To-day shall see thy fall."
At his first words Nahoum had felt a shock, from which his spirit reeled;
but an inspiration came to him on the moment; and he listened with a
saturnine coolness to the passionate words of the indignant figure
towering above him. When Ebn Ezra had finished, he replied quietly:
"It is even as thou sayest, effendi. The soldiers were paid in slaves got
in the slave-hunt; and I have gold from the slave-dealers. I needed it,
for the hour is come when I must do more for Egypt than I have ever
done."
With a gesture of contempt Ebn Ezra made to leave, seeing an official of
the Palace in the distance. Nahoum stopped him. "But, one moment ere thou
dost thrust thy hand into the cockatrice's den. Thou dost measure thyself
against Nahoum? In patience and with care have I trained myself for the
battle. The bulls of Bashan may roar, yet my feet are shod with safety.
Thou wouldst go to Kaid and tell him thy affrighted tale. I tell thee,
thou wilt not go. Thou hast reason yet, though thy blood is hot. Thou art
to Claridge Pasha like a brother--as to his uncle before him, who
furnished my father's palace with carpets.
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