The old man held her close to his heart, and then, lifting her up,
bore her, trembling with emotion, from out the cage, in which he had
endured such torture for four-and-twenty hours.
The ulemas followed him. Joyfully the men greeted the released
prisoners, and prayed that they might escort them home in triumph.
"I see no cause for triumph," said the sheik, calmly. "You have done
what I cannot approve. It were better, I think, to have laid my gray
head upon the block, rather than you should place upon it your hard-
earned gold, becoming hereby the slaves of him who gave it to you,
and has thus lowered you by his gift.''
"No, sheik," said Cousrouf Pacha, advancing proudly. "He who gave
this gold gave it not with such intent. He gave it not to humiliate
these men. I gave it for your sake, and for your daughter's sake,"
continued he, in loud tones, and for an instant his eyes gleamed
passionately on Masa.
He well knew his words would enter Mohammed's heart like a knife.
Turning slowly, be glanced at him, and smiled at seeing him turn
pale.
"I am now about to leave you," said the pacha. "The grand-sultan
calls me from here. Fear not, therefore, O sheik, that my
countenance will longer humiliate you. I give you freedom. Return to
your friends; you are free!"
"Long live Cousrouf Pacha!" was the exultant cry of the men of
Praousta.
No one heard, amid the many voices, the one crying "Cursed be
Cousrouf Pacha! Cursed be my enemy unto death! I swear revenge upon
him!"
"Cease, Mohammed; be guarded, be silent! Dissemble your anger, your
pain, O friend of my heart! Believe me, all will soon be changed:
the sky that now seems so dark, will soon be clear with the light of
the sun and of love!"
"No, never, Osman, never," murmured Mohammed, gazing bitterly at
Masa, who, leaning upon her father's arm, and followed by the ulemas
and the jubilant fishermen, was now leaving the court-yard.
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