CHAPTER XIII.
The Vekeel, like the Persian lovers, did not allow the heat of the dayto interfere with his plans. He regarded the governor's house ashis own; all he found there aroused, not merely his avarice, but hisinterest. His first object was to find some document which might justifyhis proceedings against Orion and the sequestration of his estates, inthe eyes of the authorities at Medina.
Great schemes were brewing there; if the conspiracy against the KhaliffOmar should succeed, he had little to fear; and the greater the sum hecould ere long forward to the new sovereign, the more surely he couldcount on his patronage--a sum exceeding, if possible, the largest whichhis predecessor had ever cast into the Khaliff's treasury.
He went from room to room with the curiosity and avidity of a child,touching everything, testing the softness of the pillows, peeping intoscrolls which he did not understand, tossing them aside, smelling at theperfumes in the dead woman's rooms, and the medicines she had used. Heshowed his teeth with delight when he found in her trunks some costlyjewels and gold coins, stuck the finest of her diamond rings on hisfinger, already covered with gems, and then eagerly searched everycorner of the rooms which Orion had occupied.
His interpreter, who could read Greek, had to translate every documenthe found that did not contain verses. While he listened, he clawed andstrummed on the young man's lyre and poured out the scented oil whichOrion had been wont to use to smear it over his beard. In front of thebright silver mirror he could not cease from making faces.
To his great disgust he could find nothing among the hundred objectsand trifles that lay about to justify suspicion, till, just as he wasleaving the room, he noticed in a basket near the writing-table somediscarded tablets. He at once pointed them out to the interpreterand, though there was but little to read on the Diptychon,--[Doublewriting-tablets, which folded together]--it seemed important to thenegro for it ran as follows:
"Orion, the son of George, to Paula the daughter of Thomas!
"You have heard already that it is now impossible for me to assist inthe rescue of the nuns. But do not misunderstand me. Your noble, andonly too well-founded desire to lend succor to your fellow-believerswould have sufficed..."
From this point the words written on the wax were carefully effaced, andhardly a letter was decipherable; indeed, there were so few lines thatit seemed as though the letter had never been ended-which was the fact.
Though it gave the Vekeel no inculpating evidence against Orion itpointed to his connection with the guilty parties: Paula, doubtless, hadbeen concerned in the scheme which had cost the lives of so many braveMoslems. The negro had learnt, through the money-changer at Fostat,that she was on terms of close intimacy with the Mukaukas' son and hadentrusted her property to his stewardship. They must both be accused asaccomplices in the deed, and the document proved Orion's knowledge ofit, at any rate.
Plotinus, the bishop, at whose instigation the fugitives had beenchased, could fill up what the damsel might choose to conceal.
He had started to follow the patriarch immediately after the pursuershad set out, and had only returned from Upper Egypt early on theprevious day. On his arrival he had forwarded to the Vekeel twoindictments brought against Orion by the prelate: the first relatingto the evasion of the nuns; the other to the embezzlement of a costlyemerald; the rightful property of the church. These accusations werewhat had encouraged the Negro to confiscate the young man's estate,particularly as the bitter tone of the patriarch's document sufficientlyproved that in him he had found an ally.
Paula must next be placed in safe custody, and he had no doubt whateverthat her statement would incriminate Orion in some degree. He wouldgladly have cross-examined her at once, but he had other matters in handto-day.
The longest part of his task was ransacking the treasurer's office;Nilus himself had to conduct the search. Everything which he pointed outas a legal document, title-deed, contract for purchase or sale, revenueaccount or the like, was at once placed in oxcarts or on camels, withthe large sums of gold and silver coin, and carried across the riverunder a strong escort. All the more antique deeds and the familyarchives, the Vekeel left untouched. He was indeed an indefatigableman, for although these details kept him busy the whole day, he allowedhimself no rest nor did he once ask for the refreshment of food or acooling draught. As the day went on he enquired again and again for thebishop, with increasing impatience and irritation. It would have beenhis part to wait on the patriarch, but who was Plotinus? Thin-skinned,like all up-starts in authority, he took the bishop's delay as an act ofpersonal contumely. But the shepherd of the flock at Memphis was not ahaughty prelate, but a very humble and pious minister. His superior, thepatriarch, had entrusted him with an important mission to Amru or hislieutenant, and yet he could let the Vekeel wait in vain, and not evensend him a message of explanation; in the afternoon, however, his oldhousekeeper dispatched the acolyte who was attached to his person toseek Philippus. Her master, a hale and vigorous man, had gone to bedby broad day-light a few hours after his return home, and had not againleft it. He was hot and thirsty, and did not seem fully conscious ofwhere he was or of what was happening.
