Part 8 (1/2)
After the meal, jugglers entered and performed clever feats of magic, dancing-girls of every tribe under the Sultan's rule performed in turn various terpsich.o.r.ean feats upon the great mat spread in the centre of the pavilion, and to the loud thumping of derboukas and the plaintive tw.a.n.ging of curiously-shaped stringed instruments, they danced until they sank upon their cus.h.i.+ons from sheer exhaustion. These were followed by snake-charmers, wrestlers of herculean strength and story-tellers--the entertainment, which was on the most lavish scale, being continued until, at the going down of the sun, the clear voice of the _mueddin_ was heard droning the _azan_.
The leisure at my disposal when, after the shadows lengthened and declined into the glory and vivid charm of the tropical twilight the Khalifa had retired to his private pavilion, I occupied in exploring those parts of the palace to which I had free access. Its vast proportions and its sumptuous decorations and appointments surprised me.
When, on the previous occasion, I had pa.s.sed through its great arcaded courts I was on my way to execution, therefore little opportunity had been afforded to me of ascertaining the full extent of the buildings; but now, in the cool evening hour, as, alone and thoughtful, I strolled under the dark colonnades and across the great open squares with their tall palms, time-worn fountains and wealth of roses, I noted its magnificence.
Around me on every side were sounds of revelry--barefooted girls were trilling and quavering, accompanied by noisy tambourines and serannel pipes of abominable discordance and the constant beating of derboukas and the clapping of hands; but holding aloof from my companions, I wandered from court to court in order to obtain a view of the great square tower wherein Azala's chamber was situated. At last, on entering the court where dwelt the serving-men of the Grand Vizier Mahaza, the tower rose high in the gathering gloom. From which of its small, closely-barred lattices had the city been revealed to me? Halting in the garden and looking up at its white walls, I tried in vain to recognise the window of the apartment where Azala had nursed me back to consciousness. Had she, I wondered, lonely and sad, watched from behind the lattice the festivities in the courts below? If so, might she not discern me now, gazing up at her chamber, and by some means or other contrive a meeting! Yet to deceive the watchfulness of the Grand Eunuch and his satellites was impossible. The square wherein I stood was almost deserted, for in the court beyond there was feasting and marissa-drinking among the Janissaries and the Jehadieh, and all had been attracted thither. I must have been standing there, oblivious to my surroundings, a considerable time, for it had grown almost dark, when a voice behind me brought me back to a knowledge of things about me.
”Why standest thou here aloof from thy comrades, O friend?” the voice inquired, and on turning quickly I was confronted by a black dwarf, whose face was the most hideous my eyes had ever witnessed, and his crooked stature certainly the smallest. His head, which scarcely reached to my hip, seemed too large for his hump-backed body, while his hands and feet were abnormal. Indeed, his personal appearance was the reverse of prepossessing, even though he was well dressed in an Arab fez and a robe of bright blue silk with yellow sash. His age was difficult to guess. He might have been any age between thirty and fifty, but his thin, squeaking voice suggested senile weakness. His smile increased his ugliness as, perpetually, his eyes, like flaming fire-lances, darted towards me.
”The cool air of this thy garden is refres.h.i.+ng after the heat of the desert,” I replied in Arabic, as he had addressed me in that language.
”But I have been watching thee,” the human monstrosity continued, looking up at me as his mouth elongated, showing an even set of white teeth. ”While thy fellows have been making merry thou hast been gazing up at yonder lattice? Hast thou seen her?”
”Whom dost thou mean?” I inquired, startled that this ugly imp should be aware of my quest.
”Affect not ignorance,” he said, lowering his voice to almost a whisper.
”Thou hast knowledge as full as myself that high up yonder there dwelleth the Lalla Azala, the beauteous daughter of his Majesty.”
”Well,” I said, anxiously, ”tell me of her. I know so little.”
”She hath rescued thee from death, and for many moons hath awaited thy return. She sendeth thee health and peace,” he answered, slowly.
”But how dost thou know my innermost secrets?” I inquired, regarding the strange, unearthly-looking figure with some suspicion.
”Fear not betrayal, O friend,” he replied.”I am called Tiamo, _khaddan_ (servitor) of the Lalla Azala, and thy devoted servant. By day and night alike hath her bright eyes sought for sign of thee, for she ascertained, through one of our spies in Omdurman, of thy promotion unto the chieftains.h.i.+p of the Khalifa's body-servants, and knew that thou wouldst accompany him hither.”
”Art thou bearer of a message from her?” I asked, bending towards him in eagerness.
”Yes. Hers is indeed a joyless life. Through the long day hath she stood at her lattice trying in vain to distinguish thee amid the crowds.
Yet even now she is most probably standing there, and hath recognised thee. Yea. Behold!” he cried, excitedly. ”See! There is the sign?”
I strained my eyes upward, and could just distinguish in the darkness something white fluttering from a lattice high up near the summit of the tower. It showed for an instant, then disappeared; but it was sufficient to tell me that I was not forgotten.
”Such means of communication are unsafe,” the black dwarf growled, as if to himself.
”What message bearest thou?” I asked, turning to him and remarking the frown of displeasure that had overspread his hideous countenance.
”The One of Beauty hath ordered me to tell thee to wait patiently. She is in sore peril, being so zealously watched by eunuchs and harem-guards that at present she cannot have speech with thee. Wait, and she will communicate with thee when it is safe.”
”What is the nature of her peril?” I inquired.
But the dwarf frowned, glanced up at the little lattice to a.s.sure himself that there was no longer a signal there, sighed, and then replied,--
”I am forbidden to tell thee. Rest in the knowledge that Tiamo, her servant and thine, will render thee what a.s.sistance thou requirest.”
”Is the Lalla so carefully guarded that none can approach her?” I asked, as together we moved on into the adjoining court, where the fighting-men were making merry.
”Alas!” he answered, ”she leadeth a lonely life. Forbidden to enter the great Courts of Enchantment wherein dwell the wives and houris of the Sultan amid every luxury, and where every diversion and gaiety is provided, she is compelled by the Sultan, whom she hath displeased, to live alone with her companions, slaves and waiting-women, in the rooms in yonder tower until such time as she shall be given in marriage.”
”And shall I see her?”