The Weavers: a tale of England and Egypt of fifty years ago - Volume 1

se mirrors, and beating on the brass trays and braziers by the window, irritated him. He watched the flies on the wall abstractedly; he listened to the early perip

hat it was buttoned from top to bottom. He grew a little paler. He was less stoical and apathetic t

ly. For so large a man Prince Kaid was light and subtle in

e First Heaven be thine, and the utterm

mechanically, and seated himself cross-legged on a divan, taking a

im? Where hast thou placed h

without ceasing, but the holes are empty, Ef

t not found him? Thou hast not brought Nahoum to me?" Kaid's eyes were growing re

ut. Ten thousand piastres did not find

"Thou shalt bring Nahoum to

hmet asked desperately. He had a peasa

ile, if he has escaped, thou too shalt escape from Egypt-into Fazo

n thou hast pointed, have I not brought? Have there not been many, Effe

answer to the question. "He reached too far

oss the room. Kaid understood, and made a gesture. An instant afterwards the vast figure of Higli Pas

org

he died. He was in this Palace alive at night. In

was no

Effen

tho

no mark,

iso

no sign,

ond-d

in his bed like a babe and sleep himself into heaven! Fate meant him for a violent end; but ere that came there was work to do for me. He had a gift for scenting treason-and he had treasure." His eyes shut and op

jest, Effendina. H

millah! In his gra

sterday before sunset, Eff

o-day. By the gates of hell

the Effendina's orders cam

aken yesterday," he rejoin

na on the night when the Effendina dismissed

he turned to High. "My seal has been put upon Foorgat's doors? His treasure-pla

ly. Kaid got to his feet slowly, rage possessing hi

t to the courts and to the holy men, and claimed succession. That was while it was yet early

urts, the Wakfs shall obey me. And thou, son of a burnt father, shalt find Nahoum! Kaid shall not be cheated. Foorgat pledged the

ously in silence. Presently in a red fury he cried: "Go-go-go, and bring me back by midnight Nahoum

black slave appeared, and ushered David into the

his face. He leaned forward eagerly, the cr

May the sun shine in thy heart and fruits of wisdom flourish there, Effendina," answered David quietly. He sal

ly to himself and watching the smoke reel away; then, with half-s

ds alone," answered David. "There is no one bet

reak?" Kaid chuckled to have this tribute, as he thought, from a

his head to

ds or that punishes, shall my arm not stretch into the darkest

"It is the ancient custom of princes here.

ely on Achmet and Higli. "Ye have heard. Truth is on his lips. I have stretched out my arm. Ye are my arm, to reach for and gather in Nahoum an

He will lose his place?" a

e," Kaid rejoined,

with a look which could give Achmet no comfort. "Th

not my duty to know the will of the Effendi

does he wait?" ques

the Scytheman, will cut from thy life, think, as thou fastest at Ramadan or feastest at Beiram, how Kaid filled thy plate when thou wast a beggar, an

"Come-to Harrik and the army! He shall be deposed. The hour is at hand." High answered h

otioned to a seat, then to a narghileh. David seated himself, took the stem o

tand," Kaid said presen

his own wil

was not Oriental on the face of it. "Effendina, he comes

thou dost

and because I knew his peril, I kept him

s a natural sequence to his downfall. It was understandable. But here was David safe and sound. Was it, then, some deeper scheme of future vengeance? The Oriental instinctively pierced the mind of the Oriental. He could have realised fully the fierce, blinding

d red. There would be no future for Nahoum. "Why

fe of thee, Highness, as

t ordered

was agreed between us yesterday that

leaned back amo

there is no other way but death for Nahoum,"

ortune left by Foorg

dge from Foo

ise concerned. There is the law. Nahoum inherits. Shou

a tra

where is

rders and they have not been fulfilled-Nahoum. Always, always some rumour of assassination, or of conspiracy, or the influence and secret agent

in this save the Effendina wh

know. I satisfy mys

people, for whom thee lives. None should stand

y Nahoum had got his due if he

n upon the rich only. Now, Effendina, he has brought hither the full amount of

a thin jest. When a traitor dies

es thee believe he has ever

gged his

ord and other means. He has been a faithful servant to his Prince at least. If he has done after the manner of

find in the

uld he n

t taken h

ose to his feet quickly. His face was shining with a strange excitement. It gave him a look of exa

"Silence in the grave is a fact b

ingly. "It may be that my service will be short. When I go, will

man in England leaves office, no matter how unfaithful, though he be a friend of any country save his own, they send him to the House of Lords-or so I was told in France when I was there. What doe

