"Me, sir?" she cried, in horror. "You wish to purchase me?"
"Why are you so terrified? I have in my harem many women who are as
beautiful and young as you are, and of much nobler birth, and they
esteem themselves happy in belonging to me. But I tell you, Masa, I
will hold you higher than them all. You shall rule over them all,
and they shall all bow down before you, for Cousrouf Pacha will set
them the example. By Allah! I swear it to you with the triple oath:
not my slave, but my favorite, shall you be. Cousrouf Pacha will
honor you as the first, as the queen of his harem."
"It is impossible, sir," she cried, in terror. "My father's daughter
cannot sell herself. She is a free woman, and must remain so."
"Then remain so, and your father dies," said he, composedly. "Plume
yourself with your freedom, but say, too, in your proud arrogance,
that you are the murderess of your father. For, I say to you,
Mohammed swore the oath, and he will keep it. Your father will die,
and you will be his murderess."
"Allah be merciful! I cannot allow my father to die. No!" she
groaned aloud.
"He dies if you do not accept what I offer. I repeat it, wealth and
honors shall be yours. The daughter of the poor sheik of the
wretched village shall become the favorite of the pacha. I shall not
remain here long. The message will soon come that calls me to
Stamboul; and you, Masa, shall go with me.
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