Part 38 (2/2)
But the steps that pattered up the stairs were Ali's He flung upon the terrace in alarm
”My lord, my lord! Asad-ed-Din is here in force He has an arht to fear,” said Sakr-el-Bahr, with every show of calm
”All will be well”
Asad swept up the stairs and out upon that terrace to confront his rebellious lieutenant After hi which the light of the torches rippled in little runnels as of blood
The Basha came to a halt before Sakr-el-Bahr, his ar white beard jutted forward
”I aentleness will not avail Yet I pray that Allah hted thee to a wiser frame of mind”
”He has, indeed, my lord,” replied Sakr-el-Bahr
”The praise to Hiirl, then!” And he held out a hand
Sakr-el-Bahr stepped back to her and took her hand in his as if to lead her forward Then he spoke the fateful words
”In Allah's Holy Na eyes, before thee, Asad-ed-Din, and in the presence of these witnesses, I take this woman to be my wife by the merciful law of the Prophet of Allah the All-wise, the All-pitying”
The words were out and the thing was done before Asad had realized the corsair's intent A gasp of disrew inflamed, his eyes blazed
But Sakr-el-Bahr, cool and undaunted before that royal anger, took the scarf that lay about Rosa it over her head, so that her face was covered by it
”May Allah rot off the hand of him who in contempt of our Lord Mahomet's holy law may dare to unveil that face, and may Allah bless this union and cast into the pit of Gehenna any who shall atte eyes”
It was formidable Too formidable for Asad-ed-Din Behind hi his co heavily, swaying a little, and turning froht within hie and vexation on the one hand and his profound piety on the other And as he yet hesitated perhaps Sakr-el-Bahr assisted his piety to gain the day
”Now you will understand why I would not yield her, O htly reproachedin the sight of Allah, that it is unworthy a good Muslim At last it hath pleased the Prophet to send me such a maid as I could take to wife”
Asad bowed his head ”What is written is written,” he said in the voice of one who admonished hi,” he declared ”His will be done!”
”Ae of thankful prayer to his own long-forgotten God
The Basha stayed yet a moment, as if he would have spoken Then abruptly he turned and waved a hand to his janissaries ”Away!” was all he said to them, and stalked out in their wake
CHAPTER XIV THE SIGN
From behind her lattice, still breathless from the haste she had made, and with her whelp Marzak at her side, Fenzileh had witnessed that first angry return of the Basha fro for Abdul Mohktar, the leader of his janissaries, and she had seen the hastyof a score of these soldiers in the courtyard, where the ruddy light of torches ht of the fullaith Asad himself at their head, and she had not knohether to weep or to laugh, whether to fear or to rejoice
”It is done,” Marzak had cried exultantly ”The dog hath withstood him and so destroyed hiht” And he had added: ”The praise to Allah!”