mohammed ali and his house-第86部分

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〃Wake　up；　Cousrouf！　wake　up；　thou　Viceroy　of　Egypt；　wake　up！〃

Cousrouf　starts　and　stares　at　him。

〃What　is　it？　Who　calls　me？〃

〃Your　devoted　servant；　the　sarechsme　by　your　grace；　Mohammed　Ali；　calls　you。〃

〃I　know　by　your　voice　that　you　have　come　to　kill　me！〃　cried　Cousrouf；　springing　to　his　feet。

Mohammed　slowly　shook　his　head。

〃Had　I　desired　your　death；　you　would　long　since　have　stood　before　Allah's　throne；　to　render　an　account　of　your　crimes。　No；　Cousrouf；　I　have　not　come　to　kill　you；　but　to　read　to　you　a　message　from　the　grand…sultan　at　Stamboul。〃

Cousrouf　bowed　his　head。

〃You　mean　my　condemnation。　Were　it　an　acknowledgment　of　my　right　and　a　restoration　to　authority；　Mohammed　Ali　would　not　have　come　to　announce　it。　Read！〃

The　sarechsme　unfolded　the　paper；　and　read　in　a　loud　voice　the　firman　which　deposed　Cousrouf　from　the　office　of　viceroy。

〃For　he　has　performed　its　duties　badly；　and　not　proved　worthy　of　our　favor。　He　has　been　vanquished　by　rebels；　and　has　sought　safety　in　flight；　instead　of　dying　in　the　fulfilment　of　his　duty。　Humiliated　and　disgraced；　he　has　been　brought　a　prisoner　to　the　palace　in　which　he　once　ruled。　Cousrouf　is　entirely　unworthy　of　the　honors　conferred　on　him；　and　is　hereby　deposed　from　his　office　and　dignities；　and　forbidden　ever　to　present　himself　before　the　grand…sultan；　or　to　show　himself　at　Stamboul　in　the　holy　empire　of　the　grand…sultan。　He　is　banished　and　exiled　from　the　empire；　and　his　name　must　never　be　mentioned　in　the　hearing　of　the　grand…sultan。　He　is　to　be　conveyed　to　the　fort　built　on　the　island　of　Imbro；　there　to　remain　until　he　dies。　Such　are　the　commands　of　the　grand…sultan；　his　gracious　master。〃

When　Mohammed　finishes　reading；　profound　silence　ensues。　Cousrouf　utters　no　word　in　reply。　He　stands　there；　motionless；　pale　as　a　corpse；　staring　at　Mohammed。　He　seems　to　be　still　listening　to　the　words　he　has　heard；　to　the　fearful　announcement　of　his　fall　and　disgrace。

〃To　Imbro　you　go；〃　said　Mohammed　Ali；　after　a　pause。　〃Do　you　remember　Imbro？〃

No　word　comes　from　Cousrouf's　pale　lips；　he　slowly　shakes　his　head。

〃Imbro　is　a　little　island；　opposite　Cavalla；　and　for　the　selection　of　this　place　you　are　indebted　to　me；　Cousrouf。　Do　you　know　why　I　selected　it？　From　the　windows　of　your　prison　you　can　see　Cavalla；　the　bay；　and　the　Ear　of　Bucephalus。　From　there　you　can　see　the　sea　and　the　coast；　can　see　the　place　where　on　that　night　the　poor　boy　lay　on　the　shore；　also　the　place　where　Masa　sank　beneath　the　waves。　You　shall　see　this　place；　Cousrouf。　I　know　your　gaze　will　often　turn　in　that　direction；　and　I　know　you　will　think　of　me　when　you　look　at　the　coast；　Cousrouf。　Your　life　shall　be　an　everlasting　remorse。　This　is　my　revenge；　Cousrouf。　Throughout　the　remainder　of　your　life　your　recollections　shall　torment　you；　and　you　shall　gaze　upon　the　place　where　Masa　died；　and　where　you　made　of　the　innocent　boy　a　hard…　hearted　man。　At　Imbro　you　shall　live；　Cousrouf；　and　I　shall　take　care　that　you　sometimes　hear　of　me　there；　and　learn　what　has　become　of　the　boy　who　lay　stretched　out　on　the　shore；　his　heart　torn　with　anguish；　while　you　caused　that　which　he　held　dearest　on　earth　to　be　sunk　in　the　cold　grave　of　the　waves。　This　is　our　last　meeting；　yet　you　shall　often　hear　of　me；　and　this　I　tell　you　in　advance：　Cousrouf　Pacha；　where　you　stood　in　your　power　and　magnificence；　there　shall　Mohammed　Ali　stand。　He　will；　however；　be　more　powerful　than　you　were；　and　no　one　shall　deal　with　him　as　he　has　dealt　with　you。　No　one　shall　depose　him　from　his　place；　be　assured　of　this；　and　remember　it　in　your　solitude　at　Imbro。　Bear　my　greeting　to　Cavalla；　to　the　yellow　shore；　and　to　Masa's　deep；　blue　grave。　And　now　I　have　nothing　more　to　say　to　you。　I　shall　send　up　the　bim　bashi　who　is　to　conduct　you　to　Alexandria；　and　accompany　you　on　the　ship　to　your　home　at　Imbro。　Farewell！〃

