mohammed ali and his house-第73部分

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ate　of　the　park　and　mounted　his　horse；　and　a　short　time　before　I　saw　L'Elfi。　Perhaps　they　had　both　come　for　money　for　the　payment　of　their　troops。〃

〃I　well　know；　myself；〃　said　Cousrouf；　〃that　Mourad's　widow　is　very　rich；　and　generous　to　her　friends。　I　will　see　her　this　very　day；　and　this　very　day　shall　she　be　called　to　account。〃

〃But　by　whom？〃　asked　Mohammed；　quickly。　〃The　cadi　and　the　sheik　will　not　answer；　for　they；　like　all　Cairo；　love　Sitta　Nefysseh。〃

〃Then　I　will　call　her　to　account　myself！〃　cried　Cousrouf；　in　resolute　tones。

〃But　have　you　proofs　of　her　guilt？〃　asked　Mohammed。　〃Sitta　Nefysseh　is　wise；　and　knows　how　to　defend　herself。　Therefore　proofs；　and　not　the　accusation　only；　are　needed。〃

〃I　shall　secure　proofs！　When　we　are　determined　to　accuse　any　one；　proofs　are　never　wanting。　Else　of　what　use　were　our　clerks　and　police？　And　now　you　may　go；　sarechsme。　I　thank　you　for　your　advice；　and　will　quickly　proceed　to　raise　money　from　the　Sitta　before　she　suspects　any　thing。　I　thank　you　once　more　for　your　advice；　Mohammed；　and　I　shall　always　remember　that　you　are　the　shrewdest　and　most　faithful　of　all　those　who　surround　meyou　perceive；　I　no　longer　say；　of　my　servants。　Let　me　say；　as　I　most　gladly　do；　Mohammed　Ali　let　me　say；　the　most　faithful　of　my　friends！　Does　that　please　you？〃

Mohammed　replied　with　a　profound　bow　only；　and　then　silently　withdrew。

The　hour　had　not　yet　passed；　and　his　soldiers　waited　peaceably；　as　he　had　commanded　them。　The　Nubian　slave　of　the　viceroy　followed　his　horse；　carrying　the　ten　purses　of　gold…pieces。　The　general　dismounted　at　the　door　of　the　palace；　and　waited　till　the　slave　had　come　up　and　taken　the　golden　treasure　into　his　house。　Mohammed　then　went　to　the　grand　hall　and　sent　word　down　by　a　servant；　that　a　deputation　of　twenty…two　of　his　men　were　to　come　up　to　him。　The　sarechsme　received　them　standing　beside　a　table；　on　which　lay　the　ten　purses　of　gold　pieces。　He　greeted　them　cordially。

〃I　saw　the　viceroy　in　your　behalf；　and　begged　for　your　pay。　I　was　told　that　the　week　had　not　yet　expired；　and　that　you　should　wait。　The　viceroy；　however；　my　soldiers；　paid　me　the　salary　due　me。　They　had　forgotten　to　pay　my　salary　ever　since　I　have　been　in　Egypt；　it　has　therefore　now　become　a　considerable　sum。　I　have　received　ten　purses　of　gold；　and　I　am　really　in　need　of　this　money　to　meet　my　household　expenses。　But　who　knows　when　you　will　receive　your　pay？　We　a11　share　danger　and　want　together；　however；　therefore　let　us　share　the　good　things　of　this　world　together。　Five　purses　I　will　keep　for　myself；　five　purses　belong　to　my　soldiers。　My　housekeeper　will　go　down　into　the　courtyard　with　you；　and　distribute　the　money　among　you。　I　give　it；　not　as　your　pay；　but　as　a　token　of　my　friendship　and　satisfaction。〃

〃Long　live　our　general！〃　shouted　the　men；　and　they　rushed　forward；　fell　on　their　knees；　and　kissed　his　garments。　He　bade　them　rise；　called　his　housekeeper；　and　gave　him　the　five　purses。　The　latter　then　went　down　with　the　soldiers　to　the　courtyard。　Mohammed　followed　them　with　his　eyes；　his　countenance　lighted　up　with　a　peculiar　smile

〃Now　they　are　mine！　With　the　money　I　gave　them；　I　have　bought　their　souls！　Yes；　they　are　mine！　The　seed　I　have　sown　is　ripening。　O　Cousrouf；　only　follow　my　advice！　Insult　the　one　woman　who　is　above　all　honored　and　esteemed　in　Cairo；　the　one　before　whom　all　bow　in　reverenceinsult　her；　that　the　harvest…day　of　my　revenge　may　soon　come！　But　one　thing　still　remains　to　be　done：　Sitta　Nefysseh　must　be　warned。〃