I shall go one day. Thee will never do me ill; but do I not know that I shall have foes at every corner, behind every moo

ve Nahoum! He will dig thy

for Egypt, Effendina."

s thy m

yesterday-the land, taxation, the army, agriculture, the Soudan. Together we will mak

aid-po

ghness, yesterday-yesterday thee gave me my commission. If thee will not take

ut with friendliness to David in his eyes. "Nahoum has prayed to work with thee, to be a slave where he was master?

clined h

ive up all

so, Eff

Foorgat's

eir father. It is

ally. "It was got in M

ne back again to Egypt in work with me, as I shall give of what

ces since Alexander or Amenhotep? Had Nahoum, then, been mastered and won? Was ever such power? In how many ways had it not been shown! He had fought for his uncle's fortune, and had got it at last yesterday without a penny of backsheesh. Having got his will, he was now ready to give that same fortune to the good of Egypt-but not to beys and pashas and eunuchs (and that he should have escaped Mizraim was the mar

lic purse; Egypt, grown strong and able to resist the suzerainty and cruel tribute-that touched his native goodness of heart, so long, in disguise; it appealed to the sense of leadership in him; to the love of the soil deep in his bone

lave entered, received an order, and disappeared. Nei

was submission, but no cringing or servility in his manner. His blue eyes looked fea

ee," Kaid murmu

Nahoum. "May the feet of Time linger by t

en Kaid spoke again. "What are thy pro

o Kaid without a word. Kaid glanced at it hurriedly, then

s," he answered boldly. "All else I have give

army?" asked Kaid s

helmets and fine chain-armour and swords and lances like medieval crusaders. The horses, too, were black, and the mass made a barbaric display belonging more to another period in the world's history. This regiment of Nubia

a, my money has been busy in the army paying and bribing officers, and my spies were costly. There has been sedition-conspiracy; but until I coul

artled, too. He had been taken

love for money; it was but a means. I spent it for the State-for the Ef

Kaid's voice was h

upon paper. But there are proofs that the army

cret?" questioned Kaid

ead, Effendina," he added

!" said Kaid aghast, as h

turned to David. In the eyes of the Inglesi was a different thing. The test of the new relationship had come. Ferocity was in his heart, a vitrioli

door. "Wait yonder," he said darkly to Nahoum. As the door opened, and Nahoum disappeared leisurely and composedly

owards Nahoum, Effendina

e it; it is thine; but if I find him within these walls a

of Foorgat's going?

went-in the night. Who can say? Wherefore speculate? He is gone. I

"Effendina, Nahoum has proved his faith-is it no

by all? Did I not deal justly? Yet my justice was but darkness of purpose, the hidden terror to them all. So did I become what thou findest me and dost believe me-a tyrant, in whose name a thousand do evil things of which I neither hear nor know. Proof! When a woman lies in your arms, it is not the moment to prove her fidelity. Nahoum has crawl

u proof,

e will tell. I have their names here." He tapped the papers. "There are ways t

are seized, can the army be trusted? Will it not break away in fear? Yonder Nubians are not enough-a handf

e through those whom he has p

of," answered

nd it?" Kaid laug

answered David grave

rince Harr

t dost th

em of Prince Harrik at last. A woman from without who sang to her-a singing girl, an al'mah-she trusted with the paper to warn thee, Effendina, in her name. Her heart had remembrance of thee. Her foster-brother Mahommed Hassan is

ce resolution, but as he took

oncerning her, and I gave her in marriage." Then his face darkened again, and his teeth showed in malice. A demon was roused i

ion was un

d fiercely to David, and gazed at him fixedly. Would this

he must die," answ

tisfaction. "If he were thy b

death for the country's s

t he sha

due trial,

t the proof

ive evidence himself, and

ol?" answered K

concerning the army must appear. Is that well? Egypt w

shall die

of Egypt will be c

gged his

n-Europe-i

e truth," Kaid

Prince Harrik shall confess his

s thy p

is palace and s

ze h

er to seize hi

t. My Nubians

way. There is great danger to the throne.

ik shoul

iled, thou wouldst not succeed. If I am to serve Egypt, there must be trust in me from thee, or

ame of God, be it so. Thou art not as other men. There is something i

ight, Effendina. Give me

David put it in his poc

m?" he

be thy will. Yet I cannot understand it.

a Chr

, and clapped his h

istian! Bismillah!" murmured Kaid scornfully, then fel

r glittering armour waited wi