mohammed ali and his house-第75部分

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　me？〃

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

Sitta　Nefysseh　sprang　to　her　feet。

〃What　say　you？　The　chief　of　the　police　dares　to　enter　my　house！　What　does　he　want　？〃

〃He　says　he　comes　at　the　instance　of　his　highness　the　viceroy。〃

〃If　that　is　the　case；〃　said　Sitta　Nefysseh；　quietly；　〃let　him　enter。〃　One　of　the　women　opened　the　door；　and　the　cadi；　the　chief　of　police；　appeared　on　the　threshold；　behind　him　stood　four　policement　with　pistols　and　daggers　in　their　belts；　their　hands　on　their　swords。

〃Were　my　women　right？　〃　asked　Sitta　Nefysseh；　with　dignity。　〃You　come　in　the　name　of　his　highness　the　viceroy？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　cadi；　with　a　slight　bow。　〃Yes；　I　come　in　his　highness's　name。　The　viceroy　commands　that　Mourad　Bey's　widow　accompany　me　at　once　to　his　presence；　to　the　citadel。〃

〃And　with　what　right？〃　asked　she　quietly。

〃I　know　not　and　care　not；〃　said　the　official；　with　an　air　of　indifference；　〃here　is　the　order。〃　He　drew　from　his　pocket　a　document；　to　which　large　seals　were　appended；　and　handed　it　to　her。　Sitta　Nefysseh　looked　at　it；　and　returned　it　with　perfect　composure。

〃You　are　right；　it　is　the　viceroy's　order。　I　will　obey。　Order　the　carriage　to　be　driven　to　the　door。〃

She　said　this　in　such　imperious　tones　that　the　cadi；　at　other　times　a　proud　man；　and　a　high　dignitary　of　the　viceroy's　court；　could　not　but　obey　her；　and　stepped　out　and　delivered　her　command　to　one　of　his　officers。　He　then　returned　to　Sitta　Nefysseh。

〃I　have　orders　to　leave　a　guard　in　your　house；〃　said　he。

〃Then　do　so；〃　said　she；　quietly。　〃The　viceroy　is　master　over　us　all；　and　it　seems　there　is　no　law　here　in　Cairo　but　his　will。　Obey　him；　therefore。　Leave　a　guard　in　my　house。〃

He　seemed　not　to　notice　the　mockery　in　her　words；　and　bowed　in　silence。

〃No　one　may　enter　or　leave　your　house　during　your　absence。〃

〃Why　do　you　say　this　to　me？　Say　it　to　those　who　may　desire　to　leave　it　after　I　have　gone；　and　who　may　be　alarmed。　I　am　not　alarmed；　my　conscience　does　not　accuse　me。　My　carriage　is　readylet　us　go。　I　trust；　however；　that　the　viceroy　does　not　require　me　to　appear　before　him　alone；　it　is　becoming　that　Mourad's　Bey's　widow　should　be　accompanied　by　her　women　when　she　goes　out。〃

〃I　am　not　instructed　to　refuse　such　a　request；　yet；　there　must　not　be　more　of　them　than　your　carriage　will　contain。〃

〃Two　of　my　servants　will　accompany　me；〃　said　she。　Without　once　looking　back　into　the　room；　or　manifesting　any　fear　or　anxiety　whatever；　she　stepped　out　into　the　vestibule；　and；　beckoning　to　two　of　the　weeping　women　who　had　assembled　about　her；　commanded　them　to　follow　her。　〃You　others　need　fear　nothing；〃　said　she　with　perfect　composure。　〃The　cadi　leaves　his　guards　here　to　protect　you；　against　whom　I　know　not；　but　certainly　against　someone。〃　Taking　leave　of　her　servants　with　a　kindly　nod；　and　drawing　her　veil　more　closely　about　her；　she　walked　proudly　out　into　the　court…yard　to　the　carriage。

Almost　ashamed　of　his　errand；　the　cadi　followed　and　assisted　her　in　entering　the　carriage；　closing　the　door　after　her。　The　carriage　drove　off　rapidly；　accompanied　by　the　cadi　and　his　officers；　while　another　body　of　men　remained　in　charge　of　the　house。

Sitta　Nefysseh　leaned　back　against　the　cushions　while　the　carriage　rolled　through　the　streets；　her　thoughts　far　distant　from　her　present　surroundings。

