Volume I Part 43 (1/2)
”Behold what Allah wills!”
A tiny shoot appeared; a waxen point Close shawled in many folds of wax as white, It might have been a vine to humbly creep-- A lily soon to sunward flare its stars-- A shrub to briefly coquette with the winds.
Again the cabalism--
”Lo! Allah's will.”
The apparition budded, leafed, and branched, And with a flame of living green lit all The barrenness about. And still it grew-- Until it touched the pillars of the earth, And lapped its boundaries, the far and near, And under it, as brethren in a tent, The nations made their home, and dwelt in peace Forever.
”Lo!”--
And Ertoghrul awoke.
_Mishallah!_
This recitation commanded closer attention than the first one. Each listener had a feeling that the parable at the end, like all true parables, was of continuous application, while its moral was in some way aimed at him.
The looks the Sheik received were by no means loving. The spell was becoming unpleasant. Then the Emperor arose, as did the Princess, to whom, as hostess, the privilege of sitting had been alone conceded.
”Our playtime is up--indeed, I fear, it has been exceeded,” he said, glancing at the Dean, who was acting master of ceremonies.
The Dean responded with a bow low as his surroundings admitted; whereupon the Emperor went to the Princess, and said, ”We will take leave now, daughter, and for myself and my lords of the court, I acknowledge a most agreeable visit, and thank you for it.”
She respectfully saluted the hand he extended to her.
”Our gate and doors at Blacherne are always open to you.”
The adieu was specially observed by the courtiers, and they subsequently p.r.o.nounced it decorous for a sovereign, cordial as became a relative, but most un-loverlike. Indeed, it was a strong point in the decision subsequently of general acceptance, by which His Majesty was relieved of the proposal of marriage to the Princess.
The latter took his offered arm, and accompanied him to the steps of the portico, where, when he had descended, the lords one by one left a kiss on her hand.
Nor should it be forgotten, that as Constantine was pa.s.sing the Sheik, he paused to say to him in his habitually kind and princely manner: ”The tree Sheik Ertoghrul saw in his dream has spread, and is yet spreading, but its shadow has not compa.s.sed all the nations; and while G.o.d keeps me, it will not. Had not I myself invited the parable, it might have been offensive. For the instruction and entertainment given me, accept thou this--and go in peace.”
The Sheik took the ring offered him, and the gaze with which he followed the imperial giver was suggestive of respect and pity.
CHAPTER XX
MAHOMMED DREAMS
It was a trifle after noon. The trireme and the a.s.semblage of admiring townspeople had disappeared, leaving the bay and its sh.o.r.es to their wonted quiet. The palace, however, nestling in the garden under the promontory, must be permitted to hold our interest longer.
Aboo-Obeidah had eaten and drunk, for being on a journey, he was within the license of the law as respects wine; and now he sat with the Princess alone at the end of the portico lately occupied by the Emperor and his suite. A number of her attendants amused themselves out of hearing of the two, though still within call. She occupied the sedilium; he a seat by the table near her. Save a fine white veil on an arm and a fan which she seldom used, her appearance was as in the morning.
It is to be admitted now that the Princess was finding a pleasure in the society of the Sheik. If aware of the fact, which was doubtful, it is still more doubtful if she could have explained it. We are inclined to think the mystery attaching to the man had as much to do with the circ.u.mstance as the man himself. He was polite, engaging, and handsome; the objection to his complexion, if such there were, was at least offset by a very positive faculty of entertaining; besides which, the unspeakable something in manner, always baffling disguises, always whispering of other conditions, always exciting suggestions and expectations, was present here.
If she thought him the Bedouin he a.s.sumed to be, directly a word changed the opinion; did she see the Governor of the old Castle in his face, an allusion or a bit of information dropped by him unaware spoke of a.s.sociation far beyond such a subordinate; most perplexing, however, where got the man his intelligence? Did learning like his, avoiding cloisters, academies, and teachers of cla.s.sical taste, comport with camel-driving and tent-life in deserts harried by winds and sand?
The mystery, together with the effort to disentangle it, resolved the Princess into an attentive auditor. The advantages in the conversation were consequently with the Sheik; and he availed himself of them to lead as he chose.
”You have heard, O Princess, of the sacred fig-tree of the Hindus?”