The moon grows pale, the stars vanish; day is beginning to dawn. As
the sun rises, they reach their destination.
The dromedary stops at the little gate at the end of the park.
Achmed dismounts, and opens the gate. Mohammed has lifted Butheita
from the palanquin, and now carries his precious burden into the
park.
All are asleep in the palace. The two glide softly through the park
to the door of the harem. Achmed unlocks it, and Mohammed ascends
the stairway with noiseless footsteps. No one hears or sees him.
Achmed hastens back to care for the horse and the dromedary.
Mohammed carries the precious burden, that lies quietly in his arms,
through the suite of glittering apartments. Butheita sees nothing of
the splendor through which they pass, and, if she saw it, would not
heed it.
What cares she for gilded rooms! the desert puts on more glorious
attire with each day's dawn, and nothing can be more sublime than
the sphinx near the great pyramids. He who has seen that is
astonished at nothing else; to him all things in the houses of men
seem petty.
Mohammed is aware of this, and he understands the heart of the girl
he bears in his arms; he now enters the large room at the end of the
apartments of the harem. Here he gently lays her down, and locks the
door. The sun has risen and gilds with its light the lattice-work of
the windows, throwing little crimson circles on the mat that covers
the floor.
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