A long torture and a great
over-whelming was his design. He knew himself to be in the scheme of a
master-workman, and by-and-by he would blunt the chisel and bend the saw;
but not yet. Meanwhile, he hated, admired, schemed, and got a sweet taste
on his tongue from aiding David to foil Achmet--Higli and Diaz were of
little account; only the injury they felt in seeing the sluices being
closed on the stream of bribery and corruption kept them in the toils of
Achmet's conspiracy. They had saved their heads, but they had not learned
their lesson yet; and Achmet, blinded by rage, not at all. Achmet did not
understand clemency. One by one his plots had failed, until the day came
when David advised Kaid to send him and his friends into the Soudan, with
the punitive expedition under loyal generals. It was David's dream that,
in the field of war, a better spirit might enter into Achmet and his
friends; that patriotism might stir in them.
The day was approaching when the army must leave. Achmet threw dice once
more.
Evening was drawing down.
Pages:
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262