〃I　thank　thee；　Allah；　that　he　is　saved！〃　she　murmured　to　herself。　〃I　thank　thee！　He　would　have　been　excited　to　ungovernable　wrath；　and　he　would　have　been　punished　and　imprisoned　as　a　rebel。　I　have　saved　him！　What　have　I　now　to　fear？　Let　the　worst　befall；　provided　only　that　he　be　safe！〃

The　carriage　moved　slowly　up　the　Muskj　Street；　through　dense　crowds　of　people。　It　was　market　day；　and　the　street　was　thronged　with　people；　who　complained　so　loudly　of　the　intruding　carriage　and　horsemen　that　Sitta　Nefysseh；　aroused　from　her　meditations；　leaned　forward　and　drew　the　window　curtains　aside。　The　people；　who　in　their　wrath　had　not　observed　that　the　cadi　and　his　officers　constituted　the　escort　of　the　carriage；　now　became　silent　as　they　saw　the　woman　at　the　window；　and　peered　in　with　curiosity。

Sitta　Nefysseh　raised　her　veil　and　displayed　her　countenance　to　the　multitude。　〃It　is　Sitta　Nefysseh；　Mourad　Bey's　widow！〃　resounded　in　the　street。　The　cry　was　repeated　until　the　gaze　of　all　became　fixed　on　the　carriage　in　astonishment。　〃What　does　it　mean？〃

Buying　and　selling　were　no　longer　thought　of。　The　people　followed　the　carriage；　which　moved　slowly　through　the　crowded　street　toward　the　viceroy's　citadel；　in　dense　masses。　It　was　in　vain　that　the　cadi　ordered　them　to　disperse；　in　vain　that　the　officers　threatened　them　with　drawn　swords。　They　only　pressed　on　in　denser　masses；　increased　by　the　people　who　came　Rocking　from　their　houses　to　see　Mourad　Bey's　widow；　who　sat　tranquilly　in　the　carriage　with　her　two　women。　Their　destination　was　at　last　reached；　and　the　gates　of　the　citadel　closed　behind　them。　The　people　who　had　accompanied　the　carriage　remained　without；　yelling　and　shrieking：　〃Sitta　Nefysseh　is　imprisonedlet　us　liberate　her！〃

Sitta　Nefysseh　had　left　her　carriage；　and　was　now　following　the　cadi；　who　walked　in　advance。　Behind　her　came　the　two　women；　followed　by　the　officers。　Thus　the　procession　moved　in　profound　silence　up　the　broad　stairway　and　into　the　grand　reception　saloon。

〃Be　kind　enough　to　wait　here　a　moment；〃　said　the　cadi。

He　walked　into　the　neat　apartment。　Sitta　Nefysseh；　who　had　again　covered　her　face　with　her　veil；　stood　proudly　erect　in　the　midst　of　the　saloon。　The　two　weeping　women　stepped　nearer　to　their　mistress；　and　asked　if　danger　threatened　her；　and　begged　to　be　permitted　to　accompany　her　everywhere。

〃Be　still！〃　said　Sitta；　in　low　tones。　〃Shed　no　tears。　These　men　must　not　have　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　us　appear　cowardly　and　weak。〃

The　cadi　now　returned　and　stood　at　the　threshold；　holding　the　velvet　curtain　aside。

〃Be　kind　enough　to　enter；　Sitta　Nefysseh。〃

〃Not　alone。　My　women　will　accompany　me。〃

〃No；　they　are　to　remain　here。　You　alone　are　to　enter。　The　women　will　await　your　return　here。〃

Sitta　Nefysseh　walked　proudly　into　the　next　apartment。　The　curtain　fell　back　behind　her。　Cousrouf；　who　lay　stretched　out　on　his　silken　cushions；　smoking　his　chibouque；　looked　up　at　her　through　the　clouds　of　smoke　that　enveloped　him　as　she　entered　the　room。　She　looked　at　him　composedly；　and　remained　standing　at　the　door　with　so　proud　and　dignified　a　bearing；　such　majesty　in　her　whole　appearance；　that　Cousrouf's　insolence　could　not　but　succumb。　He　arose　and　advanced　to　meet　her。

〃I　salute　you；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　widow　of　Mourad　Bey！〃

〃I　do　not　return　your　salutation。　I　have　been　conducted　here　from　my　house　in　an　insulting　manner；　and　I　am　now　surprised　to　find　that　his　highness　seems　only　to　have　had　me　brought　here　in　order　to　salute　me。〃

