No man who has
been in high place, has had the secrets of the Palace and the ear of the
Prince, lives after he has lost favour. The Prince, for his safety, must
ensure silence, and the only silence in Egypt is the grave. In thee,
Saadat, Kaid has found an honest man. Men will call thee mad, if thou
remainest honest, but that is within thine own bosom and with fate. For
me, thou hast taken my place, and more. Malaish, it is the decree of
fate, and I have no anger. I come to ask thee to save my life, and then
to give me work."
"How shall I save thy life?"
"By reconciling the Effendina to my living, and then by giving me
service, where I shall be near to thee; where I can share with thee,
though it be as the ant beside the beaver, the work of salvation in
Egypt. I am rich since my brother was--" He paused; no covert look was in
his eyes, no sign of knowledge, nothing but meditation and sorrowful
frankness--"since Foorgat passed away in peace, praise be to God! He lay
on his bed in the morning, when one came to wake him, like a sleeping
child, no sign of the struggle of death upon him.
Pages:
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179