Now she will come:
she has given her word; she has sworn by Allah; she has sworn by the
spirit of her mother; she has sworn by all she holds sacred. She
will come for the daughter of Alepp knows that one who breaks a
treble oath is doomed to inevitable destruction, and walks a welcome
prey to the evil spirits, to the ghins. Surely, she will not dare to
do this! She will come--she must come.
Something rustles in the garden. The pacha steps hastily to the
window, throws it open, and looks out eagerly into the darkness. It
is well that the moon is at this moment concealed by clouds; he
might otherwise now see her coming up the walk from the end of the
avenue. No, nothing approaches. It is not the beautiful virgin, with
the eyes of the gazelle, with the light, airy step. How beautiful
she is, how fair, how lovely! Is she not yet coming? Does he not
hear approaching footsteps? No, neither of the eunuchs is stealthily
approaching to announce to his mighty master that the virgin has
entered the harem.
He stands and waits, his face quivering with anger and impatience.
He is angry with the girl for daring to come so late. But come she
will, and come she must; for whoever breaks the treble oath is lost
before Allah and the prophet. He remains at the window, looking out
into the quiet garden and dark night for a long time. The wind
extinguishes the lamp that stands on the table.
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