。　And　now；　tell　me；　will　you　not　quite　forget　me　either？〃

〃No；　that　I　will　not；　sarechsme。〃

〃Will　you　also　be　mindful　of　your　promise　to　your　father　to　allow　him　only　to　kiss　you；　who　shall　one　day　lead　you　to　his　home？〃

〃I　shall　ever　be　mindful　of　this　promise。〃

〃Then；　Butheita；　then　will　I　kiss　you；〃　cried　he；　and　with　passionate　violence　he　clasped　her　in　his　arms；　and　pressed　a　kiss　on　her　lips。　He　then　turned　and　left　the　tent。

Butheita　sank　down　upon　the　mat；　and　with　outstretched　arms　she　knelt　there；　motionless；　a　statue　of　ecstasy；　of　blissful　love。

Mohammed　stepped　out　before　the　tent；　and　beckoned　to　the　sheik　to　approach。

〃I　beg　that　you　will　accompany　me；　sheik；　it　will　be　too　fatiguing　for　your　daughter　to　take　this　ride　the　second　time。〃

〃Gladly；　master；　she　has　already　told　me　so　herself；　and　I　am　ready；〃　said　he；　commanding　the　dromedary　to　kneel　down。　Mohammed　sprang　into　the　palanquin；　and　the　sheik　followed　him。

〃Farewell；　Butheita；〃　he　cried。　She　did　not　answer；　she　did　not　wish　to　go　out；　as　he　might　see　her　tears；　and　her　father；　too；　might　observe　them。　She　therefore　remained　silent。　She　had　drawn　the　curtain　over　the　entrance　to　the　inner　apartment；　and　lay　on　the　mat　weeping；　weeping　and　laughing　at　the　same　time；　for　joy　and　pain　ecstasy　and　pain　were　contending　for　victory　in　her　heart。　〃He　is　gone；　gone！　and　yet　he　is　ever　with　me。〃

The　dromedary　flew　over　the　desert　still　more　swiftly　than　in　the　morning；　his　feet　hardly　touching　the　ground；　clouds　of　sand　were　whirled　aloft；　and　enveloped　the　animal　and　the　riders　as　with　a　thick　veil。　No　one　saw　them；　and；　had　any　one　seen　them；　he　could　not　have　told　who　they　were。

Arrived　at　the　boundary　line　of　the　desert；　where　two　horses　awaited　them；　the　sheik　halted。　Having　dismounted　with　Mohammed；　he　addressed　a　few　loud　words　to　the　dromedary；　it　turned；　and　flew　homeward　across　the　desert。

〃It　knows　the　way；〃　said　the　sheik；　smiling。　〃It　will　return　alone　to　Butheita。〃

They　mounted　the　horses；　and　rode　on　swiftly　through　meadows；　and　palm　and　sycamore　groves。

The　sheik　now　drew　rein。　〃Do　you　see　that　black　line　standing　out　against　the　evening　sky？　That　is　your　camp。　If　you　desire　it；　I　will　accompany　you　farther。　It　rests　with　you　to　decide。〃

〃I　will　ride　on　alone；　sheik。　Farewell；　and　accept　this　for　your　hospitality。〃

He　held　out　to　the　sheik　a　purse　filled　with　gold…pieces。　The　latter　proudly　rejected　it。

〃With　one　breath　you　say　things　that　do　not　agree　with　each　other。　You　wish　to　pay　me；　and　yet　you　say　you　have　enjoyed　my　hospitality。　The　guest　does　not　pay；　unless　it　be　with　love　and　friendship。　If　you　pay　me　in　that　way；　I　shall　rejoice；　and　Butheita　also；　I　know。〃

〃O　sheik；　I　thank　you　both　for　your　hospitality；　and　will　love　you　and　hold　you　in　good　remembrance。　Farewell；　sheik！〃

