CHAPTER XII
THE RING RETURNS
The Prince, at the announcement of Mirza, took position near the centreof the room where the light was ample. His black velvet pelissecontrasting strongly with his white hair and beard, he looked amysterious Indian potentate to whom occult Nature was a familiar, andthe stars oracular friends.
Mirza's cheeks were scarcely so sun and sand stained as when we firstbeheld him in conduct of the caravan to Mecca; in other respects he wasunchanged. His attire, like the lord Mahommed's at the reception on thelanding, was of chain mail very light and flexible. He carried a daggerin his belt, and to further signify confidence in the Prince, the flatsteel cap forming his headgear was swinging loosely from his left arm;or he might have intended to help his friend to a more readyrecognition by presenting himself bareheaded. He met his survey withunaffected pleasure, took the hand extended in greeting, and kissed itreverentially.
"Forgive me, O Prince, if my first greeting have the appearance of areproach," Mirza said, as he gave up the hand. "Why have you kept uswaiting so long?"
The Prince's countenance assumed a severe expression.
"Emir, I gave you confidence under seal."
The Emir flushed deeply.
"Was it knightly to betray me? To whom have you told the secret? Howmany have been waiting for my coming?"
"Be merciful, I pray."
"But the stars. You have made me culprit with them. I may pardon you;can you assure me of their pardon?"
The Emir raised his head, and with an expostulatory gesture, was aboutto reply, when the Prince continued, "Put thy words in the tonguecoinage of Italy, for to be overheard now were to make me an offenderlike unto thyself."
Mirza glanced hastily at Sergius, still praying before the loophole,and at Nilo; then he surveyed the cell critically, and said, inItalian, "This is the prison of the Castle--and thou--can it be I seethee a prisoner?"
The Prince smiled. "The Governor led me here with my friends; and whatyou behold of accommodations he sent in afterwards, saying the betterrooms were filled with soldiery."
"He will rue the deed. My Lord is swift at righting a wrong, and trustme, O Prince, to make report. But to return"--Mirza paused, and lookedinto the Prince's eyes earnestly--"Is your accusation just? Hear me;then by the motive judge. When I stood before my master, PrinceMahommed, a returned pilgrim, if not taller in fact, his bearing wasmore majestic. I kissed his hand wondering if some servant of theCompassionate, some angel or travelling Jinn, had not arrived beforeme, and whispered him of what you told me, speaking for the stars. Andwhen we were alone, he would have account of the countries journeyedthrough, of the people met, of Medina and Mecca, and the other holyplaces; nor would he rest until he had from me the sayings I had heardon the way, everything from calls to prayer to the Khatib's sermon.When I told him I had not heard the sermon, nor seen the preacher orhis camel, he demanded why, and--what else was there to do, OPrince?--I related how we had been pursued by the terrible Yellow Air;how it had overtaken me; how I fell down dying at the corner of theKaaba, and by whom I was saved even as the life was departing. Thislast directed him to you. My efforts to put him off but whetted hisdesire. He would not be diverted or denied. Heinsisted--urged--threatened. At last I told him all--of your joining uswith the Hajj from El Khatif--your rank and train--your marches in therear--the hundreds of miserables you saved from the plague--of ourmeeting at Zaribah, your hospitality, your learning in all thatpertains to the greatest of the prophets, your wisdom above the wisdomof other men. And you grew upon him as I proceeded. 'Oh, a good mantruly!' 'What courage!' 'What charity!' 'The Prophet himself!' 'Oh,that I had been you!' 'O foolish Mirza, to suffer such a man toescape!' With such exclamations he kept breaking up my story. It wasnot long until he fastened upon our meeting in the tent. He plied me toknow of what we talked--what you said, and all you said. O Prince, ifyou did but know him; if you knew the soul possessing him, theintellectual things he has mastered, his sagacity, his art, his will,his day-dreams pursuing him in sleep, the deeds he is prepared to do,the depth and strength of his passions, his admiration for heroes, hisresolve to ring the world with the greatness of his name--Oh, knew youthe man as I do, were you his lover as I am, his confidant--had you,for teaching him to ride and strike with sword and spear, his promiseof a share in the glory beckoning him on, making his mightyexpectations a part of you even as they are of him, would you--ah,Prince, could you have withheld the secret? Think of the revelation!The old East to awake, and march against the West! Constantinopledoomed! And he the leader for whom the opportunity is waiting! And tocall my weakness betrayal! Unsay it, unsay it, Prince!"
