"
He pressed her to his heart and laid his head in her lap. Both were
silent.
Suddenly a loud report resounded through the stillness of the night.
Mohammed released himself from her arms, and sprang in terror to his
feet.
"That was the report of a pistol-shot. Alas! it awakens me from my
dreams. All bliss is at an end, the earth is again here, and calls
me from paradise."
"You will leave me, Mohammed!" cried she, rising from her cushion.
"Mohammed, you intend to leave me tonight?"
"O Masa, I must! Do not tremble, my white dove; all our troubles and
anxieties will soon be at an end. That report was the signal that
Cousrouf Pacha is preparing to depart."
"Is it then really true?" asked Masa, her countenance beaming with
delight. "The pacha takes his departure and restores me to freedom!"
"It is true," said Mohammed. "He was to have embarked yesterday
evening, and who knows but that when the sun rises the ship will
long since have sailed out of the harbor. Yet we must be cautious.
It might be only a pretence, to lull us into false security. It is
for this reason, Masa, that I dare not pass the night here. His
spies, who follow and observe me everywhere, might announce to him
that Mohammed Ali had again passed the night elsewhere than in his
house. Let us be cautious while misfortune with its black pinions
still hovers over us. Afterward the sun will shine for us.
Pages:
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311