mohammed ali and his house-第74部分

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u　will　wait　until　the　danger　is　past；　then　will　I　go　wherever　you　send　me；　were　it　to　the　ends　of　the　world！　For　you；　Youssouf　will　rush　into　the　arms　of　Death；　but　he　cannot　leave　you　to　face　danger　alone。　No；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　do　not　require　this　of　me！〃

〃I　do　require　it　of　you。　The　message　I　wish　to　send　Osman　Bey　is　important　and　secret；　and　I　can　entrust　it　to　no　one　but　you。　Within　an　hour；　you　will　mount　your　horse；　leave　the　city；　and　not　rest　until　you　are　with　Bardissi。〃

〃Impossible；　mistress；　quite　impossible！　Only　let　me　remain　with　you　until　the　danger　is　past；　then　I　will　fly　to　Osman　Bey；　and　conjure　him　to　come　with　his　men　to　protect　Sitta　Nefysseh。〃

〃Youssouf；　I　had　always　supposed　you　were　devoted　and　obedient　to　me；〃　said　she；　in　tones　of　displeasure。　〃You　have　sworn　that　you　will　be　my　slave；　although　you　are　a　free　man；　and　may　let　your　beard　grow。　Now　when　I；　for　the　first　time；　put　your　obedience　to　the　proof；　you　refuse　to　do　what　I　require。　Is　that　honoring　your　mistress；　is　that　fulfilling　your　oath？　I　repeat　it；　Kachef　Youssouf；　you　will　leave　my　house；　and　repair　at　once　to　the　camp　of　Osman　Bey　Bardissi。〃

〃That　is　to　say；　O　mistress；　you　intend　to　drive　me　from　you；　you　wish　to　proclaim　to　the　world　that　Kachef　Youssouf　is　a　faithless　coward！〃

〃Who　dare　say　that？〃　cried　she；　her　eyes　sparkling　with　anger。

〃Do　you　not　suppose　all　the　world　will　point　their　fingers　at　me　when　I　return？　'When　danger　threatened；　he　deserted　his　mistress；'　I　already　hear　them　say；　'he　saved　himself；　and　left　her　to　face　the　danger　alone。'〃

〃If　any　one　should　dare　to　speak　thus；　I　should　say；　it　was　I　who　sent　you　away。　Go；　now；　Kachef　Youssouf。　Too　many　words　have　already　passed　between　us；　it　is　time　you　obeyed　my　command。〃

〃Well；　then；　mistress；　you　command　me　to　go；　and　I　will　go。　What　do　you　care；　though　you　inflict　profound　anguish　on　a　faithful　servant；　though　his　heart　break？　What　do　you　care；　though　my　whole　future　be　made　miserable？　Like　a　heavenly　vision；　you　float　high　above　all　human　anguish　and　torment；　they　do　not　touch　your　heart。　Your　heart；　O　mistress；　is　luminous　like　the　diamond；　but　also　cold　and　hard　like　the　diamond。〃

〃Youssouf！〃　cried　she；　in　tones　that　made　his　heart　leap〃Youssouf；　you　accuse　me　of　being　hard　and　cold！〃

For　a　moment　a　wondrous　brilliancy　shone　in　her　eyes；　then　she　suddenly　drew　back　from　Youssouf；　who　stood　there；　motionless；　in　a　state　of　ecstasy。　He　stood　gazing　at　her；　entranced；　seeming　to　hear　and　see　nothing。　Not　far　from　him；　her　face　turned　away；　Sitta　Nefysseh　stood　still。　He　distinctly　heard　her　hurried　breathing；　and　something　like　a　low　sob　escape　her　breast。　He　listened　to　it　as　to　mysterious　and　wondrously　sweet　music。

Suddenly；　she　turned　around；　and　advanced　toward　him　with　head　erect　and　proud　bearing。　〃Kachef　Youssouf；　you　have　excited　my　indignation　by　your　unmerited　reproaches！　No　one　can　say　that　Mourad　Bey's　widow　has　a　cold；　hard　heart。　Mourad　Bey　knew　otherwise；　he　knew　that　I　loved　him；　and　if　I　have　seemed；　since　his　death；　to　have　a　cold；　hard　heart；　it　is　only　because　I　have　remained　true　to　his　memory。　Consider　this；　and　do　not　dare　to　reproach　me。　Now　go；　and　hasten　with　my　message　to　Bardissi！〃

〃I　am　going；　mistress；〃　said　he；　sadly。　〃But；　when　I　have　executed　your　command；　then　I　may　return　to　my　mistress　with　what　speed　my　horse　can　bear　me；　may　I　not？〃