Plotinus had always maintained that prayer was the Christian's bestmedicine; still, as his poor body had become alarmingly heated the oldwoman ventured to send for the physician; but the messenger came backsaying that Philippus was absent on a journey. This was in fact thecase: He had quitted Memphis in obedience to a letter from Haschim. Themerchant's unfortunate son was not getting better. There seemed to bean injury to some internal organ, which threatened his life. The anxiousfather besought the leech, in whom he had the greatest confidence, tohasten to Djidda, there to examine the sufferer and undertake the case.At the same time he desired that Rustem should join him as soon as hishealth would permit.
This letter--which ended with greetings to Paula, for whose father hewas making diligent search--agitated Philippus greatly. How could heleave Memphis at a time of such famine and sickness?--And Dame Joannaand her daughter!
On the other hand he was much drawn to get away on Paula'saccount--away, far away; and then how gladly would he do his bestto save that fine old man's son. In spite of all this he would haveremained, but that his old friend, quite unexpectedly, took Haschim'sside of the question and implored him to make the journey. He would makeit his business and his pleasure to take charge of the women in Rufinus'house; Philip's assistant could fill his place at the bedside of manyof the sick, and the rest could die without him. Had not he himself saidthat there was no remedy for the disease? Again, Philip had said notlong since that there could be no peace for him within reach of Paula:here was a favorable opportunity for escape without attracting remark,and at the same time for doing a work of the truest charity.
So Philippus had yielded, and had started on his journey with very mixedfeelings.
Horapollo did not devote any particular attention to his personalcomfort; but in one respect he took especial care of himself. He hadgreat difficulty in walking and, as he loved to breathe the fresh air atsundown, and sometimes to study the stars at a late hour, he kept an assof the best and finest breed. He did not hesitate to pay a high pricefor such a beast if it really answered his requirements; that is to sayif it were strong, surefooted, gentle, and light-colored. His father andgrandfather, priests of Isis, had always ridden white asses, and so hewould do the same.
During the last few sultry weeks he had rarely gone out of doors, andto-day he waited till the hour before sunset before starting to keep hispromise.
Robed in snowy-white linen, with new sandals on his feet, freshlyshaven, and protected from the sun's rays by a crisply curled, flowingwig, after the manner of his fathers, as well as by an umbrella, hemounted his beautiful white ass in the conviction that he had donehis best for his outer man, and set forth, followed by his black slavetrotting on foot.
It was not yet dark when he stopped at the house of Rufinus. His hearthad not beat so high for many a day.
"I fe
el as if I had come courting," said he, laughing at himself. "Well,and I really am come to propose an alliance for the rest of my life!Still, curiosity, one would think, might be shed with the hair and theteeth!" However, it still clung to him, and he could not deny to himselfthat he was very curious as to the person whom he hated, though he hadnever seen her, simply because she was the daughter of a patrician and aprefect, and had made his Philippus miserable. As he was dismounting,a graceful young girl and an older woman, in very costly though simpledresses, came through the garden. These must be the water-wagtail, andOrion's Byzantine guest.--How annoying! So many women at once!
Their presence here could only embarrass and disturb him--a lonelystudent unused to the society of women. However, there was no help forit; and the new-comers were not so bad after all.
Katharina was a very attractive, pretty little mouse, and even withouther millions much too good for the libertine Orion. The matron, who hada kind, pleasant face, was exactly what Philippus had described her. Butthen--and this spoilt all--in their presence he must not allude to thedeath of Rufinus, so that he could not mention his proposed arrangement.He had swallowed all that dust, and borne that heat for nothing, andto-morrow he must ignominiously go through it all again!
The first people he met were a handsome young couple: Rustem andMandane. There could be no doubt as to their identity; so he went up tothem and gave Rustem the merchant's message, offering in Philip's nameto advance the money for the journey. But the Masdakite patted hissleeve, in which he carried a good round sum in gold pieces, andexclaimed cheerily:
"It is all here, and enough for two travellers to the East.--My littlewife, by your leave; the time has come, little pigeon! Off we go,homeward bound!"
