Now all is profound
darkness. It is dark in the garden, and in the room. It is dark,
too, in Cousrouf Pacha's breast.
"Woe to her, if she dares to break her oath! In that case, I will
go, with my servants, in the broad light of day, to-morrow, to the
sheik's house, and demand my property--my slave. Mine is she, for I
purchased her with money which she accepted. Then, however, she
shall not be my queen, but my slave--my servant. Come she shall, by
Allah! I must possess her, for I love her with all the passion of my
heart."
He bends forward, and listens attentively again. He hardly dares to
breathe, and his heart throbs loudly as he anxiously gazes out into
the garden. He does not notice that the hours are rapidly passing;
to him it seems an eternity of waiting.
Without, at the garden-gate, the two watchful eunuchs are still
standing. They, like their master, have been looking out into the
darkness, and listening throughout the entire night.
"No sign of her yet," said one of the eunuchs to the other. "Woe to
the girl if she dares to deceive our mighty master! She thinks,
perhaps, he will abandon his claim. There will be a nice piece of
work to be done tomorrow. Cousrouf Pacha, our mighty master, is not
in the habit of being trifled with. He will send us down after his
property, and there will be no lack of bloody heads in Praousta,
tomorrow; for we shall certainly have to regain possession of this
slave.
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