But these are mere fancies. He has proved on
every occasion that he no longer thinks of it. I will have him
called and study his countenance while speaking with him."
He sent one of his slaves to request the sarechsme to come to him.
After a few minutes Mohammed entered. He bowed profoundly before
Cousrouf, and seemed delighted when invited to seat himself beside
the pacha on the divan, and smoke the chibouque with him.
"Tell me, Mohammed, how old are you?" asked Cousrouf, after a pause,
blowing clouds of smoke from his lips, and seeming to regard the
general with kindly composure. "How old are you?"
"I hardly know, highness," replied Mohammed, smiling. "But let me
count. I believe I was fifteen when, at Cavalla, I first had the
happiness of meeting you, my distinguished master."
"Let us proceed with the calculation," said Cousrouf. "I remained
three years in Cavalla. By Allah, they seemed to me to be three
centuries! Yes, I remained there three years, and you were therefore
eighteen when I left Cavalla?"
"Yes, eighteen years old; and a wild, reckless lad I was, too! Even
now I beg your forgiveness for my conduct at that time," said
Mohammed, humbly.
The viceroy bowed a gracious consent.
"Since then twelve years have passed, and you are therefore now
thirty."
"You see, I am an old man! And when I look back at the past it seems
to me I have lived an eternity.
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