The huge fellow shouted it out in his deep voice with such effervescentcontentment, and the pretty girl, as she looked up at him, was so glad,so much in love, and so grateful, that it quite cheered the old man; andhe, who read an omen in every incident, accepted this meeting as ofgood augury at his first entering the house which was probably to be hishome.
His visit went on as well as it had begun, for he was welcomed verywarmly both by the widow and daughter of Rufinus. Pulcheria at oncepushed forward her father's arm-chair and placed a pillow behind hisback, and she did it so quietly, so simply, and so amiably that itwarmed his old heart, and he said to himself that it would be almosttoo much of a good thing to have such care given him every day and everyhour.
He could not forbear from a kindly jest with the young girl over herattentions, and Martina at once entered into the joke. She had seenhim coming on his fine ass; she praised the steed, and then refused tobelieve that the rider was past eighty. His news of Philip's departurewas regretted by all, and he was delighted to perceive that Pulcheriaseemed startled and presently shrank into the background. What a sweet,pure, kind face the child had--and pretty withal; she must and should behis little daughter; and all the while he was talking, or listening toKatharina's small jokes and a friendly catechism from Martina and DameJoanna, in his mind's eye he saw Philippus and that dear little creatureas man and wife, surrounded by pretty children playing all about him.
He had come to comfort and to condole, and lo! he was having as pleasantan hour as he had known in a long time.
He and the other visitors had been received in the vindarium, which wasnow brightly lighted up, and now and then he glanced at the doors whichopened on this, the centre of the house, trying to imagine what thedifferent rooms should by-and-bye be used for.
But he heard a light step behind him; Martina rose, the water-wagtailhurried to meet the new-comer, and there appeared on the scene the tallfigure of a girl dressed in mourning-robes. She greeted the matron withdistinguished dignity, cast a cordial glance of sympathetic intelligenceto Joanna and Pulcheria, and when the mistress of the house told herwho the old man was, she went up to him and held out her hand--a cool,slender hand, as white as marble; the true patrician hand.
Yes, she was beautiful, wonderfully beautiful! He could hardly rememberever to have seen her equal. A spotless masterpiece of the Creator'shand, made like some unapproachable goddess, to command the worship ofsubject adorers; however, she must renounce all hope of his, for thosemarble features, all the whiter by contrast with her black dress, had noattraction for him. No warming glow shone in those proud eyes; and underthat lordly bosom beat no loving or lovable heart; he shivered at thetouch of her fingers, and her presence, he thought, had a chilling andparalyzing influence on all the party.
This was, in fact, the case.
Paula had been sent for to see the senator's wife and Katharina.Martina, thought she, had come out of mere curiosity, and she had apreconceived dislike to any one connected with Heliodora. She had losther confidence in the water-wagtail, for only two days ago the acolytein personal attendance on the bishop--and whose child Rufinus had curedof a lame foot--had been to the house to warn Joanna against the girl.Katharina, he told her, had a short while since betrayed to Plotinussome important secret relating to her husband, and the bishop hadimmediately gone over to Fostat. It was hard to believe such a thingof any friend, still, the girl who, by her own confession, had been soready to play the part of spy in the neighboring garden, was the onlyperson who would have told the prelate what plan was in hand for therescue of the sisters. The acolyte's positive statement, indeed, left noroom for doubt.
It was not in Paula's nature to think ill of others; but in this caseher candid spirit, incapable of falsehood, would not suffer her to beanything but cool to the child; the more effusively Katharina clung toher, the more icily Paula repelled her.
The old man saw this, and he concluded that this mien and demeanorwere natural to Paula at all times patrician haughtiness, cold-heartedselfishness, the insolent and boundless pride of the race heloathed--noble by birth alone--stood before him incarnate. He hated thewhole class, and he hated this specimen of the class; and his aversionincreased tenfold as he remembered what woe this cold siren had wroughtfor the son of his affections and might bring on him if she shouldthwart his favorite project. Sooner would he end his days in loneliness,parted even from Philippus, than share his home, his table, and hisdaily life with this woman, who could repel the sincerely-meant caressesof that pretty, childlike, simple little Katharina with such frigid andsupercilious haughtiness. The mere sight of her at meals would embitterevery mouthful; only to hear her domineering tones in the next roomwould spoil his pleasure in working; the touch of her cold hand as shebid him good-night would destroy his night's rest!
