"
"And will you tell me his name, Osman? " asked Mohammed, bending
down closely to him. Passionately, almost threateningly, he
repeated: "Will you tell me the name of this, your beloved, your
only friend?"
Osman, smiled, took from a cushion an oval mirror, framed in mother-
of-pearl, with a golden handle, and held it before Mohammed. "Look
at yourself, and you will know his name."
Looking, not at the mirror, but earnestly into his friend's eyes,
Mohammed stooped down and kissed Osman's lips.
"Listen, Osman, to what I say! I am almost ashamed to confess it,
and yet it is true, next to my mother I love you best on earth, and
I believe I could sacrifice my life for you."
"And I mine for you," said Osman, gently.
"Let us swear to be true friends forever," continued Mohammed.
"Here is my hand! Eternal friendship! If you need me, Osman, call
me, and, were I ever so distant, I would come to you. When in want,
or when cast down by sorrow and suffering, I will complain to no one
but you. What my lips will confess to no one else, they shall
confess to Osman. Shall it be so? Friendship for life?"
"Yes, life-long friendship!' said Osman. "Men need not know it. We
will preserve as our secret the bond of friendship we have formed,
and I only entreat of Allah that he may some day permit me to prove
to you that I am your friend."
"And this I entreat of Allah, too," said Mohammed, warmly pressing
his friend's wan hand.
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