〃I　did　not　call　you　in　order　to　salute　you；　but　for　an　entirely　different　purpose；〃　replied　Cousrouf。　〃Seat　yourself　on　the　ottoman　beside　me；　and　let　us　converse。〃

〃Converse；　highness？　Friends　and　confidants　sit　down　to　converse　with　each　other；　but　unfortunately　we　are　neither；〃　replied　she；　composedly；　as　she　seated　herself　on　the　ottoman　with　the　dignity　of　a　princess。　Cousrouf　remaining　standing；　Sitta　Nefysseh　raised　her　hand　and　pointed　to　the　divan。　〃To　the　viceroy　belongs　the　seat　of　honor。　I　beg　your　highness　to　take　that　seat。〃

He　bowed　slightly；　and　took　the　seat　assigned　him。

〃I　wished　to　beg　Sitta　Nefysseh's　permission　to　seat　myself　at　her　side；to　converse　with　her　as　a　friend。　You　do　not　desire　it；　howeveryou　wish　to　see　in　me　the　prince　only。　Let　it　be　so。　I　am　only　the　viceroy；　and　I　have　summoned　you　to　appear　before　me。〃

〃Summoned；　you　call　it？〃　cried　she；　passionately。　〃I　call　it　being　dragged　here　in　a　disgraceful　manner！〃

〃Compose　yourself；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　let　us　converse　calmly。　I　have　grave　reproaches　to　make。〃

〃Against　me？〃　asked　she；　in　astonishment。

〃Yes；　serious；　grave　reproaches！　You　are　of　the　opinion；　are　you　not；　that　every　mistress　is　responsible　for　the　actions　of　her　servants？〃

〃I　am；　because；　if　one　has　bad　and　faithless　servants；　he　should　discharge　them。　Yes；　it　seems　to　me　a　master　is　responsible　for　his　servants'　actions。〃

〃And　therefore；　have　I　summoned　you　to　this　audience。　Do　you　know　what　your　kachef　Youssouf　has　done？〃

Sitta　Nefysseh　trembled。　It　was　fortunate　that　her　veil　concealed　her　features；　and　that　Cousrouf　could　not　see　the　deathly　pallor　that　overspread　her　cheeks。

〃My　kachef？〃　said　she；　with　forced　composure。　〃Of　what　is　he　accused？〃

〃He　is　accused　of　attempting　to　bribe　my　soldiers；　and　incite　them　to　revolt　and　treason。〃

〃That　is　not　true！〃　exclaimed　she；　passionately。　〃That　is　a　falsehood；　and　I　tell　you　so　to　your　face！　My　words　are　true。　My　kachef　has　never　done　such　things；　he　is　incapable　of　inciting　any　one　to　a　breach　of　faith　or　to　treason。　He　is　the　truest　and　best　of　my　servants。〃

〃And　yet　it　is　true。　Your　kachef　has　incited　my　soldiers　to　treason。　The　viceroy　says　it　is　true！〃　cried　Cousrouf。　〃Youssouf　attempted　to　corrupt　one　of　my　own　soldiers；　an　Armenian；　urging　him　to　go　over　to　Osman　Bardissi。　When　the　soldier　refused；　he　promised　to　give　him　the　same　pay　he　now　receives　from　me。〃

〃Highness；　that　is　not　true；　I　swear　it　is　not！〃

〃Here　is　the　proof！〃　answered　Cousrouf；　rising　to　his　feet　and　taking　from　the　table　a　paper；　which　he　unfolded。　〃Here　is　the　proof！　Here　it　is；　plainly　written　in　his　own　handwriting！　Herein　your　kachef　Youssouf　promises　my　soldier；　Sadok　Aga；　to　give　him　his　whole　pay；　and　even　double　the　amount；　if　he　will　undertake　to　ride　to　Bardissi's　camp　and　convey　a　letter　to　the　bey。　Here　it　is　in　his　own　handwriting；　and　signed　by　him。〃

〃Highness；　I　beg　you　to　let　me　see　the　writing；〃　said　Nefysseh；　extending　her　hand　to　take　the　paper。　〃Let　me　see　it；　I　can　read。〃

Cousrouf　did　not　comply　with　her　request。　He　folded　the　paper；　and　laid　it　on　the　table　again。

〃It　is　unnecessary　that　you　should　read　it。　I　insist　that　your　kachef　endeavors　to　corrupt　my　soldiers　and　induce　them　to　desert　to　Bardissi's　camp。　This　is　clearly　treason。　As　you　yourself　admit　that　a　mistress　is　responsible　for