The face of the auditor as Mirza proceeded with his defence would havebeen a profitable study. He saw himself succeeding in the purpose ofhis affected severity; he was drawing from Mahommed's intimate theinformation he most desired; and thus advised in advance, his role inthe interview coming would be of easy foresight and performance. Not toappear too lightly satisfied, however, he said gravely, "I see thestrain you underwent, my gallant friend. I see also the earnestness ofyour affection for your most noble pupil. He is to be congratulatedupon the possession of a servant capable of such discernment anddevotion. But I recall my question--How many are there waiting for me?"
"Your revelations, O Prince, were imparted to my master alone; and withsuch certainty as you know yourself, you may believe them at rest inhis bosom. No one better than he appreciates the importance of keepingthem there under triple lock. More than one defeat--I think he wouldpermit the confession--has taught him that secrecy is the life of everyenterprise."
"Say you so, Emir? I feel warmth returning to my hope. Nay, listeningto you, and not believing in improvised heroes, I see how your coursemay have been for the best. The years gone since you yielded to hisimportunities, wisely used, have doubtless served him providentially."
The Prince extended his hand again, and it was ardently taken; then, onhis part, more than pleased, Mirza said, "I bring you a message from myLord Mahommed. I was with him when the Governor came and delivered yourring to me--and, lest I forget a duty, Prince, here it is--take it atsome future time it may be serviceable as today."
"Yes, well thought!" the Jew exclaimed, replacing the signet on hisfinger, and immediately, while looking at the turquoise eye, he droppedhis tone into the solemn, "Ay, the obligations of the Pentagramendure--they are like a decree of God."
The words and manner greatly impressed Mirza.
"My Lord Mahommed," he said, "observed the delivery of the ring to meby the Governor; and when we were alone, and I had recounted the storyof the jewels, 'What!' my Lord cried, quite as transported as myself.'That wonderful man--he here--here in this Castle! He shall not escapeme. Send for him at once. I brook no delay.' He stamped his foot. 'Lesthe vanish in the storm--go!' When I was at the door, he bade me comeback. 'The elder man with the white beard and black eyes, said you? Itwere well for me to begin by consulting his comfort. He may be tired,and in want of repose; his accommodations may be insufficient;wherefore go see him first, and ascertain his state and wishes.' And asI was going, he summoned me to return again. 'A moment--stay!' hesaid.'The circumstance enlarges with thought. Thou knowest, Mirza, Idid not come here with a special object; I was drawn involuntarily; nowI see it was to meet him. It is a doing of the stars. I shall hear fromthem!' O Prince"--Mirza's eyes sparkled, arid he threw up both hishands--"if ever man believed what he said, my master did."
"A wise master truly," said the Jew, struggling with his exultation."What said he next?"
"'While I am honoring their messenger'--thus my Lord continued--'whynot honor the stars? Their hour is midnight, for then they are all out,from this horizon and that calling unto each other, and merging theirinfluences into the harmony the preachers call the Will of the MostMerciful. A good hour for the meeting. Hear, Mirza--at midnight--inthis room. Go now.' And so it is appointed."
"And well appointed, Emir."
"Shall I so report?"
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"With my most dutiful protestations."
"Look for me then at midnight."
"I shall be awake, and ready."
"Meantime, Prince, I will seek an apartment more in correspondence withthe degree of my Lord's most honored guest."
"Nay, good Mirza, suffer me to advise in that matter. The bringing meinto this place was a mistake of the Governor's. He could not divinethe merit I have in your master's eyes. He took me for a Christian. Iforgive him, and pray he may not be disturbed. He may be useful to me.Upon the springing of a mischance--there is one such this instant in mymind's eye--I may be driven to come back to this Castle. In such anevent, I prefer him my servant rather than my enemy."
"O Prince!"
"Nay, Emir, the idea is only a suggestion of one of the Prophets whomAllah stations at the turns in every man's career."
"But every man cannot see the Prophets."
The Jew finished gravely: "Rather than disturb the Governor further,soothe him for me; and when the Lord Mahommed goes hence, do thou seean instruction is left putting the Castle and its chief at my order.Also, as thou art a grateful friend, Mirza, serve me by looking intothe kettles out of which we are to have our refreshment, and orderconcerning them as for thyself. I feel a stir of appetite."
The Emir backed from the apartment, leaving a low salaam just outsidethe door.
If the reader thinks the Prince content now, he is not mistaken. Truehe paced the floor long and rapidly; but, feeling himself close upon aturn in his course, he was making ready for it perfectly as possible byconsulting the Prophet whom he saw waiting there.
And as the Lord Mahommed failed not to remember them what time hebetook himself to supper, the three guests up in the prison fared well,nor cared for the howling of the wind, and the bursting and beating ofthe rain still rioting without the walls.