I am her
foster-brother--from the same breast we drew the food of life. Thou
wouldst do justice, O Effendina; but canst thou do double justice--ay, a
thousandfold? Then"--his voice raised almost shrilly--"then do it upon
Achmet Pasha. She--Zaida--told me where I should find the bridge-opener."
"Zaida once more!" Kaid murmured.
"She had learned all in Achmet's harem--hearing speech between Achmet and
the man whom thou didst deliver to my hands yesterday."
"Zaida-in Achmet's harem?" Kaid turned upon her.
Swiftly she told her dreadful tale, how, after Achmet had murdered all of
her except her body, she rose up to kill herself; but fainting, fell upon
a burning brazier, and her hand thrust accidentally in the live coals
felt no pain. "And behold, O my lord, I knew I was a leper; and I
remembered my sister and lived on." So she ended, in a voice numbed and
tuneless.
Kaid trembled with rage, and he cried in a loud voice: "Bring Achmet
forth."
As the slave sped upon the errand, David laid a hand on Kaid's arm, and
whispered to him earnestly.
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