He　pressed　his　knees　to　his　horse's　flanks　and　rode　off　in　a　rapid　gallop。　Evening　had　already　sunk　down　when　he　approached　the　plain　where　his　soldiers　lay　encamped。　He　dismounted；　and　left　his　horse　to　return　alone。　He　then　glided　stealthily　to　the　rear　of　his　tent；　and；　raising　the　canvas；　slipped　in。　No　one　was　in　this　apartment　where　his　couch　lay；　but　in　the　first　one　he　heard　loud　voices。　His　officers　were　speaking　of　him。　They　were　making　anxious　inquiries　and　conjectures　as　to　where　the　general　might　be；　and　were　considering　whether　they　should　make　further　search　for　him　or　break　up　camp　and　return　to　Cairo。　They　were　the　voices　of　his　bim　bashis　and　boulouk　bashis。　Smiling；　he　listened　for　a　time　to　their　conversation。　He　then　drew　back　the　curtain　and　stepped　into　the　outer　apartment。　A　joyous　shout　greeted　his　entrance。　They　eagerly　rushed　forward；　and　anxiously　inquired　where　he　had　been；　the　meaning　of　his　absence；　and　if　any　evil　had　befallen　him。

He　gazed　at　them　haughtily。

〃Am　I；　the　general；　to　be　called　to　account　by　you；　my　officers？〃

They　instantly　ceased　speaking；　and　saluted　him　with　profound　obeisance。

〃I　know；〃　continued　he；　in　milder　tones；　〃that　sympathy　for　me　prompted　your　inquiries；　and　will　therefore　tell　you　where　I　have　been。　I　rode　last　night；　entirely　alone；　to　Damanhour；　where　I　knew　Youssouf　Bey　lay　with　his　men。　I　wished　to　learn　if　we　could　reach　them　in　time；　and　therefore　rode　with　the　wings　of　the　wind。　When　I　reached　their　camp；　the　battle　had　already　begun。　It　was　too　late　to　march　to　Youssouf　Bey's　assistance。　I　therefore　did　what　I　could；　drew　my　sword　and　fought　in　the　ranks　as　a　common　soldier。　The　day　was　adverse；　the　Turkish　army　lies　defeated　on　the　plain　of　Damanhour！　Now　let　us　remain　here　and　wait。　If　the　victors；　the　Mameluke　beys；　feel　disposed　to　try　their　fortune　in　another　battle；　by　Allah　they　shall　find　us　ready　to　receive　them！　But；　if　they　do　not　show　themselves　by　tomorrow；　we　will　turn　and　march　back　to　Cairo。　Now　go　and　announce　to　the　soldiers　what　has　taken　place。〃

They　bowed　profoundly；　and　the　deference　and　silence　with　which　they　now　left　the　tent　were　in　marked　contrast　with　their　previous　noisy　behavior。　The　general　knew　how　to　impress　them　with　a　sense　of　his　superiority；　they　all　recognized　in　him　a　great　man；　and　felt　his　iron　hand　on　their　necks。　All　now　grows　still　in　the　camp。　The　soldiers　retire　to　rest；　and　Mohammed　also　sinks　down　on　his　mat　to　repose；　and；　if　possible；　to　sleep　after　so　much　fatigue　and　excitement。

But　sleep　refused　to　come　at　his　bidding。　He　arose　and　walked　to　and　fro　in　his　tent　for　a　long　time。　At　first　he　was　merely　the　loving　man；　and　beheld　only　Butheita's　countenance；　but　the　hero　in　him　soon　gained　the　upper　hand。　Mohammed　profoundly　considered　Osman　Bey's　words；　and　how　he　must　shape　his　future。　His　keen　vision　had　observed　and　made　him　acquainted　with　the　men　who　surrounded　him；　and　with　the　relations　to　which　he　must　now　either　conform　or　against　which　be　must　now　rise　in　arms。　He　had　been　in　a　state　of　doubt　and　hesitation　all　along；　his　future　was　enveloped　in　a　thick　veil；　and　he　was　not　aware　what　shape　his　destiny　was　to　take；　yet　he　had　closely　observed　all。　He　bad　seen　that　poor　Egypt　was　a　plaything　of　ambition；　of　rapacity；　of　intriguea　prey　for　all。　Nowhere　in　the　midst　of　this　reign　of　intrigue　and　passion　had　he　seen　law　and　justice　prevail。　He　saw　only　a　province　trodden　under　foot；　a　bleeding　land；　that　must　perish　in　its　citizens；　unless　a　deliverer　should　come　who　knew　how　to　bind　up　and　heal　its　wounds。　Could　he　be　its　deliverer？　Was　it　his　mission　to　raise　up　the　downtrodden　people　from　the　dust；　to　erect　for　himself　a　throne　upon　the　ground　that　smoked　with　the　blood　of　so　many　victims？　Was　this　his　mission；　and　was　there　a　w