He　turns　and　hastily　leaves　the　room；　without　looking　again　at　Cousrouf；　who　stands　there　motionless　and　deathly　pale。

On　ascending　and　unlocking　the　door　of　Cousrouf's　prison；　the　bim　bashi　sees　him　stretched　out　on　the　floor；　pale　and　motionless。　Is　he　dead？　Has　the　terrible　blow　destroyed　him？

It　were　well　for　Cousrouf　if　he　were　dead！　But　no；　he　lives！　He　had　only　for　the　moment　found　relief　in　insensibility　from　the　consciousness　of　humiliation　and　disgrace。

He　returns　to　consciousness；　is　led　down　to　the　court…yard；　mounted　on　his　ass；　and　conducted　by　the　bim　bashi　and　the　slaves　to　Alexandria。　From　there　he　is　transported　in　the　vessel；　that　lies　in　readiness；　across　the　sea　to　Imbro；　to　the　citadel；　from　whose　windows　he　can　see　Cavalla；　the　water；　and　the　place　where　he　buried　Masa　beneath　the　cold；　blue　waves。




CHAPTER　XIII

LOVE　UNTO　DEATH。


ON　the　afternoon　of　this　fearful　day；　all　was　again　restored　to　quiet　in　the　streets　of　Cairo。　The　terror…stricken　inhabitants　had　again　ventured　forth　from　their　houses；　and　were　standing　in　groups；　discussing　in　subdued　voices　the　events　of　the　day。　But　they　ceased　conversing　when　they　now　saw　the　cadi　approaching　on　horseback；　and　in　advance　of　him　the　public　crier。　In　the　cadi's　name　he　proclaimed　to　the　people　a　general　amnesty　for　all　past　offences：　〃The　new　viceroy　is　to　enter　the　city　on　the　morrow。　Let　the　city　put　on　festive　attire；　and　let　a　hearty　welcome　be　extended　him。　Remove　from　the　streets　and　houses　all　traces　of　conflict　and　bloodshed。　Bury　your　dead；　and　care　for　your　wounded；　ye　wives　of　the　Mameluke　beys　and　the　kachefs。　Do　your　duty；　ye　women　and　ye　servants。〃

These　orders　of　the　cadi　were　proclaimed　throughout　the　entire　city　by　the　crier。

But　now　the　veiled　women　come　out　into　the　streets　with　their　servants；　and；　in　obedience　to　the　prophet's　injunctions；　seek　the　wounded　and　suffering；　take　them　to　their　houses；　and　care　for　them　tenderly。

Many　of　the　dead　and　wounded　lie　in　front　of　Bardissi's　palacemen　who　had　stood　faithfully　by　their　master；　and　fallen　bravely　in　the　discharge　of　duty。

A　number　of　women　approach　this　place。　Veiled　like　the　rest　is　she　who　precedes　the　others；　yet　her　royal　bearing；　and　the　deference　shown　her　by　the　servants　and　Mamelukes　who　accompany　her；　proclaim　her　to　be　Sitta　Nefysseh。　She　is　performing　her　woman's　duty　of　seeking　out　and　caring　for　the　wounded。　She　stoops　down　over　the　bodies　that　lie　stretched　out　on　the　earth；　and　suddenly　a　cry　escapes　her　lipsa　single　cry；　she　then　beckons　to　the　servants；　who　have　followed　them　with　stretchers；　for　the　transport　of　the　unfortunate。　She　gazes　in　mute　horror　at　the　Mameluke　bey　who　lies　there；　weltering　in　his　blood；　a　fearful　wound　on　his　forehead；　that　almost　renders　his　features　irrecognizable。　She；　however；　distinguishes　her　lover；　and　commands　her　servants　to　place　him　on　the　stretcher。　With　her　own　hands　she　binds　up　his　wound；　and　covers　his　countenance　with　the　white　cloths　handed　her　by　her　women。　She　then　orders　her　servants　to　carry　the　Mameluke　bey　to　her　house；　and　directs　her　women　to　continue　their　search　for　the　wounded。