Here and now her presence was more than he could bear. It was an offenseto him, a challenge; and if ever he had wished to clear her out of hispath and the physician's--by force, if need should be--the idea whollypossessed him now.
Irritated and provoked, he took leave of all the others, carefullyavoiding a glance even at Paula, though, after he rose, she went up tohim on purpose to say a few pleasant words, and to assure him how highlyshe esteemed his adopted son.
Pulcheria escorted him through the garden and he promised her to returnon the morrow, or the day after, and then she must take care that hefound her and her mother alone, for he had no fancy to allow Paula tothrust her pride and airs under his nose a second time.
He angrily rejected Pulcheria's attempts to take her friend's part, andhe trotted home again, mumbling curses between his old lips.
Martina, meanwhile, had made friends with Paula in her genial, frankway. She had met her parents in time past in Constantinople and spoke ofthem with heart-felt warmth. This broke the ice between them, andwhen Martina spoke of Orion--her 'great Sesostris'--of the regardand popularity he had enjoyed in Constantinople, and then, with duerecognition and sympathy, of his misfortune, Paula felt drawn towardsher indeed. Her reserve vanished entirely, and the conversationbetween the new acquaintances became more and more eager, intimate, anddelightful.
When they parted both felt that they could only gain by furtherintercourse. Paula was called away at the very moment of leave-tak
ing,and left the room with warm expressions intended only for the matron:"Not good-bye--we must meet again. But of course it is my part, asthe younger, to go to you!" And she was no sooner gone than Martinaexclaimed:
"What a lovely creature! The worthy daughter of a noble father! And hermother! O dame Joanna! A sweeter being has rarely graced this miserableworld; she was born to die young, she was only made to bloom and fade!"Then, turning to Katharina, she went on: with kindly reproof. "Eviltongues gave me a very false idea of this girl. 'A silver kernel ina golden shell,' says the proverb, but in this case both alike are ofgold.--Between you two--good God!--But I know what has blinded yourclear eyes, poor little kitten. After all, we all see things as wewish to see them. I would lay a wager, dame Joanna, that you are of myopinion in thinking the fair Paula a perfectly noble creature. Aye, anoble creature; it is an expressive word and God knows! How seldom isit a true one? It is one I am little apt to use, but I know no other forsuch as she is, and on her it is not ill-bestowed."
"Indeed it is not!" answered Joanna with warm assent; but Martinasighed, for she was thinking to herself! "Poor Heliodora! I cannot butconfess that Paula is the only match for my 'great Sesostris.' But whatin Heaven's name will become of that poor, unfortunate, love-sick littlewoman?"
All this flashed through her quick brain while Katharina was trying tojustify herself, and asserting that she fully recognised Paula's greatqualities, but that she was proud, fearfully proud--she had givenMartina herself some evidence of that.
At this Pulcheria interposed in zealous defense of her friend. She,however, had hardly begun to speak when she, too, was interrupted,for men's voices were heard in loud discussion in the vestibule, andPerpetua suddenly rushed in with a terrified face, exclaiming, heedlessof the strangers: "Oh Dame Joanna! Here is another, dreadful misfortune!Those Arab devils have come again, with an interpreter and a writer.And they have been sent--Merciful Saviour, is it possible?--they havebrought a warrant to take away my poor dear child, to take her toprison--to drag her all through the city on foot and throw her intoprison."
The faithful soul sobbed aloud and covered her face with her hands.Terror fell upon them all; Joanna left the viridarium in speechlessdismay, and Martina exclaimed:
"What a horrible, vile country! Good God, they are even falling on uswomen. Children, children--give me a seat, I feel quite ill.--In prison!that beautiful, matchless creature dragged through the streets toprison. If the warrant is all right she must go--she must! Not an angelfrom heaven could save her. But that she should be marched throughthe town, that noble and splendid creature, as if she were a commonthief--it is not to be borne. So much as one woman can do for anotherat any rate shall be done, so long as I am here to stand on twofeet!--Katharina, child, do not you understand? Why do you stand gapingat me as if I were a feathered ape? What do your fat horses eat oatsfor? What, you do not understand me yet? Be off at once, this minute,and have the horses put in the large closed chariot in which I camehere, and bring it to the door.--Ah! At last you see daylight; now, taketo your heels and fly!"