He　stealthily　stepped　out　into　the　garden　through　the　side　gate。　Unseen　by　his　soldiers　he　hastily　crossed　the　park；　and；　opening　a　small　door　in　the　high　wall　that　surrounded　it；　stepped　out　into　the　street。

It　was　silent　and　deserted。　No　one　saw　the　cautious　sarechsme；　closely　enveloped　in　his　mantle；　wend　his　way　hastily　through　the　narrow　alleys　to　a　little　house　that　stood　alone　in　the　outskirts　of　the　city。　He　crossed　the　threshold　without　meeting　any　one。　All　was　still　in　the　dark；　narrow　passage。　He　opened　the　door　of　the　chamber。　On　a　mat　sat　an　old　woman；　weaving　woolen　cloth。

〃Are　you　the　mother　of　Kachef　Youssouf？〃　asked　the　sarechsme。

She　turned　around。　〃Yes；　I　am。　You　have　not　come　to　arrest　my　son？　He　has　not　gone　out　to　battle；　he　remains　in　Cairo；　and　is　the　faithful　servant　of　his　gracious　mistress；　Sitta　Nefysseh。〃

〃That　I　know。　I　have　not　come　on　a　hostile　errand；　but　merely　to　speak　to　him。　Where　is　he？〃

〃Where　he　always　is；　master；　with　his　gracious　mistress。　If　you　wish　it；　I　will　call　him；　a　door　opens　from　this　house　into　Sitta　Nefysseh's　park；　and　I　know　where　my　son　is　to　be　found。〃

〃Then　call　him　quickly。〃

The　old　woman　hastened　away。　In　a　short　time　she　returned　with　her　son　Youssouf。

〃Do　you　know　me？〃　asked　Mohammed；　advancing　to　meet　him。

〃Yes；　who　does　not　know　the　brave　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali？〃

〃Do　you　love　your　mistress？　〃　asked　Mohammed

Youssouf　looked　at　him　with　an　expression　of　dismay　and　anxiety。

〃I　mean；　you　love　her　as　it　beseems　every　faithful　servant　to　love　his　mistress…you　are　ready　to　do　her　every　service？〃

〃Yes；　sarechsme；　so　do　I　love　her；〃　replied　Youssouf；　in　low　tones。

〃Then　listen！　Come　close　to　meit　is　a　secret。　I　tell　you　of　it　for　your　mistress's　sake；　reward　me　by　letting　no　one　know　who　told　you。〃

〃I　swear　that　I　will　not；　sarechsme！〃

〃Go　to　your　mistress　and　tell　her　to　have　all　her　treasure；　her　gold　and　silver　plate；　and　all　her　other　valuables；　put　in　a　safe　place。　You　probably　have　some　such　places　in　your　cellars　or　vaults。　It　must　be　done　quickly。　Say　a　dream　has　warned　you　or　what　you　will；　but　do　not　name　me！〃

He　enveloped　himself　in　his　mantle；　and　hurried　back　to　his　palace；　in　which　all　was　now　still。　The　soldiers　had　gone　out　to　spend　the　present　given　them　by　their　general　in　joy　and　revelry。　Mohammed　was　again　alone　in　his　chamber。　e　walked　to　and　fro；　reflecting　on　all　he　had　done；　with　silent　self…applause　：

〃It　would　have　been　unfortunate　had　he　found　Sitta　Nefysseh's　treasure。　It　would　help　him　out　of　his　difficulties。　That　would　never　do。　You　are　falling；　Cousrouf！　and　it　is　I　who　am　hurling　you　down！　Your　peril　increases　with　every　hour！　You　have　only　to　insult　Sitta　Nefysseh；　and　all　Cairo　will　rise　up　in　arms　against　you。　Let　that　be　your　last　deed！　Then；　Cousrouf；　when　you　have　fallen；　you　shall　know　who　has　destroyed　you！Masa；　sleep　quietly　in　your　cold　grave！　You　are　being　avenged！〃




CHAPTER　V

A　STRONG　HEART。


Mohammed　Ali's　warning　to　the　kachef　Youssouf　had　not　been　disregarded。　In　the　secret　vault；　the　entrance　to　which　had　been　confided　by　Mourad　Bey　to　his　wife　on　his　deathbed；　Sitta　Nefysseh's　treasure　now　lay　in　security。

No　one　in　the　house　knew　of　this　vault；　Sitta　Nefysseh　had　confided　it　to　the　kachef　Youssouf　only；　and　they　two　had　conveyed　all　her　valuables　to　this　hiding　place。