She　walks　beside　the　stretcher　on　which　the　wounded　man　lies。　He　does　not　move；　he　lies　there　insensible；　unconscious　of　what　is　taking　place。

Perhaps　Sitta　Nefysseh　is　only　conveying　a　corpse　to　her　house！

She　has　him　carried　up　into　the　second　story　of　her　house。　There　he　is　laid　on　a　mat；　and　with　tender　hands　Sitta　Nefysseh　herself　adjusts　the　cushions　and　pillows。　The　servants　bring　to　his　couch；　in　silver　bowls；　water　and　the　healing　ointment　which　Sitta　Nefysseh　had　prepared　with　her　own　hands。　With　gentle　touch　she　wipes　the　blood　from　his　countenance；　washes　out　the　wound；　and　applies　to　it　the　ointment。

She　neither　weeps　nor　laments。　Her　lips　are　mute；　and　her　eyes　shed　nq　tsars。　Is　this　a　time　to　weep；　when　Youssouf　Bey　is　suffering　and　needs　her　care　and　attention？　No；　at　such　a　time　a　woman　must　be　strong。　She　will　have　time　enough　for　tears　and　lamentation　in　her　after…life。

The　fearful　gash　on　his　forehead　bears　silent　evidence　of　this。　She　has　often　seen　similar　wounds；　and　bound　them　up　herself。

She　well　knows　that　Youssouf　Bey　is　wounded　unto　deaththat　there　is　no　hope　of　recovery：　Yet　she　does　not　weep。　With　Allah　all　is　possible；　and　he　may　be　gracious。　A　miracle　may　occur；　Youssouf's　youthful　vigor　and　his　heroic　nature　may　yet　vanquish　Death。　Perhaps　her　love　may　preserve　him。　Grant；　merciful　Allah；　that　it　be　so！

Her　women　now　come　with　other　injured　Mamelukes；　who　are　placed　on　the　mats　Sitta　Nefysseh　had　caused　to　be　spread　out　for　them　in　the　adjoining　room。

Sitta　Nefysseh　forbids　any　one　to　enter　the　room　where　Youssouf　lies。

〃He　needs　repose；〃　said　she；　stepping　into　the　adjoining　room　to　see　that　the　other　wounded　were　being　well　cared　for。　〃Youssouf　Bey　needs　repose。　Be　still；　move　noiselessly；　and　do　not　disturb　his　sleep！　It　may　be　the　sleep　of　death。　Be　still；　close　the　doors　and　draw　the　curtains；　that　no　noise　may　reach　him！〃

It　is　perfectly　quiet　in　the　room　where　Youssouf　Bey　lies。　Sitta　Nefysseh　kneels　beside　him。　Her　hands　folded　in　silent　prayer；　her　eyes　fastened　on　his　countenance；　she　bends　over　him　and　breathes　her　warm；　glowing　breath　through　his　cold　lips；　to　give　him　of　her　life；　and　bathes　his　cold　brow　with　her　warm　tears。

Sitta　Nefysseh's　prayerful；　tearful　entreaties　are　heard。　Youssouf　Bey　awakens　from　his　death…like　slumber。　Love　has　recalled　the　spirit　to　the　body。　Love　opens　his　eyes　and　permits　him　to　see　and　recognize　her　who　is　bowed　over　him；　regarding　him　with　loving　tenderness。

〃Is　it　you；　Sitta　Nefysseh？　Am　I　already　dead；　and　is　it　a　divine　being　that　looks　at　me　with　your　eyes？〃

〃No；　my　Youssouf；　you　live　and　are　with　me　on　earth！〃

〃Oh；　it　is　impossibleimpossible！　Only　a　sweet　illusion；〃　whispers　he；　with　quivering　lips；　his　eyes　close；　and　he　falls　back　heavily。

But　she　bends　over　him；　strokes　his　brow　and　cheek　with　gentle　touch；　and　calls　him　loving　names。

〃You　live；〃　murmurs　she；　〃oh；　feel　that　you　live；　dear　Youssouf；　Feel　it　in　this　kiss！〃

A　soft　tremor　courses　through　his　entire　being；　and　his　eyes　open。

Yes；　he　lives！　He　is　not　dead！　This　is　Nefysseh's　victory　over　death；　this　is　the　result　of　the　impassioned　kiss　impressed　on　the　lips　of　her　beloved。

〃And　is　it　possible；　Nefyss