Nahoum was impatient, anxious; that made
the tale better worth telling.
"Sharif and the discontented ones who dare not act, like the vultures,
they flee the living man, but swoop upon the corpse. The consuls of those
countries who love not England or Claridge Pasha, and the holy men, and
the Cadi, all scatter smouldering fires. There is a spirit in the Palace
and beyond which is blowing fast to a great flame."
"Then, so it is, great one, and what bodes it?"
"It may kill the Inglesi; but it will also sweep thee from the fields of
life where thou dost flourish."
"It is not against the foreigner, but against the Christian, Mizraim?"
"Thy tongue hath wisdom, Excellency."
"Thou art a Muslim--"
"Why do I warn thee? For service done to me; and because there is none
other worth serving in Egypt. Behold, it is my destiny to rule others, to
serve thee."
"Once more thy turban full of gold, Mizraim, if thou dost service now
that hath meaning and is not a belching of wind and words. Thou hast a
thing to say--say it, and see if Nahoum hath lost his wit, or hath a
palsied arm.
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