When　all　was　completed；　and　the　Sitta　had　retired　to　her　apartments；　Youssouf　announced　himself；　and；　upon　being　admitted；　stepped　humbly　forward；　fell　on　his　knees；　and　handed　her　the　keys。

She　looked　at　him　in　surprise。　〃What　does　this　mean？　What　do　you　bring　me？〃

〃The　keys　to　the　vault。　This　one　opens　the　inner；　and　the　other　the　outer　door。〃

〃You　will　keep　them　for　me；　Youssouf；〃　said　his　mistress；　inclining　her　beautiful　head。

〃You　confide　them　to　me；〃　said　he；　his　countenance　radiant　with　delight。　〃You　wish　to　confide　to　your　slave　the　keys　to　your　treasure？〃

〃Does　that　surprise　you？〃　asked　she；　gently。　〃I　know　I　can　safely　confide　to　the　kachef　of　my　deceased　husband　all　that　I　have　and　possess。　You　will　keep　the　keys；　and　listen；　Youssouf；　should　I　die…　…〃

〃Die！〃　he　exclaimed；　with　a　cry　which　he　found　it　impossible　to　repress。　〃Die！you；　Sitta　Nefysseh？〃

〃I　am　mortal；　as　we　all　are；　as　great　Mourad　was！〃　said　she；　gravely。　〃If　I　should　die；　you　will　take　these　keys　to　Osman　Bey　Bardissi；　and　tell　him　that　Sitta　Nefysseh　sends　them　to　him；　and　that　in　the　vault　here　are　souvenirs　for　her　friends。　You；　however；　Youssouf；　I　make　the　executor　of　my　last　will；　you　are　to　distribute　the　souvenirs　according　to　a　list　that　I　will　give　you。〃

She　arose　and　took　from　a　little　closet　in　the　wall　a　small　book；　bound　with　gold　and　richly　studded　with　diamonds。

〃This　book　contains　the　names　of　those　to　whom　I　wish　to　leave　a　present　at　my　death；　you　will　act　according　to　the　instructions　contained　in　it；　but　the　book　itself　you　will　keep。　My　initials　are　on　it；　set　in　splendid　diamonds。　It　was　given　me　by　Bonaparte；　the　general　of　the　Franks。　Keep　it；　and；　when　you　read　my　name；　think　of　me！〃

〃Mistress；　I　can　bear　it　no　longer！〃　cried　he；　bursting　into　tears　and　falling　on　his　knees。　〃No；　I　can　bear　it　no　longer！　The　thought　of　your　dying　robs　me　of　all　self…control。　O　mistress；　be　merciful；　and　do　not　speak　of　your　death！〃

〃We　have　already　dismissed　that　subject；〃　said　she；　smiling。　〃We　must　be　firm　and　brave。　Youssouf　must　not　weep　like　a　young　girl！　Dry　your　tears；　I　will　not　see　them！〃

Obedient　to　her　command；　he　arose　and　brushed　the　tears　from　his　eyes。　〃Mistress；　at　your　bidding　my　heart　is　strong　again；　and　your　slave　awaits　your　commands；〃　said　he；　in　a　firm　voice。

She　seemed　to　be　struggling　to　regain　control　of　herself。　Youssouf's　eyes　rested　on　her　in　a　glance　of　such　passionate　tenderness　that　she　felt　it　without　seeing　it。

〃I　have　a　final　commission　to　give　you；〃　said　she。

〃A　command；　mistress！　You　know　that　your　slightest　is　a　command　for　me；　and　would　be　carried　out　if　I　should　die　in　the　performance！〃

〃Die？〃　said　she；　with　a　slight　start。　〃Now　you　speak　of　death；　Youssouf。　No；　you　shall　not　die！　No；　thoughts　of　death　overtake　us　soon　enough！　Listen：　I　wish　you　to　mount　your　horse　and　ride　to　Osman　Bey　Bardissi's　camp。〃

〃Now；　mistress！　No；　do　not　require　this　of　me！　〃　cried　he；　anxiously。　〃You　are　aware　an　unknown　friend　has　warned　us；　and　said　that　Sitta　should　hide　her　treasure；　as　danger　threatened　her。　And　now　you　require　Youssouf　to　leave　you；　him　who　promised　his　master；　Mourad　Bey；　that　he　would　faithfully　stand　beside　you　his　life　long！　You　cannot　send　me　away；　you　will　wait　until　the　danger　is　past；　then　will　I　go　wherever　you　send　me；　were　it　to　the　ends　of　th