"I have a final commission to give you," said she.
"A command, mistress! You know that your slightest is a command for
me, and would be carried out if I should die in the performance!"
"Die?" said she, with a slight start. "Now you speak of death,
Youssouf. No, you shall not die! No, thoughts of death overtake us
soon enough! Listen: I wish you to mount your horse and ride to
Osman Bey Bardissi's camp."
"Now, mistress! No, do not require this of me! " cried he,
anxiously. "You are aware an unknown friend has warned us, and said
that Sitta should hide her treasure, as danger threatened her. And
now you require Youssouf to leave you, him who promised his master,
Mourad Bey, that he would faithfully stand beside you his life long!
You cannot send me away, you will wait until the danger is past;
then will I go wherever you send me, were it to the ends of the
world! For you, Youssouf will rush into the arms of Death, but he
cannot leave you to face danger alone. No, Sitta Nefysseh, do not
require this of me!"
"I do require it of you. The message I wish to send Osman Bey is
important and secret, and I can entrust it to no one but you. Within
an hour, you will mount your horse, leave the city, and not rest
until you are with Bardissi."
"Impossible, mistress, quite impossible! Only let me remain with you
until the danger is past, then I will fly to Osman Bey, and conjure
him to come with his men to protect Sitta Nefysseh.
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