And she clapped her hands as if she were driving hens off a garden-bed;Katharina had no alternative but to obey.
Martina then felt for her purse, and when she had found it she addedconfidently:
"Thank God! I can talk to these villains! This is a language," andshe clinked the gold pieces, intelligible to all. "Come, where are therascals?"
The universal tongue had the desired effect. The chief of the guardallowed it to persuade him to convey Paula to prison in the chariot,and to promise that she should find decent accommodation there, while healso granted old Betta the leave she insisted on with floods of tears,to share the girl's captivity.
Paula maintained her dignity and composure under this unexpected shock.Only when it came to taking leave of Pulcheria and Mary, who clung toher in frantic grief and begged to go with her and Betta to prison, shecould not restrain her tears.
The scribe had informed her that she was charged dy Bishop Plotinus withhaving plotted the escape and flight of the nuns, and Joanna's kneestrembled under her when Paula whispered in her ear:
"Beware of Katharina! No one else could have betrayed us; if shehas also revealed what Rufinus did for the sisters we must deny it,positively and unflinchingly. Fear nothing: they will get not a wordout of me." Then she added aloud: "I need not beg you to remember melovingly; thanks to you both--the warmest, deepest thanks for all....You, Pul...." And she clasped the mother and daughter to her bosom,while Mary, clinging to her, hid her little face in her skirts, weepingbitterly.... "You, Dame Joanna, took me in, a forlorn creature, and mademe happy till Fate fell on us all--you know, ah! you know too well.--Thekindness you have shown to me show now to my little Mary. And thereis one thing more--here comes the interpreter again!--A moment yet, Ibeg!--If the messenger should return and bring news of my father or, myGod! my God!--my father himself, let me know, or bring him to me!--Or,if I am dead by the time he comes, tell him that to find him, to see himonce more, was my heart's dearest wish. And beg my father," she breathedthe words into Joanna's ear, "to love Orion as a son. And tell them boththat I loved them to the last, deeply, perfectly, beyond words!" Thenshe added aloud as: she kissed each on her eyes and lips: "I love youand shall always love you--you, Joanna, and you, my Pulcheria, and you,Mary, my sweet, precious darling."
At this the water-wagtail humed forward with outstretched arms, but DameJoanna put out a significantly warning hand; and they who were one inheart clasped each other in a last embrace as though they were indeedbut one and no stranger could have any part in it.
Once more Katharina tried to approach Paula; but Martina, whose eyesfilled with tears as she looked on the parting, held her back by theshoulder and whispered:
"Do not disturb them, child. Such hearts spontaneously attract those forwhom they yearn. I, old as I am, would gladly be worthy to be called."
The interpreter now sternly insisted on starting. The three womenparted; but still the little girl held tightly to Paula, even when shewent up to the matron and kissed her with a natural impulse. Martinatook her head between her hands, kissed her fondly, and said in a voiceshe could scarcely control: "God protect and keep you, child! I thankHim for having brought us together. A soul so pure and clear as yours isnot to be found in the capital, but we still know how to be friends toour friends--at any rate I and my husband do--and if Heaven but grantsme the opportunity you shall prove it. You never need feel alone in theworld; never, so long as Justinus and his wife are still in it. Rememberthat, child; I mean it in solemn earnest."
With this, she again embraced Paula, who as she went out to enter thechariot also bestowed a farewell kiss on Eudoxia and Mandane, for they,too, stood modestly weeping in the background; then she gave her hand tothe hump-backed gardener, and to the Masdakite, down whose cheeks tearswere rolling. At this moment Katharina stood in her path, seized her armin mortified excitement, and said insistently:
"And have you not a word for me?"
Paula freed herself from her clutch and said in a low voice: "I thankyou for lending me the chariot. As you know, it is taking me to prison,and I fear it is your perfidy that has brought me to this. If I amwrong, forgive me--if I am right, your punishment will hardly be lighterthan my fate. You are still young, Katharina; try to grow better."
And with this she stepped into the chariot with old Betta, and the lastshe saw was little Mary who threw herself sobbing into Joanna's arms.