Читать книгу Ben Hamed: or, The Children of Fate - Sylvanus Cobb - Страница 7

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As soon as the evening prayers were finished Assad repaired to the shop of the jeweller, and as soon as Khorassan saw him, he conducted him to an inner apartment, bidding him remain there for the present. The youth asked no questions, but entered a small room directly back of the shop, and there he remained some fifteen minutes alone. At the end of that time the door was carefully opened, and a female, closely veiled, entered. As soon as the door was closed behind her, she raised her veil, and revealed the beautiful features of Morgiana. Assad sprang forward and caught her in his arms, and she wept upon his bosom; but her tears were those of joy, and when they were brushed away, her face was beaming with smiles. There was no coyness now, for they both felt that some power above their own had brought them together, and that fate meant them for each other. Their deep love was the only medium through which they regarded each other, and that was so mighty in its moving power that they forgot that they had ever been strangers. Already were both their souls mingled into one.

"Have you seen Mokanna, yet?" asked Morgiana, as soon as the first transports of meeting had passed.

"Yes, I saw him this morning," returned Assad; and thereupon he went on and related all that had transpired in the old lamp-mender's shop.

"Ah, then let him help us at once," said Morgiana, "for we must leave Bagdad as soon as possible. I dare not trust myself to deceive either Hassan or his father, for I fear me that they would marry me at the appointed time if I were sick with the plague. Hassan knows that I love him not, for I have not the power to carry deception in my face. I cannot smile upon one whom I loathe, nor can I look calmly upon one whom I know to be most wicked. The day after to-morrow is the time set for our nuptials, and before that time we must flee from the city. You will not hesitate, my own heart's love?"

"No, Morgiana, not an instant. I surely owe my master nothing, for he has thus far had all the benefit of my powers of both mind and body; but I will return him my price if ever I am able. And now when can you find the best opportunity for escaping?"

"Let it be to-morrow night. By that time I can have all things arranged. You have some money?"

"A little," answered Assad, "perhaps a hundred pieces of silver; money which I have honestly earned and laid away. But that will carry us to some place of safety, and when once there, I can easily earn enough to support us very handsomely."

"I shall fear not on that account," said Morgiana, "for I can earn money, too. In all Bagdad there is not one who can work embroidery more beautifully than I can, and besides, I have now more than five hundred pieces of gold, besides many fine jewels."

"You mean the jewels I brought," remarked Assad.

"No, no," quickly returned the maiden. "Those are in my possession, but I will not take them, for I cannot look upon them as mine, for they were given to me as a wedding bedeckment, and if I flee from the wedding, then I have no right to the jewels."

"You are right, my own loved one," replied Assad, with a look of pride. "Were I so inclined I could take as much gold as I could carry, and the Syndic should never miss it. But I will only take what is rightfully mine own. And now, can we meet before the appointed time?"

"There will not be much need," returned Morgiana; "and besides, it were safer not, for suspicion is a thing easily started, and we must be wary. You can see the old lamp-mender, and any assistance he has to render us he may then give."

"Right, beloved of my soul, your wit is more keen than mine. It shall be as you say."

"And now," said Morgiana, "where shall we meet?"

Assad thought a few moments, and then he said:

"Something bids me go to the north. In southern Arabia there is but little of health, while at the north, in Koordistan, the air is balmy and more bracing, and the people are bold and generous. To the north, then, we will flee. Mokanna's shop is near the northern quarter, and we may meet there. I will see him in the morning, and inform him of our intent."

"You meet me in your views completely," added Morgiana, with a smile, "for I, too, have had my mind turned to the north. In some of the strong cities there, I know we shall find friends, and where our enemies will never find us."

"Then let the matter rest as it is until to-morrow night, and then we will meet at Mokanna's shop," said Assad. "Any hour will suit me."

"I can be there before midnight," answered the maiden, "but I cannot tell exactly the hour."

At this moment the door opened, and Gulnare looked in.

"Our hour is up, my mistress," she said, "and we must be on our return."

The girl withdrew as soon as she had spoken, and Morgiana arose.

"My hour is up," she said, "and I must now return. Let us leave our love until we have more time for it."

She allowed Assad to embrace her, and having returned his kiss, she turned from the room, and shortly afterwards the youth followed her example.

On the next morning Assad was early at the shop of the lamp-mender, and he had the good fortune to find the old man there. As soon as he was assured that he was alone with the owner of the shop, he told what had been determined upon by Morgiana and himself. Mokanna listened patiently, and then he remained for some time in deep thought. At length raising his head he said:

"Your plan is a good one. Be here at the hour of midnight next coming, and I will be prepared to assist you. Let it not be later than that hour if you can avoid it. What companion will you take?"

