Yet if, when the hour
arrives, you do not appear, my father's life is lost, and you will
be his murderers.' I will speak to them thus, and will entreat them
with tears, and believe me, these men are good at heart, and full of
tenderness and mercy. They, too, dearly love my father, the sheik,
and they also love the ulemas, the wise men of the place, and they
will surely yield to my entreaties if you will only wait, Mohammed."
As she finished speaking, she turned the gaze of her glowing eyes
full upon him. He looked into the depths of these eyes, and a sweet
tremor coursed through his whole soul.
"See how great is your power over me, Masa. Mohammed lays his honor,
his pledged word, at your feet, and does what you request: I will
wait until the hour of the second prayer. May Allah give strength to
your words, and bless the charm of your crimson lips with success! I
will wait. But one thing, Masa, tell me now, before you go."
"What is it? " asked she. But she seemed to know already, for she
blushingly averted her eyes.
" Tell me that you love me, then I will wait. Tell me, Masa, do you
love me?"
"How can I tell you what I do not understand?" murmured she. "I do
not know what love is."
"You do not know what love is?" said he, gazing at her fixedly and
almost threateningly. "Then tell me this, Masa, do you know that I
love you?"
When he uttered these words his face was so near hers that she felt
his breath on her cheeks--so near, that his eyes looked into the
depths of her own and saw themselves reflected there.
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