She　remained　silent；　and　let　her　eyelids；　with　their　long；　black　lashes；　sink　down　over　her　beautiful　eyes。　It　seemed　to　him　that　a　sigh　escaped　her　breast。

〃No；〃　said　she；　in　a　low　voice。

〃No？〃　shrieked；　rather　than　cried；　Youssouf。　〃I　may　not　return！〃

〃You　may　not　return；　Kachef　Youssouf。　I　have　long　recognized　that　it　ill　became　a　young　man　to　pass　his　days　here　in　ease　and　quiet；　while　his　friends；　his　brothers；　are　confronting　the　enemy　on　the　battlefield。　You　said　it　would　disgrace　Youssouf　if　he　left　his　mistress　in　danger；　but　it　seems　to　me　that　the　disgrace　is　much　greater　when　a　youth；　born　perhaps　to　become　a　hero；　spends　his　days　in　inglorious　ease；　reclining　on　soft　cushions。　Consider　that　Mourad　Bey　never　laid　aside　his　sword。　Remember　that；　when　the　trumpet　sounded；　he　was　ever　the　first　to　the　field。　He　would　have　considered　him　his　enemy　who　should　have　said　to　him：　'Remain　at　home；　and　repose　on　your　cushions　while　your　brethren　are　facing　death　for　the　fatherland！'　I　think　you　should　endeavor　to　follow　his　example。　You　must　follow　his　example！　Kachef　Youssouf；　I　will　tell　you　what　is　written　in　the　letter　you　are　to　take　to　Osman　Bey。　I　announce　to　him　that　I　send　the　truest　and　bravest　of　all　kachefs；　and　I　beg　him　to　take　you　to　battle　with　him。　I　announce　to　him　that　I　give　him　for　the　fatherland；　and　the　most　faithful　friend　I　have；　and　beg　him　to　place　you　at　the　starting…point；　from　which　you　are　to　run　your　race　as　a　hero。〃

〃Oh；　bitterness　and　anguish！〃　cried　Youssouf；　in　tones　of　despair。　〃She　drives　me　from　her　like　a　miserable　dog　whom　she　will　not　tolerate　on　the　threshold　of　her　door。〃

〃No；　Youssouf；〃　replied　Sitta　Nefysseh；　sadly。　〃No！　His　mistress　only　points　out　to　Youssouf　the　road　he　must　pursue　in　order　to　become　one　day　a　hero；　and　the　first　and　foremost　of　all　the　Mameluke　beys。　There　is　a　higher　bliss　than　domestic　happiness；　and　that　is　the　pursuit　of　glory。　Let　glory　be　your　aim。　You　shall　be　called　a　hero；　and　the　scha…er　shall　proclaim　your　deeds　to　the　listening　people。　And　this；　O　Youssouf；〃　she　added　in　lower　tones；　〃this　is　my　consolation　in　parting　with　youyou；〃　she　quickly　resumed；　as　if　feeling　that　there　had　been　something　in　the　tone　of　her　voice　that　required　an　explanation；　〃you　whom　I　esteem　as　my　husband's　devoted　friend！　And　now　go；　Youssouf；　and　let　this　be　my　farewell　greeting！　Think　of　me　when　you　go　out　to　battle；　think　that　your　glory　is　my　pride！〃

〃I　am　going；〃　said　he；　in　a　choking　voice。　〃I　am　going；　and　to　die；　Sitta　Nefysseh！〃

〃To　die？　No；　Youssouf；〃　cried　she。　〃No；　not　to　die。〃

〃I　must；　for　you　drive　me　from　you；　you　send　me　to　confront　the　death…dealing　bullets。　Do　not　think　that　it　is　base　fear　that　drives　me　to　despair。　When　going　with　my　master　to　battle；　I　have　never　known　fear。　I　am　going　away　to　die；　I　shall　seek　the　enemy's　bullets　in　the　hope　that　they　graciously　relieve　me　of　my　miserable　existence。〃

〃Youssouf；〃　cried　she；　in　tones　of　such　pride　and　dignity　that　he　started〃　Youssouf；　I　had　supposed　until　now　that　I　was　your　mistress。〃

〃Yes；　you　were　my　mistress　until　this　hour；　but　now　you　drive　me　from　you！〃　cried　he　in　anguish。