"Morgiana will doubtless take her slave girl Gulnare, but I have none to follow me."

"Is there no one who would be willing to be your slave, and whom at the same time you can trust? for be assured that on such a journey as you must take, a faithful attendant would be of incalculable service."

"Then you would have us go at a great distance from here?" said Assad, speaking as though he were ready to follow the old man's directions implicitly. And in truth he was, for there was something in Mokanna's every look and tone which bespoke for him the perfect respect and confidence of those with whom he had dealings.

"Most assuredly, my son, you must go far from here, for of a verity you cannot be safe in a place where the rule of the Caliph Haroun is undisputed. You know that no emir of the faithful has so much influence with Haroun, as do the two syndics. The Syndic of the merchants is the very prince of the commander's wardrobe, and the Syndic of the money-changers is ever ready to accommodate him. In the expedition against the proud Roman, Nicephorus, he drew upon Elkader for fifteen thousand pieces of gold, and they were lent at once, and that, too, without interest, for well did the wily Syndic know that the act would increase ten-fold, as it really did. Of all his slaves, Elkader could spare the half better than you, and he will demand assistance of the caliph as soon as he finds you missing. He may even swear that you have robbed him of his gold. And so, too, would Ali Shir rather lose the half of all the rest of his slaves, than lose Morgiana, and he also will apply to the Commander of the Faithful for assistance. But can you think of the slave of which I spoke?"

"I know of but one, father, and that is Marouf."

"You mean the gigantic black?"

"Yes, he loves me as though I were a part of his own soul."

"Then take him, and when he is gone I will send to the Syndic his price."

"But that will be enormous. Elkader has refused a thousand pieces of gold for him, for in all the country round about there is not another man so strong."

"Then so much the more need why you should have him. Take him with you, and when you are fairly gone, I will send to the Syndic two thousand pieces, so he shall not be robbed."

"But who shall find this money?" asked Assad, with a look of incredulity.

"I can find it, so rest under no apprehensions on that account."

"But why is this?" continued Assad, now moved by astonishment. "Who is it thus cares for me, and pours out money thus, even for a slave to serve me?"

"Let the fact that you have friends assure thee, my son," spoke the old man, somewhat sternly. "In due time you shall know all you could wish, but for the present you must be content with what you see. Be here, as I said, and bring Marouf with you."

"I obey," said Assad; and as he saw that Mokanna was making preparations to go out, he took his leave.

The youth's first movement upon reaching the dwelling of his master, was to seek Marouf and call him to his own apartment.

"Marouf," he said, "I am about to leave this place—to leave this country——"

"No, no!" quickly cried the black. "God forbid! If you go, whom shall I have to love and serve?"

"Hear me out, Marouf. A friend has promised me that if I will take you with me, he will, when we are fairly gone, send to our master two thousand pieces of gold as your price. Now what say you?"

"But that is too enormous," uttered Marouf, in utter astonishment; "twenty pieces of gold will pay for the best black slave in the market."

"That may be," returned Assad, with a smile, "but not the best black slave out of it. Slaves are like jewels. Here—see this diamond upon my finger—it is worth but five hundred half pieces of gold; yet a diamond twice as large, of the same purity, could not be bought for two thousand pieces."

"But why pay this sum at all, my master? I shall most assuredly follow thee, even unto death, yet let me do it upon my own account."

"No, no, Marouf, I will take you, and yet our master shall not lose your price. We leave to-night, and you must be prepared to follow me an hour before midnight."

Marouf was crazy with joy at this proposition, and were it not that his immense weight would have aroused the inmates below, he would have danced.

"To-night," said Assad, "you will bring home your load of gold for the last time, and then you can collect such things as you wish to take with you. We will meet here in this room before we start."

After this Assad went to the market of the money-changers, and a strange thrill went to his soul as he felt that this would be the last day of his service there; yet he betrayed no uncommon emotion to his master. The day passed away, and with a steady hand the youth set down the sums as they went out and came in. At length the duties of the day were closed. Assad put away his heavy parchment books and left the market-place. Marouf swung the heavy bag upon his shoulder. It was heavier than usual, but the slave noticed it not, and his step was as light as though nought but empty air rested upon his shoulders.

Little dreamed the Syndic, as he saw Assad close the book, that the same hands would never open it again. And little dreamed he, as he saw Marouf lightly swing the heavy sack upon his shoulder, that the stout black would carry the burden no more for him. The money-changer gazed around upon his companions, and he knew that they envied him in his possession of two such slaves.