〃No；　wherever　you　may　be　you　are　mine；　and　must　obey　me。　You　are　a　free　man；　and　yet　I　hold　you　in　bonds。　In　virtue　of　these　bonds　I　command　you　not　to　seek　death；　but　to　seek　renown。　You　are　to　return；　a　Mameluke　bey。　Thus　must　he　return；　thus　must　Sitta　Nefysseh　see　him　appear　on　her　threshold；　and　thenAnd　now；〃　she　quickly　interrupted　herself；　〃have　you　heard　your　mistress's　command？　You　will　not　seek　death？　You　swear　to　me　that　you　will　fight　like　a　true　soldier　for　fatherland　and　glory；　and　that　you　will　not　seek　death？　The　brave　do　not　fear　death；　neither　do　they　seek　it。　The　despairing　seek　death；　and　thereby　invoke　upon　themselves　the　curse　of　Allah　for　all　time。　Swear　to　me　that　you　will　fight　like　a　hero；　and　yet　hold　your　life　sacred。　I；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　your　mistress；　command　you　to　do　so！〃

〃And　I　will　obey　my　mistress's　command！　I　swear　that　I　will　struggle　against　my　despair。　I　swear　that　I　will　live；　to　do　your　bidding　now；　and　to　return　to　hear　from　your　lips；　perhaps；　a　kindly　word　of　approval。　You　shall　be　pleased　with　me。　I　will　fight　as　beseems　your　servant。　O　Sitta　Nefysseh；　you　are　not　cruel　in　sending　me　away；　you　are　only　wise　and　thoughtful；　not　cold　and　hard　of　heart；　are　you？　You　view　the　world　with　composure　and　wisdom。　You　find　that　Kachef　Youssouf　should　no　longer　remain　here　in　ease　and　inactivity；　and　you　send　him　from　you　for　his　own　sake。　This　is　kind　and　noble　on　your　part；　and　I　should　thank　you　for　sending　me　away　to　perform　deeds　of　valor；　and　return　a　Mameluke　bey。　This　is　magnanimous　of　you；　and　it　was　only　my　miserable　weakness　that　prevented　me　from　recognizing　it；　and　sent　foolish　tears　to　my　eyes。〃

He　covered　his　face　with　his　hands；　and　his　head　fell　upon　his　breast。　Sitta　Nefysseh　gazed　at　him　intently；　he　did　not　see　the　expression　of　anguish　that　rested　on　her　features。　When　he　removed　his　hands　from　his　face；　she　had　averted　her　gaze；　and　her　countenance　was　composed。

〃Forgive　me；　mistress；〃　said　he；　〃I　was　a　fool　once　more；　I　thought　of　the　past；　and　wept　over　it。　But　I　am　now　reconciled；　and　ready　to　go。　I　will　do　as　you　say；　I　will　not　seek　death；　but　I　will　thank　Allah　if　he　allows　it　to　find　me。　Farewell；　mistress！〃　He　fell　on　his　knees　and　kissed　the　hem　of　her　dress。　He　then　stood　up　and　rushed　out　of　the　room　without　looking　at　her　again。

Sitta　Nefysseh　looked　after　him　with　outstretched　arms；　and　the　flood　of　tears　which　she　had　so　long　restrained　burst　from　her　eyes。

〃I　love　him；　O　Allah！　Thou　knowest　that　I　love　him！　Let　him　return　a　hero　covered　with　glory；　and　then；　O　Allah；　graciously　grant　that　I　may　be　able　to　reward　him　for　all　his　love；　and　for　all　the　pain　I　have　caused　him！　Let　Kachef　Youssouf　return　as　Youssouf　the　Mameluke　bey；　and　I　shall　be　blessed；　as　the　master　of　my　life　will　I　accept　him；　for　I　love　him。〃

A　horse's　hoofs　ring　out　against　the　pavement　of　the　court…yard　without。　A　cry　resounds　from　her　lips；　and　she　sinks　down。　〃O　Allah；　watch　over　him！　Let　him　return！　I　love　himI　love　him　so　dearly！〃




CHAPTER　VI

PERSECUTION。


An　hour　had　scarcely　elapsed　since　Youssouf's　departure　when　two　of　her　maids　rushed　into　Sitta　Nefysseh's　presence　with　anxious　looks。　She　lay　on　the　divan；　her　countenance　entirely　concealed；　to　hide　her　tear…stained　features。　She　remained　still；　endeavoring　to　recover　her　composure。　The　women　came　nearer。

〃Mistress；　some　one　is　here　who　wishes　to　speak　with　Sitta　Nefysseh。〃

〃Well；　what　is　it　that　alarms　you　so？〃　said　she；　raising　her　head　slightly；　and　looking　at　them。　〃Who　is　it　that　wishes　to　speak　with　me？〃

〃O　mistress；〃　murmured　one　of　them；　〃it　is　the　cadi　with　four　of　the　police。〃